STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS: FCD v RSL SEPTMEBER 16 2005

Before I begin the Stream proper, here (at no extra charge, these observations will not appear on your bill), are a few notes from the glorious mid-week road trip to the US Open Cup Semifinal match:

* Not since the British scored 22 against the French at Trafalgar has a team ever needed a win worse than the Hoops did Wednesday night. It was a gritty, if not beautiful performance. You could tell this game meant a lot to the boys, and it was appreciated.
* When the Inferno chanted "Fight, Fight, Fight For The Shirt!" it made a great echo off the far wall of the stage section of PHP.
* Yet again I played the Texas Mega Millions when we stopped for gas in Frisco; yet again, I did not win. I'm beginning to think this lottery thing is as big a scam as the "Radio Shack Magic Minute". But just to be sure, I'll try again next time I'm in town.
* Chicago fans travel well. They had a caravan from the Windy City in attendance, as well as a slew of Okies who, inexplicably, are Fire fanatics as well.
* Once again, Mike Segroves, my Brimstone road-trip companion these many years, was gracious and charming in defeat. He always comes to the post-game tailgate to take his ration of abuse. Good natured abuse, but abuse nonetheless. Mikey is a class act. He didn't even mind it so much when we threw in some "OU lost to TCU" smack for good measure.
* Miss Charlie brought a huge, framed, congratulatory card for Jason Kreis in celebration of his 100th goal, and all the Inferno signed it. If Jason makes the trip to Dallas this weekend (despite being injured), it will presented to him sometime during the game. Miss Charlie, you rock.
* Gina Z made her first trip to the press box to cover this match. Check out her article on the match here. She's getting better and better every week.

As for today, well, this is a bit of a make or break game in my view. Not in terms of standings (though we do clinch a playoff spot with a win), but in terms of confidence. If we can't beat Real Salt Lake, at home, when they're missing Jason Kreis, Clint Mathis, and Andy Williams, we've lost whatever momentum we gained Wednesday. Even though we're missing EJ and El Pescadito ourselves, we still should roll today. Our young guns have proved again and again this year they can step up when needed. Now would be a good time to do it again.

Nunez has shown two years of growth as a player in only the last two weeks. I look for him to lead today. Mina needs to put a stamp of authority on the game as well.

Wow. No sooner did I type those words than Mina rocketed a goal from an insanely acute angle. Great run and through ball by Arturo Alvarez as well. Exxxxxcellent.

I can only imagine how hot it is out there today. They're saying the game time temperature is 95 degrees, so I'm guessing it's at least 100 down on the field. Then again, I've been to mid-day matches at the Cotton Bowl in years past and I know how brutal that can be. I also survived the 24-hour tailgate in the parking lot on Frisco Street. Let's keep those fluids up, boys.

Once again the Inferno are in fine voice. Wish I was there.

The game has slowed down somewhat since the goal. I think both sides are realizing what the temperature is. If there is such a thing as 'getting used' to this kind of heat, I would think Dallas has the edge today. This is normal practice weather for the boys.

Alvarez nearly beats D.J. Countess from distance. Arturo is on top of his game today. If he and Nunez are both coming of age at the same time, the autumn will be as bright as the summer was bleak around here.

Those Sierra Mist 'side-by-side' commercials on ESPN2 are getting a little creepy.

Brian Dunseth just rammed himself into the goalpost trying to keep Mina from knocking in a loose ball. The guy is already playing with the flu, and now he nearly lunches on the post. Some days, it doesn't pay to get out of bed, does it, Brian?

Oh my. Scarlett just torched Bobby Rhine (speed kills, lets face it), and then blasted a ball off the post to Garlick's left. I believe they heard that out in McKinney.

Okay, I'm not sure when I last said this, but, we're ahead at the half! 45 more minutes, a few more goals if possible, and our long nightmare is over. We can start healing up and getting ready for the US Open Cup final in the short term, and the MLS Cup in the long term.

I hope I didn't just put the Mojo on the whole thing..... nahhhh.......

Alvarez almost scores in the first minute of the second half. Great cut back in the box, but the shot just goes high. This is exciting, watching Arturo break out of the chrysalis right before our eyes. Exciting, and beautiful, and most of all, TIMELY.

Wags is looking good today, as he overlaps down the left side. He's caused some trouble for RSL with his crosses. I'm telling you, when the story of this season is written, it will center not around the superstars, but around the relative unknowns who have come up big when the chips were down. Which they have been, for a while now.

I know coach Clarke has caught a fair amount of heat during "the slump", but, let's be fair, the way he's developed the young talent has been nothing short of brilliant.

Mina Mina Mina Mina Mina Mina Mina!!!! 2-nil to the Super Hoops, 2-nil, to the Super Hoops, 2-nil......

Give a lot of credit to Bobby Rhine for that goal. He absolutely shrugged off a defender on the right wing, carried the ball right up the baseline (to steal a basketball term), and found Mina, inexplicably unmarked, at the six. He'll never have an easier goal than that. We're back baby!

Well, not so fast. Jamie Watson scores from a header off a corner kick. Not two minutes after Mina. Crap.

No problem. We've got more in the bag for Real today, I feel it.

Mina just took a shot to the forehead, courtesy of Brian Dunseth's elbow. Nice, Brian, nice. Go ahead and blame the fever, but that was a cheap shot.

Rhine almost scores from about 18 yards out. Bobby believes, as I do, that the best defense is a good offense. He's another guy that's taken some heat this season, but I like him and I want him to stay in hoops as long as possible.

More pressure from The Z Boyz, Alvarez and Nunez. And Mina picks up a yellow for getting a little payback on Seth Trembley. Unfortunately, it was Dunseth who whacked him. Oh well . . . They kinda look alike.

More good pressure from Bobby as well. Alavarez comes of for Aaron Pitchkolan. Speaking of young kids who have stepped up when needed. Not so much since the early part of the season, but Aaron proved early on he's ready for this level.

20 minutes to go. Slight pressure from RSL. This is the exact situation where we'e fallen short for the last two months. Jamie Watson is causing trouble again. He's a Dallas boy, apparently. We may have to snap him up come the off season.

Salt Lake is playing with 10 men, as Tarley goes off injured, and John Ellinger has used all three of his subs. Eddie Pope was limping around a few mintues ago as well. Not good news for Real.

I don't think RSL have a realistic shot at the playoffs, but I think this franchise can be proud of their first year. Good attendance (averaging around 18,000 . . . when's the last time we did that?), some big wins, entertaining football. They've done well. Though every time I see them play, I die a little on the inside, knowing that my hometown of Edmond was just days from getting that franchise, before the investors wussed out at the last moment. Money is wasted on the rich, sometimes, isn't it?

Mina tries to bicycle his way into a hat trick, but goes just high. That would have been unspeakably sweet.

Brandi Chastain just spoke to Jason on the sidelines. Good heavens but that guy is classy. He's looking at about six or seven months of rehab on his knee. Every Dallas fan is rooting for him, I know.

Speaking of Brandi, she does good work on the sidelines. If ESPN insists on having a pretty face as the third member of the broadcast team (and it seems they do), at least they've found one that knows more soccer than about 99.9% of the population of the United States. You can tell, when she talks to players and coaches, that those guys realize they're talking to someone who is their peer. No, not even a peer; they know they're talking to someone who has won a World Cup. Unless she's talking to Youri Djorkaeff, she's talking to her inferiors.

Game! In the words of Gerald Ford, "Our long national nightmare is over"! This is the day we turned the corner and got the ship back on track (I love mixing metaphors, especially after a win). Big shouts to Mina, The Z Boyz, Bobby, and Wags. Good work by the whole team. I'm proud of the boys today.

See you this Wednesday for a USOC Preview. That's right, the dirty dirty Galaxy at the Hut this week. Then we meet them again on the 28th to determine who gets to take the Dewar Cup home for 2005.