Deplorable as it is, the traditional coaching habit of coming up with silly post-game comments must be respected. We are, after all, under no obligation to listen to the hogwash, and need pay attention only to those occasional moments when something worthwhile is said. The hogwash is plentiful, and can at least provide a laugh or a snicker or two.
Monthly Archives: April 2008
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Parkhurst Takes Blame for Chicago Rout
Reigning MLS Defender of the Year Michael Parkhurst was the first to hold up his hands and say “my bad” after the Chicago Fire took the New England Revolution defense apart on Thursday night, winning 4-0 at Toyota Park. “I was awful, I let the team down on the first two goals,” Parkhurst told the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Underdogs Prepare for ‘Greatest’ Semifinal
Some are already calling it the greatest FA Cup competition in history. Why, because Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea — which comprise half of this year’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal list — have failed to reach the semifinals for the first time in what seems like all of FA Cup history. And for those […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldinho Ruled Out for the Season
It’s a sad day for Barcelona fans, as Ronaldinho has more than likely played his last match for the club, a 2-1 loss to Villarreal at the Camp Nou. According to a statement on the club’s Web site, the Brazilian World Cup winner tore muscle in training on Thursday and will now miss the rest […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Marcelo Gallardo and D.C. United’s High-Paid Foreigners
The MLS Player’s Union on Thursday once again released information about how much money each of its players make. To no one’s surprise, David Beckham tops that list, earning a guaranteed $6.5 million per year. Behind him is the Chicago Fire’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco, $2.67 million, while D.C. United newcomer Marcelo Gallardo is third, earning $1.87 […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The New York Red Bulls finally start their season on Saturday when they face Columbus. There’s FA Cup action in England, and GolTV provides the action from Barcelona’s chase of Real Madrid in Spain.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
The warm weather league – for now
As poor crowds in Chicago, New England and Columbus for their opening games indicated, MLS isn’t anywhere near ready to move toward a schedule modeled along European lines.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS SALARIES: From Beckham to Cannon
[MAKING A LIST] Compare what each MLS club pays its highest earning player.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Salaries Revealed: Millionaires and Paupers
2008 MLS players salaries made available by the MLS Players Union reveal that Los Angeles’ David Beckham ($6.5 million guaranteed), Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco ($2.67 million) and D.C. United’s Marcelo Gallardo ($1.87 million) are the league’s top earners, while the highest earning Americans are New York midfielder Claudio Reyna ($1.26 million) and Los Angeles attacker Landon Donovan ($900,000). MLS’s minimum senior salary is $33,000 while players on developmental contracts earn between $12,900 and $17,700.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Home teams rule, so far
[BY THE NUMBERS] With Chicago’s 4-0 win over New England and Los Angeles’ 2-0 victory over San Jose, home teams remain undefeated in the MLS season’s first eight games. The Los Angeles Galaxy’s attendance of 27,000 was the highest of the season so far.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham, Donovan & Co. bounce back
Tales of the Galaxy’s demise may yet prove to be apropos, not premature, but for the time being it must be said they are exaggerated. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reports from Carson, Calif., on how Beckham, Donovan & Co., bounced back from their season-opening debacle against Colorado when they met San Jose on Thursday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It is an honor to be taking part in the MLS All-Star Game this July. The club has a strong global fan base and we are working hard to increase our international exposure as well as help the game develop at grassroots level across North America.”
— Scott Duxbury, CEO of English Premier League club West Ham United, which will face the MLS All-Stars July 24 in Toronto in the 2008 MLS All-Star Game. West Ham is currently in 10th place of the EPL.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Croatian dies of head injuries after hitting sideline wall
[OBITUARY] Croatian Hrvoje Custic died on Thursday from injuries suffered on Saturday when he hit his head on a concrete wall during a First Division match.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS TV SCHEDULE
The New York Red Bulls play their first game of the season — and their first league match under Coach Juan Carlos Osorio — when they host Columbus on Saturday. FC Dallas aims for its first-ever win at Texas rival Houston. D.C. United , which lost its MLS opener last weekend and a Concacaf Champions Cup game in the midweek, hosts FC Toronto, which won only six games in its inaugural 2007 season and fell last week to Columbus. Chivas USA’s home opener is against Real Salt Lake, which like Chivas started the season with a tie. Kansas City and Colorado, which both opened with shutout wins, clash in K.C.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend TV Schedule
The English FA Cup moves into the semifinals with West Bromwich-Portsmouth on Saturday and Barnsley-Cardiff City on Sunday, both at Wembley Stadium. In Spain, second-place Villarreal and third-place Barcelona will face key tests on Sunday in their bids to remain within striking distance of leader Real Madrid, which is at Mallorca on Saturday. For all the weekend TV action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Cup Results
German leader Bayern Munich’s European campaign hit a snag when a late Cosmin Contra goal earned Spanish club Getafe a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Cup quarterfinal series. Germany’s other quarterfinalist, Bayer Leverkusen, fared even worse, falling to Russia’s Zenit St. Petersburg, 4-1, at home. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer’s Top 50 Earners
FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka makes more money per year playing soccer than any other player on the planet, according to a list of the game’s top 50 earners that’s been circulating the Internet. The list, which has no source, represents players’ annual wages from playing soccer only and does not include endorsements. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Denies WC Contingency Plan Report
FIFA on Thursday dismissed a report on insurance fears over the 2010 World Cup, saying that both FIFA and the World Cup’s Local Organizing Committee have insurance in case South Africa fails to pull off the event. British paper the Guardian had reported that FIFA was forced to build a contingency fund worth $800 million […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Interview: David Beckham
David Beckham has message for those who think the former Real Madrid player came to Los Angeles to take it easy and live out a golden retirement: “As much as it is a great lifestyle over here for my wife and kids, the most important thing is for people to realize I am here for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Restored Quakes Resume California Derby
“Not many expansion teams are born with so many ready-made story lines.” So says Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury News in her preview of the Earthquakes’ return to MLS, which begins Thursday against the Los Angeles Galaxy (ESPN 2, 10:30 PM ET). Indeed, several ready-made story lines hover over the clash, but perhaps […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Report: Beckham Departure Triggers Real Madrid Losses
Newspapers in Spain are reporting that Spanish champion Real Madrid has been forced to take out a loan of $49 million to cover day-to-day losses which were partly incurred due to the loss of David Beckham to the Los Angeles Galaxy last year. According to a study by the University of Catalonia, the England international’s […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Quakes renew rivalry on the road
There were R-words being bandied about the hotel lobby yesterday as the new San Jose Earthquakes prepared to open their second life against their old rivals from Los Angeles, but rarely was heard a reference to rivalry. Or revenge.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham on Leno Show
[VIDEO] David Beckham appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Tuesday, April 1.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
19-year-old hits MLS’s Goal of the Week
[VIDEO] New England Revolution midfielder Sainey Nyassi, 19, earned MLS Sierra Mist Goal of the Week honors for Week 1 for his solo effort in the 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS TV SCHEDULE
ESPN2 opens its coverage of MLS’s 13th season with a doubleheader on Thursday. First up is a chance for Chicago chance to avenge its 2007 semifinal loss to New England. Then the Los Angeles Galaxy hopes to bounce back from its season-opening drubbing from Colorado when its hosts the reincarnated San Jose Galaxy.