Brasil, MA

Posted by Adam Hart June 7, 2008 at 2:59 pm

This is going to read like an entirely intolerant post at the start. But give it a chance; you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

For Christmas I gifted my best friend TJ a pair of tickets to the June 8th FC Dallas vs New England Revolution game. Then something happened — a Brazil vs Venezuela friendly match was added to the slate of soccer at Gillette for June 6th. In hopes of maximizing the Revs fan base for the FC Dallas match, the Revs game was moved to occupy the first leg of a June 6th doubleheader. For the small price of a move to the mezzanine level and $40 parking, we were allowed to keep our tickets and attend both games. No one told us that we needed our passports, though…

–Sitting in traffic along Route 1, we see Brazil fans along the side of the road. These men are dancing, shirtless and with beer in hand, to varied Brazilian music blasting from the speakers of the cars surrounding us in traffic. The dancing helps reveal their plumber’s cracks. Not a fun sight.

–After about 30 minutes of stop-and-go on Route 1, we are finally funneled into the entrance of the gravel parking lot located immediately across from Gillette Stadium. While waiting in line to pay our $40 for parking, TJ and I roll up our windows. On either side is a large fenced in parking lot, filled with dancing Brazil fans. Some dance in truck beds. Some dance huddled around a tent. All dance with alcohol in hand. It has the feel of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Just ask Arnold. I think 90% of that clip is NSFW, but it’s tough to tell since it’s so grainy.

– We finally get the opportunity to park, and are surrounded by Brazil fans. They are everywhere. Foxborough has, for one night, turned into Brasil. Having bought a large pepperoni pizza from Papa Gino’s in East Providence, we open the box and begin to eat what we’ve smelled with great craving the entire ride. We listen to about 5 seconds of WEEI’s Whiner Line before the 20 year old Brazil fans in front of us open their trunk to reveal an expensive speaker system. These guys immediately begin blasting their music. We can no longer hear the Whiner Line. I wouldn’t mind if they are playing something good. But their music sounds like it was made with one of those electric keyboards. The type that offers both traditional piano notes and the sounds of whistles whistling, horns beeping, and dogs barking. Their music prefers the whistles and horns and dogs. TJ and I feel overwhelmed by a sense of being out of place.

– So we are surrounded by yellow jerseys, loud music, and people whose drunk conversations we can’t understand. TJ and I leave this riotous party for Gillette. The Revs game will be peaceful and noticeably more quiet. Of this we are certain.

– Fans are scattered throughout the stadium. We are joined in section 214 by some displaced Revs fans from The Fort. These teens have drums and a vocal love for soccer. Some Brazil fans have also entered the stadium, but most remain in the parking lots, committed to their rabble-rousing.

– The Revs jump out to an early 1-0 lead. A 5th minute Adam Christman goal off of Saney Nyassi’s perfect cross gives the Revs confidence. Steve Ralston adds another goal on a penalty kick. The Revs lead 2-0 at halftime.

– More Brazil fans begin to fill the seats surrounding us. Most of them speak to one another in Portuguese. It’s a little disorientating to hear people yelling and laughing, and not knowing the reason for it. For background purposes, TJ’s mother is a teacher of pre-schoolers with special needs. At a break in the action, TJ turns to me and says, “I feel like a kid in my mother’s classroom. I have no idea what is going on around me.” He then nods his head to a large group of Brazil fans standing to our left. I tell him that that was very insensitive, and he should be ashamed. Oh, who am I kidding? I laughed.

– As the game draws to a close, the stadium is coming closer to capacity. Yellow Brazil jerseys dominate the seats. In those yellow jersey are not just men, but Brazilian women and they come as advertised. Most of them wear revealing outfits with the colors of the flag, or “Brasil” written in BeDazzler. It’s awesome. See below.