First Person: Odd Man Out In USA - Honduras Viewing

When the USA team qualified for the World Cup this past October, I was at La Escondida II, a bar in Pleasantville, NJ, just outside Atlantic City to watch the USA/Honduras match.

The bar was showing a broadcast with a Spanish feed, which was fine, as I speak a little Spanish.

There were about 125-150 people in the packed bar. 98% of them were wearing Honduran blue.

The other 1.9999% were wearing something soccer related, but not US colors. I was in my white Nats jersey.

Even though I was there to cheer for the U.S., the people were all pretty cool.

Some guys even tried to start conversations, but I had to say, "Yo no entendio Espanol muy bien (I don't understand Spanish that well)," and smile.

When Honduras scored the first goal, the place felt like a stadium. It was literally rocking up and down. The cheers were deafening. I got jostled a little. It didn't happen maliciously; it was just that everyone was happy!

Well, everyone except me, of course.

Then when Conor Casey's goal rolled in, of everyone in that huge crowd I was the lone person making any sound.

Wow - that was absolutely strange.

Up until then, I figured there were at least a few other US supporters sprinkled about, but no, that guess was completely wrong.

It was kind of like the Animal House moment, when Otter walks into the bar and shouts to the band - "Otis, my man!" - and the whole bar just stops and looks.

It was the same thing on the last two goals.

Out of courtesy to the downcast Hondurans, my joy had to be somewhat subdued. I only shared through calling and texting my son.

He was at home in West Chester, PA with only Twitter and a spotty matchtracker to follow the game.  When the final whistle blew, I quietly finished my beer and filed out as quickly as possible.

What an amazing half of soccer that was, perhaps the most exciting/happy half I've ever watched in my life.

Joe Grady, Goal.com

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