http://mlsnet.com/special/events/jtht032603au/stoitchkov_au.mov Found this on MLSnet. This isn't linked from anything but is found in the directory. The quality is pretty bad but it's all that I could find.
Reminds me of Theisman. Except I was 1 when that happened and this break wasn't replayed infront of millions.
I'm pretty sure this will be taken down as soon as MLS knows we know about it. What are you using to view it, I can't seem to open it??
It's a Quicktime file. I wouldn't be surprised to see it taken down tomarrow although its the weekend and we all know they are pretty slow when it comes to the website.
Wow, from the sound of all the reports I had this picture built up of Hristo running full steam at the guy and just clearing him out with little regard for anything, but it seemed on video to be more like a reckless challenge. A very reckless challenge, and one that definetly deserved the red card, but people made it out to be worse that it really looked. Of course, the video is really grainy.
Strange--I was imagining a two footed lunge from behind without the victim seeing a thing, but it was really Hristo going for the leg while the guy reached up for the ball, and then backing in to throw his full weight into it. Then Hristo gets up and seems ready to take a bow. It was absolutely not from behind. It was ugly, no doubt, but nothing compared to, say, the nasty challenge that got Joao Pinto red carded vs. Korea last year, which was a two-footed-spikes-up-on-the-Achilles -special with pure venom and malice. For those of you who can't see it, it's not anywhere near as bad even as Roy Keane's challenge that ended that guy's career. Hristo basically goes in to do the damage with his fat ass, turning it at the last second to snap the leg as it gets caught under him. No doubt we'll see many more violent challenges than this one this year--though perhaps few with such a devastating effect. This was the work of an old pro knowing that weight and leverage do the most damage, not your average hothead going in spikes-up.
My imagination had it looking much worse than it turned out to be. I think it's one of those unlucky situations where someone's leg is placed at such a vulnerable angle that it will break more readily than normal. Judging by the video, the calls for Hristo's head are not justified in my opinion.
Wow, definately not a two-footed lunge, as has been widely reported; the spikes were exposed but it did look like he was going for the ball and just mis-timed it. This looked like your typical frustration tackle that was unfortunately timed. Seen it 100 times, and will see it 100 more, just (thankfully) usually not with those results. Definately not quite what so many people have described. ...upon further viewing, it looks like the kids foot wasn't even planted until the very last second; Hristo's and the kid's foot kinda came down at the same time.
I have it. People that have viewed it should be able to find the video downloaded to their Temporary Internet Files.
A semi-serious question ... So who's gonna volunteer to host the video on their website now that MLS has taken it down from theirs?
The three names that come to mind are fidlerre, Treetaliano, and Ameriblog. The only reason I retrieved the video from the Temporary file is for this purpose.
Yeah, it's not retaliatory at all. Definitely reckless and a red card, but those who originally called for his ouster from the league would easily rethink their positions upon seeing it.
Since the video isn't available anymore (MLSNet's people must've noticed the hitcount or something and removed it instantly), I've taken this screenshot of the frame that has the moment of impact. http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/dslifton/vwp?.dir=/Miscellaneous+Photos&.dnm=Tackle.jpg&.src=ph