For 7-28-2004

1 --

Vote for the Camel?!

Shall we as fans of the beautiful game vote for the soccer-playing presidential candidate? [Don't answer that.]

According to the New York Times, Democratic candidate John Kerry could try to win votes from a different fan base by publicizing his soccer pedigree.

Kerry -- nicknamed the Camel by his teammates because of his size, the shape of his face and his loping running stride -- started playing soccer while in boarding school in Switzerland. He continued to play in prep school in New Hampshire and in college at Yale.

It is rumored that his position was, what else, right wing.


2 --

Who needs an SSS? Why not use Radio City Music Hall?

Hey Metrostars, forget Harrison, New Jersey. Why don't you follow the lead of the WNBA's New York Liberty and play matches at Radio City?

If you haven't heard, the WNBA's New York Liberty have been forced out of Madison Square Garden for six games due to the upcoming Republican National Convention. The ladies will be playing those six games on a court laid upon the Music Hall stage. During play, the ball could actually bounce into the orchestra pit. Oh and by the way, the Liberty won their first game in the Hall against the Detroit Shock, 78-69, before a capacity crowd of 5,945.

Look at it this way, the "field" at Radio City probably wouldn't be much harder than the one at Giants Stadium. And if the homeboys played LA, the Gals could really kick up their heels in a full chorus of dissent and show the Big Apple their Rockettes form.


3 --

One for the future -- the next Davy Arnaud.

I should send this information to Bob. I know he's always on the look out for good, hard-working, no-nonsense players.

Seems a young man out of Oswego State in New York is making his way up the soccer ladder. Remember this name, Derek Popovich. He's 6' 0" tall and weighs 175, which puts him about the same size as Davy with a little more weight.

Scouting reports say he has good strength, endurance, and agility. He has a great work rate and gets up and down the field well. He plays both outside midfielder and striker. Needs to improve his quickness in decision making and play within tight spaces.

In the past few seasons he has gone from second all-time scorer in Oswego State history to leading scorer for the PDL's Albany Blackwatch Highlanders. And now he has been signed up by the A-League's Atlanta Silverbacks.

Let's keep an on on this 23-year-old and see how far his hard work gets him with the Silverbacks. This might be the kind of developmental player we need to pick up after the expansion draft.

I feel a Troy Perkins coming on.


4 --

Heat Index? What Heat Index?

This time of year we're all usually talking about how hot it is and how to stay cool. Well, this summer has been more than nice when talking about temperatures.

But there's still one very hot spot in the midwest. How about a Heat Index of 49.9? Doesn't sound hot to you? Well on the weather map known as MLS, KC is too hot baby.

For your consideration:

-- KC is unbeaten in their last nine games. The longest unbeaten streak by any team in the league this season.

-- KC has the current and longest road unbeaten streak at six games.

-- KC has the best overall winning percentage at .639.

-- KC has the best home winning percentage at .722.

-- KC has the best road winning percentage at .556.

-- KC has the best record and winning percentage when scoring first at 8-0-4 and .864.

-- The Wizards have only lost four times out of 18 games this season -- once each to Dallas, DC, New England and the Metrostars. The only team in that list not to receive a return defeat is the Metrostars.