In 1950, the U.S. soccer teama hash of semipro players, strung together on the fly, all with humdrum day jobs — played out of their skulls against the best team in the world, England.
A 500-1 longshot at the World Cup in Brazil, against a stalwart. The result: U.S. 1, England 0.
American defender Harry Keough, recalled later in Michael Lewis’ article “Miracle on Grass,” said at the time:
“Boy, I feel sorry for these (guys). How are they ever going to live down the fact we beat them?”
Sixty years later and only this weekend might England begin to erase the memory. On Saturday, the two countries open their World Cup runs in South Africa with a Group C round-robin game in Rustenburgh. The game airs at 12:30 p.m. on KMGH-7 (ABC).
But for fans in Denver, the occasion calls for a party.
The Rapids will host a full-on block party in front of the British Bulldog pub downtown. Streets blocked off. Drinks flowing. Big, 18-foot TV screen, speakers to the sky.
Find the fiesta on Stout Street between Broadway and 21st streets, not far from Coors Field.
Now, it might rain Saturday. Forecasts call for 50s and showers. But did the U.S. team let the odds rain on them in 1950? Did a cloudy outlook keep them from having fun 60 years ago? Did Joe Gaetjens, whose diving header won it for the Americans in one of the biggest upsets ever, say to himself, “I’m just gonna stay in bed today”?
No. The game goes on. The Cup awaits.
There is a month of games still to come. But 60 years after a shocker, the Yanks and Britons renew a rivalry Saturday.
It’s kickoff time.
WORLD CUP BLOCK PARTY
U.S. vs. England, from South Africa
Watch the Group C opening match from Rustenburgh, free admission
What: 18-foot outdoor TV screen, with live game coverage
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: In front of the British Bulldog, on Stout Street between Broadway and 21st, in Denver.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Dippin’ low for sponsorship.
For the humor factor alone, it will be worth tuning in for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup race Sunday in Michigan. The race is called the “Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400.”
For a series that never met a sponsor it wouldn’t take money from, NASCAR is scraping the bottom of the barrel. And it set up a conundrum for the TV broadcast, airing on TNT at 11 a.m.
If you’re an announcer, a professional who’s spent years working up the ladder for a legitimate job reporting on a nationally broadcast sporting event, how would you feel having to say, over and over, “Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400”?
And will you honor the exclamation point? Will you say “Heluva GOOD! Sour Cream Dips 400”? It’s not good enough to just ho-hum say “heluva good sour cream dips 400.” There’s an exclamation point … in the proper title of the race.
Or maybe the announcers — and there are some fine broadcasters working NASCAR these days, including most of the play-by-play voices and the always esteemed Darrell Waltrip — will default to the track’s name, as is the custom, and simply refer to the race as the Michigan 400.
Which would you rather hear? “Kyle Busch takes the checkered flag to win the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400!” or, “Kyle Busch takes the checkered flag to win at Michigan!”
It’s a trick question. Nobody wants Kyle Busch to win.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Let’s get ready to ride.
Now in its 25th year, The Denver Post’s Ride the Rockies cycling tour kicks off another route Sunday when some 2,000 riders start the seven-day, 532-mile trek at Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction.
The tour will cover four mountain passes — Red Mountain, Coal Bank, Wolf Creek and Poncha — and the proceeds benefit local charities.
Check for information. Just FYI: All spots in the ride are taken.
On a semi-related note, runners can take part in the Run the Rockies race in Frisco. Two races, a half-marathon and a 10K, run mostly downhill, from Copper Mountain to Main Street in Frisco.
Find for info.
