The Galaxy's troubles continue. Somehow this ruling strikes me as fair. At least that's what my initial gut reaction tells me.
does this mean we're giving a positive reaction to the way MLS heads have handled this? given their traditional bumbling in matters of discipline, let's hope this proper response indicates a change for the better of for both credibility of the league, and most importantly, the protection of the players.
I'd like to have seen a more harsh stance, but they stayed suit with Wolyniec's punishment. I doubt he'll learn his lesson. I assume one of the suspended games happens to be this weekends game when he was already going to be gone?
Seems fair given Wolyniec's punishment. PZ's right to complain about Kovalenko, though, one game for that is appalling.
Good point. Perhaps the league looks for intent to injure to base suspensions. Still, although Dema can claim whatever he wants about the intent of the tackle, it was so wreckless that it should have received more than one game.
Appalling and galling. But I am actually surprised Ruiz got a 2 game suspension. I figured 1 game max. Does it seem that dangerous/violent and accidental/intentional fouls have increased this year? Could it because the punsihment is so lenient? Could it be be because a player can shove another player to the ground and only get a yellow card?
The over under for total goals scored by the Gals with Ruiz suspended is set at 1. Place your bets. I forsee heavy wagering on the under. I would like to see some sport adopt a rule that a player is suspended for however long the person they hurt is out of the lineup. If Talley is out 5 games, Ruiz is out 5. Kovalenko sits the season. I have no problem with that. The new union might though.
Oddly enough, he won't be "gone." He'll still be in LA. Guatemala plays an international friendly at the Home Depot Center this Saturday against Honduras (I think it's Honduras, but don't hold me to that).
what a joke....players going up for a 50/50 ball, how many times have you seen a guy catch an elbow??? all the time would be the correct answer, yet, ruiz gets two games?
There would have to be a foolproof method of determining intent. Got any ideas? Polygraph? Hypnosis? Vulcan mind meld?
Ah, the classic 'everybody does it' defense. But, officer, there were at least 3 other cars ahead of me that were going faster. Yes. But you're the one that was caught. Maybe Talley and Kamler can start a support group. Didn't Kamler receive some implanted hardware for a similar accident during a US youth scrimmage a few years ago?
Kamler also had his orbital socket broken but it was a deliberate punch by Dancy, not a possibly accidental elbow while trying to play the ball. The difference is with Dancy the intent of the act was clear. With Ruiz there is room for debate. Having said all that, I think the suspension is fair.
I'll take the over and I'm confident the money will be mine we'll before Fish is back with the G's on July 4th.
Thank you, someone outside So Cal who actually was watching. Both guys had their arms going, Fish's unfortunatly caught Talley in the wrong spot.
Here is the video: http://play.rbn.com/play.asx?url=ml...nd/0614ruiz_talley.asf&proto=mms?mswmext=.asx Based on the video, he appeared to throw back his elbow in a quick blow to ward off Talley. There was no intent to gain height for the header. In fact, he didn't need to get height on the play. Fair ruling. Enjoy the time off...
Dude, you are so on. After watching Chris Albright blow hundreds of chances in DC, I'll wager anything that he can't score 2 goals in 2 games in LA. Hell, the only person he can score on is Meola from midfield.
One game plus a fine would have been reasonable. Two games seems like a "let's set an example" tactic by MLS. The video shows a dangerous throwing of the elbow by Ruiz. Ruiz can dish it out, and he can take it, but he dished out too much this time and deserved punishment. I'm sure Sigi has counseled him to keep his head in the game. Maybe it's time for another talk.... or electroshock therapy. Topper
I think intent cannot be sufficiently judged to substantiate the ruling. Everybody says, "yea but Ruiz is a thug and you know he did it." One word - proof. Show me some. That video shows two guys going for the ball. Unlike a pogo stick, people's arms are involved in the motion. Good thing the MLS commission is not in charge of the justice system. So, now that everybody (as crazy as it seems, mainly Quake and Whiz fans) is happy, we now get to consider the consequences of this decision. Any elbow-to-head contact that occurs in any game must be reviewed and a determination made as to the intent of the party throwing the elbow. The injury, or lack thereof, incurred cannot be taken into consideration , which is what this is really all about, because injuries can and do happen in even the most innocent of incidences (soccer is a rough game afterall) and the intent is what supposedly is being punished. This means that anytime Nick Garcia or Dayak or Goose put an elbow to someone's head jumping for a header, their actions should be under review, a determination made by a suit if the contact was malicious, and said player fined $1000 plus 2 game suspension. I've seen the video and this ruling = bullsh|t because it is impossible to say without a doubt that Ruiz intended to elbow Talley.