End of The Week Thoughts

Can I never ever ever be assigned #13 again?

With the amazing appearance from Morath yesterday you’ve been treated -- or maybe subjected depending on your viewpoint -- to all three of us in our return from the dead. It also added a buffer day to looking back at both Jonathan Borntein’s the USMNT’s loss to the Netherlands and the Terps scorching Duke. So instead of doing a breakdown or a winners and losers, I’m just tossing up some random thoughts about those two games and other things as well.

So here goes:

- Heitinga might be the ugliest defender I've ever seen. That said, you know Timmy Howard would have rather been playing with Everton so Heitinga was in front of him than for the USA against Holland where he was on the other team. He adds a quality no American defender has.

- It’s one of those “things that will never happen but fun to dream about” thoughts, but if international players could be traded would the U.S. send Brad Guzan to England for Wayne Bridge? Figure that Bridge isn’t playing for the Brits and Guzan may never really have an international career with Howard sure to be our starter for the next two Cups and then El Guzano would be 38 in 2022. England could surely use a ‘keeper and after Jonny Bornstein’s howler and knowing Bocanegra's lack of pace, Bob Bradley would immediately start Bridge. How about that for drama on June 12? (PS The best shirt I’ve seen about the Terry scandal said: Terry Always Scores At The Bridge.)

- Sad to see Stu Holden broke his leg. Fortunately it wasn’t as bad as Allan Ramsey’s, but it puts a serious crimp in his World Cup hopes. I say he still goes, but it’s another potential starter who won’t be fully match fit/ready come June 12. I was looking forward to seeing he and Donovan on the wings with Dempsey beneath Jozy, but I’m not sure that will happen now. Would have been nice to have another guy familiar with the English players in the starting lineup.

- Should Bob Bradley go, it will be interesting to see how JF Torres fits into the next coach’s scheme. He clearly doesn’t with Bradley thanks to a lack of playing defense -- a must for Bradley -- but with Donovan being marked out of the game it seemed like he was the most creative option. Granted I had as much of an impact on the game from my couch as Robbie Findley did so Torres didn’t have many options, but with the right boss he can surely help in qualifying for Brazil ’14.

- Both Ghana and the Ivory Coast lost on Wednesday in friendlies. I’m wondering if their odds just got better. We already have money on them of course, but I still like those two as potential Cup winners. Ghana was without several key players and the Ivory Coast should have Guus Hiddink (of South Korea’s improbably semi-final run in ’02 and Russia’s great Euro ’08) managing Didier Drogba again. I’d buy, but that’s just me jinxing them.

- Assuming the Terps win at JPJ tomorrow and win a share of the ACC regular season title, where does Greivis Vasquez wind up in the all-time players at Maryland? He’s likely going to be second in points behind only Juan Dixon, second in assists behind Steve Blake, and will be in the top 10 in ten different statistical categories. For me the top 3 have been Len Bias, Juan Dixon, and Walt Williams (without The Wizard staying Gary wouldn’t have turned the program around as quickly). Then you have guys like Elmore, King, MacMillan, Buck Williams, and John Lucas who I never saw play. I do know this though, like The Wizard in the early ‘90’s Vasquez helped keep Gary’s job in these past few years. As polarizing as he is, there’s no denying that he’s surely a top 10, if not top 5 in Terp history. Oh, and if you mention Steve Francis, please stop reading this blog.

- As great as the Terps win was, storming the court was ridiculous. A buddy of mine from Kansas immediately gave me grief and Bushman did so the following morning. I will say this was the biggest win for this class and Vasquez called them down, but there’s still no excuse for a program that won a title in the last decade. Act like you’ve been there. And the rioting needs to stop. Now. I’m all for a good celebration, even tearing down goalposts, but chanting “Defense” as cops in riot gear are marching towards you isn’t cute or funny. It’s dumb and it reflects poorly on the school. Just go to Frat Row and set some couches on fire and be relatively peaceful. (Yes, I felt old writing that paragraph.)

- Nice to see some fiscal restraint by Washington. Of course I mean the Redskins because politics ain’t gonna be discussed by me in this forum (it’s one of the things I write on my hand to remind me). It will be interesting to see how long Danny Boy keeps this new cheek turned.

On the other hand it looks like the Bears will win the Julius Peppers sweepstakes. Could be a nasty defense if everyone there is healthy. But that won’t stop Jay Cutler from throwing picks meaning Lovie Smith will be out of a job next year.

That’s it for this week. Expect to see a division created sometime next week for fantasy MLS at MFLS. And be sure to enjoy Landon’s last appearance at Goodison for Everton against Jozy Altidore and Hull on Sunday morning (FSC) before he comes back to MLS.

- Pat Walsh