tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354593362012-01-31T23:07:23.077-05:00A bonafide light-hearted blog.BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.comBlogger4481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-27603913684575452772011-01-23T23:54:00.007-05:002011-01-24T16:12:10.012-05:00

I'm a sucker for nostalgia. I really am. Maybe it's because I was blessed to have a great childhood. Or, maybe it's because I have a sentimental soul. OR, maybe it's just the fact that the late-80's and early-90's were simply an amazing time to be a kid. Or maybe it's all the above.Whatever the reason, I found myself watching a live feed of an indoor soccer game on a perfectly good Friday night.

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-58074640349160848602011-01-20T11:45:00.012-05:002011-01-25T13:20:06.818-05:00

For the first time in my life, I gathered up the courage to sign up and play organized soccer last August. After all, the backyard is no proving ground. Plus, it was a great to play on an actual team with guys who knew the game.Although we flew under the radar with a 0-4-5 record, it was a heck of a lot of fun. I had great teammates, the weather (save for a couple of 90+ degree days) treated us

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-28197491479820565322011-01-19T11:33:00.013-05:002011-01-19T15:05:04.525-05:00

So, I'm sure alot of you - "you" being a small pack of friends, family, and random instigators - were, at one point, wondering what the heck happened to this blog. And then, like so many other things that fall into your world of wonderment, you probably quickly forgot about it, and moved on with your lives. Wonder no more. Here's a brief recap what's transpired since my last post back on

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-67090588020955171182010-09-02T03:32:00.009-04:002010-09-02T09:18:47.996-04:00

(Photo: AP)Even before the United States was eliminated from South Africa three months ago, many arguments have arisen as to whether Bob Bradley deserves to stay on board as Men's National Team manager for another four years. And that's a perfectly worthwhile topic for debate.However, what isn't debatable is the way in which Bradley has been treated by Sunil Gulati and the United States Soccer

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-41425470869326792642010-08-26T17:07:00.001-04:002010-08-27T08:03:05.411-04:00

(Photo: uncredited)The United States Soccer Federation has really come a long way during the past thirty years. And by "long way," I mean "light years." What was once a small clan of volunteers that used to huddle up in hotel rooms and vacant office spaces back in early-80's has since morphed into a legit, moneymaking organization that delivered a World Cup to a nation that, at the time, failed

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-79576560179981142922010-08-25T17:16:00.007-04:002010-08-26T09:42:36.106-04:00

(Photo: uncredited)I meant to post this sooner, but you know, life sometimes happens. A road trip here, a wedding there, a funeral here, and a board meeting there, and before you know it, that idea that you were anxious to write about finds itself in the junk drawer. Yet, with the recent news that U.S. Soccer and Bob Bradley will reportedly meet to "discuss the future," I figured now would be an

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-53587826984218428732010-08-24T23:02:00.011-04:002010-08-26T09:27:14.956-04:00

It's often said that when a team is hot, it's all about chemistry. Not goals, not defending, not goalkeeping, not managing, and not the mascot. No. It's always more than just statistics, no matter how pertinent they are. For many, it's always more than what meets the eye.You've probably heard that cliche about chemistry before. The reason why some teams consistently win is due to their ability to

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-72170574462575479082010-08-19T23:21:00.000-04:002010-08-19T23:22:18.866-04:00

(Photo:Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)If you're like me, you probably have an unhealthy interest in popular culture, an obese pet, and a subscription to Soccer America's informative daily e-mails. I could probably speak on the first two at an embarrassingly great length, but this blog isn't about Snooki's recent arrest, nor about my beloved feline Boostie.No, this post is about soccer. I mean, this

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-86442305662825374662010-08-05T17:11:00.003-04:002010-08-05T17:17:08.251-04:00

(Photo: Chris Aduama)Steve Nicol probably isn't the biggest fan SuperLiga. You can sense it in his post-match pressers.* There are probably a bajillion different things he'd rather have his team doing on a Wednesday night. Volunteering at the animal shelter. Bowling for charity. Throwing Silly Bandz parties. Pretty much anything that does not involve his team getting subjected to vicious slide

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-21918474249866935072010-08-05T01:04:00.000-04:002010-08-05T08:32:13.587-04:00

(Photo: robertolinck.com)There seems to be alot of questions regarding the newly-signed Roberto "Betu" Linck. Personally, know I definitely had some. So, naturally, I did what any curious mind would probably do: ask someone who knows.*(*Am I the only one who thought that bringing back Squire Fridell - you know, that middle-aged, white-haired guy - for the Toyota ads was genius? Although his hair

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-70599263598576415472010-08-02T09:32:00.010-04:002010-08-03T15:30:07.928-04:00

(Photo: Boston Aztec facebook page)What if I told you that the best women's team in Boston wasn't the Breakers? That it would take a combined three hours of soccer within two days amid the toasty Texas heat to claim a championship? That an original Boston Breaker would reclaim glory in the WPSL? What if I told you that it was possible to claim a championship in virtual anonymity?(*OK, I totally

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-10348519805979846582010-07-31T11:59:00.005-04:002010-08-01T12:41:50.078-04:00

On Thursday, the Revolution announced full bowl at seating Gillette Stadium in 2011. On Friday, they followed up with the signing of two largely anonymous internationals.*(*This post isn't intended to come across as negative or jaded, you know, aside from the title of this post. I apologize if it does.)To address the quality in the attacking third, the Revs didn't bring in Ronaldinho. No, they

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-88856605704298211582010-07-30T08:36:00.003-04:002010-07-30T08:43:03.626-04:00

There was alot of excitement around here when the Revolution drafted Michael Videira in the second round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. It wasn't just that the Hermann Trophy finalist also happened to hail from the neighborhood.* Nor was it the fact that he was a Portuguese-American playing in a region rich with people of Portuguese descent.(*If my memory hasn't completely betrayed me, I believe

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-77614231271921749482010-07-29T11:56:00.007-04:002010-07-29T23:44:20.964-04:00

(AP Photo/Mike Thomas)Not long ago, former Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens told the media in advance of a Patriots-Cowboys showdown - which, coincidentally took place a few miles north of Reliant Stadium - to "get the popcorn ready." The same advice could have been given prior to last night's highly-anticipated hoedown. Yeah, that's right. I called it a hoedown.And while Federico Macheda's

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-68716584243081138822010-07-28T08:35:00.004-04:002010-07-28T08:53:33.967-04:00

(Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images North America)I realize it may be a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I love All-Star Games. I really do. Except for the Pro Bowl. I dislike it for the sheer fact that they call it a "bowl" and not a "game." Well that, and the fact that nearly every first-ballot Pro Bowler seems to not really care about it. If they don't care, why should I, right?In any event, this

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-28378384896858277352010-07-27T04:42:00.001-04:002010-07-27T11:45:11.848-04:00

I apologize for the tardiness of this post. Timeliness has never been my forte.Far be it for me to resort to excuses, but my laptop was recently infected with a nasty virus that has prevented me from posting regularly/semi-regularly. So, until it's fixed/cured, it may be a few days in between posts.***I spent the first ten minutes prior to this post thinking of the right word(s) to best sum up

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-82967028258083469852010-07-21T13:50:00.012-04:002010-07-21T16:16:44.803-04:00

(Photo: Jim Davis)My first memory of Fenway Park goes back to 1989. More specifically, my eighth birthday, which happened to fall on June 21st of that year.Apparently, my dad, perhaps noting my burgeoning enthusiasm for baseball and the Boston Red Sox, bought a series of tickets for us - us, being my dad, my uncle Mike, my cousin Mike, my brother, my bffi at the time and me - to partake in what

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-6013029819092900792010-07-16T09:23:00.001-04:002010-07-16T14:15:48.998-04:00

(Photo: Patrick Fraser )An interesting thought came to me while listening to Taylor Twellman during last night's SuperLiga broadcast. No, it wasn't whether Jay Heaps, who typically handles the color duties for the Revolution broadcasts, was plotting a return to the playing field. It wasn't that, I promise.Rather, it was something else. Something entirely different. It deals with premature

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-29054613436315616232010-07-15T02:49:00.007-04:002010-07-15T11:06:15.234-04:00

Starting with this post, I'm going to be offering semi-regular reviews on a series of soccer books I've been reading lately. What can I say? I love reading. I love soccer. I love to read about soccer.Anyway, we start off with "The Boys from Little Mexico," by first-time author Steve Wilson.Now, when I first heard about this book, I immediately drew comparisons to "A Home on the Field" and "

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-56755986853270947082010-07-14T09:23:00.011-04:002010-07-14T16:14:47.356-04:00

When the idea of SuperLiga first crossed my radar, my first reaction was this:"Will my editor cover my expenses?"I mean, there isn't exactly a hidden goldmine in sports journalism, nevermind soccer writing. Money is sometimes hard to collect, which makes it even harder to keep. So naturally, one of my concerns was whether or not I'd have to take a loss to cover it.*(*Don't get me wrong - I LOVE

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-25787525431610856052010-07-11T21:48:00.018-04:002010-07-14T00:25:50.731-04:00

The final day of a World Cup always seem to bring a certain sadness. We all know that it's more than the pageantry, the pre-match concerts, the hour-long studio show, and the dramatically-narrated, U2-soundtracked commercials.It's the natural buildup: the qualifying, the tie-breakers, the managerial shuffling, the debate surrounding the final rosters, the locale, and, most importantly, the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-45702382099981500032010-07-09T08:27:00.008-04:002010-07-09T14:31:02.035-04:00

Back in 2005, when Mike Burns entered the Revolution front office with the new, shiny "Director of Soccer"* title, things in Revolutionland were alot rosier(*Am I the only one who doesn't love that title? "Director of Soccer." Imagine how cool it would be to go to a party or an event, shaking hands and mingling with a bunch of people you don't know, and having them ask you what you do. "Well,

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-8573478905538717292010-07-06T22:22:00.015-04:002010-07-07T17:46:38.153-04:00

Saturday night's nailbiting 5-0 loss to Real Salt Lake may have been a blessing in disguise. And I say that with all seriousness. For reals.The humiliation of the Revolution at the hands of the defending champs should be the wakeup call that finally jolts the front office after hitting the snooze button for months on end.The 3,981 unique weaknesses the club had apparently hidden from the front

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-26974725038140732010-06-26T23:50:00.008-04:002010-06-27T11:44:35.672-04:00

It's not all bad. Sure, the U.S. ripped out the collective heart of its supporters with today's 2-1 loss to Ghana. They're a soccer team: that's what soccer teams do alot of times. Instead of performing the autopsy, penning the obituary, or giving the eulogy on this current crop of Americans, I think the space afforded me at this little blog is better used by putting this whole bit of heartache

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-37372781763494362192010-06-25T22:47:00.006-04:002010-06-26T00:31:40.205-04:00

In a not-so-unexpected move, the Revolution filled the vacancy left by Taylor Twellman's assignment to the season-ending injury list by signing the man who momentarily put a gleeful Benfica on notice that cool, rainy mid-May evening: the courageous Jason Griffiths.You may (or may not, depending on how early you left the match) remember that Griffiths, who was sent out into a sea of red-clad

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-49206400872044671012010-06-24T13:44:00.015-04:002010-06-26T00:35:35.505-04:00

(Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images)Amid yesterday’s whirlwind sports day – the dramatic, last gasp victory for the U.S. Men’s National team, the never-ending John Isner-Nicolas Mahut match at Wimbledon, an unbelievable TCU comeback over FSU in the College World Series, and a thrilling 9-3 Appalachian League victory by the Burlington Royals over the Greeneville Astros* – came quiet word that Taylor

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-59377895626051466882010-06-23T13:06:00.009-04:002010-06-24T14:28:20.817-04:00

This is probably going to be one of the most raw, emotional posts in the short history of this blog. It’s entirely biased, completely unobjective, and almost purely stream of consciousness. In other words, it’s also probably going to be one of the worst posts in the short of history of this blog.**Have you ever witnessed something that you know is real, as real as real can get, as real as slap to

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-3096771027196135142010-06-18T22:07:00.013-04:002010-06-19T00:24:26.926-04:00

It's nearly midnight, and by now, we've all seen it. Actually, it's what we didn't see that still has alot of us scratching our heads. Figuratively, of course. I suspect many reactions assumed a more violent tone.We saw the scenario unfold before our eyes. In my case, it unraveled through my ears, via ESPN Radio somewhere along the New Jersey-Delaware border en route to my cousin's wedding in

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-47902121039592280142010-06-17T18:57:00.011-04:002010-06-17T22:06:36.343-04:00

(Kevin Alston via Twitter)Before I get into the World Cup banter, I have to mention that I stumbled upon a moment of unintentional comedy about an hour ago. The scene: Fenway Park. The situation: Red Sox-Diamondbacks pre-game festivities. The individual: Khano Smith. Yes, that Khano Smith. In a Red Sox jersey. The action: the ceremonial first pitch.*The pitch? What else? An eephus. A left-handed

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-65923579108686623892010-06-16T11:23:00.011-04:002010-06-16T14:46:46.551-04:00

(Andy Rain/EPA)I'm ashamed to say that it’s Day 6 of the World Cup, and I haven’t posted a single syllable since Day 1. And God knows a heck of a lot has transpired since.So, for your benefit and my conscience, I’m just going to wildly spray some random thoughts on some random matches (USA-England, maybe) here. After this, I plan to stay more current with a nightly recap each night hereon

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-63236435403507204072010-06-11T09:48:00.003-04:002010-06-11T12:57:34.405-04:00

(AP/Anja Niedringhaus)It's hard to believe that a shade under four years ago, I was watching, through watery eyes, the dying minutes of the USA's final World Cup match against Ghana at the Joyce Kilmer Rest Area off the Jersey Turnpike.* Yeah, that’s how I rolled that day. Eleven minutes to time, and the Yanks were struggling mightily with possession, pathetically scrambling to orchestrate

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-5860227127473856442010-06-10T13:22:00.006-04:002010-06-10T15:24:54.578-04:00

A lot of people have been asking me: Brian, where are you going to watch the USA-England match? And it irks the crap out of me.It’s an innocent question, sure. There’s certainly no malice behind asking someone who eats, breathes, sleeps, and secretes soccer where they’re watching only the biggest World Cup match of the past decade.* Maybe it’s the first question after “Mind if I join you?” or “

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-70485638015026900262010-06-08T10:54:00.008-04:002010-06-08T15:00:28.834-04:00

The Revs have a funny way of managing their roster.It's not uncommon to see an open roster spot linger for days, sometimes weeks, while the club searches for a replacement. After they cut ties with Mauricio Castro, it appeared that Ivan Gvozdenovic or Jean-Baptiste Fritzson would fill the vacancy. When both walked out of town without contracts last month, the Revs remained curiously

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-40902824621692105112010-06-04T10:31:00.004-04:002010-06-04T10:33:54.851-04:00

There seems to be a strong current of dislike for Giuseppe Rossi lately. You probably know a little bit about him. He was born in Jersey, sent to Italy at 13, and became a pretty darn good footballer while he was there. Although he had the opportunity to play for the U.S., he elected to star for Italy instead. Oh, and half of his face was on the cover of ESPN the Magazine last month.You probably

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-44708328183705552862010-06-03T12:06:00.004-04:002010-06-03T12:15:06.862-04:00

I remember it like it was yesterday. Or seventeen years ago. It was 1993. I was 12. There I was, among a handful of other pre-teens, in the middle of this vast expanse of grass surrounded by a fortress of maple trees. It was hot, which pretty accurately described the weather nearly everyday of camp that summer.A younger counselor – at the time, she looked way older, although now that I think

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-60881449050504523532010-05-24T15:36:00.007-04:002010-05-24T16:29:32.047-04:00

I loved the "Lost" series finale. And by "loved", I mean "LOVED" (with 72-font bold, italic and underlined font). It wrapped up the series perfectly: you got the closure, but there was still lots of questions. Jacob's lair, anybody? Why didn't Desmond become the smoke monster after going into the cavern? What wast the meaning of that stupid cork in the cavern? A cork? Really?Despite those

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-89013333295342363622010-05-21T09:43:00.005-04:002010-05-21T11:46:55.346-04:00

After Benfica's 4-0 annihilation of the Revolution during Wednesday's night friendly, I believe my mom summed it up best: "It was like a lion going against a cub." Moms. Aren't they the best?Leading up to the match, there was a few criticisms floating around the Portuguese community about the players Benfica would bring. After all, Angel DiMaria and Oscar Cardozo were in their respective national

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-34375188263876697012010-05-14T12:35:00.006-04:002010-05-14T15:02:16.973-04:00

I like Charlie Davies. I do. I mean, what's not to like? He's young. He's extremely talented. And he explodes to goal with reckless abandon. Case closed.But I'm not going to lie: 23-year old Charlie Davies has a lot of growing up to do.As you know, Charlie was involved in a serious auto accident last Fall, one which claimed the life of a young woman. Charlie barely escaped with his life. He

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-78594325489633212362010-05-13T09:47:00.001-04:002010-05-14T12:35:32.575-04:00

Shep Messing had a really interesting sentiment during last night's U.S. Open Cup boradcast. He mentioned late in the match, while the Revs were getting pummeled by the baby Red Bulls, that without Rally, Reis, Shalrie, and Taylor, the Revs heart had been ripped out.I couldn't agree more. The Revs, as we currently know them, have no identity. Without the leadership that steered them to eigh

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-51338366519420142052010-05-12T17:24:00.004-04:002010-05-12T17:31:41.822-04:00

Last week, the Bruins unveiled a bronze, life-sized statue (okay, it's 10% larger than life, but who's counting?) of Bobby Orr outside the TD Garden. The piece depicts Orr frozen in his iconic, mid-air leap.* You know: the one where he hovers timelessly over the ice after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970 Stanley Cup finals and the TV announcer wildly shouts “BOBBY ORR!!!

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-13717773869511751882010-04-30T14:47:00.001-04:002010-04-30T15:13:09.239-04:00

This is going to be a somewhat long-winded post. So if you want to duck out of it, now’s the time. No hard feelings. Promise.***Costa Rica has to be one of the hottest places on Earth. Or at least it was when I was there last week. You know how you go on vacation to a warmer destination, and you complain about the heat, but locals just roll their eyes because, you, yes you, are just another crazy

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-82378923519581236002010-04-14T13:41:00.004-04:002010-04-14T15:51:11.515-04:00

I’m going to talk about the Revs in a bit, but before I do, let me ask this:Is there not a better time of the year than this?Seriously, unless you live near the North Pole or that area off the Jersey Turnpike that smells like a Taco Bell bathroom, mid-April is a wonderful time. How can you not stop to smile? The buds on the trees are bright white. Mornings aren’t as frigid as they were a month

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-11090004718108341892010-04-03T23:21:00.007-04:002010-04-04T00:26:23.651-04:00

Around the 60th minute of tonight's DCU-Revs match, I was going to write a long(ish) post about how the Revs aren't built to score goals, but rather, to prevent goals. Yes - goal prevention. With a young, but talented, back four and no goal artist on the pitch, the Revs had no choice but to suffocate their opponent, then, if by chance, they squeezed in a goal here and there, maybe, just maybe,

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-74003975324909328992010-04-01T17:19:00.003-04:002010-04-02T13:18:53.286-04:00

Rhode Island really isn't known for much. You would think that such a small state would have a massive Napoleon complex. But we don't - unless you confuse us with Long Island. We like being small time. We drink coffee-flavored milk, eat quahogs, but not together. And when we find the time, we send a few of our best residents to various reality shows. Richard Hatch, you did us proud.Right now,

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-13261296635967848112010-03-25T16:16:00.003-04:002010-03-25T16:35:31.368-04:00

Let me just start off by saying this: my dad knows almost nothing about soccer. And by "almost nothing," I mean like the closest fraction to zero without being zero.He probably could not tell you who won the MLS Cup last year. He's asked, on more than one occasion, if the Revs are in the playoffs - in July. Oh, Dad. And, almost without fail, the very first question at the beginning of every match

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-19927517706762722442010-03-24T11:56:00.001-04:002010-03-24T11:57:09.182-04:00

For the past week or so, I've become absolutely enamored with a pair of books dealing with sports, conventional wisdom, hard data, and how data chooses scissors when wisdom chooses paper nearly every time.The first book - Baseball Between the Numbers - is, unsurprisingly, about baseball.The second book - Soccernomics - is, you guessed it, about soccer.Two entirely different sports, sure. But the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-27766393221817755462010-03-23T12:00:00.001-04:002010-03-23T17:14:41.369-04:00

Talk about being out of pocket on the wrong weekend.While I took a brief hiatus from the laptop, the League and the players union reached terms on a new CBA that would run through 2014. And wouldn't you know? I actually thought that Bob Foose should've been canned. How embarrassing.Obviously, this is fantastic news. We no longer need to worry about whether ESPN would broadcast replacement

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-75535470559854293352010-03-18T08:12:00.006-04:002010-03-18T10:15:37.382-04:00

Well, here we are. If an agreement on a new CBA can't be reached this weekend, the players will go on strike next week.How did it get to this point? Wasn't it only a month or so ago that the League and players union were oh-so-close to sealing the deal on a brand spanking new agreement?Obviously, something went wrong. And it had alot more than Snowmaggedon stalling the delivery of the League's

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-61460583671461761122010-03-14T11:40:00.000-04:002010-03-14T14:14:37.538-04:00

Originally, I was going to post some more on strikes, failed mediations, and shattered dreams. Well, at least the first two. The broken dreams part was the remnant of listening to Eighties radio this morning. Oh, Eighties music: it's all fun and games 'til Johnny Hates Jazz camps himself in your brain for the morning. ANYWAY, after diving into the first three lines (of the post, not the song), a

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-44734360789314423272010-03-11T15:01:00.006-05:002010-03-12T13:49:25.112-05:00

I'm not afraid to admit it. I love talking about the NASL. The old one. Not the new one.* Something about multitude of teams (24, at one point), their nicknames (the "Rogues?" Really?), the plastic pitches, and, of course, the players makes me think "Golden Age." Pele. George Best. Franz Beckenbauer. Johan Cruyff. Ringo Cantillo. God, I wish there really was such a thing as a Hot Tub Time Machine

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-13283778232508229722010-03-09T14:40:00.005-05:002010-03-09T18:04:21.936-05:00

I love Clive Toye. He is the quintessential unapologetic Englishman. And who couldn't use an unabashedly opinionated gent like him?*(*You could argue that Bruce Arena is the closest thing we have to a modern-day Toye. And I wouldn't dispute that. But what Arena lacks is that charismatic, "jack of all trades" persona. Toye did everything. He called his own club's matches on TV. He conducted the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-91549241549864024562010-03-06T00:16:00.003-05:002010-03-06T00:23:21.768-05:00

NO WAI!!!

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-60105233250797834552010-03-04T13:58:00.004-05:002010-03-04T14:15:42.677-05:00

There's a saying out there about the importance of finishing. I can't think of the author off the top of my head, but you've probably heard it before: "It's not how you start, it's how you finish."That might as well be the mantra of the U.S. Men's National Team. Because if yesterday's match taught us anything, it seems as if they’ve taken the advice to heart, but horrendously misplaced the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-5150001785475270682010-03-03T11:24:00.003-05:002010-03-03T11:29:42.484-05:00

Maybe it's the raw weather. Or it could be the fact that it's March and I'm not wearing any spring colors. I honestly don't know. But for some reason, I haven't bought into the hype surrounding this afternoon's USA-Netherlands match.*(*Another reason may be that the Yanks are debuting their - how do I say this - aesthetically unpleasing navy blue World Cup kits. This from the same Nike company

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-74327596471083629202010-03-02T14:45:00.003-05:002010-03-05T23:09:43.670-05:00

Mark Abbott and Bob Foose are definitely not biffies. We know this. If they were, they wouldn't have broken the veil of silence and turned the ongoing negotations into certifiable stalemate.Psst!- here's a secret. You don't have to be best friends to entertain mediation.Yep, good ol' fashioned mediation. Time-tested, Higher Power-approved dispute resolution.Since touching upon the subject last

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-65698818991097002152010-02-27T07:45:00.002-05:002010-02-27T08:09:27.079-05:00

"Steve Ralston will not finish his career in MLS."Yeah. It still sounds strange.But I suppose if you're the league's all-time leader in games played, minutes, and assists, none of those benchmarks mean a thing. Even though you've warranted MVP consideration the past two seasons, your contract is up. And no, the league won't renew it for what you're asking.Nevermind the fact that Rally, who will

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-46541893459693380822010-02-26T20:16:00.007-05:002010-02-27T08:13:20.863-05:00

I wish for many things.I wish poverty ceased to exist. I wish grad school wasn't so hard. I wish I won the lottery. I wish I had gotten hooked on "Lost" five years ago, and not five weeks ago.I also wish that the same mystique and sunshine that surround baseball’s spring training every year would envelope the MLS preseason. You know: the pop of the ball pounding the rawhide under warm sunny skies

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-66437073857982823372010-02-25T16:46:00.005-05:002010-02-27T08:15:01.391-05:00

So, the word on the street is that the players are going on strike in the next few minutes.If this is indeed the case, it is my belief that the players will regret this. They will not win. They must concede more than they are willing to, regardless of the fact that many fans happen to agree with them on nearly every point of contention. But MLS is not the NBA nor MLB. It is single-entity for a

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-31616608794174149842010-02-24T06:57:00.000-05:002010-02-24T13:22:32.671-05:00

You've probably heard that Sheanon Williams, the 19-year-old from Dorchester who starred as a right back on the US U-15 and U-20 squads, signed with MLS last week and was allocated to Real Salt Lake yesterday. And there's no doubt that you've already heard about another 19-year-old - Caio Correa (Nantucket High School) - setting it off down in Brazil. And it's certainly no secret that another

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-29260656357693323882010-02-23T13:22:00.007-05:002010-02-23T13:37:08.376-05:00

This probably doesn't come as much of a shock to you, but I was not the tallest kid growing up. In fact, I was probably the shortest among my friends. Heck, I even collected a few nicknames to prove it: Sweet Pea, Baby-B, Skee-lo.* Luckily, I was born with some athletic ability, so when it came down to picking kickball teams, I was never last, and through my on-field performances, I even gained a

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-32410501465046692712010-02-22T09:45:00.012-05:002010-02-22T11:57:46.018-05:00

I haven't written much about the MLS CBA negotiations, but with Mark Abbott and Bob Foose both breaking the silence on labor negotiations, there's finally something to talk about. Unfortunately, it's not what we wanted to hear.In fact, given the rancor delivered by the players union, you have to think that the a new CBA is not the sure-fire sitter many of us were led to believe only weeks ago.

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-57733337472835394232010-01-29T16:14:00.000-05:002010-01-29T16:15:45.256-05:00

This is kinda new to me.I've been a sports nut pretty much my entire life. For me, life didn't begin when I was born. It began when my dad bought me this oversized, cartoonish-looking blue wiffleball bat when I was 6 years old. We were vacationing on the Cape and I guess I wasn't allowed to bring the 30 odd Tonka Trucks I had at home along with me. We had a small Buick Skylark back then. It was a

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-7295554775965514542010-01-13T13:51:00.000-05:002010-01-13T13:56:46.347-05:00

I'm not really one for mock drafts. I mean, all they prove is how utterly wrong I'll be, and you already know how misguided I am on so many other matters. So why invite more bruises to the ego?So instead of the mock draft, I'll present a semi-coherent assessment of which areas the Revolution need to address at tomorrow's draft.First, the CliffsNotes® version:EVERYTHING.Now, the full version:Let's

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-16069522898689711122010-01-07T15:29:00.005-05:002010-01-07T16:44:49.102-05:00

After covering MLS for a few years, I was hoping that maybe - just maybe - I’d wake up one glorious morning - with the sun shining, birds chirping, and the welcoming aroma of chocolate chip pancakes on the griddle - and everything would finally make sense to me.Sigh. That day still hasn’t arrived because MLS’s annual rite of winter - SuperDraft – has once again sent me shaking into violent

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-75443140137068895142010-01-05T17:15:00.006-05:002010-01-06T13:53:54.695-05:00

So you’re probably wondering what the heck happened to this blog. Maybe even me. You know, I set up this blog, I rambled on cue every couple of days for a few years, and then, just like that, I got nothing. Nothing but old, moldy posts. Posts with expiration dates older than ones tattooed on approximately 90% of the dairy products in my fridge.Here’s short of it: First, something remarkable

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-3564359354247586752009-06-03T15:34:00.003-04:002009-06-03T21:37:15.156-04:00

(*Forgive me for being about four days late on this point - I've been tardier - but I think that it's still worth some space here.)All of us are smart enough to know that Taylor Twellman is one a heckuva soccer player. In fact, I've even gone so far as to say that he's the greatest footballer New England's seen since Billy Gonsalves. And I understand that he isn't an exquisite passer, speed demon

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-22571111326806427882009-05-30T00:02:00.002-04:002009-05-30T01:34:05.091-04:00

I laughed. I chortled. I even snorted a little during that chortle.Mainstream American sport media is silly. Like, four-year-old pixie stick addict after five Red Bulls silly.On Tuesday, we – and by we, I mean ESPN’s army of 25-49-year-old male viewers – saw some illicit – at least it looked it – video of Tom Brady throwing a football on the Gillette Stadium turf prior to the 2009 NCAA Men’s

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-59917779040526494142009-05-29T23:15:00.002-04:002009-05-30T01:31:41.715-04:00

OK, so where was I?Oh yeah, I was at Breakers Media Day, getting acquainted with the players and coaches, saying hello to some of my peers, and eating free food. It's a perk. That, and the free media guides, which are supposedly quite the collector's item after only thirty seven years or something, which reminds me, is about the same amount of time that’s passed since I've last posted.First of

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-17541187631319956202009-03-30T21:16:00.009-04:002009-03-30T21:49:44.369-04:00

I am belligerent.I went on hiatus completely unannounced, leaving you to fend completely for yourselves. While the words coming from Tony Kornheiser’s beard attacked our beloved sport and all it stands for, I did not reply. No. Instead, I sat back on my sofa and ate an especially spongy Twinkie.Selfish? You bet. And while Jim Rome or and his soccer bashing colleagues were singing in the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-17825586406355403222009-03-21T22:37:00.031-04:002009-03-22T00:52:53.850-04:00

Spur of the moment decision. Here's a live blog for your bad (or good) self... Okay, so it's raining, and my Cox 3 feed is contributing some snow...ugh. 10:38am - And we're off...San Jose kicks off. The 2009 MLS season commences for the Revs (and San Jose). Both teams in a 4-4-2. 2' - Buck Shaw Stadium - good crowd noise, high school football stadium atmoopshere. One out of two ain't bad. 5'

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-23139740183228088222009-03-20T12:05:00.003-04:002009-03-20T12:18:07.625-04:00

Okay, so I feel an explanation is in order. For the past month or so, I’ve hinted at my displeasure for MLS expansion. I’ve briefly submitted that the league should “cool its heels” in expanding. But that’s really it. So, here goes nothing.No, I am not in favor of this current wave of rapid MLS expansion. I mean, does MLS actually watch the news? Does it know that we’re in a global recession, one

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-77704811908585159422009-03-19T23:22:00.003-04:002009-03-19T23:55:24.974-04:00

Talk about making an entrance.Before a jam-packed park and a national audience, the Seattle Sounders announced their arrival with a band of resounding trumpets and horns, as they simply outshined Red Bull New York to the tune of 3-0.A result that only the bravest of optimists could have forecasted, the Sounders growing pains last approximately twelve minutes.Although New Yok initially took the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-67713039750550827382009-03-19T12:55:00.004-04:002009-03-19T16:20:19.665-04:00

Must...move...this...BLOCK!!!Oh man. I've wanted to write something really cool, you know, something really witty and smart about tonight's Seattle-New York/East Coast vs. West Coast/Sir-Mix-a-Lot vs. Jay-Z/ high profile clash. It's just that, well, I keep fluffin' stumbling. I can't seem to focus my thoughts through. I find myself with two paragraphs before I become completely disenchanted with

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-75758249012835586652009-03-17T07:35:00.003-04:002009-03-17T08:49:54.609-04:00

Ever since the first time my dad drove me past McCoy Stadium (I was five years old), baseball and Pawtucket have gone together like Bert and Ernie. Peanut butter and jelly. Even Hall and Oates.So you can probably imagine some of the difficulties I've recently had in connecting the city with soccer. It's not so easy to overwrite the very connotations you drew up before you stopped eating crayons.

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-29170629613848537462009-03-16T11:55:00.005-04:002009-03-16T13:22:15.022-04:00

You remember that movie Sleepless in Seattle? I kind of do, but only vaguely because I was 11 when it came out on VHS* and was bribed into watching it at my parents' friends' house while they ate dinner at the "Adult Table."(*VHS...now THAT makes me feel old.)Now mind you, I was still a couple years from adolescence, which is about the time I started developing an appreciation for the chick flick

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-55637988121457995112009-03-16T09:49:00.004-04:002009-03-16T11:55:32.238-04:00

Does a post to apologize for lack of recent posts qualifiy as a true post? I don't think it does. Otherwise, I could simply post here every two days to say I'm sorry that I haven't posted in two days. That would be cheating. I think.So anyway, I am sorry about the crickets here. You'd think that a time called Spring Break would offer, you know, a break. Not for me. Another 18-page story and a

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-54020274034898661822009-03-11T13:04:00.002-04:002009-03-12T12:48:21.399-04:00

So I've been reading this really, really interesting book called Soccer in a Football World,* which I highly recommend as an excellent account of American soccer history. It's probably one of the best soccer books I've ever read, and I've read a lot of them over the years.(*Do you ever stumble upon a phrase that COULD have a double-meaning? I think the title is one of those. "Soccer in a football

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-62178914409348400972009-03-09T16:18:00.000-04:002009-03-09T16:19:19.438-04:00

(*I was originally going to title this piece "Forgetting David Beckham." And all was going quite swell until I developed a sudden aneuryism about halfway through my first sentence. Darn. Therefore, here's what I hope proves to be a more enlightening piece.)Michael Parkhurst was special. And not in a demeaning, saracastic kind of way. I mean special in a good way.It wasn't just the fact that he

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-1931400679965667582009-03-08T23:55:00.011-04:002009-03-09T16:30:22.568-04:00

-You idiot, MLS!How could you just let David Beckham get away with that? You owned his rights, had him under contract for another three years, and you blew it! You just go ahead and let him stay at A.C. Milan beyond his March 9th curfew? What were you thinking? 0101010101!!!For God sakes, MLS, I wished you had used your cojones.* The worst part of this whole fiasco isn’t that Becks got exactly

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-64392383386170892982009-03-07T10:52:00.006-05:002009-03-07T11:36:16.285-05:00

Taylor Twellman is greatest footballer New England’s seen since Billy Gonsalves.There, I said it. I understand that Gonsalves has been given the distinction of being “the Babe Ruth of American Soccer” by many soccer historians. He played in two World Cups, won eight Open Cup championships, and reportedly scored over 100 goals in his illustrious career.* He is a legend. So, yes, I understand that’

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-80329143689632362372009-03-03T13:24:00.000-05:002009-03-03T13:24:07.892-05:00

Given the utter lack of independent media reports* on the MLS preseason, I figured now would be a good time as any to bring up an issue discussed during my Advanced News Writing class last semester.(*By independent, I mean any reporting done by media not affiliated with MLSnet.com or any other official MLS club site.)The question: will public relations eventually overtake journalism as the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-1954178416403153952009-03-02T00:17:00.007-05:002009-03-03T13:25:57.655-05:00

MLS is begging for a star. Not a good player, not a great player, not a designated player.A star. A player that transcends the sport. A colorful personality that is known for his on and off the field exploits, whether good or bad. Preferably good, of course.The NFL has Tom Brady. The NBA has LeBron. MLB has, whether it likes it or not, Alex Rodriguez. And, of course, golf has this guy named Tiger

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-769784365535936612009-02-28T16:56:00.006-05:002009-02-28T17:14:49.489-05:00

So I was at the – wait, guess – yep, I was at the boosktore this afternoon, where I found an interesting book called “Under the March Sun” by Charles Fountain. It's a well-written book about the history and traditions surrounding spring training baseball. Naturally, I had to check out the first couple of chapters because 1. I love baseball and, 2. To improve upon my MLS South idea.It turns out

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-41889322338594706752009-02-28T08:07:00.001-05:002009-03-02T00:50:26.747-05:00

Late last night, after reading a few more chapters of "House on Mango Street" and before hitting the hay, I snuck in a few minutes to catch up with the Men's National Team on ussoccer.com. And while going through some of the World Cup Qualifying articles, it dawned upon me:What the heck happened to Benny Feilhaber?Seriously. The Yank from Brazil had his ticket virtually punched to South Africa

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-20035162915634624372009-02-24T22:27:00.001-05:002009-02-25T22:42:52.777-05:00

Yeah, so I was reading one of the latest media releases from the fine people at the New England Revolution about the club's preseason trip to Austin, Texas this week. I assume this location was selected because it has a much more conducive environment for playing outdoor soccer in February than Foxboro, MA. Call it a hunch.Now, over the years, you've probably gathered that soccer is an outdoor

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-35981949076197423112009-02-24T11:11:00.005-05:002009-02-24T13:53:51.848-05:00

So, I was watching Vanilla Sky last night for that ominously-titled World Making class I’ve referenced a few times here. Man, that class just opens up your mind. I’ve been busy analyzing my own analysis of the world. If I ever get a foothold of the theory behind that class, I have a feeling this whole blog will self-implode and reform as a 27,000 page discourse on the plight of soccer here in the

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-14931745713291011242009-02-22T20:05:00.006-05:002009-02-22T20:38:22.123-05:00

(I've been reading the Providence Journal sports page since the days of finger paints and my first phonics book. Over the years, Bill Reynolds became the first columnist I purposely read on a regular basis. The guy was like my journalistic version of Roger Clemens, pre-steroids. Anyway, every Saturday, Bill has a column titled "FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH," which is essentially a collection of thoughts

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-79292675639961315622009-02-18T13:34:00.002-05:002009-02-18T14:55:29.744-05:00

(*I know this thought far, FAR from original. In fact, it's been regurgitated more than a few times. But that's how I'm rolling today, with non-stop work and school keeping my hands busy from 8am-7pm. Enjoy at your own risk.)David Beckham is not coming back to MLS.He is not coming back because one of the most powerful clubs on the planet will do whatever it takes to keep him. And he, and his

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-77163685606950377562009-02-18T11:45:00.003-05:002009-02-18T13:28:04.437-05:00

(*Jeez, has it really been nearly a week since I’ve posted? I thought I’d catch some time over the extended weekend to post about the laughable “deadline” set forth by MLS Commissioner Don Garber for the David Beckham crisis to resolve itself. Unfortunately, I lost my train of thought while reading about world making, fields of consciousness, and metafiction. If my brain were yellow, it would

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-59493502520937612732009-02-12T12:13:00.004-05:002009-02-12T12:22:05.674-05:00

Okay, so some thoughts on last night:- Great atmosphere. I love how a city like Columbus, which is by no means a major metropolitan area or even a Houston or Phoenix (sites of the previous two USA-Mexico matches), can really throw down and make it an event. My dad walked in just after kickoff, and upon hearing the crowd, asked, "I thought we were watching soccer?" We are. "Wow. It sounds like a

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-6872917513440451542009-02-11T12:24:00.002-05:002009-02-11T12:33:25.339-05:00

As of 12:23pm today, here are the top headlines on espn.com.Gone for good? Favre tells Jets he's retiringTejada pleads guilty to lying to CongressJ.J. won't wear finger brace in Daytona qualifier *Sharks close gap on NHL-best B's LeBrunMargarito, his trainer have licenses revokedJeter will wait to talk A-Rod No interest in D.C.Thumb surgery knocks Vonn out of giant slalom **Miller rips steroid

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-10487553233847411332009-02-11T09:20:00.007-05:002009-02-11T09:36:24.849-05:00

Here we are.After weeks of media coverage that only a recluse could appreciate, the American soccer's annual showcase event has arrived. USA-Mexico.Never-ending series' of press conferences? None here. Drawn out ten hour pre-game shows? No, because God is a soccer fan, and He'd never abandon us like that. A four hour barrage of multi-million dollar commercials? No, thankfully, because commercials

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-70936741931715842812009-02-10T09:33:00.003-05:002009-02-10T12:32:10.438-05:00

It may be hard to believe amid all the steroid talk and the ubiquitous post-Super Bowl hangover*, but there actually exists some positive developments in the world of sports. No joke.(*It's been - what - eight days since Super Bowl XLIII and we're talking about the condition of Ben Roethlisberger's ribs. Obsessed much, America?)Yes, Women's Professional Soccer has released its 2009 season

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-85600687698043497772009-02-09T19:47:00.006-05:002009-02-10T12:36:30.519-05:00

I just checked my alarm clock. Yep, we’re less than 24 hours from USA-Mexico, and the only mainstream promotion I’ve seen for this match so far is a slick, 15-second spot in between SportsCenters while jogging at the gym Saturday morning.Really?I thought this was a serious rivalry. Wait, it is. Especially this time around, because it’s a World Cup Qualifier and not just an obligatory

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-82341678492912747512009-02-07T23:15:00.005-05:002009-02-08T00:17:22.541-05:00

Yesterday morning, a Sports Illustrated report fingered Alex Rodriguez - the best player in baseball - as a steroid user. A cheater.Rodriguez, whom many believed to be "clean" from illegal performance enhancers, reportedly tested positive for steroids in 2003. Today, his name, as well as his sport, are getting dragged through the mud as a result.The A-Rod controversy is particularly saddening for

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-50381671412873218582009-02-07T11:42:00.000-05:002009-02-07T12:08:39.138-05:00

(I recently purchased a DVD of a New York Cosmos-New England Tea Men match from 1979. For reasons unknown, I decided to whip out the laptop and compose a little match report. Below, is said match report. Thirty years late. What can I say? I wasn't born in time to crank one out then. Jeez, like it was my fault or something. Anyway...I know what you're asking: why am I posting it? Pfft. Because I

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-35321892811746016462009-02-05T13:21:00.001-05:002009-02-05T13:23:29.550-05:00

Yep, it's time again. Time for yet another personal post. By now, you probably don't need me tell you to skip over to another blog or site. My ego* won't take any offense.(And, just to warn you further, my ego is going to be the star of this post. So, if you like me right now, this may post leave you with a liquid Tylenol-like bad taste in your mouth. And if you really don't like me, you'll

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-53499622441844281852009-02-04T13:27:00.004-05:002009-02-04T13:54:21.668-05:00

As I'm sure you've heard by now,* the United States Soccer Federation officially announced its bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Monday afternoon.(*I apologize for waiting two days to write this. Yeah, I definitely finished my 18-page paper, but no sooner did I complete it that seven short stories, and a paper on those selections awaited. Homework. It never ends.)Although it's just the first

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-10853392180288839852009-02-02T14:34:00.009-05:002009-02-02T16:12:50.229-05:00

Within the confines of a rural indoor sports complex, a collection of twenty odd professional footballers convene on a large green carpet, stretch their muscles, and kick around dozens of soccer balls for the first time this year.Yes, the New England Revolution, under the guidance of manager Steve Nicol and his assistant Paul Mairner, return to their pitch away from home this morning, the first

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35459336.post-70225830000593878852009-01-30T12:40:00.018-05:002009-01-30T19:44:15.957-05:00

Allow me to preface this post by stating for the record, that 1. I am a fan of American football, and 2. I am upset that my favorite NFL team, the New England Patriots, fell short of the playoffs this season, despite winning 11 games. So let's consider the air cleared before I launch into this mini-tirade.I don't care about what kind of music Eric Green likes. Nor do I care about which hair

BrianTheOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454709225436551072noreply@blogger.com2