Reporter’s dispatch from Jamaica: let’s talk about TV, field conditions and … machetes?

Washington Post reporter Steven Goff checked into Jamaica even before the U.S. team.

Overachiever.

In between stops at his favorite Jamaican stops, Goff filed some fascinating tidbits ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier.

Included was this dandy:

“The Police are advising supporters who will be attending the World Cup Football Qualifier between Jamaica and the United States that no firearms, knives, drugs, ice picks, machetes, glass bottles or any other items that can be used to cause serious harm or injury, will be allowed inside the venues.”

So … two things: First, that have to tell people not to bring machetes?

And, does this mean axes are acceptable? Chain saws? Shaolin broadswords? Concussion grenades?

Surely not. Hence the clause “… other items that can be used to cause serious harm …” Still, how odd that they selected machetes specifically. Just more evidence of the factor of the unknown when traveling for CONCACAF qualifiers.

Speaking of which, the United States trains at the facility affectionately known as “The Office” later today. So, we’ll have some sense of the field conditions there in a few hours.

Generally speaking, the field at The Office during past visits has been somewhere between “OK” and “Oh, no!”