Corintianos in DC

Last Wednesday I watched Santos X Corinthians, one of the Copa Libertadores de America's semifinal games, at Lucky Bar DC. As the name suggests, the place brings me good omens. I started to watch games there when Corinthians faced Vasco da Gama a week earlier.


The bar is famous all over the city because it is known for broadcasting sporting events. There are plenty of televisions, each one showing a different channel. You can follow many games at the same time: South American soccer, European soccer, baseball, basketball and hockey.


I arrived at the bar and was searching for the television showing Copa Libertadores, when I heard someone talking in Portuguese: "It is right here, corintiano". Everybody knows that Corinthians fans are everywhere, but it surprised me to find another fan in a not exactly touristic city like Washington DC.


Corintiano's affliction is the same anywhere, and we shared the table and the beer. His name was Ricardo, and he was in Washington for a professional training, coming from South Korea.


Everything was in perfect order. We both were cursing the referee and nobody else could understand the curses. Suddenly Emerson scored that beautiful goal and our reaction could not be more corintiana. I jumped highter than the table. Ricardo started hitting the chair with his fists. The whole bar stopped to look at us. Three American friends following me stared at us with curiosity. But everybody congratulated us.


During the break another corintiano arrived. His name was Diogo. He was studying in DC. I presented a little briefing on the game for him. He joined our table in no time. Another guy arrived, obviously not Brazilian, and asked about the game. He was Chilean and supported Universidad, the team Corinthians can face if both manage to get to the finals.



Completing the environment, another corintiano arrived. He did not introduce himself, but only left a subtle threat. "If the referee gives Santos a penalty, we break the bar down". When they cut down half of Vila Belmiro's electricity, right at the end of the game, I really wanted to break the place down.



In the end, even with a lot of extra time, everything went well for Corinthians. Both guys were going back to Brazil and have tickets for the next game in Pacaembu stadium. To meet other members of Corinthians nation is like meeting a part of my country again. Without ceremony, we shared the table, the beer and the affliction. 


Full of envy for both, I will return to Lucky Bar DC next Wednesday to keep with my short tradition that can lead my team to the first Libertadores final.


Great Corinthians, always proud, you're from Brazil, the more Brazilian club!