Fresh outta words after writing a U.S-Mexico preview

I’ve used up all my words recently. Thanks to travel and a daybook full of assignments, I’m plum out. Empty as a theater showing a Mel Gibson movie.

Until I can make a Costco run and load up on industrial sized supplies of fresh verbs, adverbs, descriptive adjectives and clever metaphor, help yourself to these recent selections:

Before Saturday’s biggie at the Rose Bowl, review the U.S. player performance from Wednesday’s match through SI.com’s expanded ratings of the match. Then, work up a good game-day buzz by reading my U.S.-Mexico preview at SI.com.

If you just can’t get enough, and you need a little tactical talk, you can peruse my weekly contribution at MLSSoccer.com; this one is a piece-by-piece breakdown a great bit of team play that led to a Vancouver Whitecaps goal last week.

Otherwise, amuse yourself with two views of Erik Soler’s off-the-rails wackiness. (The New York Red Bulls GM, demonstrating egregiously bad judgment and an impulsive streak that would put a teenager to shame, reminded everyone why it’s dangerous to react while emotional about things. A little advice for Mr. Soler: Next time you get an urge to fire off an press release of official censure on official company letter head, stick your head in bucket of water and cool off, eh?) One of the views is from an old soccer hand who still has something to say about our game, and one is from a debuting Mirror columnist who once sported an insane goatee and later ran a couple of MLS clubs. Any guesses?

Cheers, all.