Today is one of those great sports days that sort of sneaks up on you. UEFA EURO 2012 is continuing its wild ride this afternoon. The Nationals continue their all-conquering road trip later tonight in Toronto. The much-anticipated NBA Finals tip off in Oklahoma City. And the U.S. men's soccer team faces Guatemala in a crucial road World Cup qualifier.
Curious about why the last one isn't in your TV listings tonight? Well, the Washington Post's Steven Goff, as he often does, has the clearest explanation of why.
To review: The Guatemalan federation sold the rights to a media group that worked a deal with a company that will present the match in the United States on pay-per-view. There wasn't much the U.S. Soccer Federation or its broadcast partners ESPN and NBC could do to prevent it, outside of paying a fee beyond what they say they were reasonably willing to spend. (The same scenario might unfold for the other two away qualifiers in this round this fall.)
If you don't want to spend $29.95 to purchase the game on TV or online for yourself, there are eight bars and restaurants in the Capitol region that will be showing the game in exchange, in most cases, for a cover charge.
Those D.C. area locations are:
- Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant, 808 7th Street NW, Washington, D.C. ($10)
- Laughing Man Tavern, 1306 G Street NW, Washington, D.C. ($5)
- Lucky Bar, 1221 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. (No cover)
- Summers Restaurant, 1520 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA ($10)
- El Amate Restaurant, 2420 University Blvd., Hyattsville, MD
- El Puente De Oro, 1401 University Blvd., Hyattsville, MD
- Intituqueno Restaurant, 2504 Ennals Avenue, Wheaton, MD
- Tijuanas Mex Café, 949 University Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD