MLS NOTES: WEEK 4

• Another disappointing game for Metrostars. A bad giveaway for Chicago’s goal, a missed PK following a sublime pass by Djorkaeff to feed Wolyniec to get the penalty. I know people are already calling for Bob Bradley’s head, but I don’t see it. Give it time. It’s a good team, a good coach; they just haven’t hit their stride yet. Add some fresh injury problems, and it’s not looking bright for the immediate future, but I don’t like the “hit the panic button fire the coach” mentality.

• Despite the slow start for Metros, however, I have to say that the Youri experiment is working out for them. He’s still got the touch, he’s still got the fire. I believe once the players around him learn more about his game, it will start paying off in goals.

• Real Salt Lake have defensive issues. That’s being charitable. Poor Marlon Rojas is going to need some salve, he was burned so much by Dallas. I know Rojas plays for Trinidad, so he’s not a slouch, but man did he have a bad night at the Cotton Bowl.

• I saw something I never thought I’d see tonight. I saw Eddie Pope got a straight red card. He got his feet tangled up with Eddie Johnson, and they both went to ground. Honestly, though, and I speak as a Dallas fan, I don’t think it was really even a foul, and I’m SURE it wasn’t a red card offense. I’m still puzzled about that whole transaction. Maybe Eddie said one of those “magic words” to Mr. Grajeda, and got tossed for that, but I doubt it. Very bizarre.

• Nick Rimando and David Stokes, teammates, mind you, had a horrible collision in the penalty area early in the DC-NE game. Stokes undercut him, and Nick did a full flip before hitting the ground. Stokes was down even longer than Rimando, but both got up and both continued playing. Scary looking, but all’s well that ends well.

• Hey! A Santino Quaranta sighting! Nice goal from the kid. I’d like to see him have a breakout year. So would Peter Nowak.

• Clint Dempsey scored a beautiful diving header goal in the second half of DC-NE, and then put in an early entry for “celebration of the year”. He ran straight to the homeplate area of the newly baseball infested RFK, and mimed a homerun swing. Good one, kid, good one.

• I am really REALLY perturbed at ESPN. Let me preface my perturbations by saying I recognize the great contributions ESPN has made to soccer in this country, ok? And, yes, I understand the phrase “contractual obligations, ok? I’m an ESPN fan and defender. Most times. But tonight . . . I mean, I meeean, why, WHY would you possibly tape delay Galaxy-Chivas match so you could show the 187th round of the freakin’ NFL DRAFT? It’s the DRAFT! You can read about it tomorrow in the paper and you haven’t missed a thing! Are you people nuts? I Tivo’d the game, but only saw the first half. At least I didn’t miss the Sky Cam falling to earth like an obsolete Russian satellite. that would have been too much to bear.

• I may very well write a strongly worded letter about this. Because, as we all know, nothing is quite so effective and powerful as a well written, strongly worded letter. Don’t think I won’t do it, either. I’m a madman. You can’t stop me. I’ll write that letter.

• Okay, while I’m perturbed and ranting and semi-coherent anyway, and since they’ve gotten so very crossways with me this weekend, let me say a couple of additional things about ESPN. First, Sky Cam. I’m sorry, I know it’s nifty and cute and all, but it doesn’t work for about 95% of the shots you use it for (the Kirovski goal being one notable exception), and, apparently, it’s a hazard to life and limb as well. I’m sure the boys from OSHA were watching with glee when that happened, huh?

• Also, putting a wireless microphone on a soccer coach is POINTLESS. Soccer coaches don’t ever say anything of interest during the game, and if they do, so what? The PLAYERS CAN’T HEAR THEM. I’m sure we all appreciate the effort, but it just isn’t working, ok guys. Get it right. Worldwide Leader In Sports. Riiiiiiiiight.

• Oh yeah, Galaxy 3-1 Chivas. Cobi, Vagenas, and Kirovski for LA, and, I think, Ramon Ramierez’s nanny for Chivas.

• One more thing about the LA derby. Great atmosphere; best I’ve ever seen for an MLS match.

• Oh, and Kevin Hall did a great job in a hopelessly dirty match.

• Luchi Gonzales, one of 2003’s highest rated college players (from SMU), has finally gotten around to getting a job AND getting the job done in MLS. He had a goal and an assist for Colorado as they beat the Crew 2-0. This game was not televised. WUWT?

• Dewayne DeRosario hit the winner for San Jose as they beat The EarthQlash 3-2. Sounds like a heck of a game. Shame it wasn’t TELEVISED! WUWT?

• Seriously, though, the NFL Draft?