Classy in Columbus
by tedski
Now, to the credit of Columbus fans, at least the majority who post on Big Soccer, they seem to think that the behavior of the fans on Saturday was attrocious. However, a few seem to be angrier that Shalrie Joseph flipped them off.
Here is the funny part: a Columbus fan posted this video on YouTube, apparently to prove what a poor sport Joseph was. Maybe he didn’t realize that we can clearly hear that very special little epithet being thrown at Joseph and Kheli Dube before Joseph gives his salute (around 0:22).
A Brief Review of the MNT Squad for the England Game
by Hoover Dam
http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_6422546.html
Goalkeepers: Yaay, all right!
Defenders: Whoooo U-S-A!
Midfielders: Red white and blue forever, baby!
Forwards: o god don’t ask
Red Card of the Year
by tedski
In the bit of Saturday’s Colorado Rapids-Houston Dynamo game that I caught, I saw that Christian Gómez got a red card. Unremarkable I suppose, ‘cept he wasn’t even playing. That’s right. He got a red card while sitting on the bench.
True talent, really.
God Only Knows What He Could Do With Danny Dichio’s Name
by tedski
Brad Feldman, my former teammate, refered to Jim Curtin being “draped all over” a Revs player.
Ugh. Bad Brad, bad.
Dissent Is the Highest Form of Patriotism
by tedski
I read this little bit about Romanian striker Adrian “Bluetooth” Mutu getting ejected from a Gigliati game for what the article terms “an array of mindless dissent.”
I’ve heard of “dissent,” “excessive dissent,” “prolonged dissent” and “excessive and prolonged dissent.” These are probably defined somewhere because I’ve seen them cited as reasons for cautions in match reports. This begs the question, is “mindless dissent” defined anywhere? What exactly does this entail?
Fair’s Fair
by Hoover Dam
Said I’d post my picks when Tedski posted his, so:
Chicago Fire: This is about the last team for whom I’ve got anything kind to say after last night’s game, but: Chris Rolfe. He’s Nicol’s kind of player; it’d be easy to see him as a Rev, though you’d have to imagine the trade price there would be too high.
CD Chivas USA: This one’s harder, given the rules on no USMNT regulars, because my favorite guys on Chivas are also Bob Bradley’s favorites–Guzan, Bornstein, Kljestan. I could cheat and say I totally liked those guys before they got a senior US look, but I won’t; instead, I’ll note that Maykel Gallindo is always fun to watch.
Columbus Crew: Alejandro Moreno, particularly in this season to date.
Colorado Rapids: Do I put Burciaga here even though it’s not as a Rapid I know him best? Nah, this team’s an easy call: Bouna Coundoul. That man is like treasure, and I hope he sticks around Denver for years to come.
FC Dallas: Juan Toja’s almost too easy to pick here; he was just so damn fun to watch last season, plus Tedski already picked him. So I’ll go with Dax McCarty, who’s been steadily maturing into a very solid player, and who provides us endless hours of Pete and Pete jokes.
DC United: Bryan Namoff, one of those guys who quietly gets the job done.
Houston Dynamo: Used to be a running fan joke called the Steve Ralston Line, the measurement of guys who were so consistently good for their MLS teams, but just couldn’t crack the MNT regular lineup, for whatever reason. This, of course, was before Ralston did land a regular slot for the nats, but anyway, that line might as well be renamed for Brian Mullan–dipped a toe or two in the US pool, but consistently works his ass off for the Dynamo.
KC Wizards: Jack Jewsbury, no question. Would have been Nick Garcia except for that whole “got traded” thing.
Los Angeles Galaxy: Same problem here that Tedski had–just about everyone is either off-limits for this exercise or strictly a comedy option. Everyone, that is, except Chris Klein, who’s been able to stand next to Beckham just as well as Donovan has.
Red Bull New York: John Wolyniec. Every time he’s available, he’s always got it out for the Revs, and he genuinely seems to fight for a team that’s never known stability.
Real Salt Lake: Nathan Sturgis; even with the line above about Klein, I don’t think LA have even begun to realize what they lost on that trade. I get the same feeling from him that I do McCarty–these guys will be the Ralstons/Mastros/Conrads/Olsens of the new generation.
San Jose: Gotta go with a seemingly obvious sentimental favorite on this one and pick Joe Cannon, who’s never failed to entertain me.
Toronto FC: Todd Dunivant, who didn’t get enough credit at either LA or NY.
The Hoover Challenge
by tedski
Texas Poligamist Compound? Point of pride for me: those guys were all thrown out of my state.
Okay, I am supposed to pick one player from each team that I like. Hoover Dam had some rules, which, of course I will violate once or twice.
Chicago Fire: I am supposed to pick a player I actually like from a team that includes Calen Carr and Cuauhtémoc Blanco? The Chicago players I like have moved on, Francis Okaroh, Luboš Kubik, Jerzy Podbrozny, Jim Curtin and Evan Whitfield. I even once had a grudging respect for Zach Thornton. Hmm. After yesterday, and this will tick Hoover Dam off, I’d have to say Jon Busch. The man always seems to show up.
CD Chivas USA: It was so much easier to hate this team when it started, but they have an interesting collection of players these days. Even so, my answer is easy: Brad Guzan. The first season he was supposed to be the back-up but ended up starting. I remember how much crap he took from Chivas fans who blamed him for everything. The real trouble was that he was standing behind a sieve rather than a backline, and frankly, his being American born didn’t fit in with their vision of “Guadalajara Junior.” Luckily, the coaches recognized what a talent the man actually is.
Colorado Rapids: So, if I pick a Nat but I don’t pick him because a Nat, is that okay? I choose Pablo Mastroeni because he is the only guy in the league I have played against. When he played for the Tucson Amigos, my metro league team scrimaged them.
Columbus Crew: I could say Wil Hesmer, but I’ve already picked too many ‘keepers. I’m actually growing to like this team, and I’m glad that they finally a building a record that reflects how much work they put into their game. I’ll take Eddie Gaven only because it is fun to guess how long it’s been since he’s shaved.
DC United: This is harder to do than Chicago. Over the last twelve seasons, I never liked any of these guys. If my twin brother became their new d-mid, I’d hate him too. I’d have to hate myself because he looks just like me. Hm. I’d have to say Fred. I don’t know why. I guess his nom de guerre makes me giggle.
FC Dallas: Gosh, so hard now that neither Denilson nor Carlos Ruiz are playing for them. My pick is Nigel Tufnel, I mean Juan Toja.
Houston Dynamo: This team is lousy with Nats, so it is hard to make a pick and follow the rules. Actually, my two faves on the team are both Canadian. I go with Dwayne DeRosario. I like players that are enthusiastic and seem to, gosh, actually be having a good time out there.
Kansas City Wizards: Geez, I can’t pick a Nat? That means that Hoover Dam can’t pick Jimmy Conrad either. Hmm, Nelson Pizzaro is on my all name team only because the US should start him next time we play Peru. But, I’ll go with Scott Sealy.
Los Angeles Galaxy: I have trouble with this one, not because of visceral hate like I have for DC, Chicago and Red Bulls, but more because I really don’t see anyone standing out. Yeah, there are the two obvious ones (that I have been enjoined from picking, and wouldn’t pick anyhow). This is probably a big part of the reason that LA is playing so mediocre as of late (the evidence: LA’s website this morning brags that they were able to squeeze out a tie against Real Salt Lake. Real Salt Lake!). I probably should pick Alan Gordon, who has come into his own and is a fellow Arizonan. He was the guy that got subbed out for David Beckham when he premiered for the team, which makes him either the Wally Pipp or Jim Delsing of the league. I don’t know which. Actually, I probably should go for Greg Vanney, who has always impressed me and is also a fellow Arizonan.
New York Red Bulls: Geez. The guy I like on this team is actually mentioned by Hoover Dam as precisely the guy I am not supposed to mention. I’ll go with Dane Richards, who is pretty fun to watch.
Real Salt Lake: Did I ever mention to y’all that there was a rumor of a secret plan to move this team to Tucson when Dave Checketts was frustrated with the stadium situation? It would have been good to have the team somewhere where the word “real” actually gets pronounced “ray-al” once in a while. Anyway, my pick: Kyle Beckerman. He’s a good player, and as an added bonus there is the background drama about his trade from Colorado.
San Jose Earthquakes: There are actually quite a bit to pick from. These were all bubble players who I wanted to do well when they played for their old teams. I like Preston Burpo because he seems like a badass, but I doubt the guy will ever get a start. Yeah, I’ll pick him.
Toronto FC: Amado Guevara. Just kidding. I’ll go with Marvell Wynne. I think he’s made the lists of players who haven’t lived up to their advanced billing, but he hasn’t been on a decent team yet.
Hey Tedski, a Challenge for You
by Hoover Dam
The challenge: Pick one guy from each MLS team (besides New England) of whom you’ve always been particularly fond, to the point of being an apologist when he’s up against us.
The rules: No DPs, too obvious. No country over club–yes, I’d happily fill my Texas polygamist compound with the likes of Conrad, Landy, Mastro, Heydude, Jozy, etc., but that’s all because of their USMNT duties, not their club play. No ex-Revs. Need not be a full starting lineup, just one from each team regardless of position (so two GKs or eight defenders are fine).
I’ll post my answers once you post yours.
Gordon Bradley
by tedski
Former New York Cosmos coach Gordon Bradley has died. The main part of his career was before I was old enough to really appreciate it. However, he is one of the many people featured in Once In A Lifetime. There is a scene with Bradley giving Franz Beckenbauer advice on a play. Beckenbauer is carefully and respectfully listening. If the guy could earn the respect of Beckenbauer, he’s got mine.