Ian Plenderleith's latest...ouch!

[Bushman]

For some reason, DC United wouldn't print this on their site. Being the media whores that we are, we were more than happy to oblige. Enjoy!


http://onthesidelines.org/united110403.htm

[Barbara]

Good column. And right on.

[GDopplerXT]

Great article, Mr. Plenderleith! Well, I can see why they didn't want it up on the DC United site, and I don't hold it against them. Articles like this most definitely have their place, but the official team site is not it. Fortunately we have other venues to serve the purpose.

[Lanky134]

I'm not putting any money on DC taking a trip to Soldier Field, already two goals down, and coming back with anything more than a t-shirt that says, "I went to Chicago and all I saw was DaMarcus Beasley's heels."

Absolutely brilliant.

[Knave]

Enough already! Enough for tonight, enough for the season, and enough appearances for this club. Go away.
Amen.

Other than the Etch-Stoitchkov paragraphs I didn't think this piece that "ouch" worthy. I can understand why they wouldn't want this on the DC United website. After all, that's the place where they apparently think Stoitchkov worthy of MVP consideration for his disgraceful performance against Chicago. (Seriously, check out the poll.) Still, I think it was a pretty weenie decision to reject this column. Indeed, I think they've gotten weenier as the season's gone along.

Weenie is a cool word.

[Atouk]

Originally posted by Knave
After all, that's the place where they apparently think Stoitchkov worthy of MVP consideration for his disgraceful performance against Chicago. (Seriously, check out the poll.) No kidding. I think I could have found five guys to put in the poll without coming within a couple of Stoitchkov.

Of course, what do we know? Right now, Stoitchkov is leading the voting (26% to Cerritos 24, Dema 20, Petke 17, and Nellie 14 after 210 votes).

[fatbastard]

Originally posted by Atouk
Of course, what do we know? Right now, Stoitchkov is leading the voting (26% to Cerritos 24, Dema 20, Petke 17, and Nellie 14 after 210 votes).
All year I have been wondering how the hell they decide who gets to be voted on for that starpower crap. I go over there with two players in mind for MVP and they aren't even on the list of 4 or 5 choices. Obviously, they are put up by someone who doesn't watch the games. So I usually don't vote at all.

Nice article Ian, but I hope you weren't even a tiny bit surprised they wouldn't put it up on their site :)

[BroonAleMagpie]

Before I attempt to give a runout to some more optimistic thoughts, I'd like to offer two interpretations of Stoitchkov's jabbing his finger at the linesman while gesturing to the crowd to raise the noise level. Perhaps dear Hristo was merely trying to create some extra atmosphere in the stadium on a very special soccer occasion. Thus he was acting for the greater good of the game.

Alternatively, you could say that his lynch-mob gesturings were the symptoms of a man who, at 37, is still not mature enough to accept official calls after two decades as a professional. Either way, he was lucky to stay on the field. Good luck to all future players who may one day find this man as their coach. And to all those who officiate his team's games.
I have not seen anything from DC this year that I can recall that was more worthy of a charge of "bringing the game into disrepute". I said when I saw those gestures that I expected the league would institute a serious fine, and that I wuld be glad they did. That was before I read the report from the ref in Mass about the league's tampering with referees. But it was a disgraceful display by a player who did not deserve, IMO, to remain on the field after that series of incidents. I hope DC United does not have Mr Stoichkov on its roster as player or staff next season.

[MeridianFC]

I wish there were some other very visible format for IP to put up all of his columns up on. Well at least we get to see it here.

K.

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
I wish there were some other very visible format for IP to put up all of his columns up on. Well at least we get to see it here.

K.

Well, there is this. (http://www.ianplenderleith.net/)

[GoDC]

One of the best artcles I have read all year. Great stuff Ian and Boo to United for not having the guts to post this on their web site.

[greatscott]

By this weekend there will be a full moon in the sky. If DC United are jumping over it on Sunday night like the proverbial nursery rhyme cow, I'll teach my cat to play the fiddle. If we didn't think it was possible, we wouldn't bother turning up at all. Mind you, I don't actually have a cat.

hahaha
what a great line

[Lowecifer]

As usual, Ian speaks the truth.

Great column, and thanks to On The Sidelines for publishing it.

[bofahey]

Brilliant piece of work.

[Jose L. Couso]

Excellent article.

"But although the corpulent diva may be tuning up in the wings, she has not yet launched into her swansong."

[MikeLastort2]

Great article!!

[TheFarSide]

Originally posted by BarbDett
Good column. And right on.

I love reading this guy! he is such a homer and he is also spot on!

-the far side