Just A Word Before I Go

Yep, I'm heading out again. This week to Jacksonville, you know the place that Hurricane Ernesto has its eyes on later in the week? Yeah, that's the place. So I hate flying to begin with, and I'm flying out the day after a plane crash and to the place that is in line to get a hurricane...lovely...

Anyway, wanted to jot down a few thoughts before heading out, and so my friend/colleague Brian Straus from the Washington Post Express doesn't give me any more grief for only writing once every 2 weeks. :)

1. Congrats to the Richmond Kickers for winning the USL 2 Title with a well-deserved 2-1 win over archrival Charlotte on Saturday. The Kickers got goals from two of their most dependable players, Chris Carrieri and League MVP Robert Sjjemba, and were in control of the game throughout. Richmond was a missed penalty away from winning the USL 1 Title last year before moving down a level, and this year they ran away with the regular-season and comfortably finished off the "double" by putting the very game Eagles away. It was a great season and great achievement for one of the top soccer organizations (regardless of level) in the U.S. The only down side; only 3,200 people showed up to watch them win the title at home. They play DC United in an exhibition Wednesday, also in Richmond. DC will trot out their reserves, and I'll bet the crowd will be close to 5k. Weird...

2. Speaking of United, do you think a few flaws were exposed against L.A. on Saturday? A 5-2 defeat at home that was every bit as much of a butt-kicking that Chicago laid down on them last year in the playoffs, and this was in front of a season-best 24k. I heard from some of my colleagues that Kevin Payne and and a few other DC execs were none too happy with the performance, and let the team know about it. Landon Donovan showed why he is probably the best player in the league when he "feels it," and he apparently did Saturday, scoring twice and directly causing an own goal. He loved that the crowd was after him as wel. He seems to get off on that. Maybe U.S. fans should start booing him during U.S. home games? Just a thought.

One final point on DC. Craig Stouffer from the Examiner got some telling quotes after the game, maybe none more inflaming than from former DC United player Santino Quaranta. I won't steal Craig's thunder by republishing them here, but go online or get a copy of the paper and see what 'Tino had to see about DC's defense. That should be some great bulletin-board material for United.

One final "final" point on DC. They're still the best team in the league, but the "fear factor" about playing them this year might be gone. They've looked rough the past 5 games, and even their U.S. Open Cup win over an uninspired New York wasn't exactly art. They've got a big game on the road this weekend against the most improved team in MLS, Chivas USA. If United can't get at least a point on the road, the race for the MLS Cup could officially be wide open. Speaking of Chivas...

3. Chivas beats Houston 3-2 in controversial fashion. Agreed w/ Eric Wynalda and Rob Stone; the no-call penalty kick in the waning moments of that game Saturday was one of the worst I've ever seen. DeRosario was fouled, hard, deliberately, in the box. should have had the opportunity to tie that thing up. I understand it's tough for a referee to call 2 pk's on one team in a game, but if you swallow your whistle on that type of play, then you're pretty much telling every team "If I called a penalty on you earlier, I will now let you get away with murder." Maybe that's a reach, but if you haven't seen it, go back and watch it. You'll be shaking your head. Houston coach Dominic Kinnear is probably going to get fined and suspended for his chasing after the ref after the game, but I'd do the same thing in his shoes. That was just a shame.

Okay, got to go catch a plane. Hope you all have a great week, thanks as always for reading, and I'll be back this weekend for some more insight and analysis.

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