Tons of people pack in around the bar to get their drinks before kickoff and then migrate to which ever television is showing their team. I was sitting there, alone, in my FC Bayern jersey (a team which I have become quite fond of) waiting for the Bayern v Roma match to start. When I arrived, the place was pretty much empty, but I knew that wasn't going to last long. So I grabbed my beer and my stool and secured a spot in front of the TV that I cared about. Soon the place filled up. In walked a guy that I recognized from other Bayern matches, so I made a spot for him to sit down. Fans of Chelsea, Real Madrid, Roma, Bayern, even an Inter Milan fan (Inter played yesterday) was there to watch AC Milan with fellow Italians. As English, Spanish, French, Dutch, etc all scattered around the bar, I was now surrounded by Germans and Italians all speaking in languages that I did not understand at all.
2:45: Kick Off.
Each group was now broken off into their separate areas, decided upon by Nevada Smith's management as to which match to play on which TV. Chelsea got the projector and the overhead commentary. My fellow Germany fans and I watched Bayern progress in silence. For the most part, the place was quiet. Some chatter, some small talk... nothing major as everyone watched with anticipation of their favorite footy team scoring. BOOM! The crowd erupts. What happened? Bayern didn't score and thats all I was paying attention to. Heads began to spin to see what TV, what team, earned that first goal. Chelsea. For the next 90 minutes, that happened over and over again. Chelsea again. And then Chelsea again! Then Real Madrid. Chelsea a couple more times, and AC Milan was next. Us Bayern fans were getting a little anxious. The Roma fans too. When was it going to be our turn? I wanted to jump up and scream and yell and hug the people next to me as if it was I that scored that goal. But time was dwindling down and both teams started to look desperate. 80th minute: Thomas Müller scores. The German fans erupt in a fit of passion, drowning out the cursing from the Italians. A couple of minutes later, Miroslav Klose scores again for Bayern. It was once again our turn to come together as friends and cheer for our team. And cheer we did.
 |
| Nevada Smith's during Euro 2012 Qualifiers (Germany v Belgium) |
I entered that bar alone. I never in my life thought I would be doing that, going and drinking alone. Thats the sign that someone has a problem right? The first time I did something like this was pretty scary. I went to Zum Schneider for a World Cup match (Germany v Australia). Talk about being out of my comfort zone... I barely knew the sport, I didn't have anyone to talk to, I didn't even speak the language of the people that I was with (everyone spoke German). But, I quickly learned that I was not alone. Far from it actually... The world is a friendly place. There is always someone willing to talk, you just have to reach out and be friendly. I've met so many interesting people by doing this. I met Ehmer a couple of weeks ago while watching Bayern against Wolfsburg. Tom, despite seeing him around for awhile, I met today while watching the Champions League. They were both language students, studying abroad in America. I met Phillip and Raffi while they were vacationing in NY and stopped in to catch the Euro 2012 qualifiers. These are all people that I never would have had the experience and pleasure of meeting had I never wandered into Zum Schneider or Nevada Smith's alone that first time.
Scary and uncomfortable? Yes. But its okay... cause I was never alone. I was amongst friends that I just hadn't met yet.
By the way, Thomas Müller is my favorite footballer!
