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We will show the world our CLINT!
Foxboro, MA - The game was over. The US had
achieved the desired result of 3 pts in a 2-1 win over Jamaica. We
were singing and celebrating the win and then. And then the
scoreboard flashed up "Mexico 0, Costa Rica 0" After a
second, another
The
partying continued outside the stadium as we all were so happy and
ecstatic that the US had qualified. Many of us were still in shock
and disbelief at the way it all came about. We drank and hugged and
sang and drank and hugged and sang and then Ellison put on "Bombs
over Baghdad" by Outkast......a very appropriate song
considering the day's other important event and Ed took over dancing
on the roof doing the worm and break dancing and making a complete
ass out of himself having a good time. After about an hour or so of
partying outside, AND with that, the first NJB Road Trip has to qualified as a smashing success. Thanks to everyone who went on the Van. Got something to say. Send us a comment at:njb@njbrigade.com
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score
"Trinidad &Tobago 1, Honduras 0." It took a second to
register with the fans. Then we all realize what just happened. The
US just qualified for its 4th straight World Cup appearance. Everyone
left in the stadium went absolutely nuts hugging, cheering, crying,
singing and singing. The US team ran over to the Fort and J.O.B. and
Landon jumped in the crowd. Earnie Stewart and Cobi Jones were
singing and dancing to our songs and chants. Kasey Keller, wearing
Metrotard Joe's FDNY
shirt, climbed atop the goal post clapping and singing. We must have
been in there still singing and celebrating for like 30 minutes after
the game was over. This was the first time the US has qualified for
the World Cup at home since the rebirth of the US soccer program in
the late 80's. Dimitri put it best, "After watching England
qualify, I wondered what kind of feeling it must have been like for
all those fans to see the Germany score on the board and realize that
England was in the World Cup. Now I know." It was really an
unbelievable turn of events which no one really suspected. And after
watching the replay of the game, the players knew what was going on
and was just waiting and hoping for the games to end. All of us, we
had no clue and it came as a complete surprise. Surely something all
of us there, will never EVERRR forget.
This
was a day of first of sorts for the NJB. It was the first ever NJB
sponsored road trip and many of the passengers on the NJB Bus had
never been to a US game or on a road trip alone. Things didn't start
out that great for the trip on Saturday and Ed learned a valuable
lesson. You can't rent a vehicle with an expired license. Good thing
Big Pappa K took him to Ayers Chevrolet so he was kind enough to rent
the van for his son. (So yes, the whole trip we were breaking the law
by having Ed drive.) After getting the van back to Hopatcong, Ed, Rob
and Dimitri customized the vehicle to give a NJB like feel to it with
big letters, colors and Flags. The NJB Bus meeting point was in Parsippany,
NJ at 6 AM. A very nice location since we were right next to Route
287. Leaving at 
6 though, meant (1.) we all had to wake up early or
not go to sleep like Ed and (2.) it was freaking cold out. After
waiting for 25 minutes for Dyer's loser friends who didn't show, we
departed for Foxboro around 6:45. As a special treat, Ed gave
everyone who went a NJB shirt as a present (he didn't know that free
ones were being given away at the game.) Like every other trip on Rt
95, we had to stop and slow down to pester the Concacaf-American fans
on the way up there to support their crap team. Dyer was at his best
after we hit the first rest stop. While half of our crew was pissing,
some Jamaican guy said something and Dyer broke out the "Cool
Runnings" theme song and he never stopped. He knew every damn
word to it. It was so hard to piss cuz we all were laughing so hard.
More on Dyer and his "Cool Runnings" later though.
We
got to Foxboro by about 10:30 ish, which wasn't that bad at all. We
blatantly disregarded every parking attendants traffic directional
pointing fingers and found our way to the Midnight Riders tailgate
area. On a side not: Not to diss, the Screaming Eagles, well yes to
diss the Screaming Eagles, the Midnight Riders know what it means to
be a US Supporter. They didn't have tickets for food or beer that you
had to pay for.....they just had food and jello shots for all US fans
and even went around offering it to people. Great Steak tips. Kudos
to Monty and the rest of MR crew from the NJB. We were lucky to get
there right when we did. No sooner did Ed get out of the van, in
which he left the lights on, but Mark Spacone of Sam's Army fame was
there letting him know that US Soccer would cart the BAF into the
stadium for us. THANK YOU DRIVE THRU. And with that, some 
US
Soccer peeps came to the tailgate area and took in the BAF and our
300 streamers thus relieving us of having to carry the BAF up the
hill and in the stadium and having to deal with the security hassle.
After bout an hour or so, another van rolled up right next to the NJB
BUS. And lookie lookie, it was Kevin, Serg, Brent and the rest of the
ESC crew. Soon after, the newlyweds made their way to the the NY/NJ
tailgate 
area,
it was good to see Jon and Jas again. The Yanker Mob Up started at
12:00 so some of the guys went in with the boys with the Big Rattler
flag. Outside though, the tailgating continued and when we found out
that we had started to bomb the Taliban, we could be heard singing
"Proud to be an American" and "This land is your
land."Around 12:30 or so, the rest of the NJB crew headed up the
hill and towards Foxboro. Outside the gates as the fans waited to be
searched, Ed, Dimitri & Angelica went around handing out all of
the 900 Operation God Bless America flyers we brought with us to let
the rest of the fans know what we planned on doing at the 9:11 mark
of the first half. We walked up and down the long line of fans
waiting to get in and handed out every single one. Hopefully those
people got up and sang the song.
Upon
arriving to the Section, everyone received a complimentary shirt
from Phillips, US Soccer and Sam's Army with that lame ass official
chant of US Soccer on the back. The free shirt was cool, but it was
kinda sad to see how Sam's Army sold out with the whole official
chant thing. Mark tried numerous times to get the chant to go during
the game obviously because that was part of the agreement with the
shirts. But there is a problem, the chant sucks. It really sucks. As
soon as you hear it, you know its doomed to fail. How could someone
in US soccer hear this and go "YES, this is it." Anyway,
rest assured the NJB will never sell out like that.....EVER. Just one
more reason why we love the ESC too......we wanted no part of the
official Metros song cuz well, that sucked too. If you don't have the
most vocal fans behind the chant or song, it will never work.
During
the anthem, a special "AMERICA, YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE"
banner was held up below the BAF to show respects to the families of
those involved in the 9-11 tragedies, to the rescue workers, to
basically every American there is.....we don't know who paid for the
banner, but good work all the same. After the anthem, Ed ran up to
buy a beer for Dimitri and himself. Every time they have a beer in
their hands, which hampers their celebrating abilities, the US comes
out and scores. AND guess what? Within 4 minutes, Joe-Max was putting
the US up 1-0 and Ed and Dimitri still had beers in their hands.
Shortly after, the US had another good chance, but that was saved by
the Jamaican keeper. Then we came to the 9 minute mark of the first
half and everyone fell silent and the drumming stopped. Once the
clock hit 9:11, everyone began singing "God Bless America"
as loud as they could....then when it was over the BAF made a rare in
game appearance....It was quite an experience to be involved
in......so much national pride goes in these game to begin with and
for many of us, going to this game and screaming our asses off for
the country we love is all that we could really do to show our
support for the country.
When
the US scored early, we were all hoping they wouldn't relax and try
to hold onto the lead like they did vs Honduras which didn't really
work. Only like 12 minutes after the US took the lead, they gave it
up to Jamaica. Were we witnessing a repeat performance? The US had
some good chances but they couldn't find the net....and the linesman
made some really really shitty offside calls for the US. At least
three really bad ones. The US came out strong in the second half and
applied lots of pressure...John O'Brien played some fantastic soccer.
He made some nice runs, some nice passes, had some nifty moves and
some really close shots. He nearly missed one midway thru the half and a great
individual run and subsequent move left a Jamaican with his pants
down in the box but Earnie couldn't finish the cross. Finally the US
got its break. Landon Donovan, who had been making great runs all
day, got behind the Jamaican defense and he cut with the ball on a
dime. Tyrone Marshall came in and completely took out Landon, didn't
even touch the ball. A most blatant PK if we ever saw one. Up stepped
Joe-Max and he buried in the right corner although for a second it
looked heading wide.... The US just tried holding on for the rest of
the game and required a Jeff 
Agoos clear off the line (questionable
as to if it was going in but clear first, ask questions later) to
preserve the lead. When the final whistle sounded, the place erupted
as the US had won this must win game. The Singing of "God Bless
America" and "America the Beautiful" continued and
then the game was over. And then and then......see the first paragraph.
we
started to get ready to leave and the van wouldn't start. WAY TO GO
ED....leaving the lights on and the keys in the ignition too far to
listen to tunes. So after a quick jump, we folded up the Big Ass Flag
which is a very difficult procedure and headed home. On the way out,
we ran into a few Jamaican fans leaving and Dyer pulled his "Cool
Runnings" routine again for us. Not the whole song but the
Bobsled run from their 3rd run. Funny stuff. We stopped at Papa
Ginos' for pizza and left the car running the whole time for fear of
it not starting -WAY TO GO AGAIN ED-. On the way home, Ed was all
over the road driving.....getting no sleep will do that you, so he
was relegated to the back seat and Ellison took over from Rhode
Island and drove all the way back to NJ. 'Mad Props' to Ellison for
taking the reigns and closing out the ride home.
