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May 2006
Let the Cup Countdown begin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Associated Press
It’s exactly two weeks from today that the U.S. begins its World Cup quest against the Czech Republic, and the boys certainly looked a bit sharper in weekend wins over Venezuela and Latvia. Nice work by Convey on set pieces on Friday, and what a super example by McBride Sunday after getting a nasty knot to the head in a collision. His snap header near the end of the first half was classic “McHead,” and a terrific cross from Cher. Un. Do. Lo set it all up. Guess I’ll have to ease up on the lad a bit. Especially with Ber. Hal. Ter in camp, replacing the injured Gibbs.
(Why do I feel like the anxious parent of a teen driver when I think of the U.S. defense? Sometimes I think Keller does, too. OK, OK, I’ll keep my hand off the steering wheel — for now.)
A week from today, ajc.com launches its World Cup page that will feature daily installments of Off the Ball, including live-blogging off U.S. matches, and visits to reknown Atlanta watering holes to see how locals are soaking up Cup fever. We’ll also feature AJC coverage from Germany and link to other blogs, in this, the first fully-blogged World Cup.
In keeping with the true multimedia spirit of this medium, here’s an NPR clip from last week on the evolution of the U.S. team. A lot of the material is old hat to many of you, but the storyline is starting to resonate with the greater public — as long as the results from Group E back it up.
Hard to figure out what the mainstream media verdict will be if the Yanks come up shorter than last time. Quarterfinals or bust? Surely they are aware this is a much, much tougher road.
For a vast majority of the 32 nations that have qualified, just getting to Germany has been the objective, especially the four African sides that are making their World Cup debuts. The English-language version of the excellent German news magazine Der Spiegel (to shame, Newsweek and Time) has a wonderful two-part article on how soccer and civil war are inextricably linked in Ivory Coast.
Indeed, African ambitions of World Cup glory are probably as understated this year as ever, with the likes of Nigeria and Cameroon not making it. The British magazine New Statesman believes that this narrative will never change in “They can play but they can never win”, which gently faults Pele for amping up such dreams.
“O Rey” is interviewed in a Guardian podcast that’s well worth the listen if you’ve got a half-hour to spare. And no, you don’t have to have an iPod to hear a podcast. iTunes will do just fine.
This was my first podcast experience, and it’s a sheer delight, with one of the other guests quipping that “I’ve made several thousand pounds opposing Pele’s picks over the years.” He’s doubting Brazil to a certain degree, whatever that’s worth.
Another fascinating discussion included the journalist Gabriele Marcotti, who’s written for cnnsi.com, on the anxieties within the Italy camp, and not just over the current match-fixing scandal in Serie A that has scooped up the son of Azzurri coach Marcelo Lippi. Starting goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been questioned about possible gambling on sports, a no-no for Italian athletes.
Here’s one dreadful referee who won’t be seeing any World Cup action. FIFA is sending home Jamaica’s Peter Prendergast due to injury. That he was originally assigned isn’t a reassuring sign that the whistle-blowers and offsides flag-wavers will be any more up to the task than in 2002.
Whether Wayne Rooney ever gets to Germany at all may finally be known on June 7, the new D-Day for the injured English striker. That’s supposedly when the doctors will reveal to a hyperventilating nation about the most famous sore foot in the English-speaking world.
Another countdown closer to home comes later this week, when the Silverbacks christen their new facility on Saturday (thanks for the correction, Chris, for some reason I’ve just had Friday stuck in my head) against Charleston. Atlanta is one of two winless squads in the USL first division after a 0-0 weekend draw with the Battery.
DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones is going to be there. Sports and footy don’t mix, eh? Unfortunately, I wish this were so in this case.
Off the Ball’s favorite poster this week (with all due respect to Henry, Chris, Nicholas, etc.) is Maya Lucia, who summed up the interminable Bonds melodrama perfectly: “Baseball? Who cares? Let’s get into some World Cup soccer!!!
Well Maya (if that is your real name), mark your calendar for June 5, when Off the Ball and ajc.com will get into it full throttle. Enjoy the Memorial Day holiday everyone!
Why can’t we all be Brazilians?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Associated Press
Ever since they began their training camp in a bucolic Swiss mountain village a few days ago, the Brazilian team has been besieged by fans. And not really the locals.
On Friday, the fervor reached such a point that this woman broke through the security detail to embrace Ronaldinho. He hardly seems bothered by the intrusion.
Heidi, ho. How did all these people get there? I’ve seen team sambas in the streets, thousands waiting for tickets to watch training in a “stadium” that seats 5K. A mini-Carneval somewhere near the banks of the Lucerne.
All week I have marveled at the photos coming across the wires of the various World Cup teams in their respective training modes. The Italians were doing all sorts of calisthenics. The French were forced to hoof it up the snowy Alps. We know now how hard The Bruce has been pushing the Yanks in the teeming metropolis of Cary.
Oh, yes, the defending champions have been doing some hard work — I guess. But every snapshot I see has them smiling, even at the most boring, routine drills. Except for Ronaldo, who looks like he can’t move any better than me. Today there was Emerson juggling balls. Yesterday Robinho playfully stuck out his tongue and laughed. Maybe the photographers assigned to them are just turning out better shots, but it sure beats the hell out of the Italian team photo I saw yesterday. They all looked like they were in a police lineup. (And not only keeper Gianluigi Buffon, who has been questioned by police for alleged sports betting activities.)
Am I just playing into a familiar stereotype about Brazil? There is a dark side to the sport, especially the corruption that dominates the federation and professional leagues, and the terrible poverty that has defined the childhoods of so many of its best players.
I suppose my point — I’m fumbling to come up with one — is that for just about every other country, all this is work, and they make it look like work. Brazil makes it look like play, even though the expectations are more enormous than anyone. Regardless of how the tournament plays out, it’s such a delight to see the joy, the playfulness, the FUN of the game expressed in their faces, and in their presence.
It means the World Cup is just around the corner, and that’s the best time of all.
The Sendoff Tour Begins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since I’ve got night shift duties that include tracking the NBA Draft Lottery (as usual, the Hawks are involved), I won’t be able to see much of the U.S.-Morocco match. So I’d appreciate some eyes and ears and your comments here post-match. Arena’s putting what looks to be close to his probable World Cup Starting XI on the lovely pitch in Music City, but it sounds as though most everyone will be getting some action in this three-game stint.
Update: A 90th-minute goal by Mohamed Mahidi sets down the Yanks. But it’s a friendly, right? Still not what you’d like to see in a tune-up. It’s on to Cleveland Friday against Venezuela.
Here’s the really bad news, however: Claudio Reyna picked up an injury in his first game for the Nats this year. Quelle surprise.
In the meantime, mull over this offering from BBC, which figures to be a common storyline about Team USA, both here and abroad, in the run-up to the Cup.
Heartbreak for the Horn Guys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Barcelona is the new champion of Europe, but the chatter that will linger from Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in Paris is the first-have red card to Gunners keeper Jens Lehmann. That’s a first in the 51-year history of the European Cup. My sympathies to the Martz Brothers (aka Horn Guy 1 and 2), whose club had a great run.
Here’s a rollicking play-by-play commentary that summarizes the activity. For what it’s worth, The Guardian observer here thinks the foul on Carles Puyol that led to Arsenal’s surprising first goal of the game was just as bogus as Lehmann’s fateful tackle.
Not a great showing by the Spanish champions, but two subs — Larsson and Belletti, who scored the winner with 10 minutes left — proved to be the difference. For all of the ballyhoo about Barca, this is only their second European Cup crown.
Does this whet anyone’s World Cup appetite? ESPN2 certainly got serious about using it as a run-up. Today the networks announced their W.C. teams behind the mic, with Dave O’Brien (not our Braves beat writer, but ESPN’s own) and ex-Yank defending Marcelo Balboa forming the lead duo. Thrashers’ TV play-by-play man J.P. Dellacamera, once an ESPN soccer announcing mainstay, also is part of the effort.
Disgrace for the ‘Old Lady?’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Was going to start this entry with some various World Cup news, but Thursday’s shock resignation of the entire Juventus board with the club needing only a point to win another Serie A title is too hard to ignore.
This is usually the time of year Italian soccer conspiracy theorists are ranting and raving about how ‘Juve’ pulls off so many titles — by having matches fixed. But the soap opera appears to be more than just melodrama this year, after Juventus general director Luciano Moggi was heard on taped phone conversations discussing referees with the league’s head of officials.
On Friday, police raided the offices of the Italian soccer federation, with AC Milan, other other Serie A powerhouse, Lazio and Fiorentina also being probed. Juve is the famed grand ‘Old Lady’ of Italian soccer, with such splendid players as Nedved, Del Piero, Vieira and Ibrahimovic leading the way for club, as well as country in the World Cup.
It’s a scandal that may prompt little more than shoulder-shrugging over here, but the fact that big clubs — not the Cagliaris, Lecces, etc. are getting seriously looked at could be a watershed in Italy, where match fixing, financial scams and generic corruption is a part of the soccer fabric.
I’m getting to the Brewhouse early Saturday for the F.A. Cup final, my first at that hallowed hall of footy splendor in the heart of helmetball land. Liverpool goes for its seventh crown in this esteemed event against West Ham. Didn’t think the Reds would have any steam left after starting in mid-July, but a great finish in the Prem and getting to this final compensate for crashing out in Europe. And even Stevie G says this has been his best year.
Update: Yes, Chris, there may be bigger trophies out there, but good God, what an incredible performance by Stevie G! West Ham thoroughly outplayed Liverpool, but if he’s on your team, you’ve always got a chance.
The Brewhouse crowd got a cameo appearance late into extra time from none other than Elvis Costello. And he looked every part the Little Five Points denizen: dark black, almost dyed hair, with a black trenchcoat and wide black-rimmed glasses. He had a show with the Atlanta Symphony Saturday night and it seems he’s a West Ham fan, since he bounced out of there with fellow Hammers as soon as Reina turned away Ferdinand’s PK. But at least he knows where Mecca is when he comes to Atlanta.
Road Wanderers FC, aka the Atlanta Silverbacks, continue their away slate Sunday at Miami, where Romario has made an appearance on the field, and probably mucho more in South Beach.
The U.S. World Cup camp has begun in the teeming metropolis of Cary, N.C., which means the boys are getting a bit of ink and air time. It’s still just a trickle, but the quadriennial Footy 101 lessons have begun.
My pal Grahame Jones of the L.A. Times had some fun earlier this week picking apart comments from the Commander-in-Chief to a German magazine. I normally don’t like to link to sites that require registration, but this read’s a hoot. Key quote from Dubya:
“A lot of us grew up without any connection to soccer — me, for example,” Bush told the newspaper. “But there is a new generation that has grown up with soccer. They obviously have a great interest in the World Cup.”
Pish, posh, says Grahame, pointing out that Clint Dempsey, a kid from Nacogdoches (aka, Naca-damn-nowhere, I’ve been there) in the ex-governor’s own state, will be playing in the World Cup for the good ol’ USA.
The first part of that remark reminds me of something I read in Soccer America during the 2000 presidential race, when some soccer-playing school kids in New Hampshire hit Bush up for an answer about his favorite MLS team.
“Well, uh, fellas, I’m kinduva baseball guy,” Bush said, in that now-famous heh-heh snicker. Fast forward six-plus years to reveal the progress of one man’s soccer education.
“Some of us older fellas are starting to understand how important the World Cup is for the whole world,” Bush told Bild (the magazine in question.)
If not starting wars, occupying other countries, setting up secret prisons and wiretapping the home folks, yedy yedy.
I’ve got the perfect soccer book to send to the White House: Pete Davies’ hilarious ‘Twenty-Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts,’ which is just as relevant now as when it was written, for the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.
And chock full of heh-hehs. Even for a fella who doesn’t do a whole lotta reading.
S’backs new home has a name
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s not Willie B’s Woods. Or the Jungle (already taken by Parkview High). Or Thank God It’s Not DeKalb Memorial Anymore.
No, the Silverbacks announced Friday that their new home abode, to be christened on June 3, will be called RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. (No, I’m not yelling in Internet parlance. The first part of the official corporate name is in all caps.)
It wasn’t made clear whether the real estate giant was merely purchasing naming rights or something more, but officials with both organizations referred to their new “partnership” in a joint announcement.
On top of it all, the evening’s opposition wil be provided by the always-friendly Charleston Battery. Get used to seeing the RE/MAX hot air balloon drifting over Spaghetti Junction. You’ll have no excuses finding the place.
I’m guessing long-suffering fan I once dubbed The Lone Drummer might be the first guy through the gates. Just remember Kurt — there’s no crying in futbol.
Bruce’s picks, scattered, smothered and covered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So it is a little after 6 p.m., at the appointed hour, and how does SportsCenter lead off its program that supposedly contains the ballyhooed announcement of the U.S. World Cup team?
With that super nerdy NFL guy tossing around after-the-fact draft scuttlebutt like the 3-day-old Waffle House hash that it is. This stuff has been scattered, smothered and covered to death already!
This is the kind of guy who could have passed for a soccer player at my high school, where the football players used to stuff footy types into lockers with room to spare. Now it simply purloins whatever basketball players it feels it needs to win state championships.
Now we get Kornheiser. We get him every day! Ditto for Wilbon, who asks which team is the best in baseball. It’s May 2! Who cares!
Here comes Schwarzenegger, who wants two professional football teams in Los Angeles. Actually, Tinseltown has four — Galaxy and Chivas, and USC and UCLA.
Mel Kiper Jr. gives us his top 10 seniors for 2006 — somebody send him back to the place that spawned him and put a muzzle on for the next 12 months. This is the fifth time in the last four days (at least) that he’s takin’ a shinin’ to the Brady Quinn lad at Notre Dame. Me thinks that’s a wee too much.
It’s 6:23, and what’s on? The bane of Bruce Arena’s existence, the endless reel of baseball highlights, followed by worse yet, Peter Gammons extrapolating on Bonds hitting No. 712 and Johnny Damon’s warm welcome back to Fenway. Last night. Tonight it’s supposed to be in the 40s in The Hub. And hey, what do the boys in pinstripes think about it? The only forecast I’m interested is the one Glenn Burns doles out. Enough!
Can we get on with this? Nike has just sent an e-mail saying the new U.S. World Cup uniform will be debuted as well tonight. Yippee. Who’s going to be in them?
Here it comes, precisely at 6:32 p.m. In drips. The names, one by one. Dempsey. Reyna. O’Brien. Olsen. Then at once, Beasley, Donovan, Mastroeni, Convey. The midfielders. Bruce is in the studio, wearing a suit and tie. Wow!
Now the forwards. Wolff — Parkview High and Stone Mountain’s own — is on his second straight W.C. roster. McBride. Johnson. Ching? Yes, Brian Ching made the cut, after it wasn’t looking so hot for him.
The defenders: Onyewu, Hejduk, Pope, Cherundolo, Lewis, Bocanegra, Conrad, Gibbs.
The keepers: No surprises. Keller, Howard, Hahnemann.
Didn’t make it: Noonan, Klein, Ralston, Zavagnin, Armas, Albright, Casey, Berhalter and Twellman, among notables. The last one is a surprise. I thought he’d get a spot over Ching. But maybe Brian is the thing this spring. Here’s the official link, but it’s understandably running a bit slow.
To wrap it all up is Eric Wynalda, I guess to do some second-guessing. He says with a little luck, they could reach the semis. Yes, the answer seems ridiculous, but so does the question: Can the U.S. win the World Cup? Who came up with that? PTI’s stat boy?
Well, Waldo’s spell was brief, because a guy in a pink salmon suit is asking us to come back for more NFL draft news. It is now 6:43. OK, USA, you can go back to your same old, same old. Hope we didn’t send you into toxic culture shock. Besides, there’s film of an A’s-Angels brawl on now. All is right now in ‘Murkah.
And for you, footy hounds, what’s your take on this team?
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