Would that I could use all of my journalistic know-how to explain offsides half as well as this.
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One of these days, someone's going to do an MLS version of Slap Shot. Right now, though, here's to the best actor of all time.
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OK, OK, I take it all back. Even Abi Okalaja wouldn't have screwed up this call.

Or maybe he would

Hmmm.

The point is, he didn't.

At least not yet.


The Ghost Goal Watford Linesman Referee - video powered by Metacafe Click to continue reading...

You know. my estimation of David Beckham goes up every time I see more of him. The guy is an ultimate competitor, and his defense of Marc Burch here illustrates that.



There's no way that's a red card, even though I think Burch is a punk overall. Becks' defense of him is a slap in the face to MLS officiating, and a well-deserved one at that. Click to continue reading...

The storm blew and blew here at Nutmegged World Headquarters, and even though Dynamo will somehow have to fit a rescheduled L.A. Firpo game into their criminally crowded fixture slate, Houston still is surviving well.

Power is still out across most of the area, but the energy from Brian Ching's little "Hey, we're responsible for the stars on your jersey as well as our own" performance as a late sub in drawing even with the Bay Area Wanderers last weekend ought to power up Robertson all on its own this weekend. Click to continue reading...

Now that is one very fine fake photo, don't you think? (It's actually an enhanced (in more way than one, if you ask me) version of the HDC, site of Dynamo's third championship postgame celebration.) Unfortunately, I can not take credit for it, which goes instead to the excellent blog The Original Winger. Click to continue reading...

Courtesy of Bernardo Fallas' blog on the Chron site, check out this schedule from now until Halloween for Dynamo, playing CONCACAF Champions League and MLS (not to mention WCQ games for some of them):

Sunday: vs. K.C. at Robertson, 2 p.m. MLS
Sept. 13: at San Jose, 9 p.m. MLS
Sept. Click to continue reading...

That image right there is courtesy Grant Wahl's very fine FanNation blog and it showcases five very brave American heroes who are willing to defy official persecution to support their country's national team.

Here's Wahl:

HAVANA, Cuba -- The U.S. national soccer team arrived here yesterday from Miami for its first-ever World Cup qualifier against Cuba, but they weren't the only Americans who found their way to Havana.

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Found this over on TOR and thought it was worth a post.








I especially liked Deuce's contrast between playing in Europe vs. playing away in CONCACAF. Clearly there's more to it as those on the receiving end of racist taunts in parts of Europe could attest. Click to continue reading...

OK, I'm not afraid to admit it, when the US lost in the Olympics to Nigeria the other day, my secret thought was:


"Man, I can't get enough of that Natalie Coughlin...."

Er, um, I mean, my OTHER secret thought was "Well thank you Petr Nowak for delivering the coaching job I always expected of you. Click to continue reading...

I don't know about you, but somehow today, this just makes me think of Petr Nowak.



And then there's this one, which kind of summarizes the whole US Soccer effort, now doesn't it:

(Background music: Sportscast intro)

Newscaster: And right now it's time for athletics, and over to Brian Goebells in Paris. Click to continue reading...

LIke the commentator said, Marvell Wynne may have done the work on the flank, but it's only as good as the finishing. So my question is, just where has that left foot been all year Stu-boy? And, you do plan to bring it back to the States with you when you get back, right?

Right?
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Just came back from the Dynamo/Columbus game. Like I said up top, an old-fashioned beat down. (Here's a running account from Bernardo Fallas.)

Columbus was not without chances in the second half, but that's why Pat Onstad, bless his 40+-year-old Canadian self, is still one of the top keepers ever to play in this league, to stop those chances cold, and in the most dispiriting fashion possible. Click to continue reading...

What's Korean for "I don't believe what I just saw?"



Or better yet, what's the French for it, because it's clearly what's on the face of the Ivory Coast "keeper" here. Click to continue reading...

Boy, you see this and you just have to wonder what Paul Hartley was thinking. Obviously, he didn't see Bent, but if I were his youth coach, I'd of had to really calm down or li'l Paul's parents would probably have had me removed from the field!



And watching Lee Naylor screw this up is just reason No. Click to continue reading...