A lot of bad fouls and hacks in the quarter this year. I didn't see the game in Colorado, but Mastroeni took some cheap shots and unnecessary hacks in both games in Dallas. Nowak tried to take Rusty Pierce out and missed so he chased after him Dema Kovalenko style and ran over him at the sideline. WTH was that for? How about Razov and his little stomping fit at the end of tonight's game? The league needs to suspend him for a few games for that. I think that's been the most annoying thing I've seen in MLS since Luis Hernandez tried to play longball with Nowak's head in the open cup semis a few years back. And besides half the name players doing CJ Brown impersonations I also finally figured out why Ruiz has his little fish nickname. Cuz he flops around like one far too often. Someone will be naming an all MLS team, but they also need to have an all Thug team. I nominate Razov for first team forward.
i know exactly what you are talking about on the nowak hit, and that really wasn't that bad... a shoulder to the body... clearly a foul, but nothing that could be deemed going for harm or really ugly i saw it happen and i saw replays of it... i thought boca's yellow on twellman was much worse... not quite sure why you made mention of this and not that i'm also clueless as to why you would bring brown up everything else i agree with you on
C J Brown C J has his moments but overall he is a professional. He and Zach made a genuine effort to congratulate each of the Revolution players at the and of the match. There are many players in MLS who are much worse hacks the C J.
Ante Razov Sucks My Arse!!! Sung to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down": Ante Razov Sucks My Arse, Sucks My Arse, Sucks My Arse. Ante Razov Sucks My Arse... And so does CJ Brown. PS: I have nothing against CJ Brown. The tune just wouldn't work with Hristo Stoitchkov.
I brought up Nowak just because he tried to foul the same player twice in one sequence for no reason. CJ Brown just has a rep for being a hack in some parts 8)
The only problem I had with Nowak's foul on Pierce is that it's Pierce's first game back from an injury, and the only reason that he came back so soon was because of Llamosa's suspension. The Revs played a game against the Rapids in August and were ahead 3-1 when a few of the Colo defensive players (not Pablo) spent the last 10-15 minutes of the game trying to upend Twellman every time he touched the ball.
Or Stoitchkov attempting to throw a fit at Heaps after getting burned by him early on...except the old guy couldn't catch up. I've no issues with Fire fans really, but that is without a doubt a chippy, cheap-shot rich environment your boys in Red like to operate in.
I guess I should have phrased it as "The tackle against Pierce wasn't especially bad, The only problem I had with Nowak's foul on Pierce ...". It wasn't a particularly nasty foul, it just pissed me off.
As a Fire fan, I have to say the Fire are filled with hacks. Although what was once are biggest hack, CJ, is now much more toned down. Peter has been a hack of late...Dema always has been a hack but has gotten better at controlling himself...Hristo has susbstituted ability for sheer violence and cheap tactics. Razov, the other guy covered that. Bocangera's tackle wasnt as bad as others may think. First Twellman fouled Bocangera from behind but no call...his foul was retaliation and i dont blame him for being upset. He looked like he (Boca) actually got ball and ankle on his foul but it looked reckless nonetheless. On the other hand, Chicago seems to get injured the most due to reckless tackles. Beasley is one of the most fouled players in the league and he missed a good portion of the season. Razov dislocated his shoulder on a player sliding in on him. Just a bad fall some might say...Nowak seems to take a beating every season by hacks...Wolff, same thing last year by Criag Demmin and Boca same thing via Joey Franchino...Did Whitfield tear his knee up because of a foul on him?...it was so long ago i forgot. Yes i know everyone gets fouled but i can recall several horrific tackles that have led to season ending injuries/months on IR far too often with the Fire.
,.., wunderkid, not being facetious here, but don't you think the chippiness of the chicago style encourages such "payback"?
I can't believe this thread has gone on this long without naming Rusty Pierce as perhaps the current thug/hacker award-winner, particularly when Brian Hall is in the center. Perhaps RP isn't on the radar screen because he's been abusing his groin lately. Other nominees not yet duly mentioned: lalagals: Califf has been pretty quiet lately, but he's got real good potential. Ruiz is more of a diver than a chopper -- but he also is probably MLS' hardest working forward (with TT close behind). DC Untied: McKinley has a thuggish reputation, but he's been on the field less and less. Richie Williams is more of a pest than a thug, IMO. Qlash: Dayak has been on the field less as well. Cowlumbus, Clark is probably the most likely, but I don't think he has qualified for a nomination this year. For New Jersey -- hands down it's Diallo. For KC -- Gutierrez For Colo -- Mastroenni I am sure others have their favorites, too. GM
As I see it.. New England - Serna, Franchino, Pierce, Hernandez Chicago - Stoitchkov, Razov Columbus - McCarty DC United - McKinley, Williams Colorado - Mastroeni Dallas - Broome New York/NJ - Diallo, Jolley, Petke San Jose - can't think of any right now, just a bunch of whiners Graiani, Landon etc.. Los Angeles - Califf, Tyrone Marshall at times Kansas City - Mckeon, Vermes
Aside from the fact that Pierce has never been ejected from a game, doesn't involve himself in overly reckless fouls (such as tackles from behind), and I haven't seen him get involved away-from-the-ball crap that most hacker/thugs are known for, I can't believe that he isn't on the list either. I know that he's been injured before from being fouled, but has he ever committed a foul that injured a player?
It's eternally amusing to me that DC fans have such a h**don for Rusty Pierce, while they regard Eddie ("Oh, is this your jersey?") Pope as some kind of chior boy. One of the continuing amusements of BS.
I don't even consider Eddie as being tough enough, I've seen him be way too soft, way too many times. DC has their share of hacks, every team does..but to think your team is free from those players is what's amusing.
Interesting analogy for Pierce, but I think it rings true only when Hall thinks about Pierce (look out this weekend Cowlumbus). It will be interesting to see whether other BS posters agree with you about Pope not being a choir boy. We wish he were tougher. GM
Evan Whitfield got injured in the second game of the season against D.C. It was on national tele and I remember Abdul Thompson Conteh pushed him from behind and Whitfield fell down real funny and messed his knee up.