MLS Update: LA vs. Houston

Finally, the MLS Cup is upon us: LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo play for the coveted trophy on Dec. 1st at 4:30pm ET, a game that will slowly and painfully end the MLS season.

I have a huge beef with the MLS. A few years ago, I was excited for the MLS. Top players were flowing into the league, gameplay seemed to be less like little kid soccer and more like professional soccer, and the buzz about the league seemed to be growing. But today, I haven't thought of or heard about the MLS season until I stopped caring about my precious Red Bulls in August. Is that my problem? I'm not sure. But there is an argument to be made that a lackluster league did not hold my interest.

To me, the MLS season comes to the American population in four waves:
1. Genuine excitement at the very beginning of the season.
2. Bitter disappointment from after the fifth game until the point you realize your team is not making the playoffs.
3. Mild jubilation that there is actually a "cup final" in the USA.
4. Hatred and anger that the LA Galaxy are in the final.

The fault of this disinterest (mine at least) is based largely on the league's affinity to make this sport "American friendly." We still have a playoff structure, where winning the league tragically means nothing. I want to see a top of the table clash, last gasp goals meaning the league goes to LA or NY and relegation battles pitting all the crappy Canadian teams against each other. Why not have the European league setup then stroke America's ego with a cup competition? Because conforming to European fat cats is not the way of the Founding Fathers. But I'll have to say, as a huge fan of the sport, the way this league is structured pushes me away. Take that how you will.

Things to note about the Budweiser Cheetos Sony Allstate Fritos 2012 MLS Cup:
1. Houston is the Eastern Conference team, FYI. For some reason, this bothers me. I hear Houston, Texas, and think West. Stop bothering me with this, MLS. And stop making the final and complicating things, Houston.
2. The LA Galaxy just need to stop. They played so bad all year and now they're in a final (my above case in point). They are always in the final and never deserve it. Bias alert: New Yorker here; but still. LA Galaxy: just stop.
3. David Beckham announced it is his last game for the LA Galaxy... Okay. So what? No one cares, Beckham. You are three years and 3,000 promises to make this sport better past the point of caring. Good luck acting, because I'm sure that's where you're going.

I leave you with what we all hope to see on Dec. 1st:

Beckham dejection

Stayed tuned for more Beckham centric posts as he departs the MLS scene.

LA Loses, Makes My Morning Again

For the second day in a row, my morning has been made by a team being knocked out of a tournament!

The LA Galaxy dropped the 2nd leg of their CONCACAF Champions League knockout tie with Toronto FC last night, losing 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate), and ultimately making my morning better. Thanks, losers! I strongly dislike the Galaxy, a team of cry babies, so this was a fitting start to the day.

Un-exaggerated, yet relevant headline

Kudos to Toronto, who surely topped their previous best moment in the MLS with this win. It only took one week, but the Red Stormers from up north made team history again. Unfortunately, mlssoccer.com did not provide a highly exaggerated headline this time around, but we commend them for their review.

The Best MLS Headline Ever Created

Last night, Toronto FC tied the LA Galaxy in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League knockout round, securing their finest moment in history, according to mlssoccer.com. Exaggerate much?

A few things: you know you're a lower tier team when your best moment is tying the LA Galaxy. They are not Barcelona, after all. Also, you know you're a lower tier team when your previous best moment was signing Torsten Frings.

Come at me bro

Joking aside, it was great to hear a whopping 48,000 fans attended the match, which was held in Toronto. Sounds like an incredible fan base. Furthermore, I think the MLS news source grossly exaggerated this headline. That said, read arguably the best story ever reported here.



Photo Credit:
mlssoccer.com
Wikipedia

Landon Donovan: Love - Hate Relationship

Love Landon in red, white and blue.
Nothing made me prouder as an American soccer fan when Landon Donovan slotted home the injury-time winner against Algeria that heroically sent the USMNT through to the knockout stages of the World Cup in 2010. It was a moment, that's for sure. A big moment, if not the biggest in US Soccer history (see above photo). I am forever grateful and a fan of Landon Donovan for his devotion and accomplishments for this country.

"Stop being meanies NYRBs"

Hate Landon in the MLS.
Landon Donovan the MLS player infuriates me. His cocky, over confident attitude just comes off as petulant to me. He is a real competitor - I'll give him that - but sometimes his do-no-wrong disposition is grating. Donovan's a great player, but he's sort of prone to complaining and whining. Just play hard like you do for the USMNT, dude!

Recent hate Full disclosure: I am a New York Red Bulls fan.
Landon's recent comments following a scrappy semi-final first leg with the New York Red Bulls, I thought, were unprofessional:

“There a few plays where they took some cheap shots at us. In all my years in this league, I’ve not played against a cheaper team, and they’ve been doing it all year. We saw it a few weeks ago with [Thierry] Henry kneeing someone in the back. We’ve seen that stuff all year. You just deal with it, and at the end of it, the cream rose to the top, and the better team won.”

"What a d*ck." First thoughts that come to mind after reading that. Talk about attitude. The game was heated, there were tackles on both ends, and frankly, I believe LA embellished more than a few fouls (DAVID BECKHAM *ahem). Even if Rafa Marquez (the biggest baby/waste of space in the league) threw a ball at you at the end of the match, there's really no reason to denounce the whole team like a sad clown in public. As far as I can see, the Red Bulls are just as competitive and hard-nosed as any other team in the league. Forget about the little tidbits you're griping about and be happy you won!

When did footballers start getting soft? Cheap shots, Landon...really? You know how you counteract cheap shots (other than b*tching to the media after the match)? You win. You play hard and you win. You did that on Sunday...so why drone on and complain? Just shut up and play.

Tune in to leg two of this semi-final on Thursday at 11pm ET.

And one other thing: WE'RE RED, WE'RE BULLS, WE'RE REDDDDD BULLS. GO RED BULLS.