US Soccer Team come out winners even in defeat posted by Matthew McCabe

The eyes of the soccer world were on South Africa Sunday as the upset minded US National Team took on powerhouse Brazil in the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup. The Americans, on life support after the first two games of the tournament, were looking to complete their stunning turn around with a victory over Brazil in the final. The US had taken down the World's #1 team, Spain, on Wednesday and were looking to pull off another huge upset over Brazil who beat host South Africa to reach the final. For 45 minutes the US had the World wondering, could it be?

Through the first half the US was clearly the better team, led by Tim Howard who put in one of the best performances of his career. At the halftime whistle the Americans were ahead 2-0 and holding the Brazilian offense in check. In the 2nd half the US did all they could, Howard in particular, to keep the Brazilians off the board. Slowly but surely, however, you could see the Brazilians beginning to wear down the Americans, beginning to find a groove offensively. Brazil would fire in 3 goals in the later portion of the 2nd half, the final dagger coming in the 84th minute, to steal victory from the US with a 3-2 comeback win.

After the US' opening two games of the Confederations Cup, the state of affairs of US Soccer looked bleak. After holding a 1-0 lead into the 2nd half against Italy, the Americans crumbled under the relentless onslaught of the Italians and fell 3-1. Their second game was not much prettier as the same Brazilian side handily defeated the US 3-0. However, a remarkable turn-around in effort and the assistance of fate allowed the Americans another chance to prove themselves against the World's best. The Americans pulled off one of soccer's greatest upsets and defeated #1 Spain and then pushed Brazil to the brink before falling 3-2.

Momental victory for US National team, but what does it really mean? posted by Matthew McCabe

The United States National Team scored a monumental victory yesterday in the FIFA Confederations Cup, defeating world #1 Spain 2-0 in the tournament's semi-final game. Spain had been on an amazing streak heading into yesterday's game against the U.S. Spain was riding a 35 match unbeaten streak, one short of the all time record, and was also riding a world 15 game winning streak. None of that made a difference yesterday as Spain and its roster of world class footballers fell to the U.S.

All things considered, yesterday was a fantastic moment for the U.S. National Team as they pulled off one of international football's most stunning upsets. Spain is loaded with talented players who play for some of the best teams, in the best leagues in European football. Iker Casillas is perhaps the best goalie in the world right now, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, and Sergio Ramos comprise one of the best defenses in the world, and Fernando Torres and David Villa might be the most deadly 1-2 combination up front. The U.S. on the other hand is a very young, very green team with little depth and few veteran leaders. The majority of the U.S. players play at home in the less impressive MLS, and those who play abroad play in some of Europe's lesser leagues or see little playing time.

Like it or not, yesterday's victory by the U.S. meant more overseas than it does here in America. Football, real football, is the World's biggest sport and in most countries it is the top dog. Only in America is football considered a 5th sport. In America, baseball and American football are the kings. Meanwhile, basketball and hockey fight for the attention of the remaining sports fans across the country. There are a proud few in this country, myself included, that grew up playing soccer and respect the game as being the greatest across the globe. Americans tend to ignore soccer because quite frankly, we don't have a very solid winning tradition. We haven't dominated the sport for decades, and it isn't appreciated because it is seen as a sport lacking in offense and bogged down in midfield passing. Never mind the fact that baseball can be one of the slowest games to watch and that hockey can be just as lacking in offense, soccer gets a bad wrap. Yesterday was proof however that the U.S. can succeed in soccer as well, and to the average sports fan it was an amazing game to watch and made you proud to be an American.

U.S. flops in Confederations Cup opener posted by Matthew McCabe

The U.S. Men's National Team began play today in the Confederations Cup in South Africa in forgettable fashion. The U.S., playing in what some are calling the "group of death", faced defending world champion Italy today. The Americans put in a performance similar to Jekyll and Hyde with a strong first half followed by a flop of a second half.

Working against the American squad was a red card issued to Ricardo Clark in the 33rd minute for a late tackle on Italy's Gennaro Gattuso. Up to that point the game had seen nothing more than toothless offensive forays from both teams, but after Clark's departure the U.S. seemed re-energized despite playing 10 v 11. The increased U.S. effort was rewarded in the 41st minute as Jozy Altidore raced into the Italian 18yd box only to be hauled down by Giorgio Chiellini. Landon Donovan converted the PK for his 40th international goal and sent the U.S. into halftime up 1-0.

The first half however would see the end of the U.S.' good play as the second half was dominated by an Italian side that took full advantage of being a man up. American born Giuseppe Rossi pulled Italy even just one minute after coming into the game with a frozen rope shot from 30yds in the 58th minute. Daniele De Rossi would score from 15yds out in the 72nd minute to put Italy ahead for good at 2-1. Guiseppe would get himself another goal in stoppage time off an Andrea Pirlo cross to give Italy a 3-1 win to open the tournament.

For Italy, today's game was a fantastic start to the Confederations Cup and a statement to the world that the champs are ready to defend their title. Italy showed amazing resiliency, after a slow start they came out strong in the second half and exploded offensively after Rossi's 58th minute goal tied the game.

Monumental opportunity at hand for Chivas USA posted by Matthew McCabe

Chivas USA, for so long considered LA's 2nd MLS franchise, have the opportunity Wednesday night to step into the limelight alone and establish themselves as the unquestioned top dog in the MLS. The Houston Dynamo, #2 in the West, host the MLS' best team in a primetime match up with huge implications. The game will be a contest between #1 and #2 in almost every aspect of the game. For Houston, it is a chance to keep Chivas close in the standings, but for Chivas it is an opportunity to pull away from the pack and solidify their claim to #1.

The importance of this game, of this season, is monumental to Chivas USA. In the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, Chivas have often had to play 2nd fiddle to the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Galaxy, with international stars like Landon Donovan and David Beckham, have for so long been the favorites of LA's soccer crowd. In the past Chivas were even treated like guests or renters at the Home Depot Center, but all that is changing. The Galaxy, for all their star power, are floundering while Chivas are beginning to rise under the steady leadership of their head coach Preki Radosavljevic. Chivas USA are building off successful seasons in the past few years and now find themselves atop the MLS with a chance to stretch their lead to a very comfortable margin.

Wednesday night's clash in Houston will feature of battle between the leagues' best defensive units. Chivas boast the MLS' best record at 8-2-3 and with 27pts are 6 ahead of the Houston Dynamo in the West, and Chicago Fire in the East who both have 21pts. For either team to win, someone is going to have to find a weakness in pair of very stout defensive groups. Houston boasts the league's best defense and goalie. Houston's defense has allowed a stingy 7 goals against this season, only 2 of those allowed at home. Houston goalie Pat Onstad has been nothing short of miraculous in net this season as he leads the MLS in Goals Against at 7, Goals Against Average at .64/game, and is 2nd in shutouts with 6.

Lakers? Clippers? posted by Apryl DeLancey

Growing up in Los Angeles, the only team that anyone ever talked about when it came to the NBA was the Los Angeles Lakers. I remember the whole city being completely obsessed when it came to Lakers basketball. Billboards, commercials, and fast-food promotions further shoved the team into the forefront of everyone’s mind. Popular bands wrote songs about them and select celebrities lined the courtside seats.

The Los Angeles Clippers came to town in 1984 from San Diego (and Buffalo before that). Nobody paid too much attention at first and you could basically get free tickets with the purchase of 5 gallons of gasoline. They’ve had their peaks and valleys over the years and enjoy larger attendance numbers today but you can still get tickets pretty cheap.  Sometimes still free with the purchase of something else. 

I have noticed changes through the city with respect to the “other” NBA team. There are more Clippers billboards now, and you even see people wearing their jerseys. After the new complex is finished in the LAX area there should be a big advertising blitz that draws even more attention to them also.

What am I trying to say?  Well, it just all feels really odd to me. My team is filled with both prima donnas and underachievers. Gone are the days of every player being a future hall of fame inductee.  Turning in unremarkable outcomes in recent seasons, players like Kobe Bryant garner more headlines for what they say then what they do. No one seems that excited about Phil Jackson anymore and the team is more of a tourist attraction now. “Real” fans have a tough time getting decent tickets to the games since they are a place for celebrities and wanna-bes to be seen as part of the fake L.A. scene.  (Fake L.A. scene as in the one that the transplants come here and try to make, not the one that really exists!) Only one of them, well actually two are real Los Angeles Lakers fans. 

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Fire-Rapids Preview (AP)

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