More like Clint DUMPsey

[Dan Loney]

Don Cuddy in Soccer365, here: http://www.soccer365.com/_365_Features/page_121_130547.shtml

It is my guess that they have agreed to let him go as long as he says nothing either but I also believe, and this is purely my opinion, that relations have broken down and they told him that he can not expect to play for the team again which, if true, is most unfortunate.

The "him," of course, is Clint "Deuce" Dempsey. When last seen, he was hobbling off the field towards the end of a laughably sub-standard game against the Chicago Fire. Since then, the Revolution are undefeated and untied.

I don't think it's at all beyond the range of possibility that we've seen the last of Dempsey in a Revolution uniform. It's barely possible that, if he flops in Europe, he might wind up on one of the Texan teams. Assuming either one of them want the headache. The Dynamo don't seem terribly malcontent-friendly, and I think the Football Club is still reeling from having Eddie Johnson and Carlos Ruiz in the same county.

Along those lines, I think Dempsey has inspired the Revolution, in a negative way. "Have sex with it, we'll win without him," they may be saying, loosely translated.

We'll find out tomorrow, more than likely. Some reporter on the conference call is bound to ask Coach Nicol "So, uh, Dempsey?", or words to that effect. My guess is he's gone, gone with the wind.

[gocaps]

That would be disappointing. The league doesn't get too many chances to showcase itself in front of a national TV audience. The guy who is the best player in the league when he wants to be would certainly be an excellent example to casual fans of the skill the league can develop - even if he'd leave after that game.

[Colonel Lingus]

That is the most idiotic thing I've ever read.

[lethargytartare]

lovely to see Cuddy perpetuating this completely false spin:

"In what other sport do people who were not even present overrule the game officials days after the event?"

Here's what Gazidis and Weyland had to say on the issue:

"MLS rejected Joseph’s appeal because Weyland reached a different conclusion when he reviewed a film clip of the incident.
“(Weyland) told us he did not see the contact on the field between Joseph’s left arm and Guerrero, and I think that was because of the angle,” said Gazidis. “He looked at the videotape, and from the TV angle he said, ‘Had I seen that I would have issued a red card.’ ” "
(http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=164392)

so, the Disciplinary committee did not overrule Weyland, Weyland overruled Weyland. Weyland called Joseph's play an ejectionable offense, so the committee suspended him. Cuddy does the league, and his credibility, no favours with such shoddy reporting.

As for Dempsey, when exactly was he "one of the league's best players" anyway, and was he so more often than, say, Justin Mapp or Clint Mathis?

[GIO17]

For all those Mathis bashers, he may have had an attitude problem, but at least he didn't act like a whiny bitch like Dempsey has.

[kyleprather]

If I was his teammates or his coach I'd be extremely dissapointed with Clint, the guy really does look a selfish doesn't he, he should be thanking everyone in the Revs organization and MLS for giving him a place to develop as a player, make the world cup and get an offer from a European club, what a great story instead he just talked shit about everyone that believed in him and burned the only bridge he had coming out of ************ ass Furman college, what a moron.

[kyleprather]

Plus it's funny how he says MLS is so below his par, yet he finds it difficult to really make an impact every game against supposed ************ MLS teams. All in all I hope he becomes all he has been hyped up to be but for people to be bashing LAndon 24/7 then praise this guy, it's pretty ridiculous the guy hasn't done much yet.

[purojogo]

Consider this my mini open letter for Nicol....
PLay incredibly boring soccer as you have in the elast 2 MLS Cup finals, i truly hope that you lose again...to try and have entertaining play and hope (for your own cause) to change the results of the last 2 MLS Cup final Revs have been in (ie win) .....Dempsey is pivotal... hope he'll be healthy....

P.S. Stop playing scared and i think you might just have a shot vs. Houston.....and maybe i won't fall asleep like i did when your team was in the final the previous two times....

[voros]

I don't mean to idly defend somebody but is there a scrap of real evidence for Cuddy's thesis or is everyone just flying off the handle based on some guy's speculation?

Maybe we should wait for definitive word on the subject...

[alocksley]

That is an AWFUL article. All speculation. Zero fact. Just fanboy ranting. Give Dempsey a break until the truth comes out.

[ChelseaMatt]

If I was his teammates or his coach I'd be extremely dissapointed with Clint, the guy really does look a selfish doesn't he, he should be thanking everyone in the Revs organization and MLS for giving him a place to develop as a player, make the world cup and get an offer from a European club, what a great story instead he just talked shit about everyone that believed in him and burned the only bridge he had coming out of ************ ass Furman college, what a moron.
I went to Furman. It's a good school. I'm proud of Clint, as is the soccer program at Furman-- I talked to the coach at Furman, and he and Clint were still on good terms as of last winter's Bruce Arena American players training camp (in answer to the vague "burning bridges" statement) -- Clint talked to Doug Allison often, and said things were going well.
I can only assume from your comments that you don't really care about the National team, for which Clint is its future. You should really get over your sour grapes. Clint in Europe (which MLS has blocked, and for which Clint is fighting, and rightfully so for the sake of the future of the US National Team) is the undeniable next step. Guys like Franchino are just plain jealous, and a change in evironment for Clint would do everybody a favor. Believe in Clint, and the truth will set you free.

[Oddly United]

Dumpsey belongs in Europe - he could use a little humbling and a lot more focus on delivering what he promotes.

As for the league giving him the stiff arm on his hopes with Charlton, Dumpsey should consider himself lucky. Charlton is in the gutter without a game plan - or a coach for that matter.

Like others - I can't understand why the media is so charmed by his "potential" (how long are we going to hear that moniker as a reason to write articles about him) while he can't deliver when it matters (please note that this is not the first play-off game where Dumpsey noticably missed the opportunity to contribute to a shoot-out victory for the Rev's (i.e., DC United vs. Rev's 2004)).

The league could afford to dump players like Dumpsey and Adu who are more focused on the glories of riding the pine in Europe than contributing to the growing legacy of MLS.

[crusio]

Like others - I can't understand why the media is so charmed by his "potential" (how long are we going to hear that moniker as a reason to write articles about him) while he can't deliver when it matters Hummmmmm are you talking about Dempsy here or DC United over the past couple of seasons?

[Calexico77]

Hummmmmm are you talking about Dempsy here or DC United over the past couple of seasons?

ZING!!!

[FCmagic01]

He will be in the EPL along w/ Johnson over the January Transfer window.

[Oddly United]

Hummmmmm are you talking about Dempsy here or DC United over the past couple of seasons?

Indeed - Adu would be another good example of a celebrity player in MLS who has been pre-packaged for a European transfer. I don't think all DCU fans (or even most DCU fans for that matter) will be sorry to see Adu leave - although the kids seem to genuinely love Adu and Adu publicly respects their adulation in return.

On the other hand, Dumpsey fails to disappoint when insulting his own fan base...

Check out Dumpsey's latest insult of his own fans: http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=172282

[crusio]

Indeed - Adu would be another good example of a celebrity player in MLS who has been pre-packaged for a European transfer. I don't think all DCU fans (or even most DCU fans for that matter) will be sorry to see Adu leave - although the kids seem to genuinely love Adu and Adu publicly respects their adulation in return.

On the other hand, Dumpsey fails to disappoint when insulting his own fan base...

Check out Dumpsey's latest insult of his own fans: http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=172282Ok here's the flip side... Do we want him to lie and say the Revs have a great fan base??

If he isn't feeling it from the stands, then shoudn't he be respected for speaking his mind even if his opinion is unpopular?

It's personal taste ofcourse. But I'd rather get a taste of what a player is really feeling rather than just hear the usual politically correct answers. Because it's real.

Anyway I will pose the question to you... Do you think MLS clubs have good support? (Yes, we know there is decent support in a few places but as a league overall)

[Oddly United]

Anyway I will pose the question to you... Do you think MLS clubs have good support? (Yes, we know there is decent support in a few places but as a league overall)

Short and Dirty Answer: Fan support can certainly be better all across the MLS.

Shameless Qualifer to Short and Dirty Answer: But fan support can always be better across every league in every sport in every country (MLB's regular season attendance figures are embarrasing given that their franchises consistently rank as the most valuable sports fanchises in the world and there are a lot of empty stadiums on FSC during many Latin American, South American and even Europe league games.)

My gripe with Dumpsey is that the kid - by all public accounts - feels entitled to the fan support that has essentially given him the opportunity to play abroad (most recently with the Honda Player of the Year Award). He gladly show-up for the photo opportunity to cash in on another award or endorsement in front of the same fan base that he later slams. That's not as honest as one might hope (per your earlier e-mail)...

Players like McBride, Friedel and Convey made the transition across the pond without pissing on the same folks who gave them the opportunity to play in the league of their dreams. The same would be asked of the latest celebrity to use the MLS as a springboard.

[voros]

MLB's regular season attendance figures are embarrasing
They just set their all-time attendance record. Who is embarrassed?

[Oddly United]

They just set their all-time attendance record. Who is embarrassed?

Turnstile tactics... leagues can play with the sporting venue seating statistics when looking at the global numbers.

What was the ratio of average attendance per game at each individual venue verses capacity of seating at each individual venue?

What happens when you remove the top 5% of the teams from the gross league calculation? Top 10% of the teams?

The numbers look a lot more dismal.