For those Galaxy Fans who actually went. I was there representin', wearing my galaxy shirt in the sea of Chicago fire & San Jose Earthquake fans. Honestly it was a good scoring game... Ante Razov is a total puss... and has no big game balls. Thornton completely below average keeper. Donovan for as much as I hate his San Jose presence is the probably the best player the USA has ever produced. The game was cool. the weather was great. the fans actually turned out, both sides with healthy cheering sections and full chanting by Chicago. I know all reports will show sell-out. but I saw about 2,000 or so empty seats around the stadium.. and the most of the row behind me was empty. they sectioned off about 1/5 of the upper deck towards the jumbo-tron for press and what not.. most of the area was empty. Michelle branch was utterly boring.. I am still not getting this kids come first attitude with MLS & US soccer, Its a complete turn off entertainment wise for adults or anyone over 18. Any other impressions for Gmen Supporters at the game. dont tell my chick, I gotta call daisy fuentes right now, She gave me her cell phone # at the game.
I just think it was nice to see some attractive football played in the HDC for a change. SIGH there is always next year...
I was there and it was the best cup ever in my opinion. The quality of play was great, and Donovan's skills were a pleasure to watch. ATTN.: SIGI: This is what the game is supposed to look like. Topper
It was fun over at LARS section. We were singing and chanting against both teams amongst other things. There sure were some pretty ladies present. The game itself was good although I favored the Fire a litte more in this match.
I found myself watching on TV with a flagrant Eurosnob from Russia who said after just about every second or third less-than-perfect pass something like "That's ridiculous!" or "That would never happen in Russia." And the same after every single shot that wasn't driven hard on target. In fact, even when Razov hit the post with that turning half-volley the Eurosnob said any striker in the Russian league would have scored easily. And the same after every goal - when Ekelund scored the free kick he blamed the wall and the goalkeeper, on both of Donovan's goals and Beasley's goal it was "these defenders don't know how to mark" and after Roner's own-goal it was, well, the obvious. I also found myself rolling my eyes a whole lot. You can't satisfy some people.
I dunno about the Russian league, but perhaps he should check out the cluelessness of the Russian national team. The best part of the game yesterday (sure, it wasn't a bad one to watch) was being able to get in my car and be on the 91 freeway in less than 5 minutes.
TJ and Topper have it just about right. There were between 2000 and 4000 empty seats. If they were actually "sold" it means there were a bunch of G's fans that didn't care enough to show up. I went, but had a real hard time getting into the game, even though objectively speaking I know it was well played and entertaining. Don't feel so bad now about losing Razov. Noted that LA Times said he left the stadium and ducked the press. Exactly the class I would expect from him. On the plus side - after the game I got corralled by a Mexican TV reporter and got interviewed about Chivas coming into the league. Who knows, someone might see my interview and decide that I am just the guy they need for the next big novella...
Originally posted by rokstedy There sure were some pretty ladies present. You should have seen the ones backstage by the team locker rooms
As much as it sickens me to see the No Cals lifting the Cup...props to them for nutting it up (unlike the Galaxy and Raz-off!). And I guess I should mention this: THREE CUPS IN A ROW TO THE GOLDEN STATE OF SOCCER!!!!! Bite that you East Coast bigsoccersnobs!!!!!
So as I posted in another thread, I went to the Cup with my best friend from High-School, who lives in San Jose and is a Quakes season-ticket holder. I, of course, wore my 1997 Galaxy Replica jersey with team signatures on the back and my puke-yellow 2003 Galaxy ballcap. It was nice to see a lot of fellow Galaxy shirts and hats in the crowd. Not caring which team won, all I wanted was a good game, and the teams delivered. Have to give San Ho props. They put their chances in the back of the net, the Fire did not (or more specifically, that flu ridden sack of sh---, Ratz-face didn’t!) But two things after the game were much more interesting: First, the nice moment: I was sitting next to a large contingent of Fire family members and after the game I struck up a conversation with Chris Armas’ parents. I showed them the back of my shirt, which had their son’s signature from his days with the Gs, and told them what a great player he was and how I wished we still had him on our team. They were genuinely nice people and seemed to really appreciate the compliment. A few minutes later Armas walked over to our side of the field and his wife put their son down on the field. He was about one-and-a-half years old and was wearing a little while tee-shirt with the name ARMAS over the number 14 on the back. Chris reached over the barrier and picked him up and talked to him for awhile. My San Ho friend said, "It kind of puts it all in perspective doesn’t it? What’s important." It was nice to see this little kid run over to his daddy and help him forget just for a little bit about the bitter loss. And now the weird, strange moment: I actually ended up going to the Quakes victory party at the team hotel. I left my Galaxy gear in the car to avoid any confrontations and slipped into the party with my friends. Now I know what an undercover Narc feels like. Probably the most surreal moment was standing next to all of Troy Dayak’s family members. Two weeks ago, I was calling him every foul name imaginable and hoping he died a slow, agonizing death, and now here I was sipping my beverage and rubbing elbows with his dad and siblings. I had to work hard to keep a straight face when Dayak walked into the room. The fans in San Ho don’t call him the Cowboy for nothing. He would have fit in perfectly in West Hollywood… Bruce Arena showed up, and having seen him in person now, I can tell you that that smug smirk he always has when they show him on the sidelines is just his natural facial expression. He was probably there to chaperone Baby Jesus. One of the guys I was with asked Frank Yallop if he was coming back to coach the Quakes next year and he sidestepped the question. So looks like Canada’s getting a new coach and the Quakes are looking for one. Joe Cannon showed up to congratulate his old teammates. He seemed to be genuinely happy for them. Or perhaps he’s just looking to get out of Colorado… Brian Mullan had a big ass grin on his face…I hear his play in the postseason has got him a callup from the Brucester. Anyway, those were some quick impressions. I had to get my friends to the airport before the party really got hopping, so I didn’t get to see how Landon was greeted by his sister… But I can tell you that the room was full of very happy, excited, totally pumped-up family, friends and fans. I wish I had a videocamera so I could play it back for the Galaxy, to give them a little extra motivation for next year. I would really love to be on the other side next year…
Great post, TrickHog! RE: Mullen. I think he did well overall, but with Mullen and Waibel, I couldn't help but watch the game and say to my brother, "That's why he's not playing for he Galaxy anymore." Topper
Ruiz should have made you forget Razov by now. Armas was a loss, but was the cost of getting El Gato and Pena back after the expansion draft. I love Chris Armas as a player, but I wouldn't trade Hartman even up for him today. Beasley would never have played for us. Its sort of a mini-Adu story. Momma didn't want him 2000 miles from his old Indiana home, and the league wanted to get him signed. Remember, that giving up Beazley is what brought us Danny Califf. At least we got value in that deal. (Pre-Doogie Hamilton).
Forgot one thing. Everytime Ratz-face miffed a kick, blew a PK, or missed a wide-open net, I yelled "L.A Reject!" as loud as I could. The people around me seemed to be amused by it...
Nobody is stepping forward and taking responsibility for that move. It was pre-Doogie, so we can't blame him for it, and I recall Sigi complaining about it until the league told him to shut up.
No, it was the finger he showed the G fans down in Fullerton at the end of that Open Cup game that did that. I do still think we could really use Armas. But if that's what it too to dump Campos, I'll live with the loss. Yeah, I debated weather or not to throw DMB into the mix, but it is true he was a G at one (very brief) point.
You got pics? Hook us up! As for who was responsible for Luis Hernandez's signing, it was either one of various conspirators who were behind JFK's assassination. Take your pick.
you seem to forget about Brad Friedle (EPL goalkeeper of the year), and Tim Howard (now playing for a top team in the EPL)... Donovan looked good that game because the fire did not...the fire's offense midfield and defense was very poor in the final, they let him run right through them...but when you say he is probably the best player the USA has ever produced? come on man... I know reserve players that are better than him...he's way to overrated
Help Trickhog - Do not give into the Darkside!!!- San Jose is a cold morgue-like place where zombiesque rednecks slitter around mouths open with long strains of drool dangling about. Dont convert !!!, you'll have to get a labotomy and thats not fun. Curtin5 - I know your a little bitter at the loss, believe me.. I feel your pain. But Baby Jesus is good... I mean god.. no he's good, Fridel & howard are very talented, but If the first coming would leave San Jose and showcase his skills in another High prestige league, say EPL or Spain. We would without a doubt call him the best ever. I hate Donovan with San Jose... would love him with Barcelona.
Re: Help bitter from the loss? I know we played like sh** and deserved to lose that game the way we played, i admit that...but when you say he was impressive (indeed he was) but against a team that played like sh**... he made runs onto the ball where the defenders didn't even trail him...if curtin and boca played their top game, he never would have touched the ball inside the 18 yard box...