TC member Jimmy C gives an alcohol hazed review of events that took place in Florida when Rangers played down there during the 1998/99 Winter Break

To fill youse in on what turned out to be a memorable weekend.............

FRIDAY

President for life and sidekick JC took off 2 hrs late and got in at 6:00pm. Upgraded the motor from a 2 cyl bubble car to a nice Camry for the price of a roll of film and headed to the Tudor Inn. 100 or so NA bears showed up and good swally had by all. As designated driver, I limited my bevvy to 12 pints. Headed back to beach area for last call at the Elbo Room...... as did other beach area bears.

SATURDAY

Breakfast in gay restaurant recommended by Jacko. Ummm, let me rephrase that.... all the waitstaff bent and giving Jack and me much attentiion. Over to the Tudor for a couple and then to nearby Lockhart Stadium for training session. Nice wee park and a light workout by the boys. Prodan on his own and Jukebox doing 50 laps aroud the perimeter. At 2:00, RFC had an official Q&A set up for the supporters in a tent. Donald Finlay, Sandy Jardine, Martin Main ( Comm. mgr ) and David Murray ( Junior ) gave a spiel and then fielded questions for a good hoor and a hauf. Good club PR. They are thinking about doing this on a regular basis if the winter break continues. Much support from NA bears on that point. Ally Muir and Campbell from the Gloucester showed up and doubled the Centrals numbers.... Still have to hit them up for subs but thats another story. Sat. night spent in South Beach, Miami......... some clacker....... I can't figure what these big blonds see in wee spivs frae Columbia.......... President for life almost scored, well more like he was ambushed by a wild yin. No joke, she had him by the ba's and erse at the same time. Being a shy thing he ran a mile. Next time we saw her, John Law had the bracelets on her. Oh well, next time Jack. Decided to crash in Miami Beach before it was time to get up.

SUNDAY

Nothin' to do in Miami on a Sunday morning ;-) so decided to bevvy on beachside bar. They wanted 20 US for brekkie per skull so decided to just drink instead.

Off to Orange Bowl inMiami for gemme at 3:00. Too bad we had that last Bud............RFC was handing out replica jerseys all afternoon in the parking lot. Ran oot just as we got there. Tickets priced $25 - $75 U.S. but everyone sat in same area. Pure luck we bought the cheap seats. Bottom line is Gers could have won the game IF we wanted.

Starting line up   

Shaky start with Niemmi pulling off 2 or 3 great save after right Royal fuck-ups in the back.. Amo and Skippy thinking they are ball players., usual story. Settled down after first ten then Stennie off for GVB in 15. Not happy, almost took off Feeney's heid with a well placed water bottle strike. G'h scored twice on heiders off fantastic Albertz corners before the half. Game over, 5-0, dawdle, wearethepeepul,etc. Then DA threw away the Millenium Cup for another thousand years when he decided to gie a few others a run aboot. G'h off, Amo off ; Fergie off; Wilson, Amato & Miller on. The Brazilians got two back mid 2nd half on a defensive muck up from a free, then from a mix-up to let the nexy Pele thru. Onto penalty kicks............

Albertz blasts right at the keeper, they score 0-1
Amato plants one off the left stanchion, Niemmi saves 0-1
Hendry places one, they score 1-2
Can't remember who scores, they score 2-3
Ditto, they MISS 3-3
Feeney scores, they score 4-4
Wilson aff the bar, they score 4-5 Disaster

The above details may not accurately represent the actual game but are as dam close as I recall given health of brain cells then as now.

Back up to Ft. Lauderdale for post game reception in hot nightclub. President for life finally earns keep by sliding all Central boys into private VIP function while rest of bears cool heals for two hours. Spent that time schmoozing with the boys fueled by open bar. Pickies on request. Players go next door for 5 minutes photo ops with plebes and we split when open bar ends. Central boys back to local haunts for further bevvy . Gers boys knowing where the action is , show up at same bar to start off further 4 hrs of schmoozing and having ears bent.

MONDAY

No energy for further training inspection so to beach bar until plane leaves. Home at 2:30 a.m. Tues. and back to reality. 

Correction

Bevvy's startin to wear off............. Klos not Niemmi in net........they Aryans all look alike

Porrinni not in gemme........spent too much time in grub line up trying my Italian oan him

KanKan on right side replaced by JJ at some point in first or second half.......lucky there's only two halfs.