As a city dweller, part of my life and my transit scheme is taxi cabs. The drivers come from all over the world and varied backgrounds, so I love to talk with them. And if I can get them to talk sports, then the ride is well worth more than my cab fare.
Since I talk to the cabbies, the topic of World Cup soccer came up, admittedly by my prodding. So, what better way to talk World Cup soccer than to gather the predictions of your favorite local cabbies?
Here’s a sample of what I found, recalling the best I can. Like your favorite players, the players names and cab team affiliation are equally important to the roster. But don’t ask me for shirt numbers.
Geoffrey, from Ghana. Yellow Cab.
When I asked Geoffrey where he was from, I got the usual answer from a West African. “Africa” he said. “Yeah but where?” I said. “West Africa…Ghana”. This guy should have been driving a semi, because he was too tall even for the front seat.
Being from Ghana, Geoffrey knew as well as I did that Ghana has a good team. Facing Germany, Australia and Serbia, he picked Ghana to advance from their bracket with a little effort.
Geoffrey pointed out that Ghana’s BlackStars have some world class players like Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah, but that much their strength comes from team unity, discipline and a fervent work ethic on the pitch. Other African teams, he says, have exciting goal scorers but aren’t well rounded, and for this reason rarely make a major impact.
Unfortunately, within a week from my ride with Geoffrey, Ghana’s captain and midfield dominator, Essien, had been ruled too injured to participate. If Ghana does head to the 2nd round, the knockout stage, they’ll likely play England, the country where Essien plays for Chelsea FC. Again, they’ll likely make it on grit and work ethic. Geoffrey picked Brazil to win it all, based on their talent, speed, and intangible qualities. Probably a safe bet.
Since I couldn’t remember, I asked him who Ghana would play first. He tapped his Bluetooth, asking a friend who he apparently had on the phone the whole ride, who answered.
Ghana vs. Serbia, June 13 @ 9:30 EST. You heard it here first.
Milos, from Serbia. Flash Cab.
Milos from Serbia, whose first name and the fact that he’s driving a Chicago cab seem counter to him being Serbian, is like many Eastern European fans that follows Germany’s Bundesliga. We got in a conversation about Argentina and their 22 year old dynamo Leo Messi. Messi is considered the world’s best player and if you’ve seen him play you’d tend not to disagree. Like many fans of the German game, Milos claims that only big, strong teams, like the Germans can go the distance. Milos, also a tall cabbie, states that teams of “little men” can score goals but never venture to win it all, like Germany and Holland can.
(Side note: Holland has won the World Cup as many times as Mongolia...zero times)
At 5 foot 7, I’m certain Messi didn’t think about his height when he scored 5 goals in 20 minutes against London’s Arsenal FC this spring. And while Germany is a decent pick, probably odds at 8 to 1, Milos’ rationale may not work. And if he’s writing off Argentina, he’d best stay in his cab.
Reza, from Iran. Checker Cab.
I met Reza a while ago, and he’s one of my most memorable and least favorite cabbies. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.
“Are you from Iran?’ I asked him, and he replied “How did you know?”
Well, your name is Reza. That’s like being an Englishman named Simon or Nigel. Like a lot of Chicago cabbies he’s got a doctorate, his in Engineering.
If they kicked around personal baggage instead of a ball, this cabbie would’ve beat Brazil by himself.
Anyhow, we talked about Iranian football, which has a good program and nutty die hard fans that belie the Islamic Revolution. Iran also has been in the last two World Cups, one time thrashing the US, but didn’t make it this time around. And this cabbie is a complainer, so there’s a conspiracy behind it.
He complains about hegemony of the West and the Saudis' oil money, implying that this is why Iran didn’t make it to the Cup. Then he goes on about how much he doesn’t really like the US and how, thanks to American Law, his ex-wife took him to the cleaners. Lots of complaining equals a small tip.
I painfully stepped out of the cab slowly having I squeezed him for his prediction: France. If the World Cup kicked around personal baggage instead of a leather ball, this cabbie would have beat Brazil by himself.
Muhseen, from Pakistan. independent cabbie.
Muhseen seemed to know quite a bit about soccer, and yet reminded me of all the American pinheads who you’ll hear reminding you that “soccer will never make it in the US.” Not that he was dissing the game. He just didn’t seem think it was a big deal.
Muhseen, a sort of Pakistani B-boy, equipped with hip-hop on the radio, star-and-crescent bling everywhere, and other Pakistan symbols all over his cab seemed to want to talk cricket, which I know little about.
He told me more than I needed to know about the paddle game, probably excited about the Cricket World Cup which comes up next. He also mentioned field hockey, another one of Pakistan’s sporting repertoires. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that in the US, field hockey is a women’s sport.
Muhseen’s prediction: Brazil.
Francois, from Haiti. American United Cab and
unnamed sports fan, no cab affiliation.
When I was about to jump in a different cab on a stunning sunny day in May, the driver was leaning against his cab soaking up the breeze while talking with another dowdy, dusty and older American man with a White Sox cap. Each seemed to know his sport stuff. They were talking about Spain, and I figured it must be World Cup talk.
Francois the cabbie was versed on Spanish soccer pretty well too, talking about Messi but also FC Barcelona’s other home grown Spanish lords, Xavi (pron “Chah- bee”) and Iniesta. This Spanish duo is constructed of the two of the best players in the world on the same club team. They work their passing, style of play and rhythm much like that of the Jordan and Pippen of 1990s Chicago Bulls, if you know what I mean.
Many think that Spain will let these two players, who dominate together in tandem at Barça, run the show. If they do, then Spain is your team and a sensible prediction to win the World Cup. Francois and his passerby pal took Spain to win the World Cup, basing their judgments on raw talent alone. With these two men, and their logic, I agree....I pick Spain to win their first World Cup trophy.
I have to admit that my conversations with Chicago’s cabbies were, as always, fun and fulfilling. It was pretty obvious that I didn’t get a balanced sample of prospects’ opinions, or any scientific data. The again, there are only so many days I can take a cab, and it doesn’t make their predictions wrong.
Four years ago the “experts” as always had their take. too.
Italian soccer was in turmoil and under criminal investigation, so Italy wouldn’t make it. France was too old and would choke again. USA Today picked England, the Czech Republic was a top team, while Germany had the benefit of the Twelfth Man, since they would be playing in front of their home crowd. Yet Brazil was thought to be unbeatable.
One month of soccer told the unpredictable true story. The Czechs choked, and the US won zero matches. England phoned it in lost on penalties. Brazil and Germany got left in the semifinals.
And then, Zidane, the greatest player since Maradona and Pelé, head butted the Dennis Rodman of Italian football in front of 400 million TV viewers. Twenty minutes later, in the end, Italy held it together long enough to win the World Cup.
So one thing comes to mind. You could pick up every magazine and read their predictions. Or you could sit at home and look it up for free on the internet. But your best bet is to jump in a taxi, head to Fadó, The Globe or another local pub, and talk to your cabbie on the way. If you like the conversation, tip him or her like you would your bartender.
After all, you’d enjoy the ride, and get the best value for your buck.
Andy Frye writes about sports and life at MySportscomplex.blogspot.com and via My Sports / Complex on Facebook and Twitter. He’s worth his weight in conversation and cab fare.
Written words © 2010.
Pics kindly borrowed from bluecab.com and subsidesports.com
Hilarious. I'm not really a soccer fan, but I can't help but get excited about the World Cup. Can't wait.
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