9/3/05: The Day is Here

[Shaydee]

This is my first time so forgive me if I screw up

USA-Mexico
U.S., Mexico to vie for World Cup spot-Kansas City Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/12549831.htm)

World Cup trip may be official-Miami Herald (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/12551961.htm)

Win is the in thing for US, archrival-Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2005/09/03/win_is_the_in_thing_for_us_archrival/)

Mexican roots run deep-Press Enterprise (http://www.pe.com/columns/bueno/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_soccer_column_03.1daf4c02.html)

US, Mexico eye spot in World Cup-Fort Wayne News Sentinel (AP) (http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/12550695.htm)

U.S., Mexico soccer teams just don't like each other-Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/soc/3337866)

Americans Eye World Cup Berth-Tampa Tribune (http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGBUA1HD5DE.html)

U.S. Opts for Home Security-Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090202372.html)

U.S. ready for some futbol-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://www.jsonline.com/sports/socc/sep05/352942.asp)

U.S., Mexico gather for border skirmish-Rocky Mountain News (http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports/article/0,1299,DRMN_2_4052808,00.html)


MLS
Wizards welcome Wolff, Zavagnin for MetroStars-Kansas City Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/12549830.htm)

Elevation, not desperation-Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2005/09/03/elevation_not_desperation/)

Rapids look to shake off lingering rust-Rocky Mountain News (http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/rapids/article/0,1299,DRMN_51_4052904,00.html)

Chivas still hoping for shot at playoffs-Whittier Daily News (http://www2.whittierdailynews.com/sports/ci_2996852)

RSL has hope, but is it enough to break skid?-Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/realsaltlake/ci_2997874)

United Faces a Hard Road-Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090202254.html)

Gut-Check Time For Metros-New York Post (http://www.nypost.com/sports/52865.htm)

Chivas USA's focus is again on defense-Press Enterprise (http://www.pe.com/sports/soccer/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_chivas_feature_03.1daf3d07.html)

MLS Matches Will Go On-Dallas Morning News (http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/090305dnspofcdlede.1c9b7d16.html)

Crew's Buddle cleared to play-News-Herald (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15146993&BRD=1698&PAG=740&dept_id=352962&rfi=6)

other
Fifteen teams entertain realistic playoff hopes-Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050903/SPORTS0101/509030336/1007/SPORTS)

Cougars kicking it in Lathrop-Manteca Bulletin (http://www.mantecabulletin.com/articles/2005/09/03/sports/sports2.txt)

[Davids26]

Vamos Estados Unidos!!!!!!!!

[Shaydee]

Arena downplays importance of qualifier-North Jersey Herald (http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMzcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY3NjA1NDUmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)

[OldFanatic]

MLS Matches Will Go On-Dallas Morning News (http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/090305dnspofcdlede.1c9b7d16.html)

So why doesn't MLS take the weekend off, as many leagues around the world have done?

Look, as an Earthquakes fan, I semi-selfishly like that the Earthquakes don't have many callups and Dallas are shorthanded.

But as a fan of the sport, this scheduling leaves me nothing short of infuriated. If such stupidities don't spell out "bush-league", I don't know what else does.

But to break for the occasional weekend would mean one of two things: extend a season that already stretches from April to November or play more midweek matches, which tend to tire players and negatively affect attendance.

So I take it, it is a given that all these regular season matches had to be played, as in cast-in-stone. I also take it that the regular season couldn't have been planned better by shrinking it, reducing noise matches in the beginning of the season, thereby making every single regular season match "a more important, crucial event".

Idiots.

[Revolt]

Its been rehashed a zillion times - MLS can't afford to take Saturday off. That said, can't MLS at least not play its matches the same time as the USA plays? Its not that much to ask!

[Rocket]

That said, can't MLS at least not play its matches the same time as the USA plays? Its not that much to ask!
Or better yet, can't the USMNT schedule its match for Saturday or Sunday afternoon when there's no conflict with MLS games?

[Revolt]

Or better yet, can't the USMNT schedule its match for Saturday or Sunday afternoon when there's no conflict with MLS games?

CONCACAF schedules the dates. A good idea, though.

[MasterShake29]

Dates for this year's World Cup Qualifiers were known last year (actually a few years ago, but that doesn't matter). MLS didn't release it's schedule until February or March this year.

MLS also added two games to the regular season this year (from 30 to 32 games). Had they not done that, they could have taken this week off.

If playing on international dates is "necessary", then at least work out a time between USSF and MLS when the national team will play their game. Say 4:00 ET, or 7:30 ET. Then MLS knows not to schedule a game at that time. So if USA v Mexico is played at 7:30 ET, all MLS games end by 7:30 or start at 9:30 or 10:00.

It's not that difficult. At least, it doesn't seem to be. Unless of course you run USSF or MLS.

[OldFanatic]

Dates for this year's World Cup Qualifiers were known last year (actually a few years ago, but that doesn't matter). MLS didn't release it's schedule until February or March this year.

MLS also added two games to the regular season this year (from 30 to 32 games). Had they not done that, they could have taken this week off.

If playing on international dates is "necessary", then at least work out a time between USSF and MLS when the national team will play their game. Say 4:00 ET, or 7:30 ET. Then MLS knows not to schedule a game at that time. So if USA v Mexico is played at 7:30 ET, all MLS games end by 7:30 or start at 9:30 or 10:00.

It's not that difficult. At least, it doesn't seem to be. Unless of course you run USSF or MLS.

A number of American players themselves (involved in MLS matches) missed the chance to see their country qualify on live TV tonight. This is simply incredulous stuff. I mean, I don't know when to stop shaking head. Here we are, on these boards routinely admonishing parents of youth players for their lack of knowledge about the pro game, not supporting the USA national team enough, etc. And then, professionals in our own country are prevented from watching their national team qualify on live TV. (Forget about the diehard fans who attended the MLS matches tonight. They were forced to make a decision between whether to support their MLS team, or USA. And don't tell me about the ESPN2 tape delay. If you're a diehard fan, you would have to literally go underground to not know what happend in Columbus. Attending an MLS match and mingling with other diehards would be the last place to stay unaware.) No matter how many kick-ass Nike commercials they create claiming that this sport is not an afterthought in this country, such situations severely setback the sport.

[Bajoro]

...This is simply incredulous stuff. I mean, I don't know when to stop shaking head. ...

I hear you.

It's a bad situation but MLS could take lemons and make lemonade. For example: When the US played Costa Rica at SLC, the Quakes moved back their own game time, so fans could watch the US then head to Spartan. But wait, there's more. Then they brought in a humongous DiamondVision screen for the parking lot and showed the qualifier, before the Quakes kickoff -- leaving about half an hour between the games.

Totally classy. Unlike what seems to have happened last night.

[Shaydee]

It's not just MLS. Other leagues around the world played this weekend including the Guatemalan league