EuroCup 2008

As most of you probably know by now, Spain won the 2008 EuroCup. Both the semifinals and the finals took place since I have been here in Spain and both games were shown on big screen TVs in the cities that I was in. I watched the semifinals last Thursday in the Colon (Christopher Columbus) Plaza with about 100,000 other spaniards. It was incredibly crowded so I left at halftime but it was an awesome experience and I even learned a few fight songs. Europeans are incredibly enthusiastic about their soccer and it felt like everyone in the city was in the plaza watching the game. Even though it was crowded I am taller than most Spaniards here so seeing the screen was no problem. Face paint is a huge deal for soccer games so everyone had their flag painted on there face and the mural on the side of a huge building of the new Incredible Hulk movie was included. Even the Hulk had his flag face paint!

On Sunday, I arrived in Valencia and watched the game right beside the soccer stadium here with about 20,000 other people. Even though there were less people here in Valencia to watch the game it was still ridiculous. Everyone was equipped with fireworks, cannons, air horns, flags, jerseys, and all of the beer and cigarettes anyone could ever want. The celebration of the victory lasted into the morning with the spanish honking their horns constantly. At one point in the plaza near the stadium here in Valencia, people climbed upon on a statue of a horseback rider to lead the celebration.