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...