Ted's Polish-Mexican Page

Today is the day of the MLS Superdraft. I know that they call it the Superdraft because it is supposed to be a combination of the three previous drafts that they had set up for college players, foreign players and minor league players, but I have to wonder if the term "Superdraft" was chosen in some desperate cry for attention. "Hey, we are a major sport, we have a Superdraft!"

I've read some commentary from people that actually attended the MLS combine, in which coaches are supposed to evaluate the players. Observers were disappointed in the overall talent level at the combine, the only one that seemed to universally impress was Marvell Wynne. Observers think that Wynne will be drafted very early. Welcome to Chivas USA, Mr. Wynne.

Jason Garey and Sacha Kljestan were expected to wow everyone, but were injured. The talk is that this may have helped them since they were not lumped in with what people feel are inferior players.

Some first rounders that seem to be the sort of players that Steve Nicol likes are Mehdi Ballouchi, Dax McCarty and Justin Moore. These three are touted as small players that are thinkers on the ball. Talk is that Ballouchi may get drafted before the Revs have a chance to get to him.


Wynne's father by the way, played for the Pittburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres back in the 1980's.

It's too bad the Revs won't be able to have a shot at him. At one time, they had a player named Richard Goulooze. Yes, "Go Lose." Having a player named "Wynne" can't hurt.

What if he isn't a "Marvell" though? Tough name to live up to. I mean, Felix Brillant really wasn't, was he?


In their first season, Chivas USA tried real hard to be the "Latino" team. Unfortunately, this didn't necessarily add up to being a good team. Mostly, this was because they thought over-the hill CD Guadalajara players could sweep the league. They have a new anglo coach, Bob Bradley, we'll see what direction he decides to go in with today's picks.

The people marketing Chivas USA thought that Mexican immigrants would just show up to any group of nitwits wearing the rayadas. They apparently didn't understand that the loyalty built up to the Mexican version of the club is because, as much as I hate them, they play good soccer. It isn't about whether the names end in the right vowells. The ones that root for the Mexican side because of that are not going to root for any MLS team, ever.


Speaking of race, Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou spoke out against racist European soccer fans. There have been notable incidents of fans shouting racist slogans at African players (and Europeans of African decent). Marc Zoro, a player for Messina who is from the Ivory Coast, actually left the field after verbal abuse from Inter Milan fans got to be too much. Some teams have fan organizations, notably S. S. Lazio in Italy, that are connected to hyper-nationalist and ultra-right forces in their countries.

Of course, what do they expect when the team name starts with the letters "S. S."

The strange part is that some of these fans wildly cheer for their own black players. Some of this comes from people who want to razz the other team. The trouble is separating the normal fan behavior, which can be tasteless for sure, from the most vile expressions.

Hayatou is also incensed at how difficult it is for African players to be released for national team games from their European club commitments. For some reason, European players, who tend to have much more busy national team schedules, don't have the same trouble. Hmm...


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.