Red Bulls, Revolution, Levesque and US vs El-Tri – Soccer not to be forgotten

26 06 2011
Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

Before the Revolution and after Red Bull Run.  Sounders 30-year-old for-mid-fender, Roger Levesque, is the most disliked Sounder by Portland Timber fans.  His game winning goal followed by his “scuba dive” celebration is sure to plant seeds of disapproval further east in the New York Red Bull camp.  ”For-mid-fender” is coach Sigi Schmid‘s creative position title for Levesque, because of his willingness and hustle to do whatever he can to help the team, including playing any field position.

A quick dive-down through the key match points.  After only 12-minutes Sounders built a 2-nil lead.  Sounders 2011 stats would suggest that lead is insurmountable. Then again, this is the crazy world of soccer.  New York would half the lead by half-time.  Then a Sounders rare Own-Goal by defender Zach Scott in the 58th minute. With the score level at 2-2 in the 58th minute, Sigi Schmid made a surprise early substitution.  He sent on Roger Levesque for Michael Fucito.  The move replaced short up front speed, with a little more height and up front hustle.  The move paid solid dividends.  From a well placed Leo Gonzalez corner, Levesque flicked home a headed goal and Seattle took a 3-2 lead.

Then came the moment that has gone internet viral.  Red Bull defenders feeling pressure from Levesque and Montero, played a usual ball back to keeper Greg Sutton, who took the ball at his feet and prepared to distribute it up field. Unfortunately for his head, his feet had a momentary lapse.  His first touch bobbled awkwardly, and Instead of clearing the ball away, Sutton only managed to bounce the ball in front of his feet.  Levesque dove in and was able to swipe away the free-swimming ball.  He quickly settled control away from Sutton, and only had to walk the ball into the net.  Sutton looked on in broken disbelief.

Brandi Chastain, 1999 US Women World Cup winning PK vs China

Goal celebrations are an important part of sports entertainment.  US Soccer, unlike the NFL is not known for many well choreographed celebrations.  Two historic examples do stand out.  One is Brandi Chastain’s World Cup winning penalty kick against China.  Dropping to the ground, throwing off her shirt and raising her hands in celebration.  Truly one of the most memorable US Soccer moments.  That one made the cover of Sports Illustrated. Almost as epic was Landon Donovan’s 2010 World Cup goal against Algeria.  He ran and slid to the corner flag with his teammates following and piling on top.

Levesque’s was not as international.  It will definitely make the 2011 top-10 charts and received more media attention than any recent extracurricular soccer affair.  Non-FIFA related that is.  Running behind Sutton’s shrunken goal, Levesque perched a seat atop the electronic ad-board lining the outside of the field.  He put his fingers to his nose, then fell into a pool of celebration.  He called this the “scuba dive”. Harmless.  But surely not to be forgotten in New York.

Before moving on to Sounder Sunday with Fort Revolution, there was a small soccer gathering in Southern California between El Tri and Team Chicharito competing against the Red, White, and Blue US Boys of Summer, for the 2011 Gold Cup Final.  Nearly 100,000 attended the thrilling match.  US took an early surprise lead going up 2-nil. Then once Mexico scored, the US defense was never able to regain composure and Mexico found a steady stream of glory.  Winning 4-2, this will be remembered as an epic US collapse as well as the most talented and inspired Mexican squad.  The Rose Bowl Rendezvous, like Sutton’s blunder will surely not be forgotten.

The Revolution bring back Sounder trouble maker, Shalrie Joseph.  His size and skill in midfield is tough for any team to handle.  The Sounders are no exception.  How to solve for Shalrie?  Against New York Red Bulls, Zach Scott put a couple of solid defensive tackles on star Dwayne De Rosario.  Shalrie is a bit more retaliatory than De-Ro, so the potential for backlash is greater, but the early effort could help creep a sense of irritation into Joseph’s head.  When he roams free and unobstructed he is one of the best in MLS.  If the Sounders frustrate him, the door for a third straight win could be pushed open.  It will be a physical task.  Being the third game in a week doesn’t help.  So goes mid-season life for a Sounder.

Tidbits

Qwest Field was officially renamed CenturyLink Field.  The introduction was made prior to the start of the Red Bulls match.  The first night affair saw the Sounders first ever four goal match, and a new attendance record of 46,754.

The July transfer window is nearly open and MLS rumors of big name signings are piling up.  The Sounders are heaped in the middle of the rumor mills.  One to watch and one to hope for.  Rumored to be attending was Ghana National, Prince Tagoe. Tagoe was part of the Ghana team that eliminated the US from the 2010 World Cup.  A hopeful name for this author is Diego Forlan, from the 2010 Uruguay National Team. Both of carry high prices and could easily be silly rumors.  It does show that the Sounders attendance gives them enough pedigree to be considered a legitimate home for big name stars.

This contradicts my opinion that developed players are ultimately more valuable than Designated Players, but that is another longer post.  Until then, it is off to the Revolution.

Mid-Season Poll Question.  Add your comments of who you would like to see come to the MLS.

No contributions or detailed references this week.  Please follow my link to Prost Amerika Soccer.  If you enjoy Sales on Sounders, you will equally appreciate the passion, humor, and intelligence put into that site.

©  2011 by Ryan Sales – Sales on Sounders


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Thierry Henry & the Designated Players – Sounders vs New York Red Bulls

23 06 2011
Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

Dramatic matches.  Dramatic endings.  Sounders FC are born from the dramatic cloth of Rave-Green inception.  The short turnaround to Thursday’s home match at Qwest Field, means the next chance for Sounders faithful to support their club to the next level of dramatic inception is only a work-night away.

Intriguing home stadium changes will take place Thursday.  Same place, different name.  Qwest Field will officially be announced as CenturyLink Field.  How this name change will be written is up for debate.  I see C-Link.  Which gives upset traveling fans or disappointed home fans an easy ”clink” opportunity.  A non issue really, unless Timbers fans are ever handed three points from some sort of Buddle-Juninho-Hassli-esque miracle shot.  Sideline whisper:  How many more “wonder-strikes” do we give up before these magic goals are renamed Sounder-normal?  Back to the blog:  Using “clink” against the Sounders will make for an easy cheese-wiz first layer dis, but nothing that sticks too long.

Thursday marks the Sounders Front Office first attempt at opening up the entire stadium.  All upper-level seats will be uncovered for an enticing $15.00.  It should prove a good first test to see how fans long-awaited “more seats” request works with short notice.

Speaking of wonder strikes.  Ranking high among the Sounders growing list of dramatic finishes, is last Saturday’s 90th minute stoppage-time thriller against Toronto FC, by Fredy Montero.  Mauro Rosales, fouled at the top right side of Toronto’s penalty box gave way to the free kick.  Freddy Montero stepped up with strong intent and purpose.  His strike curled over Toronto’s wall and into the left corner of Stefan Frei‘s goal.  Barely out of reach of Frei’s diving fingers.  It was another winner for what is becoming standard Sounders fare.  Late match heroes making late match drama.

Reds

Toronto FC, "Reds"

One expected fan-thrill, and another Sounders first for Thursday’s match is already certain not to happen.  Thierry Henry, the former French National Team, and Arsenal superstar, playing for the Red Bulls of New York, was issued a red card in the 90th minute of his match against the Portland Timbers last Sunday.  Any attending fans disappointed by his absence, will likely be thrilled by the Sounders desire to play for no fewer than all three points for the win.  New York will be ready to irritate and frustrate Seattle’s attempt to score early and often.  Star power aside, the importance of the match wont be lost on the Sounders players.

Eric Hassli, proved Seattle is a good place for aging French strikers to score dramatic goals.  With Henry out, a pair of french-kissed strikes are completely out of the question.  That is unless Sebastian LeToux is holding an ace in his pocket for when Philadelphia comes to clink one in on Sounders at C-Link later on in colder October.

The Sounders victorious match last week with Toronto FC completed the first half of this 34 match season with a decent 6-win, 4-loss, 7-draw record.  The 25 points have the Sounders sitting third in the Western Conference.  With most teams close behind and holding games in hand, a string of wins could launch Sounders FC into a successful second half season playoff push.  This Sunday is another short home match turn around to face visiting New England Revolution.

The Sounders continue to make lineup adjustments searching for a better winning touch.  Fredy Montero, was given an active “Free-Roam” role last week.  Which could prove valuable against New York.  Michael Fucito, hitting post last week, and being close to striking net so often all season, means he is due to taste joy. Montero, regaining confidence with his dramatic free kick also means he will be a marked man.  That is a good thing for Sounders FC.  With Fredy heavily marked again, Fucito’s speed combined with Mauro Rosales’s crosses and technical ability to get into dangerous positions, as well as create space for other players to get into dangerous positions, means opportunities for either Fucito speed, or Montero poise are likely elements to ignite 40,000 plus into celebration.

New York Red Bulls

Thierry Henry can come to Seattle riding the Red Bull bench, but he can’t come to Seattle without at least a little DP (Designated Player) conversation.  Should your Major League Soccer team have one?  If so, how much should your club spend?  (See Derek Ciapala’s piece on AS Roma’s Francesco Totti possibly coming to the LA Galaxy this season).  The NASL filled itself with aging, and overpaid stars and eventually folded.  Major League Soccer’s slow expansion of Designated Players has proven safer and smarter.  Some teams do not yet have a Designated Player.

Would Seattle have sold out their first season without Freddie Ljungberg?  Possibly not.  On the other hand, interest has seen a ground swell beyond famous players.  Passion and participation in soccer is common and longstanding throughout the Northwest.  Seattle was Broadway for US Soccer before US Soccer had found Broadway.  This Thursday’s stadium-wide opening would have happened on its own.

As fun as Ljungberg was at the start, his easy irritability was not easily adaptable for fans.  Halfway into his second season was a good time for team and player to part ways.  Management brought in Blaise Nkufo, fresh from his Swiss National team appearance in the 2010 World Cup.  It was a good half season and he delivered a solid playoff boost for the club.  But being a punchbag to absorb Montero’s physical punishment was not a role he desired.  So one hour before this 2011 season started he and the club also parted ways.

During the off-season, Montero was promoted to DP status.  Like any athlete or team making the cover of Sports Illustrated, it has not helped Montero’s productivity.  Before his free-kick game-winner last weekend, Montero had scored only two goals.  Some might call that unproductive, and question the Front Office spending.  Yet any team with a DP has a list of curiosities with its stars no different from the Sounders.  In LA’s case, Beckham has arguably a longer list.

Scoring goals is an expensive habit.  Sporting diamonds.  24 carat strikes, like Eric Hassli’s are worth a lifetime to some player reputations.  That goal will be a goal of the year candidate.  (See it here on my recent post)  Spending spectacular Designated Player money is sometimes necessary to acquire a player like Hassli.

Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions

Is it more important for teams to find players to entertain, put butts-in-seats, and make us deliriously but joyfully buy their kit?  No single right answer exists.  In a perfect world, Roger Levesque would posses Ruud Van Nistelrooy goal poaching skill, and a one club career as long as Paul Scholes, of Manchester United.  Reality is, we have to learn to cheer on Nate Jaqua.  Starter or sub, lifting his spirit to put the ball into the net this Thursday is our job as fans.

Money can’t buy everything, but it does get good entertainment.  Entertainment doesn’t last a lifetime.  Building fan reputation and players that believe in that reputation, costs nothing and lasts forever.  At the end of the day, Sounders General Manager, Adrian Hanaueer is looking for the next soccer guy to sing “Spectacular, Spectacular”.  He is also looking for Ruud Van Levesque.  He has an unenviable task, but also has a knack for finding players, like Osvaldo Alonso, John Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez, Alvaro Fernandez, and Mauro Rosales.

I believe as fans we set the precedent. We build the reputations and passionate spirit. The Front Office finds the role pieces to fulfill the object of our passion.  Occasionally a star will fit.  But if the money to bring talent is too high or the talent is too high above the club, then there are always ways of developing success outside of Designated Players.

© 2011 by Ryan Sales – Sales on Sounders

Contributions:  Fans Look:  Could AS Roma striker sign with the Los Angeles Galaxy?  By, Derek Ciapala, June 17, 2011


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Whitecaps and Sounders – Cascadia Rivalry – North American Soccer History

11 06 2011
The Cascadia Rivalry

Cascadia Rivalry - Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps

Out of the Fire and into Cascadia.  Last week, Kasey Keller, Seattle’s Goal Keeper extraordinaire pulled out another brilliant performance from his satchel of well aged magic.  His effort was key in bringing Sounders FC a well-earned point for their nil-nil draw in Chicago. This week Seattle hosts its Canadian Cascadia rival, Vancouver Whitecaps.

Saturday at Qwest Field is another historic milestone for the Sounders and US Soccer. A rivalry since 1974, the Cascadia Clash with Vancouver and Seattle has been promoted to its most prominent level yet.  With Vancouver Whitecaps FC joining Major League Soccer this year, along with Portland, the complete Cascadia Rivalry is now more than ever an international experience.  If you’re hooked on tweets, this week is #Vancouverweek on Twitter.  And with the rapture behind us, one would think little could capture our social network attention more than babies and cats on You Tube. The complete release of Cascadia unleashed on North America is officially a strong competitor.

If Portland is our backyard, mudslinging half-brother, Vancouver is our gentlemanly, and worldly cousin.  At first glance, Sounders and Whitecaps cause a gentler Cascadia rumble than the more eruptive Sounders and Timbers edition.  With Vancouver’s sporting brethren, the National Hockey League, Vancouver Canucks vying for the Stanley Cup.  Vancouver fans are well versed in bone crushingly intense team sport.  Seeing usually gentlemanly and courteous athletes be complete sportsmen one minute, then drop gloves, fight, and bite fingers the next, is more common in Vancouver than Seattle.  In Vancouver, they know their sport.

Alan Hinton

Alan Hinton - From Derby County to Cascadia

If you ever want an amazing athlete, coach, and entertaining sports personality to emulate, or influence future youth athletes, then Alan Hinton is my personal recommendation.  His Cascadia legacy in the Vancouver-Seattle rivalry extends both sides of the border.  He is one man standing above all others in making the Whitecaps and Sounders rivalry what it is today.  He knows the rivalry inside out, having been on both sides.  A natural-born storyteller, he retells many of the rivalries great stories and has played many of its most significant roles.  Including playing for Vancouver, coaching for both, and now as a TV and Radio Analyst with Sounders FC.

NASL

North American Soccer League - 1968-1985

Both teams formed in 1974, joining the NASL (North American Soccer League).  Alan Hinton joined Vancouver in 1978.  Originally from England, he played for arguably one of the greatest English Premier League coaches, Brian Clough at Derby County.  His 30 assists for the Whitecaps in 1978 are still a high level achievement even by current soccer standards.  In 1980 he joined the Seattle Sounders earning 25-wins 7-losses.  If you want insight, intellect, and great humor, then you want to know Alan Hinton.  ”When the season schedule is released the first thing you do is look for when you  play the Whitecaps”.  ”When I was at the Whitecaps we almost always beat the Sounders.  When I was at the Sounders we always beat the Whitecaps”.  

Sports are events bringing large numbers of diverse groups of people together.  People hungry to find some tiny bit of soulful commonality.  Something that truly binds us all together.  Soccer is our worlds best team sport example.  Alan Hinton is the wise and colorful voice who has made this regions best sports rivalry one of its best long-standing sporting events.  He has helped transform this rivalry into a can’t miss event.

On Saturday night, the rivalry turns 37.  So, on Twitter I gave this rivalry week another hash-tag name.  Instead of #VancouverWeek, I prefer #AlanHintonWeek.

In the three team Cascadia rivalry, Vancouver has the only league title.  In 1979 they won Soccer Bowl ’79 and were NASL Champions.  The Timbers and Sounders both reached NASL finals but neither won.

Vancouver Whitecaps - NASL logo - Soccer Bowl '79 NASL Champions

Finding success in Major League Soccer will be a bigger challenge for Vancouver than in the NASL.  Parity in the league makes matches tightly contested, so no one team has dominated the sport since Houston winning repeat MLS Championships in ’06 & ’07. Sounders FC set a high bar winning back-to-back US Open Cup titles in its first two seasons.  Vancouver would like to feed off that energy.  Some first season issues have posed challenges in their transition to MLS.  Coaching changes and ticketing issues with supporters have been two obstacles.

Stadium seating location and pricing for their Southsiders Supporters group caused an initial stir.  Much of which Vancouver’s front office has resolved.  But it has left lingering communication concerns between the teams Front Office and its Supporters. More recently their coaching change has been the bigger issue.

As bright and entertaining as the Whitecaps have been on the pitch, they have struggled in getting results that satisfy their ownership.  Teitur Thordarson was the coach that helped build the Whitecaps into a successful USL team on its way to Major League Soccer.  Tom Soehn, former DC United coach was brought in as their Director of Soccer Operations.  In Vancouver’s first three MLS months, Thordarson delivered a 1-win, 5-loss, 6-draw record.  A thrilling 4-2 inaugural victory over Toronto FC didn’t yield more wins.  Continual close matches were ultimately not the result their Front Office wanted.  Tom Soehn is now the interim coach.

1974 - 1983

With high expectations to turn things around, and little room to fall further, the Whitecaps come to Qwest Field hungry to prove they are the talented high-flying team everyone witnessed in its inaugural match.  The first edition of the MLS Cascadia Rivalry between the two historic clubs in front of a sold out stadium, and national audience is the best chance they will have.  The Sounders are in equal need of joy for recent efforts and fan support.  So the match is sure to be the most hotly contested weekend match.

Off the pitch, Vancouver Week has been more nostalgic than the backyard mudslinging building up to the Portland match.  Come game time, that politeness will disintegrate. Vancouver’s Designated Player, Eric Hassli has accumulated 3 red cards.  The Sounders wont try to antagonize him into a 4th, but they wont stop him from losing his cool either.  That threat of his boiling intensity will keep fans on their seats wondering if Vancouver shows its dangerous potential.  An upset in front of 36,000 at Qwest field would put their season right in one match.  Sounders FC is fully aware, but can not afford to sit back and defend from that happening.  Sounders FC needs all 3 points for a win.  A single point for a draw is no help.  They will play for the win, which will defensively give the Whitecaps opportunities to counter attack.  Tonight could be a tightly contested 1-0 victory for one lucky team or it could turn into an eruption of Cascadia goals.

I’ll spill my bias:  3-2 Sounders FC.

Contributions:  Jacob Cristobal,  http://www.critiqulous.com/   For a little added excitement, here is the new “All In” Adidas commercial featuring the Portland-Seattle edition of the Cascadia Rivalry.

Sounders FC, weekly feature, “Round Table”, hosted by Tony Ventrella, with guests Matt Gasch, Alan Hinton, and Emerald City Supporters President, Greg Mockos.

© 2011 by Ryan Sales – http://www.salesonsounders.com


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Cascadia Clash – When Rose City Meets Rave Green

13 05 2011

The Portland Timbers come to Seattle.  The Cascadia Rivalry comes to America.  The rumble you feel is not Mt Hood, or Mt Rainier ready to blow, like St Helens.  That is the sound of Timbers coming to Qwest Field, for a nationally televised match with Sounders FC.  When Rose City meets Rave Green this Saturday, it’s no ordinary Spring Garden Show.

Calling out for national attention, this clash between Portland and Seattle is hosted by Major League Soccer.  For a show stopping spectacle, look past the match on the pitch to the supporters in the stands.  Both clubs colorfully fervent supporters promise displays not common to any usual American sport.  If you own an H-D with 3-D, ultra intense vibration, surround sound-mega-TV, then this match is custom made for your home viewing pleasure.  Either that, or be there.

The Cascadia Rivalry

Cascadia Rivalry: Timbers Army, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps

Commercial

Hey, you like our coffee.  You use our technology at work and home, even on the go. You order our wine.  You enjoy our diverse taste in food.  You download our music. And now you love our TV show, Portlandia.  A second season is on its way.  Now come try our soccer.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.

The History

NASL

North American Soccer League - 1968-1985

Saturday night’s match introduces the three-way Pacific Northwest rivalry to America’s growing Major League Soccer television audience.  Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Seattle Sounders form a rivalry brewing since Seattle and Vancouver formed in 1974, with Portland a year later.  Neighborly soccer ended in only the fourth match between Portland and Seattle on August 12, 1975.  In a playoff match in Portland, with 31,523 soccer passionate fans a taste of everything to come spilled onto the pitch.  Tied 1-1, the teams went to overtime.  Portland earned a corner that Seattle defended but couldn’t clear.  Portland worked the ball out to the left flank, where it was crossed into the top of the penalty box meeting a leaping Timber, who arched it in for a game winning header.  Announcers barely had time to call the winning goal when fans began spilling onto the field in celebration.  Thirty-six years later the passion is not only still brewing, it’s about to start a new chapter in US Soccer History.  Anticipation for this weekends match has become national attention more for the passion spilled into the stands as the play on the pitch.

The Pacific Northwest regional rivalry was named, Cascadia Cup in 2004.  The history of the rivalry itself dates to the clubs first meeting, May 2nd, 1975.  What makes the rivalry unique?  Large, consistent numbers of passionate supporters.  Seattle’s attendance averaged 16,830 in 1975 while the entire 2010 MLS average was 16,675.

All three teams originally formed in the NASL (North American Soccer League).  It was not structured and ran as well as Major League Soccer, but it had many big-time names.  The most notable player in NASL history was one of the most notable in soccer history.  Pele.

Less Pele and more Levesque.

The NASL folded in 1984, but Pacific Northwest soccer continued.  Sometimes from comedic creativity.  Club names like Stars and Seadogs played in various types of leagues from indoor to speed soccer.  Yet Timbers and Sounders never faded away.

In 1994 the Sounders were on the doorstep of joining the inaugural Major League Soccer season.  One issue preventing that was the perceived conflict of having two teams named “Sounders” playing in both an A-League and MLS status.  Many people talked about the relationship like a “farm club”.  The idea was rejected.  Interesting note:  MLS added a Reserve League for 2011.  From 1994 to 2008, Seattle played in A-League/USL-1 soccer leagues winning 4 championships.  Brian Ching and Marcus Hahnemann are two notable players during that era.  Yet one name stands above all for assisting in the growing intensity of Saturday’s match.  Levesque.

Roger Levesque.

Roger Levesque

At the end of the 2007 season with Seattle in process to move to Major League Soccer, Roger took a short exhibition stint with Vancouver and Portland.  His one game with Portland brimmed with animosity.  Fans “booed” him every time he touched the ball.  Sending the message to Timbers owner, Merritt Paulson that he was not a real Timber. “True Fans Hate Levesque” read the banner hanging over the rail of the Timbers Army.

Strong words for a player known as one of the hardest working players in MLS today. Did he intentionally kick a fallen Timbers keeper in the face in 2003?  Did he kick warm-up shots into the stands where Timbers Army supporters stood?  I asked Timber fans.  I have yet to have two similar answers.  What I know for certain, Levesque scores goals against Timbers.  Most notable is his 2009 US Open Cup goal scored in the first minute.  After scoring on Portland, Levesque ran to Sounders teammate Nate Jaqua, who proceeded to chop him down and fall to ground.  A third Sounder joined the choreographed celebration and along with Jaqua carried Roger away like cut lumber.  Timbers supporters haven’t forgotten the celebration on their home pitch. How does that one song go?  ”R-E-S-P-E-C-T”?  Or, is it R-E-V-E-N-G-E?

The Fans

There were no Timbers Army or ECS (Emerald City Supporters) in 1975.  But there were large volumes of fans.  Fans, like yours truly, ready to promote this unique American rivalry into a third generation.

There may be no recipe for making soccer fans out of sports fans, but there is a recipe for being a soccer fan.  Start with a pint of any preference.  A simple recipe includes drums, rhythmic clapping, a hint of sulfur infused smoke, sparkling flares layered with a guttural wash of continuous chanting.  Add *tifo and the scene is complete.

1974 - 1983

The Rivalry

The first Super Bowl I paid attention to was Super Bow XIII, in 1979 between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.  I watched sitting next to my Granddad in his TV room.  He was a huge Cowboys fan.  He had to be.  He was a rancher boy from Texas.

Growing up, when the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks played everything stopped.  All you could do was make plans with friends and family to see the game. Climbing Mt Hood or Mt Rainier were the only alternative activities.   Every game was close.  Never a clear favorite.  Season records never mattered when the Seahawks faced the Raiders.  Intensity and national ratings were always high.  It’s how a rivalry should be.  It’s only about one game.  It’s “all in”.  Chips only come in two values.  Complete exhilaration or pure disappointment.

Rivalry passion is at the core of every sports fan.  You can love whatever game it is, with whomever is playing all you want, and feel neutral for your passion towards every great player and every exciting team.  That is, until your Granddad, spouse, friend. local grocery clerk, bar tender, boss, or guy on the bus asks you the one hardest question.  ”Who’s your team?”  There is no New York Red Sox, or Boston Yankees.  You ultimately pick one.  And your answer defines you.  Pick the right team and the grocery clerk says, “the ice-cream is on me”.  You receive hugs and high-fives.  Pick the other team, and find the nearest exit.

This is jargon you’ve read a thousand times before with teams from New York, LA, Dallas, Boston/New England and many more.  So, isn’t it time to try something new.  Add a new rivalry to the collection of great American sports rivalries.

Classic Greek Theatre

Are you Rave Green, or are you Rose City?  Whose chorus do you belong?

Portland Timbers old logo

Portland Timbers old logo

Yes, this answer defines you forever.  Like a marriage proposal to the gods, it doesn’t force your hand to become a sports fan, if that’s not your thing, but it evokes a curious nuance of life that lifts the soul, and lets you experience an event with the greatest commitment of spirit.  For 90 minutes there is no recession, no Afghanistan, no hedge fund scammers, and no terrorist insurgents.  The decision will lift your soul to something bigger than sport.  Your living and dying on every shot transcends normal behavior.  Your vaulted, vocal prayers and spirited hand waving burns calories and energizes your hopeful team to defeat the evil others.  Then, when the match is over, depending on the result, you boast your mighty brilliance or muse the conspiracies of ridiculous and underserved defeat.  Then you go home.  A few Sunday chores and your mind turns to the workweek ahead.

The beautiful thing about a rivalry, you don’t have to wait too long until it comes back again.

* * * * *

Terms & Notes

*Tifo - Tifo is a simple Italian term for banners or flags hung or waved by supporters at designated stadium sections, specific to sporting events.
*ECS – Emerald City Supporters.  Largest Sounders FC official Supporters Group.  Additional Note:  I joined in 2010.  For the 2009 inaugural season I was independent of any supporters group choosing an individual team identity and relationship before joining.
*Timbers Army – aka TA, is official Supporters Group of the Portland Timbers.

© 2011 by Ryan J Sales


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Sigi’s Sounders go to Washington

4 05 2011

April 30, 2011 #11 Tribute to Steve Zakuani

The Sounders paid an emotional and heart-felt tribute to Steve Zakuani in last Saturday’s match with Toronto FC.  The 11th minute tribute for Zakuani’s broken leg received in their previous match by Colorado Rapids, Brian Mullan, was a salute to Zakuani’s #11 kit number (jersey number).  The Sounders valuable #11 left winger was missing from the Sounders *starting XI (starting lineup).  Zakuani is beginning the long and hopeful road to recovery.  The tribute was topped off in the most perfect manner possible.  A 3-nil victory. Offensive and exciting for fans with a clean sheet (no goals allowed) for Sounders Keeper, Kasey Keller.

For the Sounders offensive and team spirit the victory meant everything.  It combined an emotional show for their fallen teammate and for 36,000 of the most exciting fans in US Soccer.  The first goal came from eventual “man of the match”, Brad Evans.  A cross that bulls-eyed ”Flaco’s” (Alvaro Fernandez) forehead and found the back of net.  Adding to his assist in the first half, Brad Evans scored a brace (two goals) in the second half.  Monro slotted a perfectly weighted ball inside and to the right of Toronto’s goal.  Evans perfectly timed his run up on the ball for a one time strike curling past keeper and into the left corner of Toronto’s goal.  His second, a penalty kick.

For most soccer clubs in the world there is nothing that needs to follow that last sentence.  Not in Seattle.  Never normal and always a story.  Penalty kicks are often considered “given” goals.  Not at Qwest field.  Until Saturday, no Sounder had ever scored a home pitch penalty kick.  In tribute to Zakuani and everything that is remotely normal in the world of soccer, Evans scored the Sounders first ever home pitch penalty kick.  It was also Evans first professional brace (two goals).

With the #11 Zakuani tribute successfully put behind them, Sounders quickly turn to a midweek match vs DC United in our Nation’s Capital.     The brief, and successful one match home stay is sandwiched between four road games.  With Philadelphia’s draw and Colorado’s victory behind them, the next two challenges come up quickly.  First is midweek opponent DC United, then another short turnaround to face Columbus on Saturday.  Little rest and a growing injury report makes both matches part of a daunting road trip.  Already including Steve Zakuani, Seattle’s injury report boasts forwards O’Brian White and Mauro Rosales.  Nothing comes easy for Sounders.

DC United - Black and Red - MLS Champions '96, '97, '99, '04

Seattle has never lost in our Nation’s Capital.  It has become the most successful road stop for Sounders FC since joining MLS in 2009.  The Sounders faced DC United at RFK Stadium in the 2009 US Open Cup final winning its first trophy 2-1.  A week later, they surprised everyone by coming back for a regular season match and winning again.  Last year, Roger Levesque scored a late match winner on a short cross from Montero.  The win was part of the Sounders late in form run which launched them into the 2010 MLS playoffs.

In preseason, bench depth was the best weapon talked about when evaluating the Sounders 2011 roster.  It will be tested in the next two matches.  If Seattle wins one of the next two without taking on more injuries, they will be in good shape for the showdown with Cascadia Rival, Portland.

Heading to Washington DC, it is hard not to think on failing budget compromise, a struggling economy, and recent counter terrorism issues in Pakistan.  To paraphrase Sounders coach, Sigi Schmid, *I subscribe to the belief you only have so much energy to give.  With so much focused attention on the death of Osama Bin Laden, I propose a midweek break.  At 7:30 on the East coast and 4:30 on the West coast the Sounders FC face DC United.  It is important to spend two-thirds more energy on your passions and what you love.  Even laughter.  Osama Bin Lden and terrorism, not to dismiss the value and weight of recent events, are neither what I would consider topics of love, passion, or even laughter.  Consider turning to soccer for one night as the beautiful alternative.

Soccer is a simple game.  *If you put a ball at the feet of a 3-year-old child, perhaps even younger, that child will instinctively kick.  It’s simple, because it is from instinct.  Hours of repetition and the ball becomes an instinctive extension of body, mind, and soul.  * “While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger”.  Soccer is the beautiful, instinctual competitive spirit of the human kind and a recipe for peace.  Let’s enjoy the best of who we are rather than focus on the evils that have been defeated.

Never stare into the eyes of Medusa.  This weeks battle-classico features a growing cross continental rivalry.  If you haven’t turned on a Major League Soccer match recently.  It is time.  An intense but respectful rivalry is growing between DC and Seattle.  Turn your attention to Washington for the beautiful game.  It’s instinct really.  Focus more on what happens in soccer and terrorism will inevitably fade to black.

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

 A few notes and references

* Starting XI = Starting lineup.
* During Seattle’s inaugural season the team went through a long stretch of fouls.  Players were irritated with officials, but were also not helping themselves by adding complaints.  Sigi Schmid made the point, that he subscribes to the belief players only have so much energy to give each match.  Using it on officials is not the best use of that energy.  Since that time the Sounders have gone from the team receiving the highest number of fouls to middle of the league.
*Cliff McCrath, five time NCAA Division II Champions with Seattle Pacific University.  Also ran a summer boys and girls youth soccer camp on Whidbey Island.  I attended three years as a child.  His (almost) weekly soundersfc.com show “Nub’s Nuggets” is where he covers one relevant soccer point to think on each week.  During April, 2011 he covered the simplicity of teach kids to play.  By setting a ball in from of them they will instinctively kick.  Make fun games out of repetitive passing and ball control.  Then, sit back, and answer questions when they ask.  This is a grain of wisdom in why the game is so beautiful.
* “ While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger”.  The Shins, Girl Sailor – Wincing the Night Away

* * * * *

© 2011 by Ryan J Sales


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You Never Watch Alone, Part II: Why Zakuani Fell

30 04 2011
Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions

In match #6, 2010 at BMO Field, Sounders FC went on the road to face-off with Toronto FC, I made a horrible, inexcusable supporter mistake.  Seemingly safe from such mistakes, I was at home in Highland Park, a quiet West Seattle neighborhood, in the comfort of my own home.  When I broke one of the basic laws of soccer viewership while supporting your clubs away matches.  I watched alone.  No excuses, I messed up. Sounders lost 2-nil.  Not even, “we had more of the game” from Sigi Schmid, helped the sour result.  Some people still say that loss was my fault.  Freddie Ljungberg left Seattle without saying “good-bye, Ryan”. In soccer, you never watch alone.

Since that match I have reached out to acquire many quality skills in properly watching soccer alone.  Required viewing;  “The Social Network“.  Check. Acquire an IT specialist. Check.  He is someone who knows the statistical vocabulary, and freakonomic calculations behind web design.  My IT Specialist is, Thomas Breuler, whose growing certifications through, Western Governors University cause me only one minor problem.  He owns a restaurant with his wife, Avalon, so I’ll be washing dishes for a long time.  Add Twitter account.  Check. Add Sales on Sounders Facebook page.  Check.  Read and heed valuable Sounders supporter words of wisdom and advice for soccer-viewing while alone.  Check.  My good friend and Sounders Supporter, Todd Hodges said, “the communal exhale in victory, defeat, or draw is a vital part of the release”, when viewing and supporting your club.  Not to wax too spiritual, but if you’re connected with everything “out there” then, Todd’s right, you will truly never watch alone.

This time I’m ready.  Only a 25-minute bus ride away from joining 36,000.  A quick auto-swipe of an Orca Bus Pass, and it’s a Metro dash to Qwest Field.  I’ll be in the hive of the Capitol of Soccer in America.  Seattle hosts Toronto FC this Saturday, May 3oth at 7:00, from its home pitch, Qwest Field.

“It’s not just the story that’s being told. It’s how it’s being told”.  Daniel Mendelsohn, The New York Review of Books, “Why She Fell”.

Julie Taymor, Spider Man, Turn off the Dark director

Mendelsohn, composed a wonderful essay chronicling, Julie Taymor‘s reasons for launching herself into the massive undertaking that is, Spider Man:  Turn Off the Dark, the struggling, in process, Broadway musical.  Her successful development as a director and creative mind behind other acclaimed productions, like Lion King, opened doors for her to take this type of “leap of faith” risk.  In taking risk with such abandon, she literally takes artistic leaps without knowing if a net is below.  She creates successful communal release and lands on her feet more than meeting the thud of failure.  Unfortunately, the production rehearsals of Spider Man had too many thuds from falling actors without nets.  Which caused her recent ousting from Spider Man.  The musical has failed to the tune of $65 million.  The Sounders would do well in the transfer window with that Broadway Bound Budget.  Is Julie Broken?  Maybe.  Repairable?  Proven.  Julie puts no less than the entirety of her soul into her work.  She will land on her feet again.

Steve Zakuani‘s leg was broken last Friday night in the third minute of the match with Colorado Rapids.  Brian Mullan slid with a reckless tackle causing the horrible break to Zakuani.  Mullan received a total 10 game suspension and $5,000 fine.  It is steep. One of the steepest in MLS history.  But Brian has accepted the penalty without challenge. Demonstrating both his wish for Zakuani’s recovery and acceptance for his brief lapse of judgement when launching into his slide tackle.

Julie’s failure and Brian’s recklessness whether artistic or sporting, challenges us to realize a necessary way to play in life is to leap with abandon.  Net or no net, leap into risk.  The difficult and critical challenge is separating abandon from reckless abandon. Julie Taymor is one of the best at doing so much with so little.  The uncloaked actors holding puppets in, Lion King is her genius-mind realized.  Brian Mullan has won five MLS Championships with all 5 MLS clubs he has played for.  So, even the best can fail. $65 million is not needed to realize an artistic vision.  Hard tackles in the 3rd minute of matches while in your opponent’s end of the field are also not needed.  The failure in both situations is steep and weighted with heavy retributions.  It is necessary to measure who these people are when looking beyond their errors and oversight in recent challenges.

Not to make excuses for their actions.

Julie Taymor and Brian Mullan both failed.  This should not be their legacy.  These two are among the best of their skilled trades.  Their successes outweigh their failures.  I’m not making excuses for them, but rather trying to see that how they play the game is with head strong visions.  Failure is a hard mask to see through.  It’s blinding.  How they have played recently is in question.  But the final chapters in their stories are long from being published.  They play without abandon and without net.  They dance the fine line between acceptable and unexplainable.  My guess, they are learning even more than most of us how to play alone in such challenging and necessary circumstances that they will once again grace the stage and pitch as champions.

No, these thoughts do not credit Broadway with $65 million.  Nor do they unwind the cast on Zakuani’s leg so he can step on the pitch this weekend.  For that, I’m angry.  I was hundreds of miles from Commerce City, CO and Dicks Sporting Goods Park where Mullan brought Zakuani down.  As Twitter lit up with the awful news I wanted to retaliate.  I couldn’t watch the replays.  I felt a broken supporter in a broken season.  I wanted to know why Zakuani fell.  Even with improved communication skills, new technology, and communal social mechanisms i felt alone in a lost season. Fortunately, Sreve Zakuani’s words spoken from the heart, kept me from feeling I was watching alone. He spoke to everyone who has ever had to overcome adversity, failure, and feeling alone.

Steve Zakuani #11 - Seattle Sounders #1 draft pick inaugural season 2009

In Steve Zakuani’s own words:

“The long road to recovery has already started and I am fully aware of the mountains ahead of me but I also know that I will go through all of the challenges ahead with a positive attitude using my faith in Jesus Christ as a solid foundation on which to overcome this setback.”

In Liverpool, every match begins by singing “You Never Walk Along”, from the musical, Carousel, by Rodgers and Hammerstein.  Who says Broadway and Beckham aren’t as connected as Taymor and Mullan.

Steve Zakuani on Twitter:

24/April:  Surgery went well and I am on the road to recovery. “A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.” Speak to you all soon!

24/April:  Overwhelmed by msgs of support/encouragement. Can’t change the past, but I’m gonna control my future by remaining positive! One love!

Sounders FC spirit is low.  A five match undefeated streak feels forgotten.  Our #11 is not in the starting XI for Saturday.  36,000 fans holding #11 signs up for Zakuani to know beyond any possible cognitive doubt he is not alone in Seattle is our selfless hope to lift his spirits.  And hopefully our own.

A win Saturday changes everything.  Zakuani’s spirit.  Club spirit.  Supporter spirit. Everything!  That dark feeling of failure, even when comically watching your team alone, could fade into the abstract.  Leaving Zakuani and every Sounders FC fan a real feeling of communal pride.  It will be a tough match.  If there is any MLS team capable of the mental metamorphosis needed to leap boldly into uncharted challenges, it is Sounders FC who will accept the challenge to “turn off the dark”, on Saturday night.

* * * * *

Dedication and acknowledgments

Not a normal feature on, Sales on Sounders, but match #8 seems like a good time for a dedication and “thanks” to a few important people in the growth and support of this page.

Dedicated to the speedy recovery of our speedy Sounder, #11 Steve Zakuani.

Sales on Sounders first promotion:  IT Specialist and Man of Infinite Football Wisdom, (a true Red) Thomas Breuler.

Thanks to the first Seattle Restaurant, Avalon, dedicated to viewing and support of Liverpool FC and Sounders FC.
Thanks also to Todd Hodges, a dedicated Sounders Supporter and loyal Sales on Sounders follower.
Additionally, I wish to thank my brother, Aaron Sales for his knowledge, belief, and direct free kick in the butt to push on.
It takes a critically intelligent eye to shed light on a dark moment.  Thank you Dan Gardner.  Please read the full NY Review of Books essay, “Why She Fell”, by Daniel Mendelsohn.

© 2011 by Ryan J Sales


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Re-Union of Expansion Rivals: Philadelphia Union vs Seattle Sounders FC

16 04 2011

Peter Nowak, has his club playing with excitement and confidence.  The second year Philadelphia Union manager has players buying into his defensively physical, but gracefully eloquent pass and possession style.

The Union are the surprise club of the young 2011 Major League Soccer season.  With four matches in their books, the Union lead the Eastern Conference with 3-wins and 1-loss.  Defeating potential MLS Cup favorite, New York Red Bulls 1-nil last week is evidence revealing they are no surprise.  New York and LA are the two clubs most favored to win the 2011 MLS Cup.  Instead the Union are turning into a contender to reckon with.

Philadelphia Union - 2009 Expansion

Squaring off twice in 2010, Philadelphia and Seattle became unintended rivals.  Hard to do from across the country.  Yet both clubs did enough on and off the field to make Chester, PA and Seattle, WA feel like Cascadia Rivals.

Sebastian Le Toux was left unprotected by Sounders FC in the 2010 expansion draft.  Philadelphia Union wasted no time snapping him up.  It was widely considered the Sounders first Front Office mistake.  Those most vocal were Sounders FC’s own supporters.  Le Toux joined Sounders FC as a USL-1 club in 2007.  He successfully helped the Sounders knock off MLS clubs in ’07 & ’08 US Open Cup matches.  He was the US Open Cup goals leader in 2008.  In 2009, his assist in the US Open Cup final vs DC United lead to Reger Levesques winning goal and Seattle’s first taste of trophy glory.

Seattle and Philadelphia are the two previous expansion cities.  Portland and Vancouver have joined this season.  Sounders FC joined in 2009 and the Union in 2010.

Sounders FC ownership launched a franchise with such high marks it makes comparison unfair for future expansion clubs.  Winning the US Open Cup and making the playoffs left Philadelphia in the wake of that comparison.  The Union’s new soccer only stadium, PPL Park was not completed.  So, for a second straight season, MLS granted Seattle the host city for First Kick 2010 vs expansion Philadelphia.  Which meant the Union had to go west for their inaugural MLS match at unfriendly Qwest Field in Seattle, losing 2-nil.

If direct comparison hadn’t already lit a spark under this unintended East v West rivalry, then match play and post match dialogue did.  During the match, physical play led to strong yellow cards, an ejection, and an injury to Ljungberg.  Union’s coach Peter Nowak felt Freddie Ljungberg dove to get a fouls called.  Ljungberg ended up injured for two weeks, which was about as long as their mild banter and jabs went back and forth.

Sebastian Le Toux & Peter Nowak

Traveling east in June Sounders FC took their magnetic media frenzy to give PPL Park, in Chester, PA, a grand opening.  Hungry for revenge, Philadelphia felt necessary to prove their quality.  Pat Noonan, Seattle’s forward for that match took some of their joy out of the occasion by scoring the first official MLS regular season goal at PPL Park.  That was enough to twist Union passion up to 11 on the rock-n-roll meter.  From that point forward Union dominated and eventually won 3-1.  Even when Montero earned a rare Sounders FC penalty kick, Noonan could not finish.

Seattle goes to Chester, PA hot off their first win over the Chicago Fire last weekend.  The Sounders unexpectedly slow start, 1-win 2-losses 2-draws, goes up against the surprisingly successful start for the Union.  Undefeated in their last 3 matches, a Sounders first away win would put them right on course.  Even a draw would keep momentum building on a stretch of away matches that includes 4 of their next 5.

In this Season of the Rivalry, it is important to look beyond regional rivals.  Houston and Seattle still have a grudge in the bank from 2009.  Seattle knocked Houston out of the Semi Final of the 2009 US Open Cup.  While Houston knocked Seattle out of the MLS playoffs with a stoppage time goal in the second leg of their first round clash.  LA and Seattle have an ever rising tiff as well.  This shows the maturity and growth of Major League Soccer.  A maturity directly related to the quality in all its recent expansion clubs and the supporters groups from their home cities.

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

Sales on Sounders would like to recognize a pair of supporter based blogs.  I recently had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Sounders supporter and blogger at Tat’s in Pioneer Square, prior to the Chicago Fire match.  Jacob Cristobal, the editor of, Jibber Jabbin’ Jacob, shows tremendous knowledge of the game, and a sharp eye for key elements of matches.  Follow the link above to his site.  In addition to great taste in sport, his sense for locating a quality watering hole and amazingly authentic Philly Cheese Steak in Seattle is spot on.  Traveling to Seattle and wondering where to grab a good bite?  A supporter from Portland or any other soccer city and want to know what to eat and where to go?  Tat’s is close to Qwest field, so look no further.  In as PG-13 a manner as I possibly can, you only need 8 inches.  As good as 12 inches sounds, you can share it but you can’t finish it.  Looking to get a fresh intelligent take on the weekly MLS club Power Rankings?  Please take a look at Derek Ciapala’s, Weekly MLS Power Rankings.  Derek is an LA supporter, but his knowledge of what is shaping up throughout the league is objective and more engaging than most sport site’s Power Rankings.

* * * * *

© 2011 by Ryan J Sales, Sales on Sounders,
April 16, 2011


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The Battle For New York: Seattle Sounders FC v New York Red Bulls

20 03 2011

 

Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders 'til I die - WIN NOW!

After losing MLS First Kick last Tuesday, 1-0 to LA Galaxy, a good Sounders friend said, “hey, 33 more matches to go, with a total possible of 99 points.  Up Sounders”.  One thing Seattle fans are always good for is seeing sunny possibilities from dreary results.  When your NFL team is the first to have a losing record in winning its division, then knocks out the defending Super Bowl champions, it’s fair to say you live someplace where people work hard to find the emerald on a cloudy day.  The 1995 Mariners slogan “Refuse to Lose” seems technologically, if not socially engineered into our Pacific Northwest makeup.  Up Sounders indeed!

On to Harrison, New Jersey.

Saturday, March 19th, not even one week into the new MLS season and we are off to the Big Apple for the New York Red Bulls home opener.  Thiery Henry, the French superstar and Arsenal icon will be starting his first full MLS season.  He wears a bullseye on him larger than the one Sounders FC wears as a franchise.  if he fails, then who else would come to MLS from abroad?  It may not be as harsh as that, but to US soccer starved faithful, and a surrounding critical sports culture it feels that way.  More people say they would watch MLS if there were more good stars.  There are few names that carry the iconic wight of Henry.  The Sounders just faced two others, with Beckham and Donovan, in last Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to LA.  The Red Bulls feel pressure to “Win Now” same as Sounders FC.  With their home secure in Harrison, New Jersey and second season in their beautiful new soccer only stadium, they have a need to win now.  Especially since Major League Soccer has made it clear they want the 20th MLS club, after #19 Montreal in 2012, to be the former NASL, New York Cosmos.  A championship would help carve out their longtime niche, in that global supermarket sports city.  Big Apple teams flow by the dozens, so a golden season would be delicious.

Oh come on, I had to.  You know you’re laughing.  You’d have done the same.  I mean this isn’t the New York Times.  Give me that one.

OK, apple puns aside, what can be said about an early season match like this?  Blaise Nkufo is gone!  Barely an hour prior to the

New York Cosmos

Former NASL giant, New York Cosmos

home opener vs LA, the Sounders and Blaise Nkufo parted ways.  How his DP (Designated Player) status equates to value is not fully known yet.  Mauro Rosales, the best Sounders last name yet, was picked up from Argentina last week.  He was wearing #10 in practice, meaning his skill is clearly on par with current starters.  When Sigi brings him in he will most likely play a central attacking midfielder role helping to set up strikers and wingers for more goals.  His bio includes time on classic Dutch side, Ajax, and recently with Argentina’s, River Plate.  He was also part of the Argentina Olympic Team in 2004.

Preseason injuries to Nate Jaqua, Brad Evans, and Michael Fucito continue to linger.  So the departure of Nkufo and addition of Rosales adds more questions than answers.  Rosales did trial with Sounders FC during preseason, but has little game experience with them.

What I see from this still young, third year team, is a sense of not being shaken.  They want goals bad, but they haven’t lost their poise. After literally absorbing Tuesday’s drenched loss, I watched the match again.  Seattle held better possession, attacked more, created more chances and outshot LA.  The loss was more about missing close chances than being outplayed.  The goal

New York Red Bulls

Sounders gave up to Juninho was defendable.  Slow reaction.  An issue?  Yes.  It would have been negated had, O’Brien White finished off his sitter, (a sure goal) or Eric Friberg hit the inside of the goal post instead of the outside.  Those shots will come. Freddy Montero was unlucky as Josh Saunders stole his goal with the save of the match.  Josh Saunders, LA’s replacement keeper ended up the rightful “man of the match”.

Continuing to attack in the manner they did Tuesday and create more of the same opportunistic chances, while defensively closing down better may give Sounders FC a surprise chance to overtake New York in its home opener.  Time will tell how the season plays out.  Early season challenges mount.  Hopefully Sounders FC meets these challenges head on, just like 36,000 rain-soaked fans did on opening night.  Seeing the proud emerald through the foggy haze is what this city is good at.  Hopefully Sounders FC will continue to represent.


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Galaxy Hero & American Hero

3 07 2010

Round 15 vs LA Galaxy

Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle are back from South Africa.  With both Galaxy teammates back from a successful World Cup filled with buzzing Vuvuzela and a wild Jabulani ball, an already  relative-successful Galaxy team will likely skyrocket up the charts and go platinum.  Beckham, is the only Galaxy star left to arrive, and is likely to return during the playoffs.

Los Angeles Galaxy

Los Angeles Galaxy - MLS Cup 2002, 2005

This is a story of two teams headed in opposite directions.  LA Galaxy are close to securing the Supporters Shield for best record in the MLS.   The Supporters Shield would establish them as the pole position club entering the playoffs.  Earning home field advantage throughout.  The Sounders however are falling.  On the verge of seeing a repeat appearance in the playoffs slip out of reach.  Seattle sits two games out of playoff position.  The only way in is winning.  Draws will only begin to hurt slightly less than losses.  Facing LA is the start of an intense two months of over scheduled matches for the Sounders.  With many weeks having two matches scheduled.

The Galaxy stayed a reasonably good team with Donovan and Buddle out for the World Cup.  With them in the lineup, the Galaxy seem unstoppable.  Or are they?  Fresh from the World Cup, Donovan and Buddle will certainly play, but likely need a couple of games to readjust to the pacific time zone.  Both World Cup players will likely be subbed out early.  Meaning LA will also have to be creative in their lineup and use of substitutions.  Those may only be small weaknesses, but the Sounders have proved to be good at exposing detailed weaknesses in other teams.  It’s finishing the chances they create that is the Sounders Achilles’ heel.

The Sounders simple key to the match is attack and posses.  Teams are tentative when attacking LA Galaxy’s high defensive line.  Yet the Sounders exposed that weakness against LA in their first meeting.  Unfortunately, LA scored a fluke goal just before the 1/2 hour mark of that meeting at Quest Field.  That goal completely brought what had been a great Sounders build up to a halt.  LA went on to crush the Sounders 4-nil.  What that score never showed was that a Sounders goal before halftime and the outcome may have looked quite different.  All of that said, no excuses can be made for the Sounders let down in that game.  LA’s efforts to expose their weaknesses were successful.  Nonetheless, it gives a seam of hope to Sounders faithful to know that the Independence Day match at Home Depot Center may not be the homecoming reception Donovan and Buddle are hoping for.

One last moment for Landon Donovan.  He is not a traditional #10.  Compared with say Zinedine Zidane, or Wayne Rooney.  He is no doubt deserving of being the US #10 as it has even more to do with his heart, passion, leadership, and determination than beautiful Brazilian skill.  I think Donovan represents the first uncovered truth of what the “US style” is.  Watching him play this world cup was so wonderful.  His goal smashed into the roof of the net against Slovenia, was the finest goal scored by an American in the World Cup in my soccer consciousness.  Topping that, not in form, but in intensity was his Prayer in Pretoria goal.  The winning extra-time goal against Algeria.  Donovan comes home a hero.  He put soccer in a spotlight it has never been in the United States.  Tomorrow, Galaxy fans will stand and salute him.  I will join LA fans to salute him as a Sounder and a proud American.  Thank you Donovan.  The US has arrived on the pitch of the beautiful game with you as our hero.

Post Match

For my Independence Day I had a wonderful Sales Family Reunion.  A full on family kickball game.  Complete with thorn bushes, towering smashes with one hand catches, and slow dribblers that are, well, best described as inside the infield homers.  The best and by far most imaginative family reunion game I’ve ever played was the Chicken Toss.  Nope, not like an egg toss.  In this more creative version, you slingshot a tiny hand sized rubber chicken.  Each one identical, except for the identifying number written in black on its belly.  The one who could sling the rubber chicken the furthest won.  We scattered about 30.  The rubber chicken carnage was beautiful.  I think this is what they were actually made for.  My cousin Mark orchestrated this, and as far as i know was the mastermind innovator.  Another game was the time-tested, classic “500″.  Played with a frisbee in this edition.  Which proved as physical, foul prone, and injury ridden as some soccer matches.  There is nothing like seeing the beautiful intensity of mom or dad lovingly push their children aside for a 100 point catch.  Only to have children grab the next one right out of their parents hands.  ”You can’t do that”.  ”I just did, and that just happened”.  ”That’s another 100, thank you”.  Trust me when I say I only barely exaggerate.  Because the rolling twisted heel was quite real.  In good family tradition, the game continued while mom iced.  Even at peaceful family reunions, competitive family games must continue.  Almost like a Monty Python family reunion, “ah play-on children, ’tis only a twisted ankle, it’s not as if my leg’s chopped off’”.

Anyhoo, the Sounders and LA played, and . . . the family reunion was more competitive.  My Uncle Bill was so awesome and gracious in listening to me talk about how exciting the Sounders have been.  Unfortunately, it turned out to be as poor and unexciting as they have been.  My Uncle Don and Aunt Carolyn were so wonderful to host the reunion, and let me have the game on.  Thankfully Zakuani scored, and at least proved the Sounders have some heart and skill.  The game was so bad, the only good thing I could say is that the Sounders played much, much better in their 4-nil loss to LA at home.  I should have turned this 3-1 loss off.  Walked away.  I wasn’t “watching alone” so no supporter rules would be broken.

“Where’s my rubber chicken?  May I borrow that slingshot?”


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Categories : 2010

The Fucito Finish

17 04 2010

The following piece has been updated and edited since I originally posted it in April 2010.

Round 4 vs Kansas City Wizards

Sounder 'til I die

On Saturday, April 17th, Emerald City plays host to the Wizards of Kansas City.  Occidental Avenue becomes a brick road for Sounders followers lead by Emerald City Supporters (ECS).  The March to the Match will be accompanied by a marching band, Sound Wave, and a few thousand supporters with raised scarves singing and drinking loud pints of chants.   We are polite folk here in Emerald City.  Politely inviting visitors to our home pitch at Qwest Field.  What we refer to as the Soccer Capital of America.  Instead of a courteous welcome sign like, “home sweet home”, we have a respectful banner at the North End of Qwest Field with the welcoming words, “Welcome to Green Hell”. The banner hangs above the pitch displaying this slogan of sincere truth.  A theme gaining popularity.  Parents proudly point it out to their sons and daughters.  It sounds polite doesn’t it?  On match-day, in a sea of Rave Green supporters who welcome no one, Qwest Field transforms into Rave Green Hell.  This is Sounders FC, where the gates of Green Hell smile, invite, and await the Wizards.

Confession:  OK, deep breath, slight tremors of nervousness, beads of sweat . . . (whispering) . . . I like the Kansas City Wizards. Not like friends or anything.  Not like I really even know them or anything.  I mean I really don’t “know” them at all.  No one does.  Even the best Wizard supporters only know a few of their blue and black-collard players by name.  Even that is only because of rote memorization.  Not from actually, you know, “knowing them”.  The Wizards don’t even know each other.  Like the 70′s Batman TV series character, Riddler, who sported a “?” on his chest.  This should be on the front of the Wizards 2010 kits.  They are the biggest unknown in Major League Soccer.  Kansas City was the first team to defeat Sounders FC at Quest Field, 1-0 in its inaugural season.  That game featured another Sounders FC first.  The first red card. Handed to Kasey Keller for use of hands outside the box.  That win was the highlight of Kansas City’s 2009 season.  The Sounders later got revenge during a late season playoff run.  They won on the road in Kansas 3-2.  There were also rumors last year the Wizards could relocate to St Louis..  Their home field, Comerica Park, is a multi-use field.  One of the worst MLS home pitches.  It’s like playing soccer on a part Triple-A baseball, part football field.  Not acceptable.  So this unknown rag-tag team of Wizards needed something to settle their spirits.

. . . then came the big news.

The Wiz

In December, from behind a mysterious curtain appeared a real Oz.  On December 17, 2009, Wizards President, Robb Heineman began posting video updates on the Wizards website about the teams new stadium plans.  In January, they broke ground.  One of the keys to moving so fast was the Kansas City suburb county approval of “Star Bonds”.  Wizard supporters could buy bonds to support the stadium being built.  The Wizards ownership, OnGoal, LLC, scored on what was nearly a franchise headed out-of-bounds.  Even dressed in Rave Green, I stand in support of the Wizards.  The stadium will be ready in 2011.  In the meantime, in this early 2010 season, they are playing like a team somewhere over the rainbow.  Undefeated so far in 2010.  They are completely unaware that even Common Sense itself picked them to be bottom of the league dwellers.  Instead, the groundbreaking momentum of the franchise has sprung the players into a twister of believing they are a rag-tag team on a journey searching for their true identity.  Their Oz-ownership has stepped forward demonstrating knowledge, heart, and courage.  Heineman, has kept them in Kansas.  So, the Sounders will need to wake them from their brick road dream.  I am “Sounders ’til I die”.  I am good polite people, but tomorrow I will be a bad guy.  It is time to slap this band of rainbow chasing Wizards back to Kansas reality.

Keys to the match:

Take away hope.  Attack and score early.  Allowing Kansas an early goal permits their back 4 to lock the game up.  Sub in a couple defensive midfielders and they can close up shop.  Scoring early forces Kansas into playing more forward, taking chances.  The Sounders are an attack minded opportunistic team who capitalize on other teams forward pressing risks.  This would allow Seattle to use their speed to create solo breakaways, or odd man advantage rushes, a 3-on-2, or 4-on-3.

Possess the ball. Passing widens the field opening defensive holes.  Use speed to get wide and deep attacking runs through the midfield seems created by good passing and ball movement.  From pressing forward and wide cross into the box using central attacking numbers to finish.  Then, let our defense lock down the game.

Sounds simple, but the true key to the match is grit.  Seattle will need to fight for this one.  The Wizards already have this game mentally won because no one has awoken them from the “over the rainbow” dream start they are having.  Grit and grind.  It is time to wake up the Wizards and prove the banner true.  Yes, the Wizards have arrived in Emerald City, but the real-estate belongs to Sounders FC.  So, with a warm welcome, I politely invite Kansas City into Green Hell!

Post Match:  The Fucito Finish

Do you know Michael Fucito?  Did you see his historic finish in stoppage time?  It is the highlight of the week and likely the month.  It may even be the one we look back on for goal of the year.  No matter, it stands on its own as historic.  It will forever be remembered and named for Fucito’s grit in commitment to finish a brilliant late winner.

How do you spell spectacular, exquisite finishes in soccer?  In Barcelona, it’s M-E-S-S-I.  In soccer history, it’s P-E-L-E.  In Seattle, it’s F-U-C- (OK, this is an appropriate language site, no matter what you think, I’m spelling the name of a Harvard Graduate, so stay with me folks and I’ll pull this one out of the gutter) -I-T-O. Years from today Sounders supporters may refer to a late stoppage time winner as what it was named today, the Fucito.

For 90 minutes fans stood, chanted, and cringed watching chances come close, but slip by the goal in the end.  Zakuani’s speed down the left only lasted for 15 minutes.  Kansas made him play more compact, defensive, and out of position for any breakaway goal.  So, late in the match, Sigi went to his bench.  First to appear was Roger Levesque.  For his next sub, Sigi pulled one from the coaches magic hat.  He put in hard-working, Harvard Graduate, Michael Fucito.  Initially nothing changed.  Then came the bizarre moment of the match.  The Full 90 concluded.  The ref allowed the game to play on into stoppage time, but no indication of how much stoppage time would be allotted was signaled by the fourth official.  Then, almost 1 minute into stoppage time, the fourth official finally held up the sign for 4 minutes.  Remember 4 minutes?  Yes, last week.  The Real Salt Lake buzzer beater that took our win and deflated it to a draw.  Like me, many fans had an evil Rave Green smile thinking, “maybe this is our turn”.  We are in “Green Hell” after all.  Unfortunately, If you took a moment and thought about who the hero would be, then looked out on the pitch, no Sounder made you feel a hero was there today.  The ball was played lazily into Kansas City’s half and strolled out-of-bounds on the right side for a Sounders throw-in.  Nothing was taking form and the refs end-of-match whistle made the impending feel of another draw that much more frustrating.  The refs watch turns to the 92nd minute.  Brad Evans takes the throw in.  Evans is the 70th minute sub, an attacking midfielder.  So his taking the throw-in means one less attacker.  I’m thinking to myself, like 36,000 others, “why doesn’t Riley, a defender take the throw-in?  Oh well, at least we’ll get one point for the draw.”  Evans uncorks a quick, sharp throw-in diagonally down the right side.  Fucito, comes out of nowhere, sprinting left to right, like he’s running a Matt Hasselbeck late game audible.  His speedy and timed run onto the ball narrowly beats out the defender.  Like a receiver, he brings the ball into his feet perfectly.  Immediately setting up his own right footed blast on goal.  A hesitation and the goaltender is set to make the save.  Fucito, places the ball in front of goal with poise drilling a one-timer into the nylon swell of the Brougham End net.  (south end goal)

Sounders Win!!!  Sounders Win!!!

Not so fast.

Soccer 101: The time you are most susceptible to conceding a goal, is right after you score a goal!

36,000 finally had a brilliant and historic goal to celebrate.  The players were ready to walk around the pitch in celebration, applaud the fans and take a bow.  The match wasn’t over.  Kansas broke down into Seattle’s attacking third with ease and an immediate buzzer beating equalizer was on the right foot of the Wizards striker.  Even I didn’t turn back to the match until I heard the gasp of the crowd and . . . . “Keller”!  Keller parried the ball away to his right side.  He was, how should I put this, beyond anger at having to make that save.  You could just about hear his yell over 36,000.  Of the 36,000 in the stands, 11 on the field, Keller was the only Sounder still playing.  He saved the day!  He saved the match.  Then as quickly as he played the role of hero, he quietly stepped aside.  The consummate professional, veteran, and team Captain quietly stepped aside, so the young glassy-eyed hero Fucito, would have his day as the hero the fans wanted.  After all, he had just scored a Fucito.

This match will be remembered.  Named because of how spectacular and special the win is.  Time will tell if this young franchise adopts future stoppage time winners as “Fucito”!  Who knows?  For today, 36,000 at the X-Box Pitch danced and chanted his name.  Today Sounders supporters celebrated, The Fucito Finish.

Michael Fucito's first professional and dramatic extra time game winning goal on 4/17/10 v Kansas City


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Categories : 2010

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