For those of you that missed it, Greg was asked about Scott in the post game press conference (I love our video board). He said Scott had some good chances out there tonight, and then mentioned his recent play for Costa Rica in the WCQ's. Here's the good part: he said Scott was just invited to the CR national team for the Copa America, and then was also invited to the CR Olympic team! (two invites in two days!) Scott will be leaving to join the Olympic team in 3-4 weeks, but he apparently turned down the offer to join the full national team for the Copa America. How do you like that? And then he comes here and sits on the bench and watches Ritch play week after week.
Here's CBCraig on Scott's impending departure: First-year forward Erick Scott will be leaving the Crew soon to represent Costa Rica in the Olympics. He will report for training July 18 before the team departs for Greece 10 days later. "I’m very excited," he said. "I always watched the Olympics growing up. It’s a once-in-alifetime opportunity." Scott, 23, appeared in all five games of the final round of qualifying in Mexico in February. He scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Jamaica. The United States was in the same regional but failed to qualify, possibly denying the Olympic experience for Crew players David Testo, Marshall, Chris Wingert, Kyle Martino and Edson Buddle. There are two things, both of them very obvious, to say about this: FIRST: What the hell difference does it make where Erick Scott is? Whether he's on our bench or 4,000 miles away in Athens, he doesn't play for the Crew. He might as well stick around after the Olympics and see the sights, check out the beaches and sample the Ouzo. We won't know the difference, unfortunately. SECOND: BigSoccer was, and is, full of whineyass mavens of doom who lament our non-appearance at the Olympics. For me, I have a hard time wishing the Crew was going to go most of July without Marshall, Martino, Buddle and WIngert.
Can't say I'm that worried about the Olympics either I was just bitter about losing to Mexicans. After Euro2004 who's really going to give a toss about Olympic soccer?
That's exactly my thought. And I've been laughed at and told I don't want US Soccer to succeed. Oh well.
The strongest I felt about missing the Olympics was mild disappointment. That was mostly because I knew that had we qualified, the Crew would've been decimated. So, I won't say I'm glad we didn't qualify, but I'm glad we didn't qualify, if you catch my drift. I will, however, disagree with everyone else's assessment of the value of the Olympics. As a pure soccer tournament, it's pretty useless, but winning it would bring some positive press with the general American public. I think Joe Schmoe understands that the World Cup is the big enchilada now, but probably thinks the Olympics is almost as good. Anything less than winning probably wouldn't register with the public (so not going at all is probably just as good as finishing 4th), but I think winning would be a good result.
I'm not disappointed at all about not making the Olympics because the Crew gets to keep it's young players. However, I'm very disappointed for Buddle, Martino, Wingert, Akwari, and Testo who all in some way worked hard for four years to try to make it to the Olympics and will never have another shot at representing their country in the games again unless they are one of the three senior players if the US qualifies in the future. Nor was I happy with the format for the elimination game. I still think the second round should have been round robin with the top two from the two previous groups. It's too important for the players to have everything riding on one game.
******** the Olympics. Who was it, Ghana that won a few Olympics back? How has it helped their program?
Apparently it excited Mrs Adu so much that she packed up the old kit bag and blew town with little Fredua in tow.
For most guys, that would be the worst part. I mean, if they make ya sit behind Cunningham or somebody, OK. You don't much like it and secretly hope that he blows out a knee or something but this poor schlub shows up here in CBus and takes a chair behind a big, slow, stiff white guy whose vertical is lucky to hit three inches. It's gotta be frustrating.
Speaking of Adu, did anybody else notice the "yard sign" signs at CCS this weekend announcing the two dates Adu visits Crew Stadium? My goodness, it's getting out of control.
Major Tom told me that we are signing Chad McCarty to a one game contract for the first game. It'll be poetic justice for the wrongs done to us in the past by DC.
Just sic Denton on him, eventually he will do something stupid and sythe his knees and get ejected from MLS. See, its a win - win situtation.