Still The Kid, always The Kid. That's about all the Spanish I can do, sorry. I just want to pay tribute to my favorite player, who just logged two assists including the gamewinner on the eve of his 41st birthday, clinching a playoff berth for his club. He's far from perfect, but he is an inspiration to me. Carlos Valderrama, Andres Galarraga, interesting parallels, both very inspiring to me. Both 41, both make concessions to their age, both stay match fit, both can still get it done at an age when most have been retired for several years. Long May You Run, or Jog , El Pibe, and El Gato Grande!
thanks... its kind your tribute... i really liket... ohh and beside... welcome to the sudamerica forum!!!!
It's good to find this forum! I'm glad to see so many fans discussing Colombian soccer, probably my favorite international side. The Colombian players in MLS have brought a huge burst of creativity and energy. I will work on Spanish so I can keep up with some of this. I encourage Colombian fans to keep an eye out for the Colorado Rapids playoff run in a couple of weeks--could be Carlos' swan song. But he's got three good strikers and a couple of tricky middlefielders playing with him, so it could become memborable. The team's defense is awful, though.
you are not gonna believe me, but I'm following the MLS cup in a regular basis (well i cant see games, but i follow the damn league...), and I'm really in terested in this year matches..... i will put more interest in the rapids...
hehehehehe... don't think that way... I'm not selling it... I'm just saying that i will give more attention to the rapids... even because I'm angry... the rapids next year will wear blue instead of GREEN
I saw very quickly on Al Jezera (middle east tv) some sort of tribute to Carlos...since I have no clue on how to understand arabic , I was wondering if Carlos was in the news recently for anything special ? Also I agree with the posters above....there is no better pure passer then El Pibe.... rumour has it that when he finally hangs them up he is going to become a doctor and perform operations with his right foot. Cheers to El Pibe and for giving the US soccer fan so many ohh's and ahh's. Pure class.
great words for a great player! norten fan - if you ever interesated on a topic, just post 'TRANSLATE" and one of us will do the honors. redkapp - the only news as of late about Carlos is the farewell party his natal city is working on it, with a 3 meter statue an all see the other thread on calos valdeRRAMA.
Yeah, I have followed Carlos from team to team in MLS (Mutiny to Fusion to Mutiny to Rapids) and it seems like the core supporters of each team bash him pretty hard. Like check out some of the threads on the current Rapids board, they're really lighting into him. The complaints are usually the same--he doesn't run, so he's a huge defensive liability, and he squawks too much. I just love him cuz I love beautiful futbol. All the complaints are valid, I suppose, but I don't understand why these fans often overlook his accomplishments--second in the league in assists, for example. Two assists and the gamewinner the other night (both beautiful plays) to put the club into the playoffs. But there's almost NO reference to this in all of the threads about that game. I don't really get it. Yeah, he does squawk, but he's also been a big influence on some great players. Steve Ralston, leading the league in assists, would I think be the first to say that he learned a lot from Pibe. There were some bad spitting/punching incidents near the end with the Mutiny, and I don't excuse him for those, and some other incidents throughout his MLS career. But I think lots of fans would call most such players "fiery", but they condemn Pibe for it. So there is a lot of U.S. resistance to him, and I don't totally get it (maybe something left over from WC '94? don't know), but there are also a few of us who love him. There are always a few yellow wigs at any game he plays. Whenever his tribute game comes, I will try to make it, if I can afford it. Few players have given me as much joy as he has.
I think most MLS fans dislike him because they see it as an embarrassment that a 41 year old can still play in their league.
I believe you and think it will be cool. I have family in Santa Marta so I know I will see the statue someday.
anyone know when his tribute game is? i know he will play one at giants stadium and one in barranquilla. heard maradona and pele are supposed to be there.
Supposedly the game will be played in November in Santa Marta. Have not heard anything about the Giant Stadium game. IF the game in Giant stadium happens I will go for sure.