We suck

As it turns out, USA C-Team isn't very good. I guess it's better to find this out in tournaments we have no interested in winning, but it would have been nice to get out of the first round - it sort of feels like the world cup all over again, except this time I don't really care.

But it's about time we stop claiming moral victories because Argentina didn't beat us by 6. Any time you lose 4-1 you got spanked, regardless of what Diego Maradona says. Or anyone else, for that matter. This isn't 1990 - a loss is a loss.

Last night's loss to Paraguay was just as bad as the Argentina loss - poor finishing, lackadaisical play, and guys that just aren't ready...

Anyway, it's the C-Team - I guess this is what we could have expected. I was just hoping for better.

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In other news, Heiðar Helguson appears to be on his way out at Fulham. In his place they're looking at Diomansy Kamara (who may or may not be signed already) - he's got 21 goals in 60 appearances for West Brom, so I guess he'll be a nice pickup. It beats Brian McBride's 28 goals in 123 appearances - and I thought McBride was pretty productive.

Former Fulham man (and Canadian) Tomasz Radzinski is set for a move to Rangers in Scotland, where he can compete for time with DaMarcus Beasley, I guess. Hmm.

Ok, that's all I got.

but wait

Tonight's Copa America matchup of Brazil and Mexico is going to be pretty interesting since most of Mexico is already calling for coach Hugo Sanchez's head, and Brazil is Brazil (good). But tomorrow's US/Argentina match will be even more interesting, only because we've sent a squad of B or C level players to play against an Argentina squad that's loaded up with some of the world's best. What's going to happen? We'll probably win like 13-4.

I won't be watching the US game live for the first time in a long time - Beer Geek takes priority tomorrow night - but the Tivo will be loaded and ready after I've done my beer tasting duties. It should be an interesting match at 11 or 12 pm, after a few, knowing I get to drive back to Illinois in the morning. Maybe I'll even stay awake.

YEAH!

I'm bored.

Dear Mexico,

Sorry about Saturday. At least you're coming around to being good sports about it. Makes it harder to hate you, anyway.

Oh, by the way.

GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL

GOL! BENNY FEILHABER!

WRAPUP

You might be wondering what's been happening in the world of Real Salt Lake... well, they haven't won yet, despite firing Steve (SO THAT'S WHAT THAT GETS YOU, YOU DUMB BITCHES), and today they traded Chris Klein, which really means nothing to me since I don't suspect they're ever going to win again. It's like the Cubs goat curse, except with Steve instead. So what I'm saying is STEVE = GOAT. In more ways than one.

Hi Steve.

I guess the trade will be good for the team, except rumors have one of the players coming to Salt Lake going over to Europe, so.. WHOOP-DEE-DOO.

I still watch the games, in a bemused state, while drinking beer and reading from the pile of magazines that gather on my living room table, threatening to grow ever larger, and then eat me.

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The Hoosier Beer Geeks were featured in INtake today, and there's a picture featuring Gina and I, and our names were never mentioned. That's fine by me, though it seems sort of strange.

The cycling jersey article, which I linked over at bikeforums.net, caused a 700% increase in site traffic Tuesday. My head is swelling.

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Yesterday I spent $300 on my current bicycle, including $85 pedals and a $150 seat. That's right, my seat cost more than your bicycle, probably. But it's white. And it doesn't make my junk numb, which was starting to be an issue with my old seat. You wanted to know about that.

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The national team plays Canada tonight, on Fox Soccer Channel, which is no place for a national team game. That should be on ESPN2, at least. Canada might be tough this year? I know, seems funny.

BY THE POWER OF LANDON

This seems like a pretty good idea. (link) You might be thinking "hey, didn't someone do that already?" - and the answer is yes. But they didn't have the free time I do. And I bet they don't think that playing with layouts for hours and hours is a good way to pass time. And I bet they wear pants.

This isn't the official announcement - but there's a good chance that one is coming. In addition to a nice resource for local soccer info (which is really hard to find, actually), I hope to have a guest column here and there - perhaps a preseason write up on the prospects for your favorite MLS team, or stories about how you came to love the game, favorite players, or stories about how you came to love the Adidas Tango soccer ball (it's the only ball I'll buy, and I have no idea why).

And I might move the Fulham and RSL stuff there too.

Stay tuned.

nobody home

No one has left any comments about the US/Mexico game, so I'm just going to assume you've all decided to become Mexico fans.

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Dear Indianapolis area Chicago Fire / Columbus Crew fans:

Prepare to have your teams destroyed by the multifaceted Cerberus-like attack of Real Salt Lake on the dates of Sunday, May 27th @ 3PM and Saturday, July 7th and 5:30PM. I am currently planning to make road trips to both games, so if you're interested in making the voyage in the company of a fan of the greatest football club to ever grace the planet*, leave a comment. It's never too early to start planning.

The MLS schedule is out, for those interested. Man is Kyle Beckerman ugly.

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*not necessarily even close to true

anyone caught leaving a comment will be shot

While I'm sure most folks who read this blog are excited about the big game Sunday, I find that I'm actually a little more excited about Saturday's big game, when Fulham, featuring Americans Brian McBride, Clint Dempsey, and Carlos Bocanegra, take on Newcastle, featuring new signing Oguchi Onyewu. Hopefully Gooch gets some minutes in.

Wednesday the national team takes on Mexico at 9PM Eastern (I think)... for those Indianapolis locals reading - where's the party at? Anyone know the guy at Radio Radio well enough to suggest a viewing? It appears that their calendar is open for Wednesday... either way, it would be good to get some folks together to watch the game in a proper environment. If you're up for it, leave a comment. I was just kidding about the shooting.

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Oh, and in other news, it's either Sandy, Utah or Collinsville, Illinois (a sort of suburb of St. Louis) for Real Salt Lake. I'm leaning towards Sandy - and the same team ownership - instead of St. Louis.

As much as I'd love St. Louis to have a team (and MY team would be even better) - it doesn't seem right to take someone else's. When St. Louis gets an MLS team, I'll be first in line to buy season tickets - because MLS season tickets are pretty much dirt cheap, and I can always let someone else I know use them when I can't. My concern about the St. Louis ownership group buying the team from Dave Checketts lies in what direction the new ownership would go with the GM - I've got a pretty good friend in Utah.

And when Indianapolis get its own MLS team, I'll still be rooting for RSL. But I don't think I'll have to worry about that for a long long time.

Gooch goes to the toon

Although I'm sure Oguchi Onyewu would have been wonderful playing for Fulham, I can't say I'm sad to hear that he's been picked up by Newcastle. I've got no problem with Newcastle, after all, anyone who's seen Goal! The Dream Begins (not really too bad a movie, actually) knows that they're more than fair to Americans.

So all in all, I'm pretty happy for Gooch.

But I was wondering what Newcastle fans thought, so I pulled up a Newcastle-online.com, a supporter's site. Let's take a look at some of the comments about the signing:

Not a signing to set the pulses racing - he’s not exactly a household name!

Rocha for spurs looked like a better deal for me... dissapointing transfer window

I don’t know anything about this ‘Gooch’ Lad & hopefully he’s a world beater. But even if he is, surely both a Left & Right back are the priorities?

Is he better than the young lads or Bramble & Moore. I hope so. We still need a left back & a striker

are we supose to be happy by this signing? hes a retard Boro them selves rejected him.

But it's not all bad:

Decent signing I reckon, but would like to have seen at least 1 full back arrive along with centre half we have loaned and a striker!!

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping this turns out better than they're expecting.

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This post brought to you by Goal! 2: The Dream Continues and Goal! 3: The Dream Ends In MLS

A whole lotta not much

Although I was invited out Friday night, a severe lack of budget meant that instead Gina and I went to see Old Joy at Key Cinemas in beautiful south Indianapolis.

I don't think I can do the movie much justice; I found it fantastically accurate and honest, to the point that the dialog seemed almost based on former conversations I'd had myself. I'd like for all traveling friends to see it themselves.

Then again, they might think it's not any good.

Saturday morning was a Fulham tie (that's like ) and Clint Dempsey's debut in a Fulham shirt. He looked confident on the ball and helped in the effort to secure Fulham's goal. It's also quite possible that he fell asleep on the defensive end and allowed for Tottenham's easy goal. Here's a little article about Dempsey's debut.

Saturday afternoon was spent watching the National Team v Denmark. Not much worth reporting there; nice work by some MLS guys, but the game didn't mean much. I'm much more interested in the Mexico game.

After the game I made a pasta/arugula/olive salad that turned out ok, though a little light on taste. Then again, it was a Cooking Light recipe.

Saturday evening I caught the end of the replay between the US under-20's and Guatemala. I'd say the US team was less than impressive, and the 0-0 final score was a fitting result for the poor effort.

Sunday I spent the early part of the day watching Manchester United/Arsenal, and was glad to see Wayne Rooney score. Of course Arsenal ended up winning the match in the 93rd minute.

I then went out and shoveled the driveway; it was good to get some sort of exercise. I've been spending my time away from work exclusively on the couch. As a result I'm 5-10 pounds heavier than I should be.

I spent the better part of the afternoon cooking up Farmer's Market Chicken, a chicken/squash/carrot/tomato conconction. It was also underwhelming, though the chicken part of it was quite tasty. I finished in time to catch the second half of the Bears game.

Gina and I then watched the Colts. By halftime I found myself looking for something else to do, convinced that they had another loss on their hands. But my internet connection was down, so I kept myself on the couch and rode out the thrilling victory.

As good as the game way, the postgame local news coverage was even better: A 50-something female newscaster said "Get R Done" during the broadcast, the footage from a northside bar showed a bunch of drunk people posing and dancing for the cameras... I actually turned the tivo on to save the footage for later. What a parade of retardation.

But it was understandable. I don't think anyone here thought the Colts had much hope of actually winning the game. It was nice to see it happen.

The next two weekends should be good; first my birthdayish celebration next weekend, and a Colts Superbowl the next. Good times to come.

sunil galati is a tiny man

I've just returned from the downtown Indianapolis Hyatt, where I saw a virtual smorgasbord of who's who in MLS and US Soccer. Gina, John and myself met with Steve just as things seemed to pick up at the hotel bar.

As we awaited Steve's arrival, the first person I noticed was Eric Wynalda. For those of you with no Eric Wynalda background - Eric is the all time leader in goals for your US National Team. He's also responsible for one of the few times I've actually jumped for joy while watching a sporting event (at 1:22 in thisyoutube clip... i think).

Then we saw Rob Stone, the ESPN analyst, and then John Harkes, and Preki, and met Peter Wilt, who was fantastically nice (as I now see reported) and who listened to my Yellowstone buffalo collision story with what seemed to be a level of genuine interest.

Then we saw Sunil Galati.

Then Bruce Arena walked behind us. Even Gina knows who Bruce Arena is.

And I'm forgetting a bunch of people. I met a bunch of RSL staff, all of whom were very nice.

And pretty much every MLS GM and coach, aside from Alexi Lalas, who was probably busy figuring out ways to make money off the Beckham deal.

Of course I shouldn't forget to mention that Steve served as a wonderful host for us when he wasn't busy working. Great guy, that Steve. But you knew that already.

All in all, a pretty sort of surreal experience. Just me and John and Gina, hanging out at a bar with half my high school idols. Not bad.

Hot Dog

Clint Dempsey gets his UK work permit.

Three US Nationals at Fulham, let's make it an even four.

I know they're just rumors...

Fulham looking to sign Oguchi Onyewu.

I know that I've got a few readers who don't follow US Soccer, and probably have no idea why I'd be excited that Fulham is looking to sign some dude with an African name... but Gooch is American, probably the best thing we've got going for US Soccer right now, and that makes 4* Americans on Fulham, and I'm going to pee myself.

I smell a bandwagon coming.

News: Don't get your hopes up.

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*thanks torpor