What I’m not worried about today …
U.S. Soccer tackiness, Beckham’s travel plans and more
- I’m not worried about … The U.S. Soccer fed going broke. OK, maybe Sunil Gulati isn’t exactly handing out Ben Franklins as lunchtime tips or making it rain $20s around the U.S. Soccer meetings, but they are making plenty of money. Still, to protect against any unexpected shortfalls, the federation has this greedy little gambit going: they are charging $20 per person to see Spain’s final practice before next month’s friendly. I don’t feel quite as strongly about it as this guy (who’s mad as a stepped-on lizard); I just think it’s kind of tacky.
- I’m not worried about … The Seattle-Portland rivalry losing its pizazz. I mean, Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid and Portland boss John Spencer are firing away at each other like two frat boys at in a Saturday fart fight.
- I’m not worried about … David Beckham going too far with his heroic commitment to MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Word out of Camp Galaxy is that Becks will consider jetting off to England once again, this time for Gary Neville’s testimonial match. If he does he’ll miss the Galaxy’s set-to with Houston, proving once again that he can talk about his devotion to the club cause, but it’s really just PR spin until he does a little better at backing it up. By the way, Bruce Arena’s claims that Beckham would probably be rested for one of those games anyway are a big honkin’ bag of hooey. It’s one thing to be left behind to rest in L.A. while the team travels across three time zones to play a game (as Beckham was last week when the Galaxy played in Philly). It’s quite another to miss a game while you fly across eight time zones to play … in some other game. Seriously, Bruce, we’re not that stupid.
- I'm not worried ... About a lack of gullible writers and supporters, who will happily gobble up any scraps of rumor, speculation and old-fashioned, unsubstantiated guesswork regarding the upcoming summer transfer window. It's already started. Or haven't you heard that Landon Donovan is off to Roma? Except that he really isn't. But why should that stop someone from writing about it?
- Read on for more ...
- I'm not worried about … MLS refereeing being especially bad in June. That’s because two of the worst, Jair Marrufo and Baldomero Toledo, have been selected to officiate games at the 2011 Gold Cup. That means that two of the worst offenders at not wanting to call fouls (which is generally the east way out for referees, an unlovely habit that serves to frustrate players and to make for an uglier match all around) won’t be around to reduce the overall quality. Now, as for the Gold Cup …
- I’m not worried about … Another one of these bummer weeks where I don’t have an MLS match or two to keep me sated ‘til the big slate rolls around on Saturday. There are four matches next Wednesday, including some real dandies. The champs play in New York, Vancouver visits Toronto in a Canadian derby (eh!), Dallas visits Seattle and Houston visits Los Angeles.
- I’m not worried about … Incomplete knowledge of the U.S. Gold Cup roster. U.S. Soccer will unveil the telling list of 23 on Monday, and Bob Bradley will speak about it to reporters on a national teleconference right after. No, Bradley won’t go into too many individual whys and wherefores about who is and isn’t on the list, but I’m sure we’ll learn something from the chat. It’ll be a great way to start an interesting month around the national team.
- I’m not worried about … Chivas USA no longer having an identity. Did you hear? They have one now. … Uh, OK, I lied. I’m still worried about this one. I’ve sang the praises of Robin Fraser recently, and I believe he’s got something going. But as for his employers: I think the Goats are a long way from establishing the Chivas USA brand in a big way across sunny SoCal. Just my opinion.
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