Canales: "Jonny B Good And Working To Improve" *Link*

[illinizissou]

Article on Bornstein:

On Chivas, USMNT and playing in Europe (http://www.soccer365.com/_365_Features/page_121_137386.shtml)

“I’d love to play for Chelsea or Man U, but I’d play for any team, any league.”

More than the money, Bornstein claimed, it was the environment and atmosphere such a move provided that appealed to him.

“The lifestyle there is all soccer. That’s what I want to grow into, to become a better player because of that. I don’t know how soon [it might happen], so I’ll let that figure itself out and focus on MLS right now.”

[CDM76]

Just love reading this kind of an attitude from an American player.

The kid really loves the game and wants to immerse himself in it.

[TimB4Last]

Galarcep's comments on Bornstein may have surfaced on another thread, but ...

http://njmg.typepad.com/sbi/2007/02/monday_morning_.html

....

"So how was my original {critical} view so skewed? Well let's start with where I was. I was in the stadium and the pro-Mexican crowd buzzed with excitement for every one of Medina's dangerous runs. Bornsteins mistakes, including a pair of turnovers that led to counters, were magnified by all the other moments. After watching the tape again I don't think Bornstein was as bad as I first thought, I thought he did well for a first match against top-flight competition. His second half was stronger and his overall performance was respectable.

I have to give props to ESPN.com colleague Jeff Carlisle, who felt that Bornstein's first half was solid and told me so at halftime of the game. Seeing the match over has me wanting to see more of Bornstein. I think we will when the national team returns to action in March."

....

**********

I give props to people who are willing to take a second look and reevaluate. I think Bornstein has shown definite promise and his positive attitude is a great plus. He's resilient and his play seems to improve as the game wears on. Here's hoping ...

[Nutmeg]

Soccer columnists are wimps. If I had one question with Bornstein, it would be, "Heath Pearce basically has said he's a better left back than you are. How do you respond?"

[Zoidberg]

Soccer columnists are wimps. If I had one question with Bornstein, it would be, "Heath Pearce basically has said he's a better left back than you are. How do you respond?"

LOL. That was the first thing I thought of. Will we ever get to that point in our lifetime?:(

All I have to think about is the calkwalk dictator "super genuis":rolleyes: Bruce got for 4 years with barely a mumur. Sigh.

Hell, if they can't even question JB about Pearce's comments it's no wonder BA thinks he is at no fault and a genuis considering the absolute simplistic things he was consatntly given passes on.

Your quote may seem minor, but it's not. Obvious stuff that as usual is just brushed off. Sigh again.

[TimB4Last]

Soccer columnists are wimps. If I had one question with Bornstein, it would be, "Heath Pearce basically has said he's a better left back than you are and you. How do you respond?"

Canales should have done both interviews simultaneously, via conference call or - better yet - in person.

Let's look at a snippet of the transcript, shall we? The joint interview is already in progress ...

....

HP: I'm the best!
JB: Says who?
HP: Says me!
JP: Are not!
HP: Am too!
JB: Are not!
HP: Great assist!
JB: Better goal!
HP: Teacher's pet!
JP: Eurosnob!
AC: Now boys ...
BB: What's going on in here?
JB: Dad, where've you been?
HP: Dad?!?
BB: Uh, picking a roster for the Mexico game.
HP: Dad?!?
BB: Back to Denmark, kid, your team needs you.
JP: As I was saying ...
BB: Button it. Mike gets to call me Dad, you don't. Sorry HP.
HP: BB, I'd like to play for Ajax next season.
JP: I’d love to play for Chelsea or Man U, but I’d play for any team, any league.
BB: {rare smile} Wouldn't we all. {exits}
AC: If we can get back to my interview ...
JP: I'm starting. Winners talk and losers walk. Have a nice flight.
HP: I can see I've got my work cut out. Maybe I should let my play do my talking for me. {exits}
JP: Don't let the door hit you on the way out, HP.
AC: JP, what appeals to you about the EPL?
JP: The lifestyle there is all soccer. That’s what I want to grow into, to become a better player because of that. I don’t know how soon [it might happen], so I’ll let that figure itself out and focus on MLS right now.
AC: Maybe BB was right.
JP: That I'm the best?
AC: That you should 'button it.' HP too.
JP: Were we that bad?
AC: No, but I'm going to split things up into two separate interviews and otherwise work my magic.

...

[Wessoman]

LOL. That was the first thing I thought of. Will we ever get to that point in our lifetime?:(

All I have to think about is the calkwalk dictator "super genuis":rolleyes: Bruce got for 4 years with barely a mumur. Sigh.

Hell, if they can't even question JB about Pearce's comments it's no wonder BA thinks he is at no fault and a genuis considering the absolute simplistic things he was consatntly given passes on.

Your quote may seem minor, but it's not. Obvious stuff that as usual is just brushed off. Sigh again.

I agree. While it's good to see that US Soccer fans have really evolved in the last 15 years I've been following the Nats, it's shameful that US Soccer journalism hasn't followed suit. I mean, look at the Trecker thread. And I like Andrea but I have to admit, while I am glad that the media hasn't exacerbated the whole Heath Pearce vs. Johnathan Bornstein rift, it's clear from interviews with Pearce that such a rift may exist (At least in the mind of Heath Pearce and his overzealous supporters on BS) and need to be adressed. It reminds me of the softballs the media pitched Bruce after the US lost to Morrocco here in Nashville.
But back on topic Bornstein is a great player and his attitude matches it. Pearce may be decent but he's got a ways to match this class.

[thedude83]

(At least in the mind of Heath Pearce and his overzealous supporters on BS) Bornstein is a great player and his attitude matches it. Pearce may be decent but he's got a ways to match this class.
I hate overzealous supporters on BS, including the people who are making Bornstein out to be the next roberto carlos. He is good, but to think that he is great and that Pearce is just decent is being a bit overzealous yourself.

[miked9]

Soccer columnists are wimps. If I had one question with Bornstein, it would be, "Heath Pearce basically has said he's a better left back than you are. How do you respond?"

What purpose would that serve, exactly? I don't see how encouraging our players to snipe at each other in the media would help anything.

[Ringo]

Soccer columnists are wimps. If I had one question with Bornstein, it would be, "Heath Pearce basically has said he's a better left back than you are. How do you respond?"

who said they didn't?

maybe bornstein was the wimp for not answering it.

[IMGplaya]

I hate overzealous supporters on BS, including the people who are making Bornstein out to be the next roberto carlos. He is good, but to think that he is great and that Pearce is just decent is being a bit overzealous yourself.


Neither are great...I give the edge to Pearce..Bornstein in my books got the nod because of the coach!! Why not develope your club teams talent!!

They are both young and have a few years to go before you can label them great!

[Nutmeg]

What purpose would that serve, exactly?

Sorry, I'd just like to see US Soccer "journalists" ask something in the same zip code as a tough question one day. And Ringo, even a "No Comment" answer to that question is telling. I have $10 that says it wasn't asked.

[Ringo]

grab yourself a notebook and a pen. be a hero.

[Ringo]

But back on topic Bornstein is a great player and his attitude matches it. Pearce may be decent but he's got a ways to match this class.

So, Pearce is lacking in class because he believe in himself and wants to play more? maybe I'm misunderstanding.

[Scotty]

Soccer columnists are wimps. If I had one question with Bornstein, it would be, "Heath Pearce basically has said he's a better left back than you are. How do you respond?"

This post had me thinking about the "wimpiness" of soccer journalism in the USA recently, and I think it comes down to a couple factors.

Most of all there's the fact that soccer is still struggling to earn a place among the other sports in our country, and the journalists are still happy with any coverage that they can get.

But I also think that having to deal with Arena for 8 years simply beat many of them into submission.

The arrogance and impatience with which he dealt with the press, haughtily dismissing any reporter who posed a question that he deemed unnecessary, reminded me of Rumsfeld's press conferences circa 2001-02.

And for me being in Italy last summer it was especially striking to compare Marcello Lippi's way of dealing with the press to Arena's.

As a coach, Lippi has won far more than Arena could ever possibly dream of. Yet he was always incredibly humble and cooperative at Italy's press conferences, even after a less than favorable result. It seemed genuine, too. But of course he always knew that showing an Arenaesque attitude would only backfire on him, since the Italian soccer press could make his life hell.

If only we had just a little of that in the USA....

[JohnR]

But I also think that having to deal with Arena for 8 years simply beat many of them into submission.

Been there, done that. Ditka browbeat the Chicago sports journalists, to the point where they wrote that the Replacement Bears during the NFL strike(remember that?) were 3-0 because it didn't matter what players you gave Da Coach, he was a winner. That was one of the saddest toadyisms I have ever read, the serious-minded claim by allegedly serious major newspaper reporters that the Replacement Bears' record offered valuable insight into the genius that was Da Coach.

Yeah, the Arena stories of 2002-06 did have some of that same feel.

[Stan Collins]

Soccer columnists are wimps. If I had one question with Bornstein, it would be, "Heath Pearce basically has said he's a better left back than you are. How do you respond?"

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