Lol - I'm sure the locker room loves him because he does what it takes to win. Hitler did what it takes too and had widespread public support.
Once Hitler is mentioned the person mentioning it automatically loses the argument. Sorry - rules are rules: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law Cheers, James
I was trying to steer this back with humor but apparently people find it okay to compare a professional footballer to historical mass murderers. Please stop. Now. James
There are no cheap seats at RFK. You can take a date to a movie theater for the cost of one ticket to watch DC United flail about like a Sunday Pub Side playing Brazil.
And that, I believe, is the crux of the whole matter right there. For some people, not going to practice (PRACTICE?!?!), or not playing in games because your former national team is playing in the World Cup, or not moving goals or carrying the ball bag because you are millionaire, is all it takes to prove you are total d-bag, and not worthy of their respect no matter what you accomplish on the field. And since your comment implies Ruiz may have had that kind of attitude and gotten away with it because he was a scoring machine, I'm inclined to take that as an admission. But even if it's not, there is more than enough circumstantial evidence from reliable sources to provide a preponderance of evidence. So yes, for his attitude, whatever it may or may not have been from time to time, is the reason he is a complete asshat and why so many people have problems with him. Not to mention the way he played. Ha, "played". This game is life, and the way you play is the you live, in my mind. Play with honor and earn respect, you will live with honor and earn respect. If Messi wants to come to DC United and be a total douchebag and win MLS Cups, no thank you, I'll pass. I realize not everyone agrees with me.
The idea we take pot shot from the cheap seats. There just aren't any. We can take pot shots from overpriced seat and expensive seats, but I will not brook someone saying that any seat at RFK is cheap. Well unless you are talking about the quality of construction...
My comment was not an admission and you extrapolated erroneously from it. I see your point, however, I would say that he cleaned up his sportsmanship later in his career. I merely offered concrete evidence to the contrary that he was a locker room cancer while people are spreading he said she said bs.
Anyone who recognizes that you need more than rumors and hearsay to actually create a preponderance of evidence. Especially since preponderance of evidence is a legal term, and you have to provide legitimate evidence to build a preponderance.
I owned a 1987 Preponderance once. It was comfortable, but underpowered. Oh, wait, I'm sorry, it was a Peugeot.
Something tells me if I set out to do so, I might be able to. But since this isn't a court, and my opinion doesn't mean jack to anybody, I'll make my judgements based on the evidence I do have, which is what I see him do and say with my own eyes these many years, and that's enough for me, without the rumor and hearsay. As I said, the way you play is the way you live, in my 30 years of being in the game.
Very professional, aye? Funny thing about that is that I thought the clubs held those for the players normally, releasing them as needed, just to prevent this sort of thing. Wonder what happened. The real shame of it is that he didn't go and lose it in Canada while he was there.
Normally when someone or your "employer" starts to hold your passport the next thing you know you're turning tricks in a back room for no pay.