|
MLS News
|
|
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 17:34 |
Once again the rookies impressed and it's getting tough to fit them all in the top 10. Darrius Barnes and Jeremy Hall could have both arguably been on this list but the play of other newcomers as pushed them off.
Hall looked great in his first MLS start and Barnes continues to impress as part of a young back four for the Revolution. Seattle dominates once again at the top of the list with four in the top six. Last week's order looked like this...
1. Kasey Keller (Seattle) [last week - NA]
The Seattle defense was a bit porous vs. Salt Lake, but as long as Keller, the last line, was there it almost didn't matter.
Salt Lake couldn't get anything by the veteran and he won player of the week honors because of that. He's two-for-two with clean sheets and Keller has yet to show his age.
2. Fredy Montero (Seattle) [last week - #1]
Montero was beaten and battered the whole game, but it just goes to show that all a classy forward needs is one opportunity to change things around. Montero got that chance late in the 2-0 win over RSL and took it, even with Freddie Ljungberg shooting up the center of the field, wide open.
Montero went for goal instead from 25 yards out, producing a knuckleball that dipped over Nick Rimando and into Salt Lake's net. It was his third in two games.
3. Cam Weaver (San Jose) [last week - NA]
A goal and an assist in an entertaining win over Houston as the Earthquakes, this time around, didn't squander the chances they had to take the three points. Weaver and Johnson up front could really develop into a tough strikeforce.
4. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle) [last week - NA]
5. Chris Pontius (DC United) [last week - #5]
He had two golden chances and failed to finish on either. Regardless, if he starts to convert and continues finding these chances, United could have a Rookie of the Year on their hands. He was a consistent threat on the right wing.
6. Steve Zakuani (Seattle) [last week - NA]
It was Zakuani's speed and shake n' bake that threw RSL's Tony Beltran off enough to allow a perfect cross to Nate Jaqua. Zakuani looks to poise to make a huge impact this year. It must be the design shaved into his head.
7. Kevin Alston (New England) [last week - #6]
Alston did well to contain Angel, who is still looking to find the net this year. It was three young backs and Jay Heaps vs. the Red Bulls but if Alston keeps playing like this, it'll make Steve Nicol's life much easier.
8. Eduardo Lillingston (Chivas USA) [last week - NA]
A workhorse vs. FC Dallas. Not flashy and possibly a little lucky on the goal, but it was still a gamewinner. A big improvement upon last week's debut. It's only two games in but Preki's two Mexican signings (Trujillo and Lillingston) look to be a big part of his plans this year.
9. Sam Cronin (Toronto FC) [last week - #8]
Cronin continues to impress and it doesn't look like he'll be giving up his spot in the Starting XI for Toronto any time soon. The former Deacon looks very comfortable in a holding midfield role and, at times, he arguably was one of the best players on the field.
10. Bojan Stepanovic (Chivas USA) [last week - NA]
Signed on Friday and thrown right into the fray (although he has been training with them all preseason) on Sunday, Stepanovic couldn't have had a more memorable debut for the Goats. The Serb scored shortly after coming on for fellow newcomer Eduardo Lillingston.
ON THE RISE: Darrius Barnes (DF-NER), Alex Grendi (MF-CMB), Jeremy Hall (DF/MF-RBNY), Gerson Mayen (MF-CHV)
DROPPING OFF: Pablo Vitti (FW-TFC), Stefan Frei (GK-TFC), Freddie Ljungberg (MF-SEA), Santiago Hirsig (MF-KCW), Sebastian Le Toux (MF-SEA), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (DF-SEA)
DEBUTS: Matt Besler (KCW), Danny Cruz (HOU), Freddie Ljungberg (SEA), Peri Marosevic (FCD), Dejan Stepanovic (CHV), Gerson Mayen (MF-CHV), Pablo Vitti (FW-TFC), Brandon Barklage (DCU), Brad Knighton (NER)
WAITING TO SEE: Ade Akinbiyi (HOU), Emmanuel Gomez (TFC), Emmanuel Osei (NER), Stephane Assengue Ombiogno (NER), Eric Brunner (DF-CMB), Albert Celades (DF/MF-RBNY), Ange N'Silu (DCU), Amadou Sanyang (TFC)
BAD WEEKS FOR: Steve Purdy (FCD)
OVERALL
1. Freddy Montero (Seattle - 19 pts.)
2. Chris Pontius (DC United - 12 pts.)
3. Kasey Keller (Seattle - 10 pts.)
4. Kevin Alston (New England - 9 pts.)
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle - 9 pts.)
5. Cam Weaver (San Jose - 8 pts.)
Sebastian Le Toux (Seattle - 8 pts.)
6. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle - 7 pts.)
Santiago Hirsig (Kansas City - 7 pts.)
7. Steve Zakuani (Seattle - 5 pts.)
Sam Cronin (Toronto FC - 5 pts.)
8. Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle - 4 pts.)
9. Eduardo Lillingston (Chivas USA - 3 pts.)
10. Stefan Frei (Toronto FC - 2 pts.)
11. Pablo Vitti (Toronto FC - 1 pts.)
Bojan Stepanovic (Chivas USA - 1 pts.)Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 17:09 |
|
This evening, England went into their world cup qualifier against the Ukrainian team, looking to keep there 100 percent winning streak going against one of their group rivals. 87,000 fans had turned up to see if England could win five consecutive World Cup qualifying games for the first time in their history.
England came into the game off of the back of an excellent 4-0 win against Slovakia, which saw England completely overrun the Slovakian team. But tonight’s opponents would not be such pushovers. But with England protecting a 100 percent record so far in the qualifying campaign, England team members themselves were brimming with confidence.
During the game with Slovakia, England had to replace three of the four selected strikers due to injury, leaving England to call up Darren Bent, who himself went down with an injury. Peter Crouch had recovered enough to make the starting line up alongside Rooney.
The Ukraine came into the game on a without tasting defeat since May 2008 against the Netherlands and the run has seen the Ukraine win 7 and draw one of there last 8 games and with a game in hand over England a win for the Ukraine could certainly boost there hopes of qualifying.
The Ukraine also came into the game having failed to score against England in its last two attempts, and with Milan favourite Andrei Shevchenko left on the bench, England’s defenders must have breathed a little sigh of relief. If Shevchenko did make an appearance, he would collect a record 86th cap for his country.
The game kicked off to a much slower pace, with both sides sparring and looking to probe each other's sides, looking for weaknesses.
The first half chance fell to Rooney, who pulled off a stunning over head from a Steven Gerrard cross, which ended up sailing just over the cross bar.
Gerrard was next to try his luck after Rooney was brought down on the edge of the area. Gerrard stepped up to flash the ball wide off Ukraine’s far post.
At 25 minutes, Rooney and Gerrard linked up well on the left hand side, with Rooney swinging a cross in for Lennon to cushion the ball Lampard to blast over.
But at 29 minutes, England broke the deadlock from an in-swing corner from the left hand side, which saw Terry heading the ball back to an unmarked Peter Crouch, to volley into the roof off the net.
Ukraine then had their first real chance with Tymoschuk's 30 yard strike, which seemed to cause David James problems, as the ball was swerving in the air and David James pushed the ball clear with his shoulder.
Before the end of the half, Rooney and Gerrard combined well again, for Gerrard to get away with a 25-yard shot, which ended up in the arms of the Ukrainian keeper.
The second half started with no changes from either side.
The game started off a lot more open than the first, with both sides trying to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.
With England starting to boss the game, and with the Ukraine creating very few chances they decided at 54 minutes to bring on the Ukrainian legend Andrei Shevchenko. The 2004 World Footballer of the year has played very little football since his loan switch from Chelsea to Milan. Only time would tell whether he could make an impact on the game.
At 57 minutes, LA Galaxy's David Beckham came on to gain his 110 cap in an England shirt.
The game was being pushed back onto the Ukrainian team. David Beckham had his first chance for England by drifting a 25-yard free kick over the bar. Rooney also dived in with a rash challenge on a Ukrainian player, but the ref adjudged Rooney won the ball.
At 71 minutes, a push by John Terry on club mate Shevchenko led to a free quick, which was whipped quickly and the ball fell to Shevchenko to make the game 1-1, as he scored his 40th international goal in 86 appearances for his country. The goal was against the run of play
England seemed to be spurred on and with Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney taking the game to Ukraine. But could England turn there pressure into goals. England decided to make a change and take off goal scorer Peter Crouch and replace him with Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Rooney was now playing upfront with Steven Gerrard playing just behind in a free role. The Ukraine decided to protect the point by playing a slightly more defensive formation.
At 84 minutes, a David Beckham free kick was whipped in for Gerrard, to head back across the goal for John Terry to make amends for his error and make it England 2, Ukraine 1.
At 90 minutes, the Ukraine won a free kick 30 yards from the goal which Shevchenko managed to get on target but couldn’t beat with David James. Lampard also tested the Ukrainian keeper with a 30-yard rasping shot which the keeper held.
The game petered out with England frustrating their opponents by keeping hold of the ball. England made it five wins out of five, and with Croatia beating Andorra 2-0, the pressure is now on the Ukrainian team to qualify.
England plays Andorra at Wembley in June, they have certainly put themselves in pole position to qualify for South Africa 2010.
England’s opponents: last Saturday, Slovakia beat local rivals the Czech Republic 2-1 in Prague. Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 11:53 |
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and league officials believe they may finally have a solution to their FC Dallas problem.
The club, which plays in its own stadium—Pizza Hut Park in the suburbs of Dallas—drew a shade over 6,500 people to its match vs. Chivas USA on Sunday afternoon, a 2-0 loss.
So far, FCD is 0-2, having scored one goal and conceded five. But even with a respectable gate in the opening 3-1 loss to the Chicago Fire, FCD is averaging just more than 11,000 fans per game, far below 2006 and 2007, when the club drew a decent average around 15,000 fans.
In light of that, and the fact the club is one of the more pedestrian vessels in the MLS armada, Garber has hatched a copycat plan to that of something currently being done in the NFL.
You will remember, of course, that Garber came to Major League Soccer from the NFL, having served as head of NFL International. In the NFL, the Buffalo Bills played a regular-season game last year in Toronto.
As for FC Dallas, the plan is for them is to play two regular-season home games per year in Mexico, at sites yet to be determined. This plan was set to be complete this year, but with the schedule and team travel plans already set, it has to wait until at least 2010.
In a groundbreaking agreement, FC Dallas would get 50 percent of the gate from each game, with the hosting Mexican club getting 35 percent to cover game operations cost, and 15 percent going to the visiting team to cover their extra travel and such.
FC Dallas would also get a small percentage of concessions and other revenue. MLS expects it can draw at least 40,000 fans for each match, depending on the opponent, far greater than the capacity at Pizza Hut Park.
There is no word yet on the opponents. Garber and the league will use the time between now and when the 2010 schedule comes out next winter to talk to all the teams in the league, except Houston and Chivas USA, regarding their interest in playing FC Dallas in Mexico.Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 10:43 |
The one where it takes me longer to think of my opening “the one where” than writing the rest of the Smear…
Well, it’s official. Memphis will not be assimilated by one of the larger conferences for a while. John Calipari has left the building.
Kentucky lured the high profile C-USA coach with more than 31 million over 8 years and supposedly a 2.5 million dollar signing bonus. Um, yeah… I’d take that money. It’s like winning the lottery without buying a ticket. The coach with no national titles is now the highest paid in college basketball. The scapegoat? Coaching in Conference USA, of course.
So, there are two major questions here: 1) Calipari has never coached in a big conference (UMass was an Atlantic 10 team). Can he re-create his mastery in the SEC? 2) With the head cut off of the C-USA Leviathan, who’s going to step up?
In regards to question #1, I think it would be safe to assume that there aren’t going to be any conference win streaks approaching 60 games in Coach Cal’s near future. But, it’s not like the SEC was the premier conference in the Division I last year. Kentucky will probably find themselves in the Tournament next year and probably in the top three of the SEC.
The answer to question #2? The University of Houston, duh! Actually, no. I think that Conference USA needs to prepare themselves for a few years of instability atop the standings. Will the nation forget that the conference exists? Probably. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. When the media absolutely has to pay attention, they’re not going to have the “easy out” and just do the profile piece on the latest Memphis prodigal point-guard.
All in all, I don’t agree with the statements of the Donkey Show Coordinator’s comments yesterday. Parity in Conference USA isn’t going to be such a bad thing (for a couple years) anyway. Not just because the Cougars will have a marginally better chance to make the Tourney either, but because all the teams deserve a chance to fight for the limelight.
Up ahead are the rest of your Houston sports updates:
Texans: Nothing (absolutely NOTHING) new has come across my desk since yesterday.
Rockets: Yao Ming needs to be more affluent. The love of an entire country and millions of American Dollars are just not enough. A partnership with Google will definitely do the trick. Yao is the co-founder of Top100.cn who will now be providing 1.1 million songs to the Democratic Republic of China with the help of Google. Each of the songs will be fine-tuned to meet the requirements of the government. “I’m on a Boat” will be changed to “I’m on a Junk.”
Astros: The bicep tendinitis that has been bothering Lance Berkman may have cleared up enough to allow him to play today. I mean, “two days ago.” Fucking Google Alerts. Can’t we be a little more prompt. Good news though, one week from opening day! Thank God.
Dynamo: Ade Akinbiyi!!! Yeah, he’s my new favorite. We’re going to have to come up with a nickname for him. In honor of my friend’s (a dude, by the way) gravitation to Justin Timberlake and especially N’Sync, I’m going to start the nicknaming at “Ade Akin-bye-bye-bye-yay.” Ade may be with the team this Saturday in D.C. for the match against DC United.
University of Houston: Since the news coming from UH is pretty much shit (really? “RecycleMania” is news?) let’s report on our more famous alumni. Kevin Kolb is apparently the catalyst for April Fool’s Day jokes up in Philadelphia. AAAAHAHAHA! Kevin Kolb was named the starter before mini-camps start!!! That’s TOTALLY believable! Oh, you had me going… I just pissed myself from laughing so hard. Douche.
- Septimus Rex
Posted in College Basketball, College Sports, MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL Tagged: Ade Akinbiyi, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, Houston Rockets, Houston Texans, John Calipari, Kevin Kolb, Lance Berkman, University of Houston, Yao Ming Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 08:18 |
In the wake of all my criticism this week of TFC fans, I felt it was my responsibility to include some suggestions to push their behavior in the right direction. My suggestions boil down to this. Stop aping England, and start behaving like the only true soccer fans in North America: Mexicans.
Mexican fans are passionate, intelligent, savvy, and not nearly as prone to violence as neanderthals like all the Toronto fans.
Not only that, but they enjoy far better beers than the cask ale full of twigs and dirt that poseur TFC fans surely swill before going into plastic-pitched stadium.
That beer point reminds me of one other Mexican element that could put TFC supporters in a better mood: Mexican food. British and Canadian food, in a word, sucks.
Put down the meat pie or Tim Hortons and grab something good, like some chicken mole. The complex flavors of homemade mole surely can calm the faux-hoolie impulse of even the most idiotic TFC supporter.
I know Toronto fans will have trouble adjusting to their new cultural overlords. Decades of membership in the British Commonwealth have certainly left their mark on Canada in many ways such as excessive politeness, xenophobia, and vast amounts of sexual repression.
For now, I leave with this image. Keep it in mind, Toronto fans, the next time you tie that scarf around your wrist, engage your fake British accent, and start trying to make trouble in another peaceful MLS stadium.
Toronto fans: Let this photo be your guide.Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 02:00 |
Sometimes in life we all have to come face-to-face with reality.
Lose our illusions. Grow up. Accept the facts.
So when, for example, something called a "FreeCreditReport" costs you $14.95 a month, you just have to deal with the disappointment, no matter how badly you'd like to kick this guy (who by the way is Canadian, which sure explains a lot) in the junk:
Because like it or not, your whole life can change in an instant. One minute you're peddling ShamWow's and SlapChops and the next minute you're GETTING YOUR ASS KICKED by a $1000 a night hooker.
Yes, facing reality can be very, very tough, but it's something that we all have to do sooner or later.
With that in mind, I think it's time that we all admit that this whole MLS experiment has failed.
Back in 1996 we all figured that we'd need five or maybe ten years for the thing to really take off and grab the money and attention that soccer deserves.
So here we are, going into our 14th year and where are we? Nowhere, that's where. Attendance goes down every year. Pretty soon there'll be more people on the field than there are in the stands.
Which is OK, because let's be honest: MLS soccer is pathetic. Simply awful. A joke. We all complain about "soccer snobs" in the US who refuse to have anything to do with MLS, but we all know, deep down, that they're right.
MLS stinks.
Our "TV Partner" ESPN is trying to juggle MLS games around so that they don't interfere with a field hockey match between East Texas State Baptist Teacher's College and The Grace L. Ferguson School of Air Conditioning Repair. How many "ESPN DUMPS MLS" headlines do you have to read before the light comes on?
The limey bastard who was supposed to lead us into the Promised Land hung around for about 18 months and then wanted out of this disaster so badly that he's actually buying himself back, a first in world sports history.
The league is on life support, and the only thing that's keeping it going is that Don Garber is running around selling worthless expansion teams to gullible fools. For years now he's been peddling one every year just to keep the league afloat, but it's gottten so bad that now he has to sell two every year.
This is what's known as a Ponzi Scheme: the newest suckers kick in a bunch of money so the older members can realize a little cash to keep them happy, and then you have to go find more stupid shmucks to kick in more money so that the last bunch can see a few bucks and on and on.
But eventually, when MLS has 80 teams and Garber can't talk Tupelo Mississippi or Bangor Maine into writing him a check for $50 million, the jig will be up and the whole thing will collapse.
Those fancy-shmancy "Soccer Specific Stadiums" will become just so many abandoned drive-in theaters, used for Saturday morning flea markets and swap meets. Fox Soccer Channel wil have to go back to airing Aussie Rules Football. Alexi Lalas will have to find a real job.
It's just the reality of the situation, people, and we need to pull our collective heads out of our collective butts and face the music. (Hopefully after washing up a bit of course): it was a nice try, but the MLS product stinks and all the marketing in the world can't get people to buy dog poo burgers.
But out of the ashes of yet another failed American soccer league will come something even greater, a league with style and grace and beauty and class. A league where football is really called football. A league with a split Apertura/Clausura season, the way God intended it. A league with Promotion and relegation, the way civilized nations do it.
I'm talking about the Mexican Football League.
Now don't race for the nearest sharp object and start opening your veins. Or mine. Just hear me out.
The most successful soccer league in North America is the MFL. Hands down.
Conversely, the least successful soccer league in America is MLS. No question.
So rather than continue to try to beat some life into a dead horse, like some drug-crazed jockey furiously whipping a mount that had a coronary at the top of the backstretch and is now as dead as Julius Caesar, there's only one logical thing to do with MLS:
Change it to Mexican League Central.
Using the example of Chivas USA—which would be working fine if it wasn't for all those ridiculous MLS rules that say young players get paid coolie wages and you can only have a handful of good players while the rest must be Americans—most MLS cities can be adopted by MFL clubs.
Atlante USA can combine with Dallas. Cruz Azul USA will replace DC United. U.N.A.M. can open up a branch office in Chicago, U.N.A.M. USA.
Maybe America USA in Colorado will take some explaining, but I'm sure something can be worked out.
What about Canada, you say?
Glad you asked.
Since the Canadians are the only ones north of the Rio Grande who actually understand soccer and have, you know, real fans and stuff, they'll become Mexican League North.
Toronto will become, say, Chivas Canada. Montreal can be Necaxa Canada, etc., etc.
This will also allow a great soccer town like Toronto, with their great, passionate fans to have more than one, kind of like London or Milan. Imagine annual "Toronto Derbies"; think of the drama. Think of the excitement. Think of the city-wide damage.
Montreal could do the same thing: Necaxa Canada and Santos Canada can square off in a TV ratings bonanza that will have the NHL begging for 2 AM time slots just to keep from getting tossed off the air altogether.
Three divisions: Mexico South, Mexico Central and Mexico North.
It's an idea whose time has come.Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Tuesday, 31 March 2009 23:55 |
Back with another March Madness match-up. This time, it's the No. 4 Hoosiers vs. the Tarheels at No. 5. It wasn't surprising to see the amount of depth that came out of UNC, but the Heels certainly exceeded expectations. I never knew Berhalter and Robinson hailed from Chapel Hill.
INDIANA [No. 4]
GK: Jay Nolly (Vancouver)
DR: Drew Moor (FC Dallas)
DC: Danny O'Rourke (Columbus)
DC: Nick Garcia (San Jose)
DL: Chris Klein (Los Angeles)
MR: Josh Tudela (Los Angeles)
MC: Dema Kovalenko (Los Angeles)
MC: Ned Grabavoy (Real Salt Lake)
ML: Lee Nguyen (HAGL)
FW: Jacob Peterson (Colorado)
FW: Pat Noonan (Columbus)
Bench: Josh Tudela (MF - Los Angeles), Kevin Alston (DF - New England), Brad Ring (MF - San Jose), Jed Zayner (DF - Columbus), Brian Plotkin (MF - Carolina)
NORTH CAROLINA [No. 5]
GK: Justin Hughes (unsigned)
DR: Gregg Berhalter (1860 Munich)
DC: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes)
DC: Eddie Robinson (Houston)
DL: Michael Harrington (Kansas City)
MR: Corey Ashe (Houston)
MC: Logan Pause (Chicago)
MC: Carey Talley (Chivas USA)
ML: Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)
FW: Marcus Storey (SV Wilhelmshaven)
FW: Jamie Watson (Wilmington)
Bench: Chris Leitch (DF - San Jose), Caleb Norkus (DF - Carolina), Eric Lichaj (DF - Aston Villa), David Testo (DF/MF - Montreal)
So the UCLA vs. Clemson match-up was a tad lopsided. The Bruins ended up winning handily. The No. 2 vs No. 7 will take place on Saturday. For now, here's a brief breakdown of the No. 4 vs. No. 5:
UNC has a great back four with two long-time American internationals in Bocanegra and Berhalter, but the quality seems to thin out as you get towards the top. Jamie Watson had a long run with Real Salt Lake, but has since had trouble latching on to an MLS squad. Marcus Storey is starting to rev things up in the German fourth division (Regionalliga), but it's hard to believe they can outproduce a forward tandem of Pat Noonan and Colorado's Jacob Peterson. Advantage Indiana.
The Tarheels might have the advantage in the midfield with two young wingers in McCarty and speedster Corey Ashe capable of playing a playmaker role, while vets Pause and Talley hold down center midfield. The Hoosiers have the ultimate ball-winner in Kovalenko and comparable speed in Lee Nguyen, but I like how Dax McCarty runs an offense when given a chance. For a young guy, he has great vision. Advantage UNC.
Back to defense, both sides have strong and even back lines but the UNC's central partnership of Carlos Bocanegra and Eddie Robinson ensure minimal letdowns. To fit their quality, Indiana might have to play out of position in the back, but any MLS squad would take that back four. Advantage UNC.
Indiana might have a slight advantage at keeper, but barely. Jay Nolly has less than 10 games at the MLS level while Hughes was with Colorado up until the end of last season. Nolly, however, will be playing a bit more with Vancouver of USL-1. Advantage Indiana.
So who's it going to be? The Heels or the Hoosiers? My vote—I like a team led by Bocanegra (unless it's Danny Califf next to him). The question is, could the Heels find offense against Indiana? Yep...if Dax McCarty can let loose and Harrington covering the left wing box to box with Ashe speeding around. Carolina, 1-0.Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Tuesday, 31 March 2009 21:40 |
You probably don't want to hear the director's cut of my opinion on MLS fan confrontational kerfufflery.
Well, let me rephrase that. You absolutely don't want to hear it. I'll just give you the nickel version, and if that still seems to long and agenda-fueled, well, I tried.
All you need to settle the drunkingest fan down is a few mounted police.
Image 1 - correct
Image 2 - incorrect
Visible show of adequate security, preferably mounted security, works wonders.
The horse is important. First of all, no one is dumb enough to mess with a horse.
Never mind that ****! Here comes Mongo!
...okay, almost no one.
Second, short of doing a Light Brigade or Amritsar on random pedestrians, there's a limit to how much face-to-face unprovoked police brutality is possible.
There's a higher degree of responsibility among police officers than ordinary rented security, and the responsibility of an officer who also is capable of handling a horse during those situations is higher still.
(God, this is where I feel I have to be long-winded. Yes, there are security guys who I'd trust to do their jobs, who are on the ball, and who are also genuinely cool. There are a bunch at the Home Depot Center, and I'm not saying that because of my allergy to a redcoat bringing me fresh knuckle sandwiches.
And yes, the vast majority of police officers, sheriff's deputies, and whatever assigned to these games? Totally professional. But I've seen the minority in action, and I'm sure you have too. But they're not going to put Officer Chris Benoit on a horse.)
Thirdably, cops on horsies are visible, which is what we want our policing to be. This isn't about solving crimes, it's about preventing them. Everyone does 55 miles an hour when the cop car is cruising by, and everyone goes to their cars when the cops are around.
Fourthcoming, horses are fair. I know, your fan group is a credit to the sport, and their fan group deserves to be harvested for organs. I feel the same way. Which is why we don't want anyone with our agendas involved too heavily here.
We want Doctor Manhattan regarding us all as black ants or red ants. Except hopefully with less blue penis.
Fifthically, horses are cute. A row of cops is intimidating. A row of cops on horses is a show. Innocent civilian bystanders who just want to enjoy a nice soccer game aren't put off by a display of state power when it's on a sweet adorable horsie.
(Now some of you - it's a tiny minority, a tiny tiny minority, but nevertheless, a few of you - may be tempted to write about how soccer isn't a game for families, but a game to be watched by tough young men and only tough young men.
If you find yourself tempted to write something to that effect, whether in the comments or elsewhere, I merely ask that you prove your toughness first by drinking a pint of bleach.
(Come on, just one little pint. You're not a **********, are you?)
The downside of all this is that mounted police are expensive. And they crap. On the other hand, Mr. MLS Owner-Operator, you've sold out the stadium, and you have to clean up after fans anyway. You don't have to do it for every game, just the ones with the obvious rivalries.
And this is your responsibility, Mr. Owner-Operator. It's your park (or at least, you're renting it), and you make the decisions. And while it's tempting to blame the fans, that misses the point.
If David Niven steals the priceless Pink Panther diamond while I'm hiding from Cato - the theft is David Niven's fault, but the crime is my responsibility.
Especially seeing as how the next few fanbases to join our little movement will either be regionally rival-focused (the Cascadians) or ninth-generation rageaholics (is there a more ironic city name in the entire universe than "Philadelphia"?). It's about time this comes to a stop.Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Monday, 30 March 2009 22:54 |
Major League Soccer had a family reunion field day on Saturday and the sad thing is, in two of the three matches that finished 1-1, one team scored both goals.
Here's a quick look at results from around the league and some observations on matches:
Crew 1, Toronto FC 1
Just your average MLS Saturday night, huh? Nothing more to see there, right? Ugh...
On the field, Guillermo Berros Schelotto scored from the spot for Columbus only to see that lead disappear when teamate Gino Padula's own goal left the sides level. Toronto goalkeeper and rookie Stefan Frei left the match injured at halftime. This game, as did many in MLS since they played on a FIFA date, saw personnel missing for national team matches. So, perhaps you can take these results with a grain of salt.
But I'm all out of salt.
Red Bulls 1, Revolution 1
This time, it was the visitors from New England who did for New York what it couldn't do for itself—score a goal. The Red Bulls haven't found the net on their own yet this season, but got a point here after last week's debacle in Seattle thanks to a Jay Heaps own goal. Kenny Mansally scored in the right direction to get New England a point.
Jay Heaps own goal comes on the same week as Duke hoops gets thrashed by Villanova in the Sweet 16. Priceless.
United 1, Fire 1
This was like watching two entirely different games. Thankfully I only had to buy one ticket. Good effort from United in the first half—a Luciano Emilio goal, a couple other chances, and very little from the Fire.
The United are back! Home win! Not quite. Patrick Nyarko beat Dejan Jakovic like a rented, Red Star Belgrade reserve center back early in the second half, and the Fire somehow squandered three clear chances late to leave the match square.
Meanwhile, United have somehow found a clone of Zach Wells in goal, with Josh Wicks. Wicks incredibly dropped two near his goal line—with one almost going over it, while he made a recovery save on Brian McBride on the other. But then he turned around and made a spectacular tip save on Chris Rolfe. Go figure.
Head coach Tom Soehn says there's competition for the position between Wicks and Louis Crayton? Wasn't Crayton signed last season to boot Wells out of the net? Ugh.
Sorry. Got a little carried away.
On to matches over the weekend that actually had winners.
Sounders 2, Real Salt Lake 0
Lots of folks I've heard from say RSL is a threat to win the West this year after they broke through last year and got to the Western Conference final. I tended to believe them. Apparently, RSL must break through the great wall of Seattle first. The Sounders have now outscored their opponents, 5-0, with Kasey Keller posting two shutouts. Fredy Montero scored again (his third) for Seattle, who also got a goal from Nate Jaqua.
Rapids 2, Wizards 1
I'll come out and say it—I kind of thought the Wizards would be somewhat decent this year. But a home loss to Toronto last week, and now a road defeat at Colorado, who got goals from Terry Cooke and Omar Cummings, kind of makes me wonder. To be fair, KC was without Davy Arnaud, who scored twice in the opening week loss and was listed as probable with a neck strain, but didn't get on the field.
Earthquakes 3, Dynamo 2
Nice win for San Jose at home in a wild affair that saw the Earthquakes grab the lead then double it just after the half-hour before Houston's Chris Wondolowski quickly bagged a goal and an assist as the Dynamo got even at 36 minutes. That didn't last, however, as San Jose showed some resiliency and Cam Weaver netted in the 44th minute with what turned out to be the game-winner.
It's a special night in San Jose when a team with both Chris Leitch and Eric Denton doesn't allow a goal in the second half, allowing the Earthquakes to hold the lead and win.
Chivas USA 2, FC Dallas 0
There may have been more Toronto fans at the game in Columbus than there were Dallas fans at the game in Dallas. OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but let's just say there were plenty of good seats available Sunday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park.
It was almost as if Rachel Phelps bought the team hoping to move it to Miami. But the fans didn't miss much from the home side anyway. Eduardo Lillingston and Bojan Stepanovic, no relation to Steve Stipanovich, scored for Chivas USA. FC Dallas fell to 0-2, with one goal for and five against.
Chicago, Toronto, and New England all share the lead in the Eastern Conference with four points, while Chivas and Seattle both have six in the West to set the pace. Through two weeks, Seattle has the best goal differential and the most goals scored, while New York and Salt Lake have yet to score for themselves.
Salt Lake gets a chance to break that skid Thursday when it hosts Columbus on ESPN2 (9 p.m., also available on ESPN Deportes). The Crew then have to turn around and play Sunday at Chivas USA (8 p.m.). Must be a perk for winning the MLS Cup or something.
Elsewhere (all times Eastern):
SATURDAY
Seattle at Toronto, 4 p.m., FSC
FC Dallas at New England, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at DC United, 7:30 p.m.
Colorado at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
New York at Chicago, 3 p.m., Telefutura
San Jose at Kansas City, 3 p.m.
Enjoy your soccer this week.Source: Click Here
|
|
MLS News
|
|
Monday, 30 March 2009 21:15 |
And now for some happy talk.
Or, if you've been following WPS to the exclusion of MLS and the USMNT, more happy talk. Never is heard a discouraging word, even before Sunday's game.
So, I guess it's up to me. But I gotta tell you, gang, I had a great time. And I missed both goals.
Y'see, there were about ten minutes left, and the Sol (it's "the Sol," right? I was even sort of iffy about whether the nickname rhymed with "ball" or "goal" until talking to season ticket reps, so I'm inexcusably behind on the WPS style guide) were continually going to the left, to Han Duan.
Han Duan can find space for herself very well. She just can't pass or shoot.
So while my back was turned, Abner Rogers subbed her out for Christie Welsh, the Sol started working the left, and bam. As a Galaxy fan, it's been a while since I've seen a coach make an in-game adjustment. Proving that MLS to WPS culture shock has upsides as well.
The crowd looked pretty poor on television, but I believe that's because the tickets on the far side were sold last—season tickets and such are only offered on the west side. Which is, like, incredibly silly, because it makes the stadium look empty on television. But trust me, it was a legit 14,000 and change.
Now, how much will that drop off? We won't know until it happens. No matter how much faith we have in the people running this league, there's still so little to base projections on. Los Angeles, Chicago, and St. Louis are uncharted waters for women's pro club soccer.
Televised Sunday afternoon games are routinely attendance death for the men's teams in town, so maybe 15,000 is in the Sol's neighborhood. But we don't know, and we don't know where the floor is. Now is nervous time for the people selling this league.
And the gimmicks not only are going to wear off, they have to. There was way too much Kobe Bryant, way too much Mia Hamm, way too much Twittering. The on-field product is...
Okay, it's pretty good, so far. But. The Washington Nothing Left To Lose has been a going concern for several years now. Most of the roster has played together for a while, the new additions - Scurry and Sawa - should have been indisputable upgrades. Marta and Aya Miyama were breaking their ankles.
Will we have a 1996-esque gap between a minority of talented players and a morass of ham 'n egger tomato cans with a one-way ticket to Palookaville? Well...the legendary Abby Wambach faced off against the less legendary Allison Falk, and that battle was won by the player whose name I had to double-check the spelling of on the Sol website.
So yeah, we'll have some previously unknown stars bloom in the league, the way that WUSA produced Wambach. But I think we're also going to have some cricket scores as qualified pros film their highlight reels against college kids.
I think the big question is, will this league build loyalty towards clubs as opposed to players, and turn amateur players into fans—preferably fans with disposable income?
How should I know? What am I, Pete Nostradamus Rozelle?
I think it's more likely now than ever, though. When you look around at the kids, and the not-so-kids, who were there—they love this. They've been dying for this. There may not be millions of them, not yet, but there didn't used to be dozens of American men's soccer fans, either.Source: Click Here
|
|
