Soccer sensation Shevchenko greets fans in Philadelphia (08/22/04)

Soccer sensation Shevchenko greets fans in Philadelphia

by Andrew Fylypovych

PHILADELPHIA - At the 2004 Easter Bazaar of the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, Pa., a father purchased two soccer jerseys for his daughters from Basil Tarasko, of Bayside, N.Y., who was selling them as part of his fund-raising efforts for Baseball Ukraine.

Since it might take a few more years before Ukraine generates a baseball great, who wouldn't want the colorful Kyiv Dynamo and AC Milan shirts sporting the Shevchenko name? One of Ukraine's most popular, almost mythical, "sport exports," Andriy Shevchenko is considered by many to be today's best European soccer player.

Myth turned to reality when AC Milan, Shevchenko's Italian home, played Chelsea FC on August 2 at the glistening Lincoln Financial Field. The crowd was festive, and there was a visibly strong showing by area Ukrainians. Dozens of blue-and-yellow flags fluttered in the hands of excited fans, and hundreds more wore Shevchenko jerseys.

The game tempo was guarded, undoubtedly slowed by the heavy humidity, which was only slightly relieved in the second half by very light breezes reaching the playing field. Shevchenko barely got a chance to thrill the crowd with his deft ball-handling skills because he was constantly double- and even triple-teamed. But even under tight coverage he managed several nifty dribbles past his defenders.

Shevchenko's greatest skill probably lies in the incomparable accuracy and power of his free kicks. His first scoring opportunity came early in the second half, when he fired a blistering shot which rolled along the grassy surface, only to be pushed away by Chelsea's goalkeeper in the last instant.

With the score tied at 2-2 and the clock nearing the 87-minute mark, the Kyiv native found an opportunity on a free kick after a late Chelsea foul. Positioned almost identically as in his prior shot - to the left of the net some five yards outside the penalty zone - Shevchenko lifted the ball with one of his trademark bright orange shoes and propelled it in a searing arch that had "goal" written all over it.

The score drove the crowd into a frenzy with Shevchenko jerseys bopping up and down wildly and blue-and-yellow flags being waved from every direction.

The excitement of the moment carried past the game when a group of adventurous youths managed to find their way to an area from which the team buses were visible. No amount of imaginative pleading could convince any of the burly guards to let them inside the fenced facility.

Resigned to being shut out, balancing themselves behind a high fence and reaching up to hold a flag draped over the top, the loyal fans mounted a loud cheer of "Andriy, Andriy" every time someone resembling their hero would emerge from the player tunnel some 50 yards away. As if on cue, a pick-up truck parked directly in front of the small group of enthusiasts drove away, clearing the way for a better view and allowing the flag to be fully visible.

After 45 minutes of false sightings, a thin figure wearing an Abercrombie track hat appeared from behind another car. The fans went wild, raising their voices even more. As Shevchenko approached the group, he gestured for them to lower their voices. That caused an even greater stir. There were shouts of welcome ("Vitajemo u Filadelfiyi") and affection ("Andriyu, my tebe liubymo.") After several handshakes through the wrought iron fence, one fan asked if Shevchenko would sign jerseys, to which he replied that he could ("mozhu").

The flash of cameras sparked through the iron fencing and shrieks of joy attracted a group of Mexican American fans who joined in the effort to gain a prized souvenir. Shevchenko, appearing genuinely touched, almost humbled by the enthusiasm, proceeded to sign shirts, tickets, programs and even outstretched arms.

As he walked away loud "thank you's" ("diakuyu") rang out and the lucky group continued to celebrate its good fortune for hours after the game.

Several fans wondered what actually had attracted the Kyiv native to the crowd. After all, the din of the diesel bus engines probably drowned out even the loudest of the distant voices. It must have been the large blue-and-yellow flag hanging from the eight-foot-high fence - the same one that draped the wall surrounding the playing field near the goal line where Shevchenko put his team ahead.

He is a class act, both on and off the field.

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