On Mullan And The Rapids Being Thugs

Discussion in 'Colorado Rapids' started by JasonMa, Apr 24, 2011.

  1. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As do I. MLS has been so inconsistent over its history I don't expect them to change unless this announcement comes with a lengthy explanation of this new discipline system.

    That might be the worst insult ever leveled in this forum! :D
     
  2. Dom. FC

    Dom. FC Member+

    May 10, 2004
    Central US
    While I'm not sure I follow the gist of the rest of your post that's tagline material right there. ;>)

    And in fairness they wouldn't need 11 Mehdis, you could put two Jovans up top and their mascot in goal (some teams just have one -- really) so only 8 Mehdis needed.

    I don't think retrospective punishment is a good way to make a precedent, it may be what they do but it would be far better to implement a "from now on ..." policy, make everyone very aware of it and then enforce it as you said consistently going forward.
     
  3. deron

    deron New Member

    Jul 25, 2006
    Centennial, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's not just MLS being inconsistent, it's the fans.

    Any tackle that can be brought up will get the response, "that's different". The excuse is already made for when the next red card is issued for a hard tackle. It won't be the same as this one and won't deserve a punishment.

    Why?

    There isn't an injury, Brian broke that guys leg... You could see that Brian was retaliating, but there's no retaliation here.... It was just unlucky... He doesn't have a history of hard fouls, Brian did...
     
  4. KnucklesBuchanan

    Jul 12, 2007
    Section 149
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Late to the thread, but first things first: I'm a Sounder fan.

    On to the important topics: First up, are the Rapids thugs? I've certainly never thought of them as such. I don't think that, as a team, they play the most attractive brand of soccer, but I don't find their style of play to be thuggish in the slightest. Physical? Absolutely, but no more or less than most other teams in the league. Thuggish? No way.

    Do I think Mullan's punishment is appropriate? Quite frankly, yes. I think it was an incredibly reckless and dangerous tackle with the worst possible outcome. I also think the fine should be higher. Honestly, if any Sounder had done the same I'd feel the same way. Play like that needs to be punished severely and quickly, regardless as to who the offender is.
     
  5. Totoro

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    So, why not longer? (Frankly, I still don't understand the desire for fines if he's suspended--surely he's not getting paid for games while suspended, so he's already losing 29% of his salary.)
     
  6. KnucklesBuchanan

    Jul 12, 2007
    Section 149
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    That's a fine question. My primary thought is that 10 games is as long as the league is willing to go, and they don't want to set a precedent. My initial fanboy reaction was, of course, "That guy should be out for the season!" But while Mullan may play in a style that I might describe as "mostly" controlled, he's not Nigel DeJong or Ty Cobb out there. Ten simply seems appropriate to me.

    Arlo White (SSFC play by play guy) was on the radio last night, and his understanding is that the suspensions are NOT without pay. Whether or not he is correct, I do not know, but I'm going to go with the notion that he knows more than I do. That is the basis for my desire for a stiffer fine.
     
  7. Totoro

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    If the suspension is without pay, then a higher fine makes sense. Otherwise, keeping him out that long hurts the Rapids more than Mullan, in a way. I know there's professional pride and all that, but still. One might like a paid vacation.
     
  8. COphysicsDave

    COphysicsDave Member

    Dec 13, 2010
    Centennial State
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  9. Totoro

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    Denver Post article:

    Makes sense. It's a pivotal decision, and by delaying MLS also avoids having this news overshadow the CCL. I suppose that's tempting today although you'd think from the perspective of the MLS HQ it would be adding bad news on top of bad news.
     
  10. GoRapids

    GoRapids Member

    Sep 1, 1999
    Boulder CO
    Suspended players do not automatically lose their pay - that has to be defined in their punishments. There are also maximums to the fines ... $5,000(?)
     
  11. deron

    deron New Member

    Jul 25, 2006
    Centennial, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    From the MLSPA perspective I'm certain that they'd be against a lot of the numbers bandied about. The membership doesn't want to get hurt, but they all know that they could have a tackle go wrong as well.
     
  12. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS made it official, 10 games total + $5000 fine. They made no comments about using this as a pivotal moment to change MLS or setting a new precedent. Without those Mullan got screwed and should appeal.
     
  13. teddy_montoya

    teddy_montoya RapidsThugLife

    Nov 9, 2006
    Supporters Terrace
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Crazy! 5 games at most. You are suspending the player for the TACKLE! Not the result, unheard of to suspend a player for 1/3 of a season.... Wow. Disappointing MLS!!
     
  14. deron

    deron New Member

    Jul 25, 2006
    Centennial, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No appeal...

    That's crap. Timing of the challenge and field position suggests that you don't play for 90 minutes and certain parts of the field don't matter. The mind reading is crap as well. I think severity of injury just provides an excuse for why they won't do anything on the next tackle.

    The next part is reasonable...

    If they made it clear than Brian's got himself to blame.

    At least it's done, 10 games for somebody to claim the position from Brian. Will anyone step up? Will Brian come back?
     
  15. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Reposting my comments in N&A here:

    I have to say nobody, other than Zakuani, is coming out of this looking good.

    Mullan - Need I explain why he doesn't come out looking good?

    Rapids - Multiple failed media attempts. I know Mullan and the Rapids wanted to say and to the right thing, but they fumbled the presentation every time.

    MLS - Missed the opportunity to make a statement with this suspension, instead of chalking up the long suspension to the injury

    MLS Player's Union - You don't appeal the longest on-the-ball incident suspension in league history? Especially with no new rules or statements coming out of the MLS FO? Really? Way to stick up for your players.

    (Some) Sounders fans - Even now on the comments on MLS's announcement they're saying things like Mullan needs to wear a helmet if he comes to Seattle in July. Way to stay classy and show yourselves as the best fans in MLS.

    What a mess. I really think that in the end this is going to accomplish nothing in changing the nature of the league, and all that was achieved is some matter of knee-jerk reactionary vengeance.
     
  16. Totoro

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    The article said "The MLS Players' Union will not appeal the decision." A possible appeal by the players assoc is separate from an appeal at Mullan's request, I assume?
     
  17. deron

    deron New Member

    Jul 25, 2006
    Centennial, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The article addresses that they put the word out prior to the season. If so, then the info was out there for him. They are making him an example.

    I do think they botch it by referring to the injury. It's not that it's not important, but making it the focal point means future tackles will simply be playing the odds - which are against injury. The excuse will be, "you can't give me a suspension, nobody got hurt," while potential for damage will still be there.
     
  18. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ah, I've been reading the press release, which doesn't say any of that.

    Still, you've pointed out the flaw. They've clearly implied that the problem that led to this suspension was the injury, not the tackle.
     
  19. Outlier

    Outlier Member

    May 12, 2009
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    I think your support for the Rapids is clouding objectivity.

    ""The Committee felt the egregious nature of the foul and the severity of the injury warranted the discipline issued," executive vice president of competition and game operations Nelson Rodriguez said in a statement. "The Committee believes the challenge showed an utter disregard for Zakuani's safety.

    Egregious nature of the foul is separate from the result. It speaks to the overall circumstances of the foul, not the injury. This is further backed up by the statement "utter disregard for Zakuani's safety".

    I believe you are trying to be rational and objective, but I think this is too emotional of a situation (for you) to get appropriate distance. When the majority of people (media and supporters) outside Rapids supporters favor an extended suspension; you have to decide whether the world is conspiring against you, or simply that your viewpoint is not entirely reasonable.
     
  20. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pot...kettle...black.

    Again, I had no problem with the 10 game suspension if MLS backed it up with long suspensions going forward. But its clear they aren't doing that. We've had numerous tackles this season (Beckham, the one in the Sounders-Fire game, etc.) that were horrible tackles but did not result in injury and got little or no suspensions. That was fine if the rules were going to be in place starting now, but instead MLS fell back on "We warned people at the start of the season!" but they haven't enforced it since the start of the season.
     
  21. HomeatHighbury

    Mar 25, 2006
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    He should be out for as long as Zakuani is out.

    Having watched three of my team's players get their legs snapped in the past 5 seasons, a three, or even 10 in this case ban, is stupid.

    You go in like an idiot and break someones leg, you're out however long they are. Because even though he's gonna miss 10 games, Zakuani is gonna miss over a year due to his stupidity. No reason to go that hard, within your own half nonetheless, that wasn't a goal scoring chance, he wasn't through on goal, there was no need for some raging last ditch tackle. Sheer ineptitude.
     
  22. Dom. FC

    Dom. FC Member+

    May 10, 2004
    Central US
    Very clearly unprecedented and then ipso facto, almost by definition, it is unfair. Or at least that is what I thought until I saw this:

    "Dema Kovalenko to Come out of Retirement -- Forced to Serve 50 Match Suspension"

    http://www.jives-just-makes-stuff-up.com

    According to MLS and US soccer insider 'Jives', Dema Kovalenko has been ordered to come out of retirement and serve a retrospective 50 match suspension for 5 of his greatest 'hits' tackles including two leg-breakers, (among the numerous other injuries caused by him). He is not to be paid during his non-return to action but also is being required to volunteer as a plaster mixer at a children's orthopedic hospital and help apply leg casts to injured children on each of the suspension match days.

    The League's Discipline Review Committee spokesperson said "You know we got started dishing out unprecedented penalties and it was sort of fun and then when people started saying we were being really unfair based on some of our inaction in the past we just thought this would be the right thing to do. And then we adjourned and had lunch, I had the veal."
     
  23. RapidStorm

    RapidStorm Member+

    Jan 30, 2005
    Denver, CO
    Except now, by deciding not to punish Jonathan Leathers at all for his tackle on Ferreira, the excuse can also be, "I hurt someone by committing a reckless tackle, but you didn't give THAT guy a suspension, so you can't give it to me."

    Once again, MLS lives in a muddled grey.
     
  24. Outlier

    Outlier Member

    May 12, 2009
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Pot...kettle...black? Please.

    Do you simply refuse to understand what is being done? A new precedent is being set. Stop looking backwards to support your indignation. It misses the point completely.
     
  25. gooberlx

    gooberlx Member

    Jul 8, 2010
    Commerce City, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am (not) shocked that nearly 25% of people voting in the article's poll feel the punishment is too lenient. Those people need to do two things:

    1) Separate their heads from their asses
    2) Learn how to emotionally divorce themselves from these things
     

Share This Page