Ironbound’s Escudo Discussion

By: Greg | August 7th, 2007

Before I go any further, please allow me to explain the dopey references in my title which was an attempt to be really witty but just ends up coming off as a vague Dennis Miller-esque load of mucoid plaque. Since the Portuguese SuperCup is essentially our equivalent of the FA’s Community Shield (league champion vs league cup champion in a pseudo-competitive game), I decided that the above reference was somewhat cute and well conceived. In a stream of consciousness moment I’m having as I put finger to key, I’m realizing that this whole convoluted explanation of how “Ironbound” is home to a Portuguese “Community” in New Jersey and “Escudo” is Portuguese for “shield” has gone entirely too far. Therefore, my sarcasm, excellent ability to draw on semi-vague references, and off-the charts intelligence will be brought down several levels so that I may lucidly discuss a game which is something both teams want to win, but won’t try too hard to do so (like a person at a bar who you’d like to sleep with but aren’t willing to buy drinks for in order to get the ball rolling).

These types of games generally turn into real nail biters for the fans. Not because they’re particularly exciting or the cup will be what the team strives to accomplish in a given season rather because this brand of game has the two clubs’ faithful holding their breath hoping there are no further injuries accrued. I watched my Chelsea lose the Community Shield last Saturday and while I wanted them to win, I just wanted their already burgeoning injury list to not have any further players added to it. When a game is watched and the overall objective is to survive, it becomes less a contest and more a Sunday at the in-laws.

This year’s “Super”Cup is going to be played this Saturday between Porto (the league champions, duh) and Sporting (winners of the Taça de Portugal. A fact I’m not sure you might have known.) at Estadio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria. With Derlei, Liedson, Had, and Purovic all taking knocks, Sporting can ill afford to have another player’s progress in getting prepared for the season be derailed. In spite of their stupid little travel debacle, I expect Porto to win here almost by default. They have a healthier squad and should take advantage of a Sporting side which is struggling to gel and find an identity ahead of the season opener in less than two weeks.

While the winner of the game obtains some sort of insignificant temporary “bragging rights,” the teams and fans should really be focused on the upcoming season and Champions League endeavors of both of these teams.