AJC.com > Sports > Soccer blog > Archives > 2005 > April > 28
Thursday, April 28, 2005
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.
