First home of the season for the Arsenal and a decent show it was. The pub was alive with several Gooners, many whom I had only seen on passing occasions. I'd say it was a good 20 strong, which is a pretty decent crowd for our supporters.
I'll also give a nod for Mr. ManCity showing up on his birthday and lending his voice as we sang to the 8 or so MancScum who decided to show up. (I am actually being cordial today for some reason, don't ask why.)
As I began, the day was pretty decent; sun shining, the televisions were working, cool drinks and warm food, no major complaints from the peanuts in the gallery. However, and I should have figured on this one, LoudMouthGooner was his usual loud self.
Honestly, I don't have a problem with someone being loud from time to time but this guy is always, always loud, even for the most simplest points. That's the other end of it though, not only loud but usually very wide of the mark.
I try and ignore it but it is so hard. I usually pipe in with one or two snide comments which for the most part he can't argue with. Now, I'm not Mr. Know-it-all by far but at least I can respect another person's opinion and not have to shout mine own at them. That's so disrespectful but I don't think this guy gets it.
There came an actual point where I had enough and the argument wasn't even mine to be had. I just hated how rude he was coming off and onto a fellow Gooner. Then the brainiac started trying to come after me, overtalking and just being loud. So I do what I normally do in these situations.
I get up off my seat, walk over calmly and speak in a more hushed tone. A skill learned in customer service, someone yelling and being unreasonable, you speak quietly and slowly. This tends to throw them off and make them speak more softly.
First I corrected him on calling me an American supporter, sorry but not a big fan of Sam's Army, didn't grow up as one, never have been one, doubt I will ever be one. He backed down from the shouty rhetoric he was espousing and gave what appeared to be an apology. After which I gave him my stance on the issue and tell him how if the guy wants to speak about such and such player, then let him have his say, calm it down. Maybe in not so many words but my point was made. It was just disrespectful and that's the last thing I want to see.
Apparently, a lot more people noticed this exchange than I thought. LoudMouthGooner isn't making many friends, even amongst his own. I guess he feels he is part of something but he's alienating the very people who would include him in that something.
I headed back home for a cookout for my little cousin and decided that the weather was a little too warm. The reality was that I was being called back to the pub to meet up with ACMilan. I got to admit, one of the coolest people at the pub. He usually watches his games by himself, surrounded by the late afternoon meathead/douchebag crowd.
"Oh man, What's this? Soccer?"
"I played soccer when I was younger."
"Is this the World Cup?"
"Did you see that U.S game? That was great, wasn't it?"
I had told him before I would come out to a few games and I was feeling a need for some more football. I drop into the pub and we grab a couple of seats at the bar, order some drinks. ChelskiGirl pops in for a bit and has a Magners before going off to do her Chelski things in her Chelski world. (Barbie Girl reference if you missed it, not that she is one but that song just popped into my head.)
Meanwhile, ACMilan and I are discussing the finer points of Italian performance art surrounded by a football match, when the random guy beside me starts blurting out players names... at random.
This goes on for a while and we can't figure out if he's serious, "special" or drunk. ACMilan leans over at one point and goes "I think everyone has one of those fans. I guess this one is mine." Which is a shame since it really is just him and now this guy. The contempt on his face for this guy was classic. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation, mind you I'm sitting right next to the guy, between the two of them.
The end result was uneventful. The guy was actually wearing a Milan t-shirt with a player's name and number on the back. I can't remember who but that was a surprise and I hadn't noticed it before. I told ACMilan that I would show up for the derby next week after the Arsenal - ManU game.
I make my way down the street and at the bar next door I notice two of the more recent Arsenal converts having a couple of beers. They both head over to the bistro and I don't see them too often, so I decided to stop and say a quick hello. As usual with the Bistro Boys, they try and get me to come over for a game and how great of a place it is and how they open special for the Arsenal games.
My retort was the usual; PUB is HOME... When no one else was showing the games, they were... If I want to see FCButtcrack vs. CalcioJockitch, they will open for it... I have my loyalties.
They seem to understand but were plying hard for me to come over to the Bistro with; People are wondering where you are... they have cheap prices.. there are a ton of Arsenal supporters.
At the end of it all, we agreed to call it a draw. I can't do it, plain and simple.
Sunday - Funday had the Chelski match on. I decided to show up just to harass their lot of course. They do have a fun group of supporters. GrumpyGooner was also there so I had someone to voice my contempt with. There was one lonely Fulham fan, poor guy. We tried to lend him our support but he looked really nervous in that sea of blue. He did manage a nervous grin and head nod every now and again, Good on him for showing up and supporting his squad.
Oh and bloody Tottenham won. Bloody fahkin Spurs and their two mysterious supporters who show up. These guys are weird and not just for being Spurs fans. Just weird. An unexplainable weird which reminds me of the Catherine Tate sketch.
Monday - I did not watch the Liverpool match. I will not mention anything about that. I did however see the TallGeordie at Song's. He works near where I work, so I thanked him for letting me in line at the Chelski-Milan match and we had a short conversation about our prospective seasons. After which I offered him a Coca-Cola and we had a laugh.
It's kind of fun, taking it out of someone away from the pub and in a normal environment. The people around you have no idea what's going on and why offering someone a Coca-Cola is funny to the two pretty normal looking guys dressed in button ups and slacks.
One other quick good fortune happened today, the household television picks up GolTV. I don't understand how but I guess it's part of the standard cable package now, since the DTV upgrade. There was also some channel showing Bolton WanderersTV. I still haven't figured out exactly what channel it is because it only shows the cable company's logo at the bottom. Should probably spring for digital cable but I don't even watch television enough to even care.
C'est la vie.
~LeChat
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