Thanks to the folks on the Charge board for the inspiration for this poll. So, who are you rooting for this weekend? Who do you think will win?
Well what kind of conspiracy theories have popped up so far? It's gonna be Beat v Freedom. I want it that way. The league WILL WANT it that way.
I'd LIKE to see Carolina vs. Washington. Carolina can get a chance to really make the run all the way from worst to first. Washington I just still have a residual soft spot for. I'd like to see Washington take it all, just because.
I'd like to see Carolina vs Philadelphia. Then if Carolina wins, Venus James would be the only player with 2 rings. Go Venus! Philadelphia because I don't like Atlanta or Washington and am also a Mandy Clemens fan.
Notice the leading vote getters are the choices with the Freedom in it. The league knows this! Admit it some of you chodes....there really is not much star appeal if it's a final without the Freedom in it.
As long as it's not Atlanta, I don't care. Well, I kinda do. I don't like WA because I don't like Skylar or Jim. I also don't want to hear how it is Mia this and Mia that. I don't like Atlanta because..well the whole team. They have some good players, but I have no respect for them or how they play as a team. I think that it is a great accomplishment for Carolina to go from last to first. The only one on their team I am not fond of is Roberts. I love the way Riise plays. As far as Philly - I like everyone, except the publicity that the Barbie is getting, which I don't feel she deserves. Do you really need that much make-up for a game? Maybe she just doesn't take it off at night. I think Philly did well after losing Smith. So that is my .04
It's the Beat and the Lady United meeting in Atlanta next week... Of course, the Charge will have something to say about that--they need to play aggressive defense to shut down Wombat and Mia. It's Mia's year.
Well, I WANTED to see the Freedom and Charge in the final, with MIA scoring a couple and assisting a couple of goals to rub it in G4M's and Charge!'s faces, but alas, that is not to be - she will just kick their a$$e$ the week before! LOL!! Relax guys! I'm just saying that to get under your skin. Just a little rivalry forum smack talk that slipped out... sorry! (not! LOL!) I really DID want to see Philly and DC, cuz I like both teams a lot, but ultimately the Freedom are my team, sooooooooo... I want to see them against Carolina. And I want Carolina to beat the living daylights out of Atlanta. I don't want them even CLOSE to being in it. And it's all that pompous ass Tom Stone's fault (along with some "help" from Hooper) - if I have to sit through another game with him screaming all through it, I swear, I'm gonna find a bat and shut him up for good. Mia will fade away - SOMEDAY. But not THIS year!! The Freedom are going all the way!
At this point in time? The Freedom. Neither team is the same team that met back in April. Least of all the Freedom. They have totally come together while the Power just unravelled. It was sad to watch. Jeeze, Millie scores a hat-trick and they still lose the game! Far too many lapses, with a bit of bad luck/bad calls thrown in to add insult to injury added up to a dismal season. They may have beat Philly at the end, but I don't think they have what it takes to beat Washington at this point in time. Norma
Watching Atlanta and Washington is like watching Manchester United playing against Manchester United--either you like it or hate it. Since the Ray's season is over--switching over to the Blueshirts or the start of the Premiership year. Cheers!
I mostly agree with Chiefs. I'd hate to see Atlanta find any success. That just doesn't seem right. I don't even want to see them in the Finals especially since it's played on their turf. If the Freedom win the championship, it's like, gee, I wonder who will be named Finals MVP? Before this past weekend, I liked Philly the best out of the four and thought they had the best chance to win. I really don't care at all for Mitts, though, either. And after this weekend, I don't know if they deserve it anymore. Of course as a C'Rays fan, I disliked how they failed to give us a chance to get in, but it's not only about that. Philly just looked bad against Atlanta. I don't understand what led them to play all their starters. The only thing more stupid than that was to play all their starters and get beat solidly. They looked a far cry from what their fans hail as the best team. So in the end, I'm hoping for Carolina. I suppose who they play is immaterial. I guess I'd still like to see Carolina vs. Philly. This would give Carolina a chance to face the only team they have yet to beat. A victory over Philly would provide them with a complete championship run, a loss would prove that Philly really does deserve it.
Carolina has been hot all season. Also, this the women's version of the worst to first story. It's a good thing the team gave Marcia McDermott a vote of confidence despite finishing last in 2001. She has a chance to turn the team around, and if she does, good for her and the team. I don't have a real second team, except maybe Atlanta, Philly, or DC (and then I'd be breaking my own edict on supporting many teams. )... I only care about the Rays. If they are not it in, season is over for me. Atlanta is the team you love to hate. Washington has Michelle Jordan, er, Mia Hamm. Also, Philly and Atlanta were in it last year and they want to clear the last hurdle and win the Cup. Whoever wins it, I'll just tip off my hat to them be Carolina, Atlanta, Philly, or DC. Cheers!
i agree - NO ATLANTA!! sorry just not a fan of them what so ever, o dont care if beat fans read this but its my honest opinion. i would love to see a philly v carolina final - just like last year, 1 vs 2 im not sure who i would pick to win but if its like last year, with the #2 team winning, then carolina but anything can happen. GO AUSSIE!!!
Oh, Fear....................... Looks like the league is still listening?? Per you, then enjoy watching us and Carolina in Round IV on TV... Paul
Re: Oh, Fear....................... Ah I see the Charge forum has stuffed the ballot box in the Cyberrays forum.
Freedom....yeah! Actually, I wasn't thinking much about star appeal. I was mostly thinking of Cookie getting two rings. (OK, and Jacqui, too, but first and foremost Cookie). Also, I cheered for the Freedom last season when they had that really cool left back/mid (where'd she go? Oh yeah, she's a CyberRay now. ) so I paid closer attention to the team in general than I did the other teams (that weren't the CyberRays). I have some residual love for the remainder of the Freedom for that reason. As for Mia, put me on that short list of people that couldn't really care much less about her. I really ought to like her more than I do, I guess, since in theory she does a bunch of things I do really like from a player. I do have respect for what she's accomplished, and for the fact that due in a large part to her superstardom we have a pro women's soccer league. But...I've just never really warmed up to her. Also, as a huge Tiff Milbrett fan, I've found all the wheezing the last few years about Mia being the best striker in the US (if not the whole world) really annoying. Nevermind the whole deal where FIFA voted Mia female player of the year last year. UGH!!! What a travesty! Actually, the only two reasons I wouldn't want the Freedom in the final are: 1. we'll never hear the end of it being all about Mia Hamm, and 2. Jim Gabarra is a turkey and it will make me ill if he gets credit for being some kind of great coach after he's been such a bozo. Otherwise, yay, go Freedom! OK, I literally fell off my chair laughing when I read that (actually, my chair and I both fell. I wasn't sitting in my seat very straight and then I started laughing so hard and BOOM!). I have to say I was pleased to note we didn't get the "Mitts Cam" as often as usual in the game vs. the Beat--maybe someone finally heard the "please SHOW THE GAME" complaints? I have nothing against Mitts as a player, I just don't care that apparently everyone but me and 5 other people think she's the hottest thing ever. I seriously don't get the make-up at all, though I have to say (and it pains me to do so) that obviously Christina Bell is in the must-wear-makeup-to-play-soccer camp as well. I'm no makeup expert by any stretch of the imagination, but...wouldn't it run in your eyes? I guess they have the waterproof stuff, but... What about it clogging your pores? (Things that make you go "hmmm".) It just doesn't seem like a good idea. Seriously, though, Philly did have an awesome season, and as I've said before, they're a great team, and solid no matter who is in their lineup for any given game (um, except when they're losing to Atlanta on the day when we desperately need a Philly win...gee thanks guys). I honestly thought they'd lose some bite after Smith went out and they just kept right on rolling--very impressive! If I wasn't so scared by the potential of the "Mitts Cam" during the entire playoff game and not being able to actually see the any of action on the field, I wouldn't mind for Philly to be in the final. Then again we may get the "Mia Cam" if Washington is in the final, but at least I do find Mia more entertaining to watch than Mitts.
Re: Freedom....yeah! See that's my #1 thing against people like Bellie (Barbie is another wholestory)I can't stand people who wear makeup during games.. I hate it I hate it I hate it.. Barbie.. grr.. don't get me started on her..