Trailing Spouse Saw His First Pro Soccer Game

Lulu had to stay back in London for her classes - so Keith and I
caught a plane for Stuttgart to see a soccer game - his favorite team
is the London Arsenal team.

Our plane tickets cost 10 pounds ($20.00) - I am not kidding. With
taxes they were a little more. RyanAir.com has cheap flights all over
Europe. The inside of their planes is more like a bus.

First - we stopped in Tubingen to see the University founded by Duke
Hertzog Eberhard (The Bearded One). We found a bust of Eberhard there.

Then - we drove to Stuttgart and found Eberhard Street. We also found
this gigantic courtyard statue of Duke Eberhard on his horse. My name
was Eberhard before the family changed it to Everhart when they moved
to America.

Today - we went to the gigantic Mercedes Benz Museum. After that we
toured the plant where they make 1600 Mercedes A class engines a day.

Later that evening - we went to the soccer game - Stuttgart versus
Arsenal. This would be like the NFL in America but they wear short
pants and really kick the ball. It was my first professional soccer
game. The most interesting thing is how they treat their opposing
fans. Just like FSU has a small corner section for visitors - they do
that here. Except - the visitor section had an 8 foot high fence
around it. You feel like you are in a cage at the game. The cage
extends all the way to the bathrooms - the concession stand - and the
gate. Outside the gate is a cattle trough made of heavy gauge steel
wire that leads you almost two blocks away from the stadium. There is
absolutely no interaction between the two crowds - except jeering
thru the fence. They also sing the entire game.

The game itself - was okay. The players get paid like NBA basketball
stars - millions of euros. The teams trade players like horse meat.
The games are very low scoring - many times ending 0 to 0. I guess I
just don't "get it." I am convinced that if America would start a
topless women's soccer league - men still would not watch it.

But how many times do you get the chance to share a few days in
Germany alone with your 30 year old son? Times like this come along
less and less - and it is fun sharing a few common bonds - sports -
cars - and German beer. It could not have happened without all of
Lulu's planning and the FSU Study Center in London. Go Lulu - Go Noles
- and Go Arsenal. We won 3 - 1.