Cups and Sportsmanship

A Personal Red Card — Or Is That a White Flag?

American professional athletes should take note of this -- a Norwegian soccer player has suspended himself for the rest of the season. Did you get that? Suspended himself!

Jahn Nitter, a striker for Norwegian third division Aamot, has taken himself out for the season after fighting with defender Rune Larsen of Hadeland in a match on September 11. Larsen, on sick leave for two weeks, suffered a concussion and required three stitches.

Nitter, quoted as saying, "I do not condone what I did," will not be further discplined by his club. In the player's defense, his club has pointed out that Nitter is well known as a clean player and that he had just one yellow card thus far this season.

I daresay we won't see any American football players or chair throwing baseball pitchers doing the same. And what a shame that is.


Who's Thirsty? There's Plenty O' Cups Goin' Round

Hearts -- UEFA Cup against SC Braga of Portugal. Won first leg 3-1 on September 16, before 18,769 at Murrayfield. Those of you who know me better might find this interesting. Jambos midfielder Paul Hartley scored a spectacular goal in the 62nd minute.

Hearts also in Scottish CIS Insurance Cup at Tynecastle on September 22 against Kilmarnock. Paul Hartley again got on the scoreboard in cup play in minute 15.

Addicks -- An uncomfortable match in the Carling Cup at Grimsby Town on September 21. Charlton fortunate to get a Danny Murphy free kick goal in the 8th. Grimsby attacked often and had several good opportunities in the first half with Charlton's Dean Kiely coming up with some great saves. Addicks also lucky to get help from the crossbar.

Second half subs Euell and Kishishev calmed Addicks down. After Lisbie cam on, Euell found him with a good pass. Lisbie showed his pace before finding Jeffers in front for a fantastic finish. Charlton pretty much knocks it around after that with only a shot over the crossbar by Euell coming close.

Charlton eventually showed class but disappointed overall in this struggle to beat a team three rungs down the ladder from the Premiership. And yet, for the Addicks, a win in any cup competition is a win.

Wizards -- U.S. Open Cup Final, KC 1 - 0 Chicago Fire. Wow, what an overtime victory at home in Arrowhead. And of all the ways for KC to win -- on a set piece. The Wizards hadn't come close on any set pieces all night. And more confusing was the apparent game plan to attack the taller Fire by air. So, instead, Alex Zotinca ducks out of the way of Igor Simutenkov's free kick winner. Suddenly, the Wizards hold the Open Cup.


Down to the Wire in MLS

And looking over the schedule, I see some very interesting divisional match ups. But you know what? I don't see the standings changing from what they are right now. Everyone will get a win or two and a tie or two and some losses. But the placements will be exactly as they are now on September 24.


I Agree to Disagree with Sean Wheelock, Again

Every time I read one of Mr. Wheelock's articles, there seems to be much with which I can agree. Maybe it's because we both come from the Kansas City area. His perspective seems right and comfortable. But, you know, I always find something with which to disagree.

In his latest article, "A little tweaking could do great things for the U.S. Open Cup," [http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3032962] I agree when Wheelock states:

"…continue the trend of staging matches held in MLS cities at small, secondary venues. Clubs in the league should be forbidden to play cup matches in their regular stadiums, even if they can sell a few more tickets. An atmosphere should be created with an intimate, frenzied, standing-room-only crowd that is just yards off of the touchline."

Sean is dead on here. Even if every team in MLS had its own stadium -- which means MLS teams would experience a more intimate atmosphere than they do now -- these games should be like backyard celebrations. The close, neighborly confines of a high school or university field harkens to the history of the Open Cup when the champions were amateur squads. Still today, when this competition begins every year, there are amateur teams participating. Matches like the one at Blue Valley Activities Center between the Wizards and the Earthquakes is not nostalgic, its electric.

Where I disagree with Mr. Wheelock is when he states:

"…make the National Soccer Hall of Fame the permanent host for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final, and hold the match as part of the annual induction festivities."

On first blush, this sounds like a great idea -- a great way to promote the tournament and the Hall of Fame. But it is only promoting the Open Cup final, not the entire tournament.

MLS, USL, the Hall of Fame, and the USSF all need to work together to do a better job of educating and promoting this very important competition. Why, it's decades older than the Heisman Trophy and a contemporary of the Rose Bowl game. There should be coverage of matches from the first round to the end. No, not every game, but a few choice games here an there. Give some of the amateur teams a little of the limelight. And get those PDL and PSL teams on screen too.

The Hall of Fame and the USSF should put on a touring educational show that shows the great history of the tournament. This road show should go not only to MLS towns, but A-League, PSL, PDL, etc. Take it to every State in the Union.

Truly promote one of the oldest soccer tournaments of its kind. And then, keep the games on the home fields.

Though the Cup final this year at Arrowhead was missing some of the buzz of the matches at Blue Valley, I wouldn't have been able to witness history if the game were played in New York. Sorry, some of us hometown fans are lucky to spare the money to buy tickets to see regular season home matches. In fact, I wouldn't have been at this glorious final at all if not for "winning" free tickets from MLS Wrap's Hometown Tix contest.

Sean, for the same reasons you assert that Open Cup games should be played away from the MLS stadia, you should also push for the final to be played at someone's smaller home-away-from home field. The game is for the players and the fans to share. Far fewer of each team's fans would be present for a final in Oneonta. And teams would not have been able to share and dedicate their victory to their fans like the Wizards did this last Wednesday night.