On Friday, 12/26/08, Columbus announced that 2008 MLS Defender of the Year, 2008 MLS Cup-winning goal scorer, and 2008 bad-ass Chad Marshall answered Maurice Williams's plea and re-signed with the Crew. As usual, no terms of the deal were immediately announced, though it has been rumored that Marshall is entitled to one fine lady of his choosing after each home game, a small price to pay, really.
I would not definitively say that I am a club-over-country soldier, at least not as solidly as my good man Sedley. Then again Sedley's 2008 sports nirvana includes a Phillies World Series title, a Crew MLS Cup victory, a Notre Dame bowl victory, and an Eagles playoff berth in the same season in which their starting quarterback didn't know the NFL allowed ties, so he might be believing in and living the good life. However, I will say that I am selfish in my sports support in that I more-or-less care about what is best for my team, letting the other pieces fall where they may.
For example, I root for Ohio State in football. Once a Buckeye leaves OSU, though, I'm not all that concerned about their NFL stats unless they're plying their trade for the NFL's best team over the final three weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals (3-0, baby!). The fact that few OSU quarterbacks enjoy NFL success doesn't concern as me much as Joe Germaine winning a Rose Bowl or Troy Smith winning a Heisman (um, a national title might have been nice, though). I want Buckeyes to succeed in the NFL only so far as to continue to encourage top-level talent to attend OSU.
My soccer support is quite similar in that I am concerned first with the Crew, with the national team coming in second (and it's not a photo finish). Don't confuse such a statement with apathy or dislike of the national team, though. I take their results as hard as most sane people, but I feel more connected to the Crew in that I have season tickets, I watch them 30+ times each season. I root for the national team as hard as I possibly can, and I want it to succeed so badly.
Many US soccer fans and BigSoccer posters will contend that for the US to ever become a serious, constant contender on the international stage its best players must play in the toughest competition available, generally found in Europe. In the absence of such competition, the US players will never develop enough skill to lift the US out of its second-tier level, and any US player capable of heading overseas - take Chad Marshall, for example - who stays in the US is doing a disservice to both himself and his national team.
I'm not going to argue if that's completely accurate or not. I think that compelling arguments can be made for each side of the discussion. But what I can say is that I, the Crew fan, WANT to watch Chad Marshall play for Columbus next year. If that supposedly affects the national team, so be it. Selfishly I want what's best for Columbus, which is why I wanted Marshall to listen to Maurice Williams. It's why I can enjoy DaMarcus Beasley having an off game in Crew Stadium against Columbus with European scouts in attendance. I wanted the Crew to win, not let Beasley show off his talent for the supposed betterment of the national team at the expense of the Crew.
I will always, always pull for the national team to succeed each time it plays, in each competition it enters, and I will attend every match that I can. Selfishly, though, I want what's best for the Crew first. If that means that I put club-over-country definitively, then, I guess I'll wear the label guilt-free.
Monday, December 29, 2008
A nice soccer Christmas gift
Because of balancing time with my family and the Toledo-based in-laws, my family didn't exchange gifts until yesterday. My sister came up huge by getting me the t-shirt below. The t-shirt, and a number of other old-time club shirts, is available from the fine people at Bumpy Pitch.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Nervous and excited in Los Angeles
The life of a sports fan is rather strange, really, especially those fans who invest significant amounts of time and money supporting their team. We spend hours following Internet rumors of the next big signing, tracking down little-known players logging time in smaller, Eastern European countries. We spend hours debating team selections, coaching concepts, tactics, scouting reports, expansion draft lists, oftentimes without full knowledge of team chemistry or practice results. We get nervous - some might say ridiculously so - leading up to games where we're slightly more than an accessory to the game. Sure, home support can be a tremendous asset to a team, but in the end the game's result hinges on the performance of the players (and officials...). While the game is the players' job, and their performances has a direct effect on their livelihood, it could be argued that the fan, the supporter, gets more nervous for a game than the players he is supporting.
Following the Crew across the country to MLS Cup, I experienced this nervousness and excitement to a level I had never experienced before. I am relatively fortunate, as a sports fan, in that my teams have won three World Series titles (though 1975 and 1976 are a little difficult to remember...), appeared in two Super Bowls, and have won a national championship in college football. Ignoring MLS Cup, I have watched my teams contend for the "ultimate" title six times, though with only two wins to show. However, in each of these six tries, I was never as nervous before them as I was before MLS Cup. While I support the Reds, Bengals, and Buckeyes, I support the Crew to a much greater level and have a much greater emotional (and financial) investment. This investment, being so close to the team and feeling more connected to the team, was the oxygen to my nervousness fire. I noticed this nervousness while in Los Angeles, but upon looking back I realized little things showed exactly how nervous and excited I was.
The day before MLS Cup I attended the Hollywood United FC charity game at the Home Depot Center and, completely through my friendship with Sirk - little known gateway to the stars - I attended the postgame party in the stadium club. I needed to call my Crew Stadium neighbor Nate, who with his wife Steph, was in Los Angeles, too, to coordinate the next day's activities. While talking to Nate I watched as the Home Depot Center staff readied the field for the final. The grass was being attended, the matrix sign boards were being tested, and the lights were on. Looking across toward the northeast corner, from where I'd hopefully watch a Crew victory, increased the excitement. Standing in a fairly quiet stadium, surveying the surroundings, was strangely enough almost too much. I couldn't believe that in less than a day my team, yes MY TEAM, would fight for themselves and for its supporters, fight for its title. Thankfully, Nate shared similar feelings so at least I knew I wasn't the only oddball.
The clincher, though, the moment I realized that the nervousness and excitement was greater than expected was when Sirk and I went to In-N-Out after the postgame party on Saturday night. Whether it be a serious discussion of the game's events or me dicking on somebody or something, Sirk and I always easily slip into conversation. In-N-Out, though, was a completely different story. The conversation was a series of starts and stops with most stops leading to some variation of, "I can't believe that the Crew are playing in MLS Cup tomorrow." We tried to discuss the game, how we thought it would play out, what we thought the Crew needed to do to win the title. But really, in the end, the only thing we could say was, "I can't believe that the Crew are playing in MLS Cup tomorrow." It was like two kids talking on Christmas Eve, trying to discuss the newest Star Wars toy, but really just filling dead air as they think about the next day.
Is it ridiculous to get so nervous, so excited about something over which you have no control? Probably so, but I wouldn't change it for anything. And, the Crew's victory in MLS Cup made it all worthwhile. Honestly, I'm not sure if the Crew's win would have felt the same, felt as satisfying. Strange, huh?
Following the Crew across the country to MLS Cup, I experienced this nervousness and excitement to a level I had never experienced before. I am relatively fortunate, as a sports fan, in that my teams have won three World Series titles (though 1975 and 1976 are a little difficult to remember...), appeared in two Super Bowls, and have won a national championship in college football. Ignoring MLS Cup, I have watched my teams contend for the "ultimate" title six times, though with only two wins to show. However, in each of these six tries, I was never as nervous before them as I was before MLS Cup. While I support the Reds, Bengals, and Buckeyes, I support the Crew to a much greater level and have a much greater emotional (and financial) investment. This investment, being so close to the team and feeling more connected to the team, was the oxygen to my nervousness fire. I noticed this nervousness while in Los Angeles, but upon looking back I realized little things showed exactly how nervous and excited I was.
The day before MLS Cup I attended the Hollywood United FC charity game at the Home Depot Center and, completely through my friendship with Sirk - little known gateway to the stars - I attended the postgame party in the stadium club. I needed to call my Crew Stadium neighbor Nate, who with his wife Steph, was in Los Angeles, too, to coordinate the next day's activities. While talking to Nate I watched as the Home Depot Center staff readied the field for the final. The grass was being attended, the matrix sign boards were being tested, and the lights were on. Looking across toward the northeast corner, from where I'd hopefully watch a Crew victory, increased the excitement. Standing in a fairly quiet stadium, surveying the surroundings, was strangely enough almost too much. I couldn't believe that in less than a day my team, yes MY TEAM, would fight for themselves and for its supporters, fight for its title. Thankfully, Nate shared similar feelings so at least I knew I wasn't the only oddball.
The clincher, though, the moment I realized that the nervousness and excitement was greater than expected was when Sirk and I went to In-N-Out after the postgame party on Saturday night. Whether it be a serious discussion of the game's events or me dicking on somebody or something, Sirk and I always easily slip into conversation. In-N-Out, though, was a completely different story. The conversation was a series of starts and stops with most stops leading to some variation of, "I can't believe that the Crew are playing in MLS Cup tomorrow." We tried to discuss the game, how we thought it would play out, what we thought the Crew needed to do to win the title. But really, in the end, the only thing we could say was, "I can't believe that the Crew are playing in MLS Cup tomorrow." It was like two kids talking on Christmas Eve, trying to discuss the newest Star Wars toy, but really just filling dead air as they think about the next day.
Is it ridiculous to get so nervous, so excited about something over which you have no control? Probably so, but I wouldn't change it for anything. And, the Crew's victory in MLS Cup made it all worthwhile. Honestly, I'm not sure if the Crew's win would have felt the same, felt as satisfying. Strange, huh?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Crew's historical playoff attendance
Over on BigSoccer, both in the Crew forum and elsewhere, I am sure that last night's attendance of 11,153 will cause much discussion. For informational purposes only, here is the Crew's home playoff attendance as taken from the team's media guide.
09/25/96...Tampa Bay.....20,807
09/28/97...Tampa Bay.....22,259
10/08/97...Tampa Bay.....13,102
10/15/97...DC United......9,508
09/30/98...New York......10,996
10/18/98...DC United.....13,193
10/17/99...Tampa Bay......9,188
11/07/99...DC United.....12,778
09/22/01...San Jose......20,883
09/28/02...San Jose......13,004
10/09/02...New England...10,245
10/31/04...New England...15,224
The last home game of 2001 was canceled because of the 09/11 terrorist attacks. I can't remember the specifics but I think the Crew did something for those tickets, like accepting them for the first playoff game that year.
09/25/96...Tampa Bay.....20,807
09/28/97...Tampa Bay.....22,259
10/08/97...Tampa Bay.....13,102
10/15/97...DC United......9,508
09/30/98...New York......10,996
10/18/98...DC United.....13,193
10/17/99...Tampa Bay......9,188
11/07/99...DC United.....12,778
09/22/01...San Jose......20,883
09/28/02...San Jose......13,004
10/09/02...New England...10,245
10/31/04...New England...15,224
The last home game of 2001 was canceled because of the 09/11 terrorist attacks. I can't remember the specifics but I think the Crew did something for those tickets, like accepting them for the first playoff game that year.
2,233 long days...
Before last night's 2-0 win over Kansas City, propelling the Crew into the conference finals, the last time Columbus won a playoff game was September 28, 2002. Assuming Microsoft Excel can subtract correctly, it was 2,233 days between playoff wins. Let's step into the Way Back Machine and see what life was like 2,233 days ago (approximately...).
In 2002, the average gallon of gas (according to the E85 web site) cost $1.31. This tidbit would have been more impressive a month ago...
"Dilemma" by Nelly, featuring Kelly Rowland, was the country's #1 song according to Billboard.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2002 at 8341. You know, again this tidbit might have been better a month or so ago.
In 2002, Barack Obama was a state legislator in Illinois. I think he's been in the news lately, but I can't remember why.
Robbie Rogers, who scored the Crew's second goal last night, couldn't legally get into a R-rated movie by himself. That's OK, though, since he also wasn't old enough to drive himself to the theater. He was 15.
A German-born gentleman named Sigi Schmid was busy coaching a Supporters' Shield winning team to an MLS Cup victory. Hmm...
MLS had two teams in Florida and zero teams in Canada. Ah, nostalgia.
Wikipedia was about one year old, and hadn't quite realized its place as the message board and high school kid go-to source for information.
In 2002, the Cincinnati Bengals finished 2-14. Wait a minute...
In September 2002 the national debt was about $6.2 trillion. Now it stands at around $10.4 trillion.
In 2002, the average gallon of gas (according to the E85 web site) cost $1.31. This tidbit would have been more impressive a month ago...
"Dilemma" by Nelly, featuring Kelly Rowland, was the country's #1 song according to Billboard.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2002 at 8341. You know, again this tidbit might have been better a month or so ago.
In 2002, Barack Obama was a state legislator in Illinois. I think he's been in the news lately, but I can't remember why.
Robbie Rogers, who scored the Crew's second goal last night, couldn't legally get into a R-rated movie by himself. That's OK, though, since he also wasn't old enough to drive himself to the theater. He was 15.
A German-born gentleman named Sigi Schmid was busy coaching a Supporters' Shield winning team to an MLS Cup victory. Hmm...
MLS had two teams in Florida and zero teams in Canada. Ah, nostalgia.
Wikipedia was about one year old, and hadn't quite realized its place as the message board and high school kid go-to source for information.
In 2002, the Cincinnati Bengals finished 2-14. Wait a minute...
In September 2002 the national debt was about $6.2 trillion. Now it stands at around $10.4 trillion.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I consider myself an even-keeled individual when it comes to my sports teams. Though passionate, and sometimes irrational, I think that I'm pretty good at tempering the inevitable highs and lows that come with any season, especially those that consume significant "calendar length." Furthermore, I can also be pretty objective when reading potentially negative information about my teams. While I can get defensive at times - a required trait, I think, of a Crew fan - I'm good at not letting some hits ruin my enjoyment and support of my team. If I didn't, as an Ohio State football I probably would have offed myself by now after the last two national championship game reactions. This brings me to the latest news that an investment group from Las Vegas is reportedly "close" to purchasing a portion of Hunt Sports Group's (HSG) share of the Crew. Normally I wouldn't be overly concerned with this news, but rather would be interested in how a possible "freshness" would affect the Crew (the amount of money's still the same, right?), how such things could help shake off the stench of the past three years and capitalize on the on-field success of the 2008 Crew. But for whatever reason - the "other shoe" I feared - this news, when I look at other Crew items of note and hear information from people I trust, worries me. This isn't a worry that a Mayflower truck will be utilizing the new stage access for Saturday's game against Los Angeles and some English guy, but a nagging feeling that quickly put a damper on this week's match-up. Why can't we have nice things?!? Though not necessarily all related, here are things that worry me.
An ownership group who, let's face it, gives off the absentee vibe. HSG doesn't have a strong, visible presence in Columbus with decisions seemingly made either in Dallas or whichever Caribbean island is handy at the time. Coach Sigi Schmid mentioned, in his early-season quest to bring a Designated Player to Columbus, that he had to go to Dallas to pitch his case to the owners. While a far-flung ownership group isn't automatically a terrible thing, the lack of a strong, viable local ownership group isn't comforting. In the end, it might just be about perception: a local ownership group feels more likely to want to keep a team in a location while a remote group seems more detached, less in-tune with the local market's needs and concerns. Crew fans will point to the longer-than-desired tenure of former GM Jim Smith and former coach Greg Andrulis as perhaps the best two pieces of evidence against an out-of-state ownership group.
Crew Stadium opened in 1999 and Crew fans and others interested in such things became familiar with The Bonham Group, the company tasked with selling the naming rights to MLS's first soccer-specific stadium. As of today, the stadium's naming rights remain up for sale. While it's nice that our stadium still retains its original name - much like Wrigley Field and Fenway Park sound much nicer than Pac Bell turned SBC turned AT&T Park or Progressive Field - it represents an unrealized revenue source, a revenue source that one hopes could only benefit the Crew. Each MLS stadium built since Crew Stadium opened has successfully sold its naming rights for various amounts, with Real Salt Lake's about-to-be-opened stadium the latest to do so (entering into a deal with mining giant Rio Tinto).
The Crew's training complex in Obetz was - I think, and I'm too lazy to verify right now - the first of its kind in MLS. However, as MLS rosters have grown the team has stated that they have outgrown the training center and announced that they were soliciting proposals from Central Ohio communities to house the next training center (and associated auxiliary fields and perhaps housing for academy-type players). The facility's location was to be announced in August...of 2007. Without an agreement in place soon, the team will once again have to invest money into Obetz to improve a facility that they want to leave. Crew GM Mark McCullers told Crew beat writer Sean Mitchell that the lack of progress on the training facility and news of the Las Vegas purchase are in no way related. However, unrelated though they may be, the lack of progress - not to mention the lack of, um, actual construction - identifies one less physical tie to Columbus, one less tie to the community.
Hopefully things are moving forward behind closed doors, but the silence about an extension for Sigi Schmid is a bit concerning for me. It was a long haul to get to this point, the Crew on the brink of taking the 2008 Supporters Shield, and I would hate to see the core of the team, which includes the coaching staff, not have the opportunity to see how far this team can go, not just in 2008 but in the next few years. By itself, this isn't an indicator of horrible things on the horizon. Combined with other items, though, it makes my head hurt.
The potential investment group has been actively seeking a team for Las Vegas. Paul Caliguri's comments, which he claims were misunderstood, indicated that even though this group would be investing in Columbus their goal remained to get a team for Las Vegas. Unfortunately, that situation simply smells. This group's stated desire to bring a team to Las Vegas, while potentially investing in Columbus, does nothing for the league's goal of one team per owner, plus it just seems odd that a group would invest in another team while working to bring a team to a different city. While some BigSoccer posters have speculated that perhaps this Las Vegas group is using an investment in Columbus as a mean of getting their foot into MLS's door, other posters have written that this is all too familiar to them - they've witnessed a similar situation develop in Seattle as they watched their Sonics eventually, and contentiously, become the Oklahoma City Thunder. Just the thought, as remote as it may be, is unsettling.
Finally, fans in other MLS cities have experienced something similar, specifically those in Kansas City and San Jose. In each case, according to those fans, by the time information similar to this Las Vegas bomb became public, negotiations were months along and the wheels for relocation were in motion. Kansas City fans organized into the Heart of America Soccer Foundation which was instrumental in the Wizards eventual sale to OnGoal, LLC. San Jose fans organized into Soccer Silicon Valley which, while unable to stave off relocation to Houston, was instrumental in the relaunch of the Earthquakes under Lew Wolff. Note that I have intentionally cut these stories short; for in-depth information on the extreme effort expended by these two organizations, visit their respective web sites.
Look, this isn't an easy formula that adding all these together equals relocation. And, I know, this is more-or-less just some rambling on the Internet. However, this is the first time I've been actually worried that the Crew might leave Columbus. I truly hope that I am wrong and that this is just the typical mountain out of the mole hill. Unfortunately, this time I'm not as confident saying, "There's no way they're leaving."
An ownership group who, let's face it, gives off the absentee vibe. HSG doesn't have a strong, visible presence in Columbus with decisions seemingly made either in Dallas or whichever Caribbean island is handy at the time. Coach Sigi Schmid mentioned, in his early-season quest to bring a Designated Player to Columbus, that he had to go to Dallas to pitch his case to the owners. While a far-flung ownership group isn't automatically a terrible thing, the lack of a strong, viable local ownership group isn't comforting. In the end, it might just be about perception: a local ownership group feels more likely to want to keep a team in a location while a remote group seems more detached, less in-tune with the local market's needs and concerns. Crew fans will point to the longer-than-desired tenure of former GM Jim Smith and former coach Greg Andrulis as perhaps the best two pieces of evidence against an out-of-state ownership group.
Crew Stadium opened in 1999 and Crew fans and others interested in such things became familiar with The Bonham Group, the company tasked with selling the naming rights to MLS's first soccer-specific stadium. As of today, the stadium's naming rights remain up for sale. While it's nice that our stadium still retains its original name - much like Wrigley Field and Fenway Park sound much nicer than Pac Bell turned SBC turned AT&T Park or Progressive Field - it represents an unrealized revenue source, a revenue source that one hopes could only benefit the Crew. Each MLS stadium built since Crew Stadium opened has successfully sold its naming rights for various amounts, with Real Salt Lake's about-to-be-opened stadium the latest to do so (entering into a deal with mining giant Rio Tinto).
The Crew's training complex in Obetz was - I think, and I'm too lazy to verify right now - the first of its kind in MLS. However, as MLS rosters have grown the team has stated that they have outgrown the training center and announced that they were soliciting proposals from Central Ohio communities to house the next training center (and associated auxiliary fields and perhaps housing for academy-type players). The facility's location was to be announced in August...of 2007. Without an agreement in place soon, the team will once again have to invest money into Obetz to improve a facility that they want to leave. Crew GM Mark McCullers told Crew beat writer Sean Mitchell that the lack of progress on the training facility and news of the Las Vegas purchase are in no way related. However, unrelated though they may be, the lack of progress - not to mention the lack of, um, actual construction - identifies one less physical tie to Columbus, one less tie to the community.
Hopefully things are moving forward behind closed doors, but the silence about an extension for Sigi Schmid is a bit concerning for me. It was a long haul to get to this point, the Crew on the brink of taking the 2008 Supporters Shield, and I would hate to see the core of the team, which includes the coaching staff, not have the opportunity to see how far this team can go, not just in 2008 but in the next few years. By itself, this isn't an indicator of horrible things on the horizon. Combined with other items, though, it makes my head hurt.
The potential investment group has been actively seeking a team for Las Vegas. Paul Caliguri's comments, which he claims were misunderstood, indicated that even though this group would be investing in Columbus their goal remained to get a team for Las Vegas. Unfortunately, that situation simply smells. This group's stated desire to bring a team to Las Vegas, while potentially investing in Columbus, does nothing for the league's goal of one team per owner, plus it just seems odd that a group would invest in another team while working to bring a team to a different city. While some BigSoccer posters have speculated that perhaps this Las Vegas group is using an investment in Columbus as a mean of getting their foot into MLS's door, other posters have written that this is all too familiar to them - they've witnessed a similar situation develop in Seattle as they watched their Sonics eventually, and contentiously, become the Oklahoma City Thunder. Just the thought, as remote as it may be, is unsettling.
Finally, fans in other MLS cities have experienced something similar, specifically those in Kansas City and San Jose. In each case, according to those fans, by the time information similar to this Las Vegas bomb became public, negotiations were months along and the wheels for relocation were in motion. Kansas City fans organized into the Heart of America Soccer Foundation which was instrumental in the Wizards eventual sale to OnGoal, LLC. San Jose fans organized into Soccer Silicon Valley which, while unable to stave off relocation to Houston, was instrumental in the relaunch of the Earthquakes under Lew Wolff. Note that I have intentionally cut these stories short; for in-depth information on the extreme effort expended by these two organizations, visit their respective web sites.
Look, this isn't an easy formula that adding all these together equals relocation. And, I know, this is more-or-less just some rambling on the Internet. However, this is the first time I've been actually worried that the Crew might leave Columbus. I truly hope that I am wrong and that this is just the typical mountain out of the mole hill. Unfortunately, this time I'm not as confident saying, "There's no way they're leaving."
Monday, September 29, 2008
OK, fine. They're good.
Thanks to a father's love of his son, my dad brought me up primarily on four sports teams - Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals, Ohio State football, and University of Dayton basketball. While my teams have experienced some success in my lifetime - three World Series titles, two Super Bowl appearances, a national championship, and some NCAA appearances - it more often feels as if my teams, well, stink. The Reds haven't seriously contended for years since losing their one-game Wild Card playoff. The Bengals are once again a joke after a short-lived tease. Ohio State is a national contender who has stubbed its toe in its last three "really big" games. Dayton, um, Dayton is always on the cusp of something special.
All of this is background information that shows why it's difficult for me to admit that yes, the 2008 Columbus Crew are good. Heck, they're actually really good. As of today they sit atop the league table with an eight-point cushion on second-place New England. Mathematically, it might be more difficult to NOT win the Supporters Shield at this stage. Should results fall perfectly, Columbus could win the Shield this weekend (I haven't double-checked that; I'm relying solely on some good posters on BigSoccer). Even supporters of other teams have to admit that the yellow soccer team, previously a target for laughter, is turning the joke back.
This is an unusal feeling for a Crew supporter. The last three years have been dismal, if not worse. Attending games was like a chore, but a chore without the satisfaction of knowing something can be crossed off the list. Oh, right, it was also a chore that I paid to do. In some respects it was like prostitution - Crew supporters were paying the Crew to get screwed. Did I mention those years were dismal?
And, let's be honest - the years before these latest Dark Ages weren't exactly overflowing with greatness. Sure, there was an Open Cup title and a Supporters Shield mixed in but, for the most part, seasons ended in disappointment and disgust while hoping that the Crew were really just one key player away from getting over the hump. However, instead of getting over the hump the Crew were just a modern-day Sisyphus with different teams filling the role of the rock.
The 2008 Crew just feels different from previous editions and, despite my always waiting for the "other shoe," this team is good. They win at home, they win on the road. They win from in front, they win from behind. They win with a legitimate MVP candidate, they win with him out. They win with their preferred starters, they win with reserves filling in for injuries, suspensions, and national team absences. Though it's been happening all season, frankly this team amazes me each week by doing something they shouldn't - coming from behind on the road, winning on turf, or whatever other obstacle is in their way.
With four league matches remaining, the Supporters Shield in sight, and the Crew actually charging toward the finish - unlike maybe briskly walking like in 2004 - I might have to go to Los Angeles to watch the Eastern Conference champs take on the Western Conference champs.
All of this is background information that shows why it's difficult for me to admit that yes, the 2008 Columbus Crew are good. Heck, they're actually really good. As of today they sit atop the league table with an eight-point cushion on second-place New England. Mathematically, it might be more difficult to NOT win the Supporters Shield at this stage. Should results fall perfectly, Columbus could win the Shield this weekend (I haven't double-checked that; I'm relying solely on some good posters on BigSoccer). Even supporters of other teams have to admit that the yellow soccer team, previously a target for laughter, is turning the joke back.
This is an unusal feeling for a Crew supporter. The last three years have been dismal, if not worse. Attending games was like a chore, but a chore without the satisfaction of knowing something can be crossed off the list. Oh, right, it was also a chore that I paid to do. In some respects it was like prostitution - Crew supporters were paying the Crew to get screwed. Did I mention those years were dismal?
And, let's be honest - the years before these latest Dark Ages weren't exactly overflowing with greatness. Sure, there was an Open Cup title and a Supporters Shield mixed in but, for the most part, seasons ended in disappointment and disgust while hoping that the Crew were really just one key player away from getting over the hump. However, instead of getting over the hump the Crew were just a modern-day Sisyphus with different teams filling the role of the rock.
The 2008 Crew just feels different from previous editions and, despite my always waiting for the "other shoe," this team is good. They win at home, they win on the road. They win from in front, they win from behind. They win with a legitimate MVP candidate, they win with him out. They win with their preferred starters, they win with reserves filling in for injuries, suspensions, and national team absences. Though it's been happening all season, frankly this team amazes me each week by doing something they shouldn't - coming from behind on the road, winning on turf, or whatever other obstacle is in their way.
With four league matches remaining, the Supporters Shield in sight, and the Crew actually charging toward the finish - unlike maybe briskly walking like in 2004 - I might have to go to Los Angeles to watch the Eastern Conference champs take on the Western Conference champs.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Ever-changing perspectives
Despite all my years of sports watching, I am still somewhat surprised by how the ever-changing situations of sports change your sports-viewing perspective. A sports fan's perspective can change over the course of a season, the course of season’s segment, or even within the span of a single game. The last two Crew home matches, both of which resulted in multi-goal draws, are in my opinion perfect examples of this rapidly changing perspective and its effect on a fan's thoughts about a game’s result. While both of these matches ended even, I left the stadium with two completely different feelings, and it had nothing to do with the bacon burger dog I ate before the Chicago match.
In each match, the Crew fell behind 2-0, falling behind becoming one of this season’s disturbing patterns. Against Chicago it truly felt, from the stands, that the Crew carried a significant amount of the play in the first half yet found themselves behind after 25 minutes thanks to an expected tally from former Dayton Flyer Chris Rolfe and a goal from Calen Carr. Once Chicago got two goals up, I felt that earning one point would be an achievement for this game while understanding that zero points was an extremely likely outcome. Emmanuel Ekpo's first-half goal gave me hope that a draw wasn't impossible. As time counted up too rapidly, zero points looked to be the result until Steven Lenhart's 87th minute impersonation of a wall evened the game. When Kevin Stott blew his whistle for the final time, I felt as if the Crew stole a point. While stealing a point at home is rarely the pre-match wish, this draw felt relatively good. It showed that the Crew could fight from behind, a trait that seems to be necessary as this team continues to dig holes at the start of the match. I'm not sure if the previous three editions of the Crew would have fought back for the point.
Last night it was like watching a rerun. Just 26 minutes into the match, or one minute later than last time (they're getting better!), the Crew once again were facing a 2-0 deficit. And, once again, I immediately thought that one point was the best-case scenario with zero points being a likely result. Even though the Crew had fought back to even against Chicago, doing that time and again seemed too much to ask. Yet, just two minutes after Kansas City's Roger Espinoza decided to get onto the summary sheet under a category different from misconduct, Guillermo Barros Schelotto caught the Wizards napping on a free kick, providing hope to the Crew fans in attendance. And then, with the quick strike efficiency of an Arena Football League team, the Crew were up 3-2 on goals from Alejandro Moreno and Chad Marshall. And, in that short burst, my thoughts went from "Great, a stupid loss," to "Wow, maybe we can draw," to "OK, let’s push ahead," to "Son of a bitch, we should take all three points."
With a half time lead, my thoughts turned to taking all three points. Unfortunately, Josh Wolff's equalizer in the 75th minute on an ugly play meant that a win was not to be. Unlike the Chicago match, I was ticked. After 26 minutes I though one point would be amazing and if a draw was offered there I likely would have accepted quickly. After 74 minutes I thought three points would be fantastic. After 90 minutes I decided that one point sucked, and it felt like two points lost. It's amazing how the game’s situation can completely change your perspective, even in the same game.
Two matches, two draws, yet two different feelings when leaving. Such is the life of a soccer fan, I suspect.
In each match, the Crew fell behind 2-0, falling behind becoming one of this season’s disturbing patterns. Against Chicago it truly felt, from the stands, that the Crew carried a significant amount of the play in the first half yet found themselves behind after 25 minutes thanks to an expected tally from former Dayton Flyer Chris Rolfe and a goal from Calen Carr. Once Chicago got two goals up, I felt that earning one point would be an achievement for this game while understanding that zero points was an extremely likely outcome. Emmanuel Ekpo's first-half goal gave me hope that a draw wasn't impossible. As time counted up too rapidly, zero points looked to be the result until Steven Lenhart's 87th minute impersonation of a wall evened the game. When Kevin Stott blew his whistle for the final time, I felt as if the Crew stole a point. While stealing a point at home is rarely the pre-match wish, this draw felt relatively good. It showed that the Crew could fight from behind, a trait that seems to be necessary as this team continues to dig holes at the start of the match. I'm not sure if the previous three editions of the Crew would have fought back for the point.
Last night it was like watching a rerun. Just 26 minutes into the match, or one minute later than last time (they're getting better!), the Crew once again were facing a 2-0 deficit. And, once again, I immediately thought that one point was the best-case scenario with zero points being a likely result. Even though the Crew had fought back to even against Chicago, doing that time and again seemed too much to ask. Yet, just two minutes after Kansas City's Roger Espinoza decided to get onto the summary sheet under a category different from misconduct, Guillermo Barros Schelotto caught the Wizards napping on a free kick, providing hope to the Crew fans in attendance. And then, with the quick strike efficiency of an Arena Football League team, the Crew were up 3-2 on goals from Alejandro Moreno and Chad Marshall. And, in that short burst, my thoughts went from "Great, a stupid loss," to "Wow, maybe we can draw," to "OK, let’s push ahead," to "Son of a bitch, we should take all three points."
With a half time lead, my thoughts turned to taking all three points. Unfortunately, Josh Wolff's equalizer in the 75th minute on an ugly play meant that a win was not to be. Unlike the Chicago match, I was ticked. After 26 minutes I though one point would be amazing and if a draw was offered there I likely would have accepted quickly. After 74 minutes I thought three points would be fantastic. After 90 minutes I decided that one point sucked, and it felt like two points lost. It's amazing how the game’s situation can completely change your perspective, even in the same game.
Two matches, two draws, yet two different feelings when leaving. Such is the life of a soccer fan, I suspect.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Cautiously optimistic
Going into the evening of January 16, 2008, the Dayton Flyers men's basketball team was 14-1 and ranked as high as #14 in some polls. Head coach Brian Gregory was being heralded as the nation's coach-of-the-year to that point in the season. Senior guard Brian Roberts, with nationally-televised huge games against Louisville and Pittsburgh, was touted as an All-American candidate. Early bracket projections had Dayton slotted easily into a #4 seed with a #3 seed being possible.
On March 26, #3 seed Dayton finished its season 23-11, losing to #1 seed Ohio State. Oh, wait, those were NIT seeds, not NCAA seeds. Sitting in Value City Arena, watching Dayton's season tick away while Ohio State fans decided to put down their books and actually make some noise at a basketball game, I reflected on how quickly things turned sour for Dayton. A combination of injuries, illness, and ineffective play turned a once extremely-promising season into a "What if?" discussion for years to come. The gaudy record that Dayton was building isn't common for the Flyers; those records haven't been seen since the 1950s and the 1960s when Dayton was winning more games than any other college. It was easy to get wrapped up in the excitement and let your mind ponder, "What's ahead? How awesome will it be to be a high seed in the NCAA again? I hope they're placed somewhere affordable because I'm following them, damnit."
The sports calendar has turned to a new season. While the Cincinnati Reds went for the early sack punch and have put together baseball's worst record (going into yesterday), the Crew have put together an amazing start. I doubt even the most optimistic Crew fan would have wagered on a 5-1-0 start with a perfect record at home. Through four home games the Crew have almost as many home wins as all of 2007. The team is winning games in a number of ways and, perhaps most impressive, winning games that they might have drawn or lost last year. This team is exciting to watch so far, and it's easy to get swept up in the fun of supporting the team with the league's best record.
I'm having trouble moving beyond the cautiously optimistic stage right now, however. Fresh off of Dayton's Titanic-like collapse, I'm a bit hesitant to set myself up for another disappointment after a promising start. I'm enjoying the wins, but it's as if I'm waiting for the "real" Crew to appear, the other shoe to drop, the collapse to begin. I'm hoping that after a few more weeks of successful results I'll feel confident that I am watching the "real" Crew and this marathon won't be an example of a team going out too strongly and struggling to finish, but rather a team that paced itself perfectly and has enough gas at the end to kick to the finish.
On March 26, #3 seed Dayton finished its season 23-11, losing to #1 seed Ohio State. Oh, wait, those were NIT seeds, not NCAA seeds. Sitting in Value City Arena, watching Dayton's season tick away while Ohio State fans decided to put down their books and actually make some noise at a basketball game, I reflected on how quickly things turned sour for Dayton. A combination of injuries, illness, and ineffective play turned a once extremely-promising season into a "What if?" discussion for years to come. The gaudy record that Dayton was building isn't common for the Flyers; those records haven't been seen since the 1950s and the 1960s when Dayton was winning more games than any other college. It was easy to get wrapped up in the excitement and let your mind ponder, "What's ahead? How awesome will it be to be a high seed in the NCAA again? I hope they're placed somewhere affordable because I'm following them, damnit."
The sports calendar has turned to a new season. While the Cincinnati Reds went for the early sack punch and have put together baseball's worst record (going into yesterday), the Crew have put together an amazing start. I doubt even the most optimistic Crew fan would have wagered on a 5-1-0 start with a perfect record at home. Through four home games the Crew have almost as many home wins as all of 2007. The team is winning games in a number of ways and, perhaps most impressive, winning games that they might have drawn or lost last year. This team is exciting to watch so far, and it's easy to get swept up in the fun of supporting the team with the league's best record.
I'm having trouble moving beyond the cautiously optimistic stage right now, however. Fresh off of Dayton's Titanic-like collapse, I'm a bit hesitant to set myself up for another disappointment after a promising start. I'm enjoying the wins, but it's as if I'm waiting for the "real" Crew to appear, the other shoe to drop, the collapse to begin. I'm hoping that after a few more weeks of successful results I'll feel confident that I am watching the "real" Crew and this marathon won't be an example of a team going out too strongly and struggling to finish, but rather a team that paced itself perfectly and has enough gas at the end to kick to the finish.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
How Brian Dunseth changed my thinking
Having just recently returned from the first "real" vacation that I've taken in far too long, I've been playing a bit of catch-up. Something that I finally got to read was this interview with Brian Dunseth. I thought that it was a good exchange and Dunseth did a pretty good job of walking the tight rope of answering questions truthfully without shoving someone down the stairs. MLS is a relatively small world and it probably does him no good to set fire to some bridges.
As many of you might know, Dunseth is a true Sirk Notebook Hall of Famer. Sirk always told me that Dunseth was a good guy, a straight shooter, and just a fun guy with whom to talk and joke. I got my opportunity to hang out with Dunseth in 2004 at MLS Cup when Sirk, Fiddy Cent, and I went to Los Angeles to watch "the Eastern Conference Champions take on the Western Conference Champions." We met up with Dunseth before the game and then grabbed some dinner with Dunseth and others at the beach after the game.
Unlike a lot of Crew supporters, it seems, I don't really talk to many Crew players. I doubt that I've talked to more than five of them ever; it's just not my thing. I don't go to the stadium club after the game, I don't go to a lot of functions, so I don't have many opportunities to talk to these players. Hanging out with Dunseth after MLS Cup 2004 represented my first opportunity, really, to talk at length with an MLS player. It was fun, entertaining, and, frankly, rather enlightening for me. It really put into focus for me the fact that these guys are people, too.
Dunseth noted how a lot of people - players, their families, their friends - read message boards and the like, seeing both the good and the bad that people write about them. I made a couple of cracks about some players, players that Dunseth knew, and while he would chuckle he'd also point out some things about them - how nice they might be, how they could be counted on to always help out, how they might have stuck together when playing in a foreign country. He also would point out that it was disappointing at times, seemingly moreso for the players' families, to see guys absolutely "housed" on message boards, shredded beyond belief.
I don't think that I ever really completely shredded anybody, though I can be a dick so I'm sure that I made my fair share of posts that probably went beyond the player's on-field performance (or lack thereof...). And while I have no problem with those who might be a bit more aggressive in their posts and comments (especially those who while aggressive are knowledgable), I decided after talking to Dunseth that I would really try to focus my opinions on a player's performance and try to temper my comments, remembering that I don't know these guys personally so there's no point in attacking them on that level. I know that's not for everyone, but after hanging out with Dunseth I realized that it was for me.
As many of you might know, Dunseth is a true Sirk Notebook Hall of Famer. Sirk always told me that Dunseth was a good guy, a straight shooter, and just a fun guy with whom to talk and joke. I got my opportunity to hang out with Dunseth in 2004 at MLS Cup when Sirk, Fiddy Cent, and I went to Los Angeles to watch "the Eastern Conference Champions take on the Western Conference Champions." We met up with Dunseth before the game and then grabbed some dinner with Dunseth and others at the beach after the game.
Unlike a lot of Crew supporters, it seems, I don't really talk to many Crew players. I doubt that I've talked to more than five of them ever; it's just not my thing. I don't go to the stadium club after the game, I don't go to a lot of functions, so I don't have many opportunities to talk to these players. Hanging out with Dunseth after MLS Cup 2004 represented my first opportunity, really, to talk at length with an MLS player. It was fun, entertaining, and, frankly, rather enlightening for me. It really put into focus for me the fact that these guys are people, too.
Dunseth noted how a lot of people - players, their families, their friends - read message boards and the like, seeing both the good and the bad that people write about them. I made a couple of cracks about some players, players that Dunseth knew, and while he would chuckle he'd also point out some things about them - how nice they might be, how they could be counted on to always help out, how they might have stuck together when playing in a foreign country. He also would point out that it was disappointing at times, seemingly moreso for the players' families, to see guys absolutely "housed" on message boards, shredded beyond belief.
I don't think that I ever really completely shredded anybody, though I can be a dick so I'm sure that I made my fair share of posts that probably went beyond the player's on-field performance (or lack thereof...). And while I have no problem with those who might be a bit more aggressive in their posts and comments (especially those who while aggressive are knowledgable), I decided after talking to Dunseth that I would really try to focus my opinions on a player's performance and try to temper my comments, remembering that I don't know these guys personally so there's no point in attacking them on that level. I know that's not for everyone, but after hanging out with Dunseth I realized that it was for me.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The chicken or the egg?
Hopefully I'll write a bit more tomorrow, but after the last two games I have to ask the following: Is Eddie Gaven disappearing for long stretches because the Crew have played so one-sided or have the Crew played so one-sided because Eddie Gaven is disappearing for long stretches?
Too early for a statement?
We're only three games into the Crew's 2008 season, but I think tonight's game away to DC United is the perfect opportunity for the Crew to make a statement. A loss won't guarantee a fourth consecutive year of getting a head-start on fall chores just as a win won't guarantee a trip to MLS's rather inclusive post season. However, I believe a Crew victory would do a lot for the team, both in the standings and in its collective head.
The Crew's 2-0 start at Crew Stadium is the first time since hanging their shingle at the I-71 bend that the team has won its first two home games of the season. Sandwiched between the Crew's two victories is a 2-0 loss away to New York which, despite being disappointing, isn't panic-inducing when one considers that home teams are 13-4-4 so far in 2008. However, such a strong composite home record shouldn't give false hope. If the Crew are to make the playoffs, points on the road are key.
Organizations and franchises seem to fall into routines, both winning and losing. Losers continually find ways to lose. Sure, they might sneak up and win a title of some sort - like a division - or earn a postseason slot but given an opportunity they're likely to fall back into losing ways. The Cincinnati Bengals are a perfect example. Despite a rather bright future, the team appears to have slippled back into the Bungles mode. It's a difficult cycle and habit to break.
The Crew have an opportunity to make a statement tonight. Sure, it's only one game, the season's fourth at that. Yes, a loss won't automatically doom the Crew to an entire season of looking up from the bottom of the table. But now is the time. An away victory, in a stadium that's been far from a generous host to Columbus, on national television would do wonders for this team. It would help vault them in the standings, it would deprive DC of home points, and it might show the rest of the league that things could be changing in Columbus. Perhaps more important, however, is that it would show the TEAM that things are changing. And in the end, we could look back at this game as a turning point of sorts, a point where everything clicked and the 2008 Crew helped beat back the ghosts of 2005, 2006, and 2007, all without Jennifer Love Hewitt's help.
The Crew's 2-0 start at Crew Stadium is the first time since hanging their shingle at the I-71 bend that the team has won its first two home games of the season. Sandwiched between the Crew's two victories is a 2-0 loss away to New York which, despite being disappointing, isn't panic-inducing when one considers that home teams are 13-4-4 so far in 2008. However, such a strong composite home record shouldn't give false hope. If the Crew are to make the playoffs, points on the road are key.
Organizations and franchises seem to fall into routines, both winning and losing. Losers continually find ways to lose. Sure, they might sneak up and win a title of some sort - like a division - or earn a postseason slot but given an opportunity they're likely to fall back into losing ways. The Cincinnati Bengals are a perfect example. Despite a rather bright future, the team appears to have slippled back into the Bungles mode. It's a difficult cycle and habit to break.
The Crew have an opportunity to make a statement tonight. Sure, it's only one game, the season's fourth at that. Yes, a loss won't automatically doom the Crew to an entire season of looking up from the bottom of the table. But now is the time. An away victory, in a stadium that's been far from a generous host to Columbus, on national television would do wonders for this team. It would help vault them in the standings, it would deprive DC of home points, and it might show the rest of the league that things could be changing in Columbus. Perhaps more important, however, is that it would show the TEAM that things are changing. And in the end, we could look back at this game as a turning point of sorts, a point where everything clicked and the 2008 Crew helped beat back the ghosts of 2005, 2006, and 2007, all without Jennifer Love Hewitt's help.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Danny O'Rourke is selfish
Lost in all of last night's seven goals is the fact that Danny O'Rourke is one selfish individual. In each of the Crew's first two games, O'Rourke was called for fouls inside the Crew penalty area that, because of Will Hesmer's heroics, didn't penalize the Crew on the big tote board. However, last night O'Rourke failed to take anyone down inside his own penalty area, thus depriving Hesmer of an opportunity to make it 3-3 in penalty saves.
Until this team gets its act together in the chemistry department, and stops playing selfishly, they are not going anywhere. Mark it down.
Until this team gets its act together in the chemistry department, and stops playing selfishly, they are not going anywhere. Mark it down.
Sometimes chores aren't too bad
I have to admit, I was almost looking for legitimate reasons to not attend last night's Crew-Chivas game. It was already a long day with a personal commitment in the morning and a game that I reffed at 1:00. Looking at the forecast, I wasn't exactly filled with joy. And with how poorly the Crew have played over the last three seasons, attending the game was looking more like a chore than something fun.
In the end, I guess everything worked out about as well as could be hoped. The 4-3 win was, as best I can remember, about the most exciting game that I've seen at Crew Stadium in years. The rain never really opened up, thank goodness, because coupled with the cold that would have sucked, and not in the good way.
The lesson that everyone needs to take from this game is that yes, I am an idiot. I have a decent track record of successfully predicting positive outcomes for my teams. For example, last summer I was at a Reds-Pirates game in Pittsburgh. Sirk was there, too, but we weren't sitting together. As the game entered extra innings I called Sirk to tell him that they were plenty of open seats around us, so he should come down right after Adam Dunn goes yard. A few pitches later, Dunn hits an HR and Sirk wanders down a couple of minutes later.
Last night, though, my game was off. Perhaps it's because of the Crew's struggles over the years, but for whatever reason I was terrible last night. It started with the Crew's second goal. As Guillermo Barros Schelotto "raced" toward goal, and the Chivas defenders closed in, I said aloud that there's no way we were scoring in this situation. I hadn't anticipated Schelotto finding a "streaking" Alejandro Moreno; I just assumed Schelotto would get dispossessed.
On the fourth goal, I thought the Crew played the more difficult ball by switching completely across the field to Robbie Rogers (from Danny O'Rourke, I think). It looked to me that playing the ball on the floor to Gino Padula, while still switching the field, was the smarter play because it wasn't as ambitious and would maintain possession. Little did I know that O'Rourke's ball would somehow get over the defender's head, allowing Rogers to eventually make Brad Guzan look terrible.
So there you go: 0-2, and I look like an idiot. Not as idiotic as Prince Fielder with his ridiculous clown pants, but still pretty bad. However, walking out of Crew Stadium reveling in what was instead of lamenting what should have been, an all-too-common experience lately, makes up for everything.
In the end, I guess everything worked out about as well as could be hoped. The 4-3 win was, as best I can remember, about the most exciting game that I've seen at Crew Stadium in years. The rain never really opened up, thank goodness, because coupled with the cold that would have sucked, and not in the good way.
The lesson that everyone needs to take from this game is that yes, I am an idiot. I have a decent track record of successfully predicting positive outcomes for my teams. For example, last summer I was at a Reds-Pirates game in Pittsburgh. Sirk was there, too, but we weren't sitting together. As the game entered extra innings I called Sirk to tell him that they were plenty of open seats around us, so he should come down right after Adam Dunn goes yard. A few pitches later, Dunn hits an HR and Sirk wanders down a couple of minutes later.
Last night, though, my game was off. Perhaps it's because of the Crew's struggles over the years, but for whatever reason I was terrible last night. It started with the Crew's second goal. As Guillermo Barros Schelotto "raced" toward goal, and the Chivas defenders closed in, I said aloud that there's no way we were scoring in this situation. I hadn't anticipated Schelotto finding a "streaking" Alejandro Moreno; I just assumed Schelotto would get dispossessed.
On the fourth goal, I thought the Crew played the more difficult ball by switching completely across the field to Robbie Rogers (from Danny O'Rourke, I think). It looked to me that playing the ball on the floor to Gino Padula, while still switching the field, was the smarter play because it wasn't as ambitious and would maintain possession. Little did I know that O'Rourke's ball would somehow get over the defender's head, allowing Rogers to eventually make Brad Guzan look terrible.
So there you go: 0-2, and I look like an idiot. Not as idiotic as Prince Fielder with his ridiculous clown pants, but still pretty bad. However, walking out of Crew Stadium reveling in what was instead of lamenting what should have been, an all-too-common experience lately, makes up for everything.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Max Bretos is an NBC employee
I'm not sure why I never realized it before, but within one minute of hearing Max Bretos on tonight's Fox Soccer Channel broadcast my wife finally called it: Max Bretos is one of the characters from this Saturday Night Live skit starring Jimmy Smits. I'm not sure where that puts Christian Miles, though.
Sadly enough, I think this revelation pipped Will Hemser's second penalty save in as many matches as my Crew highlight of the evening.
Sadly enough, I think this revelation pipped Will Hemser's second penalty save in as many matches as my Crew highlight of the evening.
The Los Angeles Galaxy confuse me
I have to admit that Los Angeles confuses me. On one hand it entertains me to watch them struggle not only on the field, as they struggled in their opener against Colorado, but just in their attempt to put together something that resembles a professional roster. With so much salary cap space committed to David Beckham, Fivehead Donovan, and Carlos Ruiz it seems as if Los Angeles is forced to fill the remainder of the roster with players who need to hone their baked goods skills in order to complement their MLS development salary. It feels as if I truly need a scorecard to watch Los Angeles play because without one, the other eight players on the field might end up being just some guys running around with numbers on their backs without one.
And who can forget Alexi Lalas, the odds-on favorite for becoming MLS's first general manager ace, responsible for five confirmed club kills. He's Forrest Gump's box of chocolates as you never know what to expect from Lalas. At one point Keith Olbermann was smashing his guitar in ESPN commercials, but now Lalas is responsible for MLS's most-recognized team and its most recognized player.
However, while it's fun to laugh at Los Angeles [Crew fans have to find joy somewhere...], I can't help but root for them, it seems. Except for when they play Columbus, I find myself pulling for Los Angeles each time I see them on TV. He might be a total clown, but Beckham seems like a nice enough guy and I feel as if a lot of MLS's future rests with him. His first MLS goal was a topic on two ESPN shows on Friday, Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn. Beckham's presence appears to have brought MLS into sharper focus both domestically and abroad, and while in sharper view I'd rather not see people watching highlights of a team that looks like it arrived at the game in one small, backfiring car.
Dang it, Los Angeles. I like my sports world black-and-white!
And who can forget Alexi Lalas, the odds-on favorite for becoming MLS's first general manager ace, responsible for five confirmed club kills. He's Forrest Gump's box of chocolates as you never know what to expect from Lalas. At one point Keith Olbermann was smashing his guitar in ESPN commercials, but now Lalas is responsible for MLS's most-recognized team and its most recognized player.
However, while it's fun to laugh at Los Angeles [Crew fans have to find joy somewhere...], I can't help but root for them, it seems. Except for when they play Columbus, I find myself pulling for Los Angeles each time I see them on TV. He might be a total clown, but Beckham seems like a nice enough guy and I feel as if a lot of MLS's future rests with him. His first MLS goal was a topic on two ESPN shows on Friday, Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn. Beckham's presence appears to have brought MLS into sharper focus both domestically and abroad, and while in sharper view I'd rather not see people watching highlights of a team that looks like it arrived at the game in one small, backfiring car.
Dang it, Los Angeles. I like my sports world black-and-white!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Quality video or quality analysis?
Last night I faced a difficult decision: enjoy Los Angeles at Colorado in glorious HD on HDNet (and listen to Marcelo Balboa) or enjoy Los Angeles at Colorado with glorious analysis on Fox Soccer Channel (and watch their awesome feed). It was a tough decision because I really like Christopher Sullivan's analysis. Sure, sometimes he says some mind-boggling things - like how a ball "disbalances" the defense - but for me he's a good color man. Brian Dunseth's addition as a sideline reporter - hopefully giving him enough experience to become another quality color man - was another mark in the pro column for FSC.
I guess it was like being in a bar and having to choose between two chicks for the evening. There's the eye candy chick who's likely to be fun, but not really take-home-to-mom material. And then there's her competition, a chick who's also good looking - not as hot, though - but is probably better for you in the long run.
In the end, considering this one-night stand, I decided to go with HDNet, the hotter chick with the bigger rack but the smaller brain. And I have no regrets, either.
[Oh, that second paragraph - purely hypothetical. I'm an engineer, for goodness sake!]
I guess it was like being in a bar and having to choose between two chicks for the evening. There's the eye candy chick who's likely to be fun, but not really take-home-to-mom material. And then there's her competition, a chick who's also good looking - not as hot, though - but is probably better for you in the long run.
In the end, considering this one-night stand, I decided to go with HDNet, the hotter chick with the bigger rack but the smaller brain. And I have no regrets, either.
[Oh, that second paragraph - purely hypothetical. I'm an engineer, for goodness sake!]
Toronto FC needs Under Armour
On Saturday, Columbus opened its latest MLS regular season by taking on the continent's latest Red Menace, Toronto FC. As I entered the stadium and found my way to my seat, I heard Toronto's supporters start chanting "This is our house!" for the first of at least 852 times. Of course, "house" sounded much cooler with the rockin' drunk Ontario accent, but I can't spell "house" in Canadian.
Whether Toronto FC was playing the part of gracious host or home invasion victim remains to be seen, but what's definite is that the Crew bagged two goals and, perhaps more important, the full three points. It was an impressive performance by Columbus, taking all three points while Toronto FC fans defended "their house" with the Canadian air force (a single-engine banner plane), streamers, projectiles, and smoke bombs. Guillermo Barros Schelotto was obviously shaking in his boots, the Argentine being unaccustomed to first-strike weapons like streamers. As a Crew fan, I'm concerned about the next time Columbus takes on Toronto FC in "their house." If streamers aren't a strong enough defense, what's next? Paper airplanes? Confetti? The fear of the unknown is, frankly, staggering.
In all seriousness, while Toronto's away support was impressive from a numbers standpoint, the tendency of so many Toronto FC supporters to stroke themselves over their support is extremely annoying and makes it difficult to find the good in that group. Perhaps the Toronto FC fan in front of me said it best when, after being hit by something thrown by a Toronto fan in the 200s, turned around and shouted, "Stop throwing stuff. You guys are the gayest supporters section in the world."
Whether Toronto FC was playing the part of gracious host or home invasion victim remains to be seen, but what's definite is that the Crew bagged two goals and, perhaps more important, the full three points. It was an impressive performance by Columbus, taking all three points while Toronto FC fans defended "their house" with the Canadian air force (a single-engine banner plane), streamers, projectiles, and smoke bombs. Guillermo Barros Schelotto was obviously shaking in his boots, the Argentine being unaccustomed to first-strike weapons like streamers. As a Crew fan, I'm concerned about the next time Columbus takes on Toronto FC in "their house." If streamers aren't a strong enough defense, what's next? Paper airplanes? Confetti? The fear of the unknown is, frankly, staggering.
In all seriousness, while Toronto's away support was impressive from a numbers standpoint, the tendency of so many Toronto FC supporters to stroke themselves over their support is extremely annoying and makes it difficult to find the good in that group. Perhaps the Toronto FC fan in front of me said it best when, after being hit by something thrown by a Toronto fan in the 200s, turned around and shouted, "Stop throwing stuff. You guys are the gayest supporters section in the world."
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