After captivating fans with his chronicle of the United States' men's national team in the past three World Cups, "Dying Bravely" filmmaker Nick Butler has produced another great piece, "Clint Dempsey - The Fighter." In my review of Butler's previous work, I praised his excellent ability to tell a story and reveal things that a casual fan may not have known - qualities he continued to exemplify in his latest montage.
The video revolves much around the early death of Clint's sister, Jennifer, a nationally-ranked tennis star in the works as well as emphasizing Clint's resilience. There's no doubt that soccer is a physical sport, but few players, nay athletes, have taken as many hard knocks as Dempsey. Among the most intriguing parts of the video was a shot of Clint in his high school yearbook. Asked where he'd hope to be in five years, Clint answered, "Playing professional soccer in Europe." Well, let's just say the Fulham starter went on to accomplish his goal.
Interestingly enough, the production was commissioned at the request of Dempsey's brother, Ryan, who was impressed with "Dying Bravely." Since it was uploaded on October 11, it has attracted over 7,200 views and struck a chord amongst soccer fans everywhere. The video was surely well-received by Ryan, who shipped an autographed cleat and sports bag signed by Clint himself.
"I meant it to be a gift to Clint, my sister, my family, and to people out there who have run into obstacles or tragedy on their journey to achieve their own goals," said Ryan Dempsey. "I wanted something that showed how close my brother and sister were so people could better understand the motivation behind Clint's success. But I also wanted it to show moments in the games where things weren't going Clint's way in order to demonstrate what it takes to keep fighting on. It's been said that soccer mirrors life in so many ways. In my opinion that's the main theme between the two."
"Over 90 minutes, mistakes will happen. Your body will get tired or hurt. That never automatically means that the game is over. Those that want it bad enough, will shut out the pain and will forget the mistakes and will continue towards their goal. Even if you don't win or acheive your goal, you want to be able to look back and say that you didn't quit. The pain that's caused by looking back and saying 'I didn't give it all I had when i had the chance' is worse than any physical or emotional pain you'll ever feel in a game."
Overall, the video cast a unique light on Dempsey, casting him as the hard worker that he is while touching on his emotional past. Butler actually included sound bites from Clint, as well as motivational recordings from the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Billy Bob Thornton. He continued to do a brilliant job of synchronizing the music and the clips, another element which interested Dempsey.
In the end, Ryan Dempsey and this blogger left with the same thought: What an amazing video made by an equally amazing filmmaker. "I'm hopin' Nick continues with his soccer career," advised Dempsey, "but also keeps the idea in the back of his head that maybe a career in film wouldn't be a bad idea."
The beauty of the Honda Superclasico is that no matter where L.A.'s teams sit in the standings, the rivalry remains. Tonight the L.A. Galaxy will play in what is considered a "road" game against Chivas USA, although the teams share the same arena, The Home Depot Center. For the Galaxy, a victory tonight is crucial in their support of the Supporter's Shield. On the contrary, Chivas USA, who is already eliminated from the playoffs, will try to earn their first victory over the Galaxy since 2007.
“These games are special in the sense that standings – where you are in the table – don’t really matter,” said Chivas USA left back Ante Jazic. “It’s just 90 minutes of battling and scrapping. We want to win this SuperClásico.”
For the Galaxy, three points would boost them back to first place in the Western Conference, as they currently trail Real Salt Lake by one point. The main objective will be to stay focused, particularly against a team like Chivas that has nothing to lose.
"With teams like this, there is nothing to lose," the Galaxy's Landon Donovan said. "We just have to make sure that they know we're the team that's headed to the playoffs."
What truly defines the Superclasico just as much as the rivalry is the atmosphere. With the match being broadcast nationally on ESPN2, this isn't just your typical MLS game.
“The atmosphere has a European flavor to it,” said Jazic. “Not just on the field, but in The Home Depot Center stands. Just the tension in the air is electric and everyone feels it. That’s special because it doesn’t happen often in MLS.”
Pride. Bad luck. Hope. Disappointment. Those are all descriptions of the past decade in U.S. Soccer. All those emotions are best captured in "Dying Bravely," an awesome chronicle of the United States' in the past three World Cups dating back to 2002.
For recent followers of the national team, the montage provides a brilliant prologue to South Africa. For long-time supporters, the video does an excellent job of recapturing the peaks and the valleys of the United States' journey.
The video also portrays recurring themes, notably the poor officiating the U.S. has suffered, in a truly fascinating way. It is lengthy in the sense that surpasses 11 minutes, but how else could one do justice to U.S. Soccer's pursuit? As Brian Strauss of AOL Fanhouse said, "It's well worth your time, and pays appropriate homage to a team well worth remembering."
The video has been posted on numerous soccer sites and even garnered a reaction from the national team's very own Stuart Holden, who commented on a soccer forum saying, "Cool video!! Thanks!"
I was so impressed with the video, I decided that to get in touch with the filmmaker. It turns out that the montage was produced by Nick Butler, a senior at Satusma High School - which is all the more impressive. Although he took breaks in between, Butler shared that he spent a month of his summer working on the montage. Personally, I wondered what motivated him to do so.
"One reason I was making videos was because I’m actually on a forum right now," Butler said. Every six or so months they do a video competition. I did one a previous year and I decided to do another one. I figured I’d do one about the USA getting in the World Cup."
After about two days, the video started attracting a plethora of views and promotion through Facebook and Twitter. Butler admits that he didn't expect his video to attract so much attention so rapidly, but he's quite pleased. Among those who noticed his video was the brother of a national team player, who has asked Butler to make a montage of his sibling. At this time, I can't disclose the specific player, but the video should be up in the next week.
Overall, the video is an amazing recollection of the United States successes and pitfalls, with a particular emphasis on the emotional aspect. Take the time to watch the montage - it's worth it.
No Thierry Henry. No problem. The New York Red Bulls strolled into Los Angeles and earned a 2-0 shutout of the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center, ending the Galaxy's three game unbeaten streak.
However, what is even more important than the final score is the atmosphere. For once, the hype surrounding a MLS game materialized. Finally, rather than feeling like a match in an inferior league, the game had a vibe filled with intensity. This is what soccer is supposed to feel like.
Being involved with sports and having lived in Los Angeles my entire life, I have seen games of all L.A. sports team besides the NHL's Kings and if you count them, the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim." From firsthand experience, I can say that, for the most part, the best atmosphere belongs to a Lakers game at Staples Center. On a night like this one, though, the L.A. Galaxy were the Lakers of the MLS - with just as much excitement in the crowd as at a Lakers game.
Sure, the Supporters' Section and Riot Squad are present at every home game. Yes, they are always quite literally drumming up support. But, unlike most MLS games, the Home Depot Center was hosting a sold-out crowd. Never mind that the L.A. Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, and the Red Bulls' Henry were missing. The 27,000 fans in attendance were hooting and hollering the entire evening.
At every game there are always passionate and knowledgeable fans asserting their thoughts (example: "C'mon so-and-so, tighten the back line"). In addition to having plenty of those types of fans in attendance, I sat next to the ultimate soccer type: a witty Englishmen, who always had something funny to say, albeit with a few curse words in between.
Among the many humorous things he shared:
"My son is better than you - and he's pretty bad"
"Forget club, you can't even ref AYSO"
To the Galaxy's goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts: "Ricketts, if I had a daughter she would marry you"
"There's a spot for you on Liverpool. You can play for England."
The Galaxy's match against the Columbus Crew on September 11 had a great vibe, too. After each and every one of the Galaxy's three goals were scored, the moments that ensued were somewhat surreal - the loud, celebratory music blasting while hugging and jumping up and down with the fans next to you.
Despite all that, though, the game versus the Red Bulls was just something else even if the Galaxy didn't score a single goal. Nothing can compare to the buzz during tonight's match; loud and continuous chants alongside the constant battering of thunder-sticks at a MLS game is a rarity - and a special treat at that.
This kind of intensity is exactly what American soccer needs. If it can continue to hype up rivalries and boast some big-name players here and there, the interest will only continue to skyrocket. It's crazy to think that about how exciting the atmosphere was when this was, in reality, just another regular season game. Imagine the intensity of a MLS Cup Final!
Harold Mayne-Nicholls, left, the head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, with Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. Soccer and chairman of the USA Bid Committee. Photo by Howard Smith, ISI
Will the United States host a World Cup? A question on everyone's mind and one that will be answered on December 2. Until then, one can only hope that the FIFA Inspection Delegation was impressed by what the U.S. has to offer. As Sunil Gulati, President of U.S. Soccer, said, "“I think virtually all decisions in our lives, when there are candidates or elections, come down to the ability to convince people. This was a technical inspection tour...Clearly some people will have made decisions between now and then, or have already made decisions."
There were many highlights of the Inspection Delegation's trip to America. The Delegation arrived in New York on Labor Day afternoon, greeted by a mass of enthusiastic children, I'll bet under "The Game Is In US" banners that were hanging on 55th Street. In the evening, they were treated to a warm reception at the St. Regis Hotel, featuring New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
One of the notable stops was Cowboys Stadium, where the delegates were accompanied by Cowgirls cheerleaders, walked around the stadium, and viewed a video on the largest high-definition video screen in the world. Asked to reflect on the visit, Gulati said, "Watching the reaction of the FIFA members, I would say they were overwhelmed."
Other memorable moments included a breakfast at the White House with senior staff of the Obama administration; appearances by U.S. men's national team manager, Bob Bradley, and ESPN soccer commentator and former national team captain, John Harkes, at a visit to George Mason University's training grounds; meeting the Houston Rockets' center, Yao Ming, during the Delegation's visit to Houston.
Despite having planned "an incredibly ambitious schedule" with visits to five cities across America in three days, David Downs, the Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee, shared that the tour was often five to ten minutes ahead of schedule.
Although Harold Mayne-Nicholls, head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, seemed mostly pleased with the inspection, he did mention concern over transportation. "There might be, on a later stage, additional needs for public transportation to cater to foreign fans," Mayne-Nicholls said.
However, Downs reassured that transportation would not be an issue. "It’s very easy, because of the capacity of our roadway system and the size of the parking lots in the stadiums, to institute shuttle bus service. My understanding is that the most recent Super Bowl, which took place in Miami at one of our stadiums, consisted of 900 shuttle buses both operating on loops from parking rides and going in and out of downtown Miami and downtown Fort Lauderdale service the capacity crowd and they were moving…30,000 people in and out of the stadium per hour, more than sufficient to handle the load of a World Cup match. So we don’t believe it will be a problem."
On the Bid Committee's side, Downs believes everything went well. Sure, it would have been great to go to a beautiful city like Seattle and watch a Sounders match, he admitted, but in spite of the time restraints, that was not possible. "The biggest regret is not so much what was specifically executed, but the fact that they were only here 3 ½ days and one of those days was a travel day."
Although the tour seems to have gone rather well, there are no guarantees for the United States. Many believe that FIFA will opt for a European nation to host the 2018 World Cup. In that case, the U.S. would be in a less competitive pool with South Korea, Qatar, Japan, and Australia for the 2022 bid. Even then, FIFA may decide to potential first-time hosts Qatar or Australia.
Nevertheless, with the United States having hosted a World Cup in 1994, a relatively recent time period, it is imperative that the Bid Committee emphasizes how much soccer has progressed in America in the last 16 years. Gulati gave his thoughts on the issue at the beginning of the tour, saying "I think some of the international community underestimates the passion for the game in the United States. When we start talking about the landscape in the U.S. they’re surprised by it. They are surprised that we have 16 teams and are growing in MLS. They are surprised that Americans were the No. 1 ticket buyers for the World Cup."
"They are surprised that you couldn’t get into bars in a lot of major cities at 10 a.m. to watch World Cup games. They’re surprised that the TV rights for the World Cup were the single largest in the world. When you look at all those things happening in a relatively short time since the 1994 World Cup, you can see the extraordinary success story. "
With the inspection over, the next phase for the Bid Committee is to prepare a presentation for FIFA, which will be shown on December 1, the day before the host nations will be declared. Downs has shared that fans can expect "big video elements" as well as some "impressive speakers." Hopefully, the United States can capitalize on its "many strengths."
Both stars saw action in the Galaxy's 3-1 victory on Saturday nightThe Galaxy no longer share first place, proving why they are the best team in the MLS with a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center. Both clubs, the leaders of the Western and Eastern Conference, entered the game tied with 44 points. However, the night belonged to the Galaxy, who benefited from the return of Juninho and David Beckham.
Juninho, who had been out for personal reasons, did a brilliant job of finding his unmarked teammates. When asked about his return, manager Bruce Arena said "He’s an excellent player. We really missed him...Tonight he played well, and obviously it’s great to get him back.”
Instead of conceding early goals to the opponent, the Galaxy were the ones who came out aggressive. In the 13th minute, Edson Buddle scored from the top of the box off an assist from Landon Donovan. Buddle, who leads the league in goals scored, earned his 14th goal of the season.
Fans really knew their team was playing well when Dema Kovalenko scored, his first goal with the Galaxy. Landon Donovan threaded a pass to Kovalenko, who found the net in the 35th minute. Kovalenko, renowned for his feisty tackles, is not known as a goal-scoring threat. The assist was also Donovan's second of the game, raising his league-leading number of assists to 14.
Arena began the second half by substituting Chris Birchall for Edson Buddle. The move was solely for precautionary reasons, as Buddle was feeling cramps in his legs. "He is ready to go and will be fine," Arena reassured.
The Galaxy's offense continued, nonetheless. In the 55th minute, Galaxy midfielder Alex Cazumba lobbed a free kick from about 40 yards toward the far post, connecting with Jovan Kirovski for a header.
In the 70th minute, David Beckham, who had not played for the Galaxy this season due to a torn Achilles tendon, returned to a standing ovation. Beckham had not played a MLS game for 289 days, his last match being the MLS Cup Final on November 22, 2009. Although he proved some rust in receiving a yellow card after only four minutes, his passing was excellent as usual.
After the game, Arena dwelled on the Englishman's presence. “David’s presence helps our team in the locker room, on the training field and on game day," Arena said. "It is remarkable that he is back on the field in this short period of time. September 15th is six months, and at his age, to put in the kind of effort to come back and for the players to see that is inspirational to the team.”
Unfortunately for the team, the Galaxy would not leave with a shutout. The Crew's Andres Mendoza, who entered the game as a sub in the 63rd minute, made the most of his one-on-one with Galaxy goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts. He scored the Crew's lone goal in the 85th minute.
Buddle gave his thoughts on sole possession of the top spot. “We’ve led the league all year and we wanted to hold on to that. Who knows what the mood would have been like if we would have lost that game and let Columbus take the lead," he said. Indeed, much to the Galaxy's pleasure, nobody will ever have to know.
Beckham (pictured above) may see some playing time against the Crew on Saturday night"This for us is a championship game," the Galaxy's Landon Donovan said. “If we want to be where we want to be, we need to have home-field [advantage] throughout the playoffs in the West, and this is a team we might play in the final if we get there. This is a very, very big game for us.”
Indeed, the game features a potential MLS Cup match-up, with both teams leading their conferences - and the league - with 44 points. Although the Galaxy were once far ahead of the competition, there is now a three-way tie for first place between the Galaxy, Crew, and Real Salt Lake. However, as Donovan pointed out, a tight race to the finish might actually be a good thing.
“This is good that it’s happened this way," Donovan said. "It’s good now that we have some competition. For a long time we’ve been six, eight, 10 points ahead of everybody and it makes you relax a little bit.”
In addition to MLS Cup implications and bragging rights, the match may also mark the return of David Beckham. Beckham, who was activated from the disabled list earlier this week, has not appeared in a game for the club since last season's MLS Cup on November 22, 2009 after suffering a tear in his left Achilles tendon nearly six months ago.
“I think I could possibly be on the bench,” Beckham said Thursday.
Ultimately, whether or not Beckham plays is up to manager Bruce Arena. Unfortunately for the Galaxy and its fans, Arena did not share the same optimism as Becks. On the prospect of Beckham getting playing time: “I don’t think that’s likely," Arena said.
With or without Beckham, if the Galaxy are still after the Supporter's Shield, they must step up their game. The team's last win came nearly a month ago, a 1-0 road victory on August 14 against the New York Red Bulls, who featured their newly-minted designated player trio of Juan Pablo Angel, Thierry Henry, and Rafael Marquez.
Then again, the Galaxy are tied for best in the MLS for a reason. “We’re not playing the best right now but someone once told me the standings don’t lie,” Donovan said. “Over the course of the season, we’ve been the best team – but right now we’re not playing the best. We still feel like we’re a team that’s good enough to win.”
The committee has scheduled a jam-packed itinerary for FIFA's inspectors. Obviously, Downs mentioned, three days is not much time to showcase the entire arsenal, but there will still be plenty of attractions to impress FIFA. Throughout their inspection, the delegation will visit New York, Washington D.C., Miami, Dallas, and Houston.
Obviously, there are many different opinions on whether or not extending Bob Bradley's contract was the right decision. Here are some excerpts of them:
From Ives Galarcep at Fox Soccer: The harsh reality is Bradley must do better over these next four years if he is going to prove Gulati’s decision to be the right one. He must construct a team better equipped to avoid the early-game blunders that have plagued the United States. He must rebuild his defense and he must continue his search for reliable goal-scoring talent. And when 2014 comes, if Bradley is still the head coach, he must learn from the lessons learned in 2010 and use that experience to build a team capable of reaching the levels many believe the U.S. men’s national team can reach.
From an interview with Fox Soccer's Christian Miles: "I think US Soccer made a good decision by extending Bradley's contract. Bradley is a fine and capable manager who fulfilled US expectations at South Africa. However, despite my personal admiration of the current US boss, who was able to get this current crop of players to closely realize it's potential, Juergen Klinsmann would have been an excellent choice to progress US Soccer. The German has demonstrated his ability to lead a national program through his efforts four years ago, while guiding his native country to the World Cup semifinals."
I don't think it's a matter of foreign versus American, rather it's who is the best man for the job. Klinsmann is not a typical foreigner that has no existing knowledge of the working of soccer in the US. He's lived in the US for years and is familiar with soccer in this country. He has also taken a role with the LA Galaxy in the past. With an extensive US background and fresh methods that brought success to Germany, I have no doubt Klinsmann has the capability of taking US Soccer to the next level."
From Yahoo! Sports' Martin Rogers: "Whatever Bradley does between now and the next World Cup, it will never be enough for those who love to bash the United States head coach, his methods, his philosophy and his decisions.
And it needs to stop...For those who simply can’t bear the fact that Bradley remains in charge, ponder this: Perhaps your ire should be directed not at the man, but at the federation that decided to hand him the keys not once, but twice."
From Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl: "Bradley did a good job in his first four years. My skepticism over his reappointment has less to do with Bradley than with any coach in this position, even ones who got historic performances out of their teams like Lippi in 2006 or Arena in '02. The history of World Cup second acts, especially over the last 16 years, is not a particularly good one."
On Monday, the U.S. Soccer Federation finally decided on a manager, opting to extend Bob Bradley's contract through 2014. After the United States' early exit against Ghana in the past World Cup, it was unclear if he would continue to manage the national team. In the ensuing weeks, Bradley would eye possibilities in Europe and U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati would make his own assessment. Ultimately, the two sides rejoined forces.
In a conference call with members of the media today, Gulati began by saying, "I think Bob’s done a great job of putting a group of players together and not just at the World Cup, in developing that group over three and a half to four years and we’re looking forward to building on that." It seems like Gulati exemplified the famous saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Although Gulati had initially expressed disappointment after the United States was knocked out, he clarified that the disappointment was not specifically in the coaching. "the disappointment part, as I stated then, was not in the team or Bob’s efforts or winning the group, obviously, the disappointment was that we all, always want one more game."
In a nutshell, the general vibe from Gulati is that the United States reached pre-World Cup expectations and he was proud of the respect U.S. Soccer gained during Bradley's tenure. However, after winning the group and with interest in U.S. Soccer at an all-time high, he foresaw a deeper run. Obviously, the team would not subsequently receive "one more game."
Perhaps the two most important questions were 1) What was the key factor in bringing Bradley back, and 2) Did Gulati speak with other managers?
"What was the most decisive factor was experience, the record over the last four years, in games that mattered especially," Gulati said. As for exploring other candidates, Gulati would make a point of not commenting on the matter.
When asked if he, indeed, met with Jurgen Klinnsman to discuss managing the national team, Gulati would not confirm. “We’re here to talk about Bob’s appointment as national team coach. I’m not going to talk about any conversations that we may or may not have had with any other candidate. We are going to talk strictly about our national team coach... That’s all we’re going to be talking about today.”
Another thought-provoking debate is whether or not the Federation should consider hiring a foreign manager. Until things dramatically change, the best soccer is being played in Europe - meaning the world's top managers are there, too. Someone like Klinnsman, who guided Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup, could be a tremendous asset to U.S. Soccer. Having had a greater exposure to premier leagues and teams, he may have an edge in knowing how to beat the best.
By the same token, there can be cultural barriers to hiring a foreign coach. For example, the United States is not under as much pressure as, say, Spain. The demands are simply different. Moreover, there's the question of whether or not a foreign coach could identify with U.S. players. Perhaps Ruud Gullit's stint as manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy was the best example.
In an interview after the World Cup, Landon Donovan chided in on the debate: "I'm a little skeptical of foreign coaches in our league and in U.S. Soccer just because of how different our league is and our players are than other players around the world. So in theory sometimes it sounds sexy to have a guy like Ruud Gullit or in this case, who knows?
You could bring in [Fabio] Capello and I'm not sure you would get the results you wanted because there's so much to our league and our players than people realize. So it would be a little risky to do that unless you find the right person who really cares and understands and wants to learn about our league and our players."
Interestingly enough, in the same interview, Donovan said he would also be fine if Klinnsman, whom Donovan had played for while on loan to Bayern Munich, ended up manager of the national team. Well, today the most important opinion, that of Sunil Gulati, was expressed.
“Do I think there are some natural advantages to having a coach who understands the American system? The answer is yes. That does not mean there aren't also advantages to having a coach who has coached in the Premier League, or Serie A or two World Cups or whatever else it might be."
Different candidates bring different attributes. I don't think there's any doubt that having knowledge of the American setup is a plus. I said that four years ago and I think that's the case now. That doesn't mean we wouldn't consider an international coach, it just means they'd have a different set of strengths. In this particular area it would likely be a weakness since they would not have the same experience here [in the United States].”
Bradley, who also participated in the conference call, had recently been linked to job offers in Europe. Now that he will be back for a second cycle with the national team, there are questions of staleness. After all, he's already been around for four years. Will the players still be as responsive?
Bradley addressed staleness, in part, by citing Sir Alex Ferguson as a role model. “Obviously, it’s been noted at times where I’ve said I’ve been lucky to spend some time at Manchester United. And when I see someone like Sir Alex Ferguson, how he continues to know how to keep his environment fresh and sharp, I think that is what coaching is about. Your credibility is put to the test every day as a coach, regardless of whether you’ve been on the job four years or four days. I understand that. That’s part of the profession."
With the manager situation settled, Bradley can now focus on coaching the national team, while Sunil Gulati and the Federation can work on their securing a World Cup in the United States. FIFA's inspectors will arrive in America next week.
Asked about his vision for next four years, Bradley identified an experienced nucleus, the development of young players, and play against tough competition as keys to success. Although he wouldn't set a goal for the 2014 World Cup, but mentioned that success in tournaments such as the Gold Cup and Confederations Cup are imperative.
The next games for the national team consist of a friendlies against Poland on October 9 and versus Colombia on October 12. Both games will be played in the United States. Soccer fans should be open to a surprise or two, as Bradley stated that he is eyeing younger players.
"Every fixture date gets assessed: whether there are days of training leading into the game, who the opponent is, what the schedule is for players in MLS or abroad. We put all those things together and try to find the right time and place to introduce players into the national team."
Certainly the next fixture date in October gives us opportunities. There are players out there we have watched, and we do a thorough job of keeping track of players around the world as we go through games with the idea of looking for players who we believe can be moved into our program.”
Overall, it seems like the decision to extend Bradley's contract was a good one. Gulati recognized Bradley's rather remarkable achievements, primarily the United States' victory in the Gold Cup and reaching the final of the Confederations Cup. Who knows if Klinnsman could do a better job, with the risks being much higher. Bradley provides valuable stability, which might turn out to be just what the national team needs. I guess we'll have to wait and see in the next four years.
In the first game since the World Cup for both teams, the United States men's national team suffered a 2-0 loss to Brazil at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Despite an experienced United States cast and a youthful Brazilian lineup, the Americans could not find a way to score or protect their own goal.
The United States opened the game with good defensive pressure on Brazil and, literally, hit the ground running. Three minutes into the game, Edson Buddle threaded a no-look pass to Landon Donovan, who rushed into the box. Donovan received pressure from both sides and a shove as his shot deflected off Brazilian goalkeeper Victor. The shove could have resulted in a penalty kick, but the referee allowed play to resume.
Asked to reflect on the missed opportunity, Donovan said, "It was unfortunate because the guy fouled me. I think Silvio realized it was a foul. I tried to stay up. They always encourage us not to dive and you try to do the right thing but you have to rely on the referee to make the call, so maybe next time I'll go down and get the sure penalty."
The United States would eventually cave, though. In the 28th minute, Neymar successfully headed Andre Santos' cross for the first goal of the game. Neymar was able to distance himself from U.S. defender Jonathan Bornstein and guide the ball into the lower left corner from 10 yards out.
When asked about the first goal, Bornstein would go on to say, "They got down our right side and the guy swung a good ball in. I was running back toward the goal and all of a sudden I saw the ball curling in. I tried to jump to it but it was curling away from my head and went straight to their player."
Only a few minutes later, Brazil began celebrating again when Pato kicked the ball through the net in the 32nd minute. However, while in the process of scoring, Pato collided with U.S. goalkeeper, Tim Howard, and the referee waved the goal off.
In the stoppage time of the first half, the United States would take another hit. Ramires got the ball to Alexandre Pato, who was scored in a one-on-one opportunity against Howard. The United States found itself familiar position, trailing heading into halftime.
The United States had its share of chances, but simply was not able to convert. One one occasion the United States actually scored. After receiving a short corner kick from Donovan, Sacha Kljestan lobbed the ball to Michael Bradley, who headed a shot into the net. The goal was waived, though, because Bradley was in offside position.
On another play, Victor had to use his arsenal of reflexes to catch Kljestan's free kick just outside of the penalty area. Toward the end of the game, a goal seemed inevitable when Jonathan Spector bent in a cross to substitute Herculez Gomez in the 85th minute. This time, Victor stopped yet another play by steering the ball clear of danger.
The recurring theme for the United States since the World Cup has been conceding goals early and playing catch-up for the majority of the game. It's true, giving up a goal in the 28th minute is better than conceding one in the fourth minute, as the U.S. did against England in the Group Stage of the World Cup. Nevertheless, in order to improve, it is imperative that the United States tighten up its back line and capitalize on its chances.
Before the game, the 2010 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductees were honored on the field. Bruce Arena, Thomas Dooley, Predag “Preki” Radosavljevic and Kyle Rote Jr. were this year's inductees.
Many were likely pleased with U.S. coach Bob Bradley's roster, as well as his starting lineup. Bradley, who was under scrutiny for his opening lineup in the World Cup loss to Ghana, gave the LA Galaxy's forward Edson Buddle the start over "all-speed, no finish" striker Robbie Findley. Buddle has led the MLS in scoring for most of the season, currently in the lead with 11 games in 18 games.
American midfielder Benny Feilhaber started the game, too. Feilhaber was very efficient as a substitute for the United States in the World Cup. However, he had a relatively quiet night against Brazil and was substituted for Kljestan in the second half.
Another U.S. starter, the LA Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez, received his first cap for the national team against Brazil. His teammate, Donovan, thought Gonzalez, the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year and a MLS All-Star this season, had a satisfactory performance.
"He did okay," Donovan said. "All things considered, he did alright. I think he realizes that to play at this level, it takes everything. And that means, all the proper preparation, every play has to be right, especially when you’re playing a team like that. All in all, though, I think he did pretty well and it was a pretty good experience for him.”
There was plenty of influence from Los Angeles on yesterday's U.S. roster. In the starting lineup, there were three LA Galaxy players: Buddle, Donovan, and Gonzalez. Additionally, Captain Carlos Bocanegra, Bornstein, and Feilhaber are all former UCLA Bruins.
At the end of the day, Brazil got off to a good start, while the United States may have experienced a poor ending. Brazilian manager Mano Menezes won in his debut, while Bradley lost in perhaps his last game as coach of the U.S. national team.
"My contract is through [to] the end of the year so it's no problem for me," Bradley said. "I'll be thinking later tonight about those games and like I have said there will be discussions."
Only a month after an inspiring run in the World Cup, the United States men's national team may recall what could have been when the team plays host to Brazil Tuesday at New Meadowlands Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tomorrow's game, the first match since the World Cup for both teams, is set to begin at 5 PM Pacific Time and will be televised by ESPN2 and Univision.
Unlike other friendly matches, tomorrow's exhibition serves as a good gauge for U.S. Soccer. Brazil has traditionally been a soccer superpower and if the past is any indication, history is not on America's side. The United States has a 1-14-0 all-time record against Brazil dating back to 1930, and a 0-3-0 record since Bob Bradley became coach of the national team in 2007.
Speaking of Bradley, his future with the national team may partially hinge on the outcome of the friendly. There have been rumors of Bradley possibly leaving the national team to manage a club overseas, another national team, or even an MLS club. However, The Washington Post's headline captured it best: "Bradley's Long-Term Coaching Plans Remain Hazy."
For tomorrow's match, Bradley has opted to go with an experienced cast. In fact, fifteen of the players on tomorrow's roster were members of the United States' World Cup squad. Since FC Shalke's Jermaine Jones and Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall were both unavailable for tomorrow's game, their positions on the roster were given to Villareal's Jozy Altidore and the LA Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez.
The United States has proven it could play with the best. Last year in the Confederations Cup semifinals, the U.S. shut out Spain, who were ranked #1 in the world at the time and went on to win the World Cup, in a 2-0 victory. In the finals, the team nearly beat Brazil, holding a 2-0 lead at halftime, only to see the Brazilians rally for a 3-2 defeat.
For Brazil, the game will mark the debut of their new coach, Mano Menezes. Tomorrow will be Menezes' first step toward building a championship-caliber roster for the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro. Menezes addressed his concerns when he said, "I have three main objectives to work on: the 2011 Copa America, the Olympics, and the 2014 World Cup, which is obviously the big one as far as we're concerned."
Prior to the World Cup, the United States' Landon Donovan told FIFA, "We feel that we are good enough to play any team in the world if we play our best." In that case, tomorrow will be a matter of whether the U.S. can play its best.
The Los Angeles Galaxy could not hold on to a first half lead as Real Madrid rallied its way to a 3-2 victory Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in front of 89, 134 fans in attendance. The Galaxy, who began the game with their typical starters, scored two goals in the last five minutes of the first half against Real, who opened the game with a cast of mostly reserves.
Halftime Hype interrupts the NBA free agency period to provide soccer coverage.
Despite the fact that the 2010 FIFA World Cup ended last weekend and the United States' team was eliminated a couple weeks prior, soccer fever has not ceased in the U.S. In Landon Donovan's return to the MLS on July 4, he returned to a sell-out crowd at the Home Depot Center.
Today, the San Jose Earthquakes play the English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspurs. In the upcoming week, the New York Red Bulls will play in the Barclays New York Challenge, whose other participants include Manchester City and the Hotspurs from England, as well as Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. Next month, the Los Angeles Galaxy will play host to world-renown Real Madrid at the Rose Bowl.
There also appears to be international interest in playing for a MLS team. Last Thursday, former French international Thierry Henry was formally welcomed to the New York Red Bulls. Recently, there have been rumors of other players heading for the MLS, too, including AC Milan's Ronaldinho possibly joining the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Madrid's Raul close to a deal with the Red Bulls.
These rumors circulate after the MLS has already attracted several big names in the soccer world. English international David Beckham made headlines around the world when he left Real Madrid to play for the Galaxy in 2007.
Other recent international MLS transfer include, Swiss striker Blaise Nkufo, who recently played for Switzerland at the World Cup, joining the Seattle Sounders; Ghanaian midfielder Anthony Obodai moving to the Houston Dynamo; Costa Rica's Álvaro Saborío, who has scored 18 goals in 53 caps, heading to Real Salt Lake; and reports are that Giancarlo Maldonado, Venezuela's all-time leading goal-scorer, will become a member of Chivas USA.
For some, it's become redundant to hear about how soccer is progressing in the United States. However, it is the honest truth. A stronger domestic league is another step toward U.S. Soccer establishing itself as a reputable organization.
On most weekends throughout the year, it's easy to spot kids playing games for their local league at parks or wearing their soccer jersey during the day. Plus, Americans coined the term, "soccer mom."
Recently-minted New York Red Bull, Thierry Henry
The United States' play in the World Cup raised interest in soccer to an entirely different level, though. People who knew virtually nothing about the sport began passionately rooting for the U.S. team. When Landon Donovan scored a late goal against Algeria to advance the U.S. to the Round of 16, even casual fans were jumping for joy. Soccer was no longer a game played in physical education classes during middle school; Americans were finally relishing the "beautiful game."
The momentum will likely continue. With international clubs visiting the United States and well-known international players joining MLS clubs, American interest in soccer will only continue to grow. Now, it's just a matter of when players decide to join the MLS and if those players can be kept in the MLS.
Many players on the United States' 2010 World Cup roster have MLS experience. Unfortunately for the MLS, only four of the team's 23 players currently play for a MLS club. What's more, with Landon Donovan's play for Everton when he was on loan and his performance in the World Cup, he could very well receive international offers that are too tempting to pass up. If America's hero decides to leave the States, it would be a huge loss for the MLS.
Regardless, it seems that MLS Commissioner Don Garber is aware of the issue, and on Thursday commented, "He's become a real soccer hero...MLS needs soccer heroes, and we have a great American soccer hero playing for us in LA, holding the torch for the sport in our country, and that's very important. I don't believe that it's something we can do without."
"Landon is in my view the greatest player of our generation and an incredibly valuable part of our history but also of our future. He proved in England last year on loan and he proved in South Africa that he's a world-class player and he's also proved that he loves our league and really has accepted the mantle of really being one of the leaders of the sport. It is my hope and my expectation that we have him for the rest of his career because I think the contributions that he makes are invaluable to our future success."
For now, though, rest assured the MLS is in a good position. With more expansion teams on the way, the league will have 19 teams by 2012. A wider demographic and the attraction of more international players will open up an even broader realm of possibilities for soccer in the United States.
Will the United States leave the World Cup with their heads held high? Not necessarily, but there are numerous reasons why they should. When the United States initially arrived in South Africa, the experts predicted the Americans to reach the Round of 16, but not surpass it. When they stepped off the pitch after their game versus Algeria, the pundits were scrambling to revise their predictions. However, with a 2-1 loss to Ghana's "Black Stars," the Stars and Stripes will have to wait another four years to defend the legitimacy of U.S. Soccer.
When asked if the tournament was a success, U.S. Coach Bob Bradley said, “I think the first thoughts for all of us are simple. We felt that in the first round we showed a lot of good qualities, you get through the first round and give yourself a chance now to go far. We felt that we had that ability and we’re disappointed that we didn’t get past this game and continue to test ourselves.”
Immediately after the game, there were plenty of "what if'" scenarios. What if Bob Bradley had chosen the same starting lineup that he used against Algeria? You know, the only one that didn't concede an early goal in the World Cup. What if U.S. striker, Charlie Davies, who was injured in a devastating car accident last year, was healthy and available for the World Cup? He has certainly been a savvy goal-scorer for U.S.A..
What if Robbie Findley had sent the ball through the net instead of shooting right at the keeper during his dangerous one-on-one sequence? Simply put, the U.S. advances. What if Oguchi Onyewu, who suffered a patellar tendon rupture after a World Cup qualifier last year, was 100% and able to play in the game versus Ghana? His height and big frame are always an asset. What if Jozy Altidore was not substituted after 90 minutes? After all, he had created some dangerous plays.
What if the United States had won? Then it would have made the quarterfinals and played Uruguay, probably the most favorable quarterfinal match-up one could ask for. Soccer fever in the U.S. would have been even higher than it already was during the group stages. The United States could have gone farther than England!
After awhile though, one realizes that the "what ifs" are an exercise in futility. The team's journey leaves as much disappointment behind as it does excitement. Some said this was the best U.S. team ever. However, in the next four years, new players may emerge for U.S.A. and the squad's young players will gain more experience and confidence.
At the end of the day, one has to thank U.S.A. for the memories. Fans won't forget Day 1, when the United States showed it's ready to play with a 1-1 draw against the country who created the sport, England. Nor will they forget the sheer joy of rallying down from 2-0 at halftime to finish with a tie, an incredibly historic feat. Nothing will replace Landon Donovan's "magic moment," which likely added millions to the U.S. bandwagon. The words of commentator Ian Darke will always ring in fans' ears: "Donovan has scored! Can you believe this?!...You could not write a script like this!" The reactions to Donovan's goal in the 91st minute were truly memorable.
Whether Bob Bradley will be involved in the United States' future is questionable, but it seems like he grasps the reality of it all. “We always understand the responsibility we have as a national team to show how far the game has come in the United States, to fight for respect. We certainly felt that we moved things along with our performance in the Confederations Cup. As we went through the first round, we felt that we were continuing to go in that direction. But it comes down to every match now that gets tested over again, for tonight all we can do is look hard at ourselves and continue to try to move the game forward.”
Although the U.S. concluded its run in the Round of 16, the team's lasting impact is as though the Americans finished first. Whereas the Yanks had been the butt of jokes when it came to soccer, they proved to be more than mediocre. Additionally, millions of Americans have recently come to enjoy the game of soccer and support the United States, notably Bill Clinton. If people had disregarded the United States' bid for a World Cup in 2018 or 2022 before, now it is at least a reasonable possibility. U.S. Soccer still has a long way to go before it becomes a powerhouse, but it is definitely a team to be reckoned with. Thank you, United States.
The United States is, perhaps, the most interesting team in the World Cup. At the moment, cultural history and recent success are at odds. For the first time in 80 years, the United States finished first in its group. In fact, one soccer fan held up a sign that read "U.S. Soccer is UnStoppAble" during the United States' victory over Algeria. Around the world, casual fans may wonder when the Americans - the people who refer to the sport as "soccer," instead of the practically universal "football" - became so good. However, for those who have been living under a rock, U.S.A. has evolved into a "team to be reckoned with." 
According to information released by U.S. Soccer, the USA won its group at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1930 (that's 80 years ago), and for the first time ever in a four-team group. The win against Algeria marked the first point and win for the U.S. in the third group game at the World Cup in eight tries. Secondly, the 1-0-2 record also represents the first time the United States has gone unbeaten in group play during a World Cup."
What's more, the United States finished first in the group, a feat which the Americans had not accomplished since 1930. At first glance, it may not seem like a big deal. Most pundits and fans alike predicted that the U.S. would at least make it to the Round of 16. Interestingly enough, it appears that the winner of Group C, the United States, and the second-place finisher, England, will have very different schedules because of their standings.
Sure, the United States may not have the most talented players in the tournament. It's true, their defense allowed early goals in two out of their three games. On the other hand, the United States may also be the most mentally tough team in the World Cup.
After his "magic moment" against Algeria, Donovan spoke of just how confident his team is."We believe we can beat any team in this tournament. Given our experiences from last year [at the Confederations Cup] we think we can do really big things, we're going to go for it."
Only last summer, the world was marveling at how Michael Phelps captured eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Who would've thought that a swimmer would steal the show on the global stage? Sure, the US men's basketball team (a.k.a. the Redeem Team) blew by its opponents en route to a gold medal and the beach volleyball tag team of Misty May and Katie Walsh became #1, but the glorious August of 2008 belonged to the swimmer. He had participated in the Olympics before, but was never as dominant or popular. After his historic peformance in China, Phelps made another splash as an author, hosted Saturday Night Live, and was probably the only swimmer to ever sit in the front row at the ESPYs. For all intensive purposes, he was a superstar.
Unfortunately, he followed up his Olympic success with a marijuana scandal which kept him out of the pool for a little while. But many don't realize that this actually kept Phelps relevant; "Michael Phelps" continued to be a household name. And he earned more headlines at the 2009 World Championships not only by swimming well, but also for staying true to his sponsor, Speedo, by wearing a technologically outdated swimsuit - which caused quite a controversy. Ever since his historic outburst in '08, we keep hearing about Phelps - and swimming. With his stardom, he has elevated an entire sport. For once - or actually the second time if you include Beijing - swimmers were on the front of the sports page across the nation. ESPN panelists were weighing in on...whether or not swimmers should be allowed to wear these new, advanced suits? Indeed, swimming has reached new heights with the help of Phelps; Americans were paying attention to an entirely new sport.
Of course, after Michael Phelps captured his eighth gold medal in the relay last year, NBC turned its cameras to a track race featuring the Jamaican star, Usain Bolt. At this time four seasons ago, Bolt was vaguely familiar among avid followers of the Olympics, but otherwise unknown. If you spoke about that "fast, Jamaican guy with the yellow uniform" people may know who you were talking about, but chances are they really didn't care to hear about a runner. After all, who follows track? Well, in these past few days Bolt has proved that he may quite possibly be the fastest man to date. In the 100m and 200m races this week, the records he has set may never be broken - at least not by anyone else. His speed has gotten to the point where sportswriters on ESPN's Around the Horn were debating whether or not he should try playing in the NFL.
He has all the showmanship of a star, too. He's constantly bumping his chest and posing beside his time; he is well aware that he is #1 when he waves his index finger around in the air. What's not to like about this guy? Truthfully, he is a phenom. And while we've been paying attention to this one-of-a-kind athlete, subconsciously we have been following his sport. Who knows, maybe in a few years Usain Bolt will have appeared on as many covers as Kobe. Maybe not. But still, Usain Bolt, just like Phelps, despite the fact that many will focus on his individual accolades, he has also carried his sport to another level. Hopefully, in the near future, the media will recognize that.
Then again, there's always the possibility that these athletes won't attract enough attention to their respective sports. Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps could better play the role of a Tiger Woods; they will surely remain the best at what they do, but "what they do" won't get the necessary coverage. Think about it, how many kids do you see today working on their putting compared to those who are playing a game of hoops? The ratio is pretty daunting. When the media airs a track or swim meet, people will tune in. That's what we saw recently with the FIFA Confederations Cup and the Tour de France...
As soccer fans across the world followed the FIFA Confed. Cup, they saw just how brilliant US soccer players are - I'm talking about home-grown talent. There were definitely some people within our own country who must've been shocked by the success of an American soccer team, supposedly one of the most disconnected teams from the sport. Hard-core foreign fans of the game scoff at us upon hearing that we call the sport "soccer" as opposed to the nearly universal name, "football." However, our team defeated the #1 team in the world, Spain, who hadn't suffered a loss since 2006! In newspapers everywhere, the US soccer team was gaining publicity; people were even learning the names of the players. Despite the fact that most still aren't entirely familiar with the team's star, Landon Donovan, Americans were able to enjoy another sport outside of the traditional big three.
Several weeks ago, Lance Armstrong's triumph in one of the most infamous sports races in the world, the Tour de France, earned as much coverage from the sports media as the entertainment world devoted to Michael Jackson's death. Armstrong's return to the sport may have been the greatest thing to ever happen to cycling. The Livestrong founder, who hadn't raced professionally for years, proved he was still among the world's best cyclists by finishing third. On top of that, Lance had some drama with his teammate and eventual first place winner, Alberto Contador, which also directed more media to the sport. What's more, Armstrong has already announced that he will be back in 2010 racing for Team RadioShack. Cycling has never been so entertaining.
Let's face it, as Americans, touchdowns, homeruns, and baskets have been instilled in our DNA. That doesn't mean, though, that we shouldn't watch soccer players score goals, swimmers glide their way to the other end of a pool, or runners rapidly sprint to the finish line - or, in general, follow (and participate in) other sports.
Chalk is Cheap
I already tweeted this great headline, "chalk is cheap" but it's worth mentioning on the blog. Lebron may be the Most Valuable Player in the NBA. He may have the coolest kicks. He may have the most emphatic dunks. He may be the greatest thing that's happened to basketball since Kobe. But he is definitely not the best leader and has proved nothing and will continue to remain unjustified hype until he can take home a title. After all, chalk is cheap. I don't believe that the Cavs will win the championship next year, but at least they've elevated themselves to contender status. What everyone is waiting to see is how the two superstars will get along. Until this point, LBJ has never had to share the ball with anyone better than himself. How (much) will he facilitate with the acquisition of Shaq?
Danny Ferry said himself that this trade will wind up being a hit or miss deal - and I agree. I'm that Shaq won't be able to contribute anymore - even if he receives enough passes - just because he's closing in on retirement. It's not secret that Shaq isn't as beastly as he was several years ago. It's the fact that he may drastically hurt the team which Ferry should fear. When he came to Phoenix, the Suns were the best team in the Western Conference and subsequently missed the playoffs during Shaq's full year. You could attribute a drop in standings to the loss of Amare, but that's still no excuse for going from the penthouse to the outhouse.
In order to get some scoring from Shaq, though, the Cavs need a playmaker or more specifically, a passer, who can throw the ball into Shaq when he has position. Despite Lebron's high assist numbers, he is a scorer not a passer. Which means if and when the Cavs get hold of a passer, the point guard will have to find a way to appease the Big Aristotle and #23. My primary issue here is that even when Shaq was playing with arguably the best passer in the game and two-time MVP, Steve Nash, he was not able to take the Suns into the postseason. Last I remember, the Cavs wanted to win in the NBA Finals.
Also, as Shaq's previous teams have experienced, Mr. O'Neal has some fine print. Every time he moves on with another team, he doesn't technically move on for awhile. What I mean by this is that he never forgets to acknowledge all the shameful people in his past engagement (i.e. Kobe, Wade, Van Gundy, etc.). Make sure your players have thick skin, Ferry, especially that Mo kid, and make sure that they're out of the gym when Shaq is shooting free throws - you don't want them to learn bad technique.
Hego Turkoglu?
Having traded for Vince Carter, the Magic basically embraced the fact that Hedo's departure is imminent, especially since he opted out of his contract and had previously rejected an extension. What interests me in this deal is what the Magic sacrificed to get VC. They gave up on this year's playoff sensation, Rafer Alston, a somewhat effective big man who could possibly contribute more if he received more minutes, Tony Battie, and a promising mid-range shooter and a developing scorer, Courtney Lee. Although, in the end, this was at the worst a decent deal for the Magic. They needed someone who can create their own shot. In the Finals, we saw that the Magic didn't know who to turn to in clutch time. Imagine how much things would have changed if it were Vince Carter dunking that alley-oop pass in the final second instead of Courtney Lee missing it off the glass. Besides pick-and-rolls and Howard drawing double teams and kicking the ball out, the Magic couldn't design a complex strategy.
The only issue with this trade is similar to that of the Cavs: how will the ball be distributed among themselves? Vince Carter is currently surrounded by three other All-Stars in Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard. Each player has their own unique style and way of contributing, but in order to do so, they need the ball in their hands. Surely, the statistics of those All-Stars will decrease in the upcoming season. And when they do, how will the players deal with it? Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard still haven't reached the primes of their careers and are working to build a reputation. Even if Rashard Lewis is okay with a drop in numbers, will his two All-Star teammates acquiesce?
Plus, Vince Carter, just like Shaq, is no longer a young powerhouse in the game. We saw him fade out during his time with the Nets and I'm afraid this may be the last stop of his career. However, the Magic have given themselves a better chance of winning it all with this transaction and in the end that's all that matters.
Roundup of Draft '09
As expected the Clippers selected undoubtedly the best player in the draft, Blake Griffin, with the first pick. Something has to go very wrong for Blake to turn into the busts of Clippers' past, but as I was watching the best briefing in sports, Around the Horn, my favorite sportswriter, J.A. Adande, made a great point: the Clippers are already stacked in the front court. And "who's going to pass Blake the ball? Baron Davis?" If anything the Clippers should look for a shooting guard and get an upgrade over Steve Novak. Not that Novak is a bad player, because he's not (I was at the game to see him drain a game-winning three pointer over the Nets during the season), but there were some promising guards in this draft that the Clippers could have taken. Still, it's not too late to trade for one.
Memphis really did themselves a favor drafting Hasheem Thabeet. Regardless of what analysts may say, the Magic have given O.J. Mayo support in the front court and this could get them to the playoffs. I won't go as far as to say that he is the perfect replacement for Pau Gasol, but with a little more work, he could become a threatening presence in the league.
The big discussion of the draft emerged when the T-Wolved picked two points guards with at 5 and 6. How is that going to help them? Well, with Ruboi claiming that he won't play in Minnesota because it's "too cold" and his father saying that Ricky will stay in Spain for one or two more years, I quote Kobe Bryant when I write "Ship his [expletive] out!" As Jay Mariotti pointed out on yesterday's episode of ATH, the T-Wolves need to trade Rubio "while everyone still thinks he's hot." Give him to the folks in NYC, which qualifies as the big cities that Rubio is fond of, and get something in return. There's no way that Minnesota can keep both Rubio and Flynn, and Rubio has already expressed negative thoughts so you might as well deal him.
After the T-Wolves picked Flynn, Golden State disappointed everyone in the draft facility when they selected Stephen Curry. This is, without a doubt, a great selection by the Warriors. Having traded Jamal Crawford for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton, the Warriors desperately needed a better starter. This pick at least gives them a great chance of securing a playoff spot and who knows, maybe the Bay Area boys will overcome the odds once again in a David vs. Goliath match-up (i.e. GSW vs. Dallas).
Kudos to the stars with their steal of DeJaun Blair in the second round. I was surprised to see him slip so low, even in mock drafts, after how much he impressed the nation with his play in Pittsburgh during the tourney. Nevertheless, you could say that the Spurs replaced Kurt Thomas and Oberto with this move, which is another reason to praise the minds of this franchise.
Also, congrats to the Sacramento Kings for the kosher selection of Israeli prospect Omri Cassipi at 23. The guy has long arms and will hopefully be a good representative of his country and restore confidence in the NBA's foreign players.
DARKO?!
In case you didn't hear the news, the Knicks traded cash and Quentin Richardson to the Grizzlies for Darko Milicic. Tim Cowlishaw made an interesting point yesterday when he said "I'm still figuring out what happened to Quentin Richardson's career." I don't know why anyone would trade specifically for Darko. This trade just confuses me and there's no question that Memphis is on the better end of this deal.
Rumors
Amare has been the protagonist of many rumors lately. He knows that too, just check his twitter. He has been mentioned in rumors sending him to Golden State, but at this point, I don't think the Suns can afford to degrade their team further. Which leads me to...
Steve Nash is waiting to see how the organziation will conduct business this summer before making a decision about a contract extension. If I were Steve, I would let them know very clearly that I'm gone unless they can make amazing happen and surround me with the talent I deserve. But then again, I'm not Steve Nash.
Yahoo! Sports brought this to my attention and I think it's worth mentioning: There is the possiblity that Jason Kidd could head to New York (interest is mutual), Portland, or Cleveland. If he went to Cleveland, the Cavs would have a strong chance of winning a title with Kidd, Lebron, and Shaq. It seems that the point guard is always the glue in these scenarios.
Ed-Note: Soccer!
USA Soccer has never looked this good. Some are calling the semifinal win over Spain the greatest victory in US soccer history. While Jim Rome of ESPN may be burning on how this win isn't that significant, I strongly disagree. Spain had gone undefeated in their last 35 matches! They hadn't suffered a defeat since 2006. Team USA now has some global attention, but they have to finish the FIFA Confederations Cup with a win in the final game against Brazil.
Many gave them no shot at winning against Spain and they proved soccer/futbol fans wrong around the world. But before we get too excited, Brazil is probably the most fluid team in the world and their mesmerizing passes and speed make them one of the hardest teams to match up with. USA has to remember that if they can beat the #1 team in the world, they are capable of beating anybody. The main issue will be defense. If Tim Howard doesn't have to make miraculous saves and the defense does a good job of clearing out, USA will have a chance at winning the game. That said, the offense must show up and a spectacular performance from Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore will be instrumental in a USA win. Make sure to root for these newfound underdogs tomorrow at 11 AM on ESPN.
