Four more days. They can't go by fast enough. I've been waiting since that dreary November day. I've been waiting, for what has felt like an eternity at times, but now only four more days remain. Four days until "The Victors" blasts and the players run and touch the banner. Four days until I can see what progress is being made. Four days until I can stop reading practice notes and see real results on the field in a real game.
It has been a long off-season for us Michigan fans. Longer than any off-season in my lifetime. In 2008, there was no winning season, no bowl game to look forward to, and very few hints of success. We had to grasp to singular moments in games, even in games we lost to hold on to hope or watch old highlights and games from glory past. No, Michigan hasn't been the old powerhouse it used to be for sometime now. Sure 2006 brought us to Ohio St. undefeated and at #2 in the nation, but it also ended with two losses. They haven't beat Ohio St. in five years, they haven't been ranked #1 since they won the 1997 National Championship. They've lost to Toledo and Appalachian St. Yet, for me, there is still hope. Hope that we will return to our rightful place amongst the college football elite.
For every sport I love the build up towards the first game of the year. I can't wait for Opening Day, to see the Dodgers take the field for the first time since October. I love the first NFL weekend so that I can see the Pats start another quest towards greatness. I love Late Night and college basketball's start (although it does get better in March). This Saturday feels different than most other openers though. This is the first step in the road to redemption, the return to glory, to prove doubters wrong. There is so much anticipation for the game, which also makes this a somewhat scary event. As much excitement that can be generated, it can be topped by disappointment. But in the end, that's what fandom is all about.
We hope for the best, we expect the best, and are crushed by the worst. Even if we've been there before, even if there isn't much hope, the disappointment still comes. Fortunately, it is matched by the pure joy of success. That pure happiness and excitement that takes you back, if only for a moment, to childhood. Where nothing else matters and life is so simple. It's often hard to explain these feelings, why you see grown men act like little kids, and dance around a television set because a ball flew over a fence or a ball dropped into a basket. But for me, for people like me, it doesn't really need to be explained, maybe because it can't be.
Saturday is a day I live for. Anything can happen this season. We cannot predict the future. It might be another disaster, it may show only a glimpse of progress, but for me Saturday offers what sports fans all want to feel. Hope.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Feeling Disgusted...
After watching yesterday's soccer match between the United States and its arch-rival Mexico, I left with a feeling of disgust. Sure there were other feeling involved, disappointment, anger, and so on, but the biggest of them all was disgust. Now, let me dive a little deeper into this sentiment.
I was disgusted by the way we played. This was as good a chance as we have ever had to win a game in Mexico City in the "hallowed" Estadio Azteca. The American's were coming off a great showing in this summer's Confederations Cup and felt like momentum was building towards another great result in next year's World Cup in South Africa. Our players had to be full of confidence as this game approached. This is Mexico, not Spain, not Brazil, two of the world's best who we had gone toe-to-toe with. Mexico over the years seems to have lost its luster on the world soccer stage. Mexico who was struggling to qualify for next summer's World Cup. Mexico, our greatest rival.
The game started well, as those of you who watched know. Charlie Davies took a beautiful pass from Landon Donovan and stunned the 100,000 plus crowd in the 9th minute with a great goal to give the American's their first ever lead in Mexico. Some analyst said he has never seen 100,000 people get so quiet so fast. Their fears were being realized, this wasn't the same US team that has gone to Azteca and failed over and over. We had them on the ropes early, our foot was on their throat, we had the opportunity to throw the knockout punch. All the talk about how we needed to "survive" the first ten minutes was gone, silenced by the right foot of Davies. Unfortunately, this is when the game ended.
Bob Bradley, who has done a respectable job as coach of the United States decided not to go for that knockout blow. Instead, as I have felt is so often the case, he decided to play for a tie. Instead of pressing for another goal, a probable back-breaker for the stunned Mexican squad, the American's dropped into a shell. The Mexican's had free reign to do almost whatever they wanted. They dominated possession, they made runs into the penalty area, they drew fouls, everything they could to get the equalizing goal. Ten minutes later, it happened. Mexico regained possession of the ball after Landon Donovan turned it over (I think he was fouled, but more on the officiating later) and Israel Macias Castro drilled an incredible shot for his first goal in twenty international appearances. Just like that our 1-0 lead, our chance to put away the demons of years past was gone. I don't know if Bradley felt we could defend for 81 minutes straight and not give up a goal, but we came up 71 minutes short of that. From there, instead of trying to go for a second goal and another lead, the team continued to sit back and play defense. While I know the environment conditions played a role in keeping our midfielders deeper on the field, I still believe we had to press forward more. We managed to reach halftime with a 1-1 tie, but a tie seemed our best case scenario.
The second half took place as much of the first half did. The US with virtually no possession, and Mexico running wild with opportunity after opportunity. We were constantly defending, and they seemed like they were on the verge for most of the second half. We did seem to get a bit of a spark as Stuart Holden and Benny Feilhaber entered the game as subs. Holdon made a beautiful cross that just missed the head of Charlie Davies. In the 81st minute, our defense broke down, the ball took an unlucky bounce, and Mexican sub Miguel Sabah put the dagger in our hearts. There was still a little time to try to even the score, but we didn't have it in us. 2-1 final, another heartbreaker in Mexico City.
I was upset by a number of things. First of all, the fact that we did not seem to play for the win. The American's did a admirable job trying to defend for most of the game, but when the other team has the ball constantly, it seems like goals are inevitable. Even in the Spain game, Tim Howard had to play out of his mind to keep the lead as he was peppered with shot after shot. Why Bradley continues to coach seemingly without a desire to win is beyond me. Mexico played a good game, they did what they needed to do, but it felt as though the US let them do it. Another complaint I have with Coach Bradley is his starting 11 he put on the field. Now I get that certain players may not be in "game form," but I certainly do not agree with change for the sake of change. Our magical run in South Africa was keyed my a great starting lineup that produced. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, then don't fix it. Why change something that had worked so well? Another point on this, as my soccer friend Brian states, "when are people going to realize that great form in the MLS means nothing?" Congratulations Brian Ching for having a nice start to your MLS season, thanks for not showing up in yesterday's game (although he had very few chances to do anything because we were defending the whole time). I was also upset at our "stars." All the talk in the lead up to yesterday's game was about how Donovan was ready to step up. He was shedding his image of "LandyCakes" and ready to make a big splash against Mexico. The only thing I'll remember about him yesterday is him getting burned on the final goal. Thanks for playing Landon, hopefully you enjoyed the vacation. This also brings me to Clint Dempsey. An individual award winner during the Confed Cup, and a reputation of a big game player, Clint was a non-factor. I barely remember him doing anything yesterday, just a bystander or spectator with a great view. Don't get me wrong, I am not so down on these two as to give up on them. They are terrific players and will be a big part of our success (or failure) in the coming months as we lead up to the World Cup. It was just disappointing to see them fail in yesterday's match so miserably.
This brings me to my third point. I know that it's impossible to expect to get any calls on the road for the United States, but somehow I still hold on to hope. The refereeing in yesterday's match was so one-sided and inconsistent it made me sick. Phantom fouls against the American's or yellow card's that only went to us. Cherundolo get's tackled from behind and it's a mere foul. Bocanegra gets ball first and gets a yellow. Even my Mexican counterparts who I watched the game readily admitted to inconsistency in the reffing, but shrugged and smiled, "we'll take it." Someday CONCACAF and FIFA will not allow our players to be "assaulted" as Brian says, but that day was neither yesterday, today, or tomorrow.
My last issue is with the Mexican players and fans (some not all). Congratulations, you beat us. You beat us at home. You beat us when you HAD to. You beat us with the help of a blind referee. You beat us with a lucky bounce. You beat us on a one-in-million goal. You beat us without class from your fans or your players. So congrats again. I hope you fail to qualify for the World Cup.
The American's had a chance yesterday. A chance that does not present itself very often. An early lead, a stunned crowd, a stunned opponent, a chance to make history, a chance to bury your rival. The opportunity of a lifetime. And they did not take it. That in itself left me disgusted...
I was disgusted by the way we played. This was as good a chance as we have ever had to win a game in Mexico City in the "hallowed" Estadio Azteca. The American's were coming off a great showing in this summer's Confederations Cup and felt like momentum was building towards another great result in next year's World Cup in South Africa. Our players had to be full of confidence as this game approached. This is Mexico, not Spain, not Brazil, two of the world's best who we had gone toe-to-toe with. Mexico over the years seems to have lost its luster on the world soccer stage. Mexico who was struggling to qualify for next summer's World Cup. Mexico, our greatest rival.
The game started well, as those of you who watched know. Charlie Davies took a beautiful pass from Landon Donovan and stunned the 100,000 plus crowd in the 9th minute with a great goal to give the American's their first ever lead in Mexico. Some analyst said he has never seen 100,000 people get so quiet so fast. Their fears were being realized, this wasn't the same US team that has gone to Azteca and failed over and over. We had them on the ropes early, our foot was on their throat, we had the opportunity to throw the knockout punch. All the talk about how we needed to "survive" the first ten minutes was gone, silenced by the right foot of Davies. Unfortunately, this is when the game ended.
Bob Bradley, who has done a respectable job as coach of the United States decided not to go for that knockout blow. Instead, as I have felt is so often the case, he decided to play for a tie. Instead of pressing for another goal, a probable back-breaker for the stunned Mexican squad, the American's dropped into a shell. The Mexican's had free reign to do almost whatever they wanted. They dominated possession, they made runs into the penalty area, they drew fouls, everything they could to get the equalizing goal. Ten minutes later, it happened. Mexico regained possession of the ball after Landon Donovan turned it over (I think he was fouled, but more on the officiating later) and Israel Macias Castro drilled an incredible shot for his first goal in twenty international appearances. Just like that our 1-0 lead, our chance to put away the demons of years past was gone. I don't know if Bradley felt we could defend for 81 minutes straight and not give up a goal, but we came up 71 minutes short of that. From there, instead of trying to go for a second goal and another lead, the team continued to sit back and play defense. While I know the environment conditions played a role in keeping our midfielders deeper on the field, I still believe we had to press forward more. We managed to reach halftime with a 1-1 tie, but a tie seemed our best case scenario.
The second half took place as much of the first half did. The US with virtually no possession, and Mexico running wild with opportunity after opportunity. We were constantly defending, and they seemed like they were on the verge for most of the second half. We did seem to get a bit of a spark as Stuart Holden and Benny Feilhaber entered the game as subs. Holdon made a beautiful cross that just missed the head of Charlie Davies. In the 81st minute, our defense broke down, the ball took an unlucky bounce, and Mexican sub Miguel Sabah put the dagger in our hearts. There was still a little time to try to even the score, but we didn't have it in us. 2-1 final, another heartbreaker in Mexico City.
I was upset by a number of things. First of all, the fact that we did not seem to play for the win. The American's did a admirable job trying to defend for most of the game, but when the other team has the ball constantly, it seems like goals are inevitable. Even in the Spain game, Tim Howard had to play out of his mind to keep the lead as he was peppered with shot after shot. Why Bradley continues to coach seemingly without a desire to win is beyond me. Mexico played a good game, they did what they needed to do, but it felt as though the US let them do it. Another complaint I have with Coach Bradley is his starting 11 he put on the field. Now I get that certain players may not be in "game form," but I certainly do not agree with change for the sake of change. Our magical run in South Africa was keyed my a great starting lineup that produced. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, then don't fix it. Why change something that had worked so well? Another point on this, as my soccer friend Brian states, "when are people going to realize that great form in the MLS means nothing?" Congratulations Brian Ching for having a nice start to your MLS season, thanks for not showing up in yesterday's game (although he had very few chances to do anything because we were defending the whole time). I was also upset at our "stars." All the talk in the lead up to yesterday's game was about how Donovan was ready to step up. He was shedding his image of "LandyCakes" and ready to make a big splash against Mexico. The only thing I'll remember about him yesterday is him getting burned on the final goal. Thanks for playing Landon, hopefully you enjoyed the vacation. This also brings me to Clint Dempsey. An individual award winner during the Confed Cup, and a reputation of a big game player, Clint was a non-factor. I barely remember him doing anything yesterday, just a bystander or spectator with a great view. Don't get me wrong, I am not so down on these two as to give up on them. They are terrific players and will be a big part of our success (or failure) in the coming months as we lead up to the World Cup. It was just disappointing to see them fail in yesterday's match so miserably.
This brings me to my third point. I know that it's impossible to expect to get any calls on the road for the United States, but somehow I still hold on to hope. The refereeing in yesterday's match was so one-sided and inconsistent it made me sick. Phantom fouls against the American's or yellow card's that only went to us. Cherundolo get's tackled from behind and it's a mere foul. Bocanegra gets ball first and gets a yellow. Even my Mexican counterparts who I watched the game readily admitted to inconsistency in the reffing, but shrugged and smiled, "we'll take it." Someday CONCACAF and FIFA will not allow our players to be "assaulted" as Brian says, but that day was neither yesterday, today, or tomorrow.
My last issue is with the Mexican players and fans (some not all). Congratulations, you beat us. You beat us at home. You beat us when you HAD to. You beat us with the help of a blind referee. You beat us with a lucky bounce. You beat us on a one-in-million goal. You beat us without class from your fans or your players. So congrats again. I hope you fail to qualify for the World Cup.
The American's had a chance yesterday. A chance that does not present itself very often. An early lead, a stunned crowd, a stunned opponent, a chance to make history, a chance to bury your rival. The opportunity of a lifetime. And they did not take it. That in itself left me disgusted...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)