Welcome to the first rendition of my hopefully weekly commentary on the current round of MLS action. This edition is a little light, since my holiday weekend was very busy, and so was the U.S. Men's National team!
I caught the Colorado Rapids at Real Salt Lake from Saturday's round of matches. I picked this one to watch, because Clint Mathis and Jeff Cunningham always intrigue me. Both are lightening rods for controversy, but extremely talented. Mathis has been virtually invisible since his return to the MLS, but he was in the first eleven for this match. Once again, Cunningham played the role of "super sub," and once again, he got results. I don't quite understand it; Cunningham has 4 goals and 1 assist in just over one actual match in time accrued on the field in his last three matches, yet he doesn't start. Like him or hate him, the guy gets results, frequently.
The match was a spirited 2-2 draw, with Cunningham assisting on the tieing tally, short-handed, no less. Cunningham actually tied the match at 1-1, in the 73rd minute, with a penalty kick. Petke supposedly handed the ball in the box, even though the replay clearly showed he was two yards outside the penalty area. As Wynalda correctly predicted, Cunningham went high and to the right to score the equalizer. Don't the MLS squads have scouting reports?
Wasson substituted in and gave Colorado another lead off of a set piece in the 84th minute, just after Atiba Harris, who starts in front of Cunningham, was sent off with a second nasty tackle.
I'd bet Cunningham starts in the next match, but I digress.
Even though Real was short-handed, they were able to keep the pressure on by sending long balls to Cunningham. They struck gold again when Cunningham actually flicked one on to all-time MLS goals leader Jason Kreis, who finished despite the two-footed dive into his midsection by the goalie. Where was the card on that play, Mr. Referee? Oh, and for the exception of a couple of nice balls in the first half (and a couple of embarrassing free kicks), Mathis was once again pretty much invisible. He kept his composure, though, which is worth noting, since he is a notorious hot-head.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Ready to Go
I know the last two opponents for the U.S. Men's National Team were ranked in the bottom third of the FIFA top 100, but I'm pleased to get two relatively easy results to gain some momentum prior to heading overseas.
The U.S. absolutely dominated the first half against an over-matched Latvia squad, especially in the midfield. Only some great goalkeeping held the U.S. to only one tally in the first stanza. I was very impressed with how left back Eddie Lewis and right back Steve Cherundolo were able to get forward, gain possession, and send multiple good balls into the box on the attack. Cherundolo lacks Hejduk's stamina, pace, and endurance, but he makes up for it with better possession and service. Quite honestly, I was so excited to see a healthy Bocanegra against Venezuela, I'd temporarily forgotten about Lewis. I still think Boca is the better option, because he plays better defense, and he's more of a threat on set pieces. Lewis is no slouch, though, and offers a little more with his offensive abilities.
I absolutely love McBride. I don't understand why he doesn't wear the captain's arm band. Is there any harder worker, or tougher player, on the U.S. squad? He shows up every match, and always gives maximum effort. How about heading in the only goal, with that golf-ball sized welt on his forehead? Yeah, I know lots of guys play hurt, but that shot had to sting! He's always a threat, mostly in the air, but he can also play a clever ball to a teammate to set up a shot as well. There was some good chemistry between him and Eddie Johnson, who also looked consistent and effective for the majority of the match, and kept his composure despite several poor offsides calls and non-calls in the box. He can be dangerous, and he could be the "breakthrough" player for the U.S. in Germany, if they are to make a run.
The U.S. was a bit lackluster in the second half, as it was apparent that fatigue was catching up with them. As I predicted, Convey substituted O'Brien for the last 30 minutes of the match or so, and brought some life to the squad with his pace and excellent footwork. As usual, Keller stepped up when he needed to, and earned another clean sheet.
Although I don't think the U.S. is quite hitting on all cylinders, they've shown improvement with each match. It will take maximum effort, peak form, and a little luck, but I really think they can get out of their Group. The Czechs are hurting as well, and I've always felt that Italy is a bit overrated. A result against Ghana is an absolute must, but I believe the U.S. will either split against the Czechs and Italy, or win one and tie the other. Yes, I'm optimistic, but hey, it would stink to be pessimistic, since the World's most prestigious competition only comes once every four years!
The U.S. absolutely dominated the first half against an over-matched Latvia squad, especially in the midfield. Only some great goalkeeping held the U.S. to only one tally in the first stanza. I was very impressed with how left back Eddie Lewis and right back Steve Cherundolo were able to get forward, gain possession, and send multiple good balls into the box on the attack. Cherundolo lacks Hejduk's stamina, pace, and endurance, but he makes up for it with better possession and service. Quite honestly, I was so excited to see a healthy Bocanegra against Venezuela, I'd temporarily forgotten about Lewis. I still think Boca is the better option, because he plays better defense, and he's more of a threat on set pieces. Lewis is no slouch, though, and offers a little more with his offensive abilities.
I absolutely love McBride. I don't understand why he doesn't wear the captain's arm band. Is there any harder worker, or tougher player, on the U.S. squad? He shows up every match, and always gives maximum effort. How about heading in the only goal, with that golf-ball sized welt on his forehead? Yeah, I know lots of guys play hurt, but that shot had to sting! He's always a threat, mostly in the air, but he can also play a clever ball to a teammate to set up a shot as well. There was some good chemistry between him and Eddie Johnson, who also looked consistent and effective for the majority of the match, and kept his composure despite several poor offsides calls and non-calls in the box. He can be dangerous, and he could be the "breakthrough" player for the U.S. in Germany, if they are to make a run.
The U.S. was a bit lackluster in the second half, as it was apparent that fatigue was catching up with them. As I predicted, Convey substituted O'Brien for the last 30 minutes of the match or so, and brought some life to the squad with his pace and excellent footwork. As usual, Keller stepped up when he needed to, and earned another clean sheet.
Although I don't think the U.S. is quite hitting on all cylinders, they've shown improvement with each match. It will take maximum effort, peak form, and a little luck, but I really think they can get out of their Group. The Czechs are hurting as well, and I've always felt that Italy is a bit overrated. A result against Ghana is an absolute must, but I believe the U.S. will either split against the Czechs and Italy, or win one and tie the other. Yes, I'm optimistic, but hey, it would stink to be pessimistic, since the World's most prestigious competition only comes once every four years!
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Breathing a Little Easier
I know that since the U.S. qualified, the main purpose of most matches was to tinker with lineups and formations in order to find the most competitive mix for the World Cup. Aside from an inspired match in Poland, since the end of qualifying, the U.S. has been lackluster at best. Part of it is due to the fact that many of the European players were not available, but now that the roster is intact, it's heartening to finally see a result.
Convey was flat-out dominating. I'm thinking about 60 minutes of O'Brien and 30 minutes of Convey, per match, would be a great combination. As a matter of fact, if Reyna can't go, I'd like to see Convey and O'Brien on the pitch together.
It was nice to see a healthy Bocanegra again. In my opinion, Gibbs should've been behind him on the depth chart anyway, so the injury is less troublesome to the U.S. than it might appear. That second yellow-card against Bocanegra was a joke, and the first one was earned out of complete necessity due to the unsportsmanlike play of Venezuela, who was executing an attack after an injury to Josh Wolff (where was the card on that, by the way?). In addition, after the headbutt that Johnson took, and the elbow to Convey's face - both without cards - how can the ref justify giving Boca a card on that 50/50 ball? Horrendous...
Ching was hot-and-cold, but it was nice to see him finish one. He needs to be more commanding in the box, because he had some chances that he just didn't get to. I'd like to see him stay hot, though, as a little firepower with fresh legs off the bench will be a necessity in the tournament.
Overall, I feel much better about the U.S. after that effort-filled performance last night. Hopefully, we didn't peak in Poland, and we'll see similar efforts in the very near future.
Convey was flat-out dominating. I'm thinking about 60 minutes of O'Brien and 30 minutes of Convey, per match, would be a great combination. As a matter of fact, if Reyna can't go, I'd like to see Convey and O'Brien on the pitch together.
It was nice to see a healthy Bocanegra again. In my opinion, Gibbs should've been behind him on the depth chart anyway, so the injury is less troublesome to the U.S. than it might appear. That second yellow-card against Bocanegra was a joke, and the first one was earned out of complete necessity due to the unsportsmanlike play of Venezuela, who was executing an attack after an injury to Josh Wolff (where was the card on that, by the way?). In addition, after the headbutt that Johnson took, and the elbow to Convey's face - both without cards - how can the ref justify giving Boca a card on that 50/50 ball? Horrendous...
Ching was hot-and-cold, but it was nice to see him finish one. He needs to be more commanding in the box, because he had some chances that he just didn't get to. I'd like to see him stay hot, though, as a little firepower with fresh legs off the bench will be a necessity in the tournament.
Overall, I feel much better about the U.S. after that effort-filled performance last night. Hopefully, we didn't peak in Poland, and we'll see similar efforts in the very near future.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Americanization of the World's Sport
Here's another "practice" article for my soon-to-be website... As always, comments are welcome!
Soccer, er “football” to the rest of the citizens on the planet, is the most popular sport in the world. It has a grand history, and a proven formula that has withstood the test of time and culture. Everywhere except the United States, that is.
We Americans can be pretty selective about what we embrace. We prefer something that’s primarily our own, like (American) football, basketball, or baseball. For some reason, if it comes from another land, we don’t fully embrace it as part of our culture. That’s ironic, considering how our great country was founded.
In order to see soccer succeed in the states, the MLS’s founding fathers found it necessary to adjust the “beautiful game” to make it more appealing to this market. Things like team nicknames, separate conferences, and a playoff system to provide a champion are all bastardizations of the rest of the world’s football. To some degree, I do think it’s worked, as the MLS has slowly caught on over the past decade, and to be fair, the MLS has made some adjustments to become more in line with what the rest of the world offers (for example, getting rid of the “golden goal” in league play).
However, I’d like to see more changes. First of all, I want one table for the league, where the regular season champion means something. This system worked for Major League Baseball in its inception, and I think the American public can relate to it. Quite frankly, a fourth place finisher really doesn’t deserve a shot at the championship, does it?
On an even more radical level, I love the concept of relegation. For those of you that aren’t familiar, the lowest teams in the table (probably the bottom two would suffice, in the current MLS), are relegated to the next league below the MLS, while the top finishers in the lower league in promotion to the MLS. What a great concept! To continue the baseball analogy, could you imagine the Kansas City Royals getting demoted to AAA, while the Columbus Clippers get promoted to the Major Leagues?! How exciting would that be?! Plus, it gives teams in the middle and at the bottom of the table something to play for as the season winds down. My fear is that the lower leagues don’t have the appeal nor the financial stability to make this work, at least right now.
Lastly, can we please get rid of the nicknames – at least the “official” ones? Only one team gets this right – FC Dallas. The Dynamo? The Crew? The Galaxy? Embarrassing, when compared to the rest of the world. Salt Lake tried, but really, “Real” Salt Lake? How about just “FC” Salt Lake (or any other city)? It’s simple, tried, and true. Let the fans come up with their own unique nicknames, as they build rapport with their club and its developing history.
I truly believe the world’s most popular sport can become America’s most popular sport, at least at some point in the future. The youth in mass are playing soccer instead of most other “American” sports, and over time, the fan base is going to continue its grassroots growth. A strong American performance on the stage known as the World Cup could accelerate this growth considerably, especially if the rest of the major sports continue tripping over themselves with labor strife, spoiled, petulant, overpaid athletes, and elitist ticket prices. Maybe this is a “pipe dream,” but 25 years from now, I wonder what the American sports landscape will look like…
Soccer, er “football” to the rest of the citizens on the planet, is the most popular sport in the world. It has a grand history, and a proven formula that has withstood the test of time and culture. Everywhere except the United States, that is.
We Americans can be pretty selective about what we embrace. We prefer something that’s primarily our own, like (American) football, basketball, or baseball. For some reason, if it comes from another land, we don’t fully embrace it as part of our culture. That’s ironic, considering how our great country was founded.
In order to see soccer succeed in the states, the MLS’s founding fathers found it necessary to adjust the “beautiful game” to make it more appealing to this market. Things like team nicknames, separate conferences, and a playoff system to provide a champion are all bastardizations of the rest of the world’s football. To some degree, I do think it’s worked, as the MLS has slowly caught on over the past decade, and to be fair, the MLS has made some adjustments to become more in line with what the rest of the world offers (for example, getting rid of the “golden goal” in league play).
However, I’d like to see more changes. First of all, I want one table for the league, where the regular season champion means something. This system worked for Major League Baseball in its inception, and I think the American public can relate to it. Quite frankly, a fourth place finisher really doesn’t deserve a shot at the championship, does it?
On an even more radical level, I love the concept of relegation. For those of you that aren’t familiar, the lowest teams in the table (probably the bottom two would suffice, in the current MLS), are relegated to the next league below the MLS, while the top finishers in the lower league in promotion to the MLS. What a great concept! To continue the baseball analogy, could you imagine the Kansas City Royals getting demoted to AAA, while the Columbus Clippers get promoted to the Major Leagues?! How exciting would that be?! Plus, it gives teams in the middle and at the bottom of the table something to play for as the season winds down. My fear is that the lower leagues don’t have the appeal nor the financial stability to make this work, at least right now.
Lastly, can we please get rid of the nicknames – at least the “official” ones? Only one team gets this right – FC Dallas. The Dynamo? The Crew? The Galaxy? Embarrassing, when compared to the rest of the world. Salt Lake tried, but really, “Real” Salt Lake? How about just “FC” Salt Lake (or any other city)? It’s simple, tried, and true. Let the fans come up with their own unique nicknames, as they build rapport with their club and its developing history.
I truly believe the world’s most popular sport can become America’s most popular sport, at least at some point in the future. The youth in mass are playing soccer instead of most other “American” sports, and over time, the fan base is going to continue its grassroots growth. A strong American performance on the stage known as the World Cup could accelerate this growth considerably, especially if the rest of the major sports continue tripping over themselves with labor strife, spoiled, petulant, overpaid athletes, and elitist ticket prices. Maybe this is a “pipe dream,” but 25 years from now, I wonder what the American sports landscape will look like…
Friday, May 19, 2006
Progress
Well, in my spare time this week, I've been using FrontPage 2000 to work up a prototype for my website. It's going pretty well. The website won't be a work of art, or cutting edge internet technology, but it should suffice as space for my content. And, we all know, content is king! Over time, I fully expect my site to grow commensurate with my improvement in skills.
I haven't heard back from the MLS in regard to using their name and trademarks/copyrights on my site. I might have to give them a call to get an answer. In the interim, I fully plan on progressing by keeping the site name and team/player references generic, meaning no use of official logos, pictures, etc. This shouldn't hold back my project.
I've been trying to come up with a solid name for the website, both with and without MLS support. Right now, I've settled on "soccerscribe.com," and the domain is available. I'm no marketer, though, so I'm up for any suggestions. Let me know if you have any! I'm also interested in any recommendations for a host that you may have...
Hopefully, I'll get some content up this weekend, after the next round of MLS matches. I'm thinking I'll post 2-3 articles a week at minimum during the season, with one regular entry entitled "Did you see that?", that comments on the major goings-on in the current week's games. I have a few other items up my sleeve as well!
I haven't heard back from the MLS in regard to using their name and trademarks/copyrights on my site. I might have to give them a call to get an answer. In the interim, I fully plan on progressing by keeping the site name and team/player references generic, meaning no use of official logos, pictures, etc. This shouldn't hold back my project.
I've been trying to come up with a solid name for the website, both with and without MLS support. Right now, I've settled on "soccerscribe.com," and the domain is available. I'm no marketer, though, so I'm up for any suggestions. Let me know if you have any! I'm also interested in any recommendations for a host that you may have...
Hopefully, I'll get some content up this weekend, after the next round of MLS matches. I'm thinking I'll post 2-3 articles a week at minimum during the season, with one regular entry entitled "Did you see that?", that comments on the major goings-on in the current week's games. I have a few other items up my sleeve as well!
Monday, May 15, 2006
Polarizing MLS Players
As promised, my first MLS "article." Bear with me as I work out the kinks!
Every sport has them; those players we just love to hate. Unless, of course, that player happens to be on the home team! In basketball, players like Kobe Bryant and Rasheed Wallace irk the masses, while appeal to the fans in their own respective gymnasiums. Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson come to mind in the NFL, and Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens certainly divide MLB fans. Well, in my experience, the MLS has those same types of players. Here is my list, and their stories:
1. Carlos Ruiz – FC Dallas – Ruiz is the league’s most celebrated “flopper,” as well as one the players most willing to circumvent the rules of fair play. Most recently, in his long list of offenses, he elbowed a Dynamo defender in the face in their 05/13/06 match, and then rolled on the ground as if they smacked heads. At least the referee called him on it, this time.
2. Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution – Dempsey has made quite a splash on the national scene in the last year with his creative play on the pitch. However, it appears that he may hold a higher opinion of himself than his status would indicate. He already has his own rap song. He recently was suspended by the Revolution for tussling with team captain Joe Franchino. Lastly, although he does play with passion and flair, he often loses his composure in the heat of the battle.
3. Kyle Martino – L.A. Galaxy – I take this one personally. “Mr. Rookie of the Year” just didn’t have it in his heart to give his best effort in Columbus. I don’t recall getting a discount on my tickets, because the team wasn’t delivering the best product! He expressed as much to Sigi, and fortunately, Sigi agreed. Now he’s in L.A., and will undoubtedly make an impression as a player who occasionally flashes skill when not knocked over by a strong gust of wind. Had he worked harder at making a creative play than trying to draw a foul, he might have had a few more assists and goals in Columbus.
4. Freddy Adu – D.C. United – Freddy’s just a kid. I don’t necessarily hold him accountable for everything that he’s endured in his brief career. It’s not his fault that he’s been hyped as the American version of Pele, and there’s no doubt that this level of hype has an impact on the fans’ perception of a player. It does seem that the hype may have gone to his head, though, as I find it pretty audacious that he’d complain about playing time at age 16 on a Major League club. Be happy that you’ve earned an opportunity that no one else in the history of the league has. He also voiced similar thoughts about actually playing on the U.S. World Cup team. Not yet, Mr. Adu. Prove it to me first.
5. Clint Mathis – Colorado Rapids – What happened to you, Clint? I can only conjecture that you let your temper keep you from becoming the international star you were destined to become. There is no bigger whiner in the league than Mathis. There is no doubt this has made him a bench player on the Rapids, and it got him removed from both his German club and the U.S. National team. It’s all about the proper attitude, and an attitude like his makes him hard to admire.
6. Jeff Cunningham – Real Salt Lake – Jeff is one of the best 1 v 1 players in the league. He can be down right electric at times. He can also be downright selfish, putting his interest ahead of the team’s, and pouting when things don’t go his way. Again, being a Crew fan, I’ve observed this in the first person. It’s a roller coaster ride rooting for Jeff, and many don’t have the stomach for it.
7. Ante Razov – Chivas USA – Did I just describe Jeff Cunningham? I could copy-and-paste virtually the same text for Ante. He is a clinical finisher, and a colossal jerk. This guy can destroy a team, if he’s not happy. Why is it that a lot of my list consists of former Crew players (albeit briefly, in Ante’s case)?
8. Chris Armas – Chicago Fire – I really have nothing negative to say about Chris. He’s just a very aggressive player, and sometimes that aggression leads to tough fouls on players on your team. I respect a man of his stature that plays so hard, but I don’t like it when his boots meet up with the ankles of my guys. Chris is the epitome of a guy that I’d love to have on the Crew, but that I can’t stand when he plays against the Crew.
9. Frankie Hejduk – Columbus Crew – Fortunately, we have our own “enforcer” in Frankie Hejduk. I’m sure many opposing fans feel about Frankie exactly how I described my feelings for Armas. Frankie is a moderately skillful player, with a tireless work ethic, and a “tough guy” disposition. He’s just over-aggressive at times, which can lead to mistakes and bad fouls. He also has a temper, and acts a bit like a prima donna at times, but I wouldn’t trade him for anyone on this list.
10. Nick Garcia – Kansas City Wizards – This one is 100% personal. The cheap shot he laid on Knox Cameron at Crew Stadium was total bush league. This kind of play can’t be tolerated. At least the league gave him a 2-game suspension last season, even though the referee somehow didn’t see fit to show him a card.
11. Armando Guevara – New York Red Bulls – Armando reminds me a lot of Ruiz, but he’s even a bigger jerk and a greater problem for his club in the locker room and off the pitch. Case in point: after being substituted in the 55th minute in their 05/13/06 match against Chicago, he went to the locker room, showered, and watched the rest of the game from the stands with his wife. He also had heated arguments with his manager and with former GM Alexi Lalas prior to the season beginning. Armando puts the “ass” in “class.”
12. Adrian Serioux – Houston Dynamo – Adrian is a Canadian international, and he’s just begun his career in the MLS. So far, he’s off to an illustrious start with 3 yellow cards in his first 6 matches. Evidently, Nick Garcia is his mentor.
Every sport has them; those players we just love to hate. Unless, of course, that player happens to be on the home team! In basketball, players like Kobe Bryant and Rasheed Wallace irk the masses, while appeal to the fans in their own respective gymnasiums. Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson come to mind in the NFL, and Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens certainly divide MLB fans. Well, in my experience, the MLS has those same types of players. Here is my list, and their stories:
1. Carlos Ruiz – FC Dallas – Ruiz is the league’s most celebrated “flopper,” as well as one the players most willing to circumvent the rules of fair play. Most recently, in his long list of offenses, he elbowed a Dynamo defender in the face in their 05/13/06 match, and then rolled on the ground as if they smacked heads. At least the referee called him on it, this time.
2. Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution – Dempsey has made quite a splash on the national scene in the last year with his creative play on the pitch. However, it appears that he may hold a higher opinion of himself than his status would indicate. He already has his own rap song. He recently was suspended by the Revolution for tussling with team captain Joe Franchino. Lastly, although he does play with passion and flair, he often loses his composure in the heat of the battle.
3. Kyle Martino – L.A. Galaxy – I take this one personally. “Mr. Rookie of the Year” just didn’t have it in his heart to give his best effort in Columbus. I don’t recall getting a discount on my tickets, because the team wasn’t delivering the best product! He expressed as much to Sigi, and fortunately, Sigi agreed. Now he’s in L.A., and will undoubtedly make an impression as a player who occasionally flashes skill when not knocked over by a strong gust of wind. Had he worked harder at making a creative play than trying to draw a foul, he might have had a few more assists and goals in Columbus.
4. Freddy Adu – D.C. United – Freddy’s just a kid. I don’t necessarily hold him accountable for everything that he’s endured in his brief career. It’s not his fault that he’s been hyped as the American version of Pele, and there’s no doubt that this level of hype has an impact on the fans’ perception of a player. It does seem that the hype may have gone to his head, though, as I find it pretty audacious that he’d complain about playing time at age 16 on a Major League club. Be happy that you’ve earned an opportunity that no one else in the history of the league has. He also voiced similar thoughts about actually playing on the U.S. World Cup team. Not yet, Mr. Adu. Prove it to me first.
5. Clint Mathis – Colorado Rapids – What happened to you, Clint? I can only conjecture that you let your temper keep you from becoming the international star you were destined to become. There is no bigger whiner in the league than Mathis. There is no doubt this has made him a bench player on the Rapids, and it got him removed from both his German club and the U.S. National team. It’s all about the proper attitude, and an attitude like his makes him hard to admire.
6. Jeff Cunningham – Real Salt Lake – Jeff is one of the best 1 v 1 players in the league. He can be down right electric at times. He can also be downright selfish, putting his interest ahead of the team’s, and pouting when things don’t go his way. Again, being a Crew fan, I’ve observed this in the first person. It’s a roller coaster ride rooting for Jeff, and many don’t have the stomach for it.
7. Ante Razov – Chivas USA – Did I just describe Jeff Cunningham? I could copy-and-paste virtually the same text for Ante. He is a clinical finisher, and a colossal jerk. This guy can destroy a team, if he’s not happy. Why is it that a lot of my list consists of former Crew players (albeit briefly, in Ante’s case)?
8. Chris Armas – Chicago Fire – I really have nothing negative to say about Chris. He’s just a very aggressive player, and sometimes that aggression leads to tough fouls on players on your team. I respect a man of his stature that plays so hard, but I don’t like it when his boots meet up with the ankles of my guys. Chris is the epitome of a guy that I’d love to have on the Crew, but that I can’t stand when he plays against the Crew.
9. Frankie Hejduk – Columbus Crew – Fortunately, we have our own “enforcer” in Frankie Hejduk. I’m sure many opposing fans feel about Frankie exactly how I described my feelings for Armas. Frankie is a moderately skillful player, with a tireless work ethic, and a “tough guy” disposition. He’s just over-aggressive at times, which can lead to mistakes and bad fouls. He also has a temper, and acts a bit like a prima donna at times, but I wouldn’t trade him for anyone on this list.
10. Nick Garcia – Kansas City Wizards – This one is 100% personal. The cheap shot he laid on Knox Cameron at Crew Stadium was total bush league. This kind of play can’t be tolerated. At least the league gave him a 2-game suspension last season, even though the referee somehow didn’t see fit to show him a card.
11. Armando Guevara – New York Red Bulls – Armando reminds me a lot of Ruiz, but he’s even a bigger jerk and a greater problem for his club in the locker room and off the pitch. Case in point: after being substituted in the 55th minute in their 05/13/06 match against Chicago, he went to the locker room, showered, and watched the rest of the game from the stands with his wife. He also had heated arguments with his manager and with former GM Alexi Lalas prior to the season beginning. Armando puts the “ass” in “class.”
12. Adrian Serioux – Houston Dynamo – Adrian is a Canadian international, and he’s just begun his career in the MLS. So far, he’s off to an illustrious start with 3 yellow cards in his first 6 matches. Evidently, Nick Garcia is his mentor.
My Niche
I've long felt that in some way I want to express myself in writing - my passions, interests, and opinions. My first venture into this hobby came in the form of writing about video games, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, with my slightly obsessive-compulsive behavior, I tended to turn each review from an entertaining endeavor into a term paper, which wore thin after a couple of years. Next came this blog; but the lack of structure has limited my desire to post items regularly. After much deliberation, I think I may have found my niche (for the moment, anyway).
I'm a big soccer fan. Soccer in the states has grown steadily over the last 10 years, but it just doesn't capture the American public like the other "big three" sports. This is evident based on the lack of "fan" coverage for our domestic league, the MLS. There are few - if any - credible "fansites" associated with MLS coverage. My hope is to add one to this small group. I'm not sure in which forum my soccer voice will appear, but I'm currently investigating my options. For ease of use, I may stay with the blog format. However, I've been interested in the challenge of creating and running my own site for years, so I'm leaning towards that option. I've actually contacted the MLS about permission to use their name and logos on my fan site, and I'm awaiting reply. Regardless, this next chapter in my life as a hobbyist writer will cover soccer in the United States.
I've already got some content ready. For the time being, I'll post it here, and use this as a "trial period" to polish my skills. When I figure out all of the particulars of running my own site, then I'll launch "officially." Hopefully, I'll connect with other like-minded fans, and start a grassroots effort to cover "the beautiful game" in the context of the United States, which most Americans and the rest of the world tend to ignore.
Wish me luck!
I'm a big soccer fan. Soccer in the states has grown steadily over the last 10 years, but it just doesn't capture the American public like the other "big three" sports. This is evident based on the lack of "fan" coverage for our domestic league, the MLS. There are few - if any - credible "fansites" associated with MLS coverage. My hope is to add one to this small group. I'm not sure in which forum my soccer voice will appear, but I'm currently investigating my options. For ease of use, I may stay with the blog format. However, I've been interested in the challenge of creating and running my own site for years, so I'm leaning towards that option. I've actually contacted the MLS about permission to use their name and logos on my fan site, and I'm awaiting reply. Regardless, this next chapter in my life as a hobbyist writer will cover soccer in the United States.
I've already got some content ready. For the time being, I'll post it here, and use this as a "trial period" to polish my skills. When I figure out all of the particulars of running my own site, then I'll launch "officially." Hopefully, I'll connect with other like-minded fans, and start a grassroots effort to cover "the beautiful game" in the context of the United States, which most Americans and the rest of the world tend to ignore.
Wish me luck!
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