Not Completely OT: Euro 2012

[Raellus]

Those of you following the tournament are aware that all of the games are being played in either Poland or Ukraine. I like football (soccer) anyway but I feel that this year's Euros are a bit special because I've spent so much time -in my imagination, that is- in Poland. I've learned so much about Polish history and culture over the past five years, nearly all because of my interest in T2K. I really enjoy seeing what I can of the country on the telly.

For example, today's Spain vs. Ireland game was played in Gdansk. For the past three or four years, I've played in a PbP set in Gdansk. During the mandatory aerial shots, I kept looking for landmarks that I might recognize from the game. It was almost surreal. I nearly told my wife "I've been there before" before I fully realized what I was about to say.

Anyway, I figured that some of you might want to chat about the tournament so I figured I would start a thread for that purpose.

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Those of you following the tournament are aware that all of the games are being played in either Poland or Ukraine. I like football (soccer) anyway but I feel that this year's Euros are a bit special because I've spent so much time -in my imagination, that is- in Poland. I've learned so much about Polish history and culture over the past five years, nearly all because of my interest in T2K. I really enjoy seeing what I can of the country on the telly.

For example, today's Spain vs. Ireland game was played in Gdansk. For the past three or four years, I've played in a PbP set in Gdansk. During the mandatory aerial shots, I kept looking for landmarks that I might recognize from the game. It was almost surreal. I nearly told my wife "I've been there before" before I fully realized what I was about to say.

Anyway, I figured that some of you might want to chat about the tournament so I figured I would start a thread for that purpose.

I know the feeling. Since I got into the game in '87 I have aquired a nice selection of books on Poland, culture and history as well as some language books, to help add color to games. I also have a really good set of maps for Poland I aquired pre-internet for me. One I had to aquire a second copy of since the first got so worn it was like a map a grunt might carry in his pocket. And that is the one I actually photo copied for the players in Op Fred. One thing I quickly realized with the more detailed maps was all the farms in the country. It looked like someone had spattered ink dots all over the darn thing marking farms. Gave a whole new perspective of travel and encounters to be sure.

And I've been over there with map recons do much, and with google maps now, I feel I too have 'been there'. It would be nice someday to actually travel some of the routes in RL that I have in games. Oh well something for the bucket list.

Grae

[Raellus]

Poland played Russia today in Warsaw. There was a fairly charged Russia Day march to the stadium that drew some protests and led to some injuries and arrests. Apparently, there is still quite a bit of bad blood between Poles and Russians.

The game was a pretty good 1-1 draw.

They showed an aerial shot of the stadium in Warsaw during halftime- it's right on the Vistula. My PbP had an episode there where my players lauched a rescue mission to free a group of civilian hostages being held in the stadium by the Black Baron's men. The Baron was using de facto slave labor to build a fort there, on the ruins of the old stadium. Anyway, it was kind of trippy seeing the area on TV.

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Poland played Russia today in Warsaw. There was a fairly charged Russia Day march to the stadium that drew some protests and led to some injuries and arrests. Apparently, there is still quite a bit of bad blood between Poles and Russians.

I have no doubt this is the case. I mean Poland has been overrun by Russians time and again. Stalin and Hitler had plans to divide the country and DID until Adolf decided he wanted Moscow too.

[boogiedowndonovan]

Originally Posted by Graebarde

I have no doubt this is the case. I mean Poland has been overrun by Russians time and again. Stalin and Hitler had plans to divide the country and DID until Adolf decided he wanted Moscow too.

The Poles lost territory to the Russians after WWII, possibly WWI also, I can't remember/too lazy to look it up. Not to mention the Katyn massacre where the Soviets killed a lot of the Polish army officers, government officials and intellectuals (to be fair the Nazis also did the same).

I wonder why "canon" Twilight 2000 doesn't have more Polish units deserting and joining NATO. I guess the fear/hatred of Germans and Communist control over Polish government institutions supersedes hatred of the Russians.

[Raellus]

I'm sad to report that Poland is out of the Euros. The Czech's saw to that. The Russians are also out, after a shock defeat to Greece. The announcers made a joke at the end of the match saying "the Greeks may be out of the Eurozone, but they're still in Euro 2012". Clever.