A Bit of Sport

Great Gods! Moon and stars collide, a cosmic derby of churning magnetic forces right in the heart of Chinatown! Due to the early exit of the French national side from the 2008 European Cup, international footballer Thierry Henry has joined a collection of crossover hoop stars for an urban friendly in Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

Organized by basketball star Steve Nash, Henry arrived at Nike Field along with Jason Kidd, Baron Davis and others to square off against retired US national captain Claudio Reyna as part of a fund-raiser for the Steve Nash Foundation.

Nash, an avid football enthusiast, has long used football as a conditioning technique to stay fit during off-seasons. The interest seems to run in the family - his brother, a member of the Canadian national side and father, an ex-professional in both England and South Africa.


(a Nike commercial showcasing Nash's alternative regiment)

The relatively-unknown 8 v. 8 still drew enough attention to line the chain fence five rows deep, some ambitious spectators taking to the trees for a better view. Those inside the fence showed no humility, and the Unfortunates strained to view what privilege had so easily offered the few. Bodies crammed to see the athletes lead to competition. Pleads were offered from beyond the gates. "Sit down!" they cried. "We want to see, too!"

Promises were made to sit down once the match began, but when the mob's patience expired, so to the atmosphere of compromise. Curses were thrown; insults; slander.

"Fuckhead, sit down! Let us see!" yelled a man.

"Not likely, is it? Calling me 'fuckhead'..." "He is sitting down, isn't he?" joked another of his short, fat friend.

"Ah, you're just pissed that England lost in qualifying, huh?" spit the man. At this point, all four Scots turn to the fence. Any hope of compliance on their part is dashed.

"We're not fucking England supporters, you right fuck!" the tall one screamed. "And this ticket says we don't have to sit down." The man on the outside spits on the little one - spits right in his face. Phlegm is dripping down the side of his cheek. The cops were called over.

Such childishness. At a charity event.

The match began and ran smoothly, Nash scoring two goals in his sides 8-5 win. The crowd elsewhere seemed quite appreciative of the spectacle, though many seemed far more interested in the National Basketball Association's delegates then either the Internationals or the Foundation's efforts. Yet, the mere minutes that passed between Germany's narrow defeat of Turkey, advancing them to Sunday's final, and a match featuring one of the world's finest strikers on a miniature Chrystie Street pitch, revealed the great potential of coincidence and fortune.