USSoccer

I cannot believe that there are media types in Chicago who think the Sox didn't make the playoffs last year because they didn't do the "little things" well. What they didn't do is pitch as freakishly well, but somehow no one realizes this, including their idiot GM.

So tickets for the final go on sale Thursday? What time?

First off, big ups to Landon. He was ridiculous today, and he did it against a final 16 World Cup team with most of it's players present. He showed a gear in attack that I've not seen from him in a long time. He was just exploding past defenders. Also keep in mind he drew what should have been a PK and nearly scored on another 1v1. He played almost a perfect game. That 3rd goal into the upper 90 was a rip. Benny F. was pretty good, I thought. He knew when to attack, distributed well out of the middle. Light years better than Ricardo Clark. Tim Howard was very good, made a couple nice saves. The US back line showed why we got bounced in Germany. A lot of miscommunications and space for the Ecuadorians. Wasn't impressed with them. I'm also going to have to disagree with Bruce Arena's assesment of Dempsey's play. Yes, he should have finished the ball from Boca in the six. No doubt about that; it should have been a goal. But to say he was "quiet" and "not dangerous" was just wrong, especially when compared to Beasley, whom Arena praised. Clint was very active in the first half and caused a lot of issues for Ecuador, AND sent a lot of nice through passes through to the player formerly known as Eddie Johnson. He ran out of gas in the 2nd half, but it was a game much better than the Mexico performance, and MUCH better than Beasley's today. DMB got owned all day by his counterpart in both thirds of the field. His touch wasn't very good, and he just didn't have much danger to his movement. Speaking of sucking, Eddie Johnson is just terrible. Simply terrible. He's tentative all the time, and squandered several clear chances. He really shouldn't be on the field anymore until he gets his head on straight. Ching played pretty well, especially playing the target to Landon's back striker. Twellman didn't do much, unfortunatly. This was a really exciting game, though. Up and down, great pace to the action, and it was very nice to see the US beat a very good team in such a fashion. I really enjoyed watching this one.

Perfect.

At least it's red. It's a fantastic shirt. If the US plays Mexico in the final I'm finding some sort of anti-Tricolores shirt to wear.

Gee, thanks. EDIT: Those kits suck. I put a space in there. And I know you agree with me on this one. I agree 100%. US Soccer isn't good at much of anything, and the way they market their players and merchandise doesn't do them any favors as far as building a fanbase or generating revenue. I wouldn't wear a Donovan or Beasley jersey if you paid me, and Adu might not even play for the USMNT. If you want a Dempsey or Gooch jersey, good luck. I think the constant changing of kits is a little annoying myself. The major teams on the worlds stage don't screw around with their jerseys every 2 years. England, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France...they pretty much keep their kits the same. I don't see why Nike and the US program feel the need to come out with butt ugly kits every chance they get.

Gee, thanks. EDIT: Those kits suck.

Nice day for Prior. Very nice day. It seems like the light went on after the first.

Good.

Maybe the light finally went off and he got ticked. Maybe he needs to get a little angry on the mound or something.

What happened with Aramis there?

I think they should do that anyway...He just doesn't seem to have any heart anymore. They should just stick him down in AA, let him carry his own bags for a while. Make him ride the long bus rides. That might change his mind. :D Certainly a month or two in AAA is in the cards. I guess I can understand the reticence to let loose...but if he doesn't, it won't matter because he won't be an MLB pitcher. So the outcome is the same if he gets hurt or holds back.

If he's holding back, the Cubs would be wise to invest in a psychaiatrist.

Yeah, right. We're going to finish 5th...if Aramis and Lee both get hurt and Z's elbow melts.

Joke? Not a joke.......at SS, defense is more important than offense. You realize that ARod is the best SS on his team, right?

yeah, I agree. How much longer on those sausages? 2 minutes, Turkish

He sounds a little like Sullivan, actually.

Please tell me he really didn't say that. Oh my! Oh, he did. The Sun-Times should be embarrased they hired someone who uses 4th grade logic as the beat writer for a major sports team. Honestly, what an idiot. How do people like him get jobs?

Unless it's Greg Maddux related, Rozner has no time for it. Honestly, he's such a terrible writer/journalist. His bias just jumps out and trout slaps you.

Kenny Williams=Classy /dishonesty

If his Yahoo.com columns are any indication of his managerial style, I'm very pessimistic.

Fine, you are right. The Cubs can make as many empty-promises as they want in an effort to sign free agents and it will never bite them in the butt when they don't follow through with said promises. Got it. That said, I merely set forth a realistic hypothetical situation that might give Miller a legitimate reason for sulking if he is sent to the bullpen. I've never said he was actually given such a promise. In fact, I've agreed all along that the best man should win the job. I don't see the point of the nitpicking. Free agents follow the money. No one will care what Wade Miller has to say about he organization if they stick him in long relief after paying him to rehab last season. Seriously, if you're advocating that the team should put the objections of Wade Miller over the rest of the team, you're wrong. That's how you end up losing games, and being a perennial loser will do more to offset money than the feedback from a no name has been pitcher. Please see above. And see the rest of my post where I refute the notion that ticking off Wade Miller is somehow going to harm the club down the road.

No, you stick Miller in the pen in long relief and expect him to act like a professional if Guzman continues to outperform him.

Fine, you are right. The Cubs can make as many empty-promises as they want in an effort to sign free agents and it will never bite them in the butt when they don't follow through with said promises. Got it. That said, I merely set forth a realistic hypothetical situation that might give Miller a legitimate reason for sulking if he is sent to the bullpen. I've never said he was actually given such a promise. In fact, I've agreed all along that the best man should win the job. I don't see the point of the nitpicking. Free agents follow the money. No one will care what Wade Miller has to say about he organization if they stick him in long relief after paying him to rehab last season. Seriously, if you're advocating that the team should put the objections of Wade Miller over the rest of the team, you're wrong. That's how you end up losing games, and being a perennial loser will do more to offset money than the feedback from a no name has been pitcher.

This is almost exactly like something Dusty said.