From the Washington Post: ******** "Asked about the incident yesterday after practice at the RFK auxiliary field, Kovalenko told The Post: "I'm not apologizing for anything because I didn't do anything wrong. I feel real bad for him, but that happens in a game. I can't believe anyone would think I would do it intentionally. I was just trying to block the cross." Added United Coach Ray Hudson: "I think it's being cynical, biased and a little naive to think there was full intention on Dema's part to hurt the kid. It wasn't that way at all. . . . Dema did everything he could to stop the cross, and I still cannot figure [after watching the replay several times] how it led to the break, but it did. It's terribly unfortunate, but there was no malicious intent as far as I can see." ********* Hey Dema. That is almost an exact quote on the LAST TIME YOU BROKE AN OPPONENT'S LEG.... Fess up you punk. You were pissed that Ronnie beat you, then got away with possibly handling the ball and was going to goal and you made a reckless tackle. You gutless pig. After snapping the leg bones of TWO players at some point you are going to have to realize that you have a problem. LEG BREAKER!!
Jesus Christ, are we the only ones who remember Pollard?! Why doesn't anyone ever ask them about that! "Dema, how does it feel to be the only player in MLS to have broken two players legs?" "Coach Hudson, who is Kovalenko going to go after next?" "Coach Hudson, will your team be running any drills this week to practice not breaking players' legs?" "Coach Hudson, what was the Dallas Burn's reaction to your request for Ronnie O'Brien's leg so you could have it stuffed and put in DC United's trophy case?" "Dema, who do you consider has been the greatest influence on your life, and when are you going to break his leg?" alansl
Boy, aren't you guys starting to feel sorry for Dema? He's obviously as much a victim as Ronnie was. Maybe even more so. Kind of reminds me of OJ, another unfortunate victim of malicious character assasination.
It's an ugly sentiment and I'm not proud of feeling this way, but I've reached the point where I wish one of our players would injure Kovalenko as badly as possible in our next meeting, preferably ending his career. Yeah Hudson, we're cynical to imagine that the altarboy Kovalenko would ever play recklessly. And for the record, I could give a rat's ass what his "intention" was.
As I said in an earlier thread on this forum. I really don't like what United has become under Hudson. I'm not pleased at all with these incidents with Stoitchkov and now Kovalenko and I'm wondering how much longer will United's powers that be will tolerate Hudson. Nice quote to read from time to time but I'm really not sold on him as a coach.
What disturbs me is that many of the people expressing outrage over this incident still haven't made a pledge for the "Break Dema's Leg. Earn cash. Ask me how." campaign.
One thing I don't want to happen is someone like Suarez going the route of 'goon' himself (some might argue that he loses his cool and automatically 'goes there' anyway) because he doesn't see any 'justice' in the MLS world. Obviously I don't want to see the Burn lower themselves to the hack-attack of many South American clubs, so I'd rather turn this emotion we're all feeling into positive results... ... on the scoreboard. Even if it takes as long as the return of a healthy Ronnie O'brien. Now THAT'S something I could really sink my teeth into.
I will grant you Dema is scum, but let us draw the line short of calling for someone to injure him on purpose. That would make us no better then him. Do I think he should be suspended? Yes Do I think he is a dirty player? Yes Do I wish pyscial harm to him? No. I would rather just beat him every game from here on out and see his team miss the playoffs.
umm okay, you must not have been watching the same replay as the rest of us, because I can easily tell you how it led to a break. See when your player leaps of his feet and tackles a player with both legs, usually that player gets hurt. And when both of your legs are wrapped around both of that other guy's legs, I could really see how that would lead to a break. Come on Hudson, you should be so used to your guys breaking people's legs that you should know when to expect it.
Kovalenko's argument is that he didn't injure JOB intentionally. So what? I've read many posts since Saturday and few have accused the thug of intentionally injuring O'Brien. No, most posters' understand that Dema's ongoing problem is that his challenges have been RECKLESS and THOUGHTLESS. It is obvious that he isn't going to change and MLS doesn't seem inclined to punish him. So what are we to do? There has to be some sort of justice concerning Kovalenko, but I don't see any on the horizon short of mob violence. Also, Ray Hudson has much to do with DCU's thuggary. I used to like the guy, but his touchline whining Saturday night and his lame excuses concerning both Stoitchkov and Kovalenko are too much. There is a housecleaning in order in DC, but I fear nothing will be done. That is a rotten shame IMO.
Dema is such a rat. He probably is in competition with Stoichov. I used to really hate the Metros....but now, DC United is quickly becoming a target of my venom.
What a coincidence!!! This is the same thing I am going to tell the press after I take a baseball bat to Dema's head when he plays in Chicago next. Punk. Thug.
So he won't even APOLOGIZE?!?!?!?!?!? I He feels bad but won't apologize. THis guy needs to be banned from the league now. Not only is he a thug, he's also either an idiot or a bastard as well. Chit, if I snapped a guy's leg like a twig on purpose (ahem, or not), I think I would be inclined to apologize. You know, just to be kind and stuff. This Kovalenko guy is such an A-hole.
You don't have to hurt Kovalenko to get him banned. He's not a smart player, so it's really simple. Make fair and hard physical contact on the guy every single time he gets the ball. He's such a neanderthal, by the time he's 30 minutes in to the game he'll do something stupid, and he'll be red carded. You don't have to be a butcher like him to play hard-arse soccer. The one thing about that PR$CK is that he can dish it out, but he cannot take it. When 10 guys are dishing it out, he'll respond like the idiot he is.
of course he didn't, JOB plays for Ajax. Ronnie O'Brien on the other hand is out for the season, and Kovalenko is at the top of everyones list now.
From the Washington Post Intelligencer. "If I knew it was only going to be a one game suspension and a $1,000 dollar fine, I would have hit that damn Paddy harder," Kovalenko said though United spokesman Eton S. Ecraf.
At this point, you have to wonder if Ray would even play Kovalenko in Dallas. At that point, they should have Ivanov back, which would allow them to move Ryan Nelsen to the MF and, theoretically, take Dema out of the lineup. I'm not saying it will happen like that but it will give DCU a convenient excuse to allow Dema to punk-out and not take his medicine.
Well, since there's only been denial and lack of apologies, I'm not sure if keeping Dema out of the lineup is the smart thing to do. Hudson could put Dema in the game and have him stomp up-and-down next to each Burn player in order to take them off their game... ... or he could have Dema just tackle Kreis from behind and throw all his weight into the back of Jason's knees - maybe even crippling Kreis... ... hey, if you're only going to get a slap on the wrist for snapping someone's leg, why not take out one of the league's most prolific scorers?.. ... not that DCU needs any more of an edge to beat an O'brien-less Burn... ... then again, maybe they do...