Taking their medicine

I had a feeling that the US men would finally have their decade long home winning streak against Mexico snapped. I just didn't expect it to come in such an embarrassing way.

Oh well.

I'm looking forward to revancha en Azteca. Even though the A team did not play this final, they should be pretty fired up to face El Tri just to save face.

That Becks thing

I've never been a huge fan of Beckham coming to MLS. The whole thing smacked of bringing in the pretty show pony, except that this pony had his eyes focused elsewhere and not with the rest of the herd.

It was with great glee that I saw Grant Wahl's continued questioning of Beckham and his commitment to MLS at a press conference. Beckham didn't help himself with the snarky beginning to his answer referencing Grant's book. At this point, I think it's best if MLS cut ties with the man, and let him on his merry way. Despite what news pundits said when Beckhamania first hit, MLS didn't need him to save the league. The bump in awareness for the league has been nice, but as with most fads, this one is waning.

10 years ago today

I was getting one of the worse sunburns of my life, and the famous ending took place on the other side of the field.

However, I wouldn't trade the experience of being there live for anything.

Gooch hits the big time

I have to admit I'm not a fan of Italy's Serie A, but now that Oguchi Onyewu has been signed to AC Milan. I'll have to watch a few games. I was a little worried about how the refs will treat such a big physical defender, but then again if Gattuso and Materazzi can thrive with their play, so can Gooch.

Go get 'em big fella.

Eric Frimpong, convicted rapist

This is a sad story all around.

Eric Frimpong was a defender on the 2006 NCAA champion UCSB Gauchos men's soccer team. He's now serving six years at the California Correctional Institution for rape.
The accuser was raped, but the evidence presented at the trial is iffy at best.

I believe Frimpong is innocent. A victim of a racist and xenophobic judicial system in rich white Santa Barbara. Feel free to judge the story for yourself.

ESPN the Magazine's Sam Alipour covers it in this online article.
A special shoutout to Soccer by Ives where I first saw the story.

Oh, San Jose.

A man up with a one-nothing lead in stoppage time.
Way to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.

You'd have thought that the Quakes were the ones playing a man down. They couldn't string together passes to save their life towards the end of the game. It was like watching the Brazilian onslaught during the 2nd half of the Confed Cup final.

C'mon guys you can do better.