Making the List

What do you see in this photo? 

Makes me sad that there are no women in this picture. Who could have and should have been there, @GrantWahl? pic.twitter.com/rwGEHI7LnT
— Daniel Altman (@altmandaniel) January 21, 2015

I see people I know and like - Grant, Jeff, Joe, Scott, Kyle, in particular - but Daniel Altman has a point. There aren't any women. 

There aren't any minorities, either. And considering this media session with Jozy Altidore took place in LA, I found it odd that there weren't any Spanish media there, and a translator if they needed it (many don't). 

In the discussion that followed Daniel's original tweet, Adam Serrano pointed out that the session, hosted by U.S. Soccer (where Altidore just joined the January camp after signing with Toronto FC) wasn't invite-only, but the fact is, I, for one, didn't get the email announcing the event. 

What's odd about that is that I am on one of U.S. Soccer's press distribution lists. I get game quotes and other stuff like many media members. The truth is, though, there's more than one media list. Clearly, I wasn't on this one. 

Why are different lists kept? Well, perhaps the organization wants to 'reward' reporters that have faithfully covered the US team for a while. 

But where does that leave reporters who have other coverage responsibilities, including other national teams, like Mexico? I've commiserated before with reporters who complain about the hassle they've gotten from US Soccer for writing on other squads. I've also heard before, from someone working for US Soccer at the time, "Why should we help reporters who are at our events to cover another team?" 

Short answer: It's their job. Soccer in the USA, especially LA, isn't just the USA team. Whenever Mexico plays in the US, the federation makes money and the game grows with more fans involved. 

In general, the organization's outreach to minorities, especially Latinos, should be more than perfunctory, with just a few bits of news on the Spanish-language edition of ussoccer.com. Spanish media should definitely get announcements about all press events. 

Maybe U.S. Soccer isn't to blame at all for the lack of diversity among the press ranks in the photo. Media outlets and assigning editors may default too easily to sending known entities - the European soccer guy - without taking time to consider others. For example, even if I had gotten the announcement about Jozy's event, I wouldn't have had an outlet to write about it. Mexico is my beat for ESPNFC. 

Again and again, I've gone out of my way to remind people that the scene in U.S. soccer is incredibly diverse, with Hispanic, Asian, & African elements and huge participation by females. But stereotypes exist, and without a diverse media voice and perspectives from different elements of the soccer landscape, they will persist.

In a perfect world, minority reporters wouldn't have to move on to other jobs and could still stay and be paid well on the soccer beat. I remember working with Luis A. Luis B, Damien, Dylan, Bernie, Jose, Miguel, Jaime C. and others. Younger writers, like Josie Becker, would get more consistent gigs. 

And all of us, no matter our critical views on U.S. Soccer, players or coaches, no matter what other teams we'd sometimes cover in the sport, would all be on the same list for press events. Then, I'd bet, the picture would look different - with all these guys still there, perhaps, but many others as well.

What Changes

Obligatory Zelalem tweet: Don't hype, might become hyperbole! Instead, give vague, "could be great, could be not" noise to the Twitterverse
— Andrea Canales (@soccercanales) December 30, 2014

It's not that I don't think Gedion Zelalem can't be a great player for the USMNT. I most definitely believe he can. 

But I also know that a lot can happen between 17 and becoming a regular international. 

Look at these guys, all hope and hunger at around the age of 17. 

Style and Substance

Grant Wahl has a nice piece here about Jozy Altidore living up to his potential (finally!). Now, of course, Jozy has been a prodigy for a long time, but he's been up and down, too, and it has taken him a while to get used to Klinsmann's style.

Frankly, Jurgen Klinsmann is different. He can seem easygoing, with a veneer of California casual (I'll bet he wears flip-flops a lot of the time), but he's also got German grit and toughness to him. It's too bad Frankie Hejduk's days with the team are done, because he would have gotten Klinsy. Frankie was all surfer-boy style, but deadly serious about playing and getting results, even while having fun and building team spirit.  Klinsy believes the US team can be great (that's the sunny optimist in him), but he knows how far they have to go (because he's seen the top of the mountain with Germany) and he won't mince words in telling Altidore or anyone what they have to do to get there.

In contrast, Bruce Arena is, and was, while coach of the national team, more New York understated cool, with a bonus chip on his shoulder about how the USA was often disrespected by the soccer world at large. Truth is, a former lacrosse player-turned-one-national-team-game goalkeeper wasn't ever going to get the respect Klinsmann receives by virtue of having been one of the world's top strikers, so Arena's bitterness is understandable, if tiresome. While in charge of the USMNT, Arena cultivated among the players an us-against-them mentality that gave the US resolve and temerity. But that influence wore off somewhat when more American players evolved to be soccer citizens at large - meaning, they worked and played internationally, and had other priorities than just the USA team. Remember Claudio Reyna refusing to participate in US qualifiers? 2006 was a disappointment partly because it was clear that Arena wasn't getting through to his players as he once had.

Princetonian Bob Bradley was less sardonic than Arena, yet more serious about soccer. His emblem was about work, work, and well, more work.  He reminded me of Animal Farm's Boxer, whose mantra was: "I will work harder." That's an inspiring form of leadership - for a while. It can get exhausting, though, because frankly, while work rate is very important, so is working smarter and better. Plus, the inherent awkwardness in the family connection of having father manage son on the national team level took a toll on all three elements involved - Michael, Bob, and the USMNT. Some long-time readers might think I dislike Bob, or Michael, but that's not true. I do think they are better off on different teams (Go Egypt!).

Back to coach Klinsy. I think of when Jerry Brown, in his first stint as in charge of California, was nicknamed Governor Moonbeam for ideas that were perceived as too progressive and weird. Klinsy could be Coach Sunbeam for similarly shaking up the status quo of the national team with his willingness to experiment and tweak. It hasn't always been smooth sailing, but I think the results are beginning to prove positive.

Jozy's life with the yellow submarine

The Spanish press isn't easy to please, but they seem to like what they see so far from Jozy Altidore. Myself, I'd have liked for him to score, but I was actually happier to see his passing touch. Nothing increases popularity with teammates more than dishing off sweet assists, even if the other players are so surprised to get the ball that they hash up the shot.

Shaka and Jozy

Shaka sits down with Jozy and it might just be me, but the teenager seems more composed and articulate than the former goalkeeper.

Plus, Shaka, Thomas Rongen was Jozy's U20 coach and guided that team to victories over the likes of Brazil. Peter Nowak is the Olympic team coach and that team didn't win the qualifying tournament. Jozy of course knew this, but he was going out of his way to be helpful during the interview, and didn't correct Hislop.

Then again, Jozy, Peter Nowak may have been an attacking player during his career, but Bob Bradley was a forward during his playing days at Princeton as well. It was actually Thomas Rongen who had a career as a defender.

Anyway, I still think it's a nice interview, especially the end, where Shaka, a bit sheepishly, asks Jozy if he remembers the time Jozy scored on him.

Jozy says goodbye

Jozy kicks ass in a farewell post to New York - and he even promises to continue contributing to the GOAL blog at various times. Go well, young man.

Jozy, Jozy, Jozy!

A lovely day for mellow yellow.

They spelled it right.

AP's take.

Interesting news - Villa is looking at keeping Jozy on the team proper, rather than loaning him out.

I'll bet Jozy got translated into Spanish and then back into English here.

Marca on Jozy

Yep, there it is on Marca's futbol page, Ronaldo is going to Real Madrid, Gio Santos is going to Spurs, and Jozy to Villarreal.
Readers commenting on the story seem quite positive, though one admits never having seen him play, while another is basing his analysis on Football Manager.
One also believes Izzy Sesay is a good prospect from that same game.

What got Jozy to Spain

It's a little crude at times and some strange song selections (Phil Collins?!?) but here's a compilation of Jozy Altidore's goals. Yes, there is actual video once you get past the beginning. Since this is mostly MLS stuff, perhaps Villarreal scouts saw this same video. This doesn't include, though, Jozy's goal against Mexico.

What will Jozy do?

Succeed with Villareal? Play in Olympics? What is in store? Speculate away.

Altidore in Spain

No, not for the match today, but permanently, for Villareal.

Can I just say how excited I am to have young American talent going to La Liga again?

I've known Jozy since he was fifteen and playing ping-pong with Dan Kelly at the U17 World Cup in Peru in 2005 (which means the Times is wrong about him joining the squad after his rookie season in MLS; he was done with the U17s by then). What struck me at the time was that his parents weren't along for the trip - although he was the youngest one there. Yet Jozy was fine, a sign of his early maturity.
Granted, I'm based on the West Coast, but I never really bought into the rumors that Jozy was getting big-headed on his own press.
He seemed distracted, definitely. It's hard to focus in the here and now when you're thinking about someplace else. I think that happened to Guzan a little bit when his Aston Villa transfer fell through. Plus, Jozy is competitive enough to get easily frustrated when things get worse - an injured Angel and Reyna left him with little help on his club. A young player can be a great complement to the core of a team, but asking Altidore to carry the squad was more than a bit much.
It will be interesting to see how New York copes with his time left with the squad as well as his departure. It might give Juan Carlos Osorio a chance to restructure, or completely cripple the rest of the season to lose his young gun and have injured vets left.

Wouldn't it be nice

Here's a snip of my interview with Josmer Altidore, where he talks about playing with Landon Donovan and Freddy Adu.

Ring, ring

I just got off the phone with Jozy Altidore. We had a quick interview set up through EA Sports, since Jozy is their new FIFA cover boy.

I asked Jozy if he was any good at the game.

"Undisputed champ," he responded.

Honestly, he sounded like he had wiped out the local competiton. He also said that he had been the best FIFA player back in his Bradenton days as well.

I told him that he would have to come out West some time for a challenge.

No, not me - I can play FIFA a little, but not at any high level. However, the Home Depot Center was the site of the big Drew Carey vs U.S. national team challenge that raised a ton of money for the Glenn (Mooch) Myernick fund last year. After a restart to align his controller properly, Landon Donovan mopped the floor with Drew Carey, winning 6-0.

The event took place during the national team camp. Barring injury, Jozy is at that camp this time, no question. The way he is progressing, he could be the next U.S. ace on both the electronic field, the grass field, heck, the artificial one, too.

Impossible Is Nothing Altidore

Finally! I've been waiting for Altidore's IIN bit to show up. This one has the added bonus of a little intro with the ESPN highlight of him.

Jozy didn't disappoint in the game versus the Galaxy, either, scoring two goals. I still don't understand why he wasn't called in for the U.S. for the Sweden game. Perhaps Arena talked Bradley out of it.