Adding Insult to Injury

During last night's Atlas - Chivas game I witnessed the greatest goal celebration ever. Atlas is awarded a PK in stoppage time. Marioni approaches the line to break the 0-0 tie. He buries it and does a great knee slide to the touch line. A rabid Guadalarja fan throws a beer at him and well you just have to see what happens next. A classic!

BRAVEHEART

Beckerman on Braveheart from Real Salt Lake on Vimeo.

You can never go wrong with a Braveheart tie in, even if it is RSL.

ONCE AGAIN OFFSIDE EXPLAINED

Come on people! It ain't rocket science!

One Ref's View

LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

A Lesson in hardwork, humility and respect.

It's only appropriate on a holiday designed to give "the working citizen a day off", to recognize two of the hardest workers in MLS. So here's a tip of the hat to Brian McBride and Ben Olsen.

According to Fulham's manager,"Brian McBride has been a fine ambassador for Fulham Football Club. As my captain last season Brian was truly respected in the dressing room and led by example on the pitch. His attitude is second to none - Brian is a true pro in every sense of the word."

McBride is known for his work ethic and his willingness to do anything for the shirt, making him a fan favorite wherever he has played. In a sport being ruined by diving and play acting McBride has been called a true hard b***ard centre-forward. When viciously elbowed by De Rossi in the USA v Italy game during the World Cup, he didn’t flinch, even as they stitched him up so he could continue to play. We need more men in the game who can take a shot without whining about it. McBride looks like the sort of tough-assed Irishman that gave the NYPD such a fearsome reputation in the 30s. Thick-necked and made of granite, McBride is as hard they come prompting Chicago's supporter section to chant:

He’s big!
He’s red!
He’s got plates in his head!
Brian McBride!
Brian McBride!

Here's what Mick Delaney, a Fulham fan had to say about him:

"I have supported Fulham for 39 years now and Brian is close to if not is my all time favourite player. Why? He not the most skillful player we have had over those years. He not the longest serving player, and although he has a good goal scoring it's not great. What does it for me is that everytime he pulled on the shirt he gave the full 100% which is all a fan can ask for of a player. In addition, despite easily being able to, he never had an ego. An example of this was the post match interview for the Birmingham game when the interviewer, stating how important the first goal was and that "you" (Brian McBride) scored it his response was that "yes, WE (the team) scored it". Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay him is that I use him as a role model for my two teenage boys. Work hard, give what ever you are doing 100% effort, work for the team and let others praise you rather than doing it yourself and accept any praise gracefully but don't forget the people who help you achieve. We will miss Brian and replacing him is without doubt Hodgsons biggest job, both in terms of his captaincy and the role of a target man / goal scorer. When he first joined there were some who doubted his capacity to influence our club and team. Now he has left there isn't a single voice which isn't praising his worth and contribution. Brian, God bless you and your family."



Cut from the same mold is DC United's Ben Olsen. Not the most talented on the team but the most missed when he's out. The heart of DC United. So Barra Brava decided to do a little tribute to Benny (video below). Olsen's response in the video ("I just love to play soccer") wasn't surprising to those that know him. Ed Morgans response to that(Weekend Update) is so similar to that of the Fulham fan it's scary.

It all comes down to loving the ego-less player, the one that will play for the name on the front of the shirt rather than the back. It shouldn't be so rare to find players that realize it's a privelege to play the game they love for a living, and are willing to bust their ass to continue to do it. Hopefully they are not a dying breed.

So here's to McBride and Olsen! Happy Labor Day!

Ray Hudson would have a stroke..,

...working the booth with Dave O'Brien!


Everyone who knows me knows my love of Ray Hudson (as a commentator not a coach!). Finally someone has started a blog dedicated to the wisdom of Ray Hudson named Hudsonia. The blog is a running list of Hudsonisms and is a must to bookmark.

Here are a few of my favorites:

"There's more flair in this team, in this club, than a nineteen-seventies high-school reunion."

"They're looking as nervous as a Beirut grocery-run here in the opening going."

"Their defence was tighter than a camel's backside in a sandstorm ..."

"Ah, Phil, if he cannot hit this, there's something wrong with his hammer."

"They started off like a cup of Sanka and ended up like a double-shot espresso, cappuccino."

Rob Stone & The Red Hot Chili Peppers

"It was like somebody Tasered my mouth"

TOJA NIGHT

This is especially for Adam.

You gotta love a FO with a sense of humor.

Alot has been made about Juan Toja's impact on the field this season, almost as much as has been made about his hair. ESPN said he looked like Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnel. My daughter think he looks like Jim Morrison. FC Dallas thinks he looks like money.

The first 5000 fans into tommorrow nights game vs Chivas get a Toja Wig.

FIFA '08 Commercials

Can you FIFA '08?
Ronaldinho


Ribéry - Klose


Rooney-Ramos

Creative Soccer

With Jose Mourinho gone maybe this won't be the only flick you'll see out of the Chelsea team.

See: Attractive Soccer or England is an Island

Lightning and MLS Primetime Thursday

What do they have in common beside not knowing when either will strike?

Dario Sala of FC Dallas and Wilman Conde of the Chicago Fire were part of a tragedy in Colombia five years ago. One afternoon lightning struck Deportivo Cali's practice field killing two their teammates and changing them forever.If Conde wasn't out due to a red card this would be the first time on the field together since that fateful day in the mountains of Colombia. They will share dinner following the game according to Burt Constable who wrote this fabulous story of the two and their connection.

'Lightning's nightmare can't stop American dreams'

Oh yea, the game is on the Deuce at 8:00pm.

Danny Karbassiyoon - The First Boy Scout

Adam Spangler at This is American Soccer has a must read interview with Danny Karbassiyoon. For my guys that are reading this, Danny was a kid playing club ball in Roanoke, Virginia. He was always used as an example of what is wrong with the American Youth System when it comes to identifying talent. Danny never played Regional ODP and was on the waiting list to play at the Adidas Elite Soccer Program. The ESP is one of the premier player showcases for High School aged players. Well Danny got called to play at ESP and an Arsenal scout sees him and he goes to London for a trial. Here is an excerpt from a December 2002 article from Arsenal America regarding his trial:

"He noted a highlight was training with the vaunted Arsenal first team.

"I didn’t know I was going to. (Reserve team manager) Eddie (Niedzwiecki) just said ‘Danny, you are training with the first team today.’ It was typical English weather, kind of chilly and I thought ‘This is going to be awesome,’” he recalled. “They started warming up and I see Thierry Henry (the team’s leading scorer and a striker for the French national team), Ashley Cole (English international fullback), and Patrick Viera (midfielder and also on the French national team). I kind of just joined in. Then Arsene Wenger (Arsenal manager) told everyone to partner up, and Sol Campbell (England international and recognized as one of the best central defenders in the world) asked ‘Can I partner with you?’ The whole time he was talking to me about what America was like, how I liked it here, just making me feel welcome.”

Karbassiyoon said the squad went through some agility drills, and then did some striker-specific training in groups.

“We were doing a four-goal drill and Henry played a through ball to me and I hit a one-time strike past the goalkeeper,” he said. “I would have been just as happy if I was on the sideline watching these guys. After training everyone goes and eats lunch together. I was sitting there and Dennis Bergkamp (famous Arsenal striker and Dutch international) grabbed his food and sat down by me. I was having a blast.”

Obviously the trial went well and Arsenal sign him. Karbassiyoon becomes the youngest American player to score in English Competition when he scores in his first appearance in the Carling Cup.Unfortunately Danny is line behind two of the best left backs in the World waiting for playing time eventually he is released. He tries to make a go at a couple of other English clubs but becomes sidelined with a knee injury and is forced to retire at age 22, which he announces as a note on his Facebook page.

Well the story ends well with Arsenal offering Danny a job as the North American scout for Arsenal. Make sure you read the interview, it is very enlightening, especially what age he hopes to find talent.

Mickelson Drops Golf For Soccer

Phil Mickelson after beating Tiger down the stretch in the exciting (as exciting as a golf tournament can be) finish to the Deutsche Bank Championship says 'not so much' when asked about looking forward to the BMW Championship next week. Mickelson steps up to the microphones and says that his kids are starting school this week and have soccer games and he needs to spend some time with his family.

So Lefty is passing up a shot at $17M to see his kids' (all under nine years old) first Rec games of the season.(much to the chagrin of the boys on SportCenter)

No doubt Phil has got to be a run away leader for soccer dad of the year!

Yeah, It's Official, I'm an old fart

MLS and Adidas have teamed up with their new marketing campaign "REPRESENT".
Each club has had an anthem made for them by a 'local' band and you can download the music at the website, as well as create your own video using Jumpcut. DC United's anthem was written and performed by "Bad Brains", which apparently, according to almost all accounts, is "FREAKIN' UNBELIEVABLE!".What ever I've got to go trim my ear hair.

Roy Keane: Tail WAGS the dog

Roy Keane blasts players as weak.

"Football must be your priority. You don't need to live in London or Manchester to be happy; you don't need to be surrounded by expensive shops or fancy cafes. What's your priority - your wife and her shopping or your football? Or money?"

"I could name three or four big players now and clearly their wives are running their lives."

"Priorities have changed in footballers and they're being dictated to by their wives and girlfriends - there's no getting away from that," blasted Keane.

Altidore on FIFA 08 Cover

WOW! Not bad company for a seventeen year old!


Technorati Profile

Allen Hopkins' New Column

A great new column.
I find it interesting that Allen sounds, oh so composed, when talking about the "runner". Allen give up the act, we saw you on National Television when you met Beckham. I didn't think you were going to let go of his hand.

I also love to hear anecdotes like the one of Uncle Phil watching the
Hollywood United game. That little moment let's you know the man's passion
for the game.

If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them

While several companies and organizations, including Viacom and The Premier League, are spending their energy fighting YouTube, there are several forward thinking companies that are joining. Here are a list of soccer related channels that I have come across so far.

The United States Soccer Federation

FC Bayern

Chelsea FC

Barcelona

Major League Soccer

Nike Soccer

Rooney, 'put it where you want it', Nike ad

PART 1



PART 2