http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-world-cup-jones-20100622,0,2270730.column So much dumbness, where to start?? At the senseless shot at Michael Bradley, or about knowing so little about the game that he thought C. Ronaldo's playing the ball off his neck before the goal was intentional?
Wow. A "the future of American soccer depends on the outcome" article. This even goes below his normal level of ineptitude... Seriously, the comment about Ronaldo shows a complete lack of understanding of the game. Are we sure that he hasn't died and the LA Times is just reprinting articles from past WCs?
It really is not that bad, it is not any good sure, but it is not that bad. If we crash out of the World Cup tomorrow it will be a complete disaster and it will have been a major lost oppurtunity. I we do not advance the vast majority of people will stop caring and that absolutely could have an effect on the quality of young athletes who decide to take up, or keep on with, this sport. Last but not least, Michael Bradley can be an anoying little shit. Although I f'ing love him.
I don't think so. We sucked four years ago and the ratings were very good here in the knock out round and the final. Of course there will be MORE interest if the US advances, but this doom and gloom is not accurate. Similarly, the US advancing or not will NOT have a big effect on kids continuing to play the sport. Kids who really really like the game can now see all kinds of avenues to make a living at it here and abroad if they are good enough. Those kids who are THAT into the sport know the US team inside out and will not lose motivation based on a single game.
This is a massive over reaction. For one thing, the Bradley comment - pointless though it is - is about Bradley's mouth, not his play. I sure remember a lot of people around here blasting him for his rant last year. (A rant I had no problem with, by the way.) I mean, I've seen dummer. At least he's not Beano Cook And where does he say Ronaldo was intentional? I'm not a big fan of the guy, but you are letting your dislike of him color you reaction here. It's a pretty standard piece - nothing to praise particularly, nothing to damn.
He says: The idea that CR "carried it" and "dropped it into his path" might pass for not describing an intentional act though it would be unclear (and saying "his own path" might clear it up) but added to a phrase that claims "he caught the ball" it's very clear he's indicating intention. If he's not, he doesn't know how to write. Which I will concede is very plausible.
Holy Crap, I forgot how much I hate Jones: Indeed. Would have been best left unsaid altogether. Nice strawman, dickhead. Jones could have written any number of articles, but he picked this. Why the hell does the LA Times still employ this dolt? I wished for years that someone could last Jones, Paul Gardner and Oliver Tse together, tie them to a big piece of concrete and toss the lot into San Pedro Bay.
Context, Jones is a moron. If you read it as if the person writing it is full of arrogant snark it's a more accurate representation of where he's generally coming from.
Neither do I. And being from LA and being a Galaxy fan, I hate Grahame. Yes. He seems to imply that C.R. meant to carry the ball on his neck. The truth is that it was completely unintentional. In fact, he was embarrassed by it and shrugged off the goal. And... and... he's right. Tomorrow is extremely important for the development of the sport in this country. I'm sorry, but it is. Yes. Ratings will definitely increase in 2014 b/c of the US's role in and being affected by the globalization of the game. More MLS markets, better time zone, 4 more years of the sport developing at the grassroots level, etc. But a W tomorrow will be huge. HUGE. Dude. I've got ex-girlfriends looking me up on facebook b/c they remember that they used to date a soccernut back in the day and they are hooked by this WC. It's time to capitalize on this.
Dude. I've got ex-girlfriends looking me up on facebook b/c they remember that they used to date a soccernut back in the day and they are hooked by this WC. It's time to capitalize on this.[/QUOTE] Sounds like it's time for you to capitalize, haha.
I used to believe Jones was a victim of some perverse and unjust BS vendetta....... until I started to read his drivel on a regular basis. As far as Grahame's drivel goes, this piece was not so bad: an average piece of shit.