Friday, June 13, 2008

FC Dallas players and fans show their skills (or lack thereof) at foosball tourney

By Erin Rice

Last night FC Dallas and Envy magazine put on their first foosball tournament, and for a team more than 20 miles away from its home field, a healthy Sherlock's Dallas crowd turned out. Let's get this over with from the start. Team Pegasus lost. Failed miserably. In the first round. It still hurts. Badly. Let's move on.

Nearing the start time of 8 p.m., there were only about 10 teams filling the 32 team bracket, so the event was pushed back while less punctual teams and random onlookers straggled in. Nearing 8:45 p.m. the first round games were underway with a nearly completed bracket. Envy models and FC Dallas Foundation staff called the event, which included informing me of the worst news of my night, that all initial round games were played to three goals. Team Pegasus was informed of this while down 2-1. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Damn models (and/or foundation staffers).

Once the tournament started, the gaming room at Sherlock's was packed with foosball hopefuls and one unfortunate pair attempting to play pool through the throng of people. Milling about were some of the bigger names in current FC Dallas soccer, including Kenny Cooper, Arturo Alvarez, Marcelo Saragosa, Duilio Davino, Juan Toja, and Drew Moor, among others. Various fans opted for the "team up with a player" option, paying their extra $10 to the foundation. While some of the players had table chops, they would be wise not to take their skills on the big field for granted.

It turned out that the final game would be two pairs of foosball "sharks." The runner-up team, named Juan Taco, featured a couple of Jimmy Buffet-era, loose, button-up shirt, long-hairs. The other team were a younger pair, humble in their victory, though elated to be the focus of every camera's gaze during their winner's interview. The pair ensured that Thursday night was the first, and hopefully the last, time a team named Bumblebee Tuna would claim such a victory. It also marked the last time this foosball loser will play in front of a crowd again, ever.

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