MLS dropping the ball: More than just Becks By Mike Biglin Boston Herald/Metrowest Daily News http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=1012883 And since I left the [R] off the thread title, I'll leave out the headline on this next story. Don't click on it if you taped the game. I wash my hands of the situation: By Matthew Roman Boston Herald http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=1012884
wow do i completely agree with Biglin. I wasn't that excited to begin with after hearing beckham had signed back in january, but now i want to throw up with the amount of headlines devoted to him and his wife in the entertainment sections of online news websites. welcome to american media, i guess. i turned on the game at 8:30 saturday night, only to realize the next half-hour would be devoted to kissing up to beckham, so i turned off the tv until 9. but then they kept showing the beckhams and not the game. quite frankly i was more interested in what was going on inside that rectangle known as a soccer field that what was going on outside of it *rant over*
Revolution 3, Dynamo 3 Defensive indifference Revolution slip but steal point By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | July 23, 2007 http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/07/23/defensive_indifference/ Revs get second chance for tie BY PETER / GOBIS SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Monday, July 23, 2007 12:22 AM EDT http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2007/07/23/sports/sports1.txt Reserves: Revs 1, Dynamo 0 New England Revolution Media Relations July 22, 2007 http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070722&content_id=107376&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp ** Pending the outcome of the Colorao vs. KC reserves match yesterday, the Revolution Reserves could be leading the division this morning. Revs, Dynamo play to see-saw draw By Kyle McCarthy / MLSnet.com Staff http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070722&content_id=107198&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp
Revs Tie Houston, 3-3 By Sean Donahue Blow two leads, but salvage tie with Dynamo By Sean Donahue, Soccer New England, July 22, 2007 http://www.soccernewengland.com/articles/view_article.php?id=2674 Postgame Quotes: Revs 3, Dynamo 3 Postgame quotes after the Revs and Dynamo played to a 3-3 draw at Gillette Stadium on July 22, 2007. Revolutionsoccer.net http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=26383&pcid=115 New England Revolution 3, Houston Dynamo 3 Twellman and Noonan each score one goal and one assist as the Revs come back for draw in high-scoring match of conference leaders. Revolutionsoccer.net, 7/22/07 http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=26382&pcid=115 If at first you don’t succeed... Joseph’s second try on a penalty kick ties him for New England’s franchise record for conversions By Brian Tahmosh, Revolutionsoccer.net, 7/22/07 http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=26385&pcid=115
It's better than nothing, at least people are talking about MLS, and it's not because one of their star players kills puppies for fun, or because one of their refs is fixing games for the Gambino Crime Family, or because one of their players has used to steroids to close in Pele's goal scoring record. It's good publicity, which there isnt much of in American sports right now. I watched that LA-Chelsea game, and obviously it was geared towards non-soccer fans, but practically every game that ESPN produces is, and this is a time where it actually makes sense. Beckham IS the kind of guy that can bring fans into this league. Seriously, you didnt like seeing that kind of atmosphere at an MLS game? I thought it was incredible, when have we ever seen a team like Chelsea come in here to play an MLS side and not be the story? This is one of the first times I can remember seeing a sell-out crowd like that and an atmosphere like that in an MLS game that didnt have some kind of Mexican subplot(double headers with Mex teams, Mex teams vs MLS etc.) and I thought it was a HUGE step for MLS. I dont think that hispanic market MLS covets is ever going to come to the league, now I dont feel like getting into a geo-political discussion about the reasons why I think that, but I think it's time for MLS to concentrate on for lack of better terms, white people and 2nd and 3rd generation Americans, because that's who has made the NFL and MLB what they are, and that's who will take MLS to the next level if they get into it.
The post game quotes are easily the best I've ever seen. Shalrie said he was upset at his PK attempt, Twellman is upset that we keep tying at home, they didn't beat around the bush at all and it looks like they want to change the way this team is playing, and quickly.
A lot of the quotes (especially from the Houston players) talk about the turf and how they don't like playing on it. I thought this was the state-of-the-art-plays-exactly-like-grass stuff?
The turf looked a little dry, but it was fine. Keep in mind that those quotes came from a team that played several championship seasons on what was almost unquestionably the worst pitch in the history of MLS: Spartan Stadium (aka, the Postage Stamp). So I wouldn't put much stock in them. I have the feeling at this point, however, that the Dynamo think they can beat the Revolution at will: on the road, at home, in the playoffs, or in the Championship. Just as soon as they decide to "turn it on". The Revs did not go a long way towards proving them wrong.
Mike Biglin's piece in the Herald was awesome. Everyone in the front office at MLS should read the article. The league, ESPN, etc. just doesn't get it.
I see that exactly the opposite. The two games we've played against them this season are among the best we've ever played against them. Houston was very lucky not to give up 5 goals the way the Revs were playing. At times, we were peppering them with shots. We hit the inside of the post once, shot right at the keeper on several good opportunities and controlled the majority of the play. There's no doubt they are a very talented team and can score at any point, but if they weren't able to be more competitive on Sunday, why should they think they can raise their level more than the Revs can? What are they to make of their big shutout streak? That the Revs offense is a lot better than the teams they've been stopping!