maybe marc should concentrate on the names in his column, instead of others typical response from someone wanting to carry the cross for baby jesus in the email questions
"DirecTV renewals are expected to begin next week, actually. The package is still being negotiated with the DISH network and digital cable’s iNDemand, though. Want to help the issue? Place a call or an e-mail to your local digital cable operator and flat-out demand that they carve out channel space for the package. They need to know that there are more than 15,000 people interested, which is approximately the total number of subscribers that the various outlets signed up last year."
"A left-sided midfielder with an offensive mindset and a nose for the goal, Mapp might get to play there since Sarachan said that he’s thinking of trying Beasley in the central midfield." It would be interesting to see RunDMB in the middle. Though I don't know if he'll be able to take advantage of his speed as he would out on the wing.
I found the part about Mapp being very effective on the right side of midfield very interesting, too. It seems to directly contradict everything I've heard the DC and some of the youth-Nats people say about him. I've read interviews were Sigi talks about how he likes to stick left sided players on the right side of the field so that their "natural" tendencies are to cut in toward the goal. Interesting............
"superstar" is he? nope is he good? yup is he damn good? yup do the cross bearers come out in droves? yup
I should not complain since I am not a subscriber, but 15,000 seems pathetic to me. That's one out of every 20,000 people in this country!!
what exactly does he have to do to be a superstar in your book? if we're going to throw around biblical imagery, you can be caiaphas, i guess. maybe pilate. don't be a hater.
hunkey dorey superstars tend to be guys like michael jordan, sammy sosa, michael owen, ronaldo, pele, zinedine zidane (probably misspelled) not landon donovan... the only u.s. player with any claim of being a real star (not super star) is brad friedel... it's a pretty easy distinction and yet missed by all that want him to be something he is not... he will most definitely get better, but i can't see him ever being a super star... maybe someday he will reach friedel status, but i'd put that at less than 50-50 odds the biblical imagery on this topic has been going on for some time... and i didn't happen to start it, and you know that and it happens to fit quite well... people blindly following without the willingness to look at what is actually there...
There's no question that Mapp's left foot is much much better than his right, and that he'd be best suited for the left wing. But, he can also play the right, albeit in a different way. Mapp is a very exciting player who is lightning quick and fast with the ball. He can blow by defenders with incredible ease, and his skill on the ball is breathtaking. If he's on the left he can get the ball by his defender and slam in a hard driven cross. On the right he really cannot cross effectively. But, he is still good at beating his man, and he is good at drifting into the middle and drawing defenders. So while it is true that he's best suited for left winger, he can play on the right effectively as well. -Tron
it's a pretty easy distinction when you are able to make up the definition. a kid at my high school in downstate illinois has a landon donovan poster in his locker. i'd say LD qualifies as one of the most talented and best known american soccer players. or, you can continue tilting windmills and telling everybody LD is not that good.
That's fewer people than a crowd at an average MLS game. That number really is low. I'm surprised MLS doesn't spend more money marketing this as the margin on MLS Shootout has to be through the roof, even after the PPV folks take their cut. All of the game production costs are handled at the local level. Sachin
what are the chances of capano getting PT? I remember him being a HUUUGE prospect. I know its early, but any chance he could get a few starts here and there?
show me where i said he wasn't that good? i said he was good... damn good i've also said he will be one of the best american players...
You're not helping the situation any. I thought 15,000 was a pretty darn good number to me. I remember seeing the number 6,000 subscribers bounced around in 1999 or so - so progress is being made. And 15,000 x $50 = $750,000 which in MLS money ain't chump change. Hopefully a post WC bump can be seen here too - an ad or 2 during the opening game on ABC wouldn't hurt either. At least the spot won't cost too much.
A kid at my high school has an Albright poster in his locker, does that make him a super star? Dream on people. LD is a fantastic player, and he got some press after the WC, but calling him a super star is far from the truth. There are no super stars in US soccer. Was his decision to stay the lead story on Sportscenter. Did it even make the show? NO Has he ever been featured in his own commerical? And no a 3 second spot in a 90 second Nike montage doesn't count. He has a long way to go to reach super stardom. At best he's a recognizable name.
Landon Donovan is an American Soccer Super Star. To the general public however, he ranks right up there with that guy who won the Super Bowl MVP, old what's his name.