Oh boy. Bruce Arena, goodness gracious, you can't even tell a white lie right. I mean, here's the problem: you're telling everyone that you are going to take the U.S. Open Cup seriously by fielding your best team out there, and what do you do?

You deliver the worst performance since the debacle at Real Salt Lake earlier in league play (don't even get me started on that one, good sir). Fans witnessed a 3-1 blowout defeat to the Seattle Sounders in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at the place of nightmares known as the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington.

What I saw was the type of football that Real Madrid is going to have fun capitalizing on. I mean, the Galaxy really, really didn't want to be in the match. It's like, we're fighting over a bloody flower vase, children! What's the point in playing over such tripe?

Oh, and did I mention that you only qualify for the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League when you win the darn thing? This makes the Galaxy's position in the Major League Soccer regular season standings that much more important, I suppose. Group stage play and all that.

Moving right along, already the warning signs were there when Josh Saunders was given the nod instead of Brian Perk. How come Perk kept a clean sheet in his first start against Seattle, and Saunders gives up three stinkers in the Open Cup?

Bruce, the second-guessing has already begun, and starting Perk on Wednesday would have helped the team's chances of even lifting a middle finger to Seattle a bit more. The backup to the still-injured Donovan Ricketts was clearly not ready for tonight, and Real Madrid is going to rough this keeper up. Mark it down; I'm warning you, pal.

Let me go off my soapbox on you, Mr. Arena, to direct my self-imposed fury on another suspect: A.J. DeLaGarza.

Well. You sure did not do yourselves any favors after signing that new contract extension, did you? Did you? No. What I saw in the 25th minute was you literally standing like a mummy, giving the easiest of goals to Fredy Montero via the G's Killer known as Nate Jaqua.

Even the LA Blues 23 (who are not pulling their weight in the Premier Development League) know better than to give away a Christmas present. It's only July, A.J.! Why don your Santa outfit this early? Good Lord!

Back to you, Mr. Arena. In the greatest act of cowardice imaginable, you decided to sit Captain America down after 70 minutes. I, personally, would have kept him in. And for the love of the football, do not give me this "But we need him for Real Madrid" nonsense. It's not about Real Madrid, it's about the money. Because that's what this Herbalife World Football Challenge is about anyway.

Does the Galaxy advance in the U.S. Open Cup to beat Real Madrid in a meaningless cash cow of a friendly? No. Does the Galaxy advance in the U.S. Open Cup for beating the Seattle Sounders? Yes, but they didn't get it done, did they?

Forget about this preposterous dog-and-pony show with FC Barcelona's slaves, so to speak. As it stands, Bruce Arena, accept the fact that this week is a wash, and you may

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