WORLD CUP USA ’94 / ROUND OF 16 : SPOTLIGHT

ARAB, INDIAN, WHATEVER

Among the colorful flags, banners and posters waving throughout the stands at the Cotton Bowl on Sunday afternoon, there was, of course, the inflatable palm tree, reminiscent of Arabian Nights. It came courtesy of Samiv Mahmoud Dhmud, a converted Saudi fan from Cairo. Dhmud brought the tree from Egypt, wore Arab attire known as a burnoose from Saudi Arabia and was banging on a drum.

“I got that in America,” he said. “It’s Indian.”