6/25/07: Road Trip

[GPK]

Soldier Field was fun yesterday. We were in the top row of the 300 section at the top of the box on the side where the US shot on in the second half. Nice looking stadium. I hadn't been there since the overhaul.

Very pro Mexico crowd as you probably saw on TV. Still good fun, until trying to get a taxi from the stadium after the game.....

Here are your links for today....

Happy Mondays.


Beckham Advertising Blitz About to Begin-AP (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-soc-brand-it-like-beckham,0,4965051.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed)
Sparking soccer interest-Canada Slam (http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Gross/2007/06/25/4288798-sun.html)
U.S. has just enough to win Gold-Chicago Daily Herald (http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/story.asp?id=326056)
Donovan takes over as career U.S. goal leader-Chicago Daily Herald (http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/story.asp?id=326057)
Spector makes his presence felt-Chicago Daily Herald (http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/story.asp?id=326047)
Cup victory truly golden-Chicago Sun Times (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/442039,CST-SPT-cup25.article)
Hot blood-Chicago Sun Times (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/442137,CST-NWS-USMEX25.article)
Fire's Blanco limited to late-game sub duty-Chicago Sun Times (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/441887,CST-SPT-cside25.article)
U.S. comes back to beat Mexico, win Gold Cup-Chicago Tribune (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/fire/cs-070624goldcup,1,4815399.story?coll=cs-fire-headlines)
Fire player-to-be Blanco fails to rally Mexico-Chicago Tribune (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/fire/cs-070624goldbits,1,6283668.story?coll=cs-fire-headlines)
U.S. tops Mexico to claim Gold Cup-Daily Southtown (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/sports/442214,251SPT2.article)
Blanco gets little chance to make impression-Daily Southtown (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/sports/442240,252SPT4.article)
U.S. rally seals Gold Cup win-AP (http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_6220426)
Indecisive Rapids fall once again-Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_6215784)
Crew Review-Columbus Dispatch (http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/sports/stories/2007/06/25/crew_review0625.ART_ART_06-25-07_C6_1J73UQP.html)
Toja's goal helps FC Dallas move on-Dallas Morning News (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/062407dnspofcdlede.367cab0.html)
In Gold Cup Final, Feilhaber Has The Midas Touch for United States-Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/24/AR2007062401013.html)
U.S. beats Mexico in final of Gold Cup-LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-goldcup25jun25,1,7785191.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)
Wizards fire blanks vs. Houston-KC Star (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/wizards/story/163680.html)
U.S. beats rival at its own game-Herald News (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMzcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxNTgwMzQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)
U.S. rally boots Mexico, lifts Cup -NY Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2007/06/25/2007-06-25_us_rally_boots_mexico_lifts_cup.html)
United States Wins Fourth Gold Cup-NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/sports/soccer/25goldcup.html)
Bloody eye for Rev-Boston Herald (http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=1008139)
Mex-hex: US still cooking-Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/06/25/mex_hex_us_still_cooking/)
Spending it, not just on Beckham-Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/06/25/spending_it_not_just_on_beckham/)
Are trades responsible for RSL win?-Deseret News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680193677,00.html)
Ianni ignites Dynamo to victory-Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/4916788.html)
Dynamo Notes-Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/4916787.html)
U.S. is repeat winner-Miami Herald (http://www.miamiherald.com/628/story/150231.html)
U.S. continues dominance vs. Mexico in Gold Cup final-USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-06-24-usa-mexico-goldcup_N.htm)

[tab5g]

Ronald Blum, AP Sports Writer, states Beckham perhaps might have an on-field cameo in the All-Star Game.
Beckham Advertising Blitz About to Begin-AP (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-soc-brand-it-like-beckham,0,4965051.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed)
------------
The 32-year-old midfielder, who has had as many hairstyles as goals, is to join up with the Galaxy next month and be a halftime guest on the telecast of the MLS All-Star game in Denver on July 19, perhaps making a cameo appearance in the match.
-------------

[alf]

"We've enjoyed some success of AC Milan and Real Madrid jerseys in America," Pierpoint said. "Now, for the first time, we see global demand for the LA Galaxy jersey."

[vivalosburros]

It seems amazing to me how down on US soccer the press can be. If you look at most of the stories about the Gold Cup final accross the country they all tell of a first half completely dominated by Mexico and rather lucky goals by the US. The AP article even calls the PK undeserved which it hardly was. The funny thing is that if Mexico won in the exact same way with the exact same PK the press would say that they were the better team. Even many of the soccer writers don't make it clear in their articles that US deserved the win and Mexico can have nothing to complain about.

[tab5g]

Mexico will always have something to complain about.

And that's what makes the rivalry so great.

[JoeMax]

It seems amazing to me how down on US soccer the press can be. If you look at most of the stories about the Gold Cup final accross the country they all tell of a first half completely dominated by Mexico and rather lucky goals by the US. The AP article even calls the PK undeserved which it hardly was. The funny thing is that if Mexico won in the exact same way with the exact same PK the press would say that they were the better team. Even many of the soccer writers don't make it clear in their articles that US deserved the win and Mexico can have nothing to complain about.

Mexico dominated the first half? I thought their goal came against the run of play. The truth is, if the US could have solved it's finishing problems, they would have won by at least 2 goals (the same at least 2 goals that they would have won every other game in the cup by).

[tab5g]

Priorities change as Team USA switches competitions - Special to PA SportsTicker (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AoPKmND7pvmGtLFhaYb2GOMmw7YF?slug=txteamusabradley&prov=st&typ)

a decent write-up, but "Team USA" is not a moniker I enjoy.

[MtMike]

Priorities change as Team USA switches competitions - Special to PA SportsTicker (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AoPKmND7pvmGtLFhaYb2GOMmw7YF?slug=txteamusabradley&prov=st&typ)

a decent write-up, but "Team USA" is not a moniker I enjoy.

would "Team Mexico" be better?

[moonbbad]

[QUOTE=GPK;11949050]Soldier Field was fun yesterday. We were in the top row of the 300 section at the top of the box on the side where the US shot on in the second half. Nice looking stadium. I hadn't been there since the overhaul.

Very pro Mexico crowd as you probably saw on TV. Still good fun, until trying to get a taxi from the stadium after the game.....

Here are your links for today....

Happy Mondays.
[QUOTE]

Good times man. I am glad you were able to come by on Sat night and enjoy Chicago. Sorry I did not get back to you after the game, I went home and crashed. Next time the Nats are in Boston I am going to look you up and we will do it again!

[tab5g]

would "Team Mexico" be better?

of course not.

I'd favor "US Men's National Team", or

"USA" for brevity's sake.

i.e. - Priorities change as USA switches competitions - Special to PA SportsTicker

[Anthony]

would "Team Mexico" be better?

How about "Team America"

http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/1983%20updates/TeamAmerica.jpg

[VioletCrown]

How about "Team America"

http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/1983%20updates/TeamAmerica.jpg

Is that Meola's dad above the 'Youth News Roundup'?

[400lb Gorilla]

How about "Team America"

http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/1983%20updates/TeamAmerica.jpg

******** yeah? Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Soccerdude redded]

I just noticed Jeff Dragon which played for Cosmos of NASL but not the Cosmos of MLS.

[Jay Hipps]

In case anybody cares...

Sanchez Hoping for Mexican Revenge - SportingLife.com (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/other/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/07/06/25/SOCCER_SthA-Copa_America_Mexico.html)

Mentions that "Andres Guardado, who was taken to hospital on Sunday after he suffered a head injury, has travelled to Venezuela with the team."

Has there been any word on Spector today?

[stlouisfc]

Feilhaber, Donovan lift U.S. to victory (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/46CB9EC4DCC3465786257305000A9854?OpenDocument) -St. Louis Post-Dispatch

I haven't read every article, but I haven't seen this quote anywhere else:

As Benny Feilhaber ran toward a loose ball in the 73rd minute of the Gold Cup final on Sunday, teammate Landon Donovan cringed.

"Don't shoot it,'' Donovan recalled saying to himself. "But if you don't try it, you don't score it. Maybe it's one in a thousand you score that goal."


Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but the above comment makes me a lot more excited about Benny's future with the national team that Donovan's.

[argaen]

Feilhaber, Donovan lift U.S. to victory (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/46CB9EC4DCC3465786257305000A9854?OpenDocument) -St. Louis Post-Dispatch

I haven't read every article, but I haven't seen this quote anywhere else:



Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but the above comment makes me a lot more excited about Benny's future with the national team that Donovan's.If you go here (http://www.ussoccer.com/) to the US soccer page, they have a video on the right side of the page where Donovan says "What are you doing, oh ok!" about Benny's shot lol.

[parismatch]

If you go here (http://www.ussoccer.com/) to the US soccer page, they have a video on the right side of the page where Donovan says "What are you doing, oh ok!" about Benny's shot lol.

Yeah, the same video in which Ching fools around with the idea that he got a free PK... Not funny at all...

But let me say this as a Mexican fan: it takes a lot of courage and mentality to win a game like this one. 1-0 at the half-time with a crowded Stadium (most of them Mexicans) is not an easy thing.

Congrats...