AJC.com > Sports > Soccer blog > Archives > 2005 > April > 28 > Entry
Habemus blogum footballismus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The white smoke emanating from the ajc.com conclave authorized the creation of a soccer weblog that aims to whet the appetite of the soccer-starved Atlanta fan.
But you don’t have to be from the ATL to participate. At Off the Ball, soccer is never off the wall. Unlike Joey Ratz, there will be no encyclicals of futbol infallibility forthcoming from your correspondent. To alter a chorus from Woody Guthrie, this blog is your blog, from Patagonia to the Balearic Islands. Or something like that.
Where to start? Close to home, of course. The Atlanta Silverbacks play their home opener Saturday against the hated Charleston Battery at the equally hated DeKalb Memorial Stadium. Team officials say they’re still on schedule to complete the seating portion of Silverbacks Park by April 2006, ideally in time for next season’s opener. Haven’t been by there lately to see the construction, but please point out if shovels are needed to help out. This area desperately needs a communal place for soccer. Desperately.
The local A-League — check that, USL First Division — team is a surprising 2-1. As usually, there’s been a lot of roster turnover, and three starters from a year ago — Gary Brooks, Adilson De Lima and John Ball — are in the MISL playoffs. Say what you will about the indoor game (and I’ve said plenty), for these guys it’s a decent enough paycheck.
On the national front, Landon Donovan has a candid interview in the current issue of Soccer America magazine detailing his reasons for returning to MLS. While his explanation is understandable, and he shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden for U.S. players overseas, he does come across as a bit of a baby. Amerikanischen doesn’t get in the lineup, pouts and leaves after three months? It sustains a perception of us that if we don’t get our way, we storm back home, unable to tolerate the various ways of the world. If there’s something else behind his move, Landon isn’t saying.
Finally, my beloved Liverpool survived Stamford Bridge and drew Chelsea 0-0 Wednesday in the European Champions League semifinals on Wednesday. Naturally, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, aka the Evil Genius, instantly said the pressure is on the Reds protecting their home turf at Anfield next Tuesday. The game wasn’t great stuff, but the nerve-wracking tension was unbearable. So will the off-season drama surrounding Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, upon whom Mourinho lustily has his eyes with the June transfer window in mind.
Where to finish? Here, at least for now.
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Comments
By Garrettt
April 29, 2005 01:25 AM | Link to this
Wendy, Thanks for giving soccer fans a chance to share their viewpoints (courtesy of the AJC.com of course). The Silverbacks game starts at 5:30 p.m. Hope to see you at the tailgate planned at the back of the lower parking lot!
By Meera
April 29, 2005 02:40 AM | Link to this
jose is not the ‘evil genius’ but just sheer genius and a charismatic and good looking one at that. maybe you should overcome your inferiority complex before berating the beautiful jose.
good luck with other stuff though
By Louis Barton
April 29, 2005 01:47 PM | Link to this
Just found your collumn. Brilliant! The irony of the Atl soccer scene is that we are a cosmopolitan city, with youth soccer programs that rival any, and avid fans of the game BUT futbol takes the back seat in the AJC. What should I expect for a place that calls canines “Dawgs”? Keep it coming, Wendy. Perhaps you could do a piece on the excellent, world class coaches that now call ATL home?
By Nuthead
April 30, 2005 12:48 PM | Link to this
Anytime you can paraphrase Woodie Guthrie in a soccer article you know you have a success. Try to include some Joe Strummer next time. Thanks for all your efforts at the AJC and for this website. Don’t worry all the pressure is on Chelsea on Tuesday. Liverpool 2-1 and on to the Championship. GO Silverbacks!!!!!
By John Turnbull
May 1, 2005 01:03 PM | Link to this
Thanks, Wendy, for taking on this blog project. I have appreciated your AJC reporting on soccer for several years. What is the planned capacity of Silverbacks Park? Would it be able to host friendlies for the U.S. women’s national team, assuming they ever play again?
[http://www.theglobalgame.com]
By Zach
May 1, 2005 03:40 PM | Link to this
Liverpool rules!!! Chelsea is like the New York Yankees of Premiership soccer, and for that I despise them. That being sai, they have had an incredible season, and much though it pains me to say it, Jose Mourinho is quite a coach. That second leg should be quite a match.
By Blaise
May 2, 2005 03:23 PM | Link to this
Hello, no comments about the great tailgate that the fans had and the Team contributed to and the coach came out to see everyone for a little while???
come on now…
i had high hopes for this blog; now i am saddened.
By Wendy
May 3, 2005 10:48 AM | Link to this
Thanks for all the comments — since I’m still enough of a technodunce, it took me a while to realize that I’M the one who has to post them.
Blaise, I haven’t forgotten about the Silverbacks. I couldn’t get to the game because I work most Saturday nights. I plan to get out there as soon as my schedule permits. There are quite a few Sunday games and the 4th of July game on Monday, which are my days off.