I'm not the only AC around.
Anderson Cooper's interview with David airs tonight on CBS. Keith Sharman, one of the CBS producers for the feature, called Luis and I earlier this month to get some of our views on Beckham.
The sportswriter angle is different from that of the gossip sites like the one I linked - they're more risque, for sure.
Actually, there is a double entendre going on with the local reporters and Becks. The most coveted of interviews is an individual one, and few have gotten such access, though many have requested. I'm on a list somewhere, I think.
It's common to hear pressbox chatter about the topic, when people are discussing their latest interview subjects.
"Have you done David yet?"
"Nope, still waiting to get him alone."
"I've had my Becks one-on-one already - he's great."
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter egg hunt
At the FanFest event yesterday, the Galaxy won their scrimmage versus the San Fernando Valley Quakes 3-1. The match was a short one - two thirty-minute halves. All the Galaxy goals were scored in the first half as Carlos Ruiz, Michael Gavin and Landon Donovan notched goals. Willie Sims scored late in the second half for the Quakes. Yes, that Willie Sims.
David Beckham subbed out of the match late and was later on stage with the team for introductions. Donovan was already headed to LAX to join the U.S. national team roster - he left immediately after the scrimmage. GM Alexi Lalas also gave an address to Galaxy season ticket holders.
Still, the most interesting part of the FanFest was what happened afterwards. I joined Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports and Galaxy media dude Justin Pearson for a drink at a local sports bar (where we watched Stanford and UCLA cut their wins so close).
On the way there, Martin, who still retains many media contacts in his native England, got a call asking about Beckham's "injury". Apparently, a photographer had sent to his agency a photo of Beckham stretching after the scrimmage with a caption about how he was subbed out of the match due to a groin injury. The deadline to go to press in England was rapidly approaching, and a number of papers wanted to run the image. They needed a quote or an official "no comment" from the Galaxy. While I sat bemused in the backseat, Martin was on the phone to London, saying that he thinks Beckham is fine, but he's working on getting an official quote, while Justin was trying to drive while also on his phone, calling Lalas, and then the team trainer, Armando Rivas, to get the official quote "Beckham is fine" on a frenzied timeline. Then both phones started to run low on battery and there was much "Can you hear me?" going on. Later, Martin told me that a photographer could make thousands of dollars off such a picture, and just defend himself against distortion by saying he described what he thought was going on. Martin figured some papers would run the photo anyway, but I haven't found one online yet.
David Beckham subbed out of the match late and was later on stage with the team for introductions. Donovan was already headed to LAX to join the U.S. national team roster - he left immediately after the scrimmage. GM Alexi Lalas also gave an address to Galaxy season ticket holders.
Still, the most interesting part of the FanFest was what happened afterwards. I joined Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports and Galaxy media dude Justin Pearson for a drink at a local sports bar (where we watched Stanford and UCLA cut their wins so close).
On the way there, Martin, who still retains many media contacts in his native England, got a call asking about Beckham's "injury". Apparently, a photographer had sent to his agency a photo of Beckham stretching after the scrimmage with a caption about how he was subbed out of the match due to a groin injury. The deadline to go to press in England was rapidly approaching, and a number of papers wanted to run the image. They needed a quote or an official "no comment" from the Galaxy. While I sat bemused in the backseat, Martin was on the phone to London, saying that he thinks Beckham is fine, but he's working on getting an official quote, while Justin was trying to drive while also on his phone, calling Lalas, and then the team trainer, Armando Rivas, to get the official quote "Beckham is fine" on a frenzied timeline. Then both phones started to run low on battery and there was much "Can you hear me?" going on. Later, Martin told me that a photographer could make thousands of dollars off such a picture, and just defend himself against distortion by saying he described what he thought was going on. Martin figured some papers would run the photo anyway, but I haven't found one online yet.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Becks answers
It's hard to hold a camera and a recorder at the same time, so I did it only briefly during the time David Beckham came over to answer questions from the press yesterday.
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Captains chat
The two U23 captains, Maurice and Sacha (representing Southern California here, I must point out) give their viewpoints on the U.S. mission to return to Olympic competition.
In the know
Me: "So they reported on SportsCenter last night, in a little clip from ESPN Deportes, that Beckham might buy the Galaxy once he finishes playing. All the other press reports have said, he has an option to buy an MLS team, but didn't specify which one. Your history with the team goes way back, do you think AEG would sell the Galaxy to Becks?"
"Phil [Anschutz] is not selling the Galaxy."
Me: "Well, not now, but in the future."
"No way. He's not selling the Galaxy. He never planned to sell the Galaxy. That's the team he has always planned on keeping."
Me: "What about a share of the Galaxy? Like how Magic Johnson is a part owner of the Lakers?"
"Maybe something like that could happen. But I don't see Phil selling the entire Galaxy team or a controlling share to anybody."
Who was I talking to? I can't say, but it was someone who always seems to know stuff like what I asked about.
"Phil [Anschutz] is not selling the Galaxy."
Me: "Well, not now, but in the future."
"No way. He's not selling the Galaxy. He never planned to sell the Galaxy. That's the team he has always planned on keeping."
Me: "What about a share of the Galaxy? Like how Magic Johnson is a part owner of the Lakers?"
"Maybe something like that could happen. But I don't see Phil selling the entire Galaxy team or a controlling share to anybody."
Who was I talking to? I can't say, but it was someone who always seems to know stuff like what I asked about.
Los goles
Highlights of Saprissa's 3-0 win over Atlante. Saprissa will play Houston in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Intensity and instructions
I don't think I ever saw Yallop or any MLS coach do a finishing drill quite like this one. Usually players just line up to take shots. Sometimes they'll do a quick pass to the crosser and then run for the goal to shoot. But as one can see here, Ruud has an entire running sequence set up, and then the guy doing the drill has to repeat it. It's like trying to finish and do a shuttle run (anyone remember those?) at the same time. It looks exhausting.
Actually, as this clip starts, Alan Gordon has just run it twice. He did his little back and forth sequence, but the pass that came in was so bad, that Ruud was yelling, "Come on! He does all that running and that's what you give him? You've got to do better!" So Alan went one more time and appeared ready to keel over. David Beckham runs after Alan, then Carlos Ruiz starts, just as the video ends.
I didn't see who sent the bad pass. I turned to look when Ruud yelled, but I couldn't tell. I then switched the camera on to capture footage of the drill. Soon after, the Galaxy's press officer stopped by to inform all the reporters of the restrictions on asking David Beckham questions. If you couldn't understand the audio, basically, we couldn't ask anything about the English national team.
Actually, as this clip starts, Alan Gordon has just run it twice. He did his little back and forth sequence, but the pass that came in was so bad, that Ruud was yelling, "Come on! He does all that running and that's what you give him? You've got to do better!" So Alan went one more time and appeared ready to keel over. David Beckham runs after Alan, then Carlos Ruiz starts, just as the video ends.
I didn't see who sent the bad pass. I turned to look when Ruud yelled, but I couldn't tell. I then switched the camera on to capture footage of the drill. Soon after, the Galaxy's press officer stopped by to inform all the reporters of the restrictions on asking David Beckham questions. If you couldn't understand the audio, basically, we couldn't ask anything about the English national team.
Galaxy guys scrimmage
Sorry that the camera angle isn't great. It's not easy to shoot decent video from a digital camera, but I didn't get another chance to try it. The whistle at the end of the clip was from Ruud Gullit, ending the scrimmage.
To be fair. . .
If I point out mediotiempo's gaffe on Eddie Gaven, I have to link this Toronto Sun story.
Puerto Rico? No, Amado Guevara went to his native Honduras to play after leaving Chivas USA. He's the captain of Motagua.
Puerto Rico? No, Amado Guevara went to his native Honduras to play after leaving Chivas USA. He's the captain of Motagua.
Strong Language
In light of Mark Cuban's disparaging comments recently about blogs and bloggers, a Galaxy staffer and I were discussing some of the crucial differences between blogs and articles in print.
He mentioned that he thought Luis, for example, was more outspoken on this blog than he is in other outlets, pointing out that Luis will occasionally swear on our blog.
"I guess I do that, too," I admitted. "Sometimes I'll cuss or make fun of something in a way I probably wouldn't write elsewhere. It's our blog - we never rated it PG."
Sometimes, when people are just expressing themselves, those words come out.
Like during an interview with Ruud, for example.
Interesting that he made the comparison to Real Madrid, no? Beckham was on the squad during that era where they couldn't get the big wins despite having many stars.
He mentioned that he thought Luis, for example, was more outspoken on this blog than he is in other outlets, pointing out that Luis will occasionally swear on our blog.
"I guess I do that, too," I admitted. "Sometimes I'll cuss or make fun of something in a way I probably wouldn't write elsewhere. It's our blog - we never rated it PG."
Sometimes, when people are just expressing themselves, those words come out.
Like during an interview with Ruud, for example.
Interesting that he made the comparison to Real Madrid, no? Beckham was on the squad during that era where they couldn't get the big wins despite having many stars.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Fans are a priority
The Galaxy Fan Fest this weekend is apparently the last obligation for Becks before he leaves to join England's national team. Yep, Galaxy fans, the team captain is holding off on flying out over the pond (or so say team sources) until he takes part in the preseason event.
Who knew?
Eddie Gaven scored the winning goal to send the U.S. to the Olympics. I know they probably picked this story up on wire services, but did anyone at mediotiempo watch the game? At all?
It's about as accurate as the birthplace on the Jesus Padilla player profile.
It's about as accurate as the birthplace on the Jesus Padilla player profile.
Monstrous roar
Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa beat Atlante of Mexico 3-0 on Thursday and advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals. Saprissa will meet MLS champs Houston for a trip to the final.
Saprissa actually only scored one goal. Atlante had a pair of own goals as Jose Daniel Garcia and Gerardo Omar Castillo each scored a goal on their own goal. Armando Alonso bagged Saprissa's only goal of their own early in the second half.
Houston had problems against Pachuca a year ago, surrendering five goals in Pachuca. On one hand, it's probably a good thing Houston doesn't have to go to Mexico given Mexican clubs' 33-6 aggregate score against MLS teams on Mexican soil in this tournament's history. Then again, Saprissa's home turf isn't exactly a walk in the park. Saprissa, nicknamed El Monstruo, is about as tough of an away game as there is in Central America.
Funny things happen down there too. Atlante had two own goals there. In 2006, the Galaxy played the best first half of soccer they'd played in a long time - including the double-winning 2005 season - and held a 2-0 lead at halftime. But somehow Saprissa clawed their way back into the game and sent it into extra time where a phantom foul call set up a free kick which led to the match-winner and subsequent tournament winning goal.
Houston will host the first leg so they'll need to do better than a two-goal win as they did against Pachuca in the first leg a year ago. Atlante took a 2-1 aggregate score into Saprissa and crashed out spectacularly.
If Houston reaches the final, they will have earned their trip.
Saprissa actually only scored one goal. Atlante had a pair of own goals as Jose Daniel Garcia and Gerardo Omar Castillo each scored a goal on their own goal. Armando Alonso bagged Saprissa's only goal of their own early in the second half.
Houston had problems against Pachuca a year ago, surrendering five goals in Pachuca. On one hand, it's probably a good thing Houston doesn't have to go to Mexico given Mexican clubs' 33-6 aggregate score against MLS teams on Mexican soil in this tournament's history. Then again, Saprissa's home turf isn't exactly a walk in the park. Saprissa, nicknamed El Monstruo, is about as tough of an away game as there is in Central America.
Funny things happen down there too. Atlante had two own goals there. In 2006, the Galaxy played the best first half of soccer they'd played in a long time - including the double-winning 2005 season - and held a 2-0 lead at halftime. But somehow Saprissa clawed their way back into the game and sent it into extra time where a phantom foul call set up a free kick which led to the match-winner and subsequent tournament winning goal.
Houston will host the first leg so they'll need to do better than a two-goal win as they did against Pachuca in the first leg a year ago. Atlante took a 2-1 aggregate score into Saprissa and crashed out spectacularly.
If Houston reaches the final, they will have earned their trip.
Keeping mum in any language
I did interview Alvaro Pires today.
The first thing I asked him, speaking Portuguese, was: "Do you speak Spanish?"
A lot of Brazilian players learn Spanish easily - that's the way I always talked with Marcelo Saragosa, for example.
Alvaro answered in Portuguese, "I don't speak Spanish."
"My Portuguese is very bad," I told him (still speaking Portuguese) He just grinned.
"OK," I finally said. "You speak Portuguese, and I'll speak Spanish?" He nodded.
So that's how we got through the interview. Towards the end, I tried to get Pires to 'fess up to what he had said to Saragosa and Rocha during the fracas with Becks in Dallas. Pires was holding both of his countrymen off at one point. When reporters asked about what happened, Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala never explained what words were exchanged, so I was hoping Pires could enlighten me.
Maybe the language gap helped him dodge the question.
"As the game was almost over in Dallas, there was a disagreement with Beckham and two Brazilians on the Dallas team. On TV, I saw you talking with Saragosa - what did you say to him, and what did he say to you?" I asked.
"Oh, yes, Saragosa is also Brazilian and we spoke together," answered Pires.
"What did he say?"
"Oh, I don't really remember," Pires said. Then he smiled again.
The first thing I asked him, speaking Portuguese, was: "Do you speak Spanish?"
A lot of Brazilian players learn Spanish easily - that's the way I always talked with Marcelo Saragosa, for example.
Alvaro answered in Portuguese, "I don't speak Spanish."
"My Portuguese is very bad," I told him (still speaking Portuguese) He just grinned.
"OK," I finally said. "You speak Portuguese, and I'll speak Spanish?" He nodded.
So that's how we got through the interview. Towards the end, I tried to get Pires to 'fess up to what he had said to Saragosa and Rocha during the fracas with Becks in Dallas. Pires was holding both of his countrymen off at one point. When reporters asked about what happened, Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala never explained what words were exchanged, so I was hoping Pires could enlighten me.
Maybe the language gap helped him dodge the question.
"As the game was almost over in Dallas, there was a disagreement with Beckham and two Brazilians on the Dallas team. On TV, I saw you talking with Saragosa - what did you say to him, and what did he say to you?" I asked.
"Oh, yes, Saragosa is also Brazilian and we spoke together," answered Pires.
"What did he say?"
"Oh, I don't really remember," Pires said. Then he smiled again.
Ambassador for soccer
David Beckham's trip to New York came at a bit of a price, though he probably considered it worthwhile, helping those kids in Harlem and honoring Pele. Word was that he got to today's practice without having slept yet. He actually looked good in practice, though, but these shots are when he was just a bit off. In one, he missed the goal high, in the other, LD beat the defensive effort of Becks and got a shot off. Cronie saved it, though.
I didn't get to talk to David. He did do a few media interviews for TV, but was then hustled off, to sleep, presumably.
The U.S. is in
Freddy scores twice, and Sacha has the capper while Canada is shut out.
Sorry there was no running blog. I was away from my home base and without net access.
Sorry there was no running blog. I was away from my home base and without net access.
G's practice
Who out there has been keeping up on the Galaxy and can identify the players training in the pics? Caption 1,2,3, and 4 correctly.
Honduras is in
Honduras beat Guatemala in penalties to advance to the Summer Olympics. Honduras missed once in penalties but Guatemala missed twice, including one in the seventh round that sailed over the goal.
The game finished without any goals in 120 minutes of regulation and extra time.
The game finished without any goals in 120 minutes of regulation and extra time.
Knee's healing
Brad Guzan said he'd probably play against FC Dallas in the season opener on March 30. I believe him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)