"Don't Read Too Much Into This..."

For the 2 or 3 of you that have followed my work over the past 10 or so years, that was a quote from Bruce Arena to me back in May of 2002.

I was one of a handful of journalists who were able to get to Cary, North Carolina, to watch a scrimmage between the U.S. Men's squad and the USL's Richmond Kickers. The U.S. was about a month from participating in the World Cup, and the team had just looked very uncomfortable and unorganized in the 2-2 draw. In fact, only a late goal from a WAY offside Cobi Jones even salvaged the draw.

So, when we all went out to the field to talk to Arena and some of the players about what had just happened, he opened his statements with the above quote.

He went on to say that the team had only been together for a few days (3 to be exact), and there was rustiness and fatigue as several of the players had literally flown in from the end of their European seasons day or so before.

"We'll be ready for Portugal, trust me."

As history told us, he was right.

Going into Wednesday's game with Mexico, I think we need to remember not to read too much into the result. The U.S. will field several young and inexperienced players on the international scene, while Mexico is bringing a large contingent of the team that won the Gold Cup in June.

As a result, I wouldn't be totally surprised if the U.S. gets thumped at home for the 3rd consecutive time by El Tri.

But in the bigger picture, does the result on Wednesday really matter? If the team loses 4-0, will people already call for Juergen Klinsmann's head? No, the smart ones won't. It's a time to see what Brek Shea, Zach Lloyd, Robbie Rogers, and Kyle Beckerman can bring to the table.

It's a chance to see what the Mexican contingent of Michael Orozco Fiscal (when did he add "Fiscal" to his name, by the way), Edgar Castillo, and Jose Torres can add to the mix. These are players Bradley has not even considered over the past year or so. You can't tell me these guys weren't relieved when Bob was removed as the Coach. Now they get a chance to show what they can do. Imagine that, players who actually play in Mexico being brought in to face the players they play against on a weekly basis. Apparently, this was something Bradley was unable, or unwilling, to grasp.

Sure, there are some mainstays like Donovan, Bocanegra, and Howard, but I believe those guys were more brought in for leadership roles, which no doubt they will continue to have under Klinsmann. He knows these guys are his bread and butter players; now he has to fill out the rest of the roster with guys who will also contribute.

And I wouldn't be surprised if he brings in another slew of players for the Costa Rica game September 2nd, and then all European players for the Belgium game September 6th. Again, wouldn't surprise me at all if several European players not previously capped are brought in.

While Bob Bradley did a good job his first year or so of bringing in new players, he wound up with largely the same group of guys over the past 3 years.

Klinsmann might do that as well, but I can guarantee that between now and the 1st World Cup qualifying match against Jamaica next June, we'll see people not even on the radar right now. That's the beauty and excitement of bringing in some fresh blood in the coaching ranks; we know he'll be bringing some of his own.

So as Arena said more than 9 years ago, "Don't read too much into this..."

We would be wise to remember that after Wednesday's game as well.

Other, yet still related, news:

Just got back from my annual summer visit to Vegas, and we were a few days into the trip when my phone started lighting up about Bradley's removal and Klinsmann's hiring. Everybody, and I do mean everybody, was excited. Yes, we all realize this thing could be a spectacular failure, but hats off to U.S. Soccer for making what was obviously a tough call, and for doing something that has, at the very least, shaken up something that had become quite stagnant.

That was proven as I talked to numerous folks in Vegas who were wearing U.S. jerseys. Not a single person was upset or concerned about the change.

The most common quote? "Watching the U.S. play was SO boring! At least we have an offensive coach who will make us more exciting."

So, Mr. Klinsmann, the ball is in your court. Liven things up!

Other, other news:

1. Walsh's text to me yesterday after Manchester City blew their 2-0 halftime lead to United, after giving up the game-winner in stoppage time. "And THAT is why City can't win the Title." He's right; until City knows how to win games like those, they can't really expect to contend.

2. Another Walsh text, this one after the guy next to me at the Aria sportsbook told me he put $100 down for the MLS All-Stars to beat Manchester United. "Tell him to kiss that money goodbye." About 20 minutes later, the guy got disgusted and walked off, saying "I don't even like soccer." Wow, betting on a sport you don't like and obviously don't follow? Vegas was built on guys like that.

I'll hold off on commenting on yet another controversial MLS referee call, this time affecting the DC United game. If you haven't seen it yet, look for the highlight of Toronto's 3rd goal Saturday night.

For what it's worth, I'll try to blog more now that I'm done with the PDL and W-League seasons. But to be honest, this 1st season has been the most fun I've had with soccer in 20 years. Already looking forward to next year!

Thanks for reading, with a special thanks to Pat for helping to keep this thing going in my absence!

See you next time!

Hope Keeps US Alive

Sure, it's a corny title that has more ways of being interpreted than I have fingers (I still have all 10, by the way, despite people saying I would lose at least one this year after Kim got me a wood-chipper for Christmas), but is there anything more apropos after yesterday's game for the ages? And I mean that regardless of gender, regardless of World Cup games for the men or women.

Go ahead, list a better game than what we saw yesterday. You can probably count them on 1 hand. For the ups and downs, the ebb and flow, the controversy, the skill (Marta's finish in the first OT was world-class), the (literally) last-second heroics for the team that had been screwed every which way as possible by the officials, and the unreal drama of penalty kicks, this one had it all. And yes, I'm hoarse from cheering, and I freely admit I have never used as much salty language toward a woman as I did yesterday toward the "referee."

As Abby Wambach said in the postgame yesterday "It's what America is all about." It's great to hear that, because all we've heard recently in our lives is that America isn't what it used to be, our best days are behind us. That might be true in some ways, but as the U.S. Men's team showed last June, American soccer players are as gutsy, if not more so, than any other players on the planet.

There was no better example of that than in yesterday's instant classic. While this team is not yet up to the popularity of the '99 World Champs, should they win the Title 6 days from now, I think it might go down as even a more remarkable achievement. The "99-ers" never had to face the kind of adversity the '11 squad did. A referee who should never see the International arena again made more horrendous calls than I've ever seen at the professional level. The red card to Buehler won't be discussed here; that's for every other pundit to scream about. But for those who say the U.S. was lucky not to have Carli Lloyd sent off for a deliberate handball, how about virtually the same play in the U.S. penalty box when Aline, who also got a yellow in the first half, punched the ball with her fist? As far as I'm concerned, those non-calls worked out evenly. More than once was the U.S. able to get behind the Brazilians only to be called offside, and several of those were proven incorrect calls on replay. Then the obvious offside non-call on Marta's 2nd goal.

If you were like me, you had to think "what have we got to do to get a break today?" There were two collisions in the penalty area in the second OT that could have gone either way, but of course the U.S. did not receive the benefit of the doubt.

So there were no breaks to be given; instead, the U.S. made their own.

Megan Rapinoe, who should absolutely start on Wednesday, delivered a cross that should be studied by every winger in the U.S. men's player pool. I thought that if they just kept sending in long balls, Wambach would get to one of them. She did, and the roar of the crowd, who went from neutral to VERY pro-U.S. after becoming disgusted with the theatrics of the Brazilians and the incessant whining from Marta, could probably be heard in surrounding countries. I was especially taken by the absolute and pure joy from Hope Solo as she jumped up and down with her hands in the air, all alone in her penalty area, as the rest of the team swarmed Abby in the corner.

Have to admit that at first I was nervous about the penalty kicks (did our players have the legs to strike the ball well enough, or was the exhaustion too much?). Then I saw Hope. Yep, there she was, standing with her teammates, imploring them to finish an obviously more tired and deflated Brazilian team. I figured we would make at least 4 of our kicks, and that Brazil would miss at least 1. Then we would have 2 chances to win it in the final round. Just like in '99, the third kicker was the charm for the U.S. Solo's save, which maybe one of the best pure saves in PK lore (seriously, watch the replay; that was a well-taken penalty by Daiane), opened the door for the last 2 shooters. Game. Set. Match.

I have to say, that for all of Marta's wonderful play in this tournament, and for her play in the WPS and previous tournaments, she has won exactly NOTHING in International play. Can she lay claim to being the Alex Ovetchkin of women's soccer? Sorry, Caps fans (and count me as one of them), but the truth hurts.

So it's on to play France on Wednesday, less than 72 hours after going through what every player has no doubt been the most emotionally and physically exhausted as they've ever been, and try to repeat the performance. Trust me, folks, France is quite good this time around. They deserved to beat England on Saturday. But unlike the U.S. men last year, who had almost as equal a dramatic win against Algeria only to fall 3 days later to Ghana, I think the ladies do just enough to get by. Let's go with 2-1, with a late goal this time coming from Rapinoe.

Then they will move to the Final, and I'm thinking it'll be Sweden. But that's 6 days away, an eternity in a World Cup tournament. Let's just enjoy this moment for another 48 hours before we all sit down in front of our tv's Wednesday morning and prepare for another nail-biter.

Regardless of that outcome, this U.S. team deserves its' props not only in the annals of soccer history, but as a symbol that the American "character" is far from being a thing of the past.

Random Thoughts...

No meaning to this picture, it's just that I like making fun of Bradley!

First and foremost, Richmond's home opener this Saturday against Orlando has been moved from 5 pm to 4 pm to accomodate the tipoff of the VCU-Butler game. VERY smart move for the Kickers! Although they have a pretty solid fan base, I bet they would have drawn less than 1,000. Good job by Orlando as well as USL for making the necessary changes.

The U.S.' Interesting Week:

I'm not sure how I feel about the U.S.' two games this past week against Argentina and Paraguay. Some obviously promising new players in Ream, Chandler, and Agudelo, and for their limited time on the field, Lichaj and Jonathan Spector showed they can contribute. Spector has been having a pretty solid year for West Ham and is worthy of a chance to get more playing time with the Nats this summer at Gold Cup. That's important because the schedule has the U.S. playing several games in a short span while flying all over the country to play them. Being able to play these guys against Panama and Guadeloupe and have your starters rested for the elmination rounds will be a key. I seriously don't remember the team having this much depth before, as I personally could be comfortable with 17-18 guys starting for this team right now.

That doesn't necessarily lead to results, as we saw this past week. Jozy Altidore simply needs more playing time SOMEWHERE to shake off the rust. He and Agudelo, through their size and athleticism alone, would cause some sleepless nights for defenders, making them less likely to push up in the attack. The result would be more space for our midfield. If Altidore continues to have issues, is it beyond the realm of possibility for Bradley to move Donovan inside as more of a withdrawn forward behind Agudelo (if he continues his current form)? Give Landon free reign to work his way into spots, and I think he's become a smarter player in the past few years at hiding himself and easier to avoid direct marking. Just a thought.

As for other players, although he played fairly well, I'm getting real tired of the macho bulls*it from Clint Dempsey every time he gets fouled. Dude, you're an attacking player. You're going to get fouled, especially against teams like Paraguay who break up a team's rhythm BY fouling (and 1 yellow card for the number of fouls Tuesday night by the visitors? Nice job ref!). Anyway, don't take every collision or knock personally where you have to get up in the guy's grill. You're not from the streets, dude. Get up, regroup, and get ready for the free kick.

Speaking of free kicks, do we have anybody other than Donovan who takes them? He did well on the kick that resulted in the goal against Argentina Saturday, but by and large, he has problems clearing the 1st defender on set pieces, particularly corners. I remember hearing Bruce Arena talk one time to Claudio Reyna about the importance of clearing that 1st defender, and he said "When that happens, it's a crapshoot in the box."

We saw that on Tuesday, when what was essentially a rugby scrum (how many players were on the ground at one time?) turned into the only goal of the game after a Paraguay corner. And although Jay DeMerit got blamed for the goal, he only left his defender to cover for Dempsey after Clint lost his man (thanks to Walsh for pointing that out as I initially missed it).

Tim Ream was REALLY good Tuesday. Great composure on the ball and some solid passing got him out of some tight situations where Paraguay's high pressure resulted in several turnovers for the hometown team. Onyewu hasn't looked the same since his injury more than a year ago, and though DeMerit's good at getting himself in good positions, his lack of pace kills the team against faster players. Unfortunately, the U.S. frequently finds itself playing against at least 1 or 2 speed demons in games.

Overall, the past week had some promising performances, but there are still some questions. Edu, Bradley, and Jones are all worthy of starting, but not all 3 can be on the field at the same time. Jones was terrible in the 1st half against Argentina but decent in the 2nd against Paraguay; Edu was good in the 2nd against Argentina but poor in the 1st on Tuesday. As for Bradley, well, we know he'll never come off the field unless he's suspended, ejected, or injured, so it's just a matter of which of the former 2 pair up with the letter.

One last thing and I'll shut up about this. No reason for Marcus Hahnemann to be playing in a U.S. jersey. He's done some good stuff and had a nice career, but is he really going to be Howard's backup in 2014? Really need Brad Guzman to step it up over the next few years and be a serviceable replacement, if not someone who can outright push Howard (who was ridiculously good agaisnt the Argies) for playing time.

I'd planned on doing a USL Pro preview this week, but unfortunately I've run out of time. The season really kicks off in full next weekend, so I'll try to get something up before then.

As always, thanks for reading!

We Won't Be Seeing Holden (at right) This Summer Against Mexico For Sure

When I saw the tackle, I leaped out off my couch and said "Oh, no!" I knew Jonny Davis' studs up tackle on Bolton (and, more importantly, U.S.) midfielder Stuart Holden was bad. Holden immediately grabbed his leg and you could see blood coming out of it. I feared it was a compound fracture, as players from both sides motioned to the bench for the trainers to come out. Several players went to check on him, and others walked away. As it turns out, it wasn't a break, but the gash was so deep that it required 26 stitches and some ligament or tendon damage. News this morning from a variety of sources said he will be out six months. So much for the Gold Cup in June.

It's another disappointment for Holden, who has arguably been the most improved U.S. player in the past two years. After missing most of last year's World Cup due to a broken leg suffered in an exhibition against Netherlands just two months before that tournament, Holden will now miss the 2nd most important tournament for the U.S. Most observers also had him figured as an important player in the country's international exhibitions next week against Argentina and Paraguay, as most of us were curious to see just how Bob Bradley planned to use him in the starting 11.

Obviously, the health of the player is most important. He has an unbelievable drive and determination, but hopefully the training staff at Bolton will convince him to take it slow, as this is the 2nd significant injury he's suffered in a year. I spoke with Walsh briefly on Saturday, and we both agree that Holden needs to take some serious thought into toning his intensity on the field down just a peg. While he can still be a hard-nosed, gritty player, and now has added a bit of flair and style to his play, his smaller frame won't be able to take the pounding against the bigger players so prominent in the EPL.

At this rate, he could go the route of John O'Brian, who at one point was on track to be the best midfielder the U.S. has ever produced. But a series of knee, leg, and ankle injuries shortened his career by several years. That would be a real disappointment for a player who is one of the better success stories U.S. soccer has seen in quite some time.

In other news:

Hold onto your hats, DC United fans, you might have a good team. Yes, it's only one game, and it was against what is probably going to be a REALLY bad Columbus squad, but United looked better than they have the past two years in front of a raucous crowd at RFK Saturday night. They dominated the midfield (something they haven't done in about 50 games) thanks to newcomer Dax McCarthy and a rejuvenated Clyde Simms. Perry Kitchen looked a little hesitant at times but has all the makings of a stud defender. Josh Wolff looked as good as he has in years (love the "RFK Leap" Josh. You instantly became a fan favorite with that move), and Charlies Davies? Well, what can you say? Still has a bit of a way to go as far as physical fitness, but you could tell he was mentally ready to go by taking the spot kick and putting United up by two. His emotional post-game interview with Russ Thaler on Comcast was genuine. And as I've heard from multiple sources who cover this team on a regular basis, these guys WANT to play for Ben Olsen. He might not be an X's and O's kind of coach (neither is Bruce Arena), but player management is probably the biggest trait a coach must have to keep the team focused and energized. Looks like he has it.

Oh, and in case you forgot, Walsh and I both campaigned for Olsen to get the job last year even after Kevin Payne said it was only temporary. So how you like us now?

1st MLS Weekend - Some good stuff overall. Plenty of goals, and some larger than expected crowds pushed the average attendance over 20,000 for the week. And remember, that includes an L.A. Galaxy home game where the rain was so bad it probably kept at least 1/3 of the fans away. I expect the overall attendance crowds to stay high once Portland and Vancouver start their home schedules. I even bought the MLS Direct Kick package for the 1st time in 3 years as well, as I expect this to be a big year for the league, and with the debut of the new USL Pro league, a big year for soccer in general in the U.S. and Canada.

EPL - Mixed feelings about United's win. Glad for the 3 points but bummed about Evan's tackle on Holden. I don't think it was a dirty tackle, but one that got a deserved red. Again, though, United fights through the adversity to get the win. This team is as good with 10 as almost every other team that fields 11.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan should be thoroughly disgusted with his team's performance yesterday against Chelsea, and deservedly so. How a team trying to earn a spot in the Champions League can turn in such a terrible showing yesterday is baffling. Yes, Tevez was out of the lineup, but is he the only offensive weapon City has? I'm not taking anything away from a Chelsea team that dominated pretty much from start to finish, but at times City couldn't even get the ball past midfield. A 2-0 loss was kind.

And on a final note for the week, so much for VCU not belonging in the NCAA tournament...

Changing My Tune...

Non-Contact sport my ass...

When Qatar was announced yesterday as the hosts of the 2022 World Cup, and the United States was embarrassingly left out in the cold, my first words to Walsh were "I'm done."

At the time, I meant it. I still think, and many of you agree, that Qatar BOUGHT the votes needed to be awarded the Cup. In the words of immortal wrestler Ted "The Million Dollar Man" DiBiase "Everyone's got a price." Qatar just figured out how much that number was and was able to get to enough FIFA representatives and "persuade" them to vote to put the first Cup in a middle-eastern country.

That's fine; a country smaller than Connecticut, a country who doesn't recognize the state of Israel, a country ranked 111th in the world in soccer, with no real domestic league, averages 120 degrees in the summer, and a country that is not exactly kind to its women is the perfect place to host the world's more popular sporting event.

As friend of the blog Dave Lifton said to me yesterday, "If FIFA really wanted to change the world through soccer, they would have awarded Qatar the Women's World Cup."

Well played, my friend.

But that's in the past. Nothing can be done about it now, and the U.S. can lick its wounds and hopefully try again in 2026. Fortunately, there will be a little more pessimism for soccer fans in this country as we've now seen just how sketchy the selection process is.

But I've said enough about that. Let the real experts like Grant Wahl tackle FIFA.

As I said at the beginning, after the awards were made, I decided I was going to take a break from the sport for a bit. My spirit was broken and I was disgusted with the whole thing, which does not exclude one Sunil Gulati, who has once again been at the helm of another in a series of debacles and embarrassments for U.S. Soccer.

So, last evening, on my facebook page, I had my status as "After today, I'm taking a break from soccer."

What I failed to realize is that this presented an opportunity for my "friends" to jump on the bandwagon (like so many other anti-soccer journalists yesterday who took the occasion to bash the sport once again) and insult the sport, the players, and me. That's okay; my friends always bash me. I'm a big boy and dish it out as well, so I've learned to take it.

But the comments like "So you've decided to man up," "Did your other nut drop," and another pontificating about how hockey and football are such tougher sports, kind of woke me up and made realize why I can't, and won't, turn my back on this sport.

I realize I'm not going to say anything that hasn't already been written, but I would like to emphasize what happens in these other "tougher" sports.

Football - Wide Receivers dive on practically every play in the hopes of drawing a pass interference call. Quarterbacks and kickers routinely exaggerate any type of contact, also looking for a penalty. While the linemen, running backs, and linebackers legitimately knock the snot out of each other on every play, don't tell me football isn't without its share of wimps.

Basketball - How many times in a game do you see players flop whenever someone near them swats at the ball? Good lord, watch how many times a player drives the lane, and the slightest bit of contact makes the defender drop like a bag of wet cement looking for the charge (I'm looking at YOU, Duke). How is that manly?

Hockey - Actually not much I can say here. These guys are brutal and legit psychos to willingly lose their teeth and brain cells on a nightly basis. But remember, this is also a sport notorious for cheap shots and doing what it takes to get the other team's star player out of the game. Not sure how macho it is to swing your stick at a guy's face, or trip him from behind and watch his head smack off the ice.

Baseball - Where the hell do I start here? This is a game that is BASED on cheating. From pitchers doctoring the ball to the fact that nearly every single hitting record broken in the last 20 years should be marked with an asterisk because of the "steroid era," baseball is the single worst example of dishonesty in the world of sports.

Is soccer perfect? No way. There are legitimate cheaters and divers who will do anything to draw a card, foul, or something to get an opposing player kicked out. But most, if not all, soccer fans universally chastise them for this garbage. For every Cristiano Ronaldo, there is a Pele (ok, not that I'm saying they are as good as Pele, obviously, but you get my point).

You want faking injuries? Take a look at the horrific injuries suffered by Eduardo da Silva a few years back at Arsenal, Abby Wambach last year for the U.S., Preston Burpo's nauseating leg break for New England, Brian McBride's numerous head and facial injuries (shown in the picture above), or, in what Brian Straus called "the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," DC United's Hristo Stoichkov shattered the leg of a college player so badly (in an exhibition game, mind you), that new DC United coach Ben Olsen actually vomited on the field. The player's career was not only over, but the injury will hinder him for the rest of his life. It was bad that Straus actually called me FROM THE FIELD to tell me about it. I've not included the links to these injuries, but you can find them easily on the Internet if you look for them.

I guess what I've noticed most from the folks who bash the sport is this; they've never actually played it. It's the typical attitude of "I don't know it, and I can't do it, so I'll mock it," that is so pervasive today. I've never played golf, tennis, or raced a car, but I've never assaulted them and said they weren't "real sports," or "real athletes," although there is no person to person contact with them (the occasional fight between NASCAR drivers is entertaining, though).

So, my soccer haters, yes, I'm still bummed about the U.S. getting shunned by those crooked bastards at FIFA. However, I'm now excited to wake up tomorrow and watch Chelsea vs. Everton on ESPN, and I have all of you to thank for it.

I look forward to agitating you by defending the sport, and I look forward to hearing the same old weak-ass arguments about your despise of it.

Until next time...

Really Peyton, it's not ALL your fault...

So in order to shut Walsh up this week, I finally came up with enough material to write something on this once-peaceful site. This should get me through until sometime next year...

1. Trouble in Indy? Well, yes, I think there's no doubt that there is. Lots of injuries for sure, but several other teams are dealing with the same issue and faring ok. don't get me wrong, the Colts are still a pretty decent football team, but were it not for Carson Palmer forgetting what team he was supposed to throw to a few weeks back, Indy would be on a 4-game slide. Manning has looked like Clark Kent as opposed to his normal Superman, throwing some godawful interceptions and putting the team in some bad spots. Granted, some of it has come from pressure, but he's normally more composed in the pocket. No running game isn't helping him either. And speaking of that, Donald Brown is useless, and is yet another #1 pick the team has drafted who has contributed nothing. Anthony Gonzalez can't stay healthy, Brown is...well, Brown, and this year's DE Jerry Hughes, who was supposed to spell Freeney and Mathis, can't even get on the field. They've done fine with the middle round picks to fill holes and be role players, but your #1 picks need to be studs. In the past 3 years, they're 0 for 3. I still think they win the Division (which is the only way they get into the playoffs this year), but I don't see them doing any damage. The bottom line is that the window for success on this current team is closing. Next year might be the last before a major overhaul is needed. Which is maybe why contract extensions for Manning have slowed considerably (that last nugget comes from Walsh, so I can't take credit for it)...

2. Women's World Cup Draw - I think the U.S. got a fairly decent draw with North Korea, Colombia, and Sweden. North Korea has been strong recently, but how will they do when confronted by totally new surroundings halfway around the world? Colombia is an emerging team but not quite there yet. Sweden is 4th in the world but I'm a bit skeptical of that ranking. The U.S. SHOULD get out of the group and make it to at least the quarterfinals. How interesting though that most experts (and I'm not considered one of them , shockingly) don't have it as a given that this team will be in the Final? After a stunning loss to Mexico, and not overwhelming an average Italian team, I have my doubts they'll get there. I know everyone is saying it was a rare loss for the girls in qualifying, but let's be honest; this team hasn't dominated and struck fear in their opponents in quite some time. I remember a certain player for the U.S. (won't reveal her name, but it rhymes with "Loudy") said once that they knew they already had a mental edge over their opponent before the game started because they were so good and the other team was afraid to play them. That edge is gone as the rest of the world is catching up. Will it take an early-round elimination to force the U.S. to confront their issues? Probably, as U.S. Soccer has a history of being reactive rather than being proactive.

3. Ben Olsen as the DC United Head Coach - Not gonna steal Walsh's thunder as he made a GREAT observation yesterday about this hire, but in my own opinion, I'll bet there were several snickers across the league yesterday with this announcement. It is in NO WAY disrespect for Olsen, whom most observers believe will make a good coach and can get his players motivated (see the final third of United's games in 2010). But after months of saying he would only be the interim coach, why would the DC United front office suddenly do a 180? Maybe because they couldn't find someone who would be nothing but the coach, while Payne and Kasper continue to screw up a once-proud franchise with poor personnel decisions and pissing off what was once the best fanbase in MLS. Any coach probably (and SHOULD) have a say in personnel. I don't think Olsen will have much of one, and that's probably why "Vinny and Dan" (my new nickname for them) decided to hire him for the full-time gig. Just another in a long series of questionable decisions made by a front office that isn't held accountable for anything they do.

4. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona - A bitchslap of the highest order. Even Mourinho's legendary in-game adjustments couldn't stop the onslaught from who is clearly once again the class of La Liga. Enough said about that.

5. Twitter page - The Fredericksburg Hotspurs PDL and Fredericksburg Impact of the W-League has its own twitter account. Look us up at fasasoccer and follow us as we post announcements as our teams are put together, schedules are released, and lots of other tidbits are revealed.

6. PDL and W-League alignments - Although we cannot release the schedules just yet, we can reveal who is in our respective divisions for 2011.

PDL - South Atlantic Division

Fredericksburg Hotspurs

Northern Virginia Royals

Hampton Roads Piranhas

West Virginia Chaos

Real Maryland FC

Carolina Dynamo

W-League - Atlantic Division

Fredericksburg Impact

Northern Virginia Majestics

Hampton Roads Piranhas

Charlotte Lady Eagles

Atlanta Silverbacks

Dayton Dutch Lions

And one last thing; one of my soccer buddies who commutes to DC with me went with his gut on Friday and dropped Berbatov from his fantasy team...oops!

That's all for now. Hopefully this shuts Walsh up for a week or so...

Did Ya Miss Me?

I fully deserve the shots Walsh has thrown at me over the past few weeks. This whole "real job" thing is working me to death. But, for you fans who eat up every word I say, I made a vow this weekend to actually put something up that I hope is relatively coherent... Lots of things to get to, so let's get rolling.

MLS:

1. DC United's season is mercifully over. The worst season in the team's history ended with another loss, a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Toronto. Jaime Moreno gets a goal in his final DC appearance. Anybody notice the irony that it was from the penalty spot? Regardless, farewell to Moreno and his fabulous career. If he isn't the best player in MLS history, he's at least in the top 3. So where does DC go from here? And, as Walsh accurately pointed out to me last week, they don't even have the #1 pick because of the expansion teams, who have numbers 1 and 2. Just keeps getting better, doesn't it?

2. L.A. Galaxy win the Supporters' Shield - They struggled down the stretch, which could mean trouble against a good Seattle team in the 1st round of the playoffs. However, Bruce Arena is one of the best postseason coaches in MLS history, so I fully expect him to have his boys ready to play.

3. Columbus loses Will Hesmer - A broken shoulder in a collision with Danny Califf (maybe the dirtiest player in the history of MLS, and yes, I know about Dema Kovalenko and Danny Pena) really hurts the Crew. This is still a very good team, but how quickly can they regroup after a big loss? And do they trust Andy Gruenebaum in goal?

4. MLS Playoff Predictions -

Let's see how poorly I do with this (remember, I'm the one who said DC United would finish 3rd in the Eastern Conference back in April). I just hope teams score some goals in the playoffs. Historically, the games are really defensive and low-scoring. And I think this might be the most evenly matched group of playoff teams ever. All 4 of the lower seeds could legitimately beat the higher seeds, and none of them would be stunning upsets.

Columbus Crew vs. Colorado - As I mentioned above, the Crew will miss Hesmer, but I think they enough talent to get past a very good Rapids squad. Schelotto is the glue for the Crew, it looks like Eddie Gavin and Robbie Rogers might be ready to fulfill their potential, and never underestimate the playoff experience and grit of defensive midfielder Brian Carroll. The Rapids counter with arguably the league's best 1-2 punch in Omar Cummings and Conor Casey, but I'm not sold the defense will hold up over 180 minutes. Colorado needs to make this a track meet of a series, and I'm not sure the Crew will allow it.

Columbus wins 3-2 on aggregate

FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake - I said a little more than a month ago that it would be a crime for these two to meet in the 1st round, because both teams are good enough to win the whole thing and 1 will be out in just 2 weeks. Dallas' run through the last half of the season is one of the most impressive in recent memory, and they have been playing ridiculous defense. Can relative youngsters Brek Shea and Dax McCarty step up in their game in the playoffs? The defending champions in Salt Lake City were almost as consistent as Dallas in the 2nd half of the season and almost overtook L.A. for the Supporter's Shield. Jason Kreis has turned out to be a great coach (more imagination that Bob Bradley? Just askin'...) and will have the team ready to go. Nick Rimando has played lights out this season, and Alvaro Saborio can light up the scoreboard. Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales will make the difference and lead this team into the next round in a low-scoring series. Overtime might even be necessary to decide it.

Real Salt Lake wins 2-1 on aggregate

New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes - On paper, Red Bulls should win this series easily. Angel, Marquez, and Henry resemble the legendary DC United "Magic Triangle," but they haven't won anything yet. Dane Richards and Tim Ream lead a solid supporting cast. San Jose has the best player you've never heard of in Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski. After a terrible season last year and the rough start to this one, people wondered if Frank Yallop would last the season as the man in charge. Now, he should be in the running for Coach of the Year. This is another interesting series that could be decided late.

The guess here...(gulp): New York winning 3-2 on aggregate

L.A. Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC - The final of the 4 compelling and largely equal playoff series. L.A. won the Supporter's Shield but face a Seattle team that will open the playoffs in front of 35,000 screaming fans. Can't think of a tougher opening road game for any team in any major U.S. sport. L.A. has arguably the best player in the history of MLS in Landon Donovan, a fully fit David Beckham, and as I mentioned previously, has Bruce Arena as coach, and the underestimated Dave Sarachan as the "X's and O's" guy. Seattle counters with their own great head coach in Sigi Schmidt, the legendary Kasey Keller in goal, and the explosiveSteve Zakuani. The addition of Swiss international Blaise Nkufo took a little time to work itself out, but he seems to have found his role on the squad and will be dangerous to L.A.'s back 4. I think this could be the highest scoring matchup of the 1st round.

L.A. wins 4-3 on aggregate

Guess we'll just have to see how I did in 2 weeks.

In other quick news and notes:

1. How badly do Florida fans wish Cam Newton had stayed there? Can't blame him, though. He was too good to be stuck behind Tebow and waste another year of eligibility.

2. If you're down by a score and have the ball with 2 minutes left, there are about 15 NFL QB's I trust with the ball in their hands over Brett Favre right now. And how pissed was Brad Childress last night in the postgame press conference?

3. In a local note, Jen Woodie is going to be the W-League Coach for the expansion Fredericksburg Impact in the 2011 season. Jenn has a ton of experience and credibility for the job, and the people outside of the organization I talked to have all said she is the perfect hire for the team.

4. Don't care for baseball, but a San Francisco/Texas World Series is perfect. No Yanks or Phillies this year. Although the suits at Fox have got to be upset that their ratings will more than likely suck.

Can't think of anything else, so I'll sign off with that. Thanks as always for reading, and we'll see you soon!

What A Wonderful World...

To Quote Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island, "Smiles, everyone...Smiles!"

This is my favorite time of year for sports. There's so much going on right now it's almost impossible to keep up with...but darned if I don't at least try, much to my wife's disgust. She has basically been the total sports widow the past few weeks, and it doesn't help that we bought a new widescreen high-def tv so I can watch said sports. And I assure you I did plenty of it this weekend. I'll give you the rundown of my observations from multiple sports.

First, thanks to the Red Zone from the NFL Network (greatest channel ever, and it's not even close), I was able to watch large chunks of every game yesterday. My thoughts on each game.

Jaguars over Colts - When you let a team like Jacksonville score 31 on you, Indy, you have some serious issues to address on defense. I'm not sold on Jim Caldwell as the coach of this team.

Ravens over Steelers - Looks like Baltimore's offense is coming together. Pittsburgh doesn't usually give up points late at home.

Redskins over Eagles - Is it just me or does every Redskins game seem to be decided by the last possession?

Chargers over Cardinals - Arizona might have the worst QB situation in the NFL.

Browns over Bengals -I went against T.O. in my fantasy league. Oh, well. And when was the last time a featured NFL RB was white? Just sayin...

Texans over Raiders - Maybe Arian Foster should be benched for the 1st quarter in every game?

Jets over Bills - Tomlinson, playing with a chip on his shoulder, shows he still has plenty left in the tank.

Broncos over Titans - Kyle Orton is playing as well as any QB in the league right now.

Saints over Panthers - New Orleans is missing too many playmakers right now to score a lot of points.

Falcons over 49ers - I don't care what Jimmy Johnson said on the Fox postgame where the NFC West is so weak, nobody is out of it. San Francisco is 0-4. Trust me, they're out of it.

Rams over Seahawks - Well look who might be the most improved team in football?

Giants over Bears - Jay Cutler was sacked 9 times in the first half last night. No that is not a misprint.

Packers over Lions - Green Bay hasn't been nearly as dominant as most experts (myself included) predicted.

MLS -

1. I've said it a few times now, as has Walsh; DC United needs to take a serious look at Ben Olsen for Head Coach in 2011. He doesn't know everything, but he can learn on the job and get better. It's not like DC will be an instant contender next year anyway. The need to rebuild...again.

2. L.A. seems to be getting back into form. The problem is, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas have been in form for the past 3 months. Oh, and what a SICK goal from Beckham last night against the Goats.

3. When did Dwayne DeRosario become an a-hole? I've known the guy for 10 years and I've never seen him act like this.

4. Nice job Christopher Sullivan, when asked Saturday on FSC if Jeff Cunningham is the greatest MLS striker as he tied Jaime Moreno's mark Saturday night. "No, Jaime Moreno has accomplished more and was a more complete player."

5. For the first time in years, I'm looking forward to the U.S. Open Cup Final. Should be a raucous crowd in Seattle for it, which will give it the feel of a meaningful match, not just an "oh, by the way" midweek game all-too familiar to the tournament the past several years.

College FB

1. I'm a Florida Gator fan. I hate it when they lose, but I can't be too upset about their crushing defeat Saturday evening. Alabama is the best team in the Nation, and I don't even think it's close. They passed their biggest road test against Arkansas last week, and committed a felony beatdown of Florida Saturday. The road to the National Championship will once again go through Tuscaloosa...God I hate Nick Saban.

2. LSU is the luckiest team in the country. They had no business winning against Tennessee on Saturday. How do you have 30 seconds to run a play from the 2 and DON'T GET ONE OFF? Horrible clock management by Les Miles, and had it not been for 2 UT players doing a u-turn and coming back onto the field instead of going out like they were supposed to, that untimed down would not have happened.

3. I don't care what Michigan's record is at the end of the year. If DeSean Robinson continues to put up those kinds of numbers, he should win the Heisman; hands down. It seems like the past several years the trophy has only gone to a player whose team is in the hunt for the National Championship. It used to go to the best player (see: Andre Ware). They need to get back to that.

4. In addition to being a Gator fan, I am also a Maryland Terp fan, and they won their 4th game of the season Saturday against Duke. "Two more wins from a bowl," I texted Walsh. His reply: "And another year of Fridge." Advantage, Walsh.

Okay, I've pontificated enough for today. Notice how I took the high road and didn't respond to Walsh's repeated insults against me on Friday? I am by far the better man.

Hoping to get a Capitals season preview from our hockey expert Scott Morath sometime this week.

Thanks for reading!

Tuesday "Q" (but no "A")

Lionel Messi Has Cankles? Who Knew?

We took last week off as we had about 1.5 million things going on, not the least of which was FASA’s official announcement that their PDL and W-League franchises will kick off their inaugural seasons in the spring of 2011. More than 300 folks came out on a Wednesday night to watch the announcement, as well as get tons more information on the “Field of Dreams” complex that is finally coming to fruition in Spotsylvania County. You know it’s a serious and important announcement when 2 members of the county’s Board of Supervisors (Chairman Gary Skinner and Hap Connors) are in attendance as well.

More information on both of these projects is forthcoming, but in the meantime, check out Potomac Soccer Wire’s Charlie Boehm’s outstanding article on the evening’s festivities and what FASA has in store for the future.

In the meantime, we’ve got lots to cover. Tons of week 2 NFL action and, of course, since this is primarily a soccer blog, tons of soccer to talk about. Let’s put it together this week in the format of “Questions That Don’t Require Answers.”

1.Does Lionel Messi’s ankle injury (pictured above…nasty!), if it keeps him out for any lengthy amount of time, let Real Madrid fans think they actually have a shot at winning La Liga this year?

2. Does the fact that there seems to be no pressure for Dimitar Berbatov to perform this year actually the reason why he’s playing as well as anybody in the Premier League?

3. Am I the only person who thinks watching a Serie A game is the equivalent of watching paint dry?

4. Although they continue to be one of the worst teams in the history of MLS, will DC United’s inspired play for Ben Olsen over the past several weeks have United’s front office thinking about removing the “interim head coach” tag he currently has?

5. If the MLS playoffs started today, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas would meet in the 1st round. That’s a potential MLS Cup Final, not an opening playoff series. Anybody want to scrap the current Conference format once and for all and just go to a single table when Portland and Vancouver join next year?

6. Was Thierry Henry’s incident with Kevin Hartman last week a dirty play or just another in a series of dumb plays from a guy who’s done a good job of making people forget that he was, at one point, the most exciting player on the planet?

7. Why are Redskins fans saying Sunday’s loss was a “good loss?” I have lost lots of games in my career, and I have NEVER used that term to describe the feeling.

8. Staying on the Redskins, when was the last time the team actually threw the ball downfield with such success? With a bunch of 30-something wideouts, no less. What will Shanahan do when he gets young guys who can actually play?

9. How long before someone brings the topic of race into the Kevin Kolb/Michael Vick quarterback situation in Philadelphia?

10. Why did that idiot at the Colts game the other night think he could keep Brandon Jacobs’ helmet? If you can’t keep a football, dude, why would you think a helmet was a souvenir?

11. Who knew the Colts could even run the football?

12. How does Jamaal Charles go from a guy who gets nearly 1,000 yards in the last 8 games in Kansas City last year to being a backup with the same team this year? (Yes, I ask that question because it affects my fantasy team)

13. Can the Pittsburgh Steelers defense carry that team to a Super Bowl this year? 2 weeks, 2 monster performances.

14. Is it too early to say “Told ya’ so” about Jason Campbell?

15. NHL Training camps started this week. Anybody else a little nervous that the Washington Capitals might suffer from a bit of a hangover after last year’s playoff disaster?

Walsh might write something later in the week. He might not. He likes to keep all of us guessing.

Thanks as always for reading, folks!

And The Winner Is...

All Eyes Are On This Prize

We interrupt this regularly-scheduled bitch session about DC United and U.S. Soccer to bring you another kind of football, one which Walsh and I are almost as passionate about (and maybe even more so, depending on the success of our fantasy teams).

So, although this is normally a soccer blog, we like to go off script from time to time and talk other sports...because we're cocky and think we know just as much about other sports as we do about soccer...and also because we've run out of things to say about DC United after they were shutout...again...at home...for the 15th time this season overall...and had no shots on goal. Makes ya' all warm and fuzzy, don't it?

Moving on, I'm going to take a stab at this year's NFL picks, and Walsh will check back in later in the week once his heart restarts after the drama in the Maryland/Navy game yesterday.

So here we go; projections in order of predicted finish and record, with playoff fixtures at the end:

AFC East

N.Y. Jets (12-4) - The odds-on favorite to win the big trophy up above (they were 8-1 in Vegas right before I left). I'm just wondering if all of the preseason hype, attention from HBO, and the rest of the media will make them buckle under the pressure...

New England (10-6) - This might be the Pats' last chance to make a run at the title. They are old on defense, Randy Moss is unhappy, and Tom Brady's hair makes him look like Topher Grace from "That 70's Show."

Miami (9-7) - I think they could win the division almost anywhere else, but 4 games against the Pats and Jets will be their undoing. Chad Henne is going to have a breakout year, though.

Buffalo (2-14) - Might wind up being the worst team in football this year. No QB, bad defense, and multiple running backs but only 1 football to share between them (tip: trade Marshawn Lynch for a bag of footballs if you have to; just get him out of town).

AFC South

Indianapolis (11-5) - Peyton Manning has the weapons to throw for 5,000 yards, but the streak of 12-win seasons will come to a close due to a tough schedule and the fact that everyone seems to be gunning for them, particularly because of the team right on their heels.

Houston (10-6) - Matt Schaub is a legitimate NFL star now, has the best WR in the game in Andre Johnson, and if Arian "The White Supremacist" Foster doesn't fumble the ball as much as Steve Slaton, the Texans have just enough defense to squeak out a wild card spot.

Tennessee (8-8) - I don't trust Vince Young to be consistent for a whole year. Plus, Chris "breaking the rushing record is bigger to me than winning a Super Bowl" Johnson and his act might wear thin in the locker room.

Jacksonville (6-10) - Lots of Jaguar fans thought Coach Jack Del Rio should have been canned last year. He will be after this season. For all of the talk about him being a "shutdown corner," Rasheed Mathis actually led the league last year in td catches thrown against him...oops...

AFC North

Baltimore (10-6) - All four of these teams, even Cleveland, will take turns beating each other up. At the end of the day, it'll be the Ravens as the division winner.

Cincinnati (9-7) - Raise your hands if you think all of the love between Ocho, T.O., and Palmer will last the entire season. Right, and I've got some oceanfront property in Nevada to sell you.

Pittsburgh (9-7) - They will be 1-3 by the time Big Ben gets back. Not an insurmountable problem but one that will be have them playing in "catch up" mode all season. It's tough to sustain that week in and week out.

Cleveland (5-11) - The 1st season for Mike Holmgren will be tough, but he's got some young talent to (hopefully) build upon.

AFC West

San Diego (11-5) - Ryan Matthews could be a stud as a rookie, and Darren Sproles will have a bigger role in the offense than people think. The defense is iffy and when they get into the playoffs, they might want to bring in a new kicker...

Kansas City (7-9) - A few more weapons in KC, and Jamaal Charles is poised to be a breakout star. Give this team 1 more year before challenging for the playoffs.

Oakland (6-10) - I'm not sure why all those critics who slammed Jason Campbell in Washington think he's somehow a better QB just because he landed in Oakland...I guess anyone is an upgrade over JaMarcus "I'm a bigger bust than Ryan Leaf" Russell.

Denver (5-11) - I don't think anyone in Denver has an idea how badly their team will play this year. Orton isn't the guy at QB, not tons of talent at the skill positions, and Elvis Dumervil's injury eliminates their pass rush. The chants for Tebow will begin by week 6.

NFC East

Dallas (12-4) - I hate to admit it, but they're good. Really good. Still some question marks if Romo can win a big game in January (the same can be said about Wade Phillips), but there's enough talent on both sides of the ball that they're rated as the co-favorites with the Jets at 8-1 to win it all.

Philadelphia (10-6) - Kevin Kolb is going to be a very good QB. He might struggle at times this year, but he'll make enough plays to put the Eagles in contention to win every week.

N.Y. Giants (9-7) - End of the line for Tom Coughlin, who has some talent, but, like U.S. Soccer coach Bob Bradley, doesn't seem to quite get enough out of the talent that he has (and there's your weekly dig at Bradley)...also, don't the two of them look alike? Seriously, look 'em up and tell me I'm wrong...

Washington (7-9) - Gotta give Shanahan and Allen another year before becoming a playoff team. Still have to jettison some dead weight (insert Haynesworth joke here), and upgrade the WR position to help McNabb.

NFC South

New Orleans (12-4) - Sean Payton won't let them rest on their laurels this year, but they'll find out quickly how hard it is to repeat as champions.

Atlanta (10-6) - After a disappointing 2009 season, Matt Ryan looks to make the jump into the elite of the QB's in the NFL. A healthy Michael Turner will help him do just that.

Carolina (8-8) - John Fox is considered one of the best coaches in the league, according to his peers. Unfortunately, that doesn't translate to his own locker room. Some of the blame should be directed at the front office, who have made some questionable personnel moves the past few seasons.

Tampa Bay (5-11) - Will be better than last year but not by much. So much youth on offense that you just can't trust them yet to produce big numbers to break a game open, or close one out when it's tight in the 4th.

NFC North

Green Bay (12-4) - The defense has some issues. There's plenty of potential but some aren't living up to theirs. The offense, however, will score so many points that it won't matter much of the time. Aaron Rodgers will challenge for the single-season passing yardage record.

Minnesota (10-6) - Let's see how Favre does with Bernad Berrian as his #1 WR instead of Rice, who pretty much screwed his team over by not having surgery that was recommended to him by multiple physicians in the off-season. You think defenses are going to tee off on Favre this year? Over/under on games he plays? Let's go with 12.

Chicago (7-9) - Just wondering when was the last time the genius known as Mike Martz actually had an offense that was potent? Go ahead, I'm waiting... this team spent lots of money to bring in players who won't even be full-time starters.

Detroit (5-11) - They were a laughingstock 2 years ago but are on the verge of being a decent team. Jahvid Best might wind up having a better season than Matthews in San Diego, and Ndamukong Suh looks like he's the real-life version of The Incredible Hulk. "Suh is angry!!! Suh SMASH!!!!"

NFC West

San Francisco (10-6) - Still a year away from being really good, but the great thing about playing in a weak division is that you can get 5 or 6 of your wins just by playing in it. Some genuine weapons on offense now and some big hitters on defense makes them the team nobody wants to play.

Arizona (8-8) - Derek Anderson will not catch lightning in a bottle the way Kurt Warner did the past 3 years, and Larry Fitzgerald's fantasy numbers will suffer because of it. And that defense might not yet have recovered from their annihilation in 2 playoff games last year.

Seattle (6-10) - Pete Carroll will realize all-too quickly he doesn't have a monopoly on talent in the NFL the way he did at USC. Not enough playmakers on either side of the ball to do much this year.

St. Louis (3-13) - It's going to take them another 2 years before they even BEGIN to think playoffs. Can anybody catch the ball? Does Steven Jackson have another superhuman effort in him to last the whole season? Can the secondary cover anybody? The answer to all these questions is a resounding "No!"

AFC Playoffs

Indianapolis over New England and Houston over Baltimore

N.Y. Jets over Houston and Indy over San Diego

Jets over Colts

NFC Playoffs

New Orleans over Minnesota

San Francisco over Philadelphia

Green Bay over San Francisco

New Orleans over Dallas

Green Bay over New Orleans

Super Bowl XLV

Green Bay over N.Y. Jets

I reserve the right to change my picks once it appears that I have done poorly.

Phew, this was a long column...almost as long-winded as some of Walsh's. Thanks as always for reading and we'll see you again soon!