Last Wednesday, I read the paper too late in the afternoon and missed the China vs.
Russia quarter final world cup soccer match playing at Spartan Stadium here in San
Jose, only a short drive from my house. When I found out the next day that the U.S. was
playing Brazil in the semifinals at Stanford Stadium, much like the men's teams did in the
last world cup a few years hence also on July 4th, I could not resist ordering tickets for
it. Not only because I knew that the U.S. team was favored to win this time, I also
wanted to see how well they can accommodate wheelchair spectators.
Last time I attended the Stanford Stadium, I made the mistake of parking on campus.
As a result, we missed the first half of the game and had to spend two hours afterwards
just to clear the campus. This time we parked in a residential area about half a mile away
and wheeled in along the sidewalks with many other smart fans. Soon I found
out I shouldn't just follow the crowd for my wheelchair cannot negotiate uneven dirt
fields like walkers can. We had to go a long way around on path roads. Thanks to my
companion, Amy, dispite her diminutive build, her occasional push saved me from
exhaustion. The gates to the stadium were too narrow for the wheelchair; the guard
had to unlock a wider gate for me. While most fans had to walk up many stairs
to their seats, I rolled through a tunnel to our section. The attendant guided us to where
wheelchairs could park and explained to us that my tickets were for seats not really
accessible to me but were very close to where I was parked. They allow one companion
to seat next to you on a folding chair. The wheelchair parking area is rather close
to the field at about the 25-yard line. So, I couldn't complain. I remembered the last few
times, in my pre-injury days, I was seated in a regular bench where the seats are
marked narrower than most people's behind. Arguments became inevitable when someone
came late and found his seat was between seats. Maybe Delta Air can learn a thing
or two from Stanford so that it will not be necessary to bump passengers off their
over booked flights!
This time we were seated a whole hour before game time. Quite an accomplishment for
a Wong who is used to keeping Wong time! Even though the sun was bright and hot, it
turned out to be a prudent move to come early. Many fans missed the throw in and head in
scored by Cindy for the U.S. team because they were merely five minutes late.
During the pre-game chitchat, the proud black gentleman sitting next to me, with
his cane securely held in his hands, could not resist introducing himself to me as
the father of the starting goalie of the U.S. team. Lucky I did my homework ahead of
time; I was able to immediately address him as Mr. Scurry. I could sense that he
enjoyed the instant recognition. That was the least I could do to thank him for raising an
MVP for the U.S. team. Briana Scurry is one of the two black players on the team.
There was an article in the San Jose Mercury News talking about how girl soccer, unlike
little league baseball and basketball, is dominated by whites and only barely
touched by the upper middle class of the minorities. He told me how he wanted
Briana to play basketball for it is much easier to get an athletic scholarship. But she
wanted to play soccer and he had to spend more than $10,000 to install a satellite antenna
for watching soccer games and their wide screen TV became the community theater for
her high school buddies. I wonder if my humble investment of $500 for a 6-inch
reflector telescope had influenced my son, Michael, to major in Planetary Science? Mr.
Scurry told me how proud he was when he got a phone call during Briana's junior year
in college that she finally got her scholarship. I also learned that Briana can
touch 13 feet on a vertical jump. My god, she can do a slam-dunk easily on a
basketball court. He also told me that she plans to go to law school after her
soccer career and in the meantime she is investing her soccer fortune in real
estate. Who would want to stop a proud father from bragging about his well
accomplished daughter?! I am glad that in this capitalistic society, she is well
compensated for her service on the national team. Briana put on a dazzling display
that day before an announced crowd of 73,000 at Stanford Stadium. When she towered
over three Brazilians to pluck away a corner kick, and later deflected a powerful shot
wide, I said to Mr. Scurry that he must be immensely proud of her at those moments.
His eply: "Oh Lord, you bet!" all in one breath. Thanks to her
performance, the Brazilians were shut out, 2 to 0! The next day, I found out
from the paper that his first name is Ernest. I am glad I went to the game, Mr. Ernest
Scurry, otherwise I would not have had the pleasure of meeting you, would not have
been able to enjoy the grandiose game atmosphere, would not have been able to join
in the rhythmic shouting of USA, would not have had the chance to participate
in the arm waving tildal wave that traveled round and round the stadium. For moments
like these, I am glad that I don't have ESPN.
At 12:50 p.m. on this Saturday is the final - USA vs. China at the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena. 87,000 seats already sold out. We will have the dubious pleasure of not
knowing which team to root for! Maybe we just root for both! Don't forget to tune in on
ABC.
Later that night, we drove down to Lafeyette Street to watch the Great America
Fireworks display. I drove past the little empty yard where we parked in previous
years, it was already full. After some struggling, we found a spot at the end of a bus
stop. I didn't bother to get out of my Van and just watched the display through the
driver's side window. Luckily, it was perfect for viewing. This year they put on
some new displays that exploded into a valentine shape and some in a five point star
shape slightly distorted by the prevailing breeze. After the grand finale, we made a big U
turn at a stop light and went back in the direction we came. That saved a good hour and
half from the usual traffic jam. I am proud of myself for avoiding traffic jams on
multiple occasions this July 4th drawing on my rich experiences. A perfect day, and
I hope it will be a good beginning for us.
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