Free Beer For Life? The Beautiful Game, Indeed
Almost exactly a decade ago, a few of us attended the '98 World Cup in France. (I actually left for Paris the day after the Wings finished their sweep of the Washington Capitals.) And while there, we spent a loooong night with a group of Austrian soccer fans on the Champs-Elysees.
I'm reminded of that as I read about some of the entertaining sidebar stories around this year's Euro2008, a quadrennial event that rarely disappoints. Austria, the co-host of this year's tournament, is ranked 92nd in the world. Austria has no shot at winning it, the Greeks' remarkable 2004 miracle run notwithstanding.
But free beer for life? And government-directed assassination plots? (OK, so I'm exaggerating a bit there.) And Dutch treats like this?
Now you're talkin'.
I know, I know. They've already banned the free beer. But I know a few crazy Austrian fans who'll be more than happy to buy Mr. Vastic a few rounds.
