First half in the books and the U.S. looked good. They created a lot of very good chances and Kenny Cooper put one off the crossbar on a beautiful service from Rico Clark.
Starting line up was a good one
--------Altidore---Cooper-----
Adu--Clark---Mastroeni---Kljestan
Bornstein--Parkhurst--Goodson--Thorrington
----------Guzan------------
Defensively, the U.S. has been putting a lot of pressure on the Guatamalans in midfield and up top. Kenny Cooper has been working hard, putting pressure
53 Mintue--Jozy and Cooper just connected for Cooper to score. Jozy from the left side cut inside across the grain of the defense and sent a cross across the defense to Cooper on the back post.
Update 57th Mintue: Cooper is really making the case for himself. He is creating chances for himself and for others. He is working hard on both sides of the ball, tkaing on players and tackling defenders.
Referee sucks, he has missed at least one penalty on a rough tackle on John Thorrington.
59th Minute: Interesting stat on Micheal Parkhurst. Two years in MLS only 14 fouls total. Mind boggling.
62nd minute: Adu and Cooper creating a wonderful chance. The attacking quad of Adu, Altidore, Cooper and Kljestan is looking good and creative. I like the flair and unpredictability.
63rd Mintue: What a cracking shot by Mastroeni and Clarence Goodson almost got that rebound and was unlucky to have put the rebound shot on frame but instead into the keeper's hands.
65th: U.S. picking apart the Guatamalan defense. cooper cross from the right, missed Altidore, Klejestan was robbed by the Guatamalan goalkeeper on the back post.
68th: Jozy held on a goal scoring opportunity. Should have gotten a red for that for the denying of an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Blown call and arguabley in the box, but called just outside.
69th GOALLLLLLL by Freddy Adu on a brialliant bending free kick. First goal for the full national team!!!!
That has broken the back of teh Guatamalans.
75th: Conor Casey and Brian Ching are set to come in. Looks like Altidore and Cooper are heading to the bench. Ching in for Altidore. Can't say i agree with this sub right now. Altidore had a solid game, great first touch. Casey in for Cooper.
Ching has no pace and it is obvious.
78th: Mastroneni gets yellow card. He will be suspended for the next qualifier on February 11th. Kind of a soft yellow card thanks to acting.
Adu is getting back on defense, which has to make Bob Bradley happy.
Goodson is also making a good case for himself.
82nd: Davy Arnaud is set to come in. Adu is coming off. What the hell is Bob Bradly thinking. He has subbed out his three most creative players. i don't get it at all. Adu did get a goal and he was creative and was getting back on defense. Adu did look like he was slowing down and really needs to get lots of consistent minutes with AS Monaco.
86th. Brilliant save by Guzan. His apprenticeship with Brad Freidel is paying dividends. Excellent save. Looks like he might keep another clean sheet.
89th: Another solid save from Guzan. He is doing exactly what he is paid for, making the saves in the last few minutes after not being active for 88 minutes.
90th+: Three minutes of stoppage time. The U.S. has managed their lead well, holding possession and not giving up stupid mistakes.
FINAL: U.S.A. 2:0 Guatamala.
Solid job by the squad. Lots of players made a case for inclusion in January camp. U.S. finishes 5-1 in qualifying.
The draw for the hexagonal is on Friday. Mexico and Honduras look to go through so the hexagonal will be
U.S.
Trinidad & Tobago
Mexico
Honduras
Costa Rica
El Salvador
More thoughts after the game percolates a little.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Democracy Might be Hijacked
The California Supreme Court has agreed to hear three lawsuits challenging Proposition 8--you know that gay marriage ban that was passed with 52% of the vote.
I am pretty sure I have said this in the past, but despite my rather conservative nature on most things, on this matter I am really of a libertarian mind on this matter. I have to admit that my position on this score has changed in recent years/months. I may have been opposed at one time in the past.
The ban on gay marriage is premised upon the historical and religious notion the main purpose of marriage is the furtherance of teh species, i.e. to have kids. However in modern civil society, we generally have acknowledged that medical science can help traditional man/woman couples have children. In previous times, these families would have to adopt or simply accept their fate that they won't have kids. We as a society have also accepted the notion of gay couples adopting children (most conservatives don't like it and some religious institutions such as Catholic Charities refueses to place children in gay homes), but it is a part of our society now.
I can appreciate the religious and moral objections that many conservatives may have on this issue. However, there is no civil reason why gay couples can't get married. In civil society, marriage is simply a short cut for certain legal protections, most of which can be accomplished in other legal methods.
So that is my position on gay marriage. But having said that, I have a real problem with taking the matter to court. This was a proposition that was properly put on the ballot in California. It was voted on in the most direct manner possible, by the voters of the state. They have decided that it shall be the law that marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman. That is democracy at work. Now we have gay activists who are upset that they lost the fight at this point and want to hijack the democractic process that is the law of the land in California.
Therein lies the problem. Instead of trying to convince the electorate, gay activists are targeting a very small, unrepresentative sample of California--the Supreme Court--rather than attempting to convince the entire electorate. In doing so I will tell you what will happen the next time this issue comes up on the ballot--gay marriage will be defeated--resoundingly because voters will want to make a statement that they are the final arbiters of the issue--not the court.
I am pretty sure I have said this in the past, but despite my rather conservative nature on most things, on this matter I am really of a libertarian mind on this matter. I have to admit that my position on this score has changed in recent years/months. I may have been opposed at one time in the past.
The ban on gay marriage is premised upon the historical and religious notion the main purpose of marriage is the furtherance of teh species, i.e. to have kids. However in modern civil society, we generally have acknowledged that medical science can help traditional man/woman couples have children. In previous times, these families would have to adopt or simply accept their fate that they won't have kids. We as a society have also accepted the notion of gay couples adopting children (most conservatives don't like it and some religious institutions such as Catholic Charities refueses to place children in gay homes), but it is a part of our society now.
I can appreciate the religious and moral objections that many conservatives may have on this issue. However, there is no civil reason why gay couples can't get married. In civil society, marriage is simply a short cut for certain legal protections, most of which can be accomplished in other legal methods.
So that is my position on gay marriage. But having said that, I have a real problem with taking the matter to court. This was a proposition that was properly put on the ballot in California. It was voted on in the most direct manner possible, by the voters of the state. They have decided that it shall be the law that marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman. That is democracy at work. Now we have gay activists who are upset that they lost the fight at this point and want to hijack the democractic process that is the law of the land in California.
Therein lies the problem. Instead of trying to convince the electorate, gay activists are targeting a very small, unrepresentative sample of California--the Supreme Court--rather than attempting to convince the entire electorate. In doing so I will tell you what will happen the next time this issue comes up on the ballot--gay marriage will be defeated--resoundingly because voters will want to make a statement that they are the final arbiters of the issue--not the court.
More on Piracy
Forbes' Jonathan Stevenson:
Given their range of targets, one might think that they are suicidally determined to antagonize as many major powers as possible, perhaps obscurely motivated by jihadism or nationalistic pride. But that would be wrong. Although 97% of Somalis are Sunni Muslim, they are traditionally secular and socially oriented more toward their extended family networks--their clans--than their state, which is in any case dysfunctional.If money is the motivation, it is predictable how pirates will attack, those ships that likely carry the most significant cargo, worth as much money as possible with as small a crew as possible. The solution would be to make it not worth the personal risk to the pirates--arm the crews and hold them large free from liability if they harm or kill pirates.
Prevailing ransom payments range from $500,000 to $2 million, up from only tens of thousands of dollars five years ago. While they may deal for profit with some Islamist militias, they're probably into piracy mainly for the money.
Not good News For Soccer Worldwide
The Uruguan Football Association has suspended the domestic league after some "problems" with pitch invasions by fans.
Look a fan running on to the pitch or a streaker is a "problem." Fans beating each other with iron rods and the corner flags is a crisis of security. See the difference.
Look a fan running on to the pitch or a streaker is a "problem." Fans beating each other with iron rods and the corner flags is a crisis of security. See the difference.
Pink Cleats
Back when I started playing, everyone wore black cleats and no one wore white cleats lest you be mistaken for a baseball or throwball player. Then came boots of varying colors, red (OK), blue (fine), gold (meh), yellow (alright), green (nice camoflage if the pitch is greed) but I think I will to draw the line pink boots. I wonder if this boot is targeted a female players? Would female players play in these?
Battle of American Sports Stars
It is no secret that NBA MVP Steve Nash is a potential investor and owner in a Vancover MLS franchise and an investor in the fledgling Women's Professional Soccer league. Now there is story of Major League Baseball MVP Albert Pujols being an investor in the bid for an MLS expansion team in St. Louis.Interesting, very interesting.
Can these players see something on the horizon regarding soccer that other investors can't?
Can these players see something on the horizon regarding soccer that other investors can't?
Indian Navy Attacks, Sinks Pirate Vessal
Good.
Well done Indian Navy.
An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night, officials said Wednesday, yet more violence in the lawless seas where brigands are becoming bolder and more violent.Pirates get away with it because they can. Perhaps giving some, maybe not all, ships a military force randomly on some ships will become a deterrant as well.
Separate bands of pirates also seized a Thai ship with 16 crew members and an Iranian cargo vessel with a crew of 25 in the Gulf of Aden, where Somalia-based pirates appear to be attacking ships at will, said Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Malaysia.
"It's getting out of control," Choong said.
A multicoalition naval force has increased patrols in the region, and scored a rare success Tuesday when the Indian warship, operating off the coast of Oman, stopped a ship similar to a pirate vessel mentioned in numerous piracy bulletins. The Indian navy said the pirates fired on the INS Tabar after the officers asked it to stop to be searched.
Well done Indian Navy.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Bullard Called Up to England Squad
With injuries to English stalwarts Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, English National Team Manager Fabio Capello called Fulham's Jimmy Bullard into the squad.
Now, with Lampard and Gerrard out with injury, will Bullard get a run out? Here's hoping.
Now, with Lampard and Gerrard out with injury, will Bullard get a run out? Here's hoping.
Catania's Shorts Ruse
In soccer, the wall on free kicks is both a blessing for goalkeepers and a curse. The blessing is that it can help block off one part of the goal, requiring kickers to really bend the ball in order to score, a feat not master by a great many players. The curse is that the wall can block the vision of the goalkeeper until too late. Well, Catania, in the Italian Serie A, has added to the woes of goalkeepers and walls by dropping their shorts to further block the keeper's vision.
The Italian league should issue instructions to referees along the same lines.
Catania, a team in the country’s top division, unveiled the new look while taking a free kick. The players lined up in a wall and dropped their shorts in an effort to block the goalkeeper’s vision.As a referee, I probably would have carded the lot for unsporting behavior. If attackers want to line up in front of or behind a wall, that is fine and permissible play, but dropping their shorts to further obscure the vision of the goalkeeper is designed to take an unfair advantage and that is unsporting behavior punishable by yellow cards.
The Sicilian team carried out the maneuver to perfection Sunday. Three players dropped their shorts practically to their knees so Torino goalie Matteo Sereni couldn’t see the kick by Giuseppe Mascara, who scored during Catania’s 3-2 victory.
The Italian league should issue instructions to referees along the same lines.
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Pettiness That is the Democratic Party
More on punishing Sen. Joe Lieberman.
You have to wonder how these same Democrats would feel if their majority wasn't so large.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a close ally of Sen. Joe Lieberman, said the Connecticut Independent should pay a price for his campaign attacks against President-elect Barack Obama.With friends like these....
"There need to be consequences, and they cannot be insignificant," Carper said in a Monday interview with The Hill.
Carper, a fellow centrist who was Delaware campaign chairman for Lieberman’s failed bid for president in 2004, said he and many other Senate Democrats are disappointed and even angered by their colleague's sometimes-inflammatory rhetoric during this year's presidential campaign.
Lieberman said he supported Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) because he was the best prepared to lead the country at a time of war, and Lieberman questioned Obama’s readiness to lead.
Carper did not rule out stripping Lieberman of his coveted gavel running the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, or imposing other sanctions like taking away seniority on other committees or a subcommittee on Armed Services.
You have to wonder how these same Democrats would feel if their majority wasn't so large.
Heartbreak in New Zealand
After taking the lead in the second minute of the game, the U.S. Women's U-17 team lost 2-1 in extra time in the finals of the inaugural U17 Women's World Cup to North Korea.
Despite coming second, the young ladies dhowed a lot of promise for the future of the women's team in America.
Vicki DiMartino picked up the Silver Boot (second in scoring) after netting five goals in six games during the tournament.
Kristie Mewis won the Bronze Boot after being voted the third best player in the tournament.
Goalkeeper Taylor Vancil won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
Congratulations to these young ladies and their coach Kaz Tambi.
Despite coming second, the young ladies dhowed a lot of promise for the future of the women's team in America.
Vicki DiMartino picked up the Silver Boot (second in scoring) after netting five goals in six games during the tournament.
Kristie Mewis won the Bronze Boot after being voted the third best player in the tournament.
Goalkeeper Taylor Vancil won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
Congratulations to these young ladies and their coach Kaz Tambi.
U.S. Squad Set For Guatamala Match
U.S. MNT Coach Bob Bradley selected a 20 man roster in advance of the Wednesday night qualifier against Guatamala.
The match has no significance for the Americans, but Guatamala has to win and get help from the Cubans to have a shot at qualifying. A draw by Trinidad & Tobago or better over the Cubans and the Guatamalans are eliminated.
Here is the roster, with comments:
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract). Guzan is likely to get the start, but Perkins wouldn't be a bad selection either. Perkins is coming off a great season for Valerenga, including winning the Norwegian league title and being names player of the year by his club.
DEFENDERS (6): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution). All in all, not a bad crew here for a game with little meaning. Were it not for Columbus Crew being in the MLS cup final, I would have expected to see Chad Marshall in this list and I hope that he gets called into camp in January. I am glad to see Franklin and Parkhurst in this mix.
MIDFIELDERS (5): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire). An interesting mix here, and a little on the short side of the list. Only five and really on two truly defensive midfielders. Yes, Kljestan checks back a lot, but only Clark and Mastroeni are real holding midfielder types.
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire). I am routinely baffled by the inclusion of Rolfe, who is streaky and inconsistent. Arnaud played very well this year and earned a camp spot, but I am not sure he had done enough to get a start. Ditto for Casey.
Given this list of players, are we doing to see something different from Bob Bradley? Something that will confuse and confound the Guatamalans and the rest of CONCACAF? A version of a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 perhaps?
If a 4-3-3, look for this line up:
--Altidore---Ching---Cooper--
--Adu---Mastroeni----Kljestan-
Bornstein--Goodson--Parkhurst--Franklin
---------Guzan----------------
A 4-2-3-1 might look like this:
----------Ching------------
Thorrington---Adu-----Kljestan
-------Clark-----Mastroeni----
Bornstein--Goodson--Parkhurst--Franklin
---------Guzan----------------
The problem is that a 4-2-3-1 is a formation you play to not lose rather than win. It sacrifices the talents of your best asset on this team, strenth and speed in the strikers. Ching is the best target forward in this bunch and why not let Jozy and Cooper play off of him, given Cooper the head that he has previously wanted to show, i.e. going back to collect the ball and bring it forward. He and Jozy both have the strenght, speed and skill to go at players and both can play well in the air.
Bradley should slip the leash on his young attackers, Altidore, Adu, Kljestan, Cooper and let Mastroeni orchestrate. If that back line gets beat, and the left side is the weak side since I don't think that Bornstein has the necessary pace, so be it. The idea here is to blood some of the young potential players and see how they react. Given that Franklin has made his first year a career of covering mistakes by other defenders, it would be refrehsing to pair him with a defender like Parkhurst who doesn't make a lot of those mistakes.
Looking forward to Wednesday to see this team in action.
The match has no significance for the Americans, but Guatamala has to win and get help from the Cubans to have a shot at qualifying. A draw by Trinidad & Tobago or better over the Cubans and the Guatamalans are eliminated.
Here is the roster, with comments:
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract). Guzan is likely to get the start, but Perkins wouldn't be a bad selection either. Perkins is coming off a great season for Valerenga, including winning the Norwegian league title and being names player of the year by his club.
DEFENDERS (6): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution). All in all, not a bad crew here for a game with little meaning. Were it not for Columbus Crew being in the MLS cup final, I would have expected to see Chad Marshall in this list and I hope that he gets called into camp in January. I am glad to see Franklin and Parkhurst in this mix.
MIDFIELDERS (5): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire). An interesting mix here, and a little on the short side of the list. Only five and really on two truly defensive midfielders. Yes, Kljestan checks back a lot, but only Clark and Mastroeni are real holding midfielder types.
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire). I am routinely baffled by the inclusion of Rolfe, who is streaky and inconsistent. Arnaud played very well this year and earned a camp spot, but I am not sure he had done enough to get a start. Ditto for Casey.
Given this list of players, are we doing to see something different from Bob Bradley? Something that will confuse and confound the Guatamalans and the rest of CONCACAF? A version of a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 perhaps?
If a 4-3-3, look for this line up:
--Altidore---Ching---Cooper--
--Adu---Mastroeni----Kljestan-
Bornstein--Goodson--Parkhurst--Franklin
---------Guzan----------------
A 4-2-3-1 might look like this:
----------Ching------------
Thorrington---Adu-----Kljestan
-------Clark-----Mastroeni----
Bornstein--Goodson--Parkhurst--Franklin
---------Guzan----------------
The problem is that a 4-2-3-1 is a formation you play to not lose rather than win. It sacrifices the talents of your best asset on this team, strenth and speed in the strikers. Ching is the best target forward in this bunch and why not let Jozy and Cooper play off of him, given Cooper the head that he has previously wanted to show, i.e. going back to collect the ball and bring it forward. He and Jozy both have the strenght, speed and skill to go at players and both can play well in the air.
Bradley should slip the leash on his young attackers, Altidore, Adu, Kljestan, Cooper and let Mastroeni orchestrate. If that back line gets beat, and the left side is the weak side since I don't think that Bornstein has the necessary pace, so be it. The idea here is to blood some of the young potential players and see how they react. Given that Franklin has made his first year a career of covering mistakes by other defenders, it would be refrehsing to pair him with a defender like Parkhurst who doesn't make a lot of those mistakes.
Looking forward to Wednesday to see this team in action.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Fulham 2:1 Tottenham
Fulham put an end to the magical streak of Tottenham and their new manager Harry Rednapp. Tottenham came to Craven Cottage boasting a six game unbeaten streak in all competitions, but Simon Davies and Andy Johnson scored one goal apiece to give the Whites teh win before a capactiy crowd at Craven Cottage.
Roy Hodgson started his normal 4-4-2, but American Clint Dempsey grabbed a start for the Whites, replacing Zoltan Gera in the midfield. Davies shifted to the left side of midfield as Dempsey slotted into the right.
The win moved Fulham to 9th in the league and the loss dropped Tottenham back into the relegation zone. But the table is still quite tight, with just seven points separating 7th place Everton (18 points) and last place West Brom (11 points).
Next week, Fulham will try to keep their winning form as they travel to Anfield to face the second place Liverpool. Fulham's rather disasterous away form is not likely to help, but the Whites are playing solid football.
Roy Hodgson started his normal 4-4-2, but American Clint Dempsey grabbed a start for the Whites, replacing Zoltan Gera in the midfield. Davies shifted to the left side of midfield as Dempsey slotted into the right.
The win moved Fulham to 9th in the league and the loss dropped Tottenham back into the relegation zone. But the table is still quite tight, with just seven points separating 7th place Everton (18 points) and last place West Brom (11 points).
Next week, Fulham will try to keep their winning form as they travel to Anfield to face the second place Liverpool. Fulham's rather disasterous away form is not likely to help, but the Whites are playing solid football.
Friday, November 14, 2008
$15 Million for Landon Donovan
That's the figure according to Major League Soccer (MLS) Rumors. citing none other than Alexi Lalas.
Lalas thinks Landon is worth $15 million for MLS. Bayern might want to pay $7 or $8 million. Really, I think Landon might fetch $10 million, maybe a little more.
Of course, Alexi Lalas' business acumen is notoriously strong. Who does he work for again?
Lalas thinks Landon is worth $15 million for MLS. Bayern might want to pay $7 or $8 million. Really, I think Landon might fetch $10 million, maybe a little more.
Of course, Alexi Lalas' business acumen is notoriously strong. Who does he work for again?
Inside a U.S. hostage rescue mission
The Army Times tells the story of a hostage rescue in Afghanistan.
Dozens of men to rescue one single hostage. That is what America is about, we don't leave men behind.
As Betsy Newmark said, "The details read like a movie script." It sure does, but by the same token, it is what American special forces train for everyday.
Dozens of men to rescue one single hostage. That is what America is about, we don't leave men behind.
As Betsy Newmark said, "The details read like a movie script." It sure does, but by the same token, it is what American special forces train for everyday.
Comments About Obama Scrutinized
Two Durham, N.C. police officers being investigated for remarks made against Obama.
But there is a larger point to be made here- and that is about a "Code of Conduct," public employees and their rights.
For example, when I worked as a law clerk at teh Federal Election Commission, I was prohibited from lending advice on campaign finance matters to candidates or parties. Fine, but I wasn't prohibited from campaigning for candidates or causes. The restriction was the price of admission and a reasonable restriction on my first amendment right of association. The line was clear--This activity is permitted, this type of activity is not. Everyone knew what was right and wrong.
Now, the problem with many of these municipal codes of conduct (and I have not seen the Durham police departments' Code but the supposition is probably not far off) is that this Code of Conduct is probably far from specific. That is the danger both for the city (who will no doubt get sued for this investigation) and the employees. No one is really sure what is permitted and what is not permitted.
The other problem with such non-specfic Codes of Conduct is not just the vagueness but the subjectivity and room for abuse that can occur. I would not be surprised that in the course of this investigation and subsequent lawsuit that it is discovered that these two officers are not well liked by others and/or their leadership. So, someone in a position of authority takes upon themselves to do a little digging in to these guys and lo and behold we have something that is negatively said about a popular political figure. So the busy-body says, "well this is a violation of the Code of Conduct and they should be investigated." While we know the posting was not a racial slur, it is being investigated with racial overtones ("Bonfield added that if the allegations are found to be true and officers posted racially charged statements, then an appropriate response by the department would be warranted."), I don't think we would be hearing about it if it was a death threat (which would be investigated by the Secret Service who are actually, you know, capable of keeping their mouth shut about investigations) so you are left with the idea that it is racially motivated (a loaded term in Durham) but no other details.
So, the larger question is how far can cities go in limiting the rights of their employees for what is clearly and admitted private behavior?
Derogatory remarks toward President-elect Barack Obama made on a social networking Web site are now the subject of an internal police investigation.In a community not exactly known for a "by the book" approach to issues with racial overtones, this is a troubling development. More to the point, this investigation seems to be rife with subjectivity and that is a dangerous combination.
A police department employee claims the statements were made on the MySpace pages of two Durham officers.
"There's no exact words that were said," said Police Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr. in a telephone interview Wednesday from San Diego, where he is attending the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference. "It wasn't a racial slur, but we're still investigating it."
Investigators, who are focusing on the context of what was written, have been looking into the allegations since Thursday.
But there is a larger point to be made here- and that is about a "Code of Conduct," public employees and their rights.
The department's code of conduct, under the heading "private life," states that an officer's "character and conduct while off duty must always be exemplary, thus maintaining a position of respect in the community in which he or she lives and serves. The officer's personal behavior must be beyond reproach."Now, I can understand a Code of Conduct that prohibits things like becoming visibly intoxicated in public, or bringing disrepute to the police department or you actually violating the law. But where can the city or other governmental entity draw the line as to what is admittedly private behavior by an public employee being inappropriate or violating a Code of Conduct. In other words, where does a public employee's free speech rights end and the government's rights as an employer begin.
Lopez said even though the remarks were made on a personal Web page, the comments could be a violation of the policy.
"As a police officer, it doesn't matter where you do it, if you provide disservice to the organization, it violates the [department's] code of conduct," he said. "It is a high standard that officers are held accountable to."
For example, when I worked as a law clerk at teh Federal Election Commission, I was prohibited from lending advice on campaign finance matters to candidates or parties. Fine, but I wasn't prohibited from campaigning for candidates or causes. The restriction was the price of admission and a reasonable restriction on my first amendment right of association. The line was clear--This activity is permitted, this type of activity is not. Everyone knew what was right and wrong.
Now, the problem with many of these municipal codes of conduct (and I have not seen the Durham police departments' Code but the supposition is probably not far off) is that this Code of Conduct is probably far from specific. That is the danger both for the city (who will no doubt get sued for this investigation) and the employees. No one is really sure what is permitted and what is not permitted.
The other problem with such non-specfic Codes of Conduct is not just the vagueness but the subjectivity and room for abuse that can occur. I would not be surprised that in the course of this investigation and subsequent lawsuit that it is discovered that these two officers are not well liked by others and/or their leadership. So, someone in a position of authority takes upon themselves to do a little digging in to these guys and lo and behold we have something that is negatively said about a popular political figure. So the busy-body says, "well this is a violation of the Code of Conduct and they should be investigated." While we know the posting was not a racial slur, it is being investigated with racial overtones ("Bonfield added that if the allegations are found to be true and officers posted racially charged statements, then an appropriate response by the department would be warranted."), I don't think we would be hearing about it if it was a death threat (which would be investigated by the Secret Service who are actually, you know, capable of keeping their mouth shut about investigations) so you are left with the idea that it is racially motivated (a loaded term in Durham) but no other details.
So, the larger question is how far can cities go in limiting the rights of their employees for what is clearly and admitted private behavior?
Columbus Advances to First MLS Cup Final
What a quality game from the two best teams in MLS (at least by record). The number of subtexts running in this game were nice as well. More on that in a second. In the first half it looked like it was all Chicago as they looked to be poised to work their road form magic. Brian McBride's goal in the middle of the first half demonstrated why he is still a threat at age 35 (he almost had a second but was snuffed by Will Hesmer). The game was end to end, with bursts of possession, speed, counterattacking, passing, movement and everything that goes to a quality game.
The second half was all Columbus for the first 30 minutes of the half. Two quick goals, and lots of pressure demonstrated why Columbus is the Supporter's Sheild winner. They showed character, heart and skill. If there was any doubt as to why the Crew's Chad Marshall was defender of the year, they needed to look no further than last night. He was a terror at both ends of the field, getting the equalizing goal, shutting down Blanco, containing McBride and making himself a nuisance on Chicago set pieces. If there was any doubt as to why Guillermo Barros Schelotto should be the League MVP, it was put to rest last night. Two assists and great creativity show why he deserves the nod. Last night showed why Robbie Rodgers and Eddie Gaven at the best winger duo in MLS. And last night should have been a chastisement to DC United for giving up Brian Carroll.
But great play is not confined to the Columbus side of the ball. Why the United States didn't naturalize Boukary Somare is beyond me, but he will be a big help to the Mali National Team. Wilman Conde showed also why he is consistently at the top of everyone's defensive list. Blanco and McBride (if both are back next year) showed us that experience, vision and positioning can make up for lack of pace. Justin Mapp made a case for his growing role in the Fire midfield. Despite two goals against him, Jon Busch showed us why he is one of the best keepers in MLS. Neither goal can be attributed to a goalkeeping error, but Gaven's goal is a defensive error that Busch almost saved.
But what is entertaining is some of the subplots:
1. Chicago was the only one of the four teams left in the competition that had previously won an MLS Cup. With their elimination, there will be a brand new MLS Cup Champion this year.
2. Columbus goalkeeper, Will Hesmer, used to be a back up for the Chicago Fire, amazing to see what he has become. Additionally, with Columbus in teh MLS Cup Final, Hesmer will be playing in the Cup Final on his birthday--pretty cool that one potential present might be hoisting the Cup.
3. Chicago fan favorite (and Chicago area native) Brian McBride's early career was spent with Columbus who hoped the former U.S. International would rejoin the Crew (although a testimonial match certainly seems likely at Columbus).
I just hope that the Western Conference Finals between Real Salt Lake and NY Red Bulls (geez I just can stomach that notion) is as entertaining.
The second half was all Columbus for the first 30 minutes of the half. Two quick goals, and lots of pressure demonstrated why Columbus is the Supporter's Sheild winner. They showed character, heart and skill. If there was any doubt as to why the Crew's Chad Marshall was defender of the year, they needed to look no further than last night. He was a terror at both ends of the field, getting the equalizing goal, shutting down Blanco, containing McBride and making himself a nuisance on Chicago set pieces. If there was any doubt as to why Guillermo Barros Schelotto should be the League MVP, it was put to rest last night. Two assists and great creativity show why he deserves the nod. Last night showed why Robbie Rodgers and Eddie Gaven at the best winger duo in MLS. And last night should have been a chastisement to DC United for giving up Brian Carroll.
But great play is not confined to the Columbus side of the ball. Why the United States didn't naturalize Boukary Somare is beyond me, but he will be a big help to the Mali National Team. Wilman Conde showed also why he is consistently at the top of everyone's defensive list. Blanco and McBride (if both are back next year) showed us that experience, vision and positioning can make up for lack of pace. Justin Mapp made a case for his growing role in the Fire midfield. Despite two goals against him, Jon Busch showed us why he is one of the best keepers in MLS. Neither goal can be attributed to a goalkeeping error, but Gaven's goal is a defensive error that Busch almost saved.
But what is entertaining is some of the subplots:
1. Chicago was the only one of the four teams left in the competition that had previously won an MLS Cup. With their elimination, there will be a brand new MLS Cup Champion this year.
2. Columbus goalkeeper, Will Hesmer, used to be a back up for the Chicago Fire, amazing to see what he has become. Additionally, with Columbus in teh MLS Cup Final, Hesmer will be playing in the Cup Final on his birthday--pretty cool that one potential present might be hoisting the Cup.
3. Chicago fan favorite (and Chicago area native) Brian McBride's early career was spent with Columbus who hoped the former U.S. International would rejoin the Crew (although a testimonial match certainly seems likely at Columbus).
I just hope that the Western Conference Finals between Real Salt Lake and NY Red Bulls (geez I just can stomach that notion) is as entertaining.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sean Franklin MLS Rookie of the Year
Good for Franklin. Ives Galarcep leads:
Had it not been for Franklin's work ethic and non-stop effort when on the pitch, L.A.'s Goals Conceded tally might be much higher.
This is a quality award and well done.
I think Franklin has earned a chance to get a cap for the National Team. If he plays next year like he did this year, a move to Europe is in his future.
You might ask yourself how a defender on the absolute worse defense in Major League Soccer can win an award. While that is a valid question what you should ask yourself is just how good does a defender have to be to get noticed playing on the nightmare that was the 2008 LA Galaxy defense.In my mind there were three stand out players on the Galaxy this year, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle and Sean Franklin.
Sean Franklin was that good. A rookie who spent much of the year covering for the mistakes and deficiencies of the players around him, Franklin showed that he has all the tools to become a standout defender for years to come. He was impressive enough to earn a look from U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley earlier this week, and he impressed enough to win 2008 MLS rookie of the year.
Had it not been for Franklin's work ethic and non-stop effort when on the pitch, L.A.'s Goals Conceded tally might be much higher.
This is a quality award and well done.
I think Franklin has earned a chance to get a cap for the National Team. If he plays next year like he did this year, a move to Europe is in his future.
The Power of Soccer to Change Lives
and the heartache that goes with it.
In a country where mostly middle class kids play soccer and have so much, it is good to be reminded that soccer is often the only path out of abject poverty.
In a country where mostly middle class kids play soccer and have so much, it is good to be reminded that soccer is often the only path out of abject poverty.
FIFA World Rankings
FIFA released the new world rankings, the top five are
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. Netherlands
5. Brazile
The U.S. is ranked 24th, one above Mexico. Makes that hexagonal for World Cup qualifying interesting.
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. Netherlands
5. Brazile
The U.S. is ranked 24th, one above Mexico. Makes that hexagonal for World Cup qualifying interesting.
New McCain Feingold Lawsuite
The RNC is doing it. Interesting.
Yes the Supreme Court will hear this case (assuming is survives dismissal) because BCRA is written with the original case being heard by a three judge District Court panel and then the Supreme Court is the first and only appeallate stop.
Will the Supreme Court overturn the ban on soft money? I don't know.
Yes the Supreme Court will hear this case (assuming is survives dismissal) because BCRA is written with the original case being heard by a three judge District Court panel and then the Supreme Court is the first and only appeallate stop.
Will the Supreme Court overturn the ban on soft money? I don't know.
Washington's $5 Trillion Tab
Forbes.com is reporting on the $5 Trillion dollar tab the U.S. Government is accumulating fighting the credit crunch.
As some point that bill is coming due and it won't be pretty.
Plus, remember that tax cut promised to 95% of America--yeah like that was ever going to happen--might be dead even before Obama is sworn in. There was absolutely no way that Obama's spending plan could be implemented with this tax cut--the math just doesn't add up.
Oh, and now Obama wants a $50 billion bailout for automakers? Please, wake up--we can't give more money way like this.
Just to give you an idea, if you took $5 trillion and gave it in equal amounts to every man, woman, and child in America right now (some 330 million people), you would be able to give out $15,000 to each person. That bill will have to be repaid somehow.
Really, when are we going to stop the madness.
As some point that bill is coming due and it won't be pretty.
Plus, remember that tax cut promised to 95% of America--yeah like that was ever going to happen--might be dead even before Obama is sworn in. There was absolutely no way that Obama's spending plan could be implemented with this tax cut--the math just doesn't add up.
Oh, and now Obama wants a $50 billion bailout for automakers? Please, wake up--we can't give more money way like this.
Just to give you an idea, if you took $5 trillion and gave it in equal amounts to every man, woman, and child in America right now (some 330 million people), you would be able to give out $15,000 to each person. That bill will have to be repaid somehow.
Really, when are we going to stop the madness.
Wow!! Doctors say marrow transplant may have cured AIDS on Yahoo! Health
This is big news.
At the very least, this fluke is good news for one man and that provides hope.
BERLIN - An American man who suffered from AIDS appears to have been cured of the disease 20 months after receiving a targeted bone marrow transplant normally used to fight leukemia, his doctors said.If it is a fluke, it is something of a lucky fluke as it gives researchers something new to look at in teh fight to find a cure for AIDS. Remember, penicillin was discovered somewhat by accident.
While researchers — and the doctors themselves — caution that the case might be no more than a fluke, others say it may inspire a greater interest in gene therapy to fight the disease that claims 2 million lives each year. The virus has infected 33 million people worldwide.
Dr. Gero Huetter said Wedneday his 42-year-old patient, an American living in Berlin who was not identified, had been infected with the AIDS virus for more than a decade. But 20 months after undergoing a transplant of genetically selected bone marrow, he no longer shows signs of carrying the virus.
"We waited every day for a bad reading," Huetter said.
It has not come. Researchers at Berlin's Charite hospital and medical school say tests on his bone marrow, blood and other organ tissues have all been clean.
At the very least, this fluke is good news for one man and that provides hope.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
McCain Supporter Claims She Suffered Racial Taunts in Class|NewsChannel 8
This is just wrong and unfortunately symptomatic of both higher education and low class:
McCain Supporter Claims She Suffered Racial Taunts in Class
McCain Supporter Claims She Suffered Racial Taunts in Class
Boehner Looks for the Details
Bloomberg reports:
House Republican leader John Boehner called for the Federal Reserve to disclose the recipients of almost $2 trillion of emergency loans from American taxpayers and the troubled assets the central bank is accepting as collateral.Of course, I am worried as well and worried that bailout fever is spreading.
Boehner, in a prepared statement, also asked the Federal Reserve to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request requesting details about the loans.
The Fed ``should comply with this Freedom of Information Act request, and in the interest of full and fair disclosure, they must begin providing lawmakers and taxpayers all information about how they are using federal tax dollars,'' Boehner said.
Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said in September they would comply with congressional demands for transparency in a $700 billion bailout of the banking system. Two months later, as the Fed lends far more than that in separate rescue programs that didn't require approval by Congress, there is little disclosure about how the programs are being implemented.
Bloomberg News has requested details of the Fed lending under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act and filed a federal lawsuit Nov. 7 seeking to force disclosure.
A spokesman for the Federal Reserve didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Boehner said he is increasingly concerned that the government's actions to add stability to financial markets is moving into areas that were not the stated intention when Congress approved $700 billion for a Treasury-administered program to bail out the financial sector that is being weighed down by the housing crisis.
MLS TV Ratings Continue Decline
Kartik Krishnaier is worried about MLS TV Ratings and its impact on the game in America.
Yes, I do believe that more American soccer fans are watch Premier League matches than MLS matches. Yes, that might be a bit of Premier League snobbery. It could also simply be a matter of choice.
ESPN Thursday night games suffer from one major and overriding fault, some that Fox Soccer does not suffer from when broadcasting EPL games--scheduling consistency.
You want to attract a good quality audience on a regular basis? You cannot have your game starting time move from 7:30 pm to 10:30pm on a week to week to week basis. Let's say for example, this week the Thursday night game is between DC United and Columbus--the game will start probably at 8:00pm Eastern or thereabouts, with pregame at 7:30 PM. The problem then is that next week, the Thursday night game might be Real Salt Lake hosting Dallas and the game will start at 9:30 pm Eastern. Simply put, you can't set a time to watch the Thursday night game for ESPN.
FSC doesnt' have that problem with EPL games. EPL used to schedule every game to be on Saturday and later Sunday at 3:00pm Local time in England. That means games would start at 10:00am Eastern time and 6:00 Pacific. It was consistent. Now EPL has games at differeing times, usually 3:00pm, 5:00pm and maybe 7:00pm England time to allow for more TV time. Not a bad idea, but the timing is consistent.
MLS has not discovered that. Right now, MLS dictates game times for Thursday night, but why not schedule games so that kick off, no matter where it is in the States, occures at 9:00pm Eastern? Ticket revenue might be a problem, but consistency builds and audience.
MLS TV ratings are about as bad as can be imagined. ESPN2’s Thursday night rating fell this season and the telecasts averaged a 0.2 rating and was watched in an average of 251,000 homes weekly. ESPN 2 has achieved higher average ratings in prime time for such sports as Poker and Bowling in the last year. However, those sports have limited upside potential when compared with Football. But Football in the US fans clearly aren’t enamored with MLS: US National Team telecasts on ESPN and ESPN have averaged a 0.6 rating this year and the Euros averaged a 0.8 on the networks. The lack of viewership on ESPN 2 is a major concern as the network has invested a rights fee in the league for the first time. Despite the signing of David Beckham, MLS averaged less viewers in 2008 on ESPN2 than the league did in 2006 before Beckham was signed and before the new TV deal took affect. But even more worrying is that MLS games averaged according to BNet a 0.5 rating on ESPN and a 0.3 rating on ESPN 2 for the 1998 season. MLS also averaged a 0.9 rating on ABC that season, when the network broadcast 13 regular season games. The lone ABC telecast this season between the league’s two most successful clubs historically, garnered a 1.1 rating as a lead in to the Euro 2008 final which achieved a 3.2 rating.Now normally, Kartik is a bit of a worry-wort when it comes to the development of the game in America and tends to be a bit negative on some matters. He is likewise a bit negative on this matter as well.
Yes, I do believe that more American soccer fans are watch Premier League matches than MLS matches. Yes, that might be a bit of Premier League snobbery. It could also simply be a matter of choice.
ESPN Thursday night games suffer from one major and overriding fault, some that Fox Soccer does not suffer from when broadcasting EPL games--scheduling consistency.
You want to attract a good quality audience on a regular basis? You cannot have your game starting time move from 7:30 pm to 10:30pm on a week to week to week basis. Let's say for example, this week the Thursday night game is between DC United and Columbus--the game will start probably at 8:00pm Eastern or thereabouts, with pregame at 7:30 PM. The problem then is that next week, the Thursday night game might be Real Salt Lake hosting Dallas and the game will start at 9:30 pm Eastern. Simply put, you can't set a time to watch the Thursday night game for ESPN.
FSC doesnt' have that problem with EPL games. EPL used to schedule every game to be on Saturday and later Sunday at 3:00pm Local time in England. That means games would start at 10:00am Eastern time and 6:00 Pacific. It was consistent. Now EPL has games at differeing times, usually 3:00pm, 5:00pm and maybe 7:00pm England time to allow for more TV time. Not a bad idea, but the timing is consistent.
MLS has not discovered that. Right now, MLS dictates game times for Thursday night, but why not schedule games so that kick off, no matter where it is in the States, occures at 9:00pm Eastern? Ticket revenue might be a problem, but consistency builds and audience.
NOOOOO!!!! Donovan Should Not be the Player of the Year.
I know that a lot of people don't put a great deal of stock in goalkeepers. To a certain extent it is the aberration of the position, they dress differently, they can use their hands in a game where such skills are not thought of a sporting. some people think all that goalkeepers do is kick the ball a really long way and spend the rest of the game looking for hot WAGS in the stands.
So why am I talking about this: Landon Donovan has been voted the Honda Player of the Year (for the fifth time) beating out my personal choice Tim Howard.
Don't get me wrong, it is not that I think Donovan is a poor player or undeserving of his previous four awards, but he was not the best player for the U.S. team this year. His national team form has been off, he has been absent from entire games despite being in the starting line up. Yes, I know he has scored more goals for the U.S. Men's team than anyone else, but he doesn't deserve it this year.
Tim Howard had a spectacular year. His performance against Argentina alone warranted the award. Additionally, Howard has had five shutouts in 2008 (including Argentina) given up just three goals all year as the U.S.'s number one keeper.
Goalkeepers have the toughest job on the field. They can be completely inactive for 88 minutes of the game, but no matter what, they will be expected to make the stop in the last minute of the game. Goalkeepers rarely win games for teams, but they can certainly lose games. Tim Howard never lost a game for the U.S. although they did lose.
The voters for the Player of the Year award got this one wrong.
So why am I talking about this: Landon Donovan has been voted the Honda Player of the Year (for the fifth time) beating out my personal choice Tim Howard.
Don't get me wrong, it is not that I think Donovan is a poor player or undeserving of his previous four awards, but he was not the best player for the U.S. team this year. His national team form has been off, he has been absent from entire games despite being in the starting line up. Yes, I know he has scored more goals for the U.S. Men's team than anyone else, but he doesn't deserve it this year.
Tim Howard had a spectacular year. His performance against Argentina alone warranted the award. Additionally, Howard has had five shutouts in 2008 (including Argentina) given up just three goals all year as the U.S.'s number one keeper.
Goalkeepers have the toughest job on the field. They can be completely inactive for 88 minutes of the game, but no matter what, they will be expected to make the stop in the last minute of the game. Goalkeepers rarely win games for teams, but they can certainly lose games. Tim Howard never lost a game for the U.S. although they did lose.
The voters for the Player of the Year award got this one wrong.
Pablo Mastroeni Will Stay in MLS
After being publicly linked to Seria A side Cagliari and a handful of Serie B sides, Colorado Rapids veteran midfielder Pablo Mastroeni will remain with the Colorado Rapids. Coming on the heels of the announcement of Gary Smith to be the Rapids head coach, this decision by Mastroeni has to make Smith breath a little easier and make the Rapids fans happy as well.
While I can understand the desire of many players to move to European leagues, particularly top ones like Serie A, MLS has to be concerned about the growth of the game in this country when their marquee names head east. While Mastroeni himself will not be the person to grow the game in this country, keeping players like him in MLS will do several things:
1. It will force MLS and owners to really consider their pay scales relative to Europe. The hard salary cap means that a lot of developing players with skill can go east and get twice the salary of the league minimum in MLS and still develop.
2. Keeping Mastroenie here (and other like him) can provide a backbone for developing the game here, if MLS doesn't blow it.
I like Mastroeni as a player and think this a good decision for him professionally and personally. Good luck.
While I can understand the desire of many players to move to European leagues, particularly top ones like Serie A, MLS has to be concerned about the growth of the game in this country when their marquee names head east. While Mastroeni himself will not be the person to grow the game in this country, keeping players like him in MLS will do several things:
1. It will force MLS and owners to really consider their pay scales relative to Europe. The hard salary cap means that a lot of developing players with skill can go east and get twice the salary of the league minimum in MLS and still develop.
2. Keeping Mastroenie here (and other like him) can provide a backbone for developing the game here, if MLS doesn't blow it.
I like Mastroeni as a player and think this a good decision for him professionally and personally. Good luck.
Real Salt Lake's Andy Williams Family Struggles
The NY Times has this story about Andy Williams' wife and her search for a bone marrow donor to fight her rare form of luekemia.
NY Red Bulls will face Real Salt Lake in the Western conference finals (I never thought I would say something like that) on Saturday. Williams will likely see time as a sub late in the game.
This bit hits hard:
Still you have to admire a man who can put aside his personal struggles and not let it affect his job too much. But, by the same token, he has been able to use his job to help his wife. Not too shabby for a footballer.
NY Red Bulls will face Real Salt Lake in the Western conference finals (I never thought I would say something like that) on Saturday. Williams will likely see time as a sub late in the game.
This bit hits hard:
The time Williams spends on the field is an escape, a chance to exhaust his body and refresh his mind, to pour himself into something without so much gravity. When he prepares to return to real life, he empties his reservoir.I too have sought solace on the soccer field in the past.
“I cry after every game, every time,” said Williams, who sometimes puts a towel over his head to hide his tears. “Every time I play, I’m not playing for myself. I’m playing for Marcia and the kids. When the game is over, it doesn’t matter if I’ve played 30 minutes or 90, I have to let my emotions go.”
As he spoke last week, he sat in a room overlooking the field at Rio Tinto Stadium with the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains in the distance. It is there that Real Salt Lake will play the Red Bulls on Saturday in the next round of the M.L.S playoffs, after eliminating Chivas U.S.A. in the first round. Marcia was at his side, often placing a hand on his knee.
Still you have to admire a man who can put aside his personal struggles and not let it affect his job too much. But, by the same token, he has been able to use his job to help his wife. Not too shabby for a footballer.
Abortion Foes' Dilemma: Confront or Cooperate?
Ever since Roe v. Wade, the Republican party has been, hijacked is too strong a word influenced is too weak a word so somewhere in between is appropriate, by the pro-life movement. At the same time, every time we see a pro-choice candidate, there is automatic assumption that such a candidate supports abortion on demand without limitations. Every presidential election, the GOP and the Democrats, and various subsets of each approach the issue of abortion like it is the grand battle of our lifetime with cries of extremism beling leveled at both camps by both camps.
Barack Obama's electoral win, and the defeat of a few abortion related referenda in the states, the pro-life camp is left with the question: Confront or Cooperate? It is a real question for the pro-life movement and one that they will struggle with mightily. However, what the GOP needs to do is not get bogged down into the debate any more.
Since Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court's abortion jurisprudence has been little more than tinkering around the edges. Despite the panicked fears of the pro-choice crowd, there simply is little reason for the Supreme Court to take up an abortion case; the nine justices, even the five most conservative justices are not fools and they won't touch a case with a ten-foot pole. Similarly, depsite whatever their personal preferences might be, it seems extremely unlikely that the Court will simply overturn Roe v. Wade and there is a valid reason for it.
The fact of the matter is, outside a few groups, the issue of abortion does not inform voters choices all that much. In the list of issues upon which voters decided whom to support, abortion is well down on the list, behind things that demand attention, the economy, terrorism, education, tax policy, and the like. It is a small, and yes vocal, group that determines their vote simply on a candidates position on abortion.
The problem for the GOP is that the pro-life group that makes that decision on a single issue holds far too much sway in the party. Why must a candidate declare a stance that is strictly pro-life in order to be the party's standard bearer? No candidate meets every single criteria. (Conversely, why must the "feminist" branch of the Democrats insist on pro-choice?) Really, a president has almost zero impact on abortion policy in this country. To this extent, the GOP has been "less than hijacked, more than appropriately influenced" by the pro-life movement.
I think that most Americans of a middle mind on the issue. They are loath to outlaw abortion completely and at the same time are not willing to allow abortion on demand at any time under any circumstances. I tend to believe that most Americans would agree with the notion that abortion should be safe, legal and rare. For example, I think many people like me would never counsel a woman to get an abortion, but neither would I stand in the way of a woman, in full control of her faculties, and competent enough to choose, from seeking an abortion (just don't ask me to endorse the idea). Is this the influence of the Court, setting out this road of "trimester" analysis that strikes a balance between the two camps? Perhaps, but I tend to think of it as America doing what America does best, finding a pragmatic and principale manner of dealing with an issue that really has no resolution.
For too long abortion politics has dominated the political landscape, the result of smart politicking, smart P.R. and the never quit attitude of the two opposing camps. I am not saying that these groups need to go away, as they have just as much right to speak about issues important to them as anyone else. What I am suggesting is that the political parties, Republicans and Democrats alike, need to deny center stage, veto power over candidates for national office on this issue; the parties need to be bigger than that.
Barack Obama's electoral win, and the defeat of a few abortion related referenda in the states, the pro-life camp is left with the question: Confront or Cooperate? It is a real question for the pro-life movement and one that they will struggle with mightily. However, what the GOP needs to do is not get bogged down into the debate any more.
Since Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court's abortion jurisprudence has been little more than tinkering around the edges. Despite the panicked fears of the pro-choice crowd, there simply is little reason for the Supreme Court to take up an abortion case; the nine justices, even the five most conservative justices are not fools and they won't touch a case with a ten-foot pole. Similarly, depsite whatever their personal preferences might be, it seems extremely unlikely that the Court will simply overturn Roe v. Wade and there is a valid reason for it.
The fact of the matter is, outside a few groups, the issue of abortion does not inform voters choices all that much. In the list of issues upon which voters decided whom to support, abortion is well down on the list, behind things that demand attention, the economy, terrorism, education, tax policy, and the like. It is a small, and yes vocal, group that determines their vote simply on a candidates position on abortion.
The problem for the GOP is that the pro-life group that makes that decision on a single issue holds far too much sway in the party. Why must a candidate declare a stance that is strictly pro-life in order to be the party's standard bearer? No candidate meets every single criteria. (Conversely, why must the "feminist" branch of the Democrats insist on pro-choice?) Really, a president has almost zero impact on abortion policy in this country. To this extent, the GOP has been "less than hijacked, more than appropriately influenced" by the pro-life movement.
I think that most Americans of a middle mind on the issue. They are loath to outlaw abortion completely and at the same time are not willing to allow abortion on demand at any time under any circumstances. I tend to believe that most Americans would agree with the notion that abortion should be safe, legal and rare. For example, I think many people like me would never counsel a woman to get an abortion, but neither would I stand in the way of a woman, in full control of her faculties, and competent enough to choose, from seeking an abortion (just don't ask me to endorse the idea). Is this the influence of the Court, setting out this road of "trimester" analysis that strikes a balance between the two camps? Perhaps, but I tend to think of it as America doing what America does best, finding a pragmatic and principale manner of dealing with an issue that really has no resolution.
For too long abortion politics has dominated the political landscape, the result of smart politicking, smart P.R. and the never quit attitude of the two opposing camps. I am not saying that these groups need to go away, as they have just as much right to speak about issues important to them as anyone else. What I am suggesting is that the political parties, Republicans and Democrats alike, need to deny center stage, veto power over candidates for national office on this issue; the parties need to be bigger than that.
Interesting Supreme Court Case Today
The Salt Lake Tribune has an overview of the dispute in Pleasant Grove City, UT v. Summum, briefly stated:
At first blush, it looks like a pretty clear cut case of viewpoint or content discrimination, but I am not so sure. Which of course is why it is at the Supreme Court.
Thou shalt - or shalt not - allow Seven Aphorisms to go on display in a public park along with the Ten Commandments.This is going to be a tough one for the Justices, who will have to revisit a couple of 2005 cases dealing with displays of the 10 Commandments in public spaces and given the nature of this case, it will probably not result in anything clear cut and helpful for municipalities in the future.
That's the crux of a monumental Utah case going before the U.S. Supreme Court today.
The dispute erupted after Pleasant Grove allowed one group to post a stone tablet of the Ten Commandments in the city's Pioneer Park. A Salt Lake City-based spiritual group called Summum then tried to post a marker of its own guiding principles, but the Utah County city refused.
Today, the justices will take up the standoff in a case that could set the standard for how cities across the nation deal with religious monuments and symbols in public squares.
"This is an important case for cities all over the country," says Thomas Baker, a professor at the Florida International University's College of Law in Miami who summarized the case for the American Bar Association. "The Supreme Court is going to revise the rules of access to public spaces and public parks."
At first blush, it looks like a pretty clear cut case of viewpoint or content discrimination, but I am not so sure. Which of course is why it is at the Supreme Court.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Newt Gingrich or Michael Steele
For RNC chairman. I suppose the depends on your view of what the RNC chairman should be doing.
Steele is a quality fundraiser, a Marylander and it should be noted, minority.
Gingrich is a wonderful idea man, great speaker and an okay fundraiser.
should the RNC focus on money or ideas?
My thinking is ideas, but I think Steele would be the better choice because he will be attacked as an "Uncle Tom" by Democrats who will not be able to see the irony in their position.
Steele is a quality fundraiser, a Marylander and it should be noted, minority.
Gingrich is a wonderful idea man, great speaker and an okay fundraiser.
should the RNC focus on money or ideas?
My thinking is ideas, but I think Steele would be the better choice because he will be attacked as an "Uncle Tom" by Democrats who will not be able to see the irony in their position.
Andy Johnson for Capello?
England Manager Fabio Capello was at the Fulham -Newcastle match over the weekend and Fulham manager Roy Hodgson believes striker Andy Johnson could get a call-up to the England squad.
I don't know about that. Johnson certainly is on form right now, but he has not been particularly consistent at all this season. Jimmy Bullard was called up previously but I don't seem him get a call again any time soon.
I am not sure who or what Capello was interested in at Craven Cottage, but I would be surprised if it is Andy Johnson.
I don't know about that. Johnson certainly is on form right now, but he has not been particularly consistent at all this season. Jimmy Bullard was called up previously but I don't seem him get a call again any time soon.
I am not sure who or what Capello was interested in at Craven Cottage, but I would be surprised if it is Andy Johnson.
Political Realignment? Nope-not even close
Stuart Rothenberg:
We didn't really see any dramatic shifts in voting patterns. Yes, Obama won bigger amoung groups that had previously supported Kerry (see Hispanics and young voters), but Obama's gain was simply a matter of fewer voters in those groups being as divided as they were in 2004.
Rothenberg does point out one possible problem for Republicans in the future:
Yes, young voters (those who did turn out) turned out heavily for Obama. But it is my belief, backed up by experience, that as young voters age they begin to see the benefits of not having government in every aspect of your life, they begin to pay taxes to a greater extent, they begin to see the waste of governmental programs. Some become more entrenched in their views, but generally, most young voters have "soft views" on most issues that will affect them more later in life.
I have always believed that it is easy to be liberal when you don't have to foot the bill for your liberal views. But when that bill comes due, a lot of people begin to pause and think.
The big question that everyone is asking is whether this month's general election marked the beginning of a political realignment that will create a new dominant party. Have Americans shifted their loyalties and fundamental assumptions about the parties and about the government, or did we just witness a short-term reaction to years of bad news?First, we have to note that turnout, while up from 2004, was not the overwhelming turnout that Democrats and their media assistants would have you believe. It simply ain't so. But was this a "realignment" election. I don't think so.
We didn't really see any dramatic shifts in voting patterns. Yes, Obama won bigger amoung groups that had previously supported Kerry (see Hispanics and young voters), but Obama's gain was simply a matter of fewer voters in those groups being as divided as they were in 2004.
Rothenberg does point out one possible problem for Republicans in the future:
While the highly anticipated surge in younger voters never materialized, those voters younger than 30 who did participate went overwhelmingly for Obama, 66 percent to 32 percent. That 34-point margin was almost four times the 9-point margin that Kerry had with voters younger than 30.This is of course, true, but only so far as the premise, i.e. that these young voters carry their beliefs forward, a proposition I simply don't buy.
As many analysts have pointed out, if these younger voters carry that Democratic preference with them through their lives, they could constitute a strongly Democratic cohort for the next 40 or 50 years.
Yes, young voters (those who did turn out) turned out heavily for Obama. But it is my belief, backed up by experience, that as young voters age they begin to see the benefits of not having government in every aspect of your life, they begin to pay taxes to a greater extent, they begin to see the waste of governmental programs. Some become more entrenched in their views, but generally, most young voters have "soft views" on most issues that will affect them more later in life.
I have always believed that it is easy to be liberal when you don't have to foot the bill for your liberal views. But when that bill comes due, a lot of people begin to pause and think.
P.J. O'Rouke: Conservatives, We Blew It
P.J. O'Rourke:
The conservative agenda got sacrificed on the alter of power (a common problem among politicians), and a desire to remain in power. We have abandoned the concept that government does not belong in every aspect of our daily life. We have sacrificed principles upon the alter of expediency.
It would be easy to sit and blame the economy for the GOP and conservative losses last week, but the simple fact is that we lost this election long before the economy went pear-shaped.
We blew it and we deserved to lose. Now, we have to take back the agenda and begin to simply dominate the domestic agenda, because there is no way Obama can do what he has promised and remain in office for a second term.
Let us bend over and kiss our ass goodbye. Our 28-year conservative opportunity to fix the moral and practical boundaries of government is gone--gone with the bear market and the Bear Stearns and the bear that's headed off to do you-know-what in the woods on our philosophy.I will admit that in the past couple of election cycles, Conservatism has really blown it. Conservatives have really been unable to demonstrate that their ideas on culture, the economy and foreign policy are right.
An entire generation has been born, grown up, and had families of its own since Ronald Reagan was elected. And where is the world we promised these children of the Conservative Age? Where is this land of freedom and responsibility, knowledge, opportunity, accomplishment, honor, truth, trust, and one boring hour each week spent in itchy clothes at church, synagogue, or mosque? It lies in ruins at our feet, as well it might, since we ourselves kicked the shining city upon a hill into dust and rubble. The progeny of the Reagan Revolution will live instead in the universe that revolves around Hyde Park.
Mind you, they won't live in Hyde Park. Those leafy precincts will be reserved for the micromanagers and macro-apparatchiks of liberalism--for Secretary of the Department of Peace Bill Ayers and Secretary of the Department of Fairness Bernardine Dohrn. The formerly independent citizens of our previously self-governed nation will live, as I said, around Hyde Park. They will make what homes they can in the physical, ethical, and intellectual slums of the South Side of Chicago.
The conservative agenda got sacrificed on the alter of power (a common problem among politicians), and a desire to remain in power. We have abandoned the concept that government does not belong in every aspect of our daily life. We have sacrificed principles upon the alter of expediency.
It would be easy to sit and blame the economy for the GOP and conservative losses last week, but the simple fact is that we lost this election long before the economy went pear-shaped.
We blew it and we deserved to lose. Now, we have to take back the agenda and begin to simply dominate the domestic agenda, because there is no way Obama can do what he has promised and remain in office for a second term.
One Term Obama?
There is historical precedent and no, not just Jimmy Carter, but George H.W. Bush. James Pethokoukis:
That's right, the "O" in "Obama" may stand for "One Term." For starters, there's a strong chance that when voters head to the polls on Nov. 2, 2010, they likely will still think the economy is awful. Not much debate about that. (Good chance the Democrats' two-election winning streak comes to an end.) And while voters may be somewhat patient for two years, patient for four years? Really unlikely. If history is any guide at all, voters may still be terribly cranky about the economy when they cast their ballots on Nov. 6, 2012 and thus likely choose the 45th president of the United States -- be it Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal or some other Republican without "Bush" for a last name. Once again a "change" election for an impatient America. The same bad economy that doomed John McCain in 2008 will have sunk Obama, as well.Not that it would a bad thing.
Here's the political and economic math: Let's assume the current downturn turns out to be as painful as the 1990-91 recession. It's an apt comparison. As Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Gary Stern said earlier this year," The situation we confront today is reminiscent, in several salient ways, of the headwinds environment that prevailed in the aftermath of the 1990-91 recession."
Among those "headwinds" Stern referred to: an imploding real estate bubble, a construction bust, a banking crisis, and a credit crunch. Sound familiar? The nation's gross domestic product fell 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 1990 and 2.0 percent in the first quarter of 1991. But even after the economy started expanding again, the unemployment rate kept rising until it hit 7.8 percent in June of 1992 vs. a low of 5.2 percent in June 1990. Recall that in January of 1992, President Bush, running for reelection, told New Hampshire voters that the economy was in "free fall" even though the economy was later shown to have grown at a robust 4.2 percent during the first quarter of that year.
Sexist Calendar in Europe
The Mail Online has the story of a charity calendar featuring bathing suit wearing women of Ryanair, that is getting attention for being "sexist." Really, is there something else we can complain about?
The calendar is under attack:
The calendar is under attack:
The Institute for Women in Spain is considering legal action and intends to complain to Irish and EU authorities that the publication is sexist as it only features female models.come on. Yes, these women are attractive and one presumes no one put a gun to their head to pose in their bikinis, etc. And it does raise money for charity.
In a statement, it said: 'It is significant that only women are used, in a sector in which there is a considerable percentage of men.'
Spokesman MarÃa Jesús Ortiz claimed the images presented the women as 'sexual objects.'
arge 'We're not talking about morals or nudity here, it's simply how women are portrayed,' she said.
Enl'If there had been men in the calendar I'm sure there would have been no controversy.'
The Institute became involved after a complaint from consumer group FACUA, which claimed the images promoted macho behaviour.
'The company is attacking the dignity of women workers in general and especially of cabin crew members, by presenting stereotypical images of these professionals which they have spent years struggling against,' a spokesman added.
Last year's Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar raised over 70,000 euros for the Angels Quest Charity.
Landon Donovan Training With Bayern Munich
Chris Courtney ntoes that Landon Donovan is training with Bayern Munich, telegraphing a move the German giant in January.
Bayern has been unapologetic in their interest in the American International. Donovan has made no secret of his desire to move overseas again. Bayern's manager Jurgen Klinsman knows and likes Donovan.
The question will be, will MLS make a reasonable deal or will they pull a Taylor Twellman type matter. the L.S. Galaxy have to be salivating at the idea since it will free up a massive amount of cap space to help them acquire some more players.
Bayern has been unapologetic in their interest in the American International. Donovan has made no secret of his desire to move overseas again. Bayern's manager Jurgen Klinsman knows and likes Donovan.
The question will be, will MLS make a reasonable deal or will they pull a Taylor Twellman type matter. the L.S. Galaxy have to be salivating at the idea since it will free up a massive amount of cap space to help them acquire some more players.
U.S. MNT Call-Ups
Bob Bradley announced a 19 man roster of players called into to a camp in Colorado. As expected, most are MLS players and not everyone will get to actually see the playing roster come next week. Here is the list with some comments:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brian Edwards (Toronto FC), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract). Edwards is a surprise to be honest, but good for him. Perkins (formerly of DC United--the cheap bastards) just won the Norwegian League Championship over the weekend and was named player of the year for Valerenga.
DEFENDERS (6): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution). Boornstein and Parkhurst are not surprises. Gibbs and Moor I can see. I am surprised to see Sean Franklin, but as an MLS Rookie of the Year candidate, I am glad to see the young man there. I am surprised not to see Marvell Wynne.
MIDFIELDERS (5): Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Nick LaBrocca (Colorado Rapids), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids). there will be some additions to this list. Kljestan, Rico Clark and Mastroeni will likely see time against Guatamala. But did Bradley just call in Colorado's starting midfield? Bradley needs to add an attacking midfielder, with Landon Donovan on a 10 day trial with Bayern Munich, it won't be Landycakes. Stuart Holden anyone? Jose Torres?
FORWARDS (5): Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Chad Barrett (Toronto FC), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas). Can't stand to see Barrett there, but Cooper is finally on teh list and will probably get some minutes and maybe the start.
Given the relatively unimportant nature of the game, might Troy Perkins get the starting nod? I hope so. Now I know that this pool will be supplemented by MLS conference final losers and some European based players, but just on this pool, this could be a starting line-up
--------Cooper----Ching-----------
C. Clark------Kljestan-------LaBrocca
-----------Mastroeni----------------
Bornstein--Goodson--Parkhurst--Franklin
-------------Perkins--------------
Not world beaters, but not a bad crew either.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brian Edwards (Toronto FC), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract). Edwards is a surprise to be honest, but good for him. Perkins (formerly of DC United--the cheap bastards) just won the Norwegian League Championship over the weekend and was named player of the year for Valerenga.
DEFENDERS (6): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution). Boornstein and Parkhurst are not surprises. Gibbs and Moor I can see. I am surprised to see Sean Franklin, but as an MLS Rookie of the Year candidate, I am glad to see the young man there. I am surprised not to see Marvell Wynne.
MIDFIELDERS (5): Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Nick LaBrocca (Colorado Rapids), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids). there will be some additions to this list. Kljestan, Rico Clark and Mastroeni will likely see time against Guatamala. But did Bradley just call in Colorado's starting midfield? Bradley needs to add an attacking midfielder, with Landon Donovan on a 10 day trial with Bayern Munich, it won't be Landycakes. Stuart Holden anyone? Jose Torres?
FORWARDS (5): Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Chad Barrett (Toronto FC), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas). Can't stand to see Barrett there, but Cooper is finally on teh list and will probably get some minutes and maybe the start.
Given the relatively unimportant nature of the game, might Troy Perkins get the starting nod? I hope so. Now I know that this pool will be supplemented by MLS conference final losers and some European based players, but just on this pool, this could be a starting line-up
--------Cooper----Ching-----------
C. Clark------Kljestan-------LaBrocca
-----------Mastroeni----------------
Bornstein--Goodson--Parkhurst--Franklin
-------------Perkins--------------
Not world beaters, but not a bad crew either.
US MNT Call Ups
Today, U.S. MNT Coach Bob Bradley will unveil a 19 man roster of players he will invite to a training camp in Colorado in advance of a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday November 19 against Guatamala. Expect that this roster will be largely MLS players no longer involved in the playoffs. Since next week is an inernational break, some European based players will be called in, but don't expect it to be the U.S. First Team.
Here are the players I would like to see called into camp:
Keepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Matt Reis (New England). I would love to see Jon Busch or Will Hesmer called in later depending on which team, Chicago or Columbus doesn't make it to the MLS Cup final.
Defenders: Marvel Wynne (Toronto), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Danny Califf (Midtjylland), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Ramiro Corrales (San Jose), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Michael Parkhurst (New England), Neven Subotic (Borrussia Dortmund), Jonathan Boornstein (Chivas USA),
Midfielders: Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Stuart Holden (Houston), Matt Taylor (TUS Kobolenz), Ricardo Clark (Houston), Danny Szetela (Brescia), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Mo Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Clyde Simms (DC United), Santino Quaranta (DC United)
Forwards: Kenny Cooper (Dallas); Landon Donovan (L.A. Galaxy), Edson Buddle (L.A. Galaxy), Charlie Davies (Hammarby); Jozy Altidore (Villareal); Jeremiah White (Aarhus), Abdus Ibrahim (Toronto FC)
Of course, not all these players will get called in, but I hope some do, if for no other reason that to give Bradley and the American coaching staff a look at these players. I don't expect to see many of them on the pitch.
While this upcoming game doesn't mean anything for the U.S. to advance to the next round of qualifying, this game means a lot to Guatamala. In order for them to advance to the next round over Trinidad & Tobago, Guatamala must win and then hope the Cubans win over T&T on the same day. If the U.S. win or draw against Guatamala, then then T&T advance to the hexagonal.
Here are the players I would like to see called into camp:
Keepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Matt Reis (New England). I would love to see Jon Busch or Will Hesmer called in later depending on which team, Chicago or Columbus doesn't make it to the MLS Cup final.
Defenders: Marvel Wynne (Toronto), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Danny Califf (Midtjylland), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Ramiro Corrales (San Jose), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Michael Parkhurst (New England), Neven Subotic (Borrussia Dortmund), Jonathan Boornstein (Chivas USA),
Midfielders: Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Stuart Holden (Houston), Matt Taylor (TUS Kobolenz), Ricardo Clark (Houston), Danny Szetela (Brescia), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Mo Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Clyde Simms (DC United), Santino Quaranta (DC United)
Forwards: Kenny Cooper (Dallas); Landon Donovan (L.A. Galaxy), Edson Buddle (L.A. Galaxy), Charlie Davies (Hammarby); Jozy Altidore (Villareal); Jeremiah White (Aarhus), Abdus Ibrahim (Toronto FC)
Of course, not all these players will get called in, but I hope some do, if for no other reason that to give Bradley and the American coaching staff a look at these players. I don't expect to see many of them on the pitch.
While this upcoming game doesn't mean anything for the U.S. to advance to the next round of qualifying, this game means a lot to Guatamala. In order for them to advance to the next round over Trinidad & Tobago, Guatamala must win and then hope the Cubans win over T&T on the same day. If the U.S. win or draw against Guatamala, then then T&T advance to the hexagonal.
San Jose Earthquakes--Man What a Ride
This is the third in a series of posts about the MLS teams that did not make the playoffs.
The San Jose Earthquakes. The expansion team that almost did it, the Earthquakes were knocking on the door of the playoffs after a spectacular late summer run. From July 12 to September 20, the Earthquakes did not lose a game in MLS play, going 5-0-5 in the 10 league matches during that time. The Earthquakes, playing under a coach who was flatly rejected by the "Super Club" that is the L.A. Galaxy--Frank Yallop--who is having the last laugh now. The only reason why San Jose finsihed below L.A. in the Western Conference is because of their head to head match ups. In the rest of the soccer world, San Jose would have finished above L.A. due to a better goal difference. San Jose is a -6 and L.A. a -7 goal difference.
San Jose, the team who was ranked fourth in the league for the fewest goals allowed (38). Only Houston (32), Chicago (33) and Columbus (36) allowed fewer goals that San Jose.
San Jose, where Frank Yallop made some spectacular mid-season acquitisions, almost go the job done. While I am a dedicated DC United fan, I have to tell you I was rooting for the 'Quakes during their run. Hats off to them since expansion teams are almost always the whipping boys.
So, a debut season (sort of), what can and should we expect from the Quakes 2.0 in year 2.0? The standouts.
Frank Yallop. Say what you want about Sigi Schmidt or Dommick Kinnear, for my money, Yallop is Manager of the Year. He took a team that just about everyone pegged to end up with something like 20 points and had them knocking on the door of the playoffs. Had the Quakes won two of their last three, against Chivas, Houston and Kansas City, we would be seeing the Quakes in the playoffs and not New York. That is now close it was. The man responsible for that is Frank Yallop.
Darren Huckerby. The best Englishman playing in the MLS. Huckerby is the definition of "impact signing." Huckerby came in mid-season and in just 14 games, lead the 'Quakes in scoring (6 goals) and was second in assists (4) only to Ronnie O'Brien who had six assists. Most foriegn players take a while to settle in the MLS (See Guillermo Barros Schelotto in 2007) before making an impact. Huckerby came, threw the 'Quakes on his shoulders and carried the team. That is impact. Huckerby is, hands down, my Newcomer of the Year.
Joe Cannon. What the hell were L.A. thinking when they let Cannon go in favor of Steve Cronin. I bet that Bruce Arena would have done everything but sacrifice Landon Donovan, Beckham or Edson Buddle to get Cannon back. Cannon played in every game for the 'Quakes, and tallied an impressive 1.27 Goals against average and nine shutouts. For a team with just 8 wins, that is a pretty impressive season long performance. Only four MLS keepers had a better GAA, Hoston's Pat Onstad (24 games, 1.03 GAA), Chicago's Jon Busch (30 Games, 1.10 GAA), Columbus' Will Hesmer (29 games, 1.14 GAA), and Colorado's Buona Coundoul (17 Games, 1.24 GAA). Only Colorado is not in the playoffs.
Ronnie O'Brien. Another quality player who carried this club for the first half of the season. Bobming up and down the right flank like he was ten years younger than he is, O'Brien made the most consistent contribution to the club all season long. He may only have one, maybe two years left in his playing career, but he will continue to be a role-model for the Quakes.
So what does San Jose need to do for next season. Yallop did a very good job trading around and making moves to bring in players during the July Transfer Window to address his immediate needs--goal scoring.
Defensively there is not much to argue with here. They could use a little more speed on the flanks, but I don't think that it is a vital need. Ramiro Corrales, when healthy, is a quality left back. I think Yallop found some good defenders who did their job well. Yallop had the organzied, compact and effective. I wouldn't make a lot of changes here.
Offensively, I think San Jose still needs some help. I don't think Scott Sealy is the type of target striker that San Jose needs. Sealy is a fair player, but doesn't command the middle of the park like he needs to in order to accept the service of Huckerby and O'Brien.
What I think San Jose really needs is a field general; someone who provides a link between O'Brien and Huckerby, who can control the ball and dictate the pace. I wouldn't go for a DP signing in this place as I don't think it worth that. San Jose doens't need a Marcello Gallardo or Schelotto. They need a leader, yes, but they don't need an overwhelming presence, which is within Yallops budget.
I would expect Yallop to acquire some more central midfielders and some additional flank players (Huckerby and O'Brien don't have a ton of years left in the tank). But I think what Yallop will want to do is exhibit some patience, I think the San Jose fans will give him that, so long as they don't hit a massive sophomore slump.
Previous Reports
L.A. Galaxy
D.C. United
The San Jose Earthquakes. The expansion team that almost did it, the Earthquakes were knocking on the door of the playoffs after a spectacular late summer run. From July 12 to September 20, the Earthquakes did not lose a game in MLS play, going 5-0-5 in the 10 league matches during that time. The Earthquakes, playing under a coach who was flatly rejected by the "Super Club" that is the L.A. Galaxy--Frank Yallop--who is having the last laugh now. The only reason why San Jose finsihed below L.A. in the Western Conference is because of their head to head match ups. In the rest of the soccer world, San Jose would have finished above L.A. due to a better goal difference. San Jose is a -6 and L.A. a -7 goal difference.
San Jose, the team who was ranked fourth in the league for the fewest goals allowed (38). Only Houston (32), Chicago (33) and Columbus (36) allowed fewer goals that San Jose.
San Jose, where Frank Yallop made some spectacular mid-season acquitisions, almost go the job done. While I am a dedicated DC United fan, I have to tell you I was rooting for the 'Quakes during their run. Hats off to them since expansion teams are almost always the whipping boys.
So, a debut season (sort of), what can and should we expect from the Quakes 2.0 in year 2.0? The standouts.
Frank Yallop. Say what you want about Sigi Schmidt or Dommick Kinnear, for my money, Yallop is Manager of the Year. He took a team that just about everyone pegged to end up with something like 20 points and had them knocking on the door of the playoffs. Had the Quakes won two of their last three, against Chivas, Houston and Kansas City, we would be seeing the Quakes in the playoffs and not New York. That is now close it was. The man responsible for that is Frank Yallop.
Darren Huckerby. The best Englishman playing in the MLS. Huckerby is the definition of "impact signing." Huckerby came in mid-season and in just 14 games, lead the 'Quakes in scoring (6 goals) and was second in assists (4) only to Ronnie O'Brien who had six assists. Most foriegn players take a while to settle in the MLS (See Guillermo Barros Schelotto in 2007) before making an impact. Huckerby came, threw the 'Quakes on his shoulders and carried the team. That is impact. Huckerby is, hands down, my Newcomer of the Year.
Joe Cannon. What the hell were L.A. thinking when they let Cannon go in favor of Steve Cronin. I bet that Bruce Arena would have done everything but sacrifice Landon Donovan, Beckham or Edson Buddle to get Cannon back. Cannon played in every game for the 'Quakes, and tallied an impressive 1.27 Goals against average and nine shutouts. For a team with just 8 wins, that is a pretty impressive season long performance. Only four MLS keepers had a better GAA, Hoston's Pat Onstad (24 games, 1.03 GAA), Chicago's Jon Busch (30 Games, 1.10 GAA), Columbus' Will Hesmer (29 games, 1.14 GAA), and Colorado's Buona Coundoul (17 Games, 1.24 GAA). Only Colorado is not in the playoffs.
Ronnie O'Brien. Another quality player who carried this club for the first half of the season. Bobming up and down the right flank like he was ten years younger than he is, O'Brien made the most consistent contribution to the club all season long. He may only have one, maybe two years left in his playing career, but he will continue to be a role-model for the Quakes.
So what does San Jose need to do for next season. Yallop did a very good job trading around and making moves to bring in players during the July Transfer Window to address his immediate needs--goal scoring.
Defensively there is not much to argue with here. They could use a little more speed on the flanks, but I don't think that it is a vital need. Ramiro Corrales, when healthy, is a quality left back. I think Yallop found some good defenders who did their job well. Yallop had the organzied, compact and effective. I wouldn't make a lot of changes here.
Offensively, I think San Jose still needs some help. I don't think Scott Sealy is the type of target striker that San Jose needs. Sealy is a fair player, but doesn't command the middle of the park like he needs to in order to accept the service of Huckerby and O'Brien.
What I think San Jose really needs is a field general; someone who provides a link between O'Brien and Huckerby, who can control the ball and dictate the pace. I wouldn't go for a DP signing in this place as I don't think it worth that. San Jose doens't need a Marcello Gallardo or Schelotto. They need a leader, yes, but they don't need an overwhelming presence, which is within Yallops budget.
I would expect Yallop to acquire some more central midfielders and some additional flank players (Huckerby and O'Brien don't have a ton of years left in the tank). But I think what Yallop will want to do is exhibit some patience, I think the San Jose fans will give him that, so long as they don't hit a massive sophomore slump.
Previous Reports
L.A. Galaxy
D.C. United
Monday, November 10, 2008
Fulham Best Newcastle at Craven Cottage
Jumping to 10th place on the table as a result of Sundas's 2-1 win over Newcastle, certainly looks good for the Whites in this season's campaign. Andy Johnson scored his third goal of the season and Captain Danny Murphy slotted home a penalty in the second half to give Fulham all three points.
Fulham are playing some quality football, passing the ball around, dominating possession for long stretches of the game and playing much better defensively. Last year's Fulham curse of conceding points in the final minutes of matches seems to be a thing of the past, which is certainly good news. Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes are looking solid in central defense, providing a stability that was lacking last year.
But the Cottagers have a new problem this year--finishing. No one is more guilty of the problem the off-season acquisition Zoltan Gera. Whether it is a combintation of bad play and bad luck, but the Hungarian international simply is not converting the chances he gets (and the beneficiary might just be Clint Dempsey--but more on Dempsey later). Early in the first half, Gera has two quality chances for goals. First, he beat two defenders in the air to get on the end of a Simon Davies cross, only to head the ball wide. A few minutes later, Gera saw a fairly open net, only to see his not particuarly strong header cleared off the line.
Gera has hit the post and cross bar a fair number of times this season and that is troubling. Andy Johnson as well, brought into score goals, took eight games to get on the score sheet and while he has three goals this season, the partnership between Johnson and Bobby Zamora doesn't seem to be gelling as they regularly looked out of sorts. Zamora is acting like a target striker, but Johnson doesn't seem to be reacting well to the big man's efforts.
Clint Dempsey came into the match in the 63rd minute and made a quick impact, making the pass that sprung Johnson in on goal which resulted in the penalty. Dempsey showed fine form in his 30 or so minutes and may be making a case himself over Gera. The two have the same number of goals in League Play (1), but Dempsey has gotten his with about 1/4 of the playing time of Gera. I wouldn't not be surprised (and I am hopeful) that Dempsey can get a start against Tottenham next week.
Tottenham hot their third result in as many games against Manchester City. Tottenham are riding of a fair amount of luck since Harry Redknapp was named manager so Fulham will need to play well next week.
After Tottenham, Fulham will travel to Anfield against Liverpool and Villa Park to face Aston Villa (a team that has dropped two games against Newcastle and Middlesbrough--games they should have won).
The league is incredilby tight thus far. Only three points separates Fulham at 10th (with a game in hand) and West Brom in 20th. Liverpool and Chelsea are six points clear of Arsenel for the top three spots and Man United has only one point over Aston Villa (who if they had won those last two games would be sitting third in teh table) and the team that just won't go away, Hull City who now sit sixth behind Aston Villa on goal difference.
Fulham are playing some quality football, passing the ball around, dominating possession for long stretches of the game and playing much better defensively. Last year's Fulham curse of conceding points in the final minutes of matches seems to be a thing of the past, which is certainly good news. Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes are looking solid in central defense, providing a stability that was lacking last year.
But the Cottagers have a new problem this year--finishing. No one is more guilty of the problem the off-season acquisition Zoltan Gera. Whether it is a combintation of bad play and bad luck, but the Hungarian international simply is not converting the chances he gets (and the beneficiary might just be Clint Dempsey--but more on Dempsey later). Early in the first half, Gera has two quality chances for goals. First, he beat two defenders in the air to get on the end of a Simon Davies cross, only to head the ball wide. A few minutes later, Gera saw a fairly open net, only to see his not particuarly strong header cleared off the line.
Gera has hit the post and cross bar a fair number of times this season and that is troubling. Andy Johnson as well, brought into score goals, took eight games to get on the score sheet and while he has three goals this season, the partnership between Johnson and Bobby Zamora doesn't seem to be gelling as they regularly looked out of sorts. Zamora is acting like a target striker, but Johnson doesn't seem to be reacting well to the big man's efforts.
Clint Dempsey came into the match in the 63rd minute and made a quick impact, making the pass that sprung Johnson in on goal which resulted in the penalty. Dempsey showed fine form in his 30 or so minutes and may be making a case himself over Gera. The two have the same number of goals in League Play (1), but Dempsey has gotten his with about 1/4 of the playing time of Gera. I wouldn't not be surprised (and I am hopeful) that Dempsey can get a start against Tottenham next week.
Tottenham hot their third result in as many games against Manchester City. Tottenham are riding of a fair amount of luck since Harry Redknapp was named manager so Fulham will need to play well next week.
After Tottenham, Fulham will travel to Anfield against Liverpool and Villa Park to face Aston Villa (a team that has dropped two games against Newcastle and Middlesbrough--games they should have won).
The league is incredilby tight thus far. Only three points separates Fulham at 10th (with a game in hand) and West Brom in 20th. Liverpool and Chelsea are six points clear of Arsenel for the top three spots and Man United has only one point over Aston Villa (who if they had won those last two games would be sitting third in teh table) and the team that just won't go away, Hull City who now sit sixth behind Aston Villa on goal difference.
Red Bulls Upset Houston to Advance in MLS Playoffs
I would not have predicted this and I am sure the Dom Kinnear didn't either. But New York certainly looked like they wanted it more.
Dane Richards was on fire. Danny Cepero probably just replaced Jon Conway in net for New York as the starter. Cepero kept NY in the lead and made some outstanding saves and corrected his own mistakes (pulling the ball off Ching's head after he got chipped was superb).
So there will be a new MLS champ. My money is still on Columbus, but both New York and Real Salt Lake put everyone on notice that they are not to be taken lightly.
But only one of those teams can advance as they will face each other in the Western Conference final in Salt Lake. At least they won't be playing on astroturf with throwball lines on the pitch.
Dane Richards was on fire. Danny Cepero probably just replaced Jon Conway in net for New York as the starter. Cepero kept NY in the lead and made some outstanding saves and corrected his own mistakes (pulling the ball off Ching's head after he got chipped was superb).
So there will be a new MLS champ. My money is still on Columbus, but both New York and Real Salt Lake put everyone on notice that they are not to be taken lightly.
But only one of those teams can advance as they will face each other in the Western Conference final in Salt Lake. At least they won't be playing on astroturf with throwball lines on the pitch.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Alexi Lalas Speaks
About the Galaxy, about David Beckham and about Landon Donovan. Los Angeles Times' Grahame Jones has the collection of quotes.
The good:
The eh, on Landon Donovan going to Europe:
The bad: on Beckham:
Still, interesting.
The good:
"I'm a little hesitant to talk about it because I don't want it to appear self-serving or bitter," Lalas told co-host Rob Stone.I am glad that Lalas sees that it was his responsiblity and his price to pay.
"I believe in accountability and I believe in responsibility, and as the president and GM, regardless of what the circumstances were, I'm responsible for it. I paid the ultimate price and I accept that."
The eh, on Landon Donovan going to Europe:
"If Landon wants to go, he should go," Lalas said. "He's a great player. A lot of people would love to see him. And guess what? The Galaxy can survive without Landon Donovan. He's a wonderful player. He will be a difficult player to replace if he goes.Lalas is right, I think it is entirely possible that MLS and Donovan will have a very differnt take on his worth than Europe. Donovan and MLS will no doubt want a Jozy Altidore ($10 million trasnfer fee) type of deal, but I am not sure that he will command that kind of price. Altidore is young and if he improves in a way that most people expect he will command a larger transfer fee later one, making a profit for Villareal. Donovan on the other hand, this is probably his biggest contract time (he is 26). If he signs a four year deal, he will be thirty for his next deal and probably won't command a massive transfer fee.
"I think the bigger question is: What does Landon Donovan cost on the open market? Because what MLS thinks he costs and what the rest of the world thinks he costs might be two different things.
"So just because he wants to go doesn't mean he will be allowed to go."
The bad: on Beckham:
When you talk about David Beckham, it's about so much more than what he is on the field, for better or worse," Lalas said. "He's a great player. I think he helps whatever team he's playing for, whether it's the Galaxy or AC Milan.Here is where Lalas doesn't admit to culpability. He created the Beckham mania and problem. I think Beckham the player is a straight up guy, but Lalas allowed Beckham's people to run roughshod over the Galaxy and that created more problems for Lalas and ultimately now for Bruce Arena.
"The reality is, he's going to do whatever it takes to play with the [England] national team. That's fine. I was a little disappointed with the way that it all came down with him and his folks. I mean, hello, a courtesy telephone call, a little bit of respect to call the coach so that [Arena] knows what's going on, knows that you're being shopped around. But sometimes the tail wags the dog."
Still, interesting.
Reason 142 to Homeschool
Man this is just disgusting. Look, I applaud the discussion of Presidential elections in the classroom, but this kind of behavior is not the proper way to do it.
Pettiness On Capitol Hill--So Much for the Era of Post Partisanship
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is looking to remove Connectict Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) as committee chair based on Lieberman's support of John McCain in the Presidential Race.
My goodness, how petty can we get. Lieberman is the one consistent person on Capitol Hill with enough profile to actaully get something done in a truly bipartisan way.
If Reid does this, he is just being petty even though he and his party won big on Tuesday. What does this get Reid.
My goodness, how petty can we get. Lieberman is the one consistent person on Capitol Hill with enough profile to actaully get something done in a truly bipartisan way.
If Reid does this, he is just being petty even though he and his party won big on Tuesday. What does this get Reid.
Oops!! French Keeper Major Misstep
I am pretty sure this goes without saying kids, but if you are the goalkeeper, don't walk into the goal with the ball in your hands.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Learning Moment for Soccer Players--How Not to Act When Getting a Yellow Card
Brazilian side Botafogo was facing Argentianian side Estudiantes in a Copa Sudamericana match in Buenos Aries. Botafogo defender Luis Andres received a yellow card for what is described as persistent infringment. (that is repeatedly committing fouls or having a whole team foul the same player.
Match referee Carlos Chandia showed Andres the yellow card, which sent the mercurial defender into a rage. Then Andres did a bad, bad thing--he snatched the yellow card from Chandia's hand.
Well, Chandia, who looked shocked for a second, promptly reached into his back pocket and showed Andres the red card and sent him off. Which of course only enrage Andres furhter. Had it not been for the rest of the Botafogo squad crowding around Chandia, I wonder what would have happened. One Botafogo player had to physically grab Andres and get him off the field.
Ives Galarcep has the video.
So let this be a lesson for you kids out there. Never, ever, ever, never, snatch something from the referee's hand. I don't care if you are 6 or 26, you are going to get sent off.
Match referee Carlos Chandia showed Andres the yellow card, which sent the mercurial defender into a rage. Then Andres did a bad, bad thing--he snatched the yellow card from Chandia's hand.
Well, Chandia, who looked shocked for a second, promptly reached into his back pocket and showed Andres the red card and sent him off. Which of course only enrage Andres furhter. Had it not been for the rest of the Botafogo squad crowding around Chandia, I wonder what would have happened. One Botafogo player had to physically grab Andres and get him off the field.
Ives Galarcep has the video.
So let this be a lesson for you kids out there. Never, ever, ever, never, snatch something from the referee's hand. I don't care if you are 6 or 26, you are going to get sent off.
California voters Approve Bullet Train Bond Intitiative
Now that is an good move. But will a high speed system get built?
The system of bullet trains (200mph trains) will linke Los Angeles, Anaheim, Fresno and San Francisco. It may also cover Oakland and Sacramento as well.
I don't think a bullet train is needed for a San Franscisco, Oakland, Sacramento link, but more trains could help in the area.
The system of bullet trains (200mph trains) will linke Los Angeles, Anaheim, Fresno and San Francisco. It may also cover Oakland and Sacramento as well.
I don't think a bullet train is needed for a San Franscisco, Oakland, Sacramento link, but more trains could help in the area.
‘I’m Unleashed’: Oprah Celebrates Obama Victory With ‘Hope Won’ TV Special
You have got be be kidding me. I never really like Oprah, but now she is going to be absolutely insufferable for the next week and the week of the inauguration.
'Impeach Obama' groups pop up on Facebook
Impeach Obama?
Really, why?
I may not like the man's politics, but he hasn't done anything to my knowledge to even consider this idea.
Why is it that crackpots have to get their knickers in a twist.
Really, why?
I may not like the man's politics, but he hasn't done anything to my knowledge to even consider this idea.
Why is it that crackpots have to get their knickers in a twist.
Congress Wary of 1994 Repeat
The last time the U.S. had a Democratic President and a Democraticall controlled Congress was in 1994. Both branches of government got a big head and started down a path that most American's were ready to follow. The result, an electoral drubbing in 1994. This time it looks like Democrats are worried about 2010 being a repeat of 1994.
The result for all those liberal worshippers of Obama will be that they won't see all of those things he promised actually come true. That middle class tax cut and the "increase on taxes" on the rich? Well, that last part may come true, but that first one will be quietly toned down. All those promises of help for poor America and the middle class, will become victim to the ever popular $700 billion bailout that has climed to somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.2 trillion or so.
So we will see campaign promises meet budgetary reality. So what will that mean for Obama and Congress in 2010? Who knows, but it may not be pretty.
The result for all those liberal worshippers of Obama will be that they won't see all of those things he promised actually come true. That middle class tax cut and the "increase on taxes" on the rich? Well, that last part may come true, but that first one will be quietly toned down. All those promises of help for poor America and the middle class, will become victim to the ever popular $700 billion bailout that has climed to somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.2 trillion or so.
So we will see campaign promises meet budgetary reality. So what will that mean for Obama and Congress in 2010? Who knows, but it may not be pretty.
Micheal Crichton Dies
One of my favorite authors, Michael Crichton has died at 66. I am pretty sure I have read every novel he published and the list of topics and subject matter he has covered is impressive:
Jurassic Park of course
Disclosure--sexual harassment
Rising Sun--the growth of Japan
Airframe--airline safety and accident investigation
State of Fear--global warming (that got a lot of press attention)
Andromeda Strain--his first novel published while in medical school dealing with unknown disease
Timeline--time travel and quantum physics
But Crichton was also the creator of one of the most successful shows on TV--ER, which has been on the air for damn near forever.
His creative force will be missed.
Jurassic Park of course
Disclosure--sexual harassment
Rising Sun--the growth of Japan
Airframe--airline safety and accident investigation
State of Fear--global warming (that got a lot of press attention)
Andromeda Strain--his first novel published while in medical school dealing with unknown disease
Timeline--time travel and quantum physics
But Crichton was also the creator of one of the most successful shows on TV--ER, which has been on the air for damn near forever.
His creative force will be missed.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
David Beckham Has Galaxy Escape Clause
Grant Wahl is reporting that David Beckham doesn't really have a five year contract with the MLS, what he has is a three year guaranteed deal and an option for two more. In essence, Beckham has an escape clause that HE controls. As Wahl writes:
Beckham's desire to be in teh England squad for 2010 World Cup is no secret and barring a mircale resurgence, the Galaxy may very well not make the playoffs again.
What is interesting is that this deal between Beckham and the MLS is very Beckham friendly. Now, I don't begrudge Beckham or his lawyers who negotiated this deal, that is just smart deal making for them. But the MLS got stars in its eyes and handed Beckham an out.
There is no doubt that the MLS would sell Beckham if the price is right at any point, particularly if Beckham wanted to go. But there is a different market price for Beckham if he has one year or only player controlled option years on his contract versus two years left or league controlled options. In short, if Beckham had two years left on his contract, the transfer fee would have to be somewhere north of $12 to $15 million. But with only player controlled option years, that transfer fee could be as little as zero. That is a huge mistake by the MLS.
But Beckham can opt out of the last two years if he so desires, according to a previously undisclosed clause in his contract.Wahl doesn't say if there are conditions on Beckham's ability to exercise his option, but you can bet that if the Galaxy have another disasterous year in 2009 with Beckham in the side, he won't be back in 2010.
And that is news. Big news.
That Beckham holds that option is an important distinction, one that has never been acknowledged publicly by MLS, the Galaxy or Beckham's reps -- all of which refused to comment to SI.com regarding Beckham's contract. (In MLS contracts, which are owned by the single-entity league instead of the individual teams, the league usually controls the option years, not the players.)
Beckham's desire to be in teh England squad for 2010 World Cup is no secret and barring a mircale resurgence, the Galaxy may very well not make the playoffs again.
What is interesting is that this deal between Beckham and the MLS is very Beckham friendly. Now, I don't begrudge Beckham or his lawyers who negotiated this deal, that is just smart deal making for them. But the MLS got stars in its eyes and handed Beckham an out.
There is no doubt that the MLS would sell Beckham if the price is right at any point, particularly if Beckham wanted to go. But there is a different market price for Beckham if he has one year or only player controlled option years on his contract versus two years left or league controlled options. In short, if Beckham had two years left on his contract, the transfer fee would have to be somewhere north of $12 to $15 million. But with only player controlled option years, that transfer fee could be as little as zero. That is a huge mistake by the MLS.
Altidore Faces Loan
Although I am not quite sure why this is considered news, but it is true that Jozy Altidore may get loaned out in January. Of course, everyone expected him to get loaned out when he joined Villareal, but with the Yellow Submarine's injury woes up top, he was kept around. But aside from the Cope del Rey (which Villareal is now eliminated from), Jozy is not getting significant playing time for Villareal. He is making the dressing squad pretty much every week, which says a lot about the young man on a team like Villareal.
Perhaps the only thing that would save him from a loan deal is demonstrating a quality teaming with Guisseppi Rossi in attack or scoring every couple of minutes when he is on the field.
In the end though, I think a loan deal will be a good thing for Altidore. What he needs more than anything else is playing time, even if he is getting 70-75 minutes with a relegation bait team this year, that is more time than he is getting with Villareal and he won't be relegated.
Perhaps the only thing that would save him from a loan deal is demonstrating a quality teaming with Guisseppi Rossi in attack or scoring every couple of minutes when he is on the field.
In the end though, I think a loan deal will be a good thing for Altidore. What he needs more than anything else is playing time, even if he is getting 70-75 minutes with a relegation bait team this year, that is more time than he is getting with Villareal and he won't be relegated.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Beckham Speaks About His Loan To AC Milan | TheOriginalWinger.com
Utter dross. The Galaxy won't see him back, I just don't believe it.
Barack Obama Doesn't Love the United States
Yesterday and today has seen a flurry of political posts, not long after I said I have not posted a lot on the election. Well, that is the fickle nature of how my head works.
I have been thinking a lot about an Obama presidency and I while I am certain I will not like many, or probably all, of the Obama Administration policies (or for the matter a McCain Administration), I will say that there is one troubling aspect that truly bothers me about Obama. For the longest time, I really couldn't put my finger on it, until, unfortunately, last night and here it is:
I don't think Obama believes that the United States of America is the greatest nation ever on the Earth.
That is a big problem. I can honestly say, that every man who has been President in my lifetime and in the histories I have read of other Presidents, that each one of them, to a man, believed that this is the greatest country ever--full stop. There was no equivocation, no doubts--not even Bill Clinton. I truly believe that each of those men, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter even, really believed in the specialness (?) and uniqueness of the United States and her place in the world and world history.
I don't believe that about Obama. Call it the Reverend Wright influence or the pandering to the world population (See Berlin) or his general elitism, I just don't think or believe that Obama believes in the fact that the United States is the greatest nation ever.
That is what bothers me the most. I can forgive a President for espousing policies I consider abhorrent because I have trust in that President's belief that he was doing what he felt best for this nation. I can agree to disagree with a man who truly believes that what he is doing is right because he loves this country with all his heart and soul. But without that foundational belief that our new President believes fully in the greatness of our country, I am not sure I can forgive a President whose policies are, in my mind, wrong.
I hope I am wrong about Obama on this score, I really do. But am I?
I have been thinking a lot about an Obama presidency and I while I am certain I will not like many, or probably all, of the Obama Administration policies (or for the matter a McCain Administration), I will say that there is one troubling aspect that truly bothers me about Obama. For the longest time, I really couldn't put my finger on it, until, unfortunately, last night and here it is:
I don't think Obama believes that the United States of America is the greatest nation ever on the Earth.
That is a big problem. I can honestly say, that every man who has been President in my lifetime and in the histories I have read of other Presidents, that each one of them, to a man, believed that this is the greatest country ever--full stop. There was no equivocation, no doubts--not even Bill Clinton. I truly believe that each of those men, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter even, really believed in the specialness (?) and uniqueness of the United States and her place in the world and world history.
I don't believe that about Obama. Call it the Reverend Wright influence or the pandering to the world population (See Berlin) or his general elitism, I just don't think or believe that Obama believes in the fact that the United States is the greatest nation ever.
That is what bothers me the most. I can forgive a President for espousing policies I consider abhorrent because I have trust in that President's belief that he was doing what he felt best for this nation. I can agree to disagree with a man who truly believes that what he is doing is right because he loves this country with all his heart and soul. But without that foundational belief that our new President believes fully in the greatness of our country, I am not sure I can forgive a President whose policies are, in my mind, wrong.
I hope I am wrong about Obama on this score, I really do. But am I?
Monday, November 03, 2008
The Ad McCain Should Have Run
Here. Thanks to Mary Katherine Ham
Jim Geraghty points out that Obama statements should come with an expiration date.
This was perfect fodder for McCain, yet I never saw anything like it.
Jim Geraghty points out that Obama statements should come with an expiration date.
This was perfect fodder for McCain, yet I never saw anything like it.
Althouse: Dont'
Ann Althouse links to an NPR stroy of an immigrant real estate speculator saying:
Don't give this man or anyone like him any of our tax money. Why should he be helped to live in a $1.5 million house? Try to picture the collection of characters NPR considered before deciding Njoku was the one to do a big human interest story about.But here's the thing, Njoku a black, Nigerian Immigrant is just the sort of person who will get help from an Obama administration and the government. And that is the problem.
Sex on TV and Teenage Pregnancy
There appears to be a link.
I find it very troubling as a parent that the incidences of sexual behavior is on the rise in programming aimed a teenagers.
A quick person story. My wife and my mother-in-law took my two young daughters to see High School Musical 3 at teh local theaters. My wife said that my mother-in-law that it was odd that the were was almost no hint of the hormones that would raging between the two teenage lead characters or their peers dealing with the high school prom or even a scene taking place in a treehouse (yes a treehouse). While I can see it, I have to say that I appreciate Disney going to great lengths to present a healthy teenage romance that does not depend on overt sexual behavior. The most we see is hugging and very little kissing. And there is nothing wrong with that kind of depiction.
Now, as for this link between TV sex and teenage pregnancy, I will admit that link probably exists, but there are also huge other factors involved.
1). I can almost say with certainty that today's teenagers have their own TV and their own computer in their room with cable service, meaning they can watch such shows in the privacy of their own rooms--no parental controls.
2). There is very little parental oversight on what these kids are watching and certainly no discussions of what is seen on TV.
3). There is almost certainly no discussion as to the importance and impact of some of the choices that TV characters make.
I don't completely blame TV for the state of affairs, they are in a market driven world and the market wants these kinds of depictions. However, to my limited knowledge (I spend a lot of time watching soccer) there is probably no discussions of the downside of sex, i.e. the potential for pregnancy, STDs, or even the psychological/emotional damage of engaging in sex too early, too often or too indiscriminantly.
Teenagers who watch a lot of television featuring flirting, necking, discussion of sex and sex scenes are much more likely than their peers to get pregnant or get a partner pregnant, according to the first study to directly link steamy programming to teen pregnancy.Is there a link--probably. But let's be careful, it is not likely to be causal link (I haven't read the entire study yet).
The study, which tracked more than 700 12-to-17-year-olds for three years, found that those who viewed the most sexual content on TV were about twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy as those who saw the least.
"Watching this kind of sexual content on television is a powerful factor in increasing the likelihood of a teen pregnancy," said lead researcher Anita Chandra. "We found a strong association." The study is being published today in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
There is rising concern about teen pregnancy rates, which after decades of decline may have started inching up again, fueling an intense debate about what factors are to blame. Although TV viewing is unlikely to entirely explain the possible uptick in teen pregnancies, Chandra and others said, the study provides the first direct evidence that it could be playing a significant role.
"Sexual content on television has doubled in the last few years, especially during the period of our research," said Chandra, a researcher at the nonpartisan Rand Corp.
I find it very troubling as a parent that the incidences of sexual behavior is on the rise in programming aimed a teenagers.
A quick person story. My wife and my mother-in-law took my two young daughters to see High School Musical 3 at teh local theaters. My wife said that my mother-in-law that it was odd that the were was almost no hint of the hormones that would raging between the two teenage lead characters or their peers dealing with the high school prom or even a scene taking place in a treehouse (yes a treehouse). While I can see it, I have to say that I appreciate Disney going to great lengths to present a healthy teenage romance that does not depend on overt sexual behavior. The most we see is hugging and very little kissing. And there is nothing wrong with that kind of depiction.
Now, as for this link between TV sex and teenage pregnancy, I will admit that link probably exists, but there are also huge other factors involved.
1). I can almost say with certainty that today's teenagers have their own TV and their own computer in their room with cable service, meaning they can watch such shows in the privacy of their own rooms--no parental controls.
2). There is very little parental oversight on what these kids are watching and certainly no discussions of what is seen on TV.
3). There is almost certainly no discussion as to the importance and impact of some of the choices that TV characters make.
I don't completely blame TV for the state of affairs, they are in a market driven world and the market wants these kinds of depictions. However, to my limited knowledge (I spend a lot of time watching soccer) there is probably no discussions of the downside of sex, i.e. the potential for pregnancy, STDs, or even the psychological/emotional damage of engaging in sex too early, too often or too indiscriminantly.
George W. Bush is Still George W. Bush
Although most of the world and a very signficant portion of American, including Republicans (but not this one) consider George W. Bush to be one of the worst Presidents of all time, and certainly in the past 50 years, you have to admire the fact that the President is still comfortably with who he is, regardless of how the world sees him. From the Washington Post (who are finally magnanimous with the lame duck president):
Short term and immediate history will judge George W. Bush harshly, mostly because all we see are the immediate, the now. But I think that in 20, 30 or 50 years will be look back and see a President who did the right things and believed they were the right things at a time when everyone else was saying he was wrong.
Aides say privately that Bush long ago made peace with his low approval ratings, which have persisted despite significant improvements in Iraq, the original source of his polling woes. Some current and former aides argue that Bush's unpopularity has made it easier for him to push ahead with difficult decisions, such as a series of dramatic interventions into the financial markets that have angered conservatives over the past two months.To a certain extent, Presidents have to be comfortable with who they are and what they believe. But I think it is the rare man who can maintain good cheer in public and semi-public despite the constant drumbeat of negative. It is difficult to imagine Bill Clinton like that.
"You're more liberated to act when you've internalized those low approval ratings," said Pete Wehner, a former top Bush adviser. "This is a White House and a president that are in some ways galvanized by a crisis."
There is little outward sign of irritation from Bush, who has maintained a sense of good cheer in many of his less-formal public appearances this year. During a celebration honoring Theodore Roosevelt's 150th birthday last week, Bush joked: "People ask me, 'Do you ever see any of the ghosts of your predecessors here in the White House?' I said, 'No, I quit drinking.' "
That enduring, frat-boy enthusiasm is exactly the sort of thing that riles his detractors, but supporters say Bush's optimism has been central to his political survival. "When you're inside, and the president is so optimistic, you're not paying as much attention to the noise outside," said Candida "Candi" Wolff, a former White House legislative affairs director. "It keeps everybody focused."
Short term and immediate history will judge George W. Bush harshly, mostly because all we see are the immediate, the now. But I think that in 20, 30 or 50 years will be look back and see a President who did the right things and believed they were the right things at a time when everyone else was saying he was wrong.
If McCain Wins....
Some of my more conservative friends (that is more conservative than me) are worried that even if McCain wins, the GOP loses and America loses.
Let me be clear about one thing, I don't think Obama will be a good President. I firmly believe that he will be a flop in terms of protecting American interests abroad since he is more interested in American looking good in the eyes of the world than in being consistent in his positions. I believe that Obama's domestic, economic policies will mean it will take longer for the economy to rebound in full. I worry about individual freedom and collective freedoms, i.e freedom of speech and press.
But those are long term concerns.
If Obama wins, I worry about the somewhat uniquely american tradition of rioting in celebration.
If McCain wins, I worry about chuckleheads like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson getting on TV and crying about racisim and voter disenfranchisement, setting back race relations in this country even more. I worry about riots because Obama lost.
Let me be clear about one thing, I don't think Obama will be a good President. I firmly believe that he will be a flop in terms of protecting American interests abroad since he is more interested in American looking good in the eyes of the world than in being consistent in his positions. I believe that Obama's domestic, economic policies will mean it will take longer for the economy to rebound in full. I worry about individual freedom and collective freedoms, i.e freedom of speech and press.
But those are long term concerns.
If Obama wins, I worry about the somewhat uniquely american tradition of rioting in celebration.
If McCain wins, I worry about chuckleheads like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson getting on TV and crying about racisim and voter disenfranchisement, setting back race relations in this country even more. I worry about riots because Obama lost.
Exit Polling, Reliability and Predicting a Winner
As american head to the polls to pick a new president, a though occurred to me today regarding the reliability of exit polling in this race in particuar, particularly as it applies to Democrats.
The fundamental concept of exit polling is that it is reliable since pollsters are asking voters to answer the questions immediately after exiting the polling place, with the notion that a) people will remember what they just did and b) there is little concern now about the impression one makes with one's voting choices.
But is that really the case now.
Consider this scenario: Voter A, a registered Democrat with strong views in support of the military goes to the polls and crosses party lines to vote for McCain. Now this person is stopped by the exit poll taker. One of the first questions asked is the voter's party affiliation. Next comes the question of who they voted for. Does this voter say "Obama" or "McCain?" If they say McCain, do they worry about the line-crossing issue or the race issue?
See for the past three weeks, the constant drum beat we have heard among the media elite is about the "historic election" where a black man could become president. Also for the past couple of weeks, the tracking polls have shown Obama to hold a lead between 6 and 11 points depending on the poll you consult. My problem is that I think that 6-11 points is probably closer to 3-7 points because of this racial fuzziness. Contrary to what you may think, many people are still "race conscious" and will want to respond favorably to Obama, even if they have no intention of actually voting for Obama, even if their vote against Obama has absolutely nothing to do with Obama's ethnicity.
Which leads us back to the fundamental question. Exit polls have, to a certain extent been somewhat unreliable in the past couple of election cycles, whether through methodology or the over-reliance on exit polls by the mainstream media. So given the racial factor, will exit polling be even more unreliable this time around?
We shall see.
Update 11/4/08 10:29 AM: James Joyner makes a couple of really good points as well, without the conspiracy overtones my thoughts have:
The fundamental concept of exit polling is that it is reliable since pollsters are asking voters to answer the questions immediately after exiting the polling place, with the notion that a) people will remember what they just did and b) there is little concern now about the impression one makes with one's voting choices.
But is that really the case now.
Consider this scenario: Voter A, a registered Democrat with strong views in support of the military goes to the polls and crosses party lines to vote for McCain. Now this person is stopped by the exit poll taker. One of the first questions asked is the voter's party affiliation. Next comes the question of who they voted for. Does this voter say "Obama" or "McCain?" If they say McCain, do they worry about the line-crossing issue or the race issue?
See for the past three weeks, the constant drum beat we have heard among the media elite is about the "historic election" where a black man could become president. Also for the past couple of weeks, the tracking polls have shown Obama to hold a lead between 6 and 11 points depending on the poll you consult. My problem is that I think that 6-11 points is probably closer to 3-7 points because of this racial fuzziness. Contrary to what you may think, many people are still "race conscious" and will want to respond favorably to Obama, even if they have no intention of actually voting for Obama, even if their vote against Obama has absolutely nothing to do with Obama's ethnicity.
Which leads us back to the fundamental question. Exit polls have, to a certain extent been somewhat unreliable in the past couple of election cycles, whether through methodology or the over-reliance on exit polls by the mainstream media. So given the racial factor, will exit polling be even more unreliable this time around?
We shall see.
Update 11/4/08 10:29 AM: James Joyner makes a couple of really good points as well, without the conspiracy overtones my thoughts have:
Bill McInturff, McCain’s pollster and my wife’s employer, makes the same point and adds additional points:1. Historically, exit polls have tended to overstate the Democratic vote.So, the results will skew Democratic and give very wrong impressions. In 2000 and 2004, they incorrectly pointed to Democratic wins. In 2008, they will likely incorrectly point to an Obama landslide — or at least exaggerate the margin of victory in states that barely swing Democrat.
2. The exit polls are likely to overstate the Obama vote because Obama voters are more likely to participate in the exit poll.
3. The exit polls have tended to skew most Democratic in years where there is high turnout and high vote interest like in 1992 and 2004.
4. It is not just the national exit poll that skews Democratic, but each of the state exit polls also suffers from the same Democratic leanings.
5. The results of the exit polls are also influenced by the demographics of the voters who conduct the exit polls.
Fulham Drop All Three Points At Everton
an 87th minute goal by former Fulham striker Lousi Saha, cost Fulham all three point as Everton topped Fulham 1-0 at Goodison Park. I suppose the worst thing about the whole matter is that Fulham struck the woodwork twice in this match, had a couple of good chances go to waste and had Tim Howard make a couple of fine saves to keep the Whites out of the net.
I didn't see possession stats, but it seemed to me that Fulham had the majority of the possession by a little and Everton had some additional good chances, a couple of which made sure that Mark Schwarzer earned his paycheck. Fulham were, for significant times, moving the ball around well, making use of the 4-4-2 that Hodgson is liking. But the finishing is well off. Both Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora had their share of chances, clear opportunities that got blown. Zamora had probably the howler of the day, missing a chance from the top of the goal area after Howard saved Jimmy Bullard's 25 yard free kick. Zamora hit the post on a, well not quite wide open net. But from that distance, he needs to score.
Zoltan Gera was simply unlucky at about the hour mark. I thought his header was simply beautiful, hitting the crossbar in just the right way to bounce out of teh net and not in. A matter of an inche or two lower and it would have been a goal and a lovely one at that.
Fulham are playing well, with some solid football, creating chances and making life difficult for opposing sides. What Fulham need now is to convert a few of those close ones and they could start stringing together some wins. Fulham was unlucky to have not come away with at least a point.
Fulham will face Newcastle United this upcoming weekend followed by Tottenham, who are flying high with a draw against Arsenel and a win over Liverpool in the past two matches. Tottenham are looking much improved since sacking Juande Ramos.
I didn't see possession stats, but it seemed to me that Fulham had the majority of the possession by a little and Everton had some additional good chances, a couple of which made sure that Mark Schwarzer earned his paycheck. Fulham were, for significant times, moving the ball around well, making use of the 4-4-2 that Hodgson is liking. But the finishing is well off. Both Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora had their share of chances, clear opportunities that got blown. Zamora had probably the howler of the day, missing a chance from the top of the goal area after Howard saved Jimmy Bullard's 25 yard free kick. Zamora hit the post on a, well not quite wide open net. But from that distance, he needs to score.
Zoltan Gera was simply unlucky at about the hour mark. I thought his header was simply beautiful, hitting the crossbar in just the right way to bounce out of teh net and not in. A matter of an inche or two lower and it would have been a goal and a lovely one at that.
Fulham are playing well, with some solid football, creating chances and making life difficult for opposing sides. What Fulham need now is to convert a few of those close ones and they could start stringing together some wins. Fulham was unlucky to have not come away with at least a point.
Fulham will face Newcastle United this upcoming weekend followed by Tottenham, who are flying high with a draw against Arsenel and a win over Liverpool in the past two matches. Tottenham are looking much improved since sacking Juande Ramos.
Altidore Scores for Villareal
Jozy Altidore got his first La Liga goal just seconds after coming into the match which was all but done and dusted.
Still, a nice strike on his first touch of the game.
Still, a nice strike on his first touch of the game.
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