Friday, March 14, 2008
Tampa Bay a bust for soccer
What were they thinking? Could the men's Olympic qualifying tournament be disrespected any more? From the uninformed Fox Soccer Channel announcers to disappearing Cubans, to empty stadiums. One of the most important soccer tournaments of the decade for the American's has little more flavor than a high school game on local cable access.
I honestly feel like recommending you don't even watch the games. I wrote earlier this week about Olympic dreams, but the only thing keeping this from looking like a nightmare to anyone is that the U.S. has all but qualified for the semifinals - barely.
If you've been watching along with me, here's a laundry list of things that are simply inexcusable:
1. Games every 2 days? Give me a break. I know it needs compressed due because it's not a international open date, but this is serious soccer we're talking about, not a youth tournament. Teams just shouldn't be asked to play 2 games in 3 days.
2. Horrendous ticket sales in the wrong size stadium. Bring back Hershey, PA PLEASE. It only held 5,000 people, but those 5,000 provided amazing atmosphere. What genius though there was any chance of even filling that huge NFL stadium more than even 20%? I was reminded recently that "hope is not a plan". If you're going to stage a tournament in a facility that big, you better be prepared with a plan to sell tickets through some other mechanism other than just making them available through TicketMaster.
3. Staying with the stadium choice... Newsflash! If you only have 10% of your stadium filled, put those people on the opposite side as the camera. There was not a SINGLE person sitting on the side of the stadium visible on TV. Dumbasses.
4. If you're going to put a soccer game on TV, make your announcers actually show up, and have them actually read a few articles about the games they're covering in advance. From mispronouncing names of US players, to thinking Jonathan Spector was on the bench for the Cuba game (when the biggest news of the entire announcements of the US roster was that he was staying with West Ham in London until the semifinal round of this tournament). Last night, they even said Bob Bradley should be fast tracking Stuart Holden to US citizenship so he can appear with them during World Cup qualifying?? If he's not a US citizen, what the hell was he doing on the field last night? Oh, and by the way, he was also on the roster for the US v Mexico match last month. I know, I actually talked to him after the match!! Why do these guys have to sit in a studio in LA watching a game on the same small screen as we are. Get your butts to the game people!
5. Oh, and hey Mr. person in charge of Cuban player security. Another newslfash, the Cuban players are probably going to try an defect. More power to them as far as I'm concerned, but maybe, just maybe you'd have someone outside their hotel room door - at least until after the last game of the tournament?
Anyway, I'm sure I'm missing a lot here. Share your thoughts? All I know is this tournament is setting back our sport in this country. Let's hope Nashville for the final-four is better, but not holding by breath.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Olympic coaching curse?
While writing my piece in for today on Olympic soccer dreams, it dawned on me that being the coach of the U.S. men's Olympic team may not be for the superstitious gaffer. Does Peter Nowak really want the U.S. Olympic job? The last two coaches – Clive Charles in 2000 and Glenn Myernick in 2004 where – were both GREAT men and WONDERFUL coaches. But unfortunately, they also both passed away within three short years of their Olympic Head Coaching honors. Charles died from Prostate Cancer in August of 2003, and Myernick from complications four days after suffering a heart attack during his morning jog on August 5th, 2006. If something were to happen to Nowak, I don't think anyone will want to job in 2012.
Friday, March 7, 2008
My favorite D.C. United Video
Just heard Carbon Leaf on my XM Radio while preparing today's news wire, and it reminded me of my favorite D.C. United youtube of all time. What better way to get excited for the new season. The combination of three things are what makes this great for me:
1. Drubbing Celtic 4-0
2. Carbon Leaf's "Desperation Song"
3. Freddy Adu's magic (ps. for an isolation of Freddy in this match, search "Freddy adu celtic" on youtube.)
Here's the video - enjoy!
I honestly feel like recommending you don't even watch the games. I wrote earlier this week about Olympic dreams, but the only thing keeping this from looking like a nightmare to anyone is that the U.S. has all but qualified for the semifinals - barely.
If you've been watching along with me, here's a laundry list of things that are simply inexcusable:
1. Games every 2 days? Give me a break. I know it needs compressed due because it's not a international open date, but this is serious soccer we're talking about, not a youth tournament. Teams just shouldn't be asked to play 2 games in 3 days.
2. Horrendous ticket sales in the wrong size stadium. Bring back Hershey, PA PLEASE. It only held 5,000 people, but those 5,000 provided amazing atmosphere. What genius though there was any chance of even filling that huge NFL stadium more than even 20%? I was reminded recently that "hope is not a plan". If you're going to stage a tournament in a facility that big, you better be prepared with a plan to sell tickets through some other mechanism other than just making them available through TicketMaster.
3. Staying with the stadium choice... Newsflash! If you only have 10% of your stadium filled, put those people on the opposite side as the camera. There was not a SINGLE person sitting on the side of the stadium visible on TV. Dumbasses.
4. If you're going to put a soccer game on TV, make your announcers actually show up, and have them actually read a few articles about the games they're covering in advance. From mispronouncing names of US players, to thinking Jonathan Spector was on the bench for the Cuba game (when the biggest news of the entire announcements of the US roster was that he was staying with West Ham in London until the semifinal round of this tournament). Last night, they even said Bob Bradley should be fast tracking Stuart Holden to US citizenship so he can appear with them during World Cup qualifying?? If he's not a US citizen, what the hell was he doing on the field last night? Oh, and by the way, he was also on the roster for the US v Mexico match last month. I know, I actually talked to him after the match!! Why do these guys have to sit in a studio in LA watching a game on the same small screen as we are. Get your butts to the game people!
5. Oh, and hey Mr. person in charge of Cuban player security. Another newslfash, the Cuban players are probably going to try an defect. More power to them as far as I'm concerned, but maybe, just maybe you'd have someone outside their hotel room door - at least until after the last game of the tournament?
Anyway, I'm sure I'm missing a lot here. Share your thoughts? All I know is this tournament is setting back our sport in this country. Let's hope Nashville for the final-four is better, but not holding by breath.
While writing my piece in for today on Olympic soccer dreams, it dawned on me that being the coach of the U.S. men's Olympic team may not be for the superstitious gaffer. Does Peter Nowak really want the U.S. Olympic job? The last two coaches – Clive Charles in 2000 and Glenn Myernick in 2004 where – were both GREAT men and WONDERFUL coaches. But unfortunately, they also both passed away within three short years of their Olympic Head Coaching honors. Charles died from Prostate Cancer in August of 2003, and Myernick from complications four days after suffering a heart attack during his morning jog on August 5th, 2006. If something were to happen to Nowak, I don't think anyone will want to job in 2012.
Friday, March 7, 2008
My favorite D.C. United Video
Just heard Carbon Leaf on my XM Radio while preparing today's news wire, and it reminded me of my favorite D.C. United youtube of all time. What better way to get excited for the new season. The combination of three things are what makes this great for me:
1. Drubbing Celtic 4-0
2. Carbon Leaf's "Desperation Song"
3. Freddy Adu's magic (ps. for an isolation of Freddy in this match, search "Freddy adu celtic" on youtube.)
Here's the video - enjoy!
1. Drubbing Celtic 4-0
2. Carbon Leaf's "Desperation Song"
3. Freddy Adu's magic (ps. for an isolation of Freddy in this match, search "Freddy adu celtic" on youtube.)
Here's the video - enjoy!
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]