World Cup, Bar One-Ivory Coast vs. Argentina…

It was not the place to watch a critical game in the first set of games of the 2006 World Cup. The thought of watching the game at this bar would cross the minds of ardent fans of neither Argentina nor the Ivory Coast. In fact, it would be safe to say no one at the bar had ever been to either country or would have any inclination to go.

The two biggest TV’s did have the game on, but the others showed out of market baseball games. Instead of boisterous cheers and chants, few even bothered to acknowledge the struggle. This was not the place for soccer fans or even the blue-collared. This was a yuppie-bar.

F and I choose this place because it was the quickest walk from my parents’ home where I was still recovering from my surgery. When we got there, a disinterested waiter looked up from his paper and a bored waitress frowned when I ordered club soda, not expecting a big tip.

A few older couples ate late lunches at the tables. But they could care less about the game. Smiling at one another, they would enjoy their walk back to their homes and call the grandkids.

The game started. F and I offered modest cheers at close shots and good plays. The waitress looked up at us to question our enthusiasm for a sport that was taking up good Saturday afternoon time on ESPN.

Near the end of the first half, the Yuppies began to make their appearances. I hoped Saturday had driven them out of Clayton and further into the suburbs or fashionable gentrified areas of the city.

They came in a big group. The men dressed all in white shirts, ties undone, and slacks, not a suit among them. The women wore strapless dresses; their hair was done, and slowly removed their name brand sunglasses to give those in the bar one final look at the shades of movie stars.

“Wedding.” F pronounced and went back to the game. He has the ability to ignore Yuppies better than I. The hair always stands up on the back of my neck as the self-righteous bs piles up.

The men ordered Bud Lights, the women cocktails. From a table near the door, they chatted and left the rest of us in peace.

But like sharks to blood, the Yuppies had the sent of open booze bottles. In minutes the next one appeared. A man dressed like all the others. He took a seat with chair separating him and I. His black hair spiked and gelled; he lit a cigarette and requested a beer from the bartender. They chatted about acquaintances, his bartending job and made plans to go out some time.
Soon others joined the one with spiked hair. They all wore white shirts, ties, and slacks as the others. The one with glasses boasted about he and his friends were going to go to Germany for the games, but decided against it. He also proudly told the story of how he had showed his finance who was boss by telling her that she could not have everything in life she wanted when she asked for wedding ring a large band of diamonds. The others nodded in agreement. “Women always wanted to spend their money.”

They awed at missed goals, and gave a head tip to F and me when we did the same. Not accepting, but at least we didn’t ask for multiple thousand-dollar rings and might believe they really had a place to crash in Germany if they wanted.

Argentina won 2-1. Ivory Coast played hard. I rooted for Ivory Coast, because the war torn nation has come together to watch the team play. Maybe, I should take it as an example and be less judgmental towards Yuppies. Maybe, I will. Probably, I won’t.