Media Relations

A big part of my job is working with journalists. Basically this means getting positive stories about Coca-Cola and specifically in regards to the company’s sponsorship of FIFA World Cup.

One way we do this is by having a “booth” at the Berlin Media Center. This is where all the accredited journalists work. It has been fun today talking to all the Argentine journalists that have descended here to cover the match against Germany.

More photos at the Media Center

Scalpers

This guy offered me 800 Euro for my ticket to the match. Face value was 120 euro. These fans are keen to see a game and the entrepreneurs are out in force.

And look for me at tomorow's quarter-final Germany vs. Argentina in the Berlin Olympiastadion. Should be great.

Show Your Colors

A big part of being a football fan is to show your support by wearing the colors of your team. Sure you could just wear say, green, white and red to support Mexico. But why stop there? How bout a team jersey? Or a team scarf? And you must carry around the national flag. Paint your face, blow into a noisemaker, shave designs into your hair or get a tatto.

OK, maybee just a shirt...

Food and Drink

Yes, there is plenty of bratwurst, hefe weissen and frankfurters... But paella? The large crowds and party atmosphere in the central areas of downtowns and near stadiums attracts a slew of independent vendor food stalls. There is a multi-cultural variety in the food selections. But it is tough to beet a brat and bier.

Real Football Fans

Time to take another break and head down to Frankfurt for the Argentina vs. Netherlands match. I now understand why a 0:0 score can actually provide some great drama. These are two storied national teams. Argentina is a perennial contender, having qualified for 14 World Cups and taken home the trophy twice. And, of course, is the home of Diego Maradona, who is second only to Pele in the pantheon of soccer legands. (By the way, Maradona was at the match, as evidenced by appearance on the four-screen jumbotron suspended above the pitch).

Holland isn't too bad either. They've never won but they made it to the final twice, coming up short both times. But their fans are among the best. Especially since most were decked out in day-glo orange. This is apparently from William of Orange who was a founding father of the country. Regardless of history they look a bit silly. Like hunters without shotguns.

Both fans cheered on their teams with gusto. The Dutch had some typical chants. But the Argentines have an elaborate chant that includes lots of "Ole, ole, ole, ole"s a few references to Argentina and some other Spanish. Couldn't understand the language, but the emotion was clear.

The fans took turns with the chants. At one point late in this nil-nil contest, the German fans started a "Deutschland, Deutschland!" chant. (Lots of Germans everywhere). And at the end everyone celebrated as though their team had one.

This is a totally different approach to a game. No winner. No loser. Just a celebration of sport and the athleticism of the participants. I can't imagine an American football fangetting excited about a zero-zero game. But having been to this game, I have a new respect for the "beautiful game."

The Argentines start their kids rooting for the home team pretty young.

Yes, I am Working

It's not all play and going to watch football. I'm managing media relations at the Coca-Cola Football Camp. That means I work to get journalists to cover the program we are running here. As a main sponsor of FIFA World Cup, Coca-Cola gets to select kids to carry the flags of each nation playing in a match. These kids walk onto the field right before the game begins and hold the national flag while the anthems of each nation are played.

While in Germany, the kids from 27 nations are housed in the football camp and part of their activities include spending a day at a football clinic. Journalists are interested in this kind of thing and I've hosted media from Turkey, Czech Republic, Thailand, England, Sweden and Mexico. I'm expecting some guys from China today.

Pele undt Petro

No telling who you'll run into over here in Germany. Here I am with Pele. Just a sponsor promotion (MasterCard), but clever. Actually Pele is on TV every night giving commentary. Seems to have taken over the title of most recognized man in the world from Ali. We are also seeing a lot of Maradona. And plenty of German footballers also.

Koln

While many of you may have been interested in the U.S. vs. Italy match last night, I was in Cologne for a showdown between Czech Republic and the "Black Stars" of Ghana. Mostly though I was there to entertain a producer from one of the biggest TV stations in Germany, RTL. As Andreas, the producer, is from a town very close to Koln, I had a tour of the central city before we went to the match.

We had a look at the Kolner Dom, a beautiful Gothic-style cathedral whose construction began in the 1200's and was completed in 1880. It houses the relecis of the three wise men (Magi). Then we walked thorugh the downtown area. All relatively new construction as this city was completely destroyed in WWII.

We stopped by a local brewery to try a Kolsch beer. It is the traditional beer of the city. It is clear beer with a light hoppiness to it. And it is served in long, thin glasses that hold only about 10 ounces. Apparently only brewerys with a view of the Kolner Cathedral can call their beer kolsch. We stood at a bar table that we shared with Greek-speaking Argentinians. (Yes it is a very small world). The bar waiters don't even ask if you want another beer. As soon as you are finished they will bring you a fresh one until you ask them to quit.

We did make it over to the match and had a good time celebrating afterwards. Everyone was temporarily a fan of Ghana, as it was a great underdog victory. Photos posted below.

Czechian Greek

So I'm watching the match and out of the corner of my eye I see a fan waiving a flag, which is not uncomon. What was different was that this was a Greek flag. Now, Greece did not qualify for the World Cup (in fact they have never made an appearance). But here was a fan dressed all in Czech colors waving a Greek flag at a football match in Koln, only two rows in front of me.

Naturally at halftime, I went down there and chatted. He is Dimitri, from Athens, but his wife is Czech. His explination was that he thought he could get on TV with this unusual combination of support.

The Cologne Cathedral (Kolner Dom). Beautiful church.

Another great day for World Cup football in Cologne. This is Czech Rep vs. Ghana

View from our seats

The crowd were mostly Czech fans, but there were a surprising number of people from Ghana.

On the way to the match with a TV producer and now a friend, Andreas. It was a great sunny day in Koln, perfect for some World Cup football.

Ghanans dancing to the beat of their own drummers before the match in Cologne. There were quite a lot of supporters of this good African team. And they surprised everyone with a shock victory over the Czechs.

Train Travel

My current home base in Germany is Kirchheim, a sleepy village in the heart of the country close to Frankfurt. But well chosen for it is an easy train ride to all 12 host cities where the World Cup matches are held. And while we have a car&driver, my growing preference is to travel by rail.

It is really too bad that the US doesn't have such a system. Just walking into a major train station gets your heart pumping. The bustle of activity, vendors selling pastries and coffee, the newstand with all the European papers, all types of people coming and going -- business men, backpackers, tourists.

It puts going through a major US airport to shame. No check-in, no long security lines, nobody asks you to take off your shoes, no boardng passes. And then you find your platform and board your train where you can work, sleep, read or just pass the time watching the countryside go by. You can talk on your mobile phone whenever you want. They don't force bad food or movies on you. If you feel like a cup of coffee you walk down a few cars and take a seat at the dining car. Oh, and you can set your watch by departure and arrival times. I flew 60K+ miles on US airlines last year and I don't think I had a single on-time departure.

Fan of the Day

Much like the Olympics, spectators and even fans without tickets are keen to support their home country by displaying their patriotic colors. They paint faces, wear country flags draped over their backs and other crazy stuff. My colleagues were at a match in Nuremberg last night where England took on Trinadad&Tobago. They said the Trinidadians were running about with drums, tambourines and horns for their celebrations.

I took the picture here of German fans at a train station in Munich. Gota love the spirit.

Tip of the Day

To add some excitement to our days here and enhance the thrill of watching the WC, we have a staff football pool going. Everyone has put in their picks for winners and score of the first 32 matches of the "Group Play" round. One point for picking the winner and two additional points if you pick the right score. Right now one of our drivers, Nicky, is leading. I'm in fourth place.

Was thinking that if people in the US were as passionate about football as the rest of the world, Vegas would be netting a few more billion dollars every year.

Oh, and they don't call them picks. Instead everyone says "what is your tip?". My tips today are Ecuador vs. Costa Rica 1:0, England vs. Trinidad & Tobago 1:0 and Seden vs. Paraguay 1:2. (There is also a different way of writing football scores)

Either way, my tip is watch some football if you can.

Habla Futbol?

Can't tell if these guys are legal, but you have to admire the sombreros. This is at the Frankfurt train station.

Watching the FIFA World Cup

We are now are going on day six of the World Cup and it seems that all of Germany is falling into a pace of life that is dictated by the airing of WC matches. Since the double header on opening day, there have been three matches per day. The first at 3:00 p.m. when people start to take a break from work to sample some of the action while they continue to do other things. It might be a light match like Angola vs Portugal. By 6:00 p.m. everyone is in full swing for the second match and the viewing starts in earnest. Then the nightcap is usually a great match. For example I’m watching the great Rolandihnio playing for Brasil against Croatia now on a game that kicked off at 9 p.m..

By my count there have been 15 matches so far and I’ve been to one in person and have watched at least part of 13 other games. I guess I’ve caught the fever.

Whoa, what’s this? A Croation fan just ran onto the pitch. Complete with painted face and starts kissig the feet of a player on his national team. I’m not joking. And now Croation fans in their red and white checkerboard shirts are lighting flares in the stands. This is making the Oakland Raiders games look like a break on the Mr. Rogers show.

What are you watching?

Deutschland über alles

Along with 68,000 Germans and a couple thousand Costa Ricans, I was at the Allianze Arena one of the most modern football stadiums in the world. This was passionate football. Pele walked out onto the pitch for the pre-match Opening Ceremonies. Things started off with a bang with three scores inside 20 minutes. The Germans were cheering, chanting, waving flags and generaly being elated over the home team victory. Been too busy to write much, but I'll fill you all in when I have more time.

Are You Ready for Some Futbol?

Just got word today that I'm heading to Munich for the Opening Match of the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006. It's a heimspiel (kinda means home field advantage) for the Germans. Should be magnificent in the new Alianz stadium and 60 thousand crazed football fans.

Will send pix of this incredible match! Watch for me. Game is on ESPN2 at noon on Friday.

Off to Germany for another long stay to support an international sporting festival. This time, FIFA World Cup -- Germany 2006. The most-watched sporting event on the planet. Too bad Greece did not qualify after such a showning in the Euro 2004. (See photo of Greek fan). I'll try to keep everyone up to date on my travels and adventures.

My love to Eleni and everyone as I go off on new travels.