Mr. Soccer & Hoops SI-Guy, Grant Wahl with some good scoop: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/grant_wahl/news/2002/10/03/wahl_mailbag/ my personal favorites: Grant offers to mediate while observing, "It's getting ugly: I actually saw an anti-Deford sign in RFK Stadium during a World Cup qualifier last year, and I woke up recently to my alarm clock playing NPR, in which Deford was saying how a day doesn't go by without an overzealous soccer fan giving him trouble." and then he goes off on Roy Wegerle...take a read, he's got some great stuff this week. Thanks.
I like this idea " I still think MLS should call its championship MLS Cup VII. Roman numerals = a reminder of longevity." It's never too late to start! NFL didn't do it until V.
This a great, great article. It's like Big Soccer, only more rational. This got a chuckle out of me: His list of soccer fans in the media includs: "(secretly, I believe, based on his thorough knowledge of soccer history and statistics) Jim Rome. "
at the end of the column he makes a plea for people to ask questiosn about the MLS playoffs for his next column...Send him a question, let SI know we want to be heard!
Definitely check out the new column. As always, a great informative read. Wegerle is not safe from the vitrolic keyboard of Grant Wahl! Send him some praise/comments/questions as well. He is truly a good guy who I'm sure appreciates the feedback.
He missed the obvious. No mention that a team with a regular season losing record will be in MLS Cup VII. I don't recall this happening with any other US championship match.
We need Grant more than once very two weeks. But I'll take what I can get. Glad to hear there are so many soccerphiles out there in the vast media wasteland. Not that I didn't really think so, but it's nice to hear some confirmation. I'm sending a question Grant! Answer it!
Actually, I believe the Rapids had a losing regular season record (14-18) when they made their run to the MLS Cup Final in 1997 (or MLS Cup II in Grant's hip new parlance). http://www.mlsnet.com/statistics/archive/1997_league.html Obviously, this is more likely to occur in (smaller) leagues that tend to qualify a greater % of their teams to their playoffs. Thus, perhaps this occured in one of the indoor leagues or post-NASL/pre-MLS outdoor leagues, or professional lacrosse or in minor league hockey.
Mediate? I'd be glad to see Grant MC a retirement party for Deford. He could do it at RFK, Gillette, Crew Stadium, or wherever. I'm sure MLS fans would turn out to celebrate.
Every once in a while a team makes the Stanley Cup Final after a losing season. Minnesota did this back in 1991, and I don't think Pittsburgh, the winner that season, had a record much better than .500.
I think Jack Bell's articles for the NYT can be pretty lifeless. I like the other guy better - whose name escapes me at the moment.
I had tried so hard to forget this. He made Paul Caliguiri seem like Vin Scully. Deer in the headlights.
"I actually saw an anti-Deford sign in RFK Stadium during a World Cup qualifier last year..." Gee, I wonder who that was that spray painted black letters on a white sheet that read "DEFORD IS CLUELESS." I even have a picture saved on my computer that has the sign in the background (I don't know how to post it so you'll have to trust me). Anyway, I don't have any idea who it could have been but at least they can go to their grave knowing in their heart they did their part to uphold the sanctity of American soccer.
I guess that's who I was thinking of although I think Alex has been gone for a while -- pre-WC. Thank goodness Jaime Trecker's articles appeared only briefly. Since I now have more information about Jack Bell, I'm going to reassess my opinion. I'm also going to write the NYTimes and ask for more coverage -- or at least move Jack Bell's articles out of the little type section...