by J Hutcherson | May 2nd, 2006
Anybody else see Earthquakes Metrostars Red Bull New York Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas living the dream last night on Joes vs. Pros on SpikeTV? Well, if the dream included shoulder charging the cop from Chicago who might have just figured out soccer was a contact sport.
Unintentionally of course, the good people at SpikeTV might have created a post-postmodern critique of our fellow Americans’ fascination with professional sports. Aging pro players that still have the knowledge but not the quickness to turn that into the level of performance needed to… oh I don’t know… keep playing, versus people that should know better.
Honestly, though former Steelers and Panthers linebacker/WCW wrestler Kevin Greene was the far more likely source to lay the hit on the amateurs, Alexi stepping up and leveling the two remaining contestants was exquisite television. This was cartoon Alexi, the guy who lives up to those stories he tells about Bora Milutinovic having to explain to him that he needed to win the ball, not just put the opposing player on the ground or in the stands.
Yes, it helped that the Home Depot Center surface was wet, and those of you partial to conspiracies should just ignore the part where they turn it into a makeshift baseball stadium for the Dave Stewart segments. And I don’t really want to know about the editing process or retakes. I just want shots of guys hitting the floor, and the soccer segment making the full pads gridiron segment seem weak by comparison.
If only the guy who kept reminding everyone he was drafted in the fourth round by the Cubs and played A ball had made it to the final stage where Alexi went feral. For all the issues some of us might have with the suit model, the Alexi that punishes amateur athletes on national cable redeems him. Utterly and completely.
In at least as entertaining news, I’ve got it from somebody who was there that except for MPF.
What I’m Watching
There’s the matter of the US World Cup roster announcement live on ESPN at 6pm. Hertha Berlin - Bayer Leverkusen live on Setanta Channel at 2pm, Blackburn - Chelsea on Fox Soccer Channel and Espanol live at 3pm, and Atletico Nacional - LDU de Quito in the knockout stage of the Libertadores live at 7pm on Espanol. All Times Eastern
Quote Of The Day
“I would think this injury is even more of a killer-blow to (Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney) because he knows he’s missing major tournaments. This time round it’s even worse because he’s more mature and is a more rounded player who has improved dramatically over the last two years. So it’s a real, real blow.” Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Europe
Shirt sponsorship earnings set to soar — from The Financial Times’ David Owen.
Martin the victim of Machiavellian genius — from The Guardian’s Sid Lowe.
O’Neill finds himself on the sidelines for not telling the FA what it wanted to hear — from The Independent’s James Lawton.
Coaching certificates tell you that the holder knows how to organise a group of players in work sessions. It is not anything that warrants sneers. As a national serviceman Malcolm Allison, one of the most original of post-war English coaches and a spectacular winner, watched a Russian army team training in the Viennese woods with eyes that were opened wide with the force of revelation. He compared what the Russians were doing with the tedious formalities of a training sessions back home at Charlton Athletic. But Big Mal, unlike Big Sam, never made a coaching certificate the proof of a football man’s worth. It was a job aid, not a badge of football brilliance.
Second best he may be, but no one can deny that McClaren has earned his spurs — from The Times’ Matt Dickinson.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: USA
USSF president Gulati is professor of the pitch — from USA Today’s Kelly Whiteside.
Former U.S. Defender Goes on Offense With Project — from The LA Times’ Grahame L. Jones. Registration Required
RSL cheers its crowd, near tiniest in league — from The Salt Lake Tribune’s Derek P. Jensen.
Big Picture
Somewhere Out on the Freeway, a Series Los Angeles Can’t Lose — from The New York Times’ Howard Beck. Registration Required
Dealing Iverson isn’t King’s only option — from The Philadelphia Daily News’ Phil Jasner. Registration Required
Russian franchise might sue Penguins over Malkin deal — from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Shelly Anderson.
Go local, Braves bidder pleads — from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Tim Tucker.
Epstein spells out his defense of move — from The Boston Globe’s Chris Snow.
Lerner Expected To Get Nationals — from The Washington Post’s Thomas Heath and David Nakamura. Registration Required
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.