Late Tuesday afternoon Jonah Freedman broke the news that the San Jose Earthquakes would be back in MLS next season. Don Garber confirmed it at Wednesday's State of the League address in Denver ahead of tonight's All-Star game against Celtic. This is tremendous news for the folks out there, whom I know a few that were left in the wake of AEG's move to Houston. I couldn't be happier for them and soccer fans in the Bay Area in general.
My take on it? Well, if they are going to go nomadic for the first season or two they'll need to do a lot of marketing (and market research), choose appropriate venues and do an amazing job of mobilizing their fanbase. Of course, the first season will be gratis with room for mistakes, error, bad signings and low attendances. Anything beyond that, performance-wise, has to be considered some sort of victory... and no, I don't mean the USL1 team (more on them to come in this week's impending uslfans.com piece). Either way, I think Lew Wolff and co. saw the writing on the wall and wanted to bring the team in sooner rather than later for any number of reasons. I would imagine those to include thoughts about getting in on the Beckham craze that should last well into his first full MLS season in 2008 and the idea that, with the team in existence, it would be easier to go to marketing partners and city councils to get their cooperation on a stadium. I still believe in SJ and couldn't be happier for those fans and the folks involved with SSV to get their team back.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
US tournament stuff
I'll probably continuously roll this post and re-edit as I gather my thoughts on the US performances at Copa America and the U-20 World Cup. Suffice to say, one gets no glowing reviews for the performances and another gets no happy appraisals of the coaching staff. I'll let you guys figure out each one for the time being. That said, yes, I am still a bit pissed with the results and I hope the people involved are as well.
An Exercise in Inanity?
This week I ran across the latest bit by "the Limey" over on CNN/SI and one of his readers posed an interesting question, one which I've asked myself from time to time when trying on new teams in Championship Manager or FIFA: "which leagues... are the leading 10 in the world?"
Well, it's a tough call to make but I figured I would give it a shot anyway because... well, just because so here you are, my top 10 league sin the world.
Spain
1996: 0
2007: 6
television contract
1996: MLS paid for airtime
2007: multiple channels now pay MLS for programming
top players
1996: Jorge Campos, Carlos Valderrama, Marco Etcheverry
2007: Josimer Altidore, Landon Donovan, Juan Pablo Angel... Becks doesn't count, yet
What's the most striking thing about the above to you? For me, it's the fact that now more than ever MLS is being lead by it's American players. Every season since 1996 has essentially been geared towards developing American talent and now that there's a process and stable system in place the League has once again looked to bring in quality foreign signings except this time they're able to bring in star players who might not still light up the EPL but have plenty of firepower left and, some might argue, are of a slightly better pedigree than MLS' first class of foreign stars.
So, what I'm saying is that, sure you can make your arguments about the leagues just below the cut list but facts are facts and MLS is coming on stronger than many more traditional commentators would like to admit. A lot of people don't like to buy into hokey gimmicks and slogans but in hindsight I think MLS got it right with the "New Soccer Nation" thing. We still haven't fully realized that vision but we'll get there.
PS Incidentally, if you want to argue spots 5-8 I don't care because it's an easy case to make to boost Argentina or Brazil (or both) above Holland and France but at the same time, those two leagues can hold their own with the Big 4. Either way, potato or potato.
Well, it's a tough call to make but I figured I would give it a shot anyway because... well, just because so here you are, my top 10 league sin the world.
Close but not quite:
Let’s face it, the US national team would have its difficulties with the national sides from those who missed the cut and win maybe just half the time but if you look at these league from top to bottom, none have the parity of MLS. You can’t just rate a Grasshoppers,
The solid infrastructure and increasing presence of Latin and South American players in MLS shade things slightly in favor of the American league over the better second tier South American leagues, but only just. There is some incredible talent in
Keep in mind, as well, that MLS is only 12 years old. To show this much growth in this short of a time is truly an amazing thing. Take a walk down memory lane if you can't quite grasp it. Back in 1989 the US National Team needed the most awkward miracle shot in our history just to qualify for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Did I mention that the game was against Trinidad and Tobago? Read that again, folks, we were lucky to win at Port au Prince not because we played a poor game or didn't play up to our talent but because they were a better team than we were. These days if we escape T&T with a close win it's largely thought to be due to that age old sports idea of "playing down to the opposition" and on that day it could be argued that the Soca Warriors played down to our level. And remember, Mexico were disqualified from the qualifying process providing even less of an obstacle for the US team. I'm really not even going to debate this.
That appearance at the 1990 World Cup, depending on who you believe, essentially granted us the hosting rights to 1994. In 1994, we had some pro talent but not a whole lot and we played Bora-ball, which was essentially "go into a shell and pray to counterattack". That team had it's moments and probably showed the first real glimpses of what was to come. Even still, in 1997, it took a combination of a miraculous 0-0 draw at the Azteca and an ensuing loss by Costa Rica to guarantee the Americans passage to France. Granted, the US finished in second in that qualifying phase by finishing strong winning 3-0 against Canada and 3-2 against El Salvador. Even in 2000-2001 things got dicey during qualifying but the actual performance in Asia made many forget all that. The last time around was more like a walk in the park compared to that.
What I'm getting at here, is that the United States has gone from "lucky to be a blip" on soccer's radar to a recognized up and comer on the World's stage. This didn't just happen because everyone else turned to crap around us and if you look at the exponential gains since 1996 I think it's readily apparent that we are getting there. We're getting there even faster than some would think or believe, just compare the landscape of the league in year 1 to year 12:
1996: 0
2007: 6
television contract
1996: MLS paid for airtime
2007: multiple channels now pay MLS for programming
top players
1996: Jorge Campos, Carlos Valderrama, Marco Etcheverry
2007: Josimer Altidore, Landon Donovan, Juan Pablo Angel... Becks doesn't count, yet
What's the most striking thing about the above to you? For me, it's the fact that now more than ever MLS is being lead by it's American players. Every season since 1996 has essentially been geared towards developing American talent and now that there's a process and stable system in place the League has once again looked to bring in quality foreign signings except this time they're able to bring in star players who might not still light up the EPL but have plenty of firepower left and, some might argue, are of a slightly better pedigree than MLS' first class of foreign stars.
So, what I'm saying is that, sure you can make your arguments about the leagues just below the cut list but facts are facts and MLS is coming on stronger than many more traditional commentators would like to admit. A lot of people don't like to buy into hokey gimmicks and slogans but in hindsight I think MLS got it right with the "New Soccer Nation" thing. We still haven't fully realized that vision but we'll get there.
PS Incidentally, if you want to argue spots 5-8 I don't care because it's an easy case to make to boost Argentina or Brazil (or both) above Holland and France but at the same time, those two leagues can hold their own with the Big 4. Either way, potato or potato.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Randomosity
Good game, US, good game. It was nice to see the guys get out there and realize that maybe their strengths aren't crossing the ball into the box but instead quick passes in tight space on the ground. It's beginning to look like Bradley's and Nowak's plan is starting to come together.
PS After you click the linky to ESPN's story, figure out what I don't like about their soccer coverage.
In other news, the US Open Cup! Yeah, there were some games played. I failed to mention here yesterday that you could watch some of the games via a freebie from USLlive.com last night. However, I imagine they will be doing something similar for the next round. Anyway, the USL teams are starting to get involved so we get our first chance to see some upsets now... right Cincinnati?
Over in England, tribalfootball, whom I trust about as far as one could chuck an "interweb", are reporting that Blackburn Rovers' John Williams has said there has been some interest from a foreign consortium to buy the club. The wonderful "journalists" over at tribal took that to mean that obviously this consortium is made up of Premiership hungry Americans. There's nothing yet to corroborate it yet, but we shall see.
Meanwhile, West Ham are supposedly chasing Darren Bent with renewed vigor with an 18 million GBP fee being bandied about once again with 80k/week wages being offered. Of course, this is from the Mirror so it's about as useful as newspaper from the bottom of an overzealous bird's cage. Other rumors closer to WHU are saying the fee would be around 10 million and include sending someone among Carlton Cole, Marlon Harewood and/or Hayden Mullins the other way. So, really, who knows?
Also, the longstanding takeover at Manchester City seems to be close to an end, just not the kind of end most on the blue side of the city thought they'd get.
PS After you click the linky to ESPN's story, figure out what I don't like about their soccer coverage.
In other news, the US Open Cup! Yeah, there were some games played. I failed to mention here yesterday that you could watch some of the games via a freebie from USLlive.com last night. However, I imagine they will be doing something similar for the next round. Anyway, the USL teams are starting to get involved so we get our first chance to see some upsets now... right Cincinnati?
Over in England, tribalfootball, whom I trust about as far as one could chuck an "interweb", are reporting that Blackburn Rovers' John Williams has said there has been some interest from a foreign consortium to buy the club. The wonderful "journalists" over at tribal took that to mean that obviously this consortium is made up of Premiership hungry Americans. There's nothing yet to corroborate it yet, but we shall see.
Meanwhile, West Ham are supposedly chasing Darren Bent with renewed vigor with an 18 million GBP fee being bandied about once again with 80k/week wages being offered. Of course, this is from the Mirror so it's about as useful as newspaper from the bottom of an overzealous bird's cage. Other rumors closer to WHU are saying the fee would be around 10 million and include sending someone among Carlton Cole, Marlon Harewood and/or Hayden Mullins the other way. So, really, who knows?
Also, the longstanding takeover at Manchester City seems to be close to an end, just not the kind of end most on the blue side of the city thought they'd get.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Pre-El Sal
Jonah Freedman's got an interesting take on the US performance in the Gold Cup so far in his blog today. After some thought and consultation with Greg Lalas, he figures it's similar in nature to the way Italy plays down to their opposition at times. I'm inclined to agree with the idea but I still think a lot of it has to do with a lack of familiarity with their actual game plan and one another. It's a fairly new cast that is being called upon to win every game in this tournament. We shall see around 7pm EST tonight.
Transfers, transfers, transfers
As many of you will know there is an interesting saga surrounding West Ham United and Carlos Tevez. Well, it looks like his agent is dead set on coming up with a price only a Championship Manager player could come up with: 4o million pounds. Needless to say, if that's how much it's going to take to keep him a Hammer then I highly doubt it's going to happen.
Time to start looking at other targets:
Darren Bent - 18 million
Jermain Defoe - 12 million
Craig Bellamy - 9 million
David Nugent - 7 million
These are the names most often bandied about at this point but many think Bent is bound for Spurs, if anywhere, and Defoe isn't all that keen on returning to a place where some refer to him as "Mini Judas" (Paul Ince being the grown up version). Meanwhile, adding Craig Bellamy to a squad that already has Lee Bowyer... well, the headlines kind of write themselves don't they? That brings us to Nugent, the young goal-scorer for Preston and England youth international. At the moment he seems like a younger version of Dean Ashton which would almost eliminate him, but then wouldn't most teams kill to have two players of Ashton-like skill and ability? Still, if you're looking for a fast attacking mid/forward type of player who can play well off of a target man, well, I think the Americans in the audience know where and who I'm getting at here. Landon Donovan, step right up.
It has about an ice cube's chance in hell of happening but I'm just saying, he fits the bill for what fans of the Hammers are asking for should Tevez indeed be leaving.
Time to start looking at other targets:
Darren Bent - 18 million
Jermain Defoe - 12 million
Craig Bellamy - 9 million
David Nugent - 7 million
These are the names most often bandied about at this point but many think Bent is bound for Spurs, if anywhere, and Defoe isn't all that keen on returning to a place where some refer to him as "Mini Judas" (Paul Ince being the grown up version). Meanwhile, adding Craig Bellamy to a squad that already has Lee Bowyer... well, the headlines kind of write themselves don't they? That brings us to Nugent, the young goal-scorer for Preston and England youth international. At the moment he seems like a younger version of Dean Ashton which would almost eliminate him, but then wouldn't most teams kill to have two players of Ashton-like skill and ability? Still, if you're looking for a fast attacking mid/forward type of player who can play well off of a target man, well, I think the Americans in the audience know where and who I'm getting at here. Landon Donovan, step right up.
It has about an ice cube's chance in hell of happening but I'm just saying, he fits the bill for what fans of the Hammers are asking for should Tevez indeed be leaving.
Monday, June 11, 2007
MLS Smackdown TM
I think it's safe to say that I am sick of some of the behavior I've seen in MLS not to mention some things that guys have been getting away with for years. Considering I support D.C. first and foremost in the League it's been difficult at best trying to figure out just how to avoid cheering for Dema Kovelenko when he was with United and now with Ben Olsen having turned into one of the chirpiest and most annoying players around. I blame Nottingham Forest for blowing up his ankles, Ben for not being smart enough to get out of that situation and Olsen again for changing his game so much so to the point of being a general nuisance, hat-tricks against New York not withstanding. The Kovalenko saga has been talked about elsewhere with much more flavorful vitriol than I ever could come up with.
Then there's Daniel Hernandez, he of the generally salty disposition, poorly timed tackle and general inability to take back in equal measure that which he enjoys handing out. As a player, he's (as well as Joe Franchino and Rusty Pierce) always come off to me as someone who wanted to be Pablo Mastroeni but lacked the skills. This resulted in clumsy, ill-tempered challenges and generally being a not fun guy to be around.
Next up, my favorite of favoritest bad guys in all of MLS. You know him, you love to hate him... Tyrone Marshall. He may be arguably the most annoying of the "black hats" in this League who always manages to have a handful of fouls before a ball is even kicked. He eggs on opposing fans wherever he goes so much so that sometimes I really wonder if he thinks he's Kurt Angle in disguise or something. If there's ever been one player in the League that I've felt should start every match with an automatic yellow card it's him. He has Carlos Ruiz's annoyance factor, Dema's penchant for injuring people, Ben Olsen's chirpiness and Daniel Hernandez's villainous streak. You could argue that he is MLS's perfect villain and he's just done it again for a number of fans who hoped to see Kenny Cooper play in Copa America in a few weeks.
Speaking of which, what's in the water in Dallas that always leads players like this to do bodily harm to FCD's promising offensive talent?
Still, with these kind of guys running around in this league and MLS's penchant for promotion (but not the relegation variety) I say we come up with the perfect teaser event for this year's MLS Cup or All-Star Game: the Fatal Field Player Four-Way featuring Dema, Daniel, Ben and Tyrone going at it on PPV for the diehard MLS fans to see which one of these players would survive or alternatively hope for all four to explode into cloud of dust particles. There's only one guy I can think of to officiate this thing, too: Matt Reis. While we're at it, someone get Ray Hudson on the phone and convince him to call it. This is gonna be big! I can feel it!
Blanco's going to have a lot to live up to this summer.
PS You know you've made it as a league when there's at least a handful of players everyone can agree on to despise. MLS Fever, CATCH IT!
Then there's Daniel Hernandez, he of the generally salty disposition, poorly timed tackle and general inability to take back in equal measure that which he enjoys handing out. As a player, he's (as well as Joe Franchino and Rusty Pierce) always come off to me as someone who wanted to be Pablo Mastroeni but lacked the skills. This resulted in clumsy, ill-tempered challenges and generally being a not fun guy to be around.
Next up, my favorite of favoritest bad guys in all of MLS. You know him, you love to hate him... Tyrone Marshall. He may be arguably the most annoying of the "black hats" in this League who always manages to have a handful of fouls before a ball is even kicked. He eggs on opposing fans wherever he goes so much so that sometimes I really wonder if he thinks he's Kurt Angle in disguise or something. If there's ever been one player in the League that I've felt should start every match with an automatic yellow card it's him. He has Carlos Ruiz's annoyance factor, Dema's penchant for injuring people, Ben Olsen's chirpiness and Daniel Hernandez's villainous streak. You could argue that he is MLS's perfect villain and he's just done it again for a number of fans who hoped to see Kenny Cooper play in Copa America in a few weeks.
Speaking of which, what's in the water in Dallas that always leads players like this to do bodily harm to FCD's promising offensive talent?
Still, with these kind of guys running around in this league and MLS's penchant for promotion (but not the relegation variety) I say we come up with the perfect teaser event for this year's MLS Cup or All-Star Game: the Fatal Field Player Four-Way featuring Dema, Daniel, Ben and Tyrone going at it on PPV for the diehard MLS fans to see which one of these players would survive or alternatively hope for all four to explode into cloud of dust particles. There's only one guy I can think of to officiate this thing, too: Matt Reis. While we're at it, someone get Ray Hudson on the phone and convince him to call it. This is gonna be big! I can feel it!
Blanco's going to have a lot to live up to this summer.
PS You know you've made it as a league when there's at least a handful of players everyone can agree on to despise. MLS Fever, CATCH IT!
Gold Cup pt. 1
This morning I find myself trying to adequately describe what I saw Thursday and Saturday during the US men's team's first two matches against Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago, respectively. Part of me is elated with the 6 points we've picked up and the invaluable experience gained by some of our newcomers. On the other hand, I'm a little disappointed by the margins of victory. After all, considering where we were last summer, having 6 points in the bag after two matches in a summer tournament is a nice feeling but considering that 12 short months ago we stood toe-to-toe with some of the world's best and only gained a point after thinking we could have been contenders. Winning by fairly razor thin margins against two of our World Cup qualifying opponents would lead fairly to some criticisms.
Sure, the theory of continual gains in developing talent being relative to the gains made by other nations and teams lends a little more luster to the overall dominant performances we had against Los Chapines and the Soca Warriors. However, despite controlling these matches in nearly every statistical category we still fell short of putting away the chances handed to us. Guatemala showed signs of an overall improvement with Hernan Dario Gomez at the helm but reverted to the kind of futbol not seen in these parts since Bora Milutinovic was in charge of our team. T & T played the very best selection at their disposal... from their domestic league. If not for some luck and solid, if not spectacular, saves from Tim Howard and Kasey Keller then the US would be looking at a must win against El Salvador tomorrow.
So if the glass is half full we say, "Exactly! These are games that, in the past, we would have given up an equalizer to Guatemala and allowed Trinidad back into that match with silly or "unlucky" goals. Plus, these are guys who haven't played together much, if at all, AND we started an essentially completely new lineup against T & T. Survive and advance, survive and advance."
Half empty and we say, "This just shows how much more work we need to do. We're disjointed in the final third, a bit shaky in the defensive third and some of our midfield challenges are a little too iffy which exposes our defenders and breaks our link to the forwards. Our talent alone should predicate better results than this."
Where do my thoughts lie at the moment? Somewhere in between and I imagine Nowak and Bradley are thinking along similar lines. This is an important learning and bonding process for the new guys and the World Cup veterans. They all understand that we feel we NEED to win this tournament with any other result being a letdown. At the same time, this is preparation, preparation that will prove to be invaluable down the line when guys like Ricardo Clark, Justin Mapp, Jay Demerit or Michael Parkhurst have to face these same teams in Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula, Port au Prince, or in those most desperate of environs, Saprissa and Azteca.
On paper, there's no reason we shouldn't walk this thing. Let's be honest. There's one major difference, though, and that is that on game day you can't account for nerves, being off your game, strange officiating or just plain missing chances that have been presented to you on a silver platter. It happens. Still, it sounds like a load of crap and poor excuses when you look at your overall performance and know you could have, should have been better on the day. Still, I'm sure Mexico and their fans thought the same thing going into yesterday.
Which brings me to another point. Are the US fans who have been around long enough to become jaded at the point of becoming little more than the same fans of other countries whom we used to mock? The English fan that wants to sack the manager for a poor 3-0 result against tiny Andorra? The Mexican fan that wants to get rid of LaVolpe because he brought in players fans didn't like and then crashed out against Argentina in the World Cup? The German fan stoic in the thought that they should be doing better than they are? Really, isn't that the worldwide feeling of soccer/futbol/voetbal fans? "Our team is better than this, why do they play so badly against clearly inferior opposition?!" Are we forgetting the fact that time and again, as the world has proved, as one thing may evolve, change and improve, so do those things that would seek to become better than that one? Is it a matter of who can improve the fastest and at the most exponential rate?
Well, the US has some improving to do and, luckily, they'll have a few more games yet in the Gold Cup in which to do it.
Sure, the theory of continual gains in developing talent being relative to the gains made by other nations and teams lends a little more luster to the overall dominant performances we had against Los Chapines and the Soca Warriors. However, despite controlling these matches in nearly every statistical category we still fell short of putting away the chances handed to us. Guatemala showed signs of an overall improvement with Hernan Dario Gomez at the helm but reverted to the kind of futbol not seen in these parts since Bora Milutinovic was in charge of our team. T & T played the very best selection at their disposal... from their domestic league. If not for some luck and solid, if not spectacular, saves from Tim Howard and Kasey Keller then the US would be looking at a must win against El Salvador tomorrow.
So if the glass is half full we say, "Exactly! These are games that, in the past, we would have given up an equalizer to Guatemala and allowed Trinidad back into that match with silly or "unlucky" goals. Plus, these are guys who haven't played together much, if at all, AND we started an essentially completely new lineup against T & T. Survive and advance, survive and advance."
Half empty and we say, "This just shows how much more work we need to do. We're disjointed in the final third, a bit shaky in the defensive third and some of our midfield challenges are a little too iffy which exposes our defenders and breaks our link to the forwards. Our talent alone should predicate better results than this."
Where do my thoughts lie at the moment? Somewhere in between and I imagine Nowak and Bradley are thinking along similar lines. This is an important learning and bonding process for the new guys and the World Cup veterans. They all understand that we feel we NEED to win this tournament with any other result being a letdown. At the same time, this is preparation, preparation that will prove to be invaluable down the line when guys like Ricardo Clark, Justin Mapp, Jay Demerit or Michael Parkhurst have to face these same teams in Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula, Port au Prince, or in those most desperate of environs, Saprissa and Azteca.
On paper, there's no reason we shouldn't walk this thing. Let's be honest. There's one major difference, though, and that is that on game day you can't account for nerves, being off your game, strange officiating or just plain missing chances that have been presented to you on a silver platter. It happens. Still, it sounds like a load of crap and poor excuses when you look at your overall performance and know you could have, should have been better on the day. Still, I'm sure Mexico and their fans thought the same thing going into yesterday.
Which brings me to another point. Are the US fans who have been around long enough to become jaded at the point of becoming little more than the same fans of other countries whom we used to mock? The English fan that wants to sack the manager for a poor 3-0 result against tiny Andorra? The Mexican fan that wants to get rid of LaVolpe because he brought in players fans didn't like and then crashed out against Argentina in the World Cup? The German fan stoic in the thought that they should be doing better than they are? Really, isn't that the worldwide feeling of soccer/futbol/voetbal fans? "Our team is better than this, why do they play so badly against clearly inferior opposition?!" Are we forgetting the fact that time and again, as the world has proved, as one thing may evolve, change and improve, so do those things that would seek to become better than that one? Is it a matter of who can improve the fastest and at the most exponential rate?
Well, the US has some improving to do and, luckily, they'll have a few more games yet in the Gold Cup in which to do it.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Roots
One of the things I love about the sport of soccer here in the United States is that almost everyone has a unique story about how they got interested in it. The stories range from seeing the World Cup in 199_ or 200_ or a friend dragged them to a game or their kids played and so on and so forth. For me, it shared an oddly similar parallel with how I grew up as a fan of MLB's Chicago Cubs.
Back in the dark ages, when I was a school kid in South Carolina, after relocating from the Washington, D.C. area, around the age of 10 I was able to come home directly from school, turn on the television, pull out the baseball card collection and let the less than dulcet tones of Harry Caray and Steve Stone wash over the living room it seemed like every afternoon on WGN, cable's glorious gift to non-Chicagoans everywhere.
This was the 1987 season when the Cubs stunk, once again, yet good-to-great players like Ryne Sandberg and eventual league MVP, Andre Dawson, played for the team. I remember being excited whenever they'd take to the field. For some reason, despite their craptacular performance I came back to them in Spring of 1988 and at the same time rekindled my childhood liking for the Baltimore Orioles. Luckily, both teams were in opposite leagues so I didn't have to choose one or the other so I could maintain my admiration for O's legend, Cal Ripken, Jr. while enjoying my loyalty to the hapless Cubbies. Eventually, after a trip with the family to Fulton County Stadium that summer (a 5-2 loss to the Eric Davis(!) led Cincinnati Reds), I took Dale Murphy, Ron Gant and the seemingly equally hapless Braves into my baseball fandom. This was also the season Baltimore lost 21 straight games to start the year. The Braves never did catch up though they tried valiantly. That year, the Braves were the second worst team in baseball by only a half game with the Orioles taking the honor of dead last in all of baseball. The Cubs finished a fantastic 77-85 relative to the combined 108-213 mark by the other two.
So where does the long-winded baseball bit fit into my soccer fandom? Well, it is quite revealing that when it came to soccer, I'd eventually settle on a team in England that most fans would easily say parallel the efforts of the Cubs in baseball. A club that annually raised and dashed hopes with equal verve. A club that had a trio of players whose names live on in their country, practically in the folklore but have done sweet FA ever since. Moore to Peters to Hurst meet Tinker to Evers to Chance. West Ham United were introduced to me during the 1996-97 campaign, eerily 10 years since the affair with Chicago began. Ironically enough, the Hammers would finish in 14th that season just above the relegation zone. My fondness for the club was thanks in large part to the gents from a band called the Business whom I met during my stint in a punk band that had the privilege to open for them when they came through S.C. So it began, that a sport that had long since waned in my interests was completely and utterly subsumed with soccer.
By this time, domestically, I had thrown my lot in with D.C. United in MLS, the Men's National Team since 1994 (despite having watched the US matches in 1990, I had no idea what I was seeing then) and to some small extent the Women's National Team after staying up way too late and catching the beam back from China of the 1991 Women's World Cup. I believe I said at the time of that event, "Now there's a novel idea. It sure would be funny if it turns out that our women are world powers especially considering how pathetic our men must seem." Or something along those lines.
Oddly enough, though, my enjoyment of soccer actually started around the time things were really gearing up for the 1994 World Cup. It was probably the 1992-93 European season. This would have been back when ESPN lacked for afternoon programming and decided to air Dutch Eredivisie matches so much in the same manner as I had learned to enjoy the Cubs just 5 or so years earlier, I began to watch soccer after walking in the door home from school. At that time, I chose to follow Ajax simply because they managed to win almost every time I watched them and I enjoyed their style of play. However, I couldn't have named a single player in that side and really had no idea who they played. I remember AZ Alkmaar, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord sticking out to me but beyond that I hadn't a clue. I no longer follow Ajax (or the Eredivisie for that matter), though, I do feel indebted to them somehow.
At any rate, by this point I began to become more aware of the sport and actually worked up the guts to quit American football for the rest of the World's football during the ensuing summer. After joining the high school soccer team I remember watching taped matches from the Champions League, Serie A, England and the 1986/1990 World Cups. By the time 1994 rolled around my appetite for soccer was growing so much so that I distinctly remember joining with my friends in watching every single match of the World Cup that year and in between matches playing video game soccer. We simply couldn't get enough.
Then, 1995 hit and there was a gaping void. What had happened to soccer in America? Where did the futbol feast go? It wasn't until 1996 that MLS began and fans were slow to find it on ESPN2 despite some very real and very impressive attendances in Year One. The malaise towards the League that seemed to surround those of us who weren't in MLS cities made us feel alone out there in a way. There was no getting together for games on television, no parties or cookouts to watch the Wiz play the Burn and yet it seemed like it was just there, in the background, waiting for something bigger to happen... at least for me.
MLS Cup #1 in rain soaked Foxboro stadium, LA who had looked certain to be champions all season long were up on D.C. United, a club that had suffered a nearly disastrous start under nearly legendary University of Virginia coach, Bruce Arena, and it seemed a formality. Then a comeback was on that people would wax poetic about for years to come replete with a defender, Eddie Pope, who would rise above the crowd and win United their first of many honors. I was hooked on MLS after that but the lure towards the rest of the world hadn't sunk in just yet.
It took a few pints, a debate explaining MLS and why the U.S. wasn't just going to be making up the numbers in France in 1998 and a few good jokes in the direction of some guy named Glen Hoddle (the joke kind of writes itself, doesn't it?) with some very real, very passionate football, beer and punk rock loving English "blokes" before I began looking at things in a more global context. Then... well, 3-6-1, yeah? Now, here I am worrying about Tom Soehn's tactics, Bob Bradley's selections and whether or not Carlos Tevez will stay with the supporters who adore him or follow the money he so richly deserves elsewhere. All this after going deeply into debt to get to Germany last summer. It's a funny old game.
PS If anyone has the 1996 MLS Cup Final on dvd or knows where to get one, I'd love to have it.
Back in the dark ages, when I was a school kid in South Carolina, after relocating from the Washington, D.C. area, around the age of 10 I was able to come home directly from school, turn on the television, pull out the baseball card collection and let the less than dulcet tones of Harry Caray and Steve Stone wash over the living room it seemed like every afternoon on WGN, cable's glorious gift to non-Chicagoans everywhere.
This was the 1987 season when the Cubs stunk, once again, yet good-to-great players like Ryne Sandberg and eventual league MVP, Andre Dawson, played for the team. I remember being excited whenever they'd take to the field. For some reason, despite their craptacular performance I came back to them in Spring of 1988 and at the same time rekindled my childhood liking for the Baltimore Orioles. Luckily, both teams were in opposite leagues so I didn't have to choose one or the other so I could maintain my admiration for O's legend, Cal Ripken, Jr. while enjoying my loyalty to the hapless Cubbies. Eventually, after a trip with the family to Fulton County Stadium that summer (a 5-2 loss to the Eric Davis(!) led Cincinnati Reds), I took Dale Murphy, Ron Gant and the seemingly equally hapless Braves into my baseball fandom. This was also the season Baltimore lost 21 straight games to start the year. The Braves never did catch up though they tried valiantly. That year, the Braves were the second worst team in baseball by only a half game with the Orioles taking the honor of dead last in all of baseball. The Cubs finished a fantastic 77-85 relative to the combined 108-213 mark by the other two.
So where does the long-winded baseball bit fit into my soccer fandom? Well, it is quite revealing that when it came to soccer, I'd eventually settle on a team in England that most fans would easily say parallel the efforts of the Cubs in baseball. A club that annually raised and dashed hopes with equal verve. A club that had a trio of players whose names live on in their country, practically in the folklore but have done sweet FA ever since. Moore to Peters to Hurst meet Tinker to Evers to Chance. West Ham United were introduced to me during the 1996-97 campaign, eerily 10 years since the affair with Chicago began. Ironically enough, the Hammers would finish in 14th that season just above the relegation zone. My fondness for the club was thanks in large part to the gents from a band called the Business whom I met during my stint in a punk band that had the privilege to open for them when they came through S.C. So it began, that a sport that had long since waned in my interests was completely and utterly subsumed with soccer.
By this time, domestically, I had thrown my lot in with D.C. United in MLS, the Men's National Team since 1994 (despite having watched the US matches in 1990, I had no idea what I was seeing then) and to some small extent the Women's National Team after staying up way too late and catching the beam back from China of the 1991 Women's World Cup. I believe I said at the time of that event, "Now there's a novel idea. It sure would be funny if it turns out that our women are world powers especially considering how pathetic our men must seem." Or something along those lines.
Oddly enough, though, my enjoyment of soccer actually started around the time things were really gearing up for the 1994 World Cup. It was probably the 1992-93 European season. This would have been back when ESPN lacked for afternoon programming and decided to air Dutch Eredivisie matches so much in the same manner as I had learned to enjoy the Cubs just 5 or so years earlier, I began to watch soccer after walking in the door home from school. At that time, I chose to follow Ajax simply because they managed to win almost every time I watched them and I enjoyed their style of play. However, I couldn't have named a single player in that side and really had no idea who they played. I remember AZ Alkmaar, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord sticking out to me but beyond that I hadn't a clue. I no longer follow Ajax (or the Eredivisie for that matter), though, I do feel indebted to them somehow.
At any rate, by this point I began to become more aware of the sport and actually worked up the guts to quit American football for the rest of the World's football during the ensuing summer. After joining the high school soccer team I remember watching taped matches from the Champions League, Serie A, England and the 1986/1990 World Cups. By the time 1994 rolled around my appetite for soccer was growing so much so that I distinctly remember joining with my friends in watching every single match of the World Cup that year and in between matches playing video game soccer. We simply couldn't get enough.
Then, 1995 hit and there was a gaping void. What had happened to soccer in America? Where did the futbol feast go? It wasn't until 1996 that MLS began and fans were slow to find it on ESPN2 despite some very real and very impressive attendances in Year One. The malaise towards the League that seemed to surround those of us who weren't in MLS cities made us feel alone out there in a way. There was no getting together for games on television, no parties or cookouts to watch the Wiz play the Burn and yet it seemed like it was just there, in the background, waiting for something bigger to happen... at least for me.
MLS Cup #1 in rain soaked Foxboro stadium, LA who had looked certain to be champions all season long were up on D.C. United, a club that had suffered a nearly disastrous start under nearly legendary University of Virginia coach, Bruce Arena, and it seemed a formality. Then a comeback was on that people would wax poetic about for years to come replete with a defender, Eddie Pope, who would rise above the crowd and win United their first of many honors. I was hooked on MLS after that but the lure towards the rest of the world hadn't sunk in just yet.
It took a few pints, a debate explaining MLS and why the U.S. wasn't just going to be making up the numbers in France in 1998 and a few good jokes in the direction of some guy named Glen Hoddle (the joke kind of writes itself, doesn't it?) with some very real, very passionate football, beer and punk rock loving English "blokes" before I began looking at things in a more global context. Then... well, 3-6-1, yeah? Now, here I am worrying about Tom Soehn's tactics, Bob Bradley's selections and whether or not Carlos Tevez will stay with the supporters who adore him or follow the money he so richly deserves elsewhere. All this after going deeply into debt to get to Germany last summer. It's a funny old game.
PS If anyone has the 1996 MLS Cup Final on dvd or knows where to get one, I'd love to have it.
Heads Up
Welcome to my semi-new digs. A lot of what you're going to see here will be my rants on US Soccer and MLS, the odd observations of an American West Ham supporter (and incidental fan of Inter in Italy, long story), and maybe the random story about my actual non-soccer life but there are a lot of places I write about that stuff to people I already consider my friends. You people will have to earn it. Good luck!
Anyhow, if you're curious, this place is where I've been covering the USL in some form since 2000. I've always wanted to write more about the other soccer I pay attention to as well as my other random observations - plug only sort of intended. This also gives me the chance to generally vent my spleen or post completely rubbish rumors that may have no merit at all.
Don't be surprised by anything you see posted here because it could be anything at any time. We're talking interviews with people I find insanely interesting, rants about things I find insanely irritating, or even mildly insane ramblings that appear in the form of prose or poetry (egads!). This is also me giving up that ill conceived notion of ever becoming an actual paid member of the media, so congrats to those guys that got into the game. You won!
Anyhow, if you're curious, this place is where I've been covering the USL in some form since 2000. I've always wanted to write more about the other soccer I pay attention to as well as my other random observations - plug only sort of intended. This also gives me the chance to generally vent my spleen or post completely rubbish rumors that may have no merit at all.
Don't be surprised by anything you see posted here because it could be anything at any time. We're talking interviews with people I find insanely interesting, rants about things I find insanely irritating, or even mildly insane ramblings that appear in the form of prose or poetry (egads!). This is also me giving up that ill conceived notion of ever becoming an actual paid member of the media, so congrats to those guys that got into the game. You won!
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