WORLD CUP SANS BEER (AND JOE GAETJENS)
That awesome quadrennial sports spectacular known as the “World Cup” is underway in Qatar of all places. It’s being played in November/December because summer temperatures in that Arabian Gulf nation often reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It will still be hot there, but not too hot—at least weatherwise.
When the weather is hot, many sport fans seek to enjoy cold beers. Actually, many sports fans enjoy cold beers even when it’s cold out. (Those NFL fans we see shirtless at snowy football stadiums every December almost certainly imbibed libations to fortify themselves.)
When Qatar sought to host the World Cup that country agreed to allow for beer sales in and around the soccer venues—despite alcohol use being proscribed in many Muslim countries. Consuming booze is considered “haram” (or forbidden) in Islam. Muslim prelates and scholars cite verses in their holy book (the Quran) which refer to intoxicants being “the work of Satan.”
(Such scholars may want to avoid America’s big league ball parks and stadiums.)
But in what many sports officials are now calling a classic “bait and switch,” Qatar reversed its position on beer and ended up limiting its sale outside soccer venues. Representatives from England’s hooligan community were not consulted. I’m not sure if Qatar allowed for a BYOB option. Anheuser-Busch had already paid for beer rights.
Budweiser’s loss was the prelates’ gain.
But the World Cup is more about fútbol than alcohol. After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup (hosted by Russia, which naturally allowed booze, including vodka) Team USA made it to 2022’s big dance. The Americans were placed in Group B, along with Wales, England, and Iran.
(Although Wales, like Scotland, is part of the United Kingdom, those places considered separate countries for World Cup purposes. Maybe we should have a Team California for 2026? Or is that a silly Sport-Thought?)
Anyway, Team USA tied Team Wales 1-1 in its Group B opener, setting the stage for a showdown with Team England, cheered on by the presumably sober hooligans. Inevitably, soccer folks hearkened back to the 1950 World Cup match in Brazil where the USA stung England 1-0, in one of the greatest World Cup upsets ever.
(Although last week’s Saudi Arabian 2-1
win over Argentina ranks right up there among huge upsets. Perhaps there is
something to that alcohol abstention thing.)
As has been mentioned in this space before, my Groveton High School French teacher, Gerard Gaetjens, fancied himself a soccer expert. We GHS soccer players thought of him as a soccer snob. After all, he was from Haiti, which was not exactly an international sports powerhouse. But it was Monsieur Gaetjens’ brother Joe who scored that penultimate goal for Team USA in that epic 1-0 triumph over the English Limeys. As Joe Gaetjens was Haitian, one wonders how he ended up playing for America. He was a dishwasher in New York City when they threw Team USA together in 1950.
But I digress.
Our 2022 Team USA was slated to play Iran on Monday, Nov. 28, a match that would determine if the Americans would advance to the next round. This being written before that game was played, I can only hope that the Americans prevailed over the abstemious Iranians—who have a long history of referring to our country as “The Great Satan.” But if Team USA did make it to the Round of 16, feel freed to crack open a beer during our next game.
I’d recommend Budweiser.
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Haitian-American soccer star Joe Gaetjens scored the greatest goal in American soccer history to help Team USA defeat England 1-0 in Brazil in 1950. (BBC photo)
