19 czerwca 2005
What Fun Is It If They Always Win Anyway?
New England finally lost a game yesterday, unfortunately it was to DC United. I watched it on the Direct Kick service, which showed the local Washington coverage of the game. The commentators were former Kansas City 'keeper Garth Lagerway and some guy that was a total tool. I know that Bobby Boswell scored the game winning goal for DC against Chicago on Wednesday, because they said that about a dozen times in the first ten minutes. Some of these sportscasters love to hear their voices so much, they have to say something, even if its repeating what they already said. The guy that trained me for student radio called these "crutches." When you can't think of anything worthwhile to say, you fill the space by yet again mentioning that Bobby Boswell scored the game winning goal on Wednesday. They harped on this as well as saying "They are the greatest team on the continent", yeah, tell that to Saprissa.
The first half was very disappointing. When I checked the roster, I saw that former Dandy Town forward Khano Smith started. This suprised me. I saw a rather tall guy with a jersey that said "Smith", but he didn't seem to play like the Khano Smith I was so impressed by in the last few games. In fact, the whole offense was a disappointment. So many times, one guy would be up front and make a shot that would get blocked, and there would be no one there to get that second shot. The forwards and midfielders stood around and watched when someone would break away. (You know, Champions DC United won on a game winning goal from Bobby Boswell on Wednesday.)
I don't fault the defense at all. Jay Heaps had a great attempt at a save early in the first half. If he'd been successful, it would have been a very different game. Matt Reis got shelled, but performed admirably. The defense wouldn't have had to do all this if the midfielders and forwards could, I dunno, hold the ball for more than two passes.
Avery John did not play. Some fans point out that the Revs win when Joey Franchino is on the bench. It seems to me that they struggle when John doesn't play. John provides some important stability and distribution from the midfield. He also is capable of scoring goals. All of this would have been helpful yesterday.
The Rev's 12 game unbeaten streak is tied for third longest in the league, the longest being the Los Angeles Galaxy's 15 game streak from September of 1997 to May of 1998. The Revs are only one game back of the Galaxy's best start of thirteen winning games in 1996. This was before ties were allowed in the league. It's helpful to point out that the Gals lost the final that year to DC United, who lost their first four games. (DC United also won on Wednesday, thanks to a game winning goal from Bobby Boswell.)
One team that seems to have no trouble winning over and over again is the Furious Truckstop Waitresses. They had a match against Iron Curtain last night and won by a comfortable margin. IC had three new skaters, Raya Doom, Bolshe Vixen and Mandi Festo. All three had speed, but it takes a bit more than that to get by ruthless FTW blocker Jezebelle and pivot Deadlock Doe. Mandi Festo, who was in her first match, had trouble getting by staying up on her skates. Bolshe Vixen was very impressive, she'll be a thorn in the sides of the other teams soon enough. Raya Doom was good too, although she bears an uncanny resemblance to Dirty Terri from the Vice Squad.
One strange incident happened durring the last jam in the second period. The FTW had called a time out, but their jammer was sent out for a penalty just before the time out. So FTW played the jam without a jammer, meaning they couldn't score. Probably because they had no jammer to protect, they could concentrate on making it impossible for IC's jammer to score on that jam either.
The match got pretty ugly during the second period. Much of the wrath from FTW's skaters seemed to be directed at IC Captain Doris Badenov. Even Sassy Sue got into a fight. Sue?
The victory of the FTW was impressive, much like Bobby Boswell's game winning goal against Chicago on Wednesday.
There may be a Saddletramps game up in Phoenix next month...TPMP will keep you posted!
Interesting bit on the Fall's website. It's a letter from front man and Manchester's Greatest Citizen, Mark E. Smith to Rob Ayling of Voiceprint Records. Voiceprint handles the redistribution of the Fall's early albums, and they have a rather bizarre relationship with Smith. My favorite line from the letter:
And now for a follow-up to my post about Tuesday's show at Plush: The Tucson Weekly ran articles in Thusday's issue about both Calexico and The Sweat Band. It was part of a spread on winners of the TAMMIES awards.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
The first half was very disappointing. When I checked the roster, I saw that former Dandy Town forward Khano Smith started. This suprised me. I saw a rather tall guy with a jersey that said "Smith", but he didn't seem to play like the Khano Smith I was so impressed by in the last few games. In fact, the whole offense was a disappointment. So many times, one guy would be up front and make a shot that would get blocked, and there would be no one there to get that second shot. The forwards and midfielders stood around and watched when someone would break away. (You know, Champions DC United won on a game winning goal from Bobby Boswell on Wednesday.)
I don't fault the defense at all. Jay Heaps had a great attempt at a save early in the first half. If he'd been successful, it would have been a very different game. Matt Reis got shelled, but performed admirably. The defense wouldn't have had to do all this if the midfielders and forwards could, I dunno, hold the ball for more than two passes.Avery John did not play. Some fans point out that the Revs win when Joey Franchino is on the bench. It seems to me that they struggle when John doesn't play. John provides some important stability and distribution from the midfield. He also is capable of scoring goals. All of this would have been helpful yesterday.
The Rev's 12 game unbeaten streak is tied for third longest in the league, the longest being the Los Angeles Galaxy's 15 game streak from September of 1997 to May of 1998. The Revs are only one game back of the Galaxy's best start of thirteen winning games in 1996. This was before ties were allowed in the league. It's helpful to point out that the Gals lost the final that year to DC United, who lost their first four games. (DC United also won on Wednesday, thanks to a game winning goal from Bobby Boswell.)
One team that seems to have no trouble winning over and over again is the Furious Truckstop Waitresses. They had a match against Iron Curtain last night and won by a comfortable margin. IC had three new skaters, Raya Doom, Bolshe Vixen and Mandi Festo. All three had speed, but it takes a bit more than that to get by ruthless FTW blocker Jezebelle and pivot Deadlock Doe. Mandi Festo, who was in her first match, had trouble getting by staying up on her skates. Bolshe Vixen was very impressive, she'll be a thorn in the sides of the other teams soon enough. Raya Doom was good too, although she bears an uncanny resemblance to Dirty Terri from the Vice Squad.One strange incident happened durring the last jam in the second period. The FTW had called a time out, but their jammer was sent out for a penalty just before the time out. So FTW played the jam without a jammer, meaning they couldn't score. Probably because they had no jammer to protect, they could concentrate on making it impossible for IC's jammer to score on that jam either.
The match got pretty ugly during the second period. Much of the wrath from FTW's skaters seemed to be directed at IC Captain Doris Badenov. Even Sassy Sue got into a fight. Sue?
The victory of the FTW was impressive, much like Bobby Boswell's game winning goal against Chicago on Wednesday.
There may be a Saddletramps game up in Phoenix next month...TPMP will keep you posted!
Interesting bit on the Fall's website. It's a letter from front man and Manchester's Greatest Citizen, Mark E. Smith to Rob Ayling of Voiceprint Records. Voiceprint handles the redistribution of the Fall's early albums, and they have a rather bizarre relationship with Smith. My favorite line from the letter:The idiotic releases he suckered you into are beyond my comprehension. (And its stupid artwork)I have modeled all my rants after this man's. But I'll never rant the way Chicago goalkeeper Zach Thornton did when Bobby Boswell scored the game winning goal on Wednesday.
And now for a follow-up to my post about Tuesday's show at Plush: The Tucson Weekly ran articles in Thusday's issue about both Calexico and The Sweat Band. It was part of a spread on winners of the TAMMIES awards.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
