Last night's Galaxy game was another example of how far from being a world caliber league the MLS is.  After watching some 50 World Cup games, my neighbor and friend in our Galaxy seats agreed that we were watching the equivalent of a Division III College game.

The good news, I think, is that LD had to fight through two defenders to get his toe on a ball just hard enough to slide it past Tony Meola in net.  It was a decent goal by anyone's standards but certainly no "golaso" on any Mexican broadcaster's lips by ANY stretch of the imagination.

Herein lies my problem.  I want LD to toughen up and play like a STUD on the highest level.  These two RedBull defenders were too pourous.  They weren't strong enough with their upper bodies to slow LD's obvious quickness advantage.  LD did what I want him to do, fight for the ball and win it for a goal.  HOWEVER;  just like my little brother was with me when we were kids, he was a tough sob with me but a wuss when he was with others.  LD is in a comfort zone with the MLS.  He KNOWS that he is a superior player and realizes the referees will protect him.  That can't continue.  Those two defenders should have beat the hell out of him as he earned the ball and goal.   I challenge you, MLS, to turn Donovan into a MAN or chase him away from the game.  I challenge you, MLS referees, to allow men to play a man's game and those less than MAN types to go away for good.  I challenge you on this for the good of American soccer.

Finally, Donovan, man up.  You need to get a mean streak in your game.  You need to PUNISH those guys on the pitch with you if they don't live up to what YOU KNOW to be a higher level.  If you are as good as I think you could be, you (or someone on the team) should be scoring three or four goals a game and be PSSED if you aren't.  Pssed at yourself and at your teammates.  Take the league on your shoulders and FORCE your will upon it.  Elevate it to greater heights.  Between you and Dempsey, who already demands these things, the MLS could become a force in world soccer.  Stop being the nice little guy from Redlands and become a prick who is an A**hole on the field and demanding in the media.  Until then, I'll be content to go watch the University of Redlands play just as much as I do the Galaxy.

DTB

Even though I'm not very happy that Italy won, I'm VERY happy that the game did not go to penaltiy kicks.  I am of the belief that this game is about fitness and preparedness.  I think you play until there is a winner on a goal.  3 hours (whatever), winner... fittest team wins.  That is what sport should be. 

Congrats Italy, well earned...

DTB

I am absolutely flabberghasted at what I just read about Rooney and all those other "great" English players regarding Ronaldo.  Give me a break.  How can those guys complain that Ronaldo's sense of Club team loyalties should be more important than the freaking world cup.  I have a lot of money that says the situation is turned around Lampard, Terry, Rooney, and so on ALL do the same IF NOT MORE to help England win the cup.  Are you kidding me?  The so called best league in the world with the so called BEST players in the world are whining about that?  Maybe Donovan should go play in England since there are so many other pussies playing there too.  I have lost ALL respect for those guys.

When I take my country's National team into the World Cup, all CLUB responsibilities are OVER until the tournament ends.  That is understood when I sign a contract for a club that plays in a country other than mine.  So what that Ronaldo winked at the bench.  He helped something happen that gave his team an advantage.    He knew it and was enjoying it. 

In conclusion, to all those English wankers, shut the hell up.  Your team lost because you STUNK up the field (apologies to my buddy Jon in Puerto Vallarta, Mx) and couldn't score a goal.  And if you are reading this and don't like it, you shut the hell up too.  Play a game to win or lose.  Do either one with dignity and self-respect. 

American soccer will never make the splash on the international face the way we were predicted to do this world cup until a few things occur.

My wife and I were in Columbus for the US/Mex game where we clinched our spot in the WC.  That victory was sweet but I left the stadium very concerned about the state of our chances.  About midway through the game I caught a glimpse of a very troubling event... I was certain that I saw Landon Donovan backing away from a Mexican player during a Keller goal kick.  So, I started to pay attention to LD off the ball and what I saw made me realize why he didn't get a real shot in Germany, not once but twice... The Germans saw in LD what I was witnessing in Columbus and, since then, at all the Galaxy games that I own season seats to, and finally, at the World Cup.   Landon Donovan is a pussy.  He is afraid of physical play and disappears when it happens.  I watched him back away from EVERY goal kick taken if there was a Mexican player within ten yards of him.  I told my wife in Columbus that if the world pays attention, we don't have a chance.  In the bar afterwards (in Columbus), when I caught up with the team, I asked Santino Quaranta if he saw this too and he screamed, "I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who thinks LD is a sissy" 

So, here is what I feel is the problem with American Soccer and why we won't compete until this changes...

1.  We don't have hungry athletes anymore.  We are complacent and it starts in the youth programs.  AYSO, for example, kids can not do ANYTHING to earn a spot on the field yet they are guarenteed playing time.  Don't go to practice, still play... don't work hard, still play... be a lousy player, still play.  Do you doubt me?  The athletes at the high school where I teach don't want to do ANYTHING extra nor are they committed to their craft.  Why are there so many Domincans and Asians in the Major Leagues?  Why do most NBA teams have so many foreign players?  Why are Eastern Europeans dominating the Heavyweight class in boxing?  American athletes aren't hungry.  Their mommies have sissified us.  In my day, I would have eaten a sissy like Donavan's lunch and dated his girlfriend and he wouldn't have done anything about it unless he toughed up.

2.  The referees don't allow the players to play hard, especially the MLS and the way they protect the Golden Boy, Donovan.  Our players are coddled while players around the world are kicking the hell out of each other.  When we got to the pitch against the Czech's, LD, Beasley, and all the others except McBride, Gooch, Keller, and Convey disappeared.  I don't care what the Media or Arena says about the Italy game, they disappeared there too.  The only warriors we have on this squad were McBride, Dempsey, Keller, Convey, Gooch, and Albright.  The rest disappeared.  AYSO, club, high school, college, etc., referees MUST let them play and the strong to survive.  Weed the pussies like Donovan out of the system so we can compete against the world.

3.  We have to eliminate the philosophy of teaching the natural Ballhogs to share the ball with the other kids so their egos don't get bruised... Can't you hear some dumb mom telling the stud of the team, "my boy wants to score too, why don't you pass the ball to him?"  I'll bet huge money that Ronaldo or Rooney were never told to share the ball with some weaker player to promote his lame ego... Our natural ballhogs have to be pushed to score more.  For God's sake, we had 4 FOUR, shots on goal in three games.  THAT IS PATHETIC.  You have to shot the ball to score...

4.  MLS must be more agressive keeping our players here and to bring back the veterans like Reyna, Keller, Friedal, etc., to finish their careers here so they can teach our young studs how to play like professionals.  MLS should also try to get some better foreign players here... Not guys like Saragoza or Tyrone Marshall, but top guys like Beckham and Ronaldo.  The US has more money than god, bring them here so our youth can see what it means to dedicate oneself to the sport.  Oh, and the MLS has to change it's calendar to a more international style calendar.  To hell with the NFL, do what it takes to compete with the world.

5.  More MLS stuff.  Schedule more games against teams outside of MLS.  Our teams need to be playing against Central and South American teams more often.  The US team has to play other teams from around the world.  Settling with victories over Mexico isn't enough.  Our region of the world is WEAK.  We have to strive to beat the Brazil's, Argentina's, and Euro squads, then Mexico will take care of itself.  Start a new annual tournament that brings the national teams from CONCACAP and the South American teams...We have the money to do this so let's get it done.

6.  My last thought is that Arena should stay if he wants to.  He is a good coach, too much in love with LD for my liking but overall, he is a good coach.  (Unless Klinsman wants the job!)

I love soccer and will follow the US no matter what, but we better start to put a stronger, tougher, more hungry product on the pitch or we will forever be three and out except for the occasional 2002 team.

Later,

DTB