The Davis Cup party began late morning Friday as the blue line of teh Tri-Met, Portland’s version of the New York City subway system, filled up with fans adorned in red, white and blue. You could hear the sounds of multiple discussions on tennis. One gentleman letting his wife know how the 1992 Davis Cup team was the “best” ever. Two twenty-ish women debating over who's cuter - Andy Roddick or James Blake. One lady talked about seeing the entire Davis Cup team having breakfast in her hotel earlier in the morning. Yet another large group of people discussed the number of Davis Cup ties that each had attended in the past.
All of the tennis fans get off at the Rose Center/Memorial Coliseum stop, and we began our short trek to the Davis Cup venue.
There were lines upon lines of people walking up to Portland’s Memorial Coliseum for this, the first day of the Davis Cup Final. Most were dressed casually, yet warmly. It was, again, a chilly gray day in which rain threatened to fall at any moment. A few Davis Cup fans have chosen to be dressed as Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty and Captain America. Other spectators painted their faces red, white and blue. Some spectators were wandering into the venue wearing American flags as both wraps and capes.
There was another group yet - one of which I was part. There were 65 of us, dressed in identical red, white and blue shirts - and each of us had a red, white and blue tennis-type net on their heads. We are the NetHeads - an eclectic assortment of tennis fans who havew showed up to support the American Davis Cup and Fed cup teams at every tie since October 2001.
After finally getting into the Memorial Coliseum, we faced long lines at the Davis Cup merchandise retail booths. It took a full 35 minutes for my husband to purchase t-shirts. It was a fortunate decision for the NetHeads to arrive at the Coliseum as soon as the place opened for business.
I found my seat in the upper level easily (hey, there were 64 people dressed just like me to look for!). The opening ceremonies were exciting, as always. The pomp and circumstance always strkes me as a “mini” Olympic opening ceremony - starting with the parade of flags of the World Group nations, the playing of the national anthems, and the traditional exchange of gifts between the Davis Cup teams.
I'd been waiting for this day since the US beat Sweden in the Semifinals back in late September.
As a NetHead I’m used to people staring at my happy little group, sometimes dumbfounded, when we yell our cheers and songs during the course of a Davis Cup tie. Because this was a final, we were even louder than usual. But none of the "regular" spectator seemed to mind. And hey, as long as Andy, James, Bob and Mike enjoy our support and inspire us, we'll continue to try to inspire them.
As you all saw, the cheering may have helped. The USA finished Day 1 up 2-0, and our job was almost done!
-- GVGirl
