The Weekend's Anti-soccer

The US Soccer Players blog (I site I now regularly hit) has its take on the recent first round leg matches of the conference semis. Here are some highlights:

"We wanted to play and go forward but, at the end of the day, who cares?" Revs' coach Steve Nicol told the Boston Globe.

It's naive to imagine that Nicol might worry about entertaining the 14,165 fans who came to watch. But to say "who cares?" like an insouciant teenager suggests he thinks that everyone watching his dull but efficient team in the playoffs is similarly fixated on "smart play" and the final result as he is. The thought of the revs making it through to the MLS Cup Final again is, frankly, depressing.

Regarding the Dynamo match:

Steve Morrow reverted to the British stereotype, breaking up all opposing plays with niggly fouls and using the big lad Adrian Serioux to launch in as many long (and arguably foul) throws as possible in the hope that one might careen around and land in the right place. It worked, with Clarence Goodson banging in a loose ball for the only goal of an intense but extremely poor game of soccer.

Dallas committed 23 fouls in the game, to Houston's eight. The Dynamo, sometimes seen as the Revs of the West, deserved a tie at least for their effort, and because they weren't as dirty as their opponents. It's a strange game when you end up feeling sympathy for Eddie Robinson, the victim of yet another discreet Carlos Ruiz elbow to the face.

Ruiz continued his mediocre form, showing no on-field rapport at all with the lumbering Kenny Cooper. In the end, you prayed for a cameo five minutes from Denilson just to watch him backheel the ball and remind you that this was really supposed to be a game of soccer, and not hands-free rugby played by panicky, over-developed third-graders.

"We made it difficult for them to establish a rhythm," Dallas defender Bobby Rhine told the Dallas Morning News in the understatement of the weekend. Congratulations, Bobby. And did you wonder why there were only twelve and a half thousand people in the stadium for what should have been the biggest game of the season?

Check out Ian Plenderleith's article for his perspective on the entire weekend.

Conference Semis, Leg 1: Point, Counterpoint

Sam Sunshine: This was an excellent result for the Dynamo. The team thrives on adversity. Being down 0-1 gives them the focus they need to get to the next round.

Gloomy Gus: This is a horrible result. For no good reason whatsoever, the Dynamo have had atrocious finishing this year. They scored only one goal in the opening month of the league, and were held scoreless in 5 of the first 7 games. We sometimes can't even score against 10-man teams, like the Red Bulls and even lowly Toronto. We've now been held scoreless in two matches in a row, and we need to score TWO now in the next game if we want to progress … and for even that to work, we also have to keep Dallas from scoring any more.

SS: All good points, but I don't see HD being shutout three games in a row now that they're in their in-season form. Besides, we've been in this position before, with Chivas last year.

GG: Aha! But Chivas is an attack-oriented team, even back then. They opened up the field, and we could take advantage of that. Dallas will look to preserve the tie. They'll come out "aggressive" in the first 5 minutes, then spend the remaining 85 minutes bunkered in and looking for the counter attack. They're coached by an ex-Arsenal defender, for cryin' out loud -- they'll know how to kill the game. They won't open up at all, and we've proven that we cannot score one, much less two, versus a bunker -- no matter how poor the team is.

SS: Yes, but if we score one, the game will open up. We have the best defense in the league, talented wingers, a creative attacking midfielder, and one of the best target forwards in the MLS. We can get that one goal. Besides, we're at home.

GG: Our talent can certainly dominate games. They can also not score in games where they otherwise dominate.

SS: We can also score multiple times. In the month of September, we scored 11 times in 4 games. Not bad.

GG: I just worry that our mojo -- our magical juju -- is gone. The defense is great, so FCD may not get another goal; but 1 goal may be all FCD needs to end this. We may not get the one we need.

SS: I hope you're wrong.

GG: At least we agree on that.

First Leg: at FCD

Tonight, my sister-in-law (my wife's sister) gets married in a ceremony that involves the whole family. This is relevant because it explains what I'll be doing instead of trekking to Frisco to watch the first leg of the Dynamo's Western Conference Semifinal match-up versus FC Dallas. (Game guide.) I have already taken measures to record Channel 55 (The Tube) and to charge up my Blackberry for on-the-spot updates.

Dynamo-Houston has owned Dallas this year. That does not make me comfortable whatsoever. Dallas has a lot of talent at midfield (Toja, Ricchetti, Alvarez, and even Denilson if he decides to finally show up) and some potentially dangerous strikers (Alvarez again and even Ruiz, who has been anemic so far but may be saving it up for the playoffs). Their defense is suspect, but at times so is our striking ability.

The good news is that the players don't seem to be taking FCD lightly. Of course, one may sometimes say the right things, but deep down feel comfortable enough that it affects one's game.

I'm hoping for at least a 1 goal advantage on the road, then increasing our headway in Robertson next week. You with me?

And did you vote for GOTY today?

Goal of the Year

Following up on the previous post on Dynamo goals, the MLS GOTY contest has begun, with several Dynamo in the running:

Davis Week 12 (June)
Holden Week 14 (July)
Ngwenya Week 15 (July)
DeRo Week 16 (July)

I believe the choices include all of the GOTW winners, plus some extras. (Parkhurst's shot from the halfway line in the final week, for instance, lost to Dichio's spinning volley the same week, but both are candidates for GOTY.)

Here's a summary of the rules:

Who scored the best goal of the 2007 MLS season? You, the fans, have been tasked with helping us narrow down 34 great goals down to five finalists and then deciding the winner. Check out the goals below and and make your selection. There are three rounds of voting with this first round concluding on Oct. 31. You may vote up to 10 times a day, but may vote for only one goal at a time. The winner will be announced on Nov. 16. Note: if you are under the age of 18, you must choose to not receive email communication in order to vote.

So vote early and often! (And if you're torn, you can't go wrong with Ngwenya's skillful shot; long range missles aren't the only way to define a quality shot.)

2007 Regular Season Goals

Dynamo Houston scored 43 goals this past season. The "Climbing the Ladder" blog posted the highlight top 10 goals for the team on Youtube. Here they are (turn the sound down if, like me, you hate rap):


I'd swap #1 and #2, but other than that, can't argue too much.

Well, the good news is...

Games like last night's Dynamo-Chivas match are exercises in frustration. (Recap.) We're up a man (a gift from the referee if you ask me) and we muster loads of possession, but not a single goal. When a good team has a man advantage, that should mean at least a goal, right? Not with the Dynamo, as proven this year versus RBNY, Colorado, Toronto, and Columbus (the last two being in Houston). In fact, when the red card was issued I said aloud, "This one's ending in a scoreless tie."

Last night the finishing touch was off, but often so was the touch to set up the finishing touch. With Jesse Marsch out, I thought D-Ro would have a field day. Instead, he was marked tightly the whole night and never had room to do anything, and his rhythm was taken from him. After going a man up, he had better play, but even so, the real problem wasn't what happened at center midfield, it was what happened (or didn't happen) along the flanks and in the attacking third. It's a frustratingly frequent occurrence with the Dynamo: they come up impotent in the final third. As Lark Howorth bluntly put it,"the Dynamo played with a passionate incompetence."

Although the big problem was in the attacking end, we were pushing forward so hard that our back line was sometimes unorganized and gave Chivas some extremely dangerous opportunities. In fact, the best save of the night wasn't on the 10-man side, it was Onstad stopping a point blank blast from Klejstan on a counter in stoppage time. Still, I thought Mullan did extremely well as the right back shutting down Maykel Galindo. On the other side of the field, it's a bit unnerving to see Wade Barrett being subbed out. An injury to him would make things harder in the playoffs.

Let's not dwell on the loss, because there were some good things to come from the match:
1) Not having home field advantage isn't that big of a problem. Why do I say that? Because this team excels when its back is up against the wall. Give the team an advantage (like going a man up), and it struggles. Give them obstacles to overcome, and the players meet the challenge.

2) We now play FC Dallas in the first round. Despite having had Dallas' number since the founding of the Dynamo, and particularly this season, FCD will not be a pushover. In fact, they might be gunning for us particularly hard. The Rico incident and the loss of El Capitan can be avenged in their minds if they end our season. Still, you've got to like the match up between the two sides, particularly since we play the second match in Robertson on Friday, November 2. The Dynamo should have no trouble getting up for this match. How will the paroled criminal, Carlos Ruiz, be greeted?

3) After the FCD match...If Chivas gets by KC, we'll face an overconfident Chivas at the HDC. We haven't won there, so we're due. If Chivas falls to KC, we face KC in Robertson. Our home record in vital games like these is stellar. We're 0-1-1 versus the Wizards in Houston; again, we're due.

4) Winning 5 games in a row is very difficult (RSL, Chivas, then the two-leg semis assumed to be 1 game, then the Conference finals, then the MLS Cup). Now we have to win only 3 games in a row. Much easier statistically.

5) With the shutout, we have officially set the record for fewest goals conceded in a season (23 beats the 29 goal record held by LA, KC, and San Jose). We have also set a record for fewest goals conceded per game (0.766 gpg, versus 0.906 gpg held by LA and KC). As far as our performance compared to other teams just this season: our goal differential is +20, second only to DC United's +22 goal differential this season. We've also had 13 clean sheets this season (11 for Onstad, 2 for Wells). Onstad's shutout record is behind only Guzan's 13 shutouts for Chivas USA this season.

6) Ianni didn't get sent off. His tackle on Galindo in the 68th minute or so was nearly identical to the one that got Chivas' Vaughn sent off. It was an unnecessary and foolish tackle at that point, yet the young and inexperienced Ianni was lucky to not have made his team suffer any consequences, which would have been particularly difficult given Robinson and Cochrane were already out. This protects our depth in central defense for the next match.

7) Dom Kinnear managed to soothe Preki's feelings before leaving LA. Dom had a beef with Preki's assistant coach, who was lobbying the referee hard to have a Dynamo player kicked out of the game. After the game, Dom shook Preki's hand, but wanted nothing to do with the assistant coach. Preki stuck up for his assistant, and he and Dom got into a heated argument before being separated. In a post-game interviews, Dom said he went over and talked to Preki afterwards to smooth over the incident, and Preki mentioned that it was a minor incident and he has the utmost respect for Dom. This is good for two reasons: it demonstrates yet again how we are blessed with a mature, respectable coach; and it doesn't give Preki any "locker room fodder" to get his troops more motivated than they will normally be should we meet them in the conference championship.

First things first: the FCD series starts this week. We don't have to beat them in both legs, but we should really focus on leaving Frisco with nothing less than a tie, then finishing them off here in Houston. Then again...maybe we need to lose to them in Frisco in order to get the job done here in Houston. You know, part of that "obstacles to overcome" strategy. Go Dynamo!

All the marbles

Tonight we face Chivas in a match that will decide the Western Conference. (Game guide.) Winner takes the conference and home field advantage, with a tie being the same as a win for Chivas. Dynamo will be without key defensive core players with Robinson (red card), Cochrane (yellow accumulation), and Clark (suspension) all out. Bernardo Fallas reports that Dominic Kinnear will use Ianni in the center (natch), move Waibel alongside him, push Mullan to right back (interesting...), with Holden as right midfielder and D-Ro and Mulrooney as the AM and DM, respectively.

Something else to watch: should the Dynamo hold Chivas to 4 or fewer goals tonight, then we set a record for fewest goals conceded in a season (current record: 29) and fewest goals per game conceded in a season (current record: 0.906 goals per game). We currently have conceded 23 goals. Should we allow no more than 27, then we'll have a 0.9 gpg ratio.

Back to the results: While I'm of the opinion that the Dynamo might do better if they don't have the cushy road to the MLS Cup, I'm also of the opinion that winning is always good. Win or lose tonight, though, we can't lose after tonight if we want to reach the MLS Cup. (Technically we could lose one leg of the conference semis and make up the difference in the other leg, but let's not go that route.)

So, if we win tonight, we will play either the Rapids, Fire, Wizards, or Galaxy in the first round of the playoffs next week. If we lose, we face a vengeful FC Dallas in the first round playoff series. I wonder how much Carlo Ruiz would be booed in our home leg of that series.

Go Dynamo!

Pilgrimage to the Cathedral of (US) Soccer

This past week, business took me to Southern California. Luckily, there was an MLS game during my stay and I was able to finally visit the much heralded "Cathedral of the MLS" -- aka the Home Depot Center.

I haven't been to many MLS stadia, which I hope to rectify over time. I've been to Robertson (of course) and the Cotton Bowl (which the Burn have since vacated), so I don't have much to compare to the HDC. It is a very nice facility and easily better than the Dynamo's home. The seating is nice, with excellent sight lines. The luxury suites are, well, luxurious and of the highest standard. (I swear I saw a shaggy B-list star in one, but I just can't place the face exactly.) There are lots of snack bars, lots of Galaxy-related artwork festooning the place, and restrooms that don't look like they belong in a backwater prison. The field is large (which I prefer) and pristine -- no sign of the X-games on this night.

I came across a parking lot that was down Victoria Street a bit, along Birch Knoll Dr. It posted a $15 fee, which is $5 more than the stadium parking around Robertson. I thought parking any closer to the stadium would involve even higher costs, so I took it. This involved quite a hike through the campus of California State University-Domnguez Hills, and across the parking lots fronting the eastern edge of the stadium. Thankfully, the weather was cool and crisp.

I circled the stadium before finding will call (at the North Gate if you're interested). I got in line just as the gates opened, an hour and a half before game time. A couple from San Jose was in front of me and noticed the Dynamo hat and shirt I was sporting. We got to talking about the old Earthquakes, the new team starting out in San Jose next year, and how we hoped RBNY would end LA's dream that night. The couple had been to several Quake games before the move. They would travel down to watch them play LA in the HDC. In LA, they were able to stay with other supporters in the same hotel as the team, and would even have drinks with the players after the game in the hotel lounge. On Sundays when the Reserve team had a game, the fans would mingle with the first team players and their families in a picnic-style environment at an ordinary field where the game was held. Sounds like good times, and I can clearly see why the fans were sad to see the team go.

But while the fan support was ardent, it wasn't widespread. The couple mentioned that there were season openers where only 6,000 people showed up, and there was absolutely no media coverage whatsoever. They have been really impressed with how the team has been accepted by the Houston fans and covered by the Houston media. Last year the couple rooted for the Dynamo, but this year they said the team was Houston's team, and they're looking forward to next year's return of the Quakes. They do hope they're able to pilfer a few of their former players though.

I took a counter-clockwise ramble around the stadium. Besides the concessions and souvenirs, there were vendor booths and a local band was playing -- kind of like what Houston has outside its stadium. I grabbed one of the free t-shirts commemorating Cobi Jones' career (this being Cobi's final regular season home game appearance before retirement). I saw Rob Stone walking up the stairs from the field, then found a booth selling Guinness, Harps, and Smithwick's. For $9 a pop, it's only $2 more than the usual stadium swill, so I had to partake of a "Smithicks."

Sipping my drink I stood above the field level seats, not far from the supporters' corner, and watched the Galaxy warm up. Beckham was there, but not with the starting team. He was just booting the ball around, mostly with Chris Albright. I was actually standing at about ground level, with the field and seating section below me having been dug out of the ground. The field level seats are built on concrete terraces. The sidelines sport actual chairs, while the corners and areas behind the goals have metal bleachers with seatbacks. The second tier (which is on only the eastern side of the stadium) have a metal base and the same bleachers with backs. I moseyed up to my seats in the second tier: Section 234, Row PP, Seat 25. I was 4 rows from the top, right on the aisle.

The crowd was very light, even by time the teams and refs were trooping out onto the field. An American Idol contestant (Kimberly Caldwell? Never heard of her.) sang the Star Spangled Banner well, if way too slowly. Then there was a tribute to Cobi and his career. The video screen displayed well wishes from current and past teammates. Cheers rang out for Kevin Hartman, Sigi Schmidt, and especially Mauricio Cienfuegos. Boos rang out for Steve Sampson. Alexi Lalas and Don Garber (mild boos here) made some trite on-field comments, and then Paul Caliguiri, Eric Wynalda (more boos), and Alexi posed for a picture with Cobi. With the chill in the air, it was no surprise seeing the RBNY players passing the ball around in their half rather than participating in the ceremony. After a while, even the Gals started kicking the ball around trying to keep warm.

When the game actually started, the seats were filling up. I sat next to a family of Galaxy supporters, and behind a guy from NJ who was pulling for RBNY (though he also cheered for Becks and even Edson Buddle). There were a lot of youth soccer teams in the crowd. Being on the metal-floored second tier, the footstomping of the crowd seemed especially loud. Throughout the game, the chants of the supporters' group (just below me and to my left) were spirited, and the crowds cheers, jeers, and footstomping was raucous. I thought there was a good atmosphere.

RBNY came out seeking the early goal, but the match was filled mostly by poor passing and poor touch from both teams, and no rhythm by either team. Inattentive defending led to good opportunities for both teams. LA took the lead first off a blown corner kick, but RBNY's Jozy Altidore evened the score soon after on an unmarked header. The Galaxy wisely covered Juan Pablo Angel tightly, but he still had many opportunities, and missed at least two that he should have finished. Even with those fluffs, JPA looked to be a level above the rest of the players on the field.

Oh yeah, David Beckham came in around the 68th minute. I suppose a few people cheered at this event and a few flashbulbs went off in the crowd. His first two plays were a missed header then a foul from a poor tackle. His corners showed that he's a bit rusty, so it was good that he got some minutes in.

The score ended in a draw, so the Galaxy's chances for a post-season berth remain solid, tragically.

On the long walk back to my car, I asked a couple if the crowd was usually that lively. They said that the crowd was larger and louder than usual. Usually they're "pretty laid back except after a goal." They also said they hope they face Houston in the playoffs rather than Chivas. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of a mediocre Galaxy team making the MLS playoffs, with the media spotlight on the team throwing all other teams into the shadow of its mediocrity. If a team that bad is competing in the championship, the other teams must be worse, right? No, it's better if the "Superclub" sits out this post-season and waits until they're truly worthy of the spotlight. It will be better for the reputation of the league and for the status Galaxy as well. They would be better off rebuilding for the next season. If they want to be revered as the best, they had better be able to live up to the hype and not rely on skating by due to flukish results and a faulty MLS post-season structure. If they want be be respected, they need to be respectable.

At least they have a first class facility.

Breaking the Salt Lake jinx

On Monday I had to sit in the "business center" of the Hilton Garden Inn-Rancho Bernardo, watching the match feed for the Dynamo-RSL game (game guide) and reading the BigSoccer play-by-play on the hotel computer. Despite playing on fake turf and missing Ching, D-Ro, and of course Clark, we managed to eke out our first victory in Salt Lake. (Game recap.) I watched the taped match when I returned to Houston on Friday. It was indeed ugly in terms of play and in terms of aesthetics, both sins chiefly attributed to the playing surface. Lark had some great observations in his blog.

I had heard how Holden's goal was a blown cross deflected into the goal by a stubby Nick Rimando, but in watching the goal it look much more impressive than it sounded. I'm thinking that a young Stuart Holden will be one of the players we protect in the San Jose expansion in the off-season.

The worst part of the game was the fact that we've lost Cochrane (yellow card accumulation) AND Eddie Robinson (bogus red card) for the final regular season game versus Chivas. The winner takes the top spot for the Western Conference and maintains home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A tie gives Chivas the top spot. Can we beat Chivas on its home field, where it has lost only once this year? And do we want to beat them? We dominate at home, for sure; but we also seem to prosper when the cards are stacked against us. Regardless, wins are always good. Let's win the next 5 games: the Season finale, both Conference semis, the Conference final, and the MLS Cup...that'll do it.

Salt Lakers - the trap game

Chivas surprisingly fell to a 10-man Colorado team today. I think this is the 2nd game in a row that Colorado played (and won) short-handed. Last week they played with 9 men for a stretch.

What does this mean? It means that if we win at Salt Lake tomorrow, the winner of the Chivas-Houston game next Saturday will be first in the Western Conference and will maintain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That'd be a nice place to be for the Dynamo, since they do so well at home; but ... do we want all home games? That would give the Dynamo an apparent edge, and that might be a problem. You see, the team seems to perform better under adversity. Should they have what looks to be an easy path (though it never is), the irony is that the Dynamo would probably stumble. Maybe we should hope they don't get home field advantage. They'd then play with a chip on their shoulder and may progress farther.

For instance, tomorrow they should easily beat RSL. The Salt Lakers are struggling and are experimenting with next year's lineup. Yet, Dynamo-Houston is notorious in its struggles versus bottom feeders. Give us the creme de la creme and we'll hold our own, but goodness, not the dregs! Lark Howorth has a similar take on this strange facet of the team.

Besides home field advantage, coming first in the Conference means nothing. It's not like finishing first in the Western Conference makes a team the Conference Champion. That only comes from winning the Conference Championship, which is the match just prior to the MLS Cup. One match determines the Conference champion, just like one match determines the MLS Champion. Ridiculous...particularly because a team like LA with a losing record can still win it.

Speaking of the vile Galaxy: I'm in the LA area this week for business, so I'm planning on watching the Red Bulls take on the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center this Thursday. That'd be my first trip to the Tool Box (or at least my first trip beyond the road that runs around the parking lot), so I'm looking forward to it. I'll be pulling for the RBNY to end the Gals "dream run."

Here's hoping that the Dynamo can put away the Salt Lakers tomorrow night. Dynamo should easily triumph; therefore, they will struggle. I can't explain it, but that's the way the team seems to roll. Go Dynamo (and RBNY?)!

Offside enforcement for the betterment of the game

I enjoyed this editorial from usssoccerplayers.com. The subject is on how MLS referees should understand the spirit of the Offside law and use it as a tool not only to prevent the game from degrading into skill-less kickball (the original intent of the law), but also to encourage creative, attacking play.

The editorialist uses an incident during the recent Chivas USA - FCD goalless draw as an example. I have to agree that, as in baseball, ties should go to the offense in order to err on the side of attacking (which is by nature creative, since the opposition will not create the opportunities for you), rather than to err on the side of stodgy defense (which, though a necessary and admirable skill, is still destructive since it seeks to undo what the opposition is creating). This could also have the side effect of slightly increasing the goals in a game due to increasing the number of goal-scoring opportunities in a game -- and that would help the game in the US.

(As an aside, we Dynamo fans should relish this draw as it keeps the Dynamo safely in the top four of the league, thus ensuring our berth in SuperLiga next year, while still keeping Chivas USA within reach of us...for now. This is a short term benefit, but a long-term benefit would arise from enforcing the spirit rather than the strictest letter of the offside law. Such a policy could help improve the style of play league-wide by creating more attacking opportunities and forcing defenders to improve their marking, tackling, and decision-making skills. The risk is that defenders will be put in more desperate situations and resort to Ty Harden-style fouling tactics -- brutality over skill.)

Other ways changes in enforcement could have a positive effect on the game: allowing cards to be issued for gamesmanship (e.g. diving, intentional handballs, pushing/pulling) based on video review after a match. While post-facto review wouldn't reverse an injustice committed in a previous match, it should serve as a deterrent and would ensure that those who bring disrepute to the game are punished. Belated punishment is better than none. Violators would sit out future matches for severe fouls (as with any red card) or if there has been an accumulation of such incidents (like any Yellow accumulation would do). The details of such a policy would need to be worked out, preventing fickle punishments and perhaps dictating that such punishments would have to be announced within a certain period (perhaps 5 days or so) after the match, but that is minutiae that could be easily determined.

BTW, ussoccerplayers.com is a great website that I've just stumbled across within the past month or so. Under the "Exclusives" tab you can find some great editorials on various facets of the game.

SuperLiga, here we come!

With the draw between Chivas and FCD last night, we are locked into the top 4 teams for the season. Dallas could have passed us had they won this game and their next, final, game had we lost both of our remaining games. But the draw keeps us in the top 4, which means we're playing in the SuperLiga next season. That's exciting news that hopefully will pan into a SuperLiga championship for us in 2008.

Back to 2007: while we're locked into the top 4, we're not locked at #4. If we win out, we'll have 54 points, a point total that DC United has already reached with 2 games to play. The other top 4 teams, Chivas USA and New England, are ahead of us, but haven't gotten to 54 points yet. With 2 wins, we'll pass up New England should they lose but one of their remaining two games (vs Columbus and Toronto, neither particularly formidable) and we'll pass up Chivas should they lose both of their remaining two games (vs Colorado and Dynamo-Houston).

To make any of these even possible, we need to win out. Even if we don't gain ground on the other top 4, we should win out anyway, just because it's the right thing to do when you're the class of the league.

A Craptastic ending to a craptastic week

Well, the Dynamo once again stumbled against an inferior foe. We had two goals this afternoon: 1. get three points and 2. keep a clean sheet to get a step closer to the defensive record.

We failed on both counts.

And once again, we failed to secure a win against a weak team. This happens too often for it to be coincidence. Do the Dynamo look at the stats and play conservatively against bottom feeders, thinking it'll be enough? If you ask them, of course they'll deny it. They may not even realize they're doing it; but the fact is, whether it's RLS, Colorado, Toronto, or LA, we have proven to be less than a top tier team.

Who is "top tier"? I would put DC, Dynamo, and Chivas USA (this year) into that category. New England may be there too, based solely on their consistency though not in their style of play.

But, while teams of the top tier may have the occasional letdown, those letdowns are few and far between. The Dynamo lose too often versus poor teams. In the MLS, even the top tier are not so far ahead that they can relax versus the mediocre or the pathetic. In fact, there are few teams that can do that in any league in the world.

Of course, as with any player of any sport, in pre-game interviews, the Dynamo will say their weak opponent is "dangerous" and that the Dynamo will remain focused during the game and "can't afford to let up"; but the team had better start believing it to their core and better learn that they have to play the full 90 versus every team, regardless of where the opponent is in the standings. Otherwise, crap like today's 1-2 loss to the Galaxy will happen.

What a crappy week. We've lost Rico for the season and then some, the Longhorns lost to OU, Brian Ching hurt himself (I would assume) before the game, the pathetic Galaxy can continue their obnoxious late season resurgence, and we fall further behind in the "race for the SuperLiga."

I've said it before: the media spotlight on the Galaxy means a good Galaxy is good for the league. But the fact is: the Galaxy are a pathetic team. Even if they win all of their remaining games, they'll have a losing record and don't deserve a place in the playoffs. If a crappy team like LA can make it to the playoffs, then a crappy team like LA can even win the MLS Cup. That a losing record could still get a team into that realm is a perfect argument for the meaninglessness of the MLS Cup as a way of determining a champion...and is more fodder for the argument that the MLS is bush league.

I've stewed about this all the way home from the game. I'm mad that the Dynamo did not get the 3 points they need, I'm mad that the Dynamo lost versus an inferior team, I'm mad that the Galaxy can still get into the post-season, I'm mad that Abby-O is such an incompetent ref, and I'm mad that we allowed 2 goals at home versus crap forwards. Heck, I'm mad that our fans are sometimes fools: down a goal and with time as our enemy, don't throw things onto the field to delay the game. Are you stupid?

I'm just mad.

1...2...3...4...5...

Okay, relax; there are some things that make this not so bad…

First, we were a long shot for winning the Western Conference, primarily due Chivas getting the job done and to our past failure to snag points against LA, Colorado, Real Salt Lake, Toronto, Chicago, and even our home game against New England when we outplayed the visitors but didn't have the quality finishing necessary to put the game away. And how about not being able to get more than a point against the Crew -- the Crew! -- at home? We should never lose at home, especially with the silver ball. Dang, I'm getting mad again. Okay, my point is this was a long shot, so not much lost here.

Second, only FCD can knock us out of the top 4. Why is this important? Well, the top 4 teams get to compete in next year's SuperLiga. The possibility that FCD can knock us out is remote. FCD has to win its final 2 games and we have to lose both of ours in order for us to be ousted from this group. All we need to do is tie one in order to claim this honor.

Third, we are still on track to set the record for best defense in terms of goals conceded. If we allow 4 or fewer goals in our next two games, we set the record for fewest goals conceded in a season, and fewest goals conceded per game. For some reason, I want this badly.

Fourth, it was a good environment today. The weather ranged from breezy and cool to humid and hot to rainy and cool. That quite a range in only 90 minutes.

The Dynamo Girls had a funny skit based on Posh Spice and the Spice Girls. Best line from the announcer: "That move [by Diesel] is better than anything we've seen from Beckham this year." But the best extra-curricular item was the "Real Men of Genius" song at halftime. The two guys sounded like the actual singers; I wonder if they were. I want to hear their song on the radio sometime.

There was a sign on the western side of the stadium that said "We [heart] the Dynamos." I really wish people would know not to add an "s" if they’re making signs.

You know what? There is a lot of room in those handicapped access rows. Yet you're still close to the action.

I need to read up on Ching. I saw him warming up with the "starting" group and Mullan with the "sub" group, but Ching wasn't even on the bench come game time. Reading Bernardo Fallas' blog I see Ching had a tight back. Hopefully he's 100% come next week, because we're apparently not the attacking threat without him.

Okay, deep breath. It'll be all right. The Dynamo have been brought back to earth (not that they had any reason to be over confident) and will get at least 4 points out of their next two games. They'll qualify for SuperLiga 2008 and be poised to make a run for the MLS Cup. We might also hear exciting news about a new stadium.

It'll be all right...

Ending the Gal's "miracle" run

Okay, with all eyes on the LA Beckhams, a good LA team would be good for the league. But the fact is, LA is NOT a good team, and if they were to continue their miracle run (which really isn't all that miraculous given the teams its been playing) and eke into the playoffs, well that would be bad for the league.

LA is 7-13 (with 6 draws). That is not a good team. That's not even a mediocre team. On Sunday, Dynamo-Houston can do the MLS a big favor by permanently ending LA's run. It also helps that the Dynamo would also help themselves with the 3 points.

Here's how the LA Times sums up the final stretch we face with Chivas USA:
Houston has three games left, Chivas four. To clinch the West before the Oct. 20 game against Houston, Chivas would need to build at least a four-point lead. Thus the Dynamo can keep its hopes alive by winning its next two games, even if Chivas wins its next three. If the teams finish tied for first, Houston holds the tiebreaker because it has beaten Chivas twice this season.

So Chivas needs help before the season finale, and the Galaxy could provide it.

Chivas would be in a position to clinch first place in the conference if Houston loses one of its next two games or ties both and Chivas manages two wins and a draw in its next three -- two of which are road games, starting with tonight's game.

It would be nice to make the final game versus Chivas the match that decides the Western Conference Champion. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if the winner of that game loses the successive match in the playoffs. That's how things work.

But first things first: we need to beat the Galaxy here and take the 3 points. We need it to improve our playoff position, but also to ensure we're in the top 4 of the league for SuperLiga 2008.

Tomorrow I'm sitting in a different row of chairs. I'm still in Section 118, but I'm in the "Handicap Access" rows on the edge of the walkway at the top of the sideline sections. Due to the crowds, that will be a very strange place to sit: I imagine the seats will have lots of room, but a lot of lingering pedestrians too.

The Banning of Clark; The Empowering of "El Peccadillo"

Thursday, the PTB of the MLS spoke, saying: "I have decided that it is necessary to take firm action to reflect the fact that Ricardo Clark's violent kick to Carlos Ruiz in last weekend's game against FC Dallas, while out of character, is unacceptable behavior from an MLS player. In taking this action, Major League Soccer is sending a signal that it will not accept reckless and dangerous behavior on its fields. If there is a repeat of this kind of behavior by any MLS player, even firmer sanctions can be expected in the future. I hope and believe that Ricardo Clark will reflect on and learn from his mistake and become a better professional as a result."

Then he (they?) suspended Clark for 9 games and fined him $10,000.

Oh, here's the voice mail that Don Garber left on Ricardo Clark's machine last Thursday:

...oh, there's the beep. These machines are tricky sometimes. Uh, Rico, Don here. I just wanted to let you know that one sin we cannot abide is a momentary slip into passion -- well, we encourage passion, of course, just certain types of passion. Anyway, it would be better if you wouldn't be so obvious with your violence. Regular violence done subtly is fine; and who cares if it's selfishly motivated? Just none of that "moment of provoked weakness" stuff, okay? Please try to conceal it a bit better, and remember: violence should be a tool to enhance your game and give you an edge. Use it insidiously for the betterment of the game.

Oh, and next time just break his leg in the run of play. Even if you cause a career-ending injury, we'd have suspended you only 2 games -- just ask Hristo. See ya, and good luck in the play-offs -- oops, didn't mean to rub it in.

The Internet boards are lit up with Ruiz-haters defending Clark, pacifists denouncing Clark, and wizened journalists shaking their heads sagely and reprimanding Clark for not being the professional that they are. The only journalist who has taken up a position that I agree with (including even our hometown journalists) is Ives Galarcep, who has had several blog posts about this incident. Here is one that summarizes his viewpoint.

Ives pretty much sums up my thoughts.

I think Clark's punishment was excessive. Throwing an elbow or a series of punches to someone's face is more malicious that a single kick to the arm. As violent as the kick looks (especially in dramatic slow-motion), it's pretty mild despite the histrionic lamentations of many viewers. It certainly doesn't warrant a third of the season. You wouldn't see a baseball player get suspended for 53 games or a basketball player suspended for 26 for something like that.

Maybe I watch too many Die Hard movies and I've become inured; or maybe others are too effete. Probably neither. I just think there is greater violence and greater injustice in the world and in the world of sports. Even in the game of soccer I think there are things that bring greater disrepute to the game.

Clark was definitely foolish though, and his violence should be punished. That's why I thought a 6 match ban would be appropriate punishment, plus a fine. That's what Sala earned for his participation in a post game melee. And for the record, I think brawling is more violent, more dangerous, and more disreputable than a single kick to the arm.

Also, I think that the cause of the violence explains the incident a little, and perhaps attenuates the degree of disgust associated with the violence. When violently victimized, it's natural to lash out. Is it the right thing to do? No, but it's understandable.

And the cause of Clark's violence was a punch to the kidneys administered by Ruiz.

Even with the replay, it is hard to determine Ruiz's wrongdoing. He's good at what he does and has learned how to hide his peccadilloes. You can't see anything from the Internet feeds--or at least I can't. I had to slow down the slow-mo DVR replay on my big screen TV to see the progression. When the ball is kicked, everyone (except Ruiz) is focused on playing the ball. Ruiz is focused on another target, Clark. Ruiz makes an unnatural movement with his harm that looks to be a jab or punch to Clark's side. Clark immediately collapses. Clark wasn't watching Ruiz (he was doing what you're supposed to do: playing the ball), so he wouldn't have known to "dive" then; his fall was caused by the strike. Only after Ruiz had violently dispatched Clark did Ruiz attempt to play the ball.

When Clark's momentary lapse of reason led to a kick to Ruiz's arm, Ruiz must have been elated. This created another opportunity for the Soccer Con Man. The shot to the arm obviously was harmless because Ruiz was able to go to his Plan B (every con man has a back up). He grabbed his head and rolled around in an attempt to exaggerate his own "victimization" by his former punching bag, thus masking his own earlier assault and possibly drawing a PK.

Clark could have kicked Ruiz several more times before others restrained the Dynamo midfielder. Multiple strikes are typical of hooligan activity -- but Clark didn't, because this wasn't hooliganism. It was a one-time momentary lapse of reason brought about by stress.

The major difference between Ruiz's violence and Clark's is that Ruiz's violence was premeditated and with the sole intent of gaining an advantage for himself. Clark's violence was emotional and in reaction to being wronged. Neither action was right, but a moment's weakness after being wronged is much less offensive than a pre-planned assault designed for selfish gain. Ergo, Ruiz deserves equal if not more punishment.

As for the violence itself, people can be easily swayed by the drama of a kick, but it can be argued that a kick to a fleshy arm is less dangerous than a sucker punch to the back/side.

And this has nothing to do with Ruiz's past antics. This is based on the actions and violence of THIS incident. (Although repeat offenders should be punished more harshly.)

Clark's violence should be punished, no doubt; but I find Ruiz's incessant cheating and continual violent conduct (which has, disgustedly, been refined to a subtle art) to bring repeated disrepute to the game. His transgressions go far beyond diving; his nickname should change from "El Pescadito" to "El Peccadillo".

Ruiz should be punished no less than Clark, and his cynical machinations should not give his team any advantage over potential opponents in the post-season. I don't think a Clark-less Dynamo should have to face a Ruiz-led FCD in the playoffs...not that Ruiz brings much to the pitch these days.

I am baffled how teams continue to put up with the stain that is Ruiz. But on the Internet, one can find many Ruiz-apologists to this day. This pleases Ruiz to no end, I'm sure; because without gullible folks, con men can't survive. His shenanigans could not continue without the MLS's, journalists', and even some fans' tacit blessing. They're all being conned, but the true victim is the game.

If the MLS truly wanted to end these incidents, it would go after the instigators. Instead, they let the criminals roam free to create more victims...and then the victims themselves are held to a separate standard when they react to the injustice that the criminals (and, by proxy, the MLS) have unleashed upon them.

So, if 9 games is the new standard for a momentary slip into rash violence, then so be it. Future offenders will have to be held to this ever-changing standard. But if Ruiz doesn’t get more than his standard 1 game suspension (on top of his 1 game for yellow accumulation), then he is giggling at the chaos he is able to sow…and others of his ilk are preparing their own surreptitious jabs and taunts in order to further undermine the game for their own personal gain.