I'm sure you have all noticed how, now that the Earthquakes have been eliminated, all coverage of the MLS has disappeared from the SF Chron and SJ Merc. Although I did see the recent article featuring Coach Yallop and the article on Mexican soccer in the Merc, shouldn't the MLS playoffs also be reported. I find the matchups fascinating but basically unreported. I know it is a busy sports time of the year but I would encourage people to send in requests for coverage of not only the Earthquakes, but also the league. Don't worry Earthquake fans, we'll be back next year!!! (remember last year when we were worried the team would move??)
Agreed about the lack of in-depth playoff coverage, but since no Bay Area team is in those playoffs, yet two are in the baseball playoffs, expect expanded baseball and abbreviated soccer coverage. That's just life. Bigger concern to me is that there are three MLS playoffs today, and ESPN2, the station that should be showing one of those games, is showing the USWNT v. Australia instead. And, no, I don't remember ever worrying last year that our team would be moved. Miami and Tampa getting contracted was pretty surprising to me. I did worry earlier this season that we might get moved, but I think Johnny Moore has proven he can get the job done properly given the time and resources.
I was worried. Seattle Earthquakes has a nice ring to it. The Chron actually did have a little article a day or two ago, didn't they?
I'm sure that the Merc and the Chron both breathed a little sigh of relief when the Quakes were eliminated from the playoffs, as that allowed them to conserve their precious ink and space for breathless commentary regarding pernicious appearance of jock-itch in the A's clubhouse and all of the other sporting non-sequitors that accompany the popular press' coverage of 'stick and ball' sports.
bs...sarcasm becomes you! Seriously, though...this is yet another argument for compressing the season and finishing by Labor Day.
The pointy ball, both college and pro are too much competition. Kripes, those papers try to cover every damned gridiron game in the country.
Having done some retail marketing on the subject, there's a market for covering "every damned gridiron game in the country". There's a lot of alumni of "Everywhere U" in this valley. Another media thought...and I'm thinking print media now, recall how MLS is covered if the Quakes aren't playing. If there isn't a Quakes game to tie MLS coverage to, the match results are relegated to "Sports Digest"...much as they have been through the playoffs. So really nothing has changed.
actually if the Chron and Merc are as jaded as everyother newsroom in America, they're rooting against the local teams (including baseball and football). The sooner the local teams are out of the playoffs, the sooner your vacation begins.
You can whine all you want ... I wish I'd been at Spartan Stadium tonight myself watching the Quakes ... but the anti-baseball stuff around here is as pigheaded and tiresome as the anti-soccer stuff in the mainstream media. Me, I'll be at Pac Bell Park on Saturday.
GG: They got their butts whipped by "my" Virginia Cavaliers, which is not a good indication of pointy-ball prowess. It must be tough to be a sports team called the Zips. Have they thought about changing it to the Nils...
By the by, did anyone notice that game 3 coverage of all the remaining series got full coverage and a picture in Thursday's Merc? After all the stick we gave the Merc about their coverage of the playoffs after our exit, I think we should start drafting our apologies.
Fair enough. I subscribe to both the Mercury and Chronicle and both have some coverage "after the fact". I would like to see some analysis of the games BEFORE the game, not just after it. I would argue this is the measuring stick of REAL coverage. Someone with soccer intelligence doing analysis BEFORE the game for fans who are interested in the outcome. As a fan I already know EVERYTHING reported in the paper after the fact (from the Internet) long before they print it. It would be nice to have some analysis from someone like FRANK YALLOP about the game (eg. Revolution v. Crew) and then have him make a prediction on the outcome. One problem with the local media is they cater to the lack of knowledge of the typical American (lowest common denominator) , and not to the more sophisticated fan. With all due respect to Spartacus, I would argue that FULL coverage would include a pregame analysis and post game interviews, not just an article. p.s. I'm not apologizing for didiley squat. I'm asking for better coverage now and in the future. (bare minimum: a full time soccer writer)