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      Friendlies can only help the MLS

      August 2, 2009 /

      Rose Bowl

      When a crowd of 93,137 filled the Rose Bowl yesterday to see the Los Angeles Galaxy take on FC Barcelona, it was obvious that this is what the MLS needs more of.

      These fans, part of the largest crowd to see a soccer game in the U.S. since the 1994 World Cup, didn’t need to be told to clap or to scream loud enough to ratchet up a phony noise meter.

      They appreciated the jaw-dropping passing of Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez, the speed and skill of a game played with fervor and at a high level, and they showed it at every turn. They also showed their passion by booing Beckham for the nearly 87 minutes he played, still scornful that he’s an MLS drop-in.

      Beckham, fined $1,000 last month for attempting to combat a heckler during the Galaxy’s friendly against AC Milan, silenced the jeers when he powered a free kick through the defensive wall for the Galaxy’s goal in the 45th minute.

      There is an audience for soccer, for the big occasions when remarkable club teams such as Barcelona visit. Yet, Saturday’s crowd was about six times bigger than the average MLS crowd, which was about 15,515 through mid-July.

      It’s funny to think that more than 70,000 people would rather watch an MLS team take on a European squad rather than one from their own league. This shows us that American soccer fans follow, or are at least more interested, in foreign teams. Of course, these teams have been around decades longer than those from the MLS, amassing diehard fans whether or not they are from the team’s country.

      Fact is, these friendlies are extremely helpful for the MLS. This ideal situation is one where a big-market team like the Galaxy actually beats the stronger foreign opponent. There’s nothing European and South American soccer fans hate more than losing to a team from the United States.

      The goal here is to generate more interest from both American fans and those abroad. Like the U.S. national team beating Spain in the Confederations Cup, if an MLS team can grab a victory against a club like FC Barcelona, ratings and attendance will gradually increase. It didn’t happen on Saturday, but hopefully it will in the future.

      Soccer

      Adam Jones ousted in semis; Blake Williams wins gold in Moto X Freestyle

      August 2, 2009 /

      Blake

      Fans have criticized the confusing formats in many of these events. To clue you guys in, here’s the rules explained over at ESPN’s live blog covering motocross at the X Games:

      In case you were wondering, tonight’s qualifying is the exact same as earlier today. Two brackets of four riders. Each bracket get three 60 second runs and the judges take the best two. Then they combine the best two and the top two riders out of each bracket move onto the final, which will consist of four riders.

      In what is pretty much thought of as the semifinals, both Adam Jones and Todd Potter were unable to advance to the finals. The commentators kept on saying that Jones wasn’t getting the flexibility he usually is able to pull off. I don’t know. What these guys are doing is just insane. I wouldn’t know how to judge any of these tricks. I know this is a competition, but I’m just so amazed at what each of these guys are doing that I completely forget they’re being scored.

      Nevertheless, I felt Blake Williams was the most impressive throughout the day. His runs just seemed to have the most energy in them. Each trick was always somehow more confounding than the last. He definitely deserved to take the gold.

      I’ve never watched this much coverage of the X Games in my life. I have to admit that I was never convinced of their appeal. Now I can say I’m a real fan. Maybe it’s because these guys are simply getting better. It’s almost like the Slam Dunk Contest in that they have a year to think of a performance that will top the greatest from last year. Also, ESPN has done a great job profiling the athletes and adding drama to the events. So far, it’s been very exciting.

      X-Games

      Bucks sign Hakim Warrick

      August 1, 2009 /

      Yesterday, I wrote extensively about this move, and his agent, Bill Duffy, announced the trade earlier today.

      Here is what TrueHoop has to say…

      The Bucks may win the award for saying goodbye to the most talent this summer, but they are certainly stocking the cupboard with a big selection of active and long young forwards. Presumably at least some of them will buy in to Scott Skiles’ intense approach to the game. With Brandon Jennings at point guard, the Bucks are shaping up to be one of those high-energy teams that will be fun to watch whether they win or lose.

      Frank Madden of BrewHoop had this to say…

      Continue reading »

      NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Indians wanted Matt Cain for Victor Martinez

      August 1, 2009 /

      According to a report by Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Indians wanted quite the haul from the Giants if they were to have acquired catcher Victor Martinez, who eventually wound up being traded to the Red Sox.

      Sources said the Indians wanted a package led by either Matt Cain or Madison Bumgarner for Martinez, and the Giants are happy with a righty-lefty first base combo of Ryan Garko and Travis Ishikawa.

      This report might not be true (after all, Schulman didn’t site his sources), but if it is, Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro had to have been hammered when he took the call from San Francisco GM Brian Sabean about V-Mart:

      “Uh yeah, Mark? This is Brian Sabean from the Giants.”

      “What can Brain I do for you Giants?”

      “What? Is this Mark Shapiro from the Indians?”

      “Yes siiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Word up, man?”

      “Uh yeah…hey listen Mark, I was wondering what kind of package you’d be looking for in a deal for Victor Martinez.”

      “Matt Cain.”

      “Matt Cain?”

      “Matt Cain.”

      “Are you drunk? Martinez is a good hitter, but he’s struggled this past month and he’s 30. Cain is only 24 and is a legit Cy Young candidate.”

      “Fiiiiiiine…whatever, douche. Give me Madison Bumgarner then.”

      “He’s our top pitching prospect! Seriously Mark, are you freaking sauced right now? And did you just call me a douche?”

      “Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval and Jonathan Sanchez….Sanchez can be the throw in.”

      “Sober up, Mark.”

      MLB

      Mason reconsiders retirement, rejoins Ravens

      August 1, 2009 /

      Wide receiver Derrick Mason has reconsidered retirement and has decided that he will play for the Ravens in 2009.

      “It was a tough decision, but I think it was a good decision for me to come back,” Mason said. “I needed to evaluate my life, football and my career. The last several weeks thinking about it and talking with my family was an important time for me and them.

      “I still have an intense fire inside me, and I want to play. My family and I wanted to finish it out the right way. I felt like I had left something undone, and I wanted to finish it. I believe this is a good example for my son and my daughter on how to be thoughtful and also follow through.”

      “I wanted to make sure that when I do retire, I won’t have any regrets,” he said. “As I’ve thought about this and talked about this with my family, I realized I would have regrets if I didn’t come back.
      “I think I’m in great shape. I have been working out, and I was part of the offseason program. I’m ready to get out there with my teammates.”

      This is great news for the Ravens, who would have been desperately thin at receiver without Mason. While he isn’t a spring chicken at 35 years old, Mason did haul in 80 passes last year for 1,037 yards and five touchdowns. He was Baltimore best playmaker in Baltimore’s passing game last year and Joe Flacco’s number one target.

      Again, this is great news for the Ravens.

      NFL

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