Monday Kickaround

NR to #6 is quite a jump. Having Carden back for the Hokies was huge as she was critical in both wins over ranked teams the past week.

Annoying useless use of Flash on that English web site...

What a miserable weekend:

DC United pratty much signed it's playoff death certificate.

Puerto Rico Islanders dropped both legs of the USL1 semifinal to the Montreal Impact and officially signed the death cert on making it out of Champions' League play group play.

Even my American football team the Ravens lost and to make it worse, the Redskins somehow managed to win...

Miserable... Just plain miserable...

Tech women over UVA and UNC in the same week. Playing UNC with 3 in the back line is pretty bold.

As far as Wicks goes, he should get about as much time as Blanco got. Seriously, what they both did was classless but if Wicks gets more than a two a game suspension USOC suspension I will be ticked off.

Seriously. I will.

"I'm told that Molly Malone's near Capitol Hill in Washington is planning to offer it as well."

Steve - thanks for your excellent coverage of this total debacle. Your updates have been key.

Yankiboy, I have been told Blanco got a 12-game suspension (effectively two years, not two games). So it's hard to judge what you are advocating. Wicks obviously will get more than two games.

"but consider what's happening in England, where the qualifier against Ukraine will be seen on the Internet and in movie theaters only."

Yep - that's pretty ridiculous. However, there are some key differences from the US situation... England have already qualified, so it's hardly a crucial qualifier and must see TV. And they're in this situation because Setanta UK (a now defunct operation) owns the rights. Still, I don't know why Sky can't intervene and buy the rights from a dead company.

Molly Malone's will be absolutely swamped if it is the only DC location...probably would have to arrive a few hours in advance.

Molly Malone's will be absolutely swamped if it is the only DC location...probably would have to arrive a few hours in advance.

Posted by: hoyanick1 | October 5, 2009 9:47 AM

If they're showing it, I'll be there very early and will watch LSU-Florida while I wait. Oh and Mexico-ES a couple hours before that.

I hear you yankiboy. Let's pile on the misery by that disgraceful performance by Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend. They struggled mightily to STEAL a point from the mighty, mighty Sunderland (who were thugs on the night btw).

DC? Don't get me started with them. It's too early in the morning and I'm at work and would rather not scream certain adjectives that come to mind when I hear that team's name.

@GOG: Wow! Thanks for the 411. I thought that he got a slap on the wrist. I am now better educated.

I guess Josh Wicks won't be playing any USOC games until 2012.

Thank a lot G

The Portland-Vancouver yesterday was a whole lot of fun to watch.

I'm very happy my Gators play such a big game that night, so that I can not feel as bad about missing the USA game, which I will have at least a matchtracker open on. If a feed pops up, I'll be happy to open that up on the computer, too

http://views.washingtonpost.com/post-user-polls/2009/10/favorite-dc-pro-team.html?hpid=talkbox1

Vote early and vote often.

I don't think MLS belongs in the Open Cup, period, but I guess it's the best available substitute for the departed Reserve League.

Molly Hatchet is a soccer fan?

I woke up this morning eagerly anticipating the news that Tom Soehn had been sacked...
ahh but to no avail...

Firing Soehn at this point would be like subbing your playmaker at 42 minutes. I mean, nobody does that.

Kev29: According to what I'd been reading, Kentaro (the rights agency who negotiated the deal for the game) actually did approach the UK broadcasters again after Setanta's collapse because the bankrupcy saw the rights go back to them, but they all either didn't offer enough or passed entirely. (The Times UK claims they all passed, but I heard Five did bid elsewhere). So, they decided to go online only and partnered with some national newspaper websites and Perform (who's responsible for the sites of the Football League in England) to sell it.

Are those just the usual CC locations, or locations which have been confirmed for THIS game??

Thanks for the scoop, Jeff. Definitely some similarities with the situation here - where (apparently) ESPN were offered a chance to buy from MediaPro, but were put off by the price.

New Zealand vs. Bahrain for a World Cup slot? Seriously? Apologies to the Kiwis, but the Oceana Confederation needs to disappear.

@Miles: Everyone needs a chance to participate. Even in Oceania. A lot of people have made similar statements about CONCACAF. If All Whites can get past Bahrain then they deserve to get in. They will have their work cut out for them.

Donde esta Creighton?

Man, this is going to be the first qualifier - or men's nat match - I've missed since probably 1994. What a crappy system.

New Zealand vs. Bahrain for a World Cup slot? Seriously? Apologies to the Kiwis, but the Oceana Confederation needs to disappear.

Posted by: Miles_Standish_Proud | October 5, 2009 11:28 AM

Bahrain are in the Asian Confederation. Oceania don't have an automatic slot and have to earn their way in via playoff with the fifth/sixth Asian qualifier - seems fair enough to me.

Steven,

Will the US qualifier be shown later on ESPN or Fox Soccer?

I know in the past this has happened in similiar situations.

Soccer in a cinema would be awesome.

Will the US qualifier be shown later on ESPN or Fox Soccer?

Posted by: dcufan53 | October 5, 2009 12:10 PM

No. Or at least, no plans as of yet.

yankiboy: "but if Wicks gets more than a two a game suspension USOC suspension I will be ticked off.

Seriously. I will."

I'm sure they'll take your ticked off-ness into account when they make their ruling.

@Yankiboy,

Wicks will "miss" two or three matches at the beginning of the tournament where DC will have Hamid play against the San Jose Earthquake Reserves, Red Bull New York Reserves, and Everton Americans (Ventura County). Wicks will be on the bench roster "serving his suspension".

A real punishment indeed.

It does not mean jack
Experts agree, Wicks is whack
Why would he be back?

A lot of Latino joints near me in the Wheaton/Silver Spring area will show the match. It's hard being a US soccer fan sometimes.

If you have a child who loves the sport and you want to watch a game with them, as I do, it's a challenge to go see a 10 p.m. match in a bar or (South Korea/Japan World Cup) watch a match at 2:30 a.m. or 4:30 a.m.

I'm sure they'll take your ticked off-ness into account when they make their ruling.

Posted by: very_clever_username

You are so very, very clever...

Posted by: hacksaw

Man, this is going to be the first qualifier - or men's nat match - I've missed since probably 1994. What a crappy system.
----------------------------
That's somewhat impressive since its only been a few years since EVERY USMNT match was available on US television. Either that or you're engaging in hyperbole.

Molly Hatchet is a soccer fan?

Posted by: joedoc1 | October 5, 2009 10:42 AM | Report abuse

Of course. Didn't you realize DCU's theme song this year is "Flirtin' With Disaster"?

:)

Huh, don't see any bars in Hawaii listed...
Oh well.

DadRyan, there was a bar in Lahaina on Maui that had the Setanta package when I was there last year. Can't remember the name but it wasn't hard to find. I wouldn't know if they'll spring for the Honduras game-- they're not listed on that website.

@ DadRyan - outside of the possibility of Molly Malone's there's nothing in the DC/VA/MD/PA/NC/WV/DE/NJ area. NYC is the closest! I wonder why the Fado Pubs in DC & Annapolis haven't stepped up like so many of their brethren?

Dempsey is listed as out for the match against Honduras.

Soccerman said: I wonder why the Fado Pubs in DC & Annapolis haven't stepped up like so many of their brethren?
I say: I'm going to call Fado and tell them that DH Bob and I will come for $30 if they save us a seat. Maybe we all should call?

Or maybe DH Bob and I will go to a Spanish-speaking site. I wanna see the game! As a spoiled white matron, I am not easily thwarted.

Maybe I jumped the gun - Fado's in DC is listed by US Soccer as one of the venues:

http://www.ussoccer.com/Community/USA-Honduras-Locations.aspx

That "English list" is pretty puny compared the "Spanish" one. There must be 10 places within a 5 mile radius from my house. I speak Spanish so that wouldn't be a problem but since I'll be out the country I'll have to pass. Those guys who bought the transmission knew what they were doing, the Catrachos will be coming out of the woodwork for this game. I hate to say but they probably won't be disappointed. Our away form has been less than mediocre even though we have gotten points in San Pedro Sula before. Honduras is overdue to qualify. They have good talent but have lacked the fortitude to advance the last several rounds. Plus, with all the political crap going on in the country the people need a distraction.