Mean Green Matt

Not at all.

I'm not talking at all about what happened on the field. We could have won 2-0 and I still would have been upset that 90%+ of the crowd was rooting for Mexico. Many of them are probably even American citizens. What the players have said is that the "away" crowd does not bother them, but that it sure would be nice to play in front of a true home crowd...some of them felt that atmosphere in Kansas City, which is a pretty pro-American soccer city, but we happened to be playing Guadaloupe. If we had been playing Mexico, they would have had a majority. It is not like the Mexican fans were even classy. I have read American fans that were at the game on Saturday were called every racial slur you could think of (Spanish and English), and when they were celebrating the USA goals, they has drinks thrown on them, and stuff like that. All of that happening in our own country. I think that is something to be upset about, and it transcends just soccer...but is certain relevant to the discussion of the Gold Cup.

I'm aware of that. CONCACAF specifically places the teams in certain groups so as to maximize revenue. They DO NOT do a true "draw" for the tournament. Just because it was in a predominantly Mexican area doesn't make it not upsetting... When the USA played in Washington DC in the quarterfinals, well over half of the crowd was rooting for El Salvador (who played after the USA). The 2009 final in New York was about 80% Mexico fans, and the 2007 Final in Chicago (where US Soccer is headquartered) was probably somewhere around 70/30 with Mexico having more fans. Without a doubt Americans do not support the national team like other countries do, but the fact that there are so many people here that support the teams the US is playing is the part that upsets me.

What upsets me infinitely more than the loss is the fact that our team had to play an away game in their own country. That crowd was about 90% for Mexico if not a little more. That is embarrassing and just sad at the same time that that can happen in this country.

You are technically right, but I think overtime is an acceptable term here in America...Here is a quote from the official match preview on the US Soccer Website: It is GAME DAY! GO USA!!!

Did you take a picture of the seating chart??? Is it filling up?

Here is a link to his official bio on the USA Basketball website: http://www.usabasketball.com/bios/mitchell_tony.html Favorite foods: chicken strips and fries As far as we know from Kram1 running into him at Chicken Express last week, chicken strips and fries was his last meal before he left for the training camp in Colorado. Anyways, congrats Tony! Go get yourself and the USA another gold medal!

USA Basketball - Story Link Full Detailed Roster EDIT: Also, here is the Mean Green Sports article on Tony making the team: Link In case there was any doubt (I don't think there was), Tony is the first NT player ever to represent the USA at the international level. This post has been promoted to an article

Mexico and Honduras are in overtime, but Mexico is up by 2 now. It looks like it is going to be a USA-Mexico Final. It will be an away game for us at the Rose Bowl. EDIT: It is official. USA vs. Mexico on Saturday in Pasadena.

There is the Superliga with the Mexican teams, but I don't think that is exactly what you are looking for...

We have talked about this before... I am for getting rid of the conferences, but I think getting rid of the playoffs would "turn off" a bunch of the casual fans that many MLS clubs (including FCD) need.

Plus, imagine what it can do for recruiting when we can have the picture of a first round NBA draft pick on the wall somewhere. I think he will be here for a year and a half, but just the fact that he was here at all says something about our program and will help for a long, long time.

Hopefully it can be before next year. To have only 5 home games, and one against an FCS oppononent in the brand new stadium is absurd. Surely the cost to backout of the LSU game or KSU (I actually was looking forward to going up there again though) would not be nearly as much for us as it would be for them. Maybe someone with a little more "clout" can inquire about this, becuase so far I've been unsuccessful...

I think the US should stick with what worked against Jamaica. Panama had to play an extra (very intense) 30 minutes of soccer, plus the emotional ride of penalty kicks, so hopefully they are tired out a little bit. Another plus is that Blas Perez, one of the better Panamanian players got a moronic red card right after the second half stoppage time whistle, so he will not even be available for Panama. Also, it will be very easy for the US to "get up" for this game because of the revenge factor. I think we will take it...now if Honduras will just take down Mexico....

Altidore is getting an MRI on his hamstring on Tuesday...his status for Wednesday is obviously unknown at this point. US Soccer isn't saying anything either way, but I highly doubt he will be available until at least the Final in Pasadena.

The travel sqaud is 12. One more cut needs to be made. The quote was from the USA U-19 coach a little further down in the article posted yesterday.

Unless we back out of some games we don't have any open OOC dates until 2016, including a few years where we only have 5 home games...which REALLY needs to change regardless of the cost. I have asked about this, but have yet to get anything that would be classified as a response...

Sending pictures like that is a pretty dumb thing to do when you are in a position like his. Despite that, I am much more bothered by the fact that he blatantly lied about it than his actions in the first place (which I don't like). The pictures are an issue between him and his wife, but the lying is an issue between him and his consitituents.

I was waiting for them to show that angle of it, but I must have just missed it.

It looks like one more player is going to be cut before the roster is finalized. Here is a quote from the head coach from a little farther down in the article: "I think our inside players are tremendous. We have some good balance and some guys that can shoot the basketball. Obviously, it was a hard decision to come down to 13, and we still have to make one more decision before we go overseas."

Heck of a game between Panama and El Salvador...I'm still not sure the equalizer for Panama actually crossed the entire goal line, but we will never know. I am glad the USA will have the rematch with Panama, not only to avenge the loss, but I think it will be easier for them to "get up" for the game than if it had been El Salvador. Anyways, here are the final four. The Semifinals will take place at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Wednesday. Mexico vs. Honduras United States vs. Panama Go USA!

I'm thrilled about this. Not only is it great publicity for NT basketball, but it is a great accomplishment for him personally, and it will also give him an awesome opportunity to get sharp again before he steps on the court in December. Hopefully they televise these games on ESPNU or something! The U-19 squad is one step under the senior national team. How cool would it be if he was playing in the Olympics one day.

First two quarterfinals: Honduras 1-1 Costa Rica (Honduras wins 4-2 on penalties) Mexico 2-1 Guatemala (Mexico looked beatable for the first time, which is good news for the USA) Todays games: USA vs. Jamaica (starts in about an hour on Fox Soccer Channel) Panama vs. El Salvador GO USA!!!

Fixed it for you.