SÄCK HENRIK RYDSTRÖM

Getting a loss or a tie instead of a win can have serious repercussions on down the road. I'd rather win 1-0 off an 85th minute PK than lose 4-3.

 

100%. They should contact Raising Cain's. Not HTC, but better than whatever Swenson's was making.

 

The original HCT was a high bar indeed. I've even heard that Dave's isn't what it once was.

 

Interesting what’s the difference between the 2 in your eyes?

 

Good question.

Well, pop vs soda is one. When I got here I had no idea what "johnny marzetti" or Skyline chili was. And 3.2 beer--OMG (and you could buy beer at Kroger). But really more subtle things. Life on the East Coast moves faster. Go go go. A conversation is much more back and forth--and at a much higher rate of speed. Normal there is rude here. There's a bit of a monoculture here with college sports--PSU is big in Philly, but it's not the only thing-we have the Big Five for one, though that's been dying (city series between Penn, Nova, St. Joes, Lasalle, Temple). When I moved here, only suburban schools played soccer (or lacrosse). More surface friendliness here. Back home, neighborhood is everything. You're not from Philly, you're from Kensington, Roxborough, Manayunk, Conshohocken, etc. Except when the Iggles play. More cosmopolitan and diverse too. We used to say that Columbus was def9ned by Wonder Bread being made here. Very white bread. That's changed, of course, for the good. I probably would have felt more at home in Cleveland back then.

I will say that Silver Lining Playbook got it right, as did the first Rocky (had church friends get a cameo in Rocky 2 when they filmed at their HS).

 

Malcolm Gladwell's newest book Revenge of the Tipping Point goes into this phenomenon. It's called small-area variation. You adopt the ethos and culture of where you live, often without realizing it. Among many examples, he gives one about how heart doctors practicing in Boulder would frequently use one procedure and after moving to Buffalo would immediately adopt another. It was because Buffalo abuts Canada and there is a residual influence from the Canadian national healthcare system on Buffalo's hospitals.

It's what Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati all are distinctly different cities despite their proximity: migration and cultural norms and people's tendency to quickly assimilate into their environment.

 

Sigh.

 

Really glad to see that Arace is heading to camp to cover the team.

 

I assume that they'll be working out at HCS, but it'll still be plenty cold.

 

Sorry to have to ask. Where do I follow him?

 

Wow. I didn't know about this. I knew he left. The only reason I kept getting that rag for the last couple of years that I had a subscription was because of him. It used to be such a morning staple for me, along with guys like Bob Hunter. I always felt Arace was one of us. Glad to see he is still in the game!
https://www.thedisrespected.com/follow-the-disrespected-columbus/

 

I talked with Arace a bit on the bus to the MLS draft in Chicago. Yes, he does seem like one of us.

 

He also has a podcast on The Crew that is worth subscribing to (he does another one for the CBJ that is good too).

 

They're currently in Florida for the week before they head home and then it's back to Florida on the first.

https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/columbus-crew-announce-2026-preseason-schedule

 

Just saw this from Arace:



I'm happy we've got Courtois here.

 

That's my manager!

 

As some of you know, I attend stamp shows. There's a major one near Strongsville every year.

One of the titles for an exhibit seemed to be very fitting this year.

"The Majestic Moose of North America"

 

Perhaps we can get Flordecke to make the trip to livestream the game?

 

A moose once bit my sister

 

I feel bad for everyone else in MLS, because we are never losing again.

 

Thanks! I was able to tip off my snow bird friends just in time! I'll be anxious to hear the game reports!