US-Mexico, view from BigSoccer BlogiStan(R)

[Dan Loney]

That's BS^2. That's a lot of BS.

This post is a meat shield for those who wish to spare the rod. Viddy well, brothers. Viddy well.

[Dan Loney]

Over the last summer, this South African paper previewed the World Cup, right? Capsule reviews of every team. And they called Jimmy Conrad the future of the US defense. So just remember, somewhere in South Africa there's a soccer writer who is The Devil Himself.

Man, it's nice to see Conrad have such a dynamite game. It's like he's out there fighting for all us soccer humor writers. (Even though while he's around, I'll never get a job.) But I was also very pleased with Jonathan Bornstein, weren't you? Loved his speed, loved how he was getting to the ball, loved how he wasn't backing down from attacks - he was nearly as good as Conrad. Which is wonderful, since this was only something like his second cap. Glad we snapped him up instead of Mexico.

(Damn Mexicans, coming up here and taking jobs Americans don't want - like outside back.)

I feel bad for Chris Rolfe, but he's always going to be short. Either he has to come up with a way to make himself effective, or Bob Bradley does. Or, he has a nice long career with the Fire.

Proof positive that Eric and Bruce and DOB don't read BigSoccer (not that they need to) - they kept talking about not starting Eddie Johnson, when everyone knows the real controversy was not starting Kenny Cooper. I wasn't terribly impressed with any forward on the field tonight, although I see Landon has mastered the old rebound-off-the-referee trick.

Bradley did a nice job tonight, but that largely consisted of Hugo Sanchez having many problems. Bruce and Eric were usually pretty good with what they were saying, but they beat the pro-Bradley drum way too hard. We don't need a coach now now now. The World Cup is a four-year cycle. Guys are going to fall in and out of the pool month by month, maybe week by week. I don't want to say that we can write off this year and still qualify for, and do well, in 2010. But I'd rather have the right guy sign up in 2008 - or even, God help us, 2009.

That's not to say Bradley isn't the right guy - I'd be fine with him being named permanent coach tomorrow. But let's don't exaggerate the issue here.

And unless my math is way off, Sunil hasn't been looking for a new coach for over a year. Unless Gulati decided to fire Arena when he told that Argentine outlet that he wasn't going to scout Ghana until two games into the World Cup.

And is it ACTUALLY pronounced "Mastrioni?" I mean, that's so not the way it's spelled, but Bruce coached the guy for a while now. Was I wrong all this time, or was Pablo just too shy to correct the boss?

A pre-game and a brief post-game before the World's Strongest Man, huh? Looks like ESPN is hating soccer less and less.

Oh, right, Mexico. Mexico wins all the time on US soil. They can beat Honduras, Uruguay, all sorts of teams. They just can't beat the US on US soil. Or Korean soil, which I thought Wynalda and Arena were just SAINTLY for not pointing out. Or, they just didn't think of it until it was too late.

Remember what I said about being able to write off this year, if we need to? Mexico may need to write off this year. Fire everyone and start over. With the possible, POSSIBLE exception of Hugo Sanchez, and that's because it's probably not worth it to pay off his entire contract after just one game. Let him stink it up for an entire year, so the Mexican federation can say "Now, can we hire who WE want to hire, without having you crawl all over us?"

Hugo's next move should be to suit himself up, because otherwise Mexico wants to have one of those Sue(n with a tilde)o MLS-style contests to find a couple of forwards. Because what they have now is as bad as what the US can trot out. Worse, because at least the United States realizes they're weak up top. On the international level, Borgetti, Blanco, Fonseca, all of them - sadly, brutally, masochistically overrated. If Brian McBride had never done anything on the international level, ever, and Bob Bradley had called him in, and pointed to him as one of the players he was relying on? We'd all be renouncing our citizenship. Well, that's the deep, dark hole that CONCACAF's all-time greatest forward and former Dallas Burn marquee player finds himself in. Careful what you wish for, Hugs.

Oh, the lack of handshakes. Look, everyone knows you don't shake hands until the Stanley Cup playoff series is over. It's only February. So why shake hands? As far as throwing stuff on the field - you sure your team's fans have never done such a thing? Are you absolutely sure? Because they have. And you know it.

(Of course, as I write this, Mexico fans are probably burning Phoenix to the ground, and the mayor of Glasgow and the Italian minister of sport are making a joint press conference offering aid to Arizona to help quell the disturbance.)

[Honore de Ballsac]

Great bolshy yarblockos.

[thespian89]

Also, according to Bruce Arena, DaMarcus Beasley plays for Manchester United.

[CherryBomb]

As far as throwing stuff on the field - you sure your team's fans have never done such a thing? Are you absolutely sure? Because they have. And you know it.

Are you trying to scold us Mary?

Christ, take off your floppy Uncle Sam hat and grow some balls.

[Dan Loney]

I appreciate your interest in the status of my testicles, but I doubt you're my type. And I was referring more to the "Oh! How dare they throw objects on the field, those animals!" type of reaction, than the actual act.

[Qamle]

I think what I love the most about Conrad was probably the fact that immediatley after the game he was talking to Hopkins and joking about how his "goal was a thing of beauty" and Hopkins just stood there, serious face, and nodded his head. Clearly Conrad was embellishing and kidding around but Hopkins didn't seem to get it. He also didn't seem to get the joke about the hotel food.

I guess we're just not used to people having break out games against their rivals and joking in the post game on field interviews.

[livestock]

I think the whole handshake-less sportsmanship thing, that began with the Stanley Cup (what a great Canadian way to honor your fellow opponent after you've slashed him with your stick and crashed him into the boards a couple of times...'eh, thanks for the game, y' toothless skatenut, how 'bout we fill this huge trophy here with beer and ride around town with it, eh?') when somebody in the US thought this was the ultimate team gesture (the handshake, not the filling of trophies with alcohol) and codified it, sanctioned it and made it part and parcel of EVERY match, until it became the symbol of sportsmanship itself. So, yes, it's been bastardized and integrated into sports Canadians never dreamed they'd ever influence. However, they didn't invent the "let's toss this cup full of piss at the guy taking the corner kick," tradition. That, I think, is firmly a South-of-the-border honor reserved for the affections of one's most trusted, truest rival. Aren't we(eee) the lucky one's.
Either way, when you have a patriarchal society built on the shadows of machismo and blood sacrifice, you have the potential makings for a very large group of sore losers, genetically predisposed towards the quadruple roll-over and an inability to give one's opponent any credit due whatsoever.
One more question, what's with the "position one - start the Nazi salute" salute thing...where did this come from during the Mexican national anthem?
I think it takes them twenty minutes to recover from this alone.

I don't think 5 announcers are enough for US Soccer...we need more words per play, more inside looks, more pro-Bradley speeches, more mispronunciations, because now we have a 2-0 USMNT when Bruce is announcing...what's going to happen when he's with the NY Red Bull and we lose one? Stupid-stitious anyone?

[Dan Loney]

Either way, when you have a patriarchal society built on the shadows of machismo and blood sacrifice, you have the potential makings for a very large group of sore losers, genetically predisposed towards the quadruple roll-over and an inability to give one's opponent any credit due whatsoever.But enough about the Oakland Raiders.

[livestock]

I wuz thinkin' more Conquistadors and Aztecs,
but the shadows could have just as easily been those of Puritans and Iroquois (could be the start of a whole new thread, name two groups who represent your nation's glorious tradition) ; us sportin' folk north of the border did that kneel and genuflect thing, too, stopping to shed more than enough blood across the continent to call it manifest destiny...which, come to think of it, is kind of how we're taking what we want from the Mexican's when they come to our house to play soccer these days. 54-40-or-fight!

[Big-Time Crew Fan]

One more question, what's with the "position one - start the Nazi salute" salute thing...where did this come from during the Mexican national anthem?
I think it takes them twenty minutes to recover from this alone.

Be glad they don't sing all 10 verses!

The German military band style of the music (and the salute?) stems from the era when Mexico was occupied by Austria in 1860s.

Not the type of music you would expect from Mexico, is it?

'

[Albirrojo]

Be glad they don't sing all 10 verses!

The German military band style of the music (and the salute?) stems from the era when Mexico was occupied by Austria in 1860s.

Not the type of music you would expect from Mexico, is it?

'


offtopic stuff: but they got their polka music from somewhere; even if it has evolved into its own. Maybe a similar situation.

[Albirrojo]

Also, according to Bruce Arena, DaMarcus Beasley plays for Manchester United.

Well, he did get the right city of course, at least area;

That'd be tantamount to a foreigner mixing up Giants and Jets; or maybe even mentioning the Yankees in it too. Good to point out but not too bad of a mistake, faux pas, of course, those of us who have made similar such errors; are more forgiving.

[Albirrojo]

It's not my style to write individual posts; So, Iapologize for doing so, I have to say it somewhere;

Ghana defeated Nigeria for the first time since 1992 this past Tuesday night, 4-1; these things happen in soccer.

I've felt good about this win, bad about any unsportsmanlike acts on the pitch and know this is a heated rivalry to watch. The superbowl was sunday night, but last night was the real treat for me.

[CherryBomb]

I appreciate your interest in the status of my testicles, but I doubt you're my type. And I was referring more to the "Oh! How dare they throw objects on the field, those animals!" type of reaction, than the actual act.

No. Apparently you didn't get it. I'm saying you're a coward for criticizing those who are disgusted by the Mexicans throwing things at US players (let's be truthful here, it wasn't "at the field," it was our players.)

Also, it appears you fancy yourself a wannabe writer, so here's a couple of tips Arnold:

1) Know your audience. Appreciate them. Don't scold them when their most bitter rivals throw crap at their players, not to mention a whole ugly history of classless behavior preceding.

If you want to write spurious junk about how the USA supporters are somehow to blame for Mexican fans' bad behavior, do it in the Mexico forums. That's your audience for that crap.

2) AICN.com is not a template for intelligent criticism nor comedic writing. So don't use it.

[Dan Loney]

If you want to write spurious junk about how the USA supporters are somehow to blame for Mexican fans' bad behavior, do it in the Mexico forums.First of all, you're a thin-skinned idiot. Cherish that knowledge. Put it on your resume. Above all, don't take the fact that I'm replying to your complaint as any kind of validation of that complaint. You're being made fun of, first and foremost.

Second, Mexico fans throwing things at US players and fans is so freaking old that it's about time we examined the root causes. And it's not that their fans are subhuman. Any set of sports fans unsupervised and unpoliced will act out.

You know, that's such a wonderful point that I'm going to give that its own paragraph.

Any set of sports fans unsupervised and unpoliced will act out.

Gosh, I'm intelligent. Anyhoo. We keep having US-Mexico games where US fans are given the royal shaft. The USSF is fine with making money off Mexican fans, and actually making sure US fans don't get trash thrown on them would cost extra money. Can't cut into the profits, can we?

That policy in Los Angeles has cost the national team big. The only US fans left in Southern California are the ones willing to risk being crapped on. Now, they've decided to expand that policy to Phoenix. Great work.

Another down side is that I have to hear from whiny, thin-skinned idiots who work themselves into such a righteous lather that they actually think throwing things on the field is The Battle of San Jacinto. Some time, let me tell you the story of the 1998 Gold Cup Final at the Coliseum. That was the game that pretty much brought US national team support in SoCal to a screeching halt. And the USSF hasn't learned much of anything in nearly a decade. That's what bugs me.

Third, and by far the most important, I'd rather have no audience than an audience full of ignorant dumb********s. Back button's on the upper left, pal.

[CherryBomb]

Some time, let me tell you the story of the 1998 Gold Cup Final at the Coliseum

Errr.... I'm not an old man like you and I could tell you stories about international games from Spain 1982. Plus I was there for the LA '84 France Brazil Olympic finals. I stood the whole match and some silly wannabe soccer fan tw@ts like you behind me bitched the whole time. I wasn't old enough to have pubes yet but lets just say they shut the feck up when I was through with their yuppie azzes.

Some time, let me tell you the story of the 1998 Gold Cup Final at the Coliseum. You know those yanks who don't back down nor don't run away? That's us old man. Unlike you people. Not the first time I've seen jackazzes like you run. Guess you picked the wrong sport to pretend to like so late in life.

I'll digest the rest of your idiot post later you silly paint wearing coward.

http://www.americansoccernews.net/images/usmen/us-fan_dsCB.jpg

^^^^^^
That's you if you had been to a soccer game before you were forty years old.

[Albirrojo]

You know, the gentleman who wrote "soccer wars" I believe is the name of the book, on the war of El Salvador vs. Honduras which the author experienced first hand and a book on similar episodes recently passed on.

Dan's got the '94 World Cup logo as his avatar; not something that deals with Roman Abramovich's team 3000 miles away.

Maybe one shouldn't make rash judgements; and there should not be a warfooting with Mexico; maybe Dan is only looking at this in an objective way or maybe is playing a devil's advocate.

It is interesting that in Cherry Bomb's signature; there is written something about racial taunting; I've seen some in some message boards on the internet; this is wrong and it makes me wonder, if these are written by true soccer fans or just some people taking advantage of the occasion.


------------------

On second thought, it's smack time, this is like Jim Rome for soccer fanatics; carryon gentleman, but no need to call anyone an idiot!

and Romey misses out big time for not knowing football.

[CherryBomb]

Third, and by far the most important, I'd rather have no audience than an audience full of ignorant dumb********s. Back button's on the upper left, pal.

My browser must be screwed up because that button just says "back," not ridicule the oldazz wannabe football writer. Still it's the latter that so beckons. You cowardly baboon.

[CherryBomb]

First of all, you're a thin-skinned idiot. Cherish that knowledge. Put it on your resume. Above all, don't take the fact that I'm replying to your complaint as any kind of validation of that complaint. You're being made fun of, first and foremost.

Second, Mexico fans throwing things at US players and fans is so freaking old that it's about time we examined the root causes. And it's not that their fans are subhuman. Any set of sports fans unsupervised and unpoliced will act out.

On my résumé I'm now going to list: made a fool of some old wannabe soccer writer who hadn't even heard of the sport until a few years ago.

But yes. Let's "examine the root causes" of Mexican fan's bad behavior. Ok yes it's obviously because they weren't supervised well enough in Glendale Arizona. More police should have been one hand. God you're a real limp moron.

http://www.americansoccernews.net/images/loney_frame_sm.jpg