Rome-ing, part 2

In which our host keeps a running tab of his thoughts during this year's Champions League Final:



First Half:

• In Rome there are sports and there are bars. Yet there are no sports bars.



• I've yet to see a Bayern kit that doesn't look dorky.



• More people here now. This is good. This is perfect.



• I can just sit back and enjoy the game, safe in the knowledge that Chelsea won the domestic double and ManU won SFA.



• K. Kickoff. Inter looks composed. Bayern looks jittery.



• Wow. We really, really overparent back home. To my now-conditioned eyes, EU parents look almost criminally negligent. Where's the bag? Where's all the stuff? You can't go out with a kid without stuff, can you?



• How nice not to hear Don Cherry.



• 14:16 - ok, both sides settling down now.



• Lots. Of. Diving. jeez loueez.



• Europe still runs on people.



• Well, I always do get kinda sick when I travel. Perhaps a week of 16-hour days has something to do with it?



• Why is the announcer calling them "Bayern Monaco?"



• Arjen Robben has explosive quickness.



• Robben vs. Sneijder is a key matchup, methinks. Just better be sure they don't injure each other before the World Cup.



• Wow. Bayern sure are an ugly bunch.



• I think I'm going to start writing in all caps and serif fonts. I'm starting to like it.



• Bayern is dominating possession by 2/3 but not doing much with the ball. "keep away! keep away!"



• Poor dogs. Wonder if they ever get to walk on grass in this town.



• Lots of shots for Bayern, none of them tough.



• GOAAAAAAAAAL! Milito!



• Replay: perfect first touch from the goal kick. Perfect angle on the pass. Perfect finish. No chance for Butt.



• Inter wants more now. You can feel it.



• Odd that people see this as a "Germany vs Italy" thing. I mean, the "German" team is coached by a Dutchman and their star player is French. The "Italian" team is coached by a Portuguese who's on record as hating the Italian soccer establishment, and their star striker is from Cameroon.



• Inter is moving it well. They've got the angles down. Mourinho really has them in a groove. Bayern by comparison is boring. They've gotta come up with something soon or it's all gonna be over. They really, really miss Ribery.



• How about that. Christophe Lambert makes wine.



• A lot has changed in Europe in the last 20 years. Not the music, though. That still sucks.

Half-Time

• Hmmm...there are no direct routes back to the hotel. Or to anywhere else, for that matter.



• Funny ad for a GPS: A very old, very tired stork flying around with a very old man.

Second Half

• Wow. The runway at the Madrid stadium has granite filigreed walls. These are the new cathedrals, people. Logos the new iconography.



• Chance for Bayern. Well, ok, that was something. But they still look unsure. Lots of "i got it, you take it" going on.



• So, if Inter does take it, do we have to add an asterisk? *Yah, but without Ribery it was easy...



• Do peanuts count as dinner?



• Where's my autographed copy of Fabrizio's Return? I think I lent it out and it never came back.



• Another easy one for Julio Cesar. Well, at least Bayern are trying.



• Ok. Now that was close.



• These are really crappy napkins.



• Getting sleepy.



• GOAAAALLLLL! Milito di nuovo!



• Made them look very foolish.



• Some American teens behind me are trying to figure out their Euros. Guys, it's simple: the bigger the bill, the more beer it will buy.



• Nearly 4 days in Rome and I haven't seen one backpack. Bless.



• 76th minute: Robben still playing like he cares, but I think his supporting cast has checked out.



• Olic coming out. There's the white flag right there.



• Quit complaining, van Brommel. You know your cleats were up.



• Inter playing with purpose. Bayern is just passing it around.



• 86th minute. Bayern gets it into the 18-yard box, Inter calmly removes it.



• Possession time: Bayern - 69 percent. Astounding. Yet nothing to show for it. Paging Monsieur Ribery....



• 91st minute: Enter Materazzi. You could say i have mixed feelings about seeing him win.



• final whistle. The Special One is now ever more Special. Now. Where can I find a cab?

Reference: http://claydevoute.blogspot.com/2010/05/rome-ing-part-2.html