Alagaesian

Fat and fat and drunk and series champs… better stick to Norwegian…

28th October 2007 will be remembered for the longest time in Bergen when Brann was handed the championship in style.  They won 5-2 to Viking – thanks to the heroes of the game Helstad, Azar and Huseklepp!

Brann is not the only winners that night.  Bars were filled up with crowds in front of big screens.  We stayed in Jacob’s and downed glasses of half-liters and Jægermeisters.  After which when we were satisfied and ready to party, went out for a walk to Festplassen with our gulløl at hand to join the huge crowd.

Huge turnout in the stadium and more so in Festplassen for the party afterwards.  The Brann songs, which I have almost memorized, were played in the concert to the huge enjoyment of the football crowd. 

It’s the craziest Sunday ever in Bergen.  And what’s amazing is that the rains and wind stopped in time for the party!

Only in Bergen…

Technorati Tags: brann, seriemester, 2007, bergen, norge, fotball

And then finally, after 44 years of waiting, the Premier League Championship comes home to Bergen!

… albeit a few days delayed. 

Brann lost to Ålesund last Saturday 2-1, delaying a big celebration anticpated by 10,000 people in the Sentrum under a big screen tv and with organizers ready to light the fireworks.  Tonight however, Viking beat Ståbæk 2-1, wiping out any chances of the Championship being stolen from Brann this year.

Gold will be everywhere for the next few weeks until the last game on 3.November.  Gold buses, gold taxis, gold sausages and yes – gold beer.  I bought 2 packs last Friday which was supposed to be opened last week.  I just opened one now to celebrate a bit!

Big day for Bergen!  And more partying on Sunday!

Technorati Tags: brann, bergen, seriemester, fotball, norge

It was karaoke night last Thursday… err perhaps that might be Friday technically – at 2am.  I was in Oslo for some meetings and seminar.  As in all trips – networking is imperative.  A generally accepted business term, ergo an excuse, to go out for drinks.

Some Danish guys insisted on going to the karaoke bar ‘Zinatra’ in Aker Brygge.  Surprise surprise, it wasn’t someone from Asia who initiated the karaoke.  Of course – I just had to demonstrate my singing prowess… hehe…

I was the last act or closing act for the night.  Call it the finale or the decided to close down after i sang…  can go both ways… but hopefully my fans liked it.  Initally I chose Wonderful Tonight – but the CD didn’t work; then I chose Crazy For You – and the CD was missing.  Then I just settled for the basic Beatles classic – All My Lovin’. 

Felt like a rock star!  Woohoo!

Technorati Tags: karaoke, zinatra, aker, brygge, oslo

Amazing game between Brann and Lyn tonight under a big screen in Festplassen! 

Brann 1-0 Lyn 15 min

Brann 1-1 Lyn 86 min

Brann 2-1 Lyn 90 min

Brann 3-1 Lyn 93 min

2 points during overtime care of Karadas brought home the gold to Bergen. 

Excellent plays by the team who seemed to be in control all through out the game… plus with never-say-die Solli who brought the ball almost home for n times but not quite.  All of which made standing up for almost 2 hours out in the cold (2 C) windy night worthwhile… at least it wasn’t raining!

Brann is now leading 9 points from Stabæk and 3 games away from sealing the deal formally.  But everyone is already gearing up for partying. 

If Brann gets at least 1 point from the next 3 games, and even if Stabæk wins all their last 3 matches, there’s no stopping Bergen from getting a second taste of the Championship in 44 years!

Bergen ex-mayor Friele has promised big screens in the last 3 matches until Brann finally seals the championship deal.  “We will send up so much fireworks that they who thinks they can stay home and sleep must think twice.  No one will get to forget this time that Brann wins the gold.”

Lastly, I didn’t need any help translating that last quote from Norwegian!

Technorati Tags: brann, norge, fotball, bergen

73 – 64 against UE… and then the world turned green!

So was the result of the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Phils.) Basketball Championship back in Manila.  After being suspended a year from the games, La Salle is back on top after a so-so season, finally beating UE who sweeped the eliminations 14-0 (yeah yeah – it’s adding insult to injury – so sue me!). 

Unfortunately for me, I’m stuck on watching the final minutes of the games in Youtube (thank God for Youtube).  Even then, I can almost taste the excitement and victory back from watching 4 straight championships live during my university days!

Animo La Salle!

Technorati Tags: uaap, la, salle, ue, basketball, championship, 2007

Sunday is the start of an interesting week in sports… Looking forward to the Philippine collegiate basketball championship (UAAP) where my uni is gunning for the championship title yet again (more on that later).  And on the Norwegian Football Premier League.

Today’s paper headlines a 96.9% chance of Brann getting the championship!  Gullfesten (Championship Party) is already being arranged in the Sentrum for Monday with a big screen link up to the stadium for Brann’s 4th to the last match (the local gov’t is prepared to spend about NOK 1M).  Although there are 4 more matches to go until November, with 7 points in the lead – all the statistical probabilities were checked and rechecked to confirm that the Championship Will Come Home (Gullet ska hem)!

So all of Bergen have their fingers crossed and I should be buying my Brann scarf soon.

On the Philippine front, La Salle (my uni) has always landed on the championship berth since when I started there.  Last year, they got suspended for fielding a player with falsified records (the info of which we volunteered in the first place).  So now, we’re back in the Finals against rival University of the East (alma mater of my mom) to challenge them in their twice to beat advantage.  Game 1 was last Thursday and with typical finals game drama – a 63-63 tie at the last 34 seconds of the game.  We luckily broke them 64-63! 

Game 2 is on Sunday and the Game is On!

Technorati Tags: la, salle, ue, basketball, philippines, uaap, brann, bergen, norway, football