I predict the Quakes win it if Donovan Scores In the rest of the Quakes games. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/3953903.htm Quakes are 14-0 when he scores.
Well, what if they both win and its San Jose v. NY/NJ in the MLS cup final? Donovan and Mathis both score. Who wins then?
Sorry, but Jeff is working on a baseball story now that the strike has been averted. Sincerely, Jeff's Mom
Other than the delightful plug for MetroFanatic.com, the Oklahoma line is the best that column has seen in recent history. There's no such team as NY/NJ. In fact, the same Jeff Bradley is partially to blame for that.
"Didn't pick an MLS Coach of the Year last week when I began to forecast awards. Easy choice. Dallas Burn coach Mike Jeffries in a landslide. And while we're at it, how about Steve Morrow or Tenywa Bonseu of the Burn for Defender of the Year?" Can I get an Amen. Worthy candidates all. "My playoff solution (since everyone seems to be throwing their ideas into the mixer). Both conference winners earn a bye into semifinal matches that they will host. This will make the MLS regular season life and death. Then, according to regular season standings, 6 at 3 and 5 at 4, in one-game playoffs. This keeps the Cinderella Dreams alive. The Conference winner with the best record will be the "top seed" in the next round. It's quick and dramatic and allows for ticket sellers to pump those semifinal matches hard." Preach on, brother. Fine, Gazidis, leave the "1st to 5" but for God's sake lets go to 6 teams. It makes too much damn sense. "If Revs make the playoffs - if and only if - Taylor Twellman becomes MLS MVP" I'll agree with that.
Does anyone else think Bonseau is a tad overrated? I've seen a lot of Burn games and he seems to take a lot of bad angles on the ball, is clumsy and commits a lot fouls around the box. At least that's my perception. I'm not saying he's a bad player by any stretch, but just not probably worthy of Defender of the Year.
Re: Re: Insider: Do the Mathis Damn... I was hoping a baseball strike would let Jeff become a full-time soccer writer.
Defender of the year, I don't know, but I can't think of any better central defenders in the league. I think you've been watching too many Burn-Quakes games. They make all our defenders look unusually horrible. Bonseau can be beaten (as evidenced by SJ) by speed and through balls coming right at him. But his positioning is impeccable in my opinion. I would wager that he has blocked more shots than any other player in the league this year. That's good positioning for me.
Not to reopen a can of worms, but can you see why certain crew fans (myself definately one among them) was extremely unhappy (to say the least) with the bonseu trade. At the time some of us argued he was one of the best young defenders in the league and we got laughed at and someone took the time to post 20 defenders better than Bonseu. (Damn Big Soccer Crash of 2002, I'd love to see that list again). Now as the season winds to a close, Bonseu is being touted as defender of the year, or at least mentioned in consideration. And if I remember correctly the draft pick the Crew got in the trade didn't even make the squad. Given the state of the Crew's defense at the time some of us said it would go down as one of the worst trades in MLS, that may have been an exagerration, but the initial outcry just continues to be proven correct. But, its all water under the bridge now, we just have to deal with it.
From the piece: "Didn't pick an MLS Coach of the Year last week when I began to forecast awards. Easy choice. Dallas Burn coach Mike Jeffries in a landslide. And while we're at it, how about Steve Morrow or Tenywa Bonseu of the Burn for Defender of the Year?" Once again Jeff's ugly Burn homerism shows up. Why he can't be unbiased like a good reporter is supposed to be? What about us Fire fans? We had the guy first.
Bonseu's best career move was gettin outta chicago, he'd probably somehow, through no fault of his own, get injured. It happens to everyone else.
Re: Re: I predict the Quakes win it if Donovan Scores Let's jump the gun here shall we? Someone is gonna see this and immediatly post that the Quakes are better WITHOUT Landon Donovan. To avoid a rather long and complelty stupid arguement can we akk just agree to flame the crap out of the person who does that? en masse?