It's times like this when I realize why no one reads this blog: that's right, a post not just dedicated to American soccer, but to the WNBA! I can hear the excitement right now.
Anyways, it's been a rough couple of days for local sports teams. First, there was a shutout loss by the Seahawks on Sunday. I make no comments on this because every time I do, I get accused of being "unfair" towards the 'Hawks. So I am going to wait until they start 0-6 before commenting. The following day, the defending WNBA champions Seattle Storm blew a 17 point second quarter lead at home (a place they have only lost 2 times in the previous 39 games) to the Phoenix Mercury (a team they had beaten in 11 of their last 13).
It was a startling loss - one I couldn't believe when The Wife told me. I mean, blowing a 18 point surely meant that they lost their cool along the way...turns out, I was right. The team couldn't handle the physicality of the game and wilted under the pressure.
There is no way that this should have happened. They steamrolled through the league, finishing with a 35-6 record (including 7-0 in the playoffs). They lost no one in the offseason (unlike 2004 when they lost 2/5 of their starting lineup) and actually brought in one of the top 10 players in league history - Katie Smith - to help with the long stretches of offensive ineffectiveness. Now I'm sure that the reason they ultimately did not repeat was lack of urgency, complacency and ego...but I'm going to blame it on Smith. Call me crazy, but from day 1 in the Storm lineup, I thought Smith just didn't fit. I only watched a few games this season, but every time I did, she was throwing up shots. Hell, maybe that's what she has always done, but not what we needed on this team. The fact that she played 30 minutes and went 0-9 from the field on Monday (0-6 3-pt) is no coincidence - I think she let this team down. [Ok, ok, ok...losing LJ for 2 months didn't help - she was never the same all season]
It was a terrible, terrible, terrible loss. There is no other way around it.
Now on to Tuesday, where the Sounders lost 1-0 to Herediano of Costa Rica (or Guatemala according to Tony Ventrella). It was not an entirely inspiring performance and one that I think could come back to bite them in the ass. I found out after the match that due to Monterrey's win against Communicaciones that even had the Sounders won, they would not have clinched a spot. So really, the loss isn't that huge...but I still can't help but feel uneasy about it. Look at their final two fixtures - on the road in Guatemala and then home against the defending CCL champions, a hungry, pissed-off Monterrey team. It is entirely possible that we finish 3-3 and miss out on the knockout stage, so even a point would have been nice last night.
I understand that Hurtado and Keller were the only full-time starters in the first 11 last week. I understand that Sigi had his hands time with respect to who was available. I understand that the team has heavy legs. I get it, I really do. I just know how easier the next few weeks would be had we been able to rest our starters in the final 2 group stage games. I only hope it doesn't come back to bite us.
I won't say it was a terrible loss...it was just a terrible game to watch. Herediano scored a beautiful early goal and then killed time for 50 minutes. I thought Fredy Montero looked great and I thought Sammy Ochoa was a bright spot, but overall, the game was just a letdown.
The boys have a big one this weekend against Vancouver - we owe them one after their miracle 2-2 tie earlier in the year. Come on you Sounders!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Take Nothing for Granted, Part 2
When I last wrote about the Sounders, I encouraged them to take nothing for granted and to get a win in Costa Rica. Sure they were leading the group and in good position to move on to the knockout stage, but with schedule congestion and injuries to key players, it could get dicey later on in the season. They needed to get it done against a team that had yet to score a goal in 2 CCL games. They could not expect a gingerly stroll in the park.
Well, it turned out that they took my advice (ok, probably they took Sigi's advice) and not only won 2-1 at Herediano but then steamrolled over DC United 3-0 over the weekend. Since I last wrote, they picked up where they left off and seem ready to continue the success.
That brings us to tonight's game at home at Herediano. Convention says they only need a tie to advance. Convention also says that their opponent will have nothing to play for, as they sit 0-3 in the group with 1 goal scored. Here's the rub: anytime you play for a tie at home you're going to lose. And just because you think your opponent has nothing to play for, they can easily find some motivation. How about that the Sounders came into their stadium and beat them? How about that they have a new coach who will need to make personnel decisions? How about that they are paid to play. Bottom line is that it will not be an easy night tonight.
Oh, and did I mention that Mauro is out with an injury, El Flaco is out with yellow cards and both Alonso and Evans went 80+ on Saturday? I believe in Friberg, Carrasco and Neagle, but we obviously won't be starting our A-Team tonight. We need to be careful. Get the job done against the worst team in the group and experiment in the next two games. That is why I think Keller gets the start tonight. Some are suggesting we might see Josh Ford based on Sigi's comments about certain players getting opportunities, but I see that more as Sanyang, Ochoa and maybe even Estrada getting opps at this point. I want to see Ford, but not tonight. Let's get the win and then start him in the final two games.
So boys, let's not take this for granted. Get the job done.
Well, it turned out that they took my advice (ok, probably they took Sigi's advice) and not only won 2-1 at Herediano but then steamrolled over DC United 3-0 over the weekend. Since I last wrote, they picked up where they left off and seem ready to continue the success.
That brings us to tonight's game at home at Herediano. Convention says they only need a tie to advance. Convention also says that their opponent will have nothing to play for, as they sit 0-3 in the group with 1 goal scored. Here's the rub: anytime you play for a tie at home you're going to lose. And just because you think your opponent has nothing to play for, they can easily find some motivation. How about that the Sounders came into their stadium and beat them? How about that they have a new coach who will need to make personnel decisions? How about that they are paid to play. Bottom line is that it will not be an easy night tonight.
Oh, and did I mention that Mauro is out with an injury, El Flaco is out with yellow cards and both Alonso and Evans went 80+ on Saturday? I believe in Friberg, Carrasco and Neagle, but we obviously won't be starting our A-Team tonight. We need to be careful. Get the job done against the worst team in the group and experiment in the next two games. That is why I think Keller gets the start tonight. Some are suggesting we might see Josh Ford based on Sigi's comments about certain players getting opportunities, but I see that more as Sanyang, Ochoa and maybe even Estrada getting opps at this point. I want to see Ford, but not tonight. Let's get the win and then start him in the final two games.
So boys, let's not take this for granted. Get the job done.
Stop with the 27, Please
I have been giving a lot of thought recently to the typical Yankees' fan retort of "27 championships." As a Mets fan, it gets old. I mean, the Yanks won their first World Series in 1921, long before my grandparents were even aware of what baseball was. I get it - the Yanks are an amazing franchise, but I think as a fan, you shouldn't be able to claim championships that you were not involved in (meaning of course for fans, that they were unable to cheer for). The Yankees have 7 titles since 1970 so I think the most any Yankees fan of my generation can claim is 7 - still, way more than the Mets, but not 27.
And really, it goes even further than that. From 1901 to 1960 their were 16 total teams in the league. Based on random chance, that equates to 4 titles, already more than the Mets have in their history. All the credit to the Yanks for winning 17 titles during this span, but really the game was sooo different back then. The biggest difference was the lack of free agency - once a players signed with a club, the essentially owned that player's rights for their career. There was also no draft which meant that the teams with the most money could pay top price for the best players. So if a team had good scouting and their young talent turned out to be amazing, then they were set for the next decade. I won't suggest that signing Mantle, DiMaggio, and Gehrig were all luck, but you know the Yanks were allowed to throw around more money than say the St Louis Browns. And trading for Babe Ruth? Not exactly dumb luck, but there is no way they could have imagined what they were getting. No draft to evenly disperse incoming talent and the smaller player pool (due to the exclusion of black and Hispanic players) meant that rival clubs had no means of acquiring talent to catch the Yanks.
It seems crazy to think that the existence of free agency would have led to Joltin' Joe to take more money from another team, but it is entirely possible. In today's game, players move from team to team with ease. While there are Haves and Have Not's in terms of financial power, free agency has led to an amazing parity in terms of World Series winners. In the previous decade there were 8 different winners (6 during the 1990's and 9 during the 1980's compared to 5 in both the 1940's and 1950's). The Mets have been around since 1962 and really the first 5 years were lost because of expansion hurdles. Starting in 1969, the year that the Mets won their first title (which I don't claim as one of mine because I was not born yet), the league had 24 teams. That same year Curt Flood refused to accept a trade and became the catalyst for free agency. By 1969 the Yanks had won 20 of their titles.
If anything, I think the Mets caught a bad break of being born right on the fringe of free agency, in a league with 24 teams. The Yankees deserve credit for winning all their titles - I didn't do the exact math, but I feel confident in saying that the number was significantly higher than chance alone - but they were fortunate to play in a different era in which their stars didn't leave. Had the Mets been around since 1900, they would have 10 titles too. Less than the Yanks, but much higher.
So please, Yankees fans, please calm down with the "27 title" thing. We get it - you were lucky to be raised in a family that loved pinstripes...chances are your dad watched the team during their heyday when they won 10 titles in 16 years (1947 to 1964). That does not mean that you get to claim those titles. No, the Mick and DiMaggio belong to your dad. Jeter, Rivera and Posada belong to you. Let's agree that Mets fans will forever be allowed to talk about the best baseball team of the past 30 years, the 1986 Mets, AND that you can rub 7 titles in our face. It is the only fair way to go.
And really, it goes even further than that. From 1901 to 1960 their were 16 total teams in the league. Based on random chance, that equates to 4 titles, already more than the Mets have in their history. All the credit to the Yanks for winning 17 titles during this span, but really the game was sooo different back then. The biggest difference was the lack of free agency - once a players signed with a club, the essentially owned that player's rights for their career. There was also no draft which meant that the teams with the most money could pay top price for the best players. So if a team had good scouting and their young talent turned out to be amazing, then they were set for the next decade. I won't suggest that signing Mantle, DiMaggio, and Gehrig were all luck, but you know the Yanks were allowed to throw around more money than say the St Louis Browns. And trading for Babe Ruth? Not exactly dumb luck, but there is no way they could have imagined what they were getting. No draft to evenly disperse incoming talent and the smaller player pool (due to the exclusion of black and Hispanic players) meant that rival clubs had no means of acquiring talent to catch the Yanks.
It seems crazy to think that the existence of free agency would have led to Joltin' Joe to take more money from another team, but it is entirely possible. In today's game, players move from team to team with ease. While there are Haves and Have Not's in terms of financial power, free agency has led to an amazing parity in terms of World Series winners. In the previous decade there were 8 different winners (6 during the 1990's and 9 during the 1980's compared to 5 in both the 1940's and 1950's). The Mets have been around since 1962 and really the first 5 years were lost because of expansion hurdles. Starting in 1969, the year that the Mets won their first title (which I don't claim as one of mine because I was not born yet), the league had 24 teams. That same year Curt Flood refused to accept a trade and became the catalyst for free agency. By 1969 the Yanks had won 20 of their titles.
If anything, I think the Mets caught a bad break of being born right on the fringe of free agency, in a league with 24 teams. The Yankees deserve credit for winning all their titles - I didn't do the exact math, but I feel confident in saying that the number was significantly higher than chance alone - but they were fortunate to play in a different era in which their stars didn't leave. Had the Mets been around since 1900, they would have 10 titles too. Less than the Yanks, but much higher.
So please, Yankees fans, please calm down with the "27 title" thing. We get it - you were lucky to be raised in a family that loved pinstripes...chances are your dad watched the team during their heyday when they won 10 titles in 16 years (1947 to 1964). That does not mean that you get to claim those titles. No, the Mick and DiMaggio belong to your dad. Jeter, Rivera and Posada belong to you. Let's agree that Mets fans will forever be allowed to talk about the best baseball team of the past 30 years, the 1986 Mets, AND that you can rub 7 titles in our face. It is the only fair way to go.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Take Nothing for Granted
Last night in CONCACAF Champions League action, LA had a 1-0 lead as late as the 81st minute before losing on the road Morelia 2-1 while Colorado got spanked at home by Santos Laguna 4-1. So much for MLS being undefeated in CCL play (in matches including at least 1 non-MLS team of course)...and so much for feeling invincible heading into the Sounders home tilt against Herediano of Costa Rica. Obviously what LA and Colorado do have no impact on us, but it does help to remind me that nothing should be taken for granted. Just because we are in first place after 4-1 and 1-0 wins over Communicaciones and Monterrey, it doesn't mean tonight's game is going to be a cakewalk. Let's remember, we went 1-5 last year in CCL and looked thoroughly outclassed. I put a positive spin on the experience noting that we were up to the challenge but not quite ready to win. The truth is that Mexican and Central American teams have success in this competition against MLS squads because they match up differently then other league opponents, because the atmosphere is like none seen in the US and because, well, they are good squads. Just because Herediano is 0-2 in group play doesn't mean they aren't able to put a 3-0 whooping on us.
I'm not saying I don't have confidence anymore, I'm just saying, let's be careful tonight, boys.
Ok, so with that out of the way, what should we expect? Well, we know the following: Herediano has hired a new coach in the past week. Over the weekend they won their league game 4-0. The players are hungry to show that they belong in the squad. We also know that Alonso, Evans and Friberg all did not travel.
According to SounderAtHeart, they are going to go with a conservative side to start and then bring in offensive firepower when (if) needed. It's a strategy similar to what Sigi employed in Monterrey and one that I think can be successful, unless of course we give up an early goal and let the crowd get into it. I expect Kasey to be in goal because of the importance of the game. Some may point to it and say that we still have 4 games to get 4 points, but I think this might be the most important game of the group stage simply because we will be able to change our strategy moving forward if we get a full 3. Think about it, if we leave Costa Rica with a 3-0 record, then over the course of the next 3 games (2 at home) we can give Josh Ford, Amadou Sanyang, Taylor Graham and maybe even Sammy Ochoa a start. We can rest the likes of Keller, Rosales, Montero, Alonso and have them fresh for the MLS season. Bottom line: this is an important game, so Kasey should and will be in goal (oh, and I expect him to have forgotten about his gaffe on Saturday).
As for the rest of the team, I am ok with having Jaqua and Noonan on the field at the same time. I know people hate them and I know they are not exciting, but I trust them not to lose the game for us. They are steady if not spectacular. As for the midfield, we will probably need to start Flaco in front of Carrasco and have Neagle and Levesque on the wings. It's not perfect, but I don't think we can start a Carrasco-Sanyang combo. The defense should be fine with Hurtado, Leo, Riley and maybe Pat Ianni in the lineup. Then if for some reason we need a goal, we can bring in Rosales, Montero and Fucito to create some havoc up front.
I'm not in the business of making predictions, but I think 1-1 would be a fair result. Obviously we are capable of getting the win, but I just see something not going our way: an unlucky bounce, a referreeing mistake or an injury are all very likely. Hopefully nothing will happen and I can go into my Jersey trip feeling great about the men in rave.
Come On, You Sounders
I'm not saying I don't have confidence anymore, I'm just saying, let's be careful tonight, boys.
Ok, so with that out of the way, what should we expect? Well, we know the following: Herediano has hired a new coach in the past week. Over the weekend they won their league game 4-0. The players are hungry to show that they belong in the squad. We also know that Alonso, Evans and Friberg all did not travel.
According to SounderAtHeart, they are going to go with a conservative side to start and then bring in offensive firepower when (if) needed. It's a strategy similar to what Sigi employed in Monterrey and one that I think can be successful, unless of course we give up an early goal and let the crowd get into it. I expect Kasey to be in goal because of the importance of the game. Some may point to it and say that we still have 4 games to get 4 points, but I think this might be the most important game of the group stage simply because we will be able to change our strategy moving forward if we get a full 3. Think about it, if we leave Costa Rica with a 3-0 record, then over the course of the next 3 games (2 at home) we can give Josh Ford, Amadou Sanyang, Taylor Graham and maybe even Sammy Ochoa a start. We can rest the likes of Keller, Rosales, Montero, Alonso and have them fresh for the MLS season. Bottom line: this is an important game, so Kasey should and will be in goal (oh, and I expect him to have forgotten about his gaffe on Saturday).
As for the rest of the team, I am ok with having Jaqua and Noonan on the field at the same time. I know people hate them and I know they are not exciting, but I trust them not to lose the game for us. They are steady if not spectacular. As for the midfield, we will probably need to start Flaco in front of Carrasco and have Neagle and Levesque on the wings. It's not perfect, but I don't think we can start a Carrasco-Sanyang combo. The defense should be fine with Hurtado, Leo, Riley and maybe Pat Ianni in the lineup. Then if for some reason we need a goal, we can bring in Rosales, Montero and Fucito to create some havoc up front.
I'm not in the business of making predictions, but I think 1-1 would be a fair result. Obviously we are capable of getting the win, but I just see something not going our way: an unlucky bounce, a referreeing mistake or an injury are all very likely. Hopefully nothing will happen and I can go into my Jersey trip feeling great about the men in rave.
Come On, You Sounders
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
NFL Truths After Week 1
There are gonna be a lot of people jumping to conclusions after just one week of the NFL season. I am not one of them. Instead I will give you some NFL truths (as well as some opinions) as we enter week 2.
- First, I loved that the Dolphins sent out two kickers for the on-sides kick. Seriously, how the hell have I never seen that before? It is brilliant. (and I wonder why tackle football purists think seeing that it is so close to what happens in soccer)
- The Steelers will be fine. Their line is pretty terrible and might get Big Ben killed out there, but they have too much talent and experience not to make the playoffs. It won't be a Super Bowl year, but playoffs for sure. The 35-7 beating looks bad, but I doubt they will be turning the ball over 7 times anytime in the near future.
- The Ravens (and Anquan Boldin specifically) are going to benefit from having Lee Evans in the passing game.
- Cam Newton is going to break a lot of people's hearts. I'm not suggesting that he won't be good, but anyone who thinks that they can plug him into their fantasy lineup are going to have a rude awakening. The fact is that all rookie QB's will have up and down seasons. One week they will throw for 400 yards and the next they will throw 4 INT's. You have to take the good with the bad...and I know for sure that Newton got his A+ game out of the way early.
- The Giants are another team that I don't think will be terrible. For how much I don't like Tom Coughlin, the guy knows how to coach. Even with all the injuries, I think they will win somewhere between 7 and 9 games. I think Washington caught them on a bad week and road the emotions to a win.
- I like Tony Romo as a fantasy guy, but still dont think he has what it takes to win when it counts. Shoddy performances aside, I don't see how you can trust a 31-year old guy who still wears his hat backwards (ok, I wear my Sounders hat backwards and I'm 31, but I'm not the QB for America's Team)
- Donovan McNabb's terrible performance (7-15, 39 yards, 1 TD) was of epic proportions - he will undoubtedly be a little better...but notby much. I think he is done and Christian Ponder will be under center by week 10.
- Don't be fooled by Rex Grossman. He is still the same guy. Washington is going to wish that they had decided to Suck for Luck because neither Grossman or John Beck are the answer. It's gonna be another losing season in the Nation's Capital.
- I think Ryan Fitzgerald is for real. I don't think Buffalo will win more than 6 games, but I think Fitzgerald will put up great fantasy numbers. The dude has got a killer arm.
- The Colts streak of playoff appearances will come to an end. Without Peyton, they are as bad as the score indicated. If you're a Colts fan, you have to be pissed at the lockout. Word out of Indy is that Peyton didn't want to see anyone else besides the Colts team doctor, but wasn't allowed to during the lockout. So he waited all summer and didn't have the surgery until the pre-season. Now after his third surgery in a year, he might miss the entire regular season AND because it happened so late in the game, they have no other options besides Kerry Collins and Curtis Painter. They are in trouble.
- The announcers of the Carolina/Arizona game talked about how the trio of Beason-Anderson-Davis were playing for the first time since like 2008 or 2009. They spoke highly of the unit, syaing it was one of the league's best...So what happens? Jon Beason injures his ACL and is out all year long. Tough break for that up and coming defense.
- KC isn't as bad as their 41-7 home loss, but they are a fraud. I was a fan last year, but they had the advantage of playing a last place schedule and they got lucky. I think this year they get exposed.
- Regardless of their opening week win, this Cincy team still stinks. They will be competing for Andrew Luck this year.
- This just in - Tom Brady is good. Chad Ochocinco may not have gotten involved in much of his 511 yards and 4 td's in Week 1, but I am not worried... I think he will have a fine season. Brady spreads the ball around too much for him not to get 900+ yards and 6 td's.
- Chad Henne is the one QB who I don't know what to think of after one week. He might actually be good, but then again he might actually suck. I do know that the Dolphins are not going anywhere however.
- The Reggie Bush as full-time RB idea is not a good one. The guy is already banged up and only gained 38 yards and 11 carries. That being said, he is still the most dangerous open field runner in the game.
- Chris Johnson will be fine. Guaranteed he blows up for 150 and 2 td's sometime in the next 2 weeks. As for Matt Hasselbeck and the rest of the Titans? I think 8 wins will be generous. Here's hoping Coach Munchak realizes that Locker needs a little more seasoning before pulling the veteran. However, if they sit at 2-6 after 8 games, he might need to rethink it.
- Oakland will finish second in the AFC West. They will finish with a winning record for the first time since Rich Gannon stood under center.
- Denver fans, please stop calling for Tim Tebow. I know that you just lost to Oakland and that Kyle Orton didn't have a great game, but it's week 1. You finished with the second worst record in football last year for a reason - you don't have a good team. You're not losing because of Orton...so give him at least half a season before you jump off a cliff. If Tebow does become the starter and he sucks like most think he will, then where do you turn? Brady Quinn? Yikes.
- Green Bay is the best team in football. However, I'm not ready to crown them the champions yet. Last year, after week 3 I went with the defending champs, the Saints, to make it back to the Super Bowl. It turns out it is very very hard to repeat. Green Bay got super lucky when Tampa Bay couldn't beat the Lions on the final day of the season and snuck into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. They then went on to run over everyone in their way. This year the Pack look really really solid (man, that offense is awesome) but they are going to need some luck again to repeat.
- Finally, the NFL is in a good spot. I'm not talking about revenue and what not - no, they are in a good spot with all the young talent coming into the league. There are still some terrible QB's out there, but this young group of under-25 gunslingers (Bradford, Stafford, Freeman, Flacco, Ryan, Newton, Sanchez) are really ready to step up and take over for Brees, Manning and Brady when they retire (oh, and of course, Aaron Rodgers, the veteran 27 yeard old of the bunch). The NFL will be in good shape with any of these guys becoming the face of the league.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Mental Mistakes Doom Sounders
I went into the Sounders game on Saturday knowing that we were probably going to lose. I mean, it had all the makings of a letdown: Undefeated August; 10 days without a game (including 5 real days off); an underappreciated RSL squad; beautiful weather and a home crowd. Oh, and we stopped their streak at home with a late Lamar Neagle goal so they owed us one. To me, everything was pointing towards starting off sluggishly and not being able to come back.
At the end of the day, we did indeed lose and as expected, I don't feel terrible about it. I know that some people will say that there was nothing positive to take out of it - that under pressure we were unable to beat one of the best teams in the league at home. I say hogwash. I mean, look at their two goals. First one - a terrible gaff by Keller. He seems to make one a season (2000 - at home vs KC, 2010 - at home vs LA) so hopefully it is out of his system. He said after the game that he was caught in between two decisions and it showed. From the minute it happened I knew Saborio's run effed him up. It was unfortunate. Then the second goal came off of some bad clearing. Saborio's original shot pin balled off of Wahl and came right back to him. The finish was clinical, but the fact is he should have never gotten the second chance. Wahl didn't necessarily do anything wrong, he just got unlucky. Again, some might say this is typical, but I can't agree.
On offense, Mauro Rosales missed a PK after the keeper guessed the wrong way and a Tyson Wahl shot hit off of Nick Rimandos' face. I never like to play the IF game for events that are in the past, but seriously, if Keller makes the routine save AND Mauro makes the routine PK it easily could have gone the other way. We got a little unlucky and got hurt by some mental errors.
Of course, a lot of people will come away blasting the ref. I am not one to normally say anything, but I was particularly fired up on Saturday. I told The Wife that in honor of 9/11 and my plea for peace I was going to go the whole game without doing the You Suck @sshole chant, but instead I gave the ref the middle finger and booed him off the pitch. I wasn't so angry with the Hurtado red card (I was sitting right there - Hurtado hit him in the face....it was inadvertent, but there was contact), but just with the overall consistency. He missed a PK later in the first half, almost didn't realize that Tony Beltran was sitting on a yellow already and to show that I'm not too much a homer, missed what I thought could have been a red card against Carrasco. The guy is wreckless and clearly hit one of the RSL guys in the head with an elbow on a header...somehow the ref missed it and only gave him a yellow.
Soccer is a funny sport - one game you get a lucky goal and then ride the wave of excitement for 5 more. Another game you get unlucky with a goal against, miss a PK and have a shot go off the keepers face. After the game, Alan Hinton and Jimmy Gabriel were saying the team would need to put in some extra shooting practice over the next few training sessions - something that would have seemed crazy a week ago. I for one will not panic.
**********
So now we're off to Costa Rica to take on the last place team in the group, Herediano. If we can get a tie on the road and then come home to beat them at Qwest 6days later, we will beat 10 points and pretty much assured of moving on to the knowkcout phase. This would really be awesome for the Sounders (not just the achievement on moving on since they went 1-5-0 last year) because it would mean that they could probably sit Kasey Keller in the final two games. In case you hadn't heard, Terry Boss is out for the season with his second concussion and the team is having to decide what to do with the inexperienced Josh Ford the only other keeper on the roster. If we decide not to bring an experienced goalie in to back-up Keller, I think we will need to pray that Kasey doesn't get hurt, because I for sure don't want a rookie starting in goal for us in the US Open Cup Final, for the final 7 games of the season or for the playoffs.
One other thing that many people haven't talked about Kasey retiring at the end of 2011. He has said that he won't be coming back in 2012, even if the team makes the knockout phase of CCL. That means barring no signings we would either have Josh Ford or a recently concussed Terry Boss as our only options. Marcus Hahnemann, where are you??
At the end of the day, we did indeed lose and as expected, I don't feel terrible about it. I know that some people will say that there was nothing positive to take out of it - that under pressure we were unable to beat one of the best teams in the league at home. I say hogwash. I mean, look at their two goals. First one - a terrible gaff by Keller. He seems to make one a season (2000 - at home vs KC, 2010 - at home vs LA) so hopefully it is out of his system. He said after the game that he was caught in between two decisions and it showed. From the minute it happened I knew Saborio's run effed him up. It was unfortunate. Then the second goal came off of some bad clearing. Saborio's original shot pin balled off of Wahl and came right back to him. The finish was clinical, but the fact is he should have never gotten the second chance. Wahl didn't necessarily do anything wrong, he just got unlucky. Again, some might say this is typical, but I can't agree.
On offense, Mauro Rosales missed a PK after the keeper guessed the wrong way and a Tyson Wahl shot hit off of Nick Rimandos' face. I never like to play the IF game for events that are in the past, but seriously, if Keller makes the routine save AND Mauro makes the routine PK it easily could have gone the other way. We got a little unlucky and got hurt by some mental errors.
Of course, a lot of people will come away blasting the ref. I am not one to normally say anything, but I was particularly fired up on Saturday. I told The Wife that in honor of 9/11 and my plea for peace I was going to go the whole game without doing the You Suck @sshole chant, but instead I gave the ref the middle finger and booed him off the pitch. I wasn't so angry with the Hurtado red card (I was sitting right there - Hurtado hit him in the face....it was inadvertent, but there was contact), but just with the overall consistency. He missed a PK later in the first half, almost didn't realize that Tony Beltran was sitting on a yellow already and to show that I'm not too much a homer, missed what I thought could have been a red card against Carrasco. The guy is wreckless and clearly hit one of the RSL guys in the head with an elbow on a header...somehow the ref missed it and only gave him a yellow.
Soccer is a funny sport - one game you get a lucky goal and then ride the wave of excitement for 5 more. Another game you get unlucky with a goal against, miss a PK and have a shot go off the keepers face. After the game, Alan Hinton and Jimmy Gabriel were saying the team would need to put in some extra shooting practice over the next few training sessions - something that would have seemed crazy a week ago. I for one will not panic.
**********
So now we're off to Costa Rica to take on the last place team in the group, Herediano. If we can get a tie on the road and then come home to beat them at Qwest 6days later, we will beat 10 points and pretty much assured of moving on to the knowkcout phase. This would really be awesome for the Sounders (not just the achievement on moving on since they went 1-5-0 last year) because it would mean that they could probably sit Kasey Keller in the final two games. In case you hadn't heard, Terry Boss is out for the season with his second concussion and the team is having to decide what to do with the inexperienced Josh Ford the only other keeper on the roster. If we decide not to bring an experienced goalie in to back-up Keller, I think we will need to pray that Kasey doesn't get hurt, because I for sure don't want a rookie starting in goal for us in the US Open Cup Final, for the final 7 games of the season or for the playoffs.
One other thing that many people haven't talked about Kasey retiring at the end of 2011. He has said that he won't be coming back in 2012, even if the team makes the knockout phase of CCL. That means barring no signings we would either have Josh Ford or a recently concussed Terry Boss as our only options. Marcus Hahnemann, where are you??
Friday, September 9, 2011
My Plea for Peace
I have given a lot of thought as to whether I wanted to write about 9/11 and have decided that I will never be able to fully articulate my feelings about that infamous day. However, with the 10th anniversary of the attacks this Sunday I did want to say just a few things. Please forgive me for delving into this on what is meant to be a sports blog.
Let me start off by saying that I still remember vividly where I was 10 years ago and the horror that I felt in watching the day unfold. I may have been 4 hours away in central PA and I may have been lucky enough not to have lost anyone on that date, but the attacks still had a profound effect on me.
I remember how the country came together to fight through the pain. The days immediately following 9/11 were ones that all Americans should be proud of. We were down and collectively pulled ourselves back up. We were able to look past the differences in each other and realize that we had the most important thing in common - we were Americans. Unfortunately, 10 years later I no longer see this sense of community as we are once again a nation divided. Not only can't our two political parties function together on purely economic issues, but now there is an underlying difference in religious beliefs between the two.
And that brings me to my overall plea to everyone in this country. Feel free to continue to grieve in whatever way brings you the most peace. If you feel so inclined, be angry at those that attacked you and your country, but please try to separate your hatred. Don't hate the group of honest, good people who happen to share the same religion as those that attacked us. Don't hate people because they look different than you, speak a different language than you, have a different sexual orientation than your or are different in any way than you. In the end, we all just want the same things: the chance to have basic necessities, the chance to raise our kids and the chance to practice our faith. We are the same, just a little different.
To tie this into sports, the Mets were the first NY team to play in NYC after the attacks (even know the Yankees will get all the credit). On Sept 21, 2001 they played the Braves and provided a brief distraction from the pain and suffering. That night Mike Piazza hit a 2-run home run in the 8th inning to help the Mets win 3-2. A link to the moment is provided to the right continuously, but for those who have never seen, here is a link. I have never heard the crowd at Shea sound the way they did that night and still to this day I get choked up.
Let me start off by saying that I still remember vividly where I was 10 years ago and the horror that I felt in watching the day unfold. I may have been 4 hours away in central PA and I may have been lucky enough not to have lost anyone on that date, but the attacks still had a profound effect on me.
I remember how the country came together to fight through the pain. The days immediately following 9/11 were ones that all Americans should be proud of. We were down and collectively pulled ourselves back up. We were able to look past the differences in each other and realize that we had the most important thing in common - we were Americans. Unfortunately, 10 years later I no longer see this sense of community as we are once again a nation divided. Not only can't our two political parties function together on purely economic issues, but now there is an underlying difference in religious beliefs between the two.
And that brings me to my overall plea to everyone in this country. Feel free to continue to grieve in whatever way brings you the most peace. If you feel so inclined, be angry at those that attacked you and your country, but please try to separate your hatred. Don't hate the group of honest, good people who happen to share the same religion as those that attacked us. Don't hate people because they look different than you, speak a different language than you, have a different sexual orientation than your or are different in any way than you. In the end, we all just want the same things: the chance to have basic necessities, the chance to raise our kids and the chance to practice our faith. We are the same, just a little different.
To tie this into sports, the Mets were the first NY team to play in NYC after the attacks (even know the Yankees will get all the credit). On Sept 21, 2001 they played the Braves and provided a brief distraction from the pain and suffering. That night Mike Piazza hit a 2-run home run in the 8th inning to help the Mets win 3-2. A link to the moment is provided to the right continuously, but for those who have never seen, here is a link. I have never heard the crowd at Shea sound the way they did that night and still to this day I get choked up.
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