Oh, San Jose.

Today is the "I hope both teams get food poisoning and shit all over the field" Cup.
Of course I will watch because I'm not just a soccer fan, but an American soccer fan.

If you put a gun to the head of one of my daughters to make me pick a team, before I beat you to a bloody pulp, I'd pick the Dynamo. I will say however that every time I see those two stars over that Houston badge it takes me back to the bitterness of the move. I put in a lot of work to try and keep the team here, and the pain and disappointment of not being able to do that still bugs me to this day.

The current version of the Quakes ain't helping to ease that pain.

I ran into David Alioto before the first regular season game before the Dynamo and Quakes. I'd mentioned the conflicted feelings I had because I personally knew those players now on Houston. I had no problem cheering for the new Quakes to beat the Dynamo, but at the time I had no ill will towards the individual players and coaches on Houston. Alioto looked at me like I'd grown a second head. He mumbled something about "they've moved on" and "they're just players" and other shit that most sports execs say about players that makes them into units of business rather than actual humans (a pet peeve of mine, btw). In that moment, I felt like he didn't get it. He hadn't spent the time we had as fans helping grow this league, and in that moment it showed, badly.

Fast forward to this season:

"I think for a long time, we didn't embrace our history and heritage as a club."

That was said by David Kaval, current president of the San Jose Earthquakes, during the broadcast of the last regular season game. WTF? If you're talking about this new Lew Wolff owned team, then yeah, I agree with you, if you mean longer than that, then I gotta ask where the fuck have you been? The team got renamed from the Clash as a fucking tribute to the history of the club. Johnny Moore? Remember him? Throwback jerseys? NASL Team reunions? Bringing back Krazy George? All this happened before this current version. I'm beginning to wonder if anyone has a clue in the front office. Please do something that shows me you've got a grasp of what's going on here.

I'll be honest, a lack of money has been the main thing that has kept me away from watching live games, but even if I had the extra income to go, I'd pause in giving the current regime my money. Personally, I don't plan on going to another game until I see construction start on the new stadium.

BTW, Lew, David, why haven't we had a US Men's game in the Bay Area in several years? I get that Buck Shaw is too small, but we've got other places here. I remember a kick-ass friendly with Japan at a packed Phone Company park. That was that last one I attended here in the Bay Area. If I knew now what I didn't know then, I'd have sucked up my pride and gone the the friendly at Spartan back in 2007. We haven't had one since then. What's up with that?

How many fucking times?

Dear Sepp,
You're an embarrassment to the sport. Please do the right thing and step the fuck down. Leave. Buh-bye. Let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.
Is there any way to force the guy out?

Canadian baseball team ‘London Rippers’ draws criticism

Canadian baseball team ‘London Rippers’ draws criticism

You're kidding me, right?
Do I really need to say what's wrong with this?

David Testo is gay

The big news isn't that he announced to the media that he is gay (considering he was out to his friends, family, and teammates, I wouldn't call it "coming out"). It's the blasé response.

It's still very important that people come out. It can save lives. Being in the Bay Area makes me kinda immune to it, but it's still important.

However, the "eh" response from the US soccer community gives me hope for the future.

Biggest Rivalry

During a promotion for the ESPN doc Roll Tide/War Eagle, someone mentioned Alabama/Auburn to big the biggest rivalry in sports.

As a soccer fan I snorted.

However, it did make me wonder what is the greatest rivalry in sports.

Celtic/Rangers?
Boca/River? (when they used to play each other)
Barca/Madrid?
India/Pakistan cricket? (one of the faves of my housemate)

What's the greatest sports rivalry in the US?

Heyyy, I know that dude.

San Jose City Hall has an exhibit on the history of San Jose soccer called "City of Champions: 2001, a San Jose Soccer Odyssey".

If you look closely, you might see someone I know. :)

Just sayin'

I'm dying for a Tigers/Brewers World Series. Let's spread it around. :)

What the fuck Cincy?

I loved listening to Gary Burbank back on WLW as a teen in Cincy. One of my favorite bits was a soap opera called "All My Bengals". Now keep in mind this was during the Gregg and Wyche era, the team was actually fair to great during that period of time.

However, Mr. Burbank was a soothsayer. Starting with Stanley Wilson getting caught using coke before Super Bowl XXIII, and then Paul Brown's death in 1991, the Bengal became the Bungals. As the English say, it all went pear shaped.

So when I saw the news about the pot bust yesterday, I just sighed. It's become the new normal for the Bengals. I'm surprised that Cincy hasn't tried to run the team out of town. I hear LA's looking for a team.

Nonetheless, I hope they can kick Niner ass on Sunday. Don't think they'll do it, but it'll help heal my bitterness over the two Super Bowl losses.

Let's add some more content, shall we?

So parenthood and part time work really take a toll on blogging in general especially about soccer (I've had a rant about the Quakes brewing for a while, but haven't had time). So I think I'll add posts about other sports too.

Red Bulls win Emirates Cup

HAHAHAHAHA!!!
That condescending tone of the English announcers towards MLS during the Red Bulls/Arsenal game made them winning the cup that much sweeter.

Look assholes, I know MLS ain't up to par with the EPL, but that doesn't mean you don't do your homework on the league before your fookin' (look a Brit word!) broadcast. Jeez.

Bradley out, Jürgen in

Thank god for Macs. Typing umlauts is much easier than in Windows. :)

I wanted a change, and I'm happy to see it, but I reserve judgment until I see what Jürgen does. First up, nothing less than Mexico.

Letting it marinate

A week has passed since the final, and I wanted it to settle in before I commented.

Sure enough, what I said happened. The US didn't bury their chances, and Japan came back–twice. The US should have put in 3 or 4 by halftime. They didn't and they paid the price. When the penalties came, they had nothing left to show.

That said,

that was the best overall game the US played. Japan absorbed wave after wave of US pressure, bent, cracked, but they didn't break. Good on ya, Japan. Good on ya.

It was a fine, fine win.

Japan v US

I'll just come right out and say it.

The US has been playing some ugly soccer.

It's mostly been route one, bypass the midfield, over the top, hopefully Abby can get a head to it, use brute force, tactics.

The thing is...it's working. It drives me batty, but it's working. They made it to the final.

Japan, on the other hand, has been playing some of the most beautiful soccer this tournament. Short, crisp, concise passing. Incredible build-up play, beautiful finishing. It's the best I've ever seen them play. Japan has been one of the best teams to watch in the Cup. However, they've never beaten the US.

This is a game the US should win. It's taken them too long to get here for them to say they're overlooking Japan. However, they better get their goals early and often. If they allow Japan possession, and the game remains close, Japan could get their first star, and they would have earned it.

C'mon US. Show me what you've got.

Did I hear right?

This World Cup is UEFA's qualifying tournament for the women in the Olympics?
If so, shame on UEFA.
Spend some fucking money on women's football you selfish bastards.

Germany is apparently out for the 2012 Olympics.

Holy fuck!

ABBY!
C'MON HOPE!!!

ETA:
The US dodged a bullet. The penalty call was the correct one, and if you call the foul, you have to give the red card for preventing a goal scoring opportunity.

However, that retake? That was pure bullshit.

It was pointed out on the ESPN broadcast that Brazil's second goal shouldn't have counted because the pass to Marta came from an offside position. However, Marta's finish was magic.
People really love to hate Marta. That's too bad, I don't think she deserves it.

The US (and Brazil) just wilted in the heat and humidity. Their passing needs to be much, much crisper to win. I think they can out muscle and out intimidate France, but if they meet Sweden in the final, they need to be sharp.

US v Brazil - Halftime

So far so okay...
The US defense has been good against Brazil thus far. They've kept the Brazilians in front  of them. They surrounding Marta when she gets the ball, and most importantly, they're frustrating the fuck out of that team. Brazil loses their heads, they're gonna lose the game.

On the other hand, what's with all the tired passing from the US? Get your fucking heads in the game, offense. You need to connect a lot more cleanly with your forwards. This long ball shit ain't gonna do it. You'll be chasing those gold jerseys all game if you keep this up.

Man, my butterflies doing push-ups watching this. The stream of profanity I'm letting loose with each poor US pass is gonna teach my twin toddler girls new words. :)

Why the Marta hate?

I'm surprised to hear the whistles every time Marta touches the ball. What's the deal? Why her?

Muffmeg?

Did I hear Julie Foudy correct herself in the 54th minute of US/Sweden? My guess was that she was about to transpose the "n" and the "m" in nutmeg, but if muffmeg is the women's term for nutmeg, then I gotta say it's brilliant.

Well, I can't say the loss was a big surprise, but it's disappointing, nonetheless. Sweden completely sped past the US backline, and I see Brazil doing the same. I don't know if we've got a defender with the speed to man mark Marta like Equatorial Guinea did for one half. If the US can control the midfield and find their finishing, and to do that they need to learn to be as ruthless as Hope Solo, then they might survive a goalfeast, but outside of that, I see their tournament ending on Sunday.

Let's see if they've learned their lessons with this loss.

Where da white women at?

All over the USWNT, that's where. Not taking away from the talented individuals who make up the current team, but there seems to be a lack of diversity, racial and otherwise, on the USWNT.  Considering the way the team plays, it's overdue for an infusion of new talent and different styles of play. Somewhere out there is an American Marta, one who would have coolly buried all those chances Abby missed today against Colombia. I think of a Sissi controlling the midfield, slotting passes where needed.

I found it amusing that Mexican-American players were found to play for Mexico. The assumption being that they weren't good enough to play for the US.  However, I have a hard time believing that one or two of those players aren't even worth a call up for a friendly or two.

I blame several factors. The reliance on colleges to find players for the pool will always filter a group to upper and upper middle class citizens. Nepotism plays a role as well. It's easiest to stick with what's familiar. I also blame US Soccer for not going out and doing the work to find these players. It effects both the women and the men. The whole organization needs to be more creative. It's gonna end up keeping soccer stagnant in this country. Time to evolve.

Much better...

...but still not good enough to win the Cup. It's funny when you can't finish when you're 3 up on Colombia, but it won't be so funny when it's 0-0 or you're one down against Brazil or Norway. Abby, you need to get your head on straight, and you need to do it now. You can't rely on just out muscling teams in the knockout rounds.

(sigh)

It felt like a carbon copy of the Brazil Confed Final.
I groaned when I saw Bornstein come in for 'Dolo. I knew the Mexicans would go straight after him. We're definitely at a transition stage for the US men, especially in the back. Ike Opara please don't be injury prone, your country needs you.

On the plus side, both US goals were well worked pretty goals that took advantage of Mexico not defending well.

Bob, you proved that you actually can adapt game to game, but the US needs someone better. Thanks for what you've accomplished. I won't be surprised if he stays on, but the US needs a change.

Everyone settle in for a Mexican reign for a few years.

Now take a deep breath, and settle in again. It's WWC time.
Just win, baby. :)

Time to represent

Just win, baby.
This is a damn good Mexican team that's shown kinks in the armor the last two games. The US started great against Canada, struggled, and now seem to be finally gelling. We'll see if Bob plays it straight, or if he continues to change things up. I think Landon will start this time around (not that hard to fathom). 


Army and Outlaws be careful, don't do anything too stoopid, and give them hell. I wish I could be down there in person.

We've missed ya.

Welcome back, Freddy. You've earned it.

Well done, Bob

The game against Jamaica showed that Bob Bradley can change things up when needed. I wish he had done this sort of thing sooner, but I won't harp because the results showed.

I'm still concerned about the finishing, but the team completely put Jamaica on their heels all game.

BTW, Mr. Jones? Shame on you for that dive. You're lucky it worked. You should be missing the semifinal.

Prediction

Big, strong, fast teams have given the US hell lately. If Jamaica's on their game, and the US still hasn't figured out how to score in bunches, they're gonna blow out the US.

If the US can finish, it's gonna be a shootout, but the US will lose.

I hope I'm wrong either way.

Y KANT JOHNNY/JANE SCORE?

After watching the women take on Mexico in their WWC send off friendly, and last night's USMNT debacle against Panama, I've fucking had it with these teams not being able to put away their opponents.

Let's start with the women, they did everything but score until Cheney saved them with a blast from the goddesses. They're not ready for the World Cup, and they need to be a lot cooler in front of the net if they're going make their way through the knockout rounds. If they expect Abby to provide the goals, they're in trouble. She's a holding forward now. She's good for heading set pieces, and for laying the ball off to speedy, clinical forwards to slot the ball home. She's not fast enough or good enough with the ball at her feet to do anything else. Let's hope someone steps up for the women to be that stone cold finisher. Can someone tell me what happened to Sydney Leroux, and why she isn't on this team?

The men...fuck...the men are in piss poor shape. I wasn't happy with Bob Bradley's re-up after South Africa, but I was willing to give him a chance. His teams don't come to tournaments ready to play. This learning as you go shit has to end, and that's Bob's fault. I'm tired of the US figuring out how to attack after they've put themselves in a hole. It's gotten stale, and it's time for a change. Short of a miracle win against an on fire, in form Mexico (+13 goal differential in 3 games!!! Are you fucking kidding me?) in the final. I think Bob's gone after this tournament. They need new blood. The forwards aren't getting shit for service. The midfield is too unsettled, and the defense is just too green. Do it now before World Cup qualifying. Please.

Wow.

Yup. Spain took 'em out behind the woodshed and they ran away with their pants down.

I know it was a makeshift crew to start the game, but daaaamn. Have some organization boys.

That said...

I've had my doubts about Michael Bradley lately. He redeemed himself well this game, he brought some much needed stability and calmness to the midfield when he came in second half. Deuce did his part too, but I still think he should be a target forward. Props to Cherundolo for holding up his side of the defense.

----

Speaking of Whoop-Ass. Costa Rica's put five past Cuba thus far. I'm liking the Cuban's generic adidas jerseys.

Chuck Blazer fired...then not.

The fun for FIFA and CONCACAF continues:

If I'm Chuck Blazer,

Go get 'em Bear.
(thanks to CrushTheNeoCons and Warner Bros. for the video)

Now that's drama!

What a last day in the EPL! 5 teams threatened with relegation. Two would go down. The teams kept switching places minute by minute.

Wolverhampton's fans cheering a 3-2 loss as if they won the Champions' League.

This is why I watch.  

"Winning Time"

I just re-watched the ESPN 30 for 30 piece "Winning Time" about Reggie Miller vs the New York Knicks. If you get the chance to see it, do so, cuz it's an absolute hoot. It gives you great insight into Reggie Miller, a player who was, to say it kindly, one of the great mindfuckers of all time. He made you hate him to the point of forgetting your own game, and boy did the Knicks and their fans hate him.

Watching it made me think of the latest kerfuffle involving Mr. Landon Donovan. I saw him say something to Henry after he scored, and apparently thanks to Luke Rodgers we know what he said. Here's the thing. He seems to be pulling these stunts only in MLS games, and he seems to be getting more animated the older he gets. It's kind of a Bizzaro World Wayne Rooney.

I think it's an act. I think it's an attempt to mindfuck his opponents. He didn't pull this shit at Everton, and I don't see it at the same level when he's playing for the U.S. (I might be blinded by Red, White, and Blue glasses since Mexican fans love to hate him). I think he's clearly aware of what he's doing, and the fact that he can get away with it. He wants you to hate him. He's good at it, too.

The best way to counter it? Laugh that shit off.

The die is cast (part 2)

Two beautiful goals. More of that please. Abby's looking dangerous as a presence in the box. Japan wasn't really that strong I'm sad to say.
The foundation is there. They do need to build up if they want to get that third star over their crest. They've got several weeks to do it.

The die is cast

I think the US headed for a letdown at the Women's World Cup. I just don't see the quickness of thought and speed on the ball needed to get to the final. Let me watch this friendly against Japan. Hopefully, they'll prove me wrong.

More tomorrow...

Dear FFF,

If you want to keep more of the young dual nationality players you're training, then maybe you shouldn't put forth racist quotas keeping them out. Try counteracting the things that make non-white citizens feel unwelcome.

1998 wasn't a myth.

Sincerely,
Me.

A more recent look at my children

Definitely my girls.

United vs Barca

Looks like a divided house again.

Mr. Tim Howard - boxer

Saw this Gatorade commercial for the first time this morning. I found it strange that there were no markers showing Tim Howard is a soccer player.
It made me wonder if U.S. Soccer had an agreement with Powerade or something.
Nike didn't seem to have a problem since Serena Williams swoosh is visible in the ad (and I recall Tim and Landon appearing in Nike's World Cup ad).

Have him in a U.S. Soccer hoodie or something. It was weird.

The new season

MLS begins
Two new teams with shiny hopes
and serious fans.

My beloved Quakes
Going up and down, again.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

San Jose Ultras
Getting in trouble again.
Oh you rascals you.

The new Casbah flag
has advertising on it.
Times are a-changin'.

A pet peeve

Speaking of Chicharito, despite having the nickname on the back of the jersey, English announcers insist on calling him Javier Hernandez. The American ones, that I've seen at least, call him by his nickname.
I find it a little dismissive.

The definition of bittersweet

Being a US fan and a Manchester United fan, then watching Chicharito head in the winning goal for the Red Devils against Tim Howard.

Yeah, that one was a little hard to swallow.

My name is Guy. I'm a Manchester United fan, and I approved this message.