Taking a photo with Spike Lee and his Arsenal fan club: “Always exciting when he shows up”
Lee’s site manager Tim Stacker was waiting for us at one of three tables in the back marked reserved. As soon as the match started, Lee’s son joined us, Jackson, and his friends.
There was a festive atmosphere at FancyFree in the build-up to the match, with chants and songs being heard sporadically. But all the bustling excitement is coupled with a healthy dose of fear.
Over the past two seasons, Arsenal have painfully failed in their bid to dethrone Manchester City, a veritable giant and four-time reigning Premier League champion. Goner nerves are running high – including mine. I was with Lee on his business trip that day, but as a proud (and sometimes tortured) Arsenal fan, I could hardly be an objective observer.
Sitting next to Lee, I asked if his fandom ever gets in the way of his work. Has he ever been stuck on set during a Knicks playoff game? Not a chance. Under the circumstances, Lee told me the cast and crew knew “it wasn’t going to be a long day.”
“They know they’ll be home soon,” he said.
The match started unfavorably for Arsenal with their indomitable stance Erling Haaland scored a goal in the ninth minute to give Manchester City an early 1-0 lead.
“How tall is he?” Lee asked me.
“6’4,” I said.
“Big guy.”
Lee saw Man City players attack Haaland, whose imposing figure and long blond hair evoked an ancient warrior.
“Where does he come from?” he asked.
“Norway,” I said.
He glanced at the screen, sizing up Haaland as if he were playing Nordic Spike Lee.
“Viking!” He said with a smile.
Arsenal leveled the score in the 22nd minute thanks to a wonderful goal Riccardo Calafiori, and then took a 2-1 lead just before halftime thanks to a fierce header from Gabriel Magalhaes. FancyFree rang out in full force and Lee, who had been working on a plate of waffles, stood up to high five in celebration.
Arsenal were poised to go into the break with a lead, as Lee and the rest of the Arsenal faithful waited for the referee to end the first half.
“Blow the whistle!” he shouted. “It’s nonsense here. Halftime!”
Looking ahead to the second half, Lee said that Arsenal “can’t just play defense”.
“They still have to keep going,” he said.
But just before half-time, Arsenal were dealt a stunning blow. Leandro Trossard received a controversial second yellow card, leading to his being sent off from the match. The euphoria following Arsenal’s second goal has given way to confusion and outrage at FancyFree.
“What?!” Ly shouted.
The call tainted the mood midway through the first half, when Lee and other fans were contemplating the task of playing the final 45 minutes to a man. Arsenal will have no choice but to play defense – or “park the bus”, to use a common football expression.
But the beer still flows and so do the jokes. Looking up from the table, Lee noticed Jason Andrew, co-founder of the Brooklyn Invincibles, weaving through the crowd. “Where are you going?” Ly asked. Andrew smiled and pointed to his seat near the front of the bar. Lee’s presence could be felt at FancyFree that day but there were no selfie takers. He is a VIP among the masses.
