Victory

I hope all had a wonderful Independence Day. Apart from the usual lighting of fireworks, I had a special treat: watching the Greek National Team beat the Portuguese in the UEFA EuroCup Final.

It was an impressive tournament for the Greeks. They had never won even a single game in international competition before this (some may recall the Greek performance in the 1994 World Cup; the combined score in the three or four Greek losses was something like 15-0, the team didn't score a single goal). Plus, there were no superstars on the squad (while Portugal had a Ronaldo, for instance).

Yet victory came anyway, thanks to some brilliant coaching by the German coach, and it was quite an impressive one at that.

From Athens to Astoria, people gathered together in a wonderfully exuberant display of national pride. I'll forgive the crassness of some participants, as emotions tend to run high during such moments.

Taki, as always, has fun recollections of the week.

May God bless America as she enters a new year, and may God bless the Greek people and help them regain even a little of the wisdom and greatness that they once possessed.