The Revolution were kung-fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightening
’cause they fought with am’teur timing

There was funky Clint Dempsey and little Franchino
Clint said here comes Steve Nicol, lets get it on
They had some words and punches thrown, started wrestling on the ground
The fighting got Stevie so pissed, now Dempsey’s missing the team trip

The Revolution were kung-fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightening
’cause they fought with am’teur timing

My condolences to the family of Los Angeles Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton who died yesterday after suffering a heart attack on his flight home from Costa Rica.

Doug Hamilton was one of the good guys in American soccer. He died too young, and he will be missed.

I encourage you to visit the tribute thread at BigSoccer. The memorial banner will remain visible on this website for one week.

The SuperClub is dead. Long live the SuperClub!

There are some fine revisionist historians employed by Red Bull, and it looks like one of them wrote the press release for the Red Bull corporate website.

Red Bull is expanding its interest in football with a unique, yet logical, next step in a process that began less than a year ago: the New York MetroStars will take the field in the approaching US Soccer Championship as the Red Bulls New York. The club first became well-known outside of the USA under the name New York Cosmos, when superstars like Beckenbauer and Pelé played for the team.

According to the “new” history before the Red Bull takeover the team was called the New York MetroStars, and then before that the team was called the New York Cosmos. That’s pretty spiffy considering the Cosmos never played in MLS and had nothing to do with the MetroStars, and that before the Red Bull takeover the team was called the MetroStas and before that the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. I can understand the desire to deny the Jersey roots, but claiming an affiliation with the Cosmos is pushing things a little too far.

Truth is, I’m actually surprised they’re keeping the MetroStars affiliation at all. Yesterday when Michael Lewis reported the MetroStars front office was instructed to “get rid of all things associated with the Metros name” I thought that meant the Metros would be expunged from history altogether.

Unfortunately, Ives Galarcep seems to be putting the kibbosh and on my dreams of Giorgio Chinaglia being general manager. It’s disappointing, to say the least. I suppose it’s better for the team’s prospect in the short and long term to maintain the smart and steady leadership it’s enjoyed since Alexi Lalas took over (did I really just write that?), and there’s clearly something fitting about “Big Red” working for Red Bull.

But keeping Lalas and his team more or less intact won’t be nearly as interesting as giving the reins to a pompous blowhard who routinely denigrates Major League Soccer. I mean, just look at this quote:

Asked what he would do if he was in charge, Chinaglia replied, “Get rid of everybody. You’re going to bring in new blood, new ideas and new coaches. Players who can win games.” Chinaglia said such sweeping changes could be done quickly. “Why not?” he asked. “This isn’t Serie A or the (English) Premiership, you know.”

Now that’s the kind of man I want running a team in MLS. Not my team, mind you. But some other team. At least for a little while, just not so long that it really hurts the league.

There was nothing dignified about Major League Soccer’s exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Like I said, the 0-0 draws in the first legs meant the second legs were mere formalities. One way or another the second leg home teams were going to win the series. But why did the Revs and Galaxy have to lose in such stupidly spectacular fashion?

In the away leg the Galaxy managed to blow a 2-0 halftime lead and then lose the game to Saprissa 3-2 in overtime. I don’t know what Steve Sampson said at halftime, but it obviously wasn’t the right thing to say.

And then the Revolution, after 179 scoreless minutes over the course of two games, let Alajuelense score in the 180th minute of play. Granted, the game winning free kick was an absolutely stunner.

What can you say? Saprissa and Alajuelense did what neither the Revolution nor the Galaxy managed to do: they got the job done at home. Until Major League Soccer teams can do that themselves on a consistent basis the league will always struggle internationally.

I knew I’d read it before …

“I’m the only person who can change things in New York.” - Giorgio Chinaglia, March 7, 2006

“If we are going to make this work, I’m the only one who can do it.” - Giorgio Chinaglia, February 10, 2003

The first quote is from yesterday’s Jack Bell article previously discussed here, and the second is from another Jack Bell article which I’ve reposted for you reading pleasure here.