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Soccer interludes Basketball arenas have nothing on soccer stadiums
Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl is on college basketball duty, but he hasn’t managed to stay completely away from soccer in his recent mailbags. We’ve excerpted some of the highlights: As great as the atmosphere in college hoops arenas may be, you haven't heard nothin' 'til you've been to a rocking soccer stadium. In the spirit of last week's raucous U.S. win over Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, here are the 10 loudest soccer shrines where I've seen games. Check them out if you're ever traveling abroad: 1. La Bombonera (Buenos Aires). When Boca Juniors' bosteros do the human wave (not your father's wave), head for cover. 2. Parkhead (Glasgow). Sectarian hatred of crosstown rival Rangers makes Duke-Carolina look like a garden party. 3. Maracana (Rio de Janeiro). World's largest stadium is deafening during a Flamengo match. 4. Estadio Azteca (Mexico City). Pollution, altitude can't keep our southern neighbors from having a good time. 5. Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires). My back's still aching from River Plate fans hugging me after a '95 Superclasico win. 6. Stade Velodrome (Marseille). Home of France's real soccer fans. Architecture strangely resembles the dearly departed Sombrero in Tampa. 7. Stamford Bridge (London). It gets loud in the Shed. 8. Stade de France (Paris). Sure, Les Parisiens aren't the most gung-ho soccer fans. But when you win a World Cup it's hard not to get excited. 9. Estadio Jalisco (Guadalajara). Whistles during the American national anthem are louder than most U.S. soccer crowds. 10. De Kuip Stadium (Rotterdam). Home of Feyenoord did a most excellent job at Euro 2000. I thought I'd try to combine two of your favorite sports in one question. Who's a worse coach, Pat Kennedy (DePaul) or Thomas Rongen (D.C. United)?
Let's compare. Personnel acquisition. Kennedy has at least shown the ability to recruit well. Rongen (with help from Kevin Payne ) has brought in ... Raúl Díaz Arce. Advantage: Kennedy. Nurturing talent. Bobby Simmons and Chris Albright. Need we say more? OK, OK, United's Bobby Convey has a bright future ... in Europe. Advantage: Rongen (barely). The embarrassment factor. Is Kennedy another Ray Meyer? Is Rongen another Bruce Arena? Noooo, the fans groan. Advantage: Push. Coaching style. Kennedy: Roll out the ball. Rongen: Roll out the ball. Advantage: Push. Respect among players. Kennedy: Nope. Rongen: Ever watch the United players during Rongen's halftime "speeches" on MLS ExtraTime? Not pretty. Advantage: Push. The Verdict. All even. First man out of town gets a case of Marlboros as a parting gift. Another one to mix your favorite sports: Which team in orange pulls the bigger perennial choke job, Tennessee or the Netherlands?
Excellent question, Jerry. The Vols and the Oranje have many similarities. Both teams have annoying yappers ( Ron Slay and Ed van der Sar ), overrated choke artists ( Tony Harris and Frank De Boer ) and players who have never fulfilled their unlimited potential ( Vincent Yarbrough and Patrick Kluivert ). But at least the Dutch make the semis and finals of tournaments on occasion, which never happens with Tennessee. So I'll give the advantage to the Vols.
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