US Soccer Players Comments on US/Mexico Game at Crew Stadium

Gotta love this. Crew Stadium is the real home of US Soccer... and has been ever since 2001!

I remember interviewing Jeff Agoos after that first US Mexico game in February, 2001, and his comment of "all our games should be played here." I agree!

Read on...

Perfect Setup

By Graig Carbino -- “Man, that’s gonna be cold,” was my first thought when the US Soccer Federation announced yesterday that the US Men would be playing their February 11th World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Columbus, OH. Shocked? Surprised? Disgusted? Come on, you didn’t really think they were going to play this thing in Salt Lake City, did you?

In case you were wondering, the average high temperature for Columbus in February is a balmy 38-degrees. The low? Try 21 degrees. In anybody’s world that is chilly. Keep in mind that I am a native of the Northeast. Imagine how the Mexican team must feel. Then consider the history of “El Tri” at this stadium and you get the sense that they might not be looking forward to their impending stay in Franklin County.

Even a passing fan of the US team knows why the Fed higher-ups decided to stage this heavyweight fight on the frozen tundra of Crew Stadium. Just look at the US Men’s history at this fabled (in MLS terms) ground and it’s pretty easy to figure out what made this decision.

The US has a 4-0-3 all-time record at Crew Stadium and is 3-0-2 in World Cup qualifying at the venue. We all certainly remember the “Guerra Fria” match played in February 2001 where goals from Josh Wolff and Earnie Stewart led the US to victory over Mexico in the first match of the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup. The game-time temperature that day hit a high of just 29 degrees.

If you remember, Wolff had entered the match for Brian McBride who had to come off after banging heads with another Mexican player. The golf ball sized welt around McBride’s eye is an image I have yet to shake from my memory.

The US played Mexico in Columbus again in September 2005 and the same score line held up as goals from Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley saw the States through. Certainly not as cold, but the atmosphere around the stadium was just as good. This was the famous “Onyewu Stare” game where he put Jared Borgetti in his back pocket and didn’t let him out until the final whistle.

US Soccer President Sunil Gulati said, “Our first priority is to give our team the best chance to be successful and achieve the goal of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, and Columbus Crew Stadium has always been a great venue for the national team.” Ya think? The conditions for this game are going to be down right nasty at best. Temperatures will most likely be in the 30’s or lower and there is always the chance of snow or a wintery mix to add to the setting. Beyond the weather though, here’s arguing that Columbus Crew stadium is the best venue for the US to play any meaningful qualifying match.

Forget the “Cathedral of American Soccer” out in Los Angeles. If you want a US Soccer home field advantage you hop a flight to Port Columbus International Airport and head over to the State Fairgrounds. That’s where you will find what I affectionately like to call the “mini Azteca in the 8th best large city in the U.S. to inhabit”?. Ok, so the name might need some tinkering, but you get the idea.

If you want fans of the US team, and the US team only, you go to Columbus. It is middle America at its best. Diverse? Not really, but for rooting purposes only I would argue that US Soccer officials don’t really care about the demographics. Sure, ideally they want the support of Mexican-Americans and Asian-Americans and every other ethnic group you can think of. In reality, they still do not have that vote.

It is going to take many more years of continued success from the US Men in order to draw the larger diverse groups of this country to their own National Team. Facts are facts, even when they come off a bit harsh.

This country is a melting pot and that’s what makes it great. When it comes right down to it though, the US Soccer Federation is looking for results and it’s easier to get them in Columbus than it would be in New York or Chicago or LA. The reason? There are more diverse populations in those larger locations, period.

For those of you who still believe players when they say home field advantage doesn’t really matter, just remember a few things. The US team almost never wins in Europe. Unless the game happens to be in or against Poland, you can usually chalk up an “L” in the results column. They also do not win in Mexico, ever. Let’s think for a second here. A rough record in Europe and seemingly unable to scratch a result Mexico. Could the atmosphere and crowd play some sort of role in these results?

Look, I am not trying to make Columbus Crew Stadium out to be the US version of Wembley. It’s not Camp Nou or Hampden Park. The Home Depot Center is much nicer and who wouldn’t rather travel to New York or Miami to watch a game. Heck, I’d rather suffer through a few hours at RFK Stadium in DC than go to Ohio in February.

What Crew Stadium offers can’t be seen or calculated in building costs. It isn’t fancy or equipped with what we’ve come to expect from the latest on soccer-specificity.

No, Crew Stadium has more of a grittier feel, a place where you go to battle. That’s why, when the results are really on the line, it is the perfect place for the US National team to fight for 90 minutes, to scrap for a result when nothing else matters. Make your travel plans now and bundle up. It will be cold, but well worth the trip.

Longhorns Get Hosed, Bring Back Nasty Memories of 1993

In 1993, the two top teams in the country were Notre Dame and Florida State. Damn, that seems like a long time ago... but I digress.

Notre Dame beat Florida State that year, head to head, during the regular season. They lost to Boston College the next week, and both ND and FSU ended the season with 1 loss. Not being in the BCS like we have now, they each played their bowl game, won, and that was that. And then FSU was awarded the top spot in the country, despite the obvious head-to-head battle that, to me, proved which team was actually better. ND got hosed.

Fast forward to 2008. Earlier this season, Texas beat Oklahoma, and then later lost a close one to Texas Tech. Both teams finish the regular season with one loss. Yet Oklahoma is voted #1 and gets put into the Big 12 Championship and later the national championship game. Same situation: the two teams had the same record, one beat the other, and yet the pollsters decided that they didn't like that so they just ignored it. So Oklahoma's playing for an undeserved national title and Texas is stuck playing #10 Ohio State.

This is why the rankings system does not work. I'm for a playoff. It's not a huge issue for me, I don't lose sleep over it (I have my daughter and her head cold to thank for that). But it amazes me that the college sports world has stood for this as long as they have. The obvious "popularity contest" nature of the rankings system should have gone by the wayside decades ago... yet it hasn't for whatever reason. Head to head play is and should be the deciding factor when records are equal. And the best way to assure head to head play is to have a playoff.

Get Your Poster of the Dispatch Front Page

From Shawn Mitchell's blog at the Dispatch:

Poster prints of The Dispatch

from Covering the Crew by Shawn Mitchell

I've gotten a couple of emails from readers wanting to know how to get extra copies or PDF images of today's A1 and sports sections (Crew coverage on C1 and C9).

You can purchase poster-quality reprints of any page published in the paper from the Dispatch's online page store.

Crew Celebration at State House Tonight!

From the Columbus Crew (updated at 11:20 am):

Governor to Welcome Columbus Crew to Ohio Statehouse for Victory Celebration Today

Columbus, Ohio - Governor Ted Strickland will welcome the 2008 Major League Soccer champions – the Columbus Crew – to the Ohio Statehouse for a community celebration of the team’s succesful season and victory against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

"The Columbus Crew’s MLS Cup victory marks a significant moment in Ohio sports history," Strickland said. "On behalf of all Ohioans, I congratulate the players, coaches and fans of the Crew on a dynamic season."

All Columbus Crew fans and community members are invited to attend the celebration at 5 p.m. today at the Ohio Statehouse.

WHO: Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Columbus Crew team members and fans

WHAT: Columbus Crew MLS Cup Championship Celebration

WHEN: 5:00 PM

WHERE: Ohio Statehouse, West Plaza, Columbus, OH 43215

Welcome Our Champions Home!

Everyone who can is invited to meet the Crew as they return home from Los Angeles after their decisive MLS Cup win over the New York Red Bulls!

Meet at the Port Columbus baggage claim between 10:30 and 11:00 PM and greet our heroes!

Crew 3, New York 1: The Culmination of All Our Soccer Dreams

Yesterday, the Columbus Crew beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 and took home their first MLS Cup.

I've been following the Crew since 1997, the year after I moved to Columbus. I have to fully admit I wasn't aware of the Crew until I moved down here in 1996, just after the MLS Cup of that year. My first game was a shootout win against the San Jose Clash in April of '97. I was confused as hell by the shootout (which I didn't realize even existed), but enjoyed the game. The next year, I bought season tickets. I've been a season ticket possessor since then (not always having paid for them, as I was on the Crew's website staff for several years and got free tickets for that).

I think it's safe to say I've seen this team through thick and thin since then. I was in the stadium for all the losses to DC United in the conference finals (including the deciding game in DC in '99) and have travelled to a few other games as well, in Chicago, New York, and a couple of friendlies against A-League teams in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. I've exulted in Open Cup wins and Supporters' Shield victories, and despaired to watch us give it up in the playoffs. I've bemoaned our coaching situation as we went from league-leaders to the laughing stock of the league before the term of our current coach, Sigi Schmidt. I've put up with the fans who can only see the negative with the team, and exulted with the fans who love them no matter what.

I was there for the rise of the North End fan section with uber-fan Matt Bernhardt and made lifelong friends there. I witnessed the fall of it with the rise of V-Army. I've watched from afar as the North End was reborn in the Nordecke and smiled with appreciation for this fantastic group of fans.

I've played recreational soccer with my friends from the North End and met my wife on that team. I've interviewed players and coaches, made some friends among those folks, and gotten an appreciation of the down-to-earth nature of US soccer players, players who are genuinely happy to meet their fans and appreciative of the effort that the fans make in a country where their sport is considered second-level.

This past season I probably attended fewer games than I ever have before, due to family commitments and some unforseen circumstances. But the Crew was always in my sights. I hesitantly got excited as this team excelled, did things that in the past would seem impossible for a Crew team (like regularly come back from being down a goal and hold on to a lead in the last 5 minutes), and then watched in awe as the team rolled through the playoffs and took the league in a way that couldn't have been better.

1. We kept DC United out of the playoffs in the last game of the season, getting revenge for years of them keeping us out of MLS Cup.

2. We beat the hated Chicago Fire in the conference finals.

3. And we won the whole darned thing! After a shaky start in the game, the team took over in the second half and showed the form that had led them to victory after victory all season long.

This post would be absolutely remiss without the mention of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the midfield wizard from Argentina, who came here last year and transformed the team with his incredible vision and creative passing. I can't say anything about him that hasn't already been said, but he absolutely deserves to be remembered with the great athletes of Columbus history.

We don't know what the future holds. Coach Sigi Schmidt's contract is up this year and apparently hasn't been renewed yet (RENEW IT NOW!). Schelotto is a bit older and may not be around with us much longer. And an expansion draft for the new team from Seattle may take key personnel away. You never know .

But now, in this year, and on this day, the Crew is the MLS Champion. Finally. The long suffering fans of Columbus can relax a bit now and enjoy the fruits of victory. Let the talk of MLS's conspiracy against Columbus fade for a bit. Let's ignore the awful pro-New York coverage of the game go. We beat them all - the Crew won the whole darned thing. Enjoy.

Michael Arace from the Dispatch captures this season perfectly.

Olympics Moments

Despite my intentions, I didn't get to see nearly as much of the Olympics this year as I wanted. This was partially due to just being busy, and partially due to NBC's coverage of the Olympics.

First, my favorite moments of the Olympics, in order (and the things I actually saw):

1. The men's 400 freestyle relay, where Jason Lezak overtook France's Alain Bernard after being a body length behind to win the gold. That was easily the best race ever - in any sport.
   
   
2. The men's 100 butterfly, where Michael Phelps ran down Serbia's Milorad Cavic to win by .01 seconds. That showed just how technical swimming and stroke work can win you a race. And it was inspiring, too.
   
   
3. Jonathon Horton's performance in men's gymnastics. Here's a guy who was suddenly called upon to be his team's leader after the Hamm brothers pulled up lame, and he rose to the occasion admirably, having a wonderful performance and keeping his team's mind on the prize.
   
   
4. Alexander Artemov's pommel horse routine in the men's gymnastics team competition. He took some risks with a high-difficulty routine and nailed it, cementing a medal for the men's team. Beautiful work.
   
   
5. Team USA Men's Volleyball winning the gold medal on the final day. This team, whose leadership in coach Hugh McCutcheon was possibly on the rocks due to the tragedy involving his father-in-law in Beijing, rose to beat the world's best on the way to their gold medal. And watching McCutcheon have to step out of the gymnasium for a moment after being gang-hugged by his assistant coaches, and then step back in fully composed to enjoy the ceremony was moving beyond belief.
   
   
6. Team USA's Lebron James and Kobe Bryant watching Michael Phelps win his final gold medal. A lot is said about how the USA Basketball team is nothing but a group of pampered millionaires playing for some glory. Well, this sight proved that wrong for me. Lebron and Kobe were absolutely jubilant in the crowd watching that historic moment, and it showed me that deep inside, we're all just fans, no matter what the sport. And it also showed me the pride they feel for their country.
   
   
7. To continue: Team USA's gutsy win against Spain in the final. This was an actual team, not just a collection of superstars, with the best coach in the country leading them. And the pride they showed to be wearing USA on their jerseys was palpable.
   
   
8. Usain Bolt's double-take at the camera before one of his races. The guy's a character. I got a bit tired of his posturing after the two wins he had, but loved that.
   

I also watched a lot of handball this time. I love watching the sports I don't normally get to see, and that's obviously one of them. I particularly enjoyed the gold medal match between France and Iceland. I was pulling for Iceland, not because I share the typical American's dislike of France but rather because Iceland hadn't won a gold in a summer games...ever, I think they were saying. Still a great game, and with some fantastic athleticism.

I didn't watch some of the stuff this time that I watched last time - I missed almost all the rowing, unfortunately. I love the whitewater kayaking and saw just a little bit of it. I also didn't see any wrestling or judo, two sports I've never done but have ultimate respect for. I watched some of the cycling, but the coverage was so spotty that it was hard to watch after experiencing the Tour de France.

I saw WAY too much gymnastics, diving, and more shots of divers and gymnasts stretching and standing around than I care to talk about (but will anyway). I understand that NBC is trying to increase viewership and that many of the ladies' demographic watch the Olympics for these sports. But I'd really love to see them pay more attention to the variety of sports than the ones that are their cash cows. At least show highlights of great performances, no matter what the sport! And having the constant shots of Shawn Johnson or Laura Wilkinson waiting around for their turn to compete on an event was so annoying. Show the sports, please, not the stories. Let the stories get created by themselves. That's what journalism and especially sports journalism is about.

Dispatch Shows Irresponsibility in Crew/West Ham Fracas Aftermath

It's official - the Dispatch is not interested in improving things at all in the City of Columbus.

In the online version of their article about the fisticuffs being thrown between rival groups of fans during halftime of the Crew/West Ham match yesterday, the Dispatch included a poll with the following title: "Does hooliganism make soccer more interesting to you?"

For those who only know about soccer via the hooligan problem, this may seem to make perfect sense. But as someone who has witnessed hooliganism first hand and seen friends affected by it (including a good friend of mine getting punched in the face because he wouldn't give a Chicago Fire "fan" a banner or scarf with a Crew logo), I can only recall the efforts that I and other US soccer fans have made to keep US soccer hooligan-free.

Let me ask you this: if the Dispatch had run such a poll after Buckeye fans showed just what wonderful fans they are when the Texas Longhorns came to visit several years ago, would the Buckeye Nation have stood for it? Not at all. So why do we stand for it when it's the Crew? They represent Columbus just as much as the Buckeyes; more, in some people's opinion.

Hooligan fans everywhere need to be treated as what they are: terrorists. They should be rounded up and sent to prison camps for causing terror for decent people who just want to attend a sporting event, but instead have to deal with issues of public safety.

And the Dispatch needs to be censured for their exhortation of such behavior.

How Long Has It Been?

I've been a Columbus Crew fan for a long time. Not as long as most of my friends, since I didn't move here till after the end of MLS's first season, but from the time I saw my first game in April 1997 I've been hooked.

And it's been an up and down ride with them. After being one of the better teams in the league the first two seasons I followed them, getting to the conference finals in 1997 and 1998 before losing to DC United (both times,the bastards), they started to lose it. Sure, they'd GET to the playoffs, and even back to the conference finals one year, but they really haven't been a team with any gusto. And I'm not asking for constant wins... well, maybe I am... but I would like to see them play with some fire under them. And in the Tom Fitzgerald and Greg Andrulis years, that just didn't happen.

Now, things are different. After a couple tough years of getting the players he wants and the system he wants, coach Sigi Schmidt has put together a team of hard playing winners. And for the first time in... a few years, honestly, I sat up on a weeknight and watched a whole MLS game. And it felt good!

I was looking forward to this game (Columbus at Washington DC) all day. For a couple days. My son and I wore our Crew shirts to school/work today. He watched the beginning of it before heading to bed - we let him stay up for a while so he could see it. He was excited. I was excited. Jenn would have been excited if she didn't have a headache... and honestly, she was still excited! I'm surprised I didn't wake the kids up when Ale Moreno scored the first goal.

It just felt so nice to be excited about the Crew again... makes me feel like I'm ten years younger. And this team plays like... well, like I used to play. One hundred percent, all the time. Rushing the keeper. Running through people. A nose for the goal - a hungry need to score. Too often we've seen Crew teams pass it around, afraid to score. No longer. Moreno, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Robby Rogers, Adam Moffet, and Eddie Gaven are all up there dying to put the ball in the ol' onion bag.

No game this weekend, unfortunately - the price of having the weeknight ESPN game. But next weekend they'll be back against the Houston Dynamo. I'm thinking about making a flag, even. That's how fun this is again.

Go Crew!

Today in History: Miracle on Ice

There are a number of events in our lives when you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard about it. For our parents, it was the assassination of President Kennedy, for our grandparents it might be the attack on Pearl Harbor.

For us, I can think of three: 9/11 (duh) and the Challenger explosion are two of them. But the third is the only one that's a GOOD thing: the US win in hockey over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

Today is the 28th anniversary of that event. We were at the Otsego ski club in Gaylord, MI, on a week-long skiing vacation. The Olympics were going on at the same time, and we were all marveling at the accomplishments of Eric Heiden and his race toward all five speed skating medals.

But the night of February 22, 1980, we were at dinner with friends at the club's dining room. I finished early, and like most 11 year olds, I wanted to get up and go out to the lobby to play video games. While we were out there (my brother and I), we were watching the US/USSR game on the TV. The US won! I walked in to the table where my parents, grandparents, and some friends were eating and told Mom that the US beat the Soviets, 4-3. Mom stood up and announced it to the ENTIRE DINING ROOM!

Anyway, here's the History Channel's recounting of the event:

February 22: General Interest
1980 : U.S. hockey team makes miracle on ice

In one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympic history, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of college players, defeats the four-time defending gold-medal winning Soviet team at the XIII Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York. The Soviet squad, previously regarded as the finest in the world, fell to the youthful American team 4-3 before a frenzied crowd of 10,000 spectators. Two days later, the Americans defeated Finland 4-2 to clinch the hockey gold.

The Soviet team had captured the previous four Olympic hockey golds, going back to 1964, and had not lost an Olympic hockey game since 1968. Three days before the Lake Placid Games began, the Soviets routed the U.S. team 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Americans looked scrappy, but few blamed them for it--their average age, after all, was only 22, and their team captain, Mike Eruzione, was recruited from the obscurity of the Toledo Blades of the International League.

Few had high hopes for the seventh-seeded U.S. team entering the Olympic tournament, but the team soon silenced its detractors, making it through the opening round of play undefeated, with four victories and one tie, thus advancing to the four-team medal round. The Soviets, however, were seeded No. 1 and as expected went undefeated, with five victories in the first round.

On Friday afternoon, February 22, the American amateurs and the Soviet dream team met before a sold-out crowd at Lake Placid. The Soviets broke through first, with their new young star, Valery Krotov, deflecting a slap shot beyond American goalie Jim Craig's reach in the first period. Midway through the period, Buzz Schneider, the only American who had previously been an Olympian, answered the Soviet goal with a high shot over the shoulder of Vladislav Tretiak, the Soviet goalie.

The relentless Soviet attack continued as the period progressed, with Sergei Makarov giving his team a 2-1 lead. With just a few seconds left in the first period, American Ken Morrow shot the puck down the ice in desperation. Mark Johnson picked it up and sent it into the Soviet goal with one second remaining. After a brief Soviet protest, the goal was deemed good, and the game was tied.

In the second period, the irritated Soviets came out with a new goalie, Vladimir Myshkin, and turned up the attack. The Soviets dominated play in the second period, outshooting the United States 12-2, and taking a 3-2 lead with a goal by Alesandr Maltsev just over two minutes into the period. If not for several remarkable saves by
Jim Craig, the Soviet lead would surely have been higher than 3-2 as the third and final 20-minute period began.

Nearly nine minutes into the period, Johnson took advantage of a Soviet penalty and knocked home a wild shot by David Silk to tie the contest again at 3-3. About a minute and a half later, Mike Eruzione, whose last name means "eruption" in Italian, picked up a loose puck in the Soviet zone and slammed it past Myshkin with a 25-foot wrist shot.

For the first time in the game, the Americans had the lead, and the crowd erupted in celebration.

There were still 10 minutes of play to go, but the Americans held on, with Craig making a few more fabulous saves. With five seconds remaining, the Americans finally managed to get the puck out of their zone, and the crowd began counting down the final seconds. When the final horn sounded, the players, coaches, and team officials poured onto the ice in raucous celebration. The Soviet players, as awestruck as everyone else, waited patiently to shake their opponents' hands.

The so-called Miracle on Ice was more than just an Olympic upset; to many Americans, it was an ideological victory in the Cold War as meaningful as the Berlin Airlift or the Apollo moon landing. The upset came at an auspicious time: President Jimmy Carter had just announced that the United States was going to boycott the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and Americans, faced with a major recession and the Iran hostage crisis, were in dire need of something to celebrate. After the game, President Carter called the players to congratulate them, and millions of Americans spent that Friday night in revelry over the triumph of "our boys" over the Russian pros.

As the U.S. team demonstrated in their victory over Finland two days later, it was disparaging to call the U.S. team amateurs. Three-quarters of the squad were top college players who were on their way to the National Hockey League (NHL), and coach Herb Brooks had trained the team long and hard in a manner that would have made the most authoritative Soviet coach proud. The 1980 U.S. hockey team was probably the best-conditioned American Olympic hockey team of all time--the result of countless hours running skating exercises in preparation for Lake Placid.

In their play, the U.S. players adopted passing techniques developed by the Soviets for the larger international hockey rinks, while preserving the rough checking style that was known to throw the Soviets off-guard. It was these factors, combined with an exceptional afternoon of play by Craig, Johnson, Eruzione, and others, that resulted in the miracle at Lake Placid.

This improbable victory was later memorialized in a 2004 film, Miracle, starring Kurt Russell.

Herron Back to Chicago.... Is Something Else in the Works?

According to USSoccerPlayers.com, the Crew just traded forward Andy Herron back to Chicago. Herron was good here, when he was healthy. But he didn't make much of an impact. Still, on a team that has a dearth of talented forwards (in fact, I can only name one, Ale Moreno), a backup is good.

So... does this mean that we're still in the running for Lars Ricken or Roman Friedli? I realize they're middies, but I recall Ricken scoring a goal in the Champions League final for Dortmund against Juventus about a decade ago. I don't know anything about Friedli, but any Euro attacking midfielder would be a benefit to us, as attacking mid isn't a real strong position for the Crew.

Be Still My Heart... Jeff Bradley Waxes Nostalgic About Something Involving Columbus. Postively.

I don't think much of Jeff Bradley's First XI column for MLSNet. He's a raving DC/New York/LA fanboy, in other words, exactly what the league wants him to be. And they're the ones paying him to write for them, so it makes sense to kiss up to the boss. But he's positively negative most of the time about the Crew.

So when I read his latest column for MLSNet, I was shocked. The subject, about things he misses in MLS, included this:

3. Stern John in Columbus. Stern John's time in MLS was brief but memorable. I put him on this list because, when it comes to MLS strikers, he's the guy who immediately pops into my mind. Strong and quick with a hunger to score goals. I imagine we'll see him again some day in the league, but it won't be the same. I also think of Damani Ralph when I think of Stern. These are the kind of strikers I like to watch.

Be still my soccer loving heart! Of course, he still had this tidbit with which to kick the Crew a bit:

7. Eddie Gaven in New Jersey. He was traded away from his home state for Edson Buddle, who lasted about a month with the Red Bulls. Sad, really, that this kid who showed so much promise as a teenager, who grew up watching the MetroStars at Giants Stadium, didn't get to hang around longer. He's still a youngster, but I can't help but get choked up when I watch some of his dribbling exhibitions from 2004 and 2005, when he was considered the Next Big Thing. And I hope he finds his way back home some day.

Though I suppose I can't blame him for being upset at losing him to Columbus for Edson Buddle...

Crew Releases 2008 Schedule

The Columbus Crew released their 2008 schedule today.

I took the step of setting up a Google Calendar for the Crew's schedule. I'll keep it updated with changes, etc.

If you want to link to the schedule I made, just click here (I believe this requires a Google Account):



Here's their press release if you like that sort of thing:

COLUMBUS CREW PRESS RELEASE

CREW ANNOUNCES 2008 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE, WHICH FEATURES 12 SATURDAY HOME GAMES
Single-game tickets scheduled to go on sale Friday, Feb. 15, at Noon;
Crew to appear on national TV 14 times, local TV info to be released later
For Immediate Release: Thursday, Feb. 8, 2008
Contact: Dave Stephany, 614-447-4190, or Jason Smith, 614-447-4176

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Crew today announced its schedule for the 2008 Major League Soccer season, which it opens at home on March 29 vs. Toronto FC and features a home date against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Oct. 4.

The Crew’s home schedule features a total of 12 Saturday games, two ESPN2 Primetime Thursdays and one Sunday. The two Thursday games, as well as one more to be announced, will be the popular “Bob Evans Buck-A-Brat Nights” at Crew Stadium.

Single-game tickets are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on Friday, Feb. 15, at Noon, at the Crew Stadium Box Office and all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 614-431-3600 and on-line at TheCrew.com and Ticketmaster.com. In the meantime, the both the Home Opener and Oct. 4 game against L.A. are part of all full-season, half-season and 5-pack ticket plans, which are currently available by calling 614-447-CREW (2739) and at TheCrew.com. Both of those matches are also currently available through group packages.

In the league’s 13th season, each of the 14 clubs – including the expansion San Jose Earthquakes, who return after a two-year hiatus – will play 30 Regular Season games over 31 weeks, 15 at home and 15 on the road, between March 29 and Oct. 26. All 14 teams will play each other twice (home and away), for 26 games. The remaining four games will be played against different intra-conference teams (two home and two away), with consideration given to rivalries. The Crew’s additional intra-conference games are against New England and Kansas City at home and at New York and Toronto.

MLS and its national television partners, ABC/ESPN, Univision, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Español and HDNet, also unveiled the national TV schedule today. The Crew is currently scheduled to appear on national television 14 times, three times on ESPN2 Primetime Thursday, six times on FSC (with five of those also on FSE), four times on HDNet and once on Univision’s TeleFutura. The Crew’s local TV information will be released at a later date.

The 2008 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and TeleFutura, when the MLS stars will play host to an international opponent to be announced at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. MLS Cup 2008 will cap year 13 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and TeleFutura.

The complete 2008 Crew regular-season schedule follows, with all national broadcasts noted:

2008 Columbus Crew Schedule
Date Day Opponent Time (ET) TV

3/29 Sat. Toronto FC* 4 p.m.

4/5 Sat. New York Red Bulls* 7:30 p.m. FSC/FSE

4/12 Sat. Chivas USA 7:30 p.m.

4/17 Thurs. D.C. United* 8 p.m. ESPN2

4/26 Sat. Houston Dynamo 7:30 p.m.

5/3 Sat. Kansas City Wizards* 7:30 p.m. FSC

5/10 Sat. San Jose Earthquakes 10 p.m.

5/17 Sat. Toronto FC* 3:30 p.m.

5/24 Sat. New England Revolution* 7:30 p.m. FSC/FSE

5/31 Sat. Chivas USA 10:30 p.m.

6/7 Sat. San Jose Earthquakes 7:30 p.m. HDNet

6/14 Sat. Kansas City Wizards* 8 p.m.

6/21 Sat. Los Angeles Galaxy 10:30 p.m.

6/28 Sat. Colorado Rapids 7:30 p.m. FSC/FSE

7/5 Sat. Chicago Fire* 8 p.m. FSC/FSE

7/12 Sat. Real Salt Lake 9 p.m. HDNet

7/17 Thurs. Kansas City Wizards* 8 p.m. ESPN2

7/27 Sun. Colorado Rapids 9:30 p.m.

8/2 Sat. Houston Dynamo 8:30 p.m.

8/16 Sat. FC Dallas 7:30 p.m. FSC/FSE

8/23 Sat. Real Salt Lake 7:30 p.m.

8/30 Sat. FC Dallas 8:30 p.m.

9/6 Sat. New England Revolution* 7:30 p.m. HDNet

9/13 Sat. Toronto FC* 3:30 p.m.

9/18 Thurs. New York Red Bulls* 7 p.m. ESPN2

9/28 Sun. New England Revolution* 7:30 p.m.

10/4 Sat. Los Angeles Galaxy 7:30 p.m. HDNet

10/12 Sun. Chicago Fire* 3 p.m. TeleFutura

10/18 Sat. New York Red Bulls* 7:30 p.m.

10/26 Sun. D.C. United* 5 p.m.

HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS

* Eastern Conference Opponent

— Eastern Times listed, Schedule is Subject to Change

2008 MLS National Broadcast & Schedule Highlights:
· Four national broadcast partners scheduled to air 113 Regular Season matches.

· Every regular season game will be televised, either through national or regional broadcasts and MLSnet.com.

· ESPN2 is scheduled to air 27 MLS Primetime Thursday Regular Season contests, beginning with a doubleheader on April 3. ESPN2 will also broadcast three playoff games and the MLS All-Star game, all on Thursdays. With the exceptions of the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup, all Primetime Thursday games are exclusive telecasts.

• All MLS Primetime Thursday games on ESPN2 will also be broadcast live on ESPN Deportes (save All-Star) and ESPN360.com.
• All games on ABC and ESPN2 will be offered in high definition. · On June 29, ABC is scheduled to broadcast a unique soccer doubleheader: Los Angeles Galaxy at D.C. United at Noon ET, followed by the UEFA European Championship 2008 title match. ABC will also broadcast MLS Cup 2008 on Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
  

· Fox Soccer Channel is scheduled to broadcast its complete slate of 32 Regular Season games with 30-minute pre- and postgame shows for a standard three-hour programming window called “MLS Saturday on FSC.” The same format will be utilized during Fox Soccer Channel’s three playoff match telecasts, also on Saturdays.

· Most Fox Soccer Channel MLS games are also scheduled to air live in Spanish in two-hour programming windows on sister network Fox Sports en Español – the largest Spanish-language all-sports network in the United States – with several airing on a tape-delayed basis. · HDNet is scheduled to air 29 games of its 30-game broadcast schedule on Saturday, and one game on Friday (July 4).

· TeleFutura is scheduled to broadcast 24 Regular Season games live on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET. TeleFutura’s MLS game will be book-ended with Mexican First Division games, Univision’s successful and popular sports programming.

· The MLS Direct Kick television package will return in 2008. The schedule will be announced at a later date.

About the Crew

Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it will open its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 29, when it plays host to Eastern Conference-rival Toronto FC.

Osario Situation - More Conspiracy Thoughts for MLS?

It's no secret to long-time MLS fans that the league is really concerned about putting powerful teams into both New York and Los Angeles, and the relative lack of success (well, not when compared to the Crew, but not what the league would like) that the MetroStars and Galaxy have had (the Metros more than the Galaxy, obviously) obviously frustrates the league.

So when I hear that Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osario resigned from the Fire earlier this off-season and is suddenly hired at New York.... I wonder if the hand of the league isn't in action here. Chicago gives the always questionable "he determined that he needed to leave Chicago for family and personal reasons" explanation for his departure... and then a couple weeks later he's hired in New York. Fishy.

The league has interfered in teams' player acquisitions on many occasions, such as Lothar Matthaeus and Roberto Donadoni playing at New York in the past and Luis Hernandez in his stint at the Galaxy. Osario is a former assistant with the MetroStars, which might explain his comfort at taking over the Cabbies (does anyone still call them that?) at Chicago's expense.

Pushing a coaching change might seem to be a bit much for even MLS, especially to pull a coach away from one team and put him with another, but MLS has done some fishy stuff in the past. Frankly, I wouldn't put it past them. Or, it could just be New York working behind Chicago's back.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in Chicago now.

Twellman Goal Brings Back Memories

I just watched the Taylor Twellman goal that put the Revolution into MLS Cup and let's just say it brought back some memories... of getting a free kick called against me!

First, watch the goal. It's fantastic. You may have to search around a bit on MLS's site for the video, depending on when you read this post, right now it's on the front page.

Now, my story. When I was playing rec ball, I was in a similar situation where I took a bike to keep a ball in bounds, and there was a player as close to me as both of those Fire players were to Twellman. I nailed the ball with the bike, got it to one of our players, and then had a penalty called against me for dangerous kick, as my foot came too close to the opposing player's head. Sigh...

Of course, MLS refs are too chicken shit to call that sort of thing on such a fantastic goal. Still, it was a great shot! Congrats Revs, on beating the hated Chicago Fire.

Crew Season Review

The Crew's beat writer, Shawn Mitchell, did a fair assessment of the team's season, in which they once again failed to make the playoffs. My comments are below each section.

Top performers

Alejandro Moreno (seven goals, seven assists), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (five goals, 11 assists), Eddie Gaven (five goals, seven assists)

Agreed on all counts. Moreno and Schelotto were the no-brainers here, but I was impressed with Eddie Gaven this season - he has given his all since coming to the Crew, and it was nice to see him produce this season. I'd be interested in seeing how his numbers improved after the arrival of Schelotto - that obviously took a lot of pressure off him to be "the man" after his fantastic start in the league at the MetroBulls.

High point

Juiced by a healthy Schelotto, the Crew reeled off three consecutive wins June 20 through June 30 and was 5-1-3 from June 16 through Aug. 4. On July 27, Schelotto scored twice and Columbus dominated Toronto FC in a 2-0 victory in Crew Stadium. It put the Crew three points out of first place, and it would get no closer.

"It's just like them to do real well and give us hope!" (paraphrased from Colin Firth in Fever Pitch)

Low point

The Crew looked to be playoff shoo-ins midsummer but fell hard after the all-star break. It blew a late lead and lost at FC Dallas on Aug. 11, beginning a stretch in which it went 1-6-2 and gave up a tying or winning goal in the 75th minute or later five times.

So much for that hope. The temporary loss of Schelotto was too much to overcome.

Point of order

The presence of expansion Toronto probably kept Columbus from finishing in the Eastern Conference basement for the third consecutive season. To be fair, Columbus played much better soccer than it did last season and had higher totals for wins (nine), points (37) and goals (39) despite playing two fewer games. In 2006, the Crew had eight wins, 33 points and 30 goals.

And you could see the improvement on the field, too - especially after Schelotto took over things. It was much more fun to go and watch these guys than it was last season. Last season, I think I uttered my famous (among my friends) quote: "So, this is what it feels like to be a Browns fan.

In and out

Longtime keeper Jon Busch was waived in the preseason, Joseph Ngwenya was traded to Houston for Moreno, and Danny Szetela departed to Racing Santander of Spain. The arrivals of Moreno and Schelotto, who more often than not were a potent offensive pairing, overshadowed the absences.

I thought losing Busch would be harder on us than it was. Ngwenya wasn't nearly as much of a loss, I think - his penchant for being offside wasn't ever overcome by any sort of goal-scoring ability, IMHO. I feel bad about this... but I didn't even know Szetela was gone. Chalk that up to having a kid part way through the season, I guess - my attention was elsewhere at that point.

Hurting kind

Winger Jacob Thomas was supposed to be the Crew's speediest threat, but a calf injury kept him out of the first 13 games, and a variety of other injuries limited him to a total of nine games. Andy Herron, projected to be the Crew's top scorer, started only 10 games and missed most of the season because of injury or suspension. Brandon Moss started 17 games as a rookie in 2006 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.

I missed Thomas. I love watching that guy play, and I hope he'll be around and healthy next season. Herron was fun to watch, but I never saw much enough of him to form an opinion other than he runs hot and cold. Moss always struck me as a hack - good as a defender, but not so much as a player who's supposed to make the transition from defense to offense.

One for the team

After starting 16 games the previous two seasons, keeper Bill Gaudette did not play a single minute. Kudos to him and fellow backup Andy Gruenebaum for remaining stoic in their roles after Will Hesmer took the starting job from Gruenebaum in June.

Gruenebaum and Hesmer were both good - I felt solid (not fantastic, but solid) about our keepers this year. Gaudette was too tentative, IMHO.

Helpers

Ngwenya's trade to the Dynamo for Moreno helped both teams, but the Crew might have come out ahead. Unless Ngwenya lights up the playoffs, Moreno's seven goals and seven assists were worth more to the Columbus than Ngwenya's seven goals and three assists were to Houston.

Houston didn't need the help as much as we did, I think. And I already mentioned that I think Ngwenya's offsides frustrated things more than his goals ever helped.

World class

Storied Aston Villa looked impressive in its 3-1 exhibition win on July 28 in Crew Stadium, but Schelotto conducted a skills clinic all season long. Starting with his home debut May 12, he almost always was the best player on the field.

Schelotto was the story this season. End of story. Who gives a rat's ass about the Villa game? It was just a friendly.

Odd but true

The Crew was one of three teams to score more goals on the road (22) than at home (17). Only Kansas City (23) scored more road goals.

Perhaps a commentary on the negative nature of Columbus sports fans? I know that Crew fans are among the most negative bunch I've ever encountered. I stopped visiting the Crew forums several years ago because of this and it's only gotten worse, especially in the section I'm in at the stadium.

I actually sat and listened to one guy say "why do I pay money for this shit, every season?" over and over. And yet, he was back the next game.

Hey, if you don't like it, don't come. But spare us your complaining.

Blue Jackets fans seem similar, though not quite as bad. And OSU fans do nothing BUT complain (mostly about how they get no respect). But this isn't about OSU or the Jackets, so here endeth that rant.

Odd but true, part 2

It took 364 games and more than 11½ seasons, but the Crew finally won a game on the road after trailing at halftime. On Sept. 22, Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the second minute, but second-half goals by Jacob Thomas and Jason Garey helped Columbus to a 2-1 victory in BMO Field.

At least we're not paying attention to when we win or lose at RFK any more.

Healthy Hejduk

Defender Frankie Hejduk should be the Major League Soccer comeback player of the year. After missing most of last season because of a torn knee ligament, he re-established himself as one of the league's top two-way players at right back. He scored against Canada, his first international goal since 2000, and helped win the Gold Cup.

Hejduk had, the past couple of seasons he was active, not impressed me. He had a tendency to think that playing harder and running faster was enough. This season, though, he slowed down but played smarter. Absolute kudos to Frankie this season.

Busy bodies

The Crew front office had a hectic year. It secured Glidden paints as a jersey sponsor, made plans for a suburban training facility and soccer park, expanded its juniors program and began work on a concert stage in the stadium. It also has to secure a postseason exhibition to fulfill ticket-package requirements. Expect the Crew to play Nexaca of Mexico in November.

All good point... though I wish the jersey sponsor thing hadn't been as big a deal. That's just a personal thing, though: I hate advertising.

And it's Necaxa. C before X.

Digital

16,770: Average MLS attendance, the highest since the 1996 inaugural season

15,230: Average Crew Stadium attendance, the highest since 2004

93: Fouls suffered by Moreno, most in MLS

65: Fouls suffered by Schelotto, second most in MLS

5: MLS games played by David Beckham

18: MLS games in which Beckham was eligible to play

-- Shawn Mitchell

smitchell@dispatch.com

I'm surprised average attendance was so high. It never seemed to be that many folks. And Moreno should talk to McBride about getting fouled so much... let's just hope it never leads to him having a robot face like Bake did.

Beckham? Much ado about nothing... though I wish he'd kicked Jesse Marsch's face in after that stupid foul.

Finally...

Save the Haka!

The NCAA is sticking its nose where it doesn't belong... AGAIN. This time it's in reference to the University of Hawai'i's practice of performing a Polynesian Haka dance before the game.

You may know if you've been reading this blog for a while that I love the Haka. I don't know how long Hawai'i has been doing it, but I love the New Zealand Rugby team's performance of it. They do it before every match, right in front of the opposing team, and it's a real great show of spirit and pride.

That being said, the NCAA wants to get rid of it because apparently someone got offended. Well, that person needs to shut up. No one has the right to not be offended in a land where we have a freedom of speech. You can dislike it, and not go to games where it's performed, but you can't ban it because you're offended. That's simply immature and ridiculous.

Keep up the Haka, Hawai'i! I hope you guys play ND soon so I can see it too!

There's a High Rate of Exercise-Induced Asthma, Says Study. Jamie Says "Why?"

The results of a study was released recently by OSU's sports medicine department recently that speaks to the high rate of exercise-induced asthma in college varsity athletes. The department used a "eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea testing" procedure, where basically people hyperventilate themselves and then their lung function is measured. 42 of 107 athletes were diagnosed with the condition as a result. 39 of them had never had asthma diagnosed in them before.

Interesting study. It goes on to say that the rate of exercise-induced asthma (I'm just going to say asthma from now on, assume I mean this specific form of the condition) is probably higher than originally thought due to this test never having been used before.

But I think that what this test is failing to consider is that maybe the rate of asthma has actually increased, instead of just lying undiagnosed for all this time. This study could be a benchmark for a study of air quality in our city. All the athletes diagnosed were from OSU, and therefore are breathing Columbus air (which isn't the best in the world, by a long shot).

If they'd never been diagnosed before, it's possible that they come from a cleaner environment than Columbus and they didn't develop it until they got to OSU...

I'd like to see this study become a larger study - it really could be a great example of just how bad things are with air quality in the city (and around the country).

Former ND Kicker Harry Oliver Passes Away

There are certain moments when you remember exactly where you were at that moment. 9/11 and the Challenger explosion are the two biggies for my generation: I was sitting in my living room, late for work, when I heard about 9/11, and I was in our high school library after lunch when the Challenger exploded.

Another one I remember vividly is when Notre Dame beat Michigan in 1980. ND was down to Michigan 27-26 with something like two seconds on the clock. I was sitting in our car in the Kroger parking lot in Alma, MI because my folks had gone in to Kroger shopping and I wanted to listen to the Mutual Radio broadcast of the game.

Yeah, I know... even when I was only 11. Ask my friends, I was annoying back then, too.

Anyway, the Irish were going for a 51-yard field goal against the wind, and this little kicker named Harry Oliver was taking the kick. Miraculously, the wind stopped just as the kick was taken... it was up and it was good. I jumped out of the car and was running around it in the parking lot... my dad was so excited when he got back in the car and I told him... finally, something to stick in the faces of all the U of M fans in his office.

Anyway, Harry Oliver passed away yesterday in Cincinnati, where he was living and had spent the last two years battling cancer. Harry, thank you so much for a little slice of happiness and decades of nostalgia.

Here's the kick as described by Tony Roberts of the Notre Dame Football Radio Network:



And just for fun (well, my fun) here's U of M's Bob Ufer with the same call (he's so distraught he can't even get the score right until the third try):