For Norwegian fans it is not «just any old thing» to end up on the back page of the NY Post, which in practice is the sports front page in the city. It means that you have been part of a memorable sporting moment in the city.
The Norwegian football supporters have become one of the big spectator phenomena during the World Cup in the USA.
On Wednesday they even ended up on the back page of the New York Post, one of the largest newspapers in the USA.
Under the headline «Woe, Woe, Woe Your Boat» the newspaper used the Norwegian supporters’ viral Viking rowing as the starting point for an entire front page of the sports supplement.
Today’s print edition shows Norwegian supporters at Citi Field in New York together with the Mets mascots Mr. and Mrs. Met.
Today’s print edition of the New York Post.
For Norwegian supporters it is not «just any old thing» to end up on the back page of the New York Post, which in practice is the sports front page in the city. It shows that they have done something that has really been noticed in New York’s sports media.
Ending up there means that you have been part of a memorable or striking sporting moment in the city.
The humorous headline plays on the children’s song «Row, Row, Row Your Boat», while the subheading contained yet another pun: «It goes from bad to Norse for Mets», where «Norse» replaces the word «worse», as the team lost to the Chicago Cubs.
The New York Post is known for its witty puns, bold formulations and provocative titles to capture attention, like today’s front page.
On the newspaper’s website the headline is: Norway World Cup fans electrify Citi Field during Mets game: ‘A unique experience’.
The Vikings are apparently Mets fans, writes sports journalist Collin Ward.
During the opening game of Wednesday’s double-header between the Mets and the Cubs, Norwegian fans took over part of Citi Field to cheer on the Mets.
They told The Post that the gathering was organised on Facebook, and that the Mets gave them tickets in the same stand section.
Today’s print edition of the New York Post.
Ward relates that Norway does admittedly have a baseball league, the Norsk Baseballiga, but it consists of only six teams, and the sport is still under development in the Scandinavian country.
One of the supporters told The Post that it took the group 15–20 minutes to learn the rules from each other before they began to understand what was going on.
– It is very different from what is shown on TV, said one of them.
Once they had captured the attention of the crowd, they managed to lift the atmosphere in a match that otherwise had a quiet Wednesday feeling, Ward continues.
A stadium employee, who wished to remain anonymous, described the Norwegian supporters as «completely different» and «phenomenal».
He said that the supporters have been great at Citi Field all season, but that seeing an entire nation gathered in song and cheering creates a completely special atmosphere.
One supporter, Espen, said that he was very impressed with the stadiums in the USA so far, while another thought that Europeans have something to learn from this.
The biggest impression for many of the supporters was nevertheless the selection of food at the stadium – There are a lot of peanuts, said one fan.
For every Norwegian supporter who sang in the stand section, another went around the stadium and got excited about milkshakes and the hamburger selection, Ward writes in conclusion.
Great people, God bless them
The comment section is filled with praise for the Norwegian supporters. – Fantastic people, may God bless them, writes Andres Gonzalez.
One person writes: – They were fantastic at Citi Field. Good-hearted, funny people. They are enjoying their stay in the USA, and may God bless them.
Bob: – Nice to see that some people are having fun at Citi Field. Luckily the Norwegian crowd doesn’t know either the Mets or baseball, otherwise they would have rowed away to avoid watching this catastrophic team …
Little Necke: – Thanks, Norway. It is the most exciting thing that happens there all year.
Joe: – Nice to see civilised fans. In Philly, during an Eagles game, this would have ended in a big fight among the Eagles fans……just kidding, Philly…..maybe…..
Douglas writes that he could not care less about football, but is thrilled about everything that is happening. He writes:
But the very best thing about the World Cup being here is the friendliness among fans from all over the world, and our mutual friendliness. People are just being themselves and having a great time.
The visitors see the best of America and discover that we are quite damn nice compared to how the media, especially American media, portrays us.
God bless these visitors, and God bless the USA!