My wife just called me to let me know that the HOF game between the Crew and RBNY has been cancelled. So I called to find out why and they said that they do not know the reason why the teams pulled out, but all of the other ceremonies are still going on.
I agree that was a very poor programing, but a game is imperative in this ceremonies, becouse the players who are in the are induction process deserve this and more....
Then they should do like the NFL and have the HOF game in preseason. Or invite "testimonial type teams" etc.
Great news... Thanks Dante! I was hoping something like this would happen... It kind of sucks for the folks in upstate NY and Oneonta... but these games are often just reserve games in disguise anyway and the play not very inspired. Besides it would have made for 8 games in 21 days for the Bulls which is crazy...
This game should be the US Open Cup Final, or at least a testimonial game involving former teamtates of the inducted players.....
Yeah, that bites. What with Arena kvetching over a cup tie, I can imagine he had no interest whatsoever in schlepping upstate for an entirely meaningless affair. Too bad, though, as the people upstate deserve this match. The Hall in Stoneonta rocks.
I disappointed that the game is cancelled. I was going to go for it as it's only a two hour drive from here.
I guess I won't be taking a half a day on Monday. The U.S. GDP just rose by a very slight percentage. Too bad, it is a really good setting on those fields to watch a match up close. I was going to bring my kid's youth team to watch real players play. They really can learn a lot despite it being in essence, a reserve match.. Sort of saw this one coming. Hell, Bruce can't talk to JP and Shep for 30 seconds on TV, there was no way he was going to subject himself to a 5:00 am wake-up call to get on a bus for a 4-hour ride up and a 4 hour ride back. It would have been funny to watch Lalas put on a RBNY shirt and play in the second half. Or better yet, put him on Columbus and have him try to go up against Peter Canero.
Thank you for being the voice of reason. How about making it the final pre-season game and pitting the MLS Cup Champ vs. the Supporters' Shield winner or the Open Cup champ? Make the Hall of Fame Game like the Charity Shield in England.
I would say that the US Open Cup champ MUST be in the game, because that is the only competition of the 3 you mentioned that is open to teams all over the US, and I think that the HOF game should have one POSSIBLE team coming from a lower division. But yes, that would be the best idea to play in the preseason. This middle of the season stuff is absolutely horrendous.
No, terrible idea. What happens if the game is Los Angeles v D.C. United. Attendance would be like 300. I do like the Charity Shield idea, that seems reasonable. Or some sort of alumni game.
I think it is ridiculous that they have the HOF in Oneonta instead of in a big city. How many visitors does the HOF get each year aside from the annual induction? Put it somewhere where tourists will visit it. I know somehow will bash me for not respecting history, but my answer is that having in Oneonta, a very nice small town in upstate NY, is not promoting the game. Baseball can get away with Cooperstown, also a small upstate town, even smaller, but baseball is the national pastime and people will make the trip.
A. Oneonta is not a very nice small town. It is bordering on a pit of a small city with some very extremely nice surroundings. B. Was soccer believed to be invented in Oneonta? Didn't think so, therefore no disrespecting it's history. At least lore has it that baseball was invented in Cooperstown. This just another of the unimportant Halls of Fame in upstate NY. The list includes the Trotter HOF in Goshen, Boxing HOF in Canastota NY and Professional Wrestling HOF in Schenectady.
This coming from the guy who wanted a major league sports franchise in Piscataway? Oneonta has the Soccer Hall of Fame because it has supported the beautiful game with such intensity for such a prolonged period of time. And its not just a matter of ex-pat enthusiasm there. I went to high school nearby and always admired the passion and commitment for the sport in a town stuck in the shadow of Cooperstown. There are lots of touristy halls of fame and museums nearby and there weren't any other towns as desperate for the Hall as Oneonta. Props to the hard-working fun-loving people of upstate NY! Putting the Hall of Fame in a major urban center would be an awful idea. Oneonta is able to host massive tournaments and make the site a Septic Mecca for the sport.