Duck fans in Iraq watch Rose Bowl at Baghdad hotel
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- It’s 1 a.m. at the Joint Visitor Bureau Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, where Oregonians gathered last to watch the Oregon Civil War game.
But this morning, the crowds of soldiers in green and orange are absent.
A small group of soldiers in camo uniforms sit in chairs on marble floors, before a big screen TV in the main dining hall. They talk quietly in quiet anticipation.
Within an hour, Ohio has scored 10 points. Soldiers glance at the plays while chating with each other about recent mortar attacks and missions. "It’s a long game, it’s still anyone’s game," says convoy commander Lt. Matt Harrison, 27, of Portland, Ore., who came to the Joint Visitor Bureau Hotel for the large TV set and camaraderie of fellow soldiers.
What makes these soldiers want to miss out on a good night’s sleep?
"I was bored, we could take the Humvee out tonight," says gunner Spc. Kent Patterson, 27, Tualatin, Ore., who was promoted today for the third time, meaning he has been demoted twice. He is celebrating this event with the game.
"There’s no alcohol, so football is the next best thing," says Patterson, who is thankful he has tomorrow off.
Patterson is one of those football fans that rooted for the Beavers during the Civil War, but now supports the Ducks, because at least one team in the Rose Bowl is from Oregon.
---
Beaver fan Capt. Andrew Vidourek, 26, John Day, Ore., wears an Ohio State shirt that came in the mail today from his mother.
His parents grew up in Ohio and graduated from Ohio State. "I’ve been a fan of the Buckeyes my entire life," says Vidourek, but if the Beavers were playing he’d trade red for orange.
"He’s a traitor," says Dick fan Capt. Pete Wood, 32, of Portland, Ore., seated next to Vidourek. As the Ducks score, Vidourek leans back in an ornate couch as Duck fans cheer.
"I’m optimistic, it’s 10-10 in the second quarter," says Wood pumping his fists as the game turns around.
---
At halftime soldiers smoke cigars and hit gold balls off the deck outside the hotel.
As the second half begins, soldiers slowly mill back into the dining hall. After several plays, the dreaded cheesy military commercials take over the screen, just another reminder that soldiers are far from home.
"I wish I was there for course, but this is better than sitting in my CHU alone," says Duck fan mechanic Pfc. Andrew McDonald, 23, Milwaukie, Ore., who is just happy to get out of his camp for the night.
---
Capt. Brian Rogers, 35, of Bend, Ore., hasn’t slept more than seven hours in the last two days and has to show up for work in several hours, but his eyes are still glued to football game.
"It’s 3: 45 am, it’s hard to get too excited," says Rogers, who nods off during the commercial breaks. As Oregon falls farther behind, Rogers stays positive. "They’ve had to overcome deficits on multiple occasions," he says. But as the game clock counts down the final minutes Oregon fans lose hope. The dining hall empties before the last two minutes of the game.
"It’s no over yet," one soldiers says.
Patterson, sticks around, finishing a word puzzle in the paper and occasionally glancing up to the TV.
"After party at the gym," says Patterson as the soldiers put chairs back in place, throw away Gatorade bottles and empty bags of chips.
As if Iraq wasn’t depressing enough of a place to start the New Year, now the Ducks have lost. "It was a pretty good game," says Wood.
Cali Bagby embedded with the Oregon Army National Guard from the 41st Infantry for KVAL.com. Her work has been published in the Washington Post and the Eugene Weekly.
More stories | Visit her Web site
