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Throw-Ins United States defeats Bora-led China
Sack of the weekThis week's honor goes to a pair of former Belgian first division coaches who were axed on the same day. Marc Grosjean was fired by last-place La Louviere on Monday and Valere Billen was bounced by Mechelen, which is only a notch above La Louviere in 17th place. La Louviere has accumulated only nine points in 20 matches, while Mechelen has 11. Loser of the weekMy, my, there are so many nominations this week. So, who would you pick? Would it be former Como captain Massimiliano Ferrigno, the Italian Serie C player was suspended for three years after a locker-room right last year put an opponent in a one-week coma? Or would you go with Chilean defender Pablo Contreras, who was suspended for two months as his former team AS Monaco was penalized two points in the standings by French soccer officials for allegedly using a fake Italian passport. Or would you go with Vasco da Gama defender Junior Baiano, who denied using drugs after testing positive for cocaine following Vasco's 3-1 victory over Sao Caetano in the Brazilian championship match? Or would you prefer Diego Maradona (he'll be back as a nominee -- count on it), who stiffed organizers four times for a testimonial game in the United Arab Emirates.I'll give the nod to Ferrigno, who says he might retire from soccer if his appeal isn't upheld. Poor baby. Lothar's cornerYeah, I thought it was dead and buried, too. But Lothar Matthäus was in the news once against on Wednesday without doing a thing. Mexican Claudio Suarez, who scored in the 3-2 loss to Colombia on Wednesday, passed Lothar on the all-time cap list (151). Suarez trails only Egypt's Hossam Hassan (154)holds the record with 154 appearances.
Chip shots
"Let me tell you, the way this thing is going, American soccer players can go to any team in the world," he said. "You talk about African players, you can talk about American players as well. They would not embarrass themselves. There is genuine quality in the league who can play across the pond and it's not scratching the door. " Pablo Mastroeni can do it. Jason Kreis can do it. Then it comes a big question of character, endurance and inner strength. Then the field shortens. How many of that bunch can handle the hurly-burly over there. [Claudio] Reyna's] done it, like a duck to water. Hudson felt John Harkes doesn't get enough credit for opening doors for the American player in Europe. "John Harkes is one of the most unheralded heroes in the United States for me," he said. "He went over there and stuck a spear in the ground. He proved that we don't run around and produce headless chickens. He never got the credit. Harkes did it at a time in English football when [the U.S.] didn't have the players. How the hell he did, I don't know."
"There's a player who would be a great addition to the Fusion," he said. "He's captained Czechoslovakia 70 times. But Celtic doesn't want him to go. He wants to play to get his championship medal in Scotland. He wants to bow out with a championship medal, which is a negative to us. We wouldn't get him until May, at the earliest."
"We both want to play and we both need to play," Howard said. "It's no secret that I want to be in a position to be a full-time starter. It's very frustrating [not playing regularly]. I work hard. I believe I work harder than anyone else. I know my capabilities." Zambrano understands the potential for a conflict. "In a dream world, I would love to have them both," he said. "They are both capable keepers. But because we don't live in a dream world, we have to deal with it. This is a situation that could turn out to be unmanageable because of their competitive nature. . . . We're going to act with a lot of tact and a lot of smarts. At the end of the day, we're going to do what's good for the organization."
Wednesday night's loss in L.A. was a crusher, losing a two-goal advantage and then the match in the 90th minute 3-2 to Colombia. While the Mexicans look like they're reeling, they have a history of getting it together when it counts.
On Saturday, I went to Nathan Hale's in New York City to watch the U.S.-China match with the Empire Supporters' Club. On Monday, I attended a special soccer symposium in Astoria, Queens, listening to Argentine national coach Marcelo Bielsa and MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano (who I think stole the show). On Tuesday, it was a "day off" from soccer-related activities -- I had a crown put on a tooth. On Wednesday, a media luncheon at the MetroStars' offices in Secaucus, N.J. On Thursday, the MetroStars held their first practice at the bubble outside of Giants Stadium. On Friday, I was to fly down to Florida to cover the U.S.-Colombia game, college all-star games the MLS and WUSA drafts. Whew!
It's a great read. Wish I could visit some of the other clubs' meetings. Wish I had one of those transporters that they have in Star Trek so I can beam around the country in a flash. If one gets invented in the next couple of years, could someone please drop me an e-mail? Thanks.
"It's a very exciting site," said MetroStars general manager Nick Sakiewicz, who is spearheading the expansion effort. "It has great possibilities." In Aqueduct's favor are a nearby subway line, access and the fact the area is smack in the middle of fervent soccer fans. Other candidates are Belmont Park, Randall's Island, Canarsie Park, two areas in College Point and a park east of Aqueduct. Also being considered are Roosevelt Field (Westbury) and land around EAB Park (Islip) on Long Island.
Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News. He was recently honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in the college division of its writing contest for Life is Beautiful, a column on University of San Francisco coach Steve Negoesco.
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