...are smiling on Sideline Views.
Okay, not sure if they were smiling while here but those eyes happened upon our trusty little blog here.
Still waiting for Paraguay...
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Rooting for the enemy
As the CONCACAF Champions Cup starts today, it brings a feeling among many MLS supporters to get behind the teams involved. Red Bulls fans will set aside their differences and cheer Dynamo, while Wizards and Crew fans will likely get behind D.C.
It's just natural, really. As the MLS representatives in the CCC, these two teams seem to carry the flag for MLS and, in many ways, American soccer.
I don't know if I'll live long enough to see this day, but I hope it gets to a point here where Red Bulls fans will wish ill on Houston and everyone in MLS will hope United loses by three goals to some nothing Central American side. If and when that happens, we know MLS will long have arrived and we won't worry about how MLS is perceived to naysayers from outside our borders and, frankly, those from within. I hope the league will be strong enough at some point for fans of GIVEN MLS CLUB will cheer for GIVEN MLS CLUB and hope all other clubs rot in hell.
It's just natural, really. As the MLS representatives in the CCC, these two teams seem to carry the flag for MLS and, in many ways, American soccer.
I don't know if I'll live long enough to see this day, but I hope it gets to a point here where Red Bulls fans will wish ill on Houston and everyone in MLS will hope United loses by three goals to some nothing Central American side. If and when that happens, we know MLS will long have arrived and we won't worry about how MLS is perceived to naysayers from outside our borders and, frankly, those from within. I hope the league will be strong enough at some point for fans of GIVEN MLS CLUB will cheer for GIVEN MLS CLUB and hope all other clubs rot in hell.
Lalas on LA fans
Alexi Lalas on Galaxy fans: "Everyone has all the answers to how to do my job better. I'll always take the feedback. People have been able to call me directly, people have been able to e-mail me, especially the people that spend money to watch our team. They should be heard. Does it mean I'm going to tell them what they want to hear? Not all the time. I'm going to be honest with them. Maybe more so than other sports, soccer has a real intelligent fanbase, in that they're always thinking about how to improve the game. There are some great ideas and suggestions from our fans. We're open to all suggestions, and ultimately, it's up to me to make those decisions, but there's no shortage of suggestions that come from our fans. They're very passionate, and they have a very clear view, many of them, as to what we should be doing, and what we shouldn't be doing."
Sturg's thoughts
Los Angeles Galaxy player Nathan Sturgis shared his thoughts on the U23 team, Beckham, etc, with the Japanese press. I'm a little sad that UCLA's Kyle Nakazawa didn't make the U23 squad, because I'm sure the media there would have loved the story of his Japanese heritage.
Sturgis performed well in the match - which is something he's made a habit of during the tours abroad that he's taken. Of course, he's played well for the Galaxy, too.
Here's a quick mention of the match from another Japanese source, where the U.S. defense is praised. There's also a minute-by-minute report.
I wouldn't be surprised if Sturgis draws attention from Europe after the U20 World Cup in Canada.
Becks in?
David Beckham - almost back where he belongs? After playing well against Bayern Munich, Becks could be eyeing a return to play for England.
Perhaps we could start a poll, or maybe people will just share their thoughts in the comments.
1) Should Steve McClaren call up David Beckham?
2) Will he?
3) What odds would you place (gamblers unite) on Beckham playing for England while a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Beckingham Palace 2
Apparently Posh hasn't found a property she likes yet. With a 20 million rumored budget, the Beckhams have some options. The one I like is a relative steal at 12 million. Of course, if David actually wants to be close to his home stadium, this property in Palos Verdes would be a much shorter commute than living in Malibu or Beverly Hills.
If Beckham wishes to be the Fresh Player of Bel Air, there's pricey options there, too.
Most likely, most of the properties the Beckhams are looking at are going to be privately listed, though.
Actually, though I didn't look very long, the most expensive property I found was actually listed in Pasadena, which would have been perfect if the Galaxy were still playing at the Rose Bowl.
If Beckham wishes to be the Fresh Player of Bel Air, there's pricey options there, too.
Most likely, most of the properties the Beckhams are looking at are going to be privately listed, though.
Actually, though I didn't look very long, the most expensive property I found was actually listed in Pasadena, which would have been perfect if the Galaxy were still playing at the Rose Bowl.
Practice, practice.
At today's USWNT practice, Lindsay Tarpley took a little extra time to hit free kicks under the watchful eye of former Galaxy assistant Billy McNicol.
We forgot Poland
An electronic boojie to our visitor from Poland! Paraguay, alas for Luis and his best efforts, has yet to show up.
Born to run
Jonny Bornstein is built like a whippet, with the added durability of the Energizer Bunny inside. Of course, most any pro soccer player runs well, and for a long time, but Jonny's one of those who looks like he might take off directly from the field and take on El Guerrouj. He's not really that fast, but he's faster than most when the rest of the players are tired late in games.
Copa America: my take
So I put together some thoughts on the United States' participation in Copa America for The Press-Enterprise in my weekly column. It's difficult sometimes trying to balance the readers for my internet stories versus my print stories. Readers of the Press-Enterprise, for instance, might actually not have been aware of the Copa America draw but will want to read about it. Internet readers, of course, knew the day of the draw or at the latest the following day. So while this seems kinda stale on the one hand, it is still fresh for a whole batch of people.
It's a fine line, though, between keeping the soccer fans who aren't scouring the net for soccer news informed as well as the ones who are.
I was going to write some about Mexico in this column but I figured it best to focus on the USMNT because they hadn't played in Copa America since 95 and then all of a sudden we all understood how great and challenging and honorable this tournament is when the US is paired with Paraguay/Argentina/Colombia right off the bat.
As far as my accompanying top 10 list, it wasn't put in with the story (sometimes it is, sometimes it isnt) so here's what I got as the top 10 US results of ALL-TIME against South American nations.
1. US 2, Colombia 1 WC 94 (no-brainer); 2. US 3, Argentina o, CA 95; 3. US 1, Brazil 0, GC 98 (Preki!!!); 4. US 2, Chile 1 CA 95 (slight drop off between 3 and 4); 5. US 3, Venezuela 3 CA 93 (a draw?!?); 6. US 3 Paraguay WC 30 (holy crap!); 7. US 1, Peru 0 (I listened to this game on internetsoccer.com!!!!!); 8. US 1, Argentina 0 99 (a friendly?!?!?!); 9. US 2, Chile 1 2000 (another friendly?!?!). 10 U.S. 2, Uruguay 1 02 (another stinking friendly?!?).
Needless to say, the U.S. doesn't have many wins at all against South American nations. Six, I think, all time in tournaments. There may have been some wins between 1950 and 1980something but I figured those were insignificant to a point because they didn't build on something or didn't usher in a new era. The draw in Copa America 93 gave the US promise that they could compete with a South American team in South America. It's not like they got blitzed 5-0 in all three games it played.
It's a fine line, though, between keeping the soccer fans who aren't scouring the net for soccer news informed as well as the ones who are.
I was going to write some about Mexico in this column but I figured it best to focus on the USMNT because they hadn't played in Copa America since 95 and then all of a sudden we all understood how great and challenging and honorable this tournament is when the US is paired with Paraguay/Argentina/Colombia right off the bat.
As far as my accompanying top 10 list, it wasn't put in with the story (sometimes it is, sometimes it isnt) so here's what I got as the top 10 US results of ALL-TIME against South American nations.
1. US 2, Colombia 1 WC 94 (no-brainer); 2. US 3, Argentina o, CA 95; 3. US 1, Brazil 0, GC 98 (Preki!!!); 4. US 2, Chile 1 CA 95 (slight drop off between 3 and 4); 5. US 3, Venezuela 3 CA 93 (a draw?!?); 6. US 3 Paraguay WC 30 (holy crap!); 7. US 1, Peru 0 (I listened to this game on internetsoccer.com!!!!!); 8. US 1, Argentina 0 99 (a friendly?!?!?!); 9. US 2, Chile 1 2000 (another friendly?!?!). 10 U.S. 2, Uruguay 1 02 (another stinking friendly?!?).
Needless to say, the U.S. doesn't have many wins at all against South American nations. Six, I think, all time in tournaments. There may have been some wins between 1950 and 1980something but I figured those were insignificant to a point because they didn't build on something or didn't usher in a new era. The draw in Copa America 93 gave the US promise that they could compete with a South American team in South America. It's not like they got blitzed 5-0 in all three games it played.
Accent Marks
Traveling to Europe on the cheapest-flight available combo that I sometimes scrounge up online, I once had a six hour layover in Atlanta. I figured it was enough time to get into the city and have a quick look around, so I left the main airport building to ask for advice on which bus I should take. I spotted someone who looked friendly and asked if he knew which was the next bus to the city.
Smiling, he told me.
I did not understand him.
It was a strange moment, standing there, realizing that he was speaking in English, but with an accent so broad that I was confused.
This gentleman waited, as I stood there stupefied. I wanted to ask him to repeat himself, speaking slowly, but I didn't want to be rude. Finally, I thanked him, then walked back inside the airport and found an information desk.
Similarly, though I understand Spanish, I found myself rewinding my interview with Maykel Galindo a few times. Cuban accents take a little getting used to. Like my helpful friend in Atlanta, Maykel was really nice, though.
Smiling, he told me.
I did not understand him.
It was a strange moment, standing there, realizing that he was speaking in English, but with an accent so broad that I was confused.
This gentleman waited, as I stood there stupefied. I wanted to ask him to repeat himself, speaking slowly, but I didn't want to be rude. Finally, I thanked him, then walked back inside the airport and found an information desk.
Similarly, though I understand Spanish, I found myself rewinding my interview with Maykel Galindo a few times. Cuban accents take a little getting used to. Like my helpful friend in Atlanta, Maykel was really nice, though.
Champions leagues
The Champions League gets underway again today as a full slate of games will take the spotlight around the world. But there is also another club tournament being played today.
Copa Libetadores actually started last week but Mexico's participation in it begins today as America plays at El Nacional and Necaxa visits Alianza Lima.
Champions League has better players and more renowned clubs but Libertadores is no second-rate tournament. Many of those games are as pulsating as Champions League matches.
As far as Mexican clubs go, I think America will get through the group stage. Necaxa probably has the toughest group of the three thought Toluca did draw Boca Juniors. I think America and Toluca will go through to the knockout rounds, though, and Necaxa will fall just short.
Copa Libetadores actually started last week but Mexico's participation in it begins today as America plays at El Nacional and Necaxa visits Alianza Lima.
Champions League has better players and more renowned clubs but Libertadores is no second-rate tournament. Many of those games are as pulsating as Champions League matches.
As far as Mexican clubs go, I think America will get through the group stage. Necaxa probably has the toughest group of the three thought Toluca did draw Boca Juniors. I think America and Toluca will go through to the knockout rounds, though, and Necaxa will fall just short.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Playing for freedom
Maykel Galindo scored a goal for the Cuban national team against the USA in the 2005 Gold Cup, then sought political asylum from his rivals the next day.
The defector didn't play in MLS right away, instead he played for the Seattle Sounders of the USL, the country's second division of soccer (down one level from MLS, though Seattle is in the top level of the USL, which is called First Division).
Now, however, his quest to play in the top level of American soccer has been fulfilled, as Chivas USA signed the 26-year old forward to a contract today.
The defector didn't play in MLS right away, instead he played for the Seattle Sounders of the USL, the country's second division of soccer (down one level from MLS, though Seattle is in the top level of the USL, which is called First Division).
Now, however, his quest to play in the top level of American soccer has been fulfilled, as Chivas USA signed the 26-year old forward to a contract today.
Zidane butts out
Well, apparently, Zidane wants 15 million a year to play for MLS, according to Steven Goff of the Washington Post, who also notes that the league isn't going for it.
For those of you who have followed the reality of David Beckham's actual salary (an estimated 9 mil a year) instead of the trumpeted total with endorsement dollars included, you'll know that 15 million yearly would break the MLS bank far more than Beckham's deal.
Like I posted before, I'm not shocked Zidane won't be in MLS this season.
Too bad. I really think it would have been a great opportunity for him and for the league.
For those of you who have followed the reality of David Beckham's actual salary (an estimated 9 mil a year) instead of the trumpeted total with endorsement dollars included, you'll know that 15 million yearly would break the MLS bank far more than Beckham's deal.
Like I posted before, I'm not shocked Zidane won't be in MLS this season.
Too bad. I really think it would have been a great opportunity for him and for the league.
Pushy paparazzi
Victoria Beckham is back in town and while I know she's ridiculously rich, I do feel sorry for her and the kids, who apparently couldn't even enjoy themselves at Disneyland without a mob of tabloid press.
It didn't used to be like that. Life in LA was pretty low key for celebrities, because most Angelenos were too jaded to make a big deal of having stars around. They could hang out and go grocery shopping, and nobody would really care. But now there's this whole industry where bored (perhaps snowed-in, even) people from around the world can view pictures of stars out and about in everyday life. So, that's where the paparazzi go, to all the ordinary things the stars used to do in relative anonymity.
I'll just be walking down the sidewalk when some guy will jump out from behind a car, and start running people down holding a camera with a huge lens, trying to get a picture of a star picking up a cup of coffee. It won't even be in a posh neighborhood, just at any joint in Hollywood. It's gotten crazy, and it's sad.
It didn't used to be like that. Life in LA was pretty low key for celebrities, because most Angelenos were too jaded to make a big deal of having stars around. They could hang out and go grocery shopping, and nobody would really care. But now there's this whole industry where bored (perhaps snowed-in, even) people from around the world can view pictures of stars out and about in everyday life. So, that's where the paparazzi go, to all the ordinary things the stars used to do in relative anonymity.
I'll just be walking down the sidewalk when some guy will jump out from behind a car, and start running people down holding a camera with a huge lens, trying to get a picture of a star picking up a cup of coffee. It won't even be in a posh neighborhood, just at any joint in Hollywood. It's gotten crazy, and it's sad.
Top 10 US wins
As part of my Press-Enterprise column, I usually try to have a Top 10 list accompanying the story. For instance, I wrote about Copa America for tomorrow and how the U.S. needs to compete in more tournaments like Copa America.
So for the Top 10 list, I tried to come up with 10 U.S. wins over South American nations. I got to about 1995 and realized that the U.S. didn't have 10 wins over South American nations, at least not all in meaningful games. I tend to avoid friendlies in those kinds of lists. (*I limited the list to USMNT games, not Olympic games or U-20 or anything like that)
So I included a draw and three friendlies and I rounded out the list.
It's a shame really that the U.S. has not played against South American teams more often than it has.
As far as my list, well, you'll have to wait for tomorrow for that. But I'll take any guesses on the wins. Really, it's not that hard to come up with three right off the bat.
So for the Top 10 list, I tried to come up with 10 U.S. wins over South American nations. I got to about 1995 and realized that the U.S. didn't have 10 wins over South American nations, at least not all in meaningful games. I tend to avoid friendlies in those kinds of lists. (*I limited the list to USMNT games, not Olympic games or U-20 or anything like that)
So I included a draw and three friendlies and I rounded out the list.
It's a shame really that the U.S. has not played against South American teams more often than it has.
As far as my list, well, you'll have to wait for tomorrow for that. But I'll take any guesses on the wins. Really, it's not that hard to come up with three right off the bat.
This is the enemy
Front page of MARCA today. What an awesome pic and headline. I love the Champions' League.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Hostile crowd
Juan Pablo Garcia was not welcomed back to Atlas with open arms. Saturday, Garcia and Tigres went to Guadalajara to play Garcia's former club and the crowd jeered his return. Garcia said afterward he was surprised by the response.
Well, what did Loco expect? When he left, club officials were none too happy. They felt betrayed by Garcia and that sour feeling carried over into the stands.
I feel bad for Garcia because things haven't exactly gone his way since leaving Chivas. He longed for a return to Mexico but has yet to establish himself on the team, is probably no closer to the national team than he was here and found out the hard way that he is no longer welcome in Guadalajara, at least in his old stomping grounds.
He could have stayed here, though, and none of that would have been an issue.
Well, what did Loco expect? When he left, club officials were none too happy. They felt betrayed by Garcia and that sour feeling carried over into the stands.
I feel bad for Garcia because things haven't exactly gone his way since leaving Chivas. He longed for a return to Mexico but has yet to establish himself on the team, is probably no closer to the national team than he was here and found out the hard way that he is no longer welcome in Guadalajara, at least in his old stomping grounds.
He could have stayed here, though, and none of that would have been an issue.
90s rock
So there's this new channel on Sirius. It totally rules... or wait, I'm on the net. It PWNZ.
Anyway, it's 90s Alternative. Holy hell. How great is that?!? I heard Alice in Chains, Offspring, sat through a Cranberries song and now Soundgarden is on. Kick ass.
(okay, now tie this in to soccer...)
Well, this Soundgarden song, Burden in my Hand, reminds me of the late 1990s when MLS wasn't getting covered that well...
No, but seriously, that Alice in Chains song, No Excuses, was big back before my writing days started. Well, it was big before then but I didn't get into them until way later. I didn't actually attend an MLS game until the first game that I covered, a DC United-Galaxy game at the Rose Bowl in 1998. I think it was 1-0 to United.
1998 Galaxy... now there's something worth flashing back to, well, except for the playoff loss.
Anyway, it's 90s Alternative. Holy hell. How great is that?!? I heard Alice in Chains, Offspring, sat through a Cranberries song and now Soundgarden is on. Kick ass.
(okay, now tie this in to soccer...)
Well, this Soundgarden song, Burden in my Hand, reminds me of the late 1990s when MLS wasn't getting covered that well...
No, but seriously, that Alice in Chains song, No Excuses, was big back before my writing days started. Well, it was big before then but I didn't get into them until way later. I didn't actually attend an MLS game until the first game that I covered, a DC United-Galaxy game at the Rose Bowl in 1998. I think it was 1-0 to United.
1998 Galaxy... now there's something worth flashing back to, well, except for the playoff loss.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)