Soccer Soccer Everywhere . . . .

This was the week we finally got to crow about the impending Manchester City - Inter Milan soccer match coming to M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, July 31st.

(That's Terry talking with Liz Farmer of the Daily Record about the economic impact of the event.  You can see him on video here.)

The "friendly" has been in the works a long time, and the press conference scheduled and rescheduled several times.  Having the news seep out a little early did nothing to quell the interest and enthusiasm of the press and general public in the prospects of another energetic, sold-out event this summer.

In fact, all of us have been questioned pretty much all the time about when and who the next soccer rockers were going to be. It is nice to finally be able to direct folks to ticket sales.

Particularly fortuitous about the announcement was the timing.   The Inter Milan side was in Madrid, preparing for the European Champions League final against Munich.  Inter Milan had already wrapped the Serie A and league titals;  winning the Champions League would be the equivilent of a triple crown.

Keeping soccer even more in the forefront of conversation is the impending World Cup competition in South Africa, which always brings the conversation back to --- how is Maryland doing in the bid to host a match if the US is awarded either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup?

Yes, we get asked that all the time, too.  And yes, even though the US bid has officially been delivered, Terry is still churning up support to remind US and FIFA officials that Maryland is a hotbed of soccer mania and splendid facilities.

Part of this campaign is the ongoing effort to get signers for the online petition -- the link for which is carried on this blog and also the main website.  But Terry is reaching even further -- trying to tap into every sports bar, running reminders on scoreboards, and sending email alerts to clubs and rec leagues.  (If it's possible to get an app, Terry will probably figure a way to have you vote via Iphone.)

In fact, that latest word is that our campaign has 15,000 signatures and is in the top five contenders.

It was actually part of this outreach effort that took me to Fells Point yesterday to a place where soccer-watching is said to be a religion.   Somehow this seemed to be a good choice to watch Inter Milan and see what kind of crowd really follows this stuff, and if they could somehow be incorporated into our petition signing campaign.

It's not like I'm a stranger at sports bars (as the folks in the establishment beyond centerfield will attest) but I'd never seen anything quite like this before.  For one thing, everyone in the place wore some kind of soccer shirt.  Didn't have anything to do with who was playing (although there was a sizable delegation of black and blues quaffing pints) but more a celebration of European soccer in general.   Most shirts were from English clubs, although the Croation was a colorful touch.  (As the only Saprissa in the house,  I was floored that someone actually recognized the Costa Rican purple dragon.)

I snagged a stool next to a British visitor who identified all the shirts and explained many of the soccer customs (his tutorial on the rules helped, too.)

What I was actually listening for was chatter about Inter Milan's visit to Baltimore (although there was regret expressed that Special One will probably have moved on to his next miracle by then, everyone I spoke with was planning to go) and thoughts about the World Cup (some of the zealots there were actually planning to take off work to watch the tournament to the end.)

It was an enlightening experience.  I was delighted Milan won, because that translates into even greater interest in their appearance here.  But I was genuinely astounded by the whooping and hollering that goes on while watching a soccer match halfway across the world in which not a single American seemed to be involved.

I also enjoyed explaining the role Baltimore played in the War of 1812 to the chap from Tottenham, who quickly retorted that if his side hadn't been dealing with Napolean and all his nonsense, we'd all still be part of the family.

Looking around that room at all the soccer-mad locals in their Arsenal jerseys, I couldn't help but think maybe we are.

Anyway, this was the week for soccer.  Next week, it's all lacrosse, all the time and the following week we'll be learning even more about that Indy Race that is zooming our way next year.

Sign the petition!