Grant's rant

[CTfan]

Mr. Soccer & Hoops SI-Guy, Grant Wahl with some good scoop:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/grant_wahl/news/2002/10/03/wahl_mailbag/

my personal favorites:

Grant offers to mediate while observing, "It's getting ugly: I actually saw an anti-Deford sign in RFK Stadium during a World Cup qualifier last year, and I woke up recently to my alarm clock playing NPR, in which Deford was saying how a day doesn't go by without an overzealous soccer fan giving him trouble."

and

then he goes off on Roy Wegerle...take a read, he's got some great stuff this week.

Thanks.

[nancyb]

Frank's dug his own grave, Grant. No mediation requested or desired.

[fidlerre]

continued great stuff...

[BenReilly]

I like this idea

" I still think MLS should call its championship MLS Cup VII. Roman numerals = a reminder of longevity."

It's never too late to start! NFL didn't do it until V.

[microbrew]

This a great, great article.

It's like Big Soccer, only more rational.

This got a chuckle out of me:
His list of soccer fans in the media includs: "(secretly, I believe, based on his thorough knowledge of soccer history and statistics) Jim Rome. "

[Northside Rovers]

Always good reading.

[Detective40oz]

at the end of the column he makes a plea for people to ask questiosn about the MLS playoffs for his next column...Send him a question, let SI know we want to be heard!

[cpwilson80]

Definitely check out the new column. As always, a great informative read. Wegerle is not safe from the vitrolic keyboard of Grant Wahl! ;)

Send him some praise/comments/questions as well. He is truly a good guy who I'm sure appreciates the feedback.

[Red Card]

He missed the obvious. No mention that a team with a regular season losing record will be in MLS Cup VII. I don't recall this happening with any other US championship match.

[FlashMan]

We need Grant more than once very two weeks. But I'll take what I can get.

Glad to hear there are so many soccerphiles out there in the vast media wasteland. Not that I didn't really think so, but it's nice to hear some confirmation.

I'm sending a question Grant! Answer it!

[Greywacke]

Originally posted by Red Card
He missed the obvious. No mention that a team with a regular season losing record will be in MLS Cup VII. I don't recall this happening with any other US championship match.

Actually, I believe the Rapids had a losing regular season record (14-18) when they made their run to the MLS Cup Final in 1997 (or MLS Cup II in Grant's hip new parlance).

http://www.mlsnet.com/statistics/archive/1997_league.html

Obviously, this is more likely to occur in (smaller) leagues that tend to qualify a greater % of their teams to their playoffs. Thus, perhaps this occured in one of the indoor leagues or post-NASL/pre-MLS outdoor leagues, or professional lacrosse or in minor league hockey.

[CrewStadium227]

Originally posted by CTfan
Grant offers to mediate while observing, "It's getting ugly: I actually saw an anti-Deford sign in RFK Stadium during a World Cup qualifier last year, and I woke up recently to my alarm clock playing NPR, in which Deford was saying how a day doesn't go by without an overzealous soccer fan giving him trouble."


Mediate? I'd be glad to see Grant MC a retirement party for Deford. He could do it at RFK, Gillette, Crew Stadium, or wherever. I'm sure MLS fans would turn out to celebrate.

[billf]

Originally posted by Greywacke


Actually, I believe the Rapids had a losing regular season record (14-18) when they made their run to the MLS Cup Final in 1997 (or MLS Cup II in Grant's hip new parlance).

http://www.mlsnet.com/statistics/archive/1997_league.html

Obviously, this is more likely to occur in (smaller) leagues that tend to qualify a greater % of their teams to their playoffs. Thus, perhaps this occured in one of the indoor leagues or post-NASL/pre-MLS outdoor leagues, or professional lacrosse or in minor league hockey.

Every once in a while a team makes the Stanley Cup Final after a losing season. Minnesota did this back in 1991, and I don't think Pittsburgh, the winner that season, had a record much better than .500.

[dark knight]

I think Jack Bell's articles for the NYT can be pretty lifeless. I like the other guy better - whose name escapes me at the moment.

[whirlwind]

The Frank DeFord Retirement Tour Stop!

[pething101]

In sum: Wegerle appears to be as good at truth-telling as he was at TV broadcasting -- remember his cringe-inducing, mercifully short career hosting MLS Extra Time on ESPN2? The next time he opens his mouth, he should offer the Mexicans an apology.


I had tried so hard to forget this. He made Paul Caliguiri seem like Vin Scully.

Deer in the headlights.

[WarrenWallace]

Originally posted by BenReilly
I like this idea

" I still think MLS should call its championship MLS Cup VII. Roman numerals = a reminder of longevity."

It's never too late to start! NFL didn't do it until V.

I am glad that I was not the only one to like this idea. MLS should do it starting next year.

[TIKY]

"I actually saw an anti-Deford sign in RFK Stadium during a World Cup qualifier last year..."

Gee, I wonder who that was that spray painted black letters on a white sheet that read "DEFORD IS CLUELESS." I even have a picture saved on my computer that has the sign in the background (I don't know how to post it so you'll have to trust me). Anyway, I don't have any idea who it could have been but at least they can go to their grave knowing in their heart they did their part to uphold the sanctity of American soccer.

[metroflip73]

Originally posted by pething101
I had tried so hard to forget this. He made Paul Caliguiri seem like Vin Scully.

Deer in the headlights.

Jeff Bradley is the original deer in headlights...He even admits that.

Wegerle is a close 2nd.

[CTfan]

Originally posted by dark knight
I think Jack Bell's articles for the NYT can be pretty lifeless. I like the other guy better - whose name escapes me at the moment.


Might you be looking for "Alex Yannis" ?j