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Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Heartbreak for the Horn Guys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Barcelona is the new champion of Europe, but the chatter that will linger from Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in Paris is the first-have red card to Gunners keeper Jens Lehmann. That’s a first in the 51-year history of the European Cup. My sympathies to the Martz Brothers (aka Horn Guy 1 and 2), whose club had a great run.
Here’s a rollicking play-by-play commentary that summarizes the activity. For what it’s worth, The Guardian observer here thinks the foul on Carles Puyol that led to Arsenal’s surprising first goal of the game was just as bogus as Lehmann’s fateful tackle.
Not a great showing by the Spanish champions, but two subs — Larsson and Belletti, who scored the winner with 10 minutes left — proved to be the difference. For all of the ballyhoo about Barca, this is only their second European Cup crown.
Does this whet anyone’s World Cup appetite? ESPN2 certainly got serious about using it as a run-up. Today the networks announced their W.C. teams behind the mic, with Dave O’Brien (not our Braves beat writer, but ESPN’s own) and ex-Yank defending Marcelo Balboa forming the lead duo. Thrashers’ TV play-by-play man J.P. Dellacamera, once an ESPN soccer announcing mainstay, also is part of the effort.
