Everyone likes an underdog. And it's no different in Argentina where the folks of Tandil have got firmly behind Bermuda's soccer team in their quest for an unlikely spot in the Pan-Am quarter-finals.

And the team helped repay that support on Friday evening, booting a dozen or more balls into the crowd minutes before kick-off against Chile.

It was a nice touch which, as perhaps had been intended, resulted in the locals cheering wildly every time Bermuda launched an attack.

Extrovert that he is, goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams became an instant favourite. Warming to a couple of early acrobatic saves, the crowd were quick to show their appreciation each time he subsequently touched the ball -- somewhat more frequently than his counterpart at the other end.

But when he wasn't busy flinging himself from one side of the goal to the other, the happy-go-lucky BAA 'keeper didn't miss an opportunity to put on another performance of sorts.

A samba-like dance, ball juggling, somersaults...they were all part of the Adams repertoire as he sought to keep the crowd entertained.

Please release me Gazette correspondent Adrian Robson doesn't have a lot of luck when it comes to opening and closing ceremonies.

At last summer's Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Robson found himself locked out of his car with the engine running only minutes before the final day's events were about to begin. Four hours later, the engine still ticking over, a Hertz representative finally arrived with spare keys.

Before Saturday's Pan-Am opening ceremony, having arrived back from Tandil at three in the morning and mistakenly parked in a taxi rank, the same reporter left his hotel ready to drive to the city stadium only to discover his rental car had been towed away for illegal parking.

Two hours and several taxi rides later it was found in a compound where no amount of pleading with local Policia could persuade them to release the car until the proper documents -- back in a hotel room drawer -- were provided. It was also a case of `you paya the fine, or we keepa your car.

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