Week 10 Notes:

• I’m not changing my fantasy soccer lineup any more this season, save for injury or National Team callups. Pat Noonan and Damani Ralph BOTH stabbed me in the back by putting up hat tricks as soon as I benched them. I feel somewhat Sir Alex Fergusonish with my newfound ability to get players to perform by benching them, but I don’t get near the payoff SAF does.

• I will of course, make exceptions to the no substitution rule for any fans who’d like to slip me a twenty in return for benching someone from their favorite team. I accept paypal, visa/MC/amex, and, of course, good ol’ fashioned cash money.

• DaMarcus Beasly was shoved to the ground on a breakaway in the first minute of the Chi/DC game, but he ended up hitting Troy Perkins before he ever made it to the ground. DaMarcus, who is not a big guy by any stretch of the imagination, took quite a shot, and looked to have seriously jammed or separated his shoulder. Here’s the point: first, he didn’t roll over once after he hit the ground; second, he didn’t stay on the ground a second longer than necessary; most importantly, the kid never even thought about coming out of the game. Why? Because he’s an American, that’s why.

• I haven’t seen the attendance report for the Fire game today, but it looked and sounded like a good crowd on TV.

• Ronald Reagan died this morning in California. As a result ABC switched to news coverage during their WNBA broadcast. The WNBA game was moved to ESPN2, while the coverage of Fire v United was bumped. The vitriol on BigSoccer was unbelievable. I’m not sure if they were angrier at poor Ronnie for having the nerve to interrupt a soccer game, or at ABC/ESPN for honoring their contract with the NBA. But they sure were angry.

• How ‘bout them Burn! Finally, after a month of frustrating futility, Dallas played up to potential this week and put the smackdown on Metrostars. Amado Guevera got a yellow card; a red would have made it a perfect evening. One can’t have everything however. I’ll take a two-goal-road-shutout any day of the week.

• Watching Metros/Dallas was made more entertaining by listening to Shep Messing’s call for MSG Network. For you whippersnappers, Shep was one of the few famous American players in the old NASL. He has pretty much done all you can do in soccer in this country: two-time All-American (at Harvard, no less), Olympian in 1972, 10 caps, Soccer Bowl champion in 1977 with Cosmos, multiple MISL championships with New York Arrows, and now broadcasting MLS. He’s also one of the true characters in the annals of the American game. Maybe coaching is next for Shep? I’d like to hear his thoughts on the matter.

• DirectKick lists the LA/KC game as being televised at 9:30 central time, but I got nada here. MLSnet.com says no TV. I’m miffed. Harumph. Even Tivo can’t help with this dilemma. I blame the inherent media bias against soccer in this country.

• If Dan Patrick cared about soccer, he’d say “You can’t stop the Columbus Crew; you can only hope to contain them.” Three wins in a row? Six games unbeaten? Have I dropped into Bizarro universe? Dare I say . . . “en fuego”?

• It just didn’t pay to be playing at home this week. Three of the four matches taken by the visitors. Ouch.

• Despite their loss at home, New England can continue to be encouraged by the rapid development of Clint Dempsey and Felix Brillant, who gave Columbus all sorts of trouble. When Twellman gets on track and with Ralston and Noonan continuing to play their consistent steady games, New England is going to be around at the end of the season. Oh yeah, there’s also that Shalrie Joseph kid, who can play a little, too.