Some thoughts. Basically, it went better than I personally expected, but it could still be improved. Anyone else have ideas?
Showing posts with label SuperLiga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SuperLiga. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2007
SuperLiga sentiments
Some thoughts. Basically, it went better than I personally expected, but it could still be improved. Anyone else have ideas?
Forward spin
I looked at the 2008 SuperLiga for SI.com. I tossed in some dream matchups, let me know what you think of them and if you would have picked the same.
Also, that picture is horrible. I agree with Jaime Cardenas - I look nothing like that now. I need to get my #^%*! hair cut so I can take a new one.
Also, that picture is horrible. I agree with Jaime Cardenas - I look nothing like that now. I need to get my #^%*! hair cut so I can take a new one.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
SuperLiga scene
I don't get to see Jeff Carlisle that often, so it's always fun to catch up. We joked about the best route to take when covering games between LA and San Jose. It's a haul, but it's exciting that there's going to be a reason to make the drive again.
Anyway, here's my sidebar on Becks - and here's Jeff's take.
By the way, when I say that David Beckham was emotional at the presser - I mean he was near tears. I was sitting in the front row and set to record on my little digital camera to provide a clip here, but I couldn't do it. I didn't have the heart. David looked down at the reporters and he seemed so upset and red-eyed. I felt like a vulture, so I put the camera away.
Anyway, here's my sidebar on Becks - and here's Jeff's take.
By the way, when I say that David Beckham was emotional at the presser - I mean he was near tears. I was sitting in the front row and set to record on my little digital camera to provide a clip here, but I couldn't do it. I didn't have the heart. David looked down at the reporters and he seemed so upset and red-eyed. I felt like a vulture, so I put the camera away.
SuperLessons
SI.com colleague Grant Wahl weighs in with some lessons learned from Wednesday's SuperLiga final. Good stuff, as usual.
I didn't get a chance to talk to Landon Donovan, which is why I don't have any audio clips of him. Grant did and has some of what Landon told him in here. Plus, Grant gives us the story on the percentage of money that Pachuca players received and Galaxy players would have received had they won, and the disparity between the two.
I didn't get a chance to talk to Landon Donovan, which is why I don't have any audio clips of him. Grant did and has some of what Landon told him in here. Plus, Grant gives us the story on the percentage of money that Pachuca players received and Galaxy players would have received had they won, and the disparity between the two.
Mediotiempo gallery
A lot of interesting pictures in the MedioTiempo.com gallery of the Galaxy-Pachuca match.
This one is of a Galaxy supporter holding a Budweiser bottle clad in a yellow Xavi-style wig.
This one is of a Galaxy supporter holding a Budweiser bottle clad in a yellow Xavi-style wig.
Tuzo triumphant
Marches home with the loot.
Meanwhile a pair of bruised Pumas look on. "How would it feel to win a million dollars?" says one. Responds the other, "Just be satified with finally winning a league game."
Meanwhile a pair of bruised Pumas look on. "How would it feel to win a million dollars?" says one. Responds the other, "Just be satified with finally winning a league game."
Donations
CF Pachuca is going to donate a portion of their $1 million prize to Hurricane Dean victims in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, of which Pachuca is the capital. Miguel Calero said the players were getting a 35 percent cut of the $1 million prize and from that they were donating funds to the people of Hidalgo. He mentioned the hard-hit areas of Tulancingo and Tizayuca as areas which they would be helping out with donations.
Additionally, Calero said the club would also be donating part of the remaining 65 percent to relief efforts.
"We're going to take a portion from each of our prize money and donate it," Calero said. "We're going to take some necessities, clothes and food to the people. The rest of the money is for the club and they will also take some of that money and donate a portion of it."
Hurricane Dean decimated the coastal touristy areas but also ravaged through Hidalgo.
Here's Calero talking about it and much more about the game. Sorry, it's all in Spanish with no translation.
Additionally, Calero said the club would also be donating part of the remaining 65 percent to relief efforts.
"We're going to take a portion from each of our prize money and donate it," Calero said. "We're going to take some necessities, clothes and food to the people. The rest of the money is for the club and they will also take some of that money and donate a portion of it."
Hurricane Dean decimated the coastal touristy areas but also ravaged through Hidalgo.
Here's Calero talking about it and much more about the game. Sorry, it's all in Spanish with no translation.
Chaco talk
Christian "Chaco" Gimenez talks about the SuperLiga victory.
Habla en espanol pero... his words are translated to English.
Habla en espanol pero... his words are translated to English.
Beckham's thoughts
Audio of David Beckham following Wednesday's match.
The 4-6 weeks diagnosis was one he made but then took back, but I guess it's not like a courtroom where the judge can tell the jury to disregard a comment as "Beckham out Six Weeks" was splashed across some web sites this morning.
The 4-6 weeks diagnosis was one he made but then took back, but I guess it's not like a courtroom where the judge can tell the jury to disregard a comment as "Beckham out Six Weeks" was splashed across some web sites this morning.
After the whistle
On Wednesday, I wrote for The Press-Enterprise and Sports Ticker as well. My story for Sports Ticker was already in the body of an e-mail headed to the appropriate people when Chris Klein scored. Normally I would have been angry because another half-hour and a lot of the last 15-20 minutes went for nothing but the goal just left me speechless. I was stunned not just that the Galaxy equalized but how they did it.
With the tops of both stories pretty much shot, I wrote two ledes for each PE and Ticker story: one for a Galaxy win and the other for a Pachuca win. When Landon Donovan stepped forward to take the Galaxy's fifth PK, I moved up the Galaxy-win lede to the top of the Ticker story and started to transition into the body when Miguel Calero denied him. After Xavier missed, the game was over and I moved the appropriate lede to the top.
I walked downstairs and my legs were a bit numb. I couldn't believe how dramatic the game was and how much it took out of me emotionally. I hadn't realized it until I was walking down to the post-game press conference.
It was funny because before the game the song "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine blared through the stadium and once I got going on my way home the same song came on the radio. To me, it was fitting that I heard such a powerful song before and after that match.
I saw Rage in concert earlier this month and that had been the last time before Wednesday that pure drama and emotion unfolded before me. Like I was after the game, I was emotionally spent after the concert. I didn't leave the stadium until well after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, well, Thursday morning by that point, and didn't get home until 2:30.
All in all, it was all worth it.
With the tops of both stories pretty much shot, I wrote two ledes for each PE and Ticker story: one for a Galaxy win and the other for a Pachuca win. When Landon Donovan stepped forward to take the Galaxy's fifth PK, I moved up the Galaxy-win lede to the top of the Ticker story and started to transition into the body when Miguel Calero denied him. After Xavier missed, the game was over and I moved the appropriate lede to the top.
I walked downstairs and my legs were a bit numb. I couldn't believe how dramatic the game was and how much it took out of me emotionally. I hadn't realized it until I was walking down to the post-game press conference.
It was funny because before the game the song "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine blared through the stadium and once I got going on my way home the same song came on the radio. To me, it was fitting that I heard such a powerful song before and after that match.
I saw Rage in concert earlier this month and that had been the last time before Wednesday that pure drama and emotion unfolded before me. Like I was after the game, I was emotionally spent after the concert. I didn't leave the stadium until well after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, well, Thursday morning by that point, and didn't get home until 2:30.
All in all, it was all worth it.
Cruel fate
Galaxy players celebrated when Marvin Cabrera slammed one off the crossbar to set up Landon Donovan's decisive attempt. This celebration, though, was short-lived.
Partidazo!
What a game. We haven't had the chance to blog much because of the drama that unfolded before us but we've got plenty of thoughts coming up. I'll put some audio of Frank Yallop up shortly.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Silverware
The trophy awaits the winner. If the Galaxy claim it, and Real Salt Lake pull out the victory versus Kansas City, the officially worst team in the league will be the SuperLiga champions.
Broader SuperLiga view
Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet weighs in on the SuperLiga final.
It's funny because yesterday at Galaxy training some guy walked up to me, extended his hand and said "Hey Luis, how are you?"
I shook his hand and said, "Good. You?" It's too bad I didn't have any idea who it was.
I glanced down at his credential just as he smiled and said "Jeff Carlisle."
I felt kinda dumb. But, in my defense, he looks a lot different with shaggy hair and sunglasses than he does in his clean-cut, sunglass-free mug shot.
EDIT: Link's up and working now.
It's funny because yesterday at Galaxy training some guy walked up to me, extended his hand and said "Hey Luis, how are you?"
I shook his hand and said, "Good. You?" It's too bad I didn't have any idea who it was.
I glanced down at his credential just as he smiled and said "Jeff Carlisle."
I felt kinda dumb. But, in my defense, he looks a lot different with shaggy hair and sunglasses than he does in his clean-cut, sunglass-free mug shot.
EDIT: Link's up and working now.
Grass looks good
The Home Depot Center field looked nice the last time I saw it, so any highlight-worthy moments will have a good background.
It did change between Saturday and Sunday, though. This year, the league decided to regulate MLS fields, mandating that they be mowed in rows straight across the field. Why the league feels this is more important than doing something about the artificial fields with the football markings, I don't know.
The HDC grounds crew used to have a little fun with the grass, cutting it into patterns. My favorite one was a diamond-shaped pattern that would start at the center circle and extend out. It was a nice artistic touch that was killed by the new rules.
For the USWNT national team game on Saturday, the grounds crew decided to mow in another pattern, a circle swirl that also converges on the midpoint of the field. It was good to see the old creativity back, but before I even finished my report on the match, another lawnmower had wiped out the patten and returned the field to MLS striping for the next day versus Real Salt Lake.
SuperLiga may not adhere to the MLS standard, but it probably does, so I don't know when we'll see the grass in anything but horizontal stripes. At least it won't be in the weird lines of a newly-laid field, like it was after the X Games.
It did change between Saturday and Sunday, though. This year, the league decided to regulate MLS fields, mandating that they be mowed in rows straight across the field. Why the league feels this is more important than doing something about the artificial fields with the football markings, I don't know.
The HDC grounds crew used to have a little fun with the grass, cutting it into patterns. My favorite one was a diamond-shaped pattern that would start at the center circle and extend out. It was a nice artistic touch that was killed by the new rules.
For the USWNT national team game on Saturday, the grounds crew decided to mow in another pattern, a circle swirl that also converges on the midpoint of the field. It was good to see the old creativity back, but before I even finished my report on the match, another lawnmower had wiped out the patten and returned the field to MLS striping for the next day versus Real Salt Lake.
SuperLiga may not adhere to the MLS standard, but it probably does, so I don't know when we'll see the grass in anything but horizontal stripes. At least it won't be in the weird lines of a newly-laid field, like it was after the X Games.
Rarity: a Pachuca loss
Before Saturday, Pachuca hadn't lost any game since the Galaxy beat them 2-1 on July 24. They hadn't lost a league game in, uh, forever. But they fell to Santos at home on the weekend.
Here are the highlights. Of note: Andres Chitiva will not play against the Galaxy as he was sent off against Houston; Santos' goalkeeper is USMNT favorite (of the love-to-hate kind) Oswaldo Sanchez.
Here are the highlights. Of note: Andres Chitiva will not play against the Galaxy as he was sent off against Houston; Santos' goalkeeper is USMNT favorite (of the love-to-hate kind) Oswaldo Sanchez.
And now a bit on Pachuca
This is from a couple of weeks ago. Pachuca beat Atlas 1-0. The goal was a bit opportunistic in that the Atlas goalkeeper put it in a bad position but Christian "Chaco" Gimenez did well to strike the ball from outside the box, which is a spot he's dangerous from.
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