"It's a difficult situation, coming from the MLS Cup, an incredible environment, into this. After all the bidding and stuff like that, this was the best they could come up with for an Open Cup final? I like to think had we gone back to Los Angeles, and played even in Fullerton, it would have been a much better environment for soccer and certainly a better way to showcase the Open Cup, which a lot of people look at as an ugly stepchild." -- Galaxy defender Alexi Lalas. (Los Angeles Times) I have to agree with Alexi Lalas. I saw the crowd/atmosphere on TV and it was embarrassing. If the Cup cannot be handled/promoted better maybe they should just do away with it. I've been disappointed with every Quakes game in the Open Cup (they keep losing to the Galaxatives) because of the lack of enthusiasm on the part of fans and players alike. Heck Yallop plays all the subs. Anyone else feel this way?
Take Lalas' comments with a grain of salt. L.A. hasn't done all that much better with USOC game attendances either, particularly in Fullerton. It's in the Angelino psyche to think they could do everything better than everyone else.... But at any rate, I don't hate the USOC. I think its timing -- in the middle of the MLS season -- is what's wrong. Especially the latter stages, when many MLS teams are concentrating on their playoff strides, the USOC games seem more of a distraction. I say either complete it early in the season or during the offseason. The issues of game promotion and attendance are the faults of the front office hosting the event. But again, if it was played in the offseason, there wouldn't be a conflict with MLS there either.
> Heck Yallop plays all the subs Mos teams don't do this - it is just that Yallop plays so few subs during the regular season that the normal starters are all too tired.