wolf stansson

Did you see this? http://theoriginalwinger.com/2009-05-29-post-match-locker-room-interview-with-michael-bradley

Why is Costa Rica so pro-America? It's been nothing but a US/Donovan/Bradley love fest about how great we are and how respectful we are. Now they're all cheering like crazy for our anthem? Not used to that.

I'm really kind of excited to see how this works. Its about the closest we've seen to our best XI from Bradley. Actually...yeah, put in Spector and 'Dolo, and that's pretty much our best lineup right now. Kind of a total football vibe. Beas is a mid and Wynne can play the right wing in MLS at least. Bunch of interchangeable pieces up top.

If this formation works, it's going to work incredibly. Some blinding speed on the flanks, great ball winners in the middle and the big three offensive guys up top.

Yeah, Sacha has been a no-show since Sweden. Even in MLS, which is crazy because Chivas is having a great year so far and he is by far their best player.

Oh snap. --------------Altidore-----Donovan Torres-----------------------------Dempsey -----------Bradley-----Mastroeni----------- Beasley----Bocanegra---Onyewu----Wynne -------------------Howard------------------- Like I said, not a DB at left back fan, but otherwise I like Wynne and I love Torres on the left. Love it. I think Spector was the one who held down Bradley's dog while Kenny Cooper f'd it because I can't think of a good reason for an EPL player who can play anywhere on the back line to not make the starting xi.

I agree. Low-ceiling, but at that draft spot, you'd know you're getting someone who'll come in and do what you know he can do. There's no mystery with TH. He'll be a serviceable bench player/energy guy.

Pretty obvious to me. If it isn't Spector, it's definitely Bornstein. Bob loves him some JB.

Clint with some new ink and an interview on this, the day of his 50th cap. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hP_HGQWd99U/Sibfp1CL3VI/AAAAAAAABJM/Br93oLQ9I08/s400/600_JDUSAMNT35.jpg http://mnt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2009/06/q-clint-dempsey-looks-back-on-50-caps.html

I'll take a Tevez size xl, plz.

I'm not a Beasley at left back guy. I don't know how our Nat managers fall in love with him so much, but he is not in our best XI. He gets no club burn, yet he leads the team in qualifying minutes.

Well if Frankie is hurt, he's probably Mr. Right Back, although I'd be absolutely fine with Wynne-------goochboca--------Spector. That's rough for a roadie at Saprissa, but they've got to get used to it at some point.

Barry to City for (pound sign here) 12 million. Perez also came out and said he's taking another run at Ronaldo. I'd really love to see Bayern or Chelsea pick up some of the wreckage like Sneijder or Van der Vaart.

Add "Find Left Back" to that list.

There's an article on SI Truth and Rumors saying that the Bulls might have to part with Deng in a possible Bosh trade, as apparently the Raptors are thinking he might have to go. I'd do Deng and Tyrus for Bosh. I think Bosh is the most attainable star player in the league. Toronto knows they won't be able to sign him. They also probably know they aren't going to get any top FAs to go to Canada, so freeing salary may not be that big of a deal. Give them Tyrus, Deng, and the 16th pick and they get 3 players along with their 1st that can make that team competitive next year. They'd have to give back somebody w/ Bosh though, maybe Kapono. I'd even take Bargnani off their hands.

LeBron's going to have to take a very different path than Jordan if he wants to be put in that category. Pippen's value can't be overstated in terms of how much pressure he took off of Michael simply by being able to shut down any opposing team's best offensive player from the 1 to the 4. Having said that, today's NBA? Today's Orlando Magic? Really? That's who is taking you down? I really have a hard time believing the 90-91 Bulls that lost to the Pistons wouldn't have found a way to beat these Magic. Then again, I'm only judging those early Bulls team based on anecdote and stats. I'm just disappointed in LeBron yet thrilled as a Bulls homer. I don't know. I'm honestly confused as to what, if anything, can be drawn from this latest ouster by LeBron. He's a victim of the ever foggier and thus growing legend of Airness and the media hype train's momentum which he has done nothing to slow and everything to encourage. Hopefully what comes of this is a wake up call. First, he needs to decide now if he is a Cavalier or a short-timer. If he is staying, it is now his team. He needs to fire his coach, offload some of those players and start calling the shots. That's what Michael did. Soccer10k makes a point of how Jordan never did anything until Phil and Scottie came. Yeah? That's true, but who do you think brought those guys in? Jordan got Collins fired and got final approval on Phil's hiring. He liked the triangle offense and he liked Phil's attitude of deference towards his superstar. When Scottie first came into the league, he was basically Tyrus Thomas. Zero polish. Just a granite rock of potential. Jordan did the same thing he did in the notorious bust up of Kwame Brown with the Wizards. He kept going at Scottie, never relenting. He pressured him and like coal into a diamond, Scottie responded and turned himself into a hall of fame complimentary player. Kwame couldn't take it. The point of the Scottie/Phil/Jordan love fest is this: LeBron loves his teammates. He defers. He even said in a recent interview with Dan Patrick in SI that he'd rather dish it to a teammate and see them hit the game winning shot than take it and hit it himself. Regardless of whether that's true or not and he was just trying to come off as a nice guy, Jordan (and Kobe, Larry and other etc) would never, ever, ever say that. Jordan viewed his teammates as co workers. He respected them, but if they hurt his chances of winning, he would cut them out. He would never defer the big shot. He trusted only himself completely. And as for this clownish "Witness" bull [expletive]? It's a disgrace. To see LeBron wearing 23, raises so many questions about this guy's ego and perspective. To see him clowning on Jordan's pregame ritual and take it to such an extreme is a joke. To see him do it in opposing stadiums? Pfft. Unacceptable. Anyway, apologies to Sulley who was right all along, with a caveat. I'm not ready to write off LeBron's transcendence quite yet. I just know he's never going to be Jordan. He may do it from his purely physical superiority, but not with the same mental strength. People talk about how LeBron, Wade and Carmelo learned so much from watching Kobe's work habits during the Olympics. That concept would be laughable to Jordan. He didn't have to learn that from some other player. Either did Kobe for that matter. They are driven by the same thing that makes them almost reprehensible human beings. The insane desire that no man ever get over on you because they worked harder. Either way, the "WITNESS," powder clapping and and pregame intro clowning will need to stop if he wants to ever get the kind of respect MJ gets/got.

People, Minnesota will not trade the 6 for Hinrich. Beyond just the natural critical thinking that leads to that conclusion, there is this: Then there's the fact that it saves them no money and gives them a player with less upside than a potential pick. I'd assume it would be Kirk and our 1st this year or next year if anything.

GAH Slightly less gah.

Your forecast for next Premiership season in Southwest London: 100% chance of well-coiffed, well-suited and chubby smirking. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=651680&sec=england&cc=5901

I thought the consensus was that Shaq slowed Phoenix down and in doing so helped contribute to that team's decline? Consensus should be that Nash got old. Nash's decline, Shaq and Terry Porter all share blame.

Especially in a sport who's observers rely so heavily on anecdotal evaluation like Basketball.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/24793/slim_blair_turns_heads_at_draft_combine

Heh, that's what I thought too. I was hoping he'd pull the string out of shorts and tie off. USMNT Blog with some fantastic news regarding the Confed's Cup.

You're not helping your cause, Dwight. I agree with what he posted, but I think he needs to realize keeping his mouth shut includes keeping his blog quiet.

The NBA definitely prefers LeBron-Kobe, but it isn't crapping pants time. They have the TV contract on lock down until 2018 and if Howard and/or Melo make it, then they have another marketable superstar to put in the Kobe/LeBron/Wade camp. They'll be fine. ESPN/ABC is crapping their pants.