The Madness

It'd be nice to get a chance to do this one more time...

The big news on the weekend of course was David Beckham’s Achilles Last Stand. Like Bushman I question if he’ll be back, but I feel he has the drive to do more than simply come back. As we’ve seen before, almost enjoys having people count him out. However, I have a feeling he’s going to move at about the same rate as Carlos Valderrama did in his final years in MLS.

But that’s not all that’s going on, so here are some thoughts on other news:

- It seems as though MLS players are about to strike on Monday. My question, which I haven’t seen raised elsewhere, is when will those potentially postponed games be played? The simple answer is that the brief period MLS was going to go dark during the group stage of the World Cup will go away and teams will try to squeeze in the games then. Fortunately, with most teams having control over the facilities they play in -- only Kansas City should really have a problem with open dates in June at their shared stadium -- scheduling will not be as big of a headache as it would have been four or eight years ago. But that also means teams like the Galaxy would miss their star player for those games. And, honestly, I’m not to want to go from watching England-USA or Brazil-Portugal to an MLS Game (I think Mark and I have some more in depth thoughts on this coming up). Ideally, everything will be sorted out before Monday, but my gut says it won’t.

- Just watched Barcelona thrash Stuttgart. Umm, that Lionel Messi kid ain’t too shabby. The positive is Bob Bradley and company won’t be facing the best player in the world because Messi is definitely better than Wayne Rooney. But that’s little consolation with the way Roonaldo is knocking in goals these days. I’m starting to wonder if it would be worth putting money down on Argentina; I just don’t trust Diego Maradona.

The Inter-Chelsea game was by far the best one this week and Inter was the better team on the day. Chelsea probably had a claim on a penalty call in the first half, but it’s hard to feel sorry for them when Didier Drogba stomps on an Inter defender after he was dragged down. In fairness to him, he had been manhandled all day, but you can’t react like that. Then John Terry was seen complaining to the referees after the game including saying “fucking shit” to the fourth on his way down the tunnel. Remind me, how did that complaining to the refs go last year after you were bounced in the semi-finals? Yeah, that’s what I thought. You stay classy Chelsea.

Also, give Columbus props for a valiant effort in the CCL. Team Zinha topped Team GBSchelotto (both scored a pair of goals), and we still don’t know why Steven Lenhart was sent off. Gotta be smart in those situations -- on a yellow in hostile territory -- as Jimmy Conrad knows. But to those of you who think that the MLS Players Union should use this as a testament to needing more resources to build MLS, you’re flat wrong. The Union has said time and again this fight isn’t about the money, but the rights.

- The best two days in sports start today. Though the World Cup remains the best tournament, it doesn’t have a pair of days like the first two of the NCAA tourney.

I thought the Terps would get a 5 seed, but now that everyone has them as the most overrated 4 seed I’m better with them there. Gary will use that for motivation in addition to Prez Obama saying that “the Terps have a great player, but MSU has a great coach.” Just more kindling to add to the fire. Granted, I wish we had a cupcake road like Duke -- how Kansas, the #1 #1 seed got that region is beyond me -- Gary will have Greivis and the boys ready and make it to the second weekend. Si, se puede!

I can’t see anyone hanging with Kansas. They have the depth, the star in Sharron Collins, and the best coach in the country right now in Bill Self. My other final four teams are Kansas State, Baylor, and Kentucky with the Jayhawks downing the Wildcats in the final.

Some upsets I have: Siena over Purdue (not sure if that’s an upset with how the Boilermakers are playing right now), St. Mary’s and Mizzou as 10 seeds to win and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Gaels make it to the second weekend, OK St taking out Ohio State in the second round because Thad Matta doesn’t realize he has more than six players, and finally, for my biggest reach, we won’t get to see the Gary Williams-Tom Izzo matchup because MSU is going down Friday night. We’ll see how poorly I do next week.

- Tiger’s back for the Masters. How much money did PGA head honcho Tim Finchem pay him to do that? The only other thing I’ll say is check out Tiger’s smile in this picture (thanks to Bill Simmons for pointing this out) with the Orlando Magic dancers in ‘07. What’s the over/under on how many he banged? Is five too low?

- Lastly, Trey Anastasio inducted Genesis into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Tuesday night. Phish played Watcher of the Skies and No Reply At All pretty well and it’s definitely got me back on a Genesis kick. As much of a hard time as I’ve given the U.S. Soccer HoF, how the hell is KISS not in the RnR HoF? I’m not saying that for Bushman’s benefit, but even if you haven’t bought one of the 100 million + albums they’ve sold, their influence on stadium shows alone seems like it should be enough to get them in.

Back next week to hopefully look at the start of MLS and the Terps in the Sweet Sixteen.

- Pat Walsh