Not even supposed to be here today but had to come up to share some extremely distressing news.

Can I assume that at least our European friends have heard about the unspeakable outrage that has been inflicted upon the upcoming 2006 World Cup Finals in Munich? Or, come to think of it, maybe not so let me put this in the form of a question:

It has been decided that a certain something will not be allowed to be sold in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Munich. For five points, what is it?

As an American with almost no interest in the subject(s) at hand, even I am totally appalled. Answer Monday if no one gets it before then but somehow I find that highly unlikely.

Knowing most members' interest in the subject, my guess is beer.

Close, but no cigar.

Try again.

(Yawn). Sleeping pills? Earplugs? Blindfolds?

R.E., I swear that when you hear the news you will not be yawning. You are going to be very, very excited about the World Cup but not necessarily in a positive way.

(which, of course, is a hint to the rest of you)

I didn't know so I googled. You're right, outrageous is exactly the right word.

Bob, you are a cheater! I am going to take a wild guess: Condoms? [Since Bob and CJ are so outraged, it must be something masculine.]

How about no GERMAN beer? That would be an outrage, but couldn't possibly be happening... will the attendees have to drink Pabst Blue Ribbon?

Chris J. Strolin: It has been decided that a certain something will not be allowed to be sold in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Munich. For five points, what is it?

Could it possibly be the item described in the article, just now posted, entitled German brewer claims his special beer is 'erotic', a/k/a 'liquid viagra'?

OK, I cheated and googled as well. I see what you mean.

I assume you were less shocked by the final sentences of the article I found:

quote:

---

Nuremberg has an additional problem - it won't be able to sell its traditional Nuremberg sausages at World Cup games.

"McDonald's has the exclusive on sausage supplies," Maget said.

And if that were not enough, German carmakers will also be left on the sidelines, with players, VIPS and officials being shuttled to and from games by South Korean sponsor Hyundai.

---

That's not all that's wrong: they'll be eating frankfurters in Munich, and hamburgers as well. I don't relish the thought and I'm trying to catsup to the concept. I hope they'll have nice buns, however. Lettuce leave this topic now.

In fact, the situation is even worse as you can see here: http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002189.php

So the football fans will have to eat McDonalds and drink Budwesier chemical fizz.

Frankly they deserve it!

I can just hear it now:

"Don't talk about the war."

- Basil Fawlty

OK, I cheated and googled as well. I see what you mean
It would seem that a lot of people here cheated, arnie. As you can see, I didn't!

===> McOlympics 2006 <===

© 2004 jerry thomas

CJ: a certain something will not be allowed to be sold in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Munich. For five points, what is it?
Kalleh: I am going to take a wild guess: Condoms?

Condoms prohibited? Surely not with David Beckham??!!

For those who haven't yet heard the appalling news, Anhauser-Busch paid $47 million for the exclusive rights to sell their beer at the 2006 World Cup match in Munich, the HOME of great, great beer. Plus, McDonald's did likewise for the rights to peddle burgers there. Germany is known for their excellence in beer and food so for this to have happened is, to me, something that should be an extreme embarrassment to all U.S. citizens. I'm all for capitalism and all that but this is nothing short of a national disgrace!

Imagine the reaction if the World Cup were held in Paris and the only wines allowed in were Ripple and Boone's Farm? Or, better yet and more to the point, what if any product we felt was sub-standard was forced on us in, say, the World Series? We wouldn't stand for it and I, for one, hope the Germans throw our asses completely out. I still believe the U. S. of A. is the greatest country on the globe overall but, damn, we do go too far sometimes!!

An odd post-script: Jim Cantalupo, the Chairman and CEO of McDonald's Corp. and the guy responsible for launching their first unified global marketing campaign (which means, you would have to imagine, that he was involved with this World Cup insanity) has just died. Of a heart attack, yet!

It would be too easy to add some sort of snotty serves-him-right comment except for the fact that he also was well known for huge accomplishments in the field of philanthropy.