Pair of Stingrays caught in MLS SuperDraft net

For the second year in a row, two former Rhode Island Stingrays (Premier Development League) were selected – in back-to-back order, no less – in the MLS SuperDraft.

Defender Matthew Britner (Brown University) was drafted in the third round (41st overall) by the New England Revolution. Less than five minutes after the selection, his former Rhode Island teammate, midfielder Geoffrey Cameron (University of Rhode Island) was selected with the final pick in the third round (42nd overall) by 2007 MLS Champion Houston Dynamo.

In their lone campaign together (2006), Britner and Cameron played for a talented ‘Rays squad that included two other MLS prospects: Jeffrey Gonsalves and Ryan McCormick. During that season, Britner played in all 16 of the club’s matches and recorded his lone offensive statistic on an assist. Cameron appeared in all 16 club matches as well, scored four goals, and led the team with 27 shots.

Britner may have a tough hill to climb in finding a starting spot in the rear with the Revolution this season. The club drafted a defender ahead of him (Rob Valentino) and acquired fullback Chris Albright in a draft day trade with Los Angeles. Yet, the former Brown Bear may have a few things working in his favor: his height (6-1) and a stellar recommendation (presumably) from Brown coach Mike Noonan, who is often seen chatting with Revolution manager Steve Nicol during reserve matches.

Cameron is in a similar position with Houston, where the championship club is, unsurprisingly, loaded with talent front to back. Although he can play up front and has an attacking midfielder pedigree, he has a few guys named Dwayne DeRosario, Brian Ching and Joseph Ngwenya ahead of him in the front, while Ricardo Clark, Corey Ashe, and Brad Davis already occupy spots in the midfield.

Last year, two of Mario Pereira’s boys were taken by MLS clubs during SuperDraft. Midfielder Nico Colaluca (Virginia) was taken sixth overall by Colorado, while striker Jeffrey Gonsalves (University of Rhode Island) was taken in the fourth round (40th overall) by Toronto FC. Colaluca went on to see the bulk of his action with the reserve club, though he saw action in four first team matches. Gonsalves, snakebitten by injury throughout the 2007 preseason, was let go by Toronto prior to the regular season, never given the chance to don the red and white kit for the expansion side. In an attempt to catch the attention of nearby scouts, he landed back on his feet with the Stingrays in 2007, where went on to lead the club with ten goals on the season.

The 2008 MLS Supplemental draft will take place via conference call on Thursday, January 24th. Among the hopefuls is another former Stingray – Lukasz Tumicz (University of Rhode Island), who was invited to the MLS Combine in January.

Cashe Money: An Interview with Houston's Corey Ashe

If Major League Soccer ever got around to creating an annual all-rookie team, then Corey Ashe would have been the undisputed starter on the left wing on this season’s freshman roster. His six assists during his rookie campaign with the Houston Dynamo is only the tip of the iceberg – his quickness, creativity, and symbiotic relationship with the ball in the middle was a key reason why his club was able to punch its ticket to another MLS Cup Final.

Needless to say, 2007 was quite a year for the diminutive (5-6), yet dizzying Dynamo rookie. The beginning of his veritable movie-script season began with the MLS defending champion selecting him in the second round (26th overall) from the University of North Carolina in the 2007 Super Draft. He starred on the reserve team during the early part of the season, before making his impact on the first team, where he appeared in 20 matches (six starts) for the Dynamo. Just as the summer began to wane, the speedy midfielder caught fire against Real Salt Lake on September 8th, when he sparked the Dynamo attack by recording assists on all but one of the four goals poured in by his club in their high-octane 4-3 victory.

Then, as if things couldn’t possibly become even more unreal for the former Tar Heel, he and his teammates capped off the 2007 campaign in grand fashion, by hoisting the MLS Cup trophy with their 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution.

With an opportunity to finally catch his breath after such a whirlwind season, the 21-year-old speedster graciously took the time to check in with Revsnet’s Brian O’Connell on his remarkable year.

Brian: I've talked to a few rookies this season about the comparison between college soccer and MLS, and they all remark how vastly different NCAA soccer is compared to MLS. Would you agree with that assessment? How much different is it, even for a player who comes from a traditional soccer college like UNC?

Corey: I would definitely agree with that assessment. With the MLS the ball moves faster, the technical ability the players posses is better than that of college, the players are smarter, and the level is higher.

Brian: Talking with ACC guys like Wells Thompson, Adam Cristman and Kyle Helton, it seems like the ACC is the premier college soccer conference in the nation. In your opinion, what is it about the ACC that makes it so competitive year in and year out?

Corey: The ACC is competitive year in and out because of the recruiting classes that each school receives. Most people are under the impression that this is the best conference so that attracts skillful players and players that want to make it to the professional ranks. Furthermore, I think the players that are recruited have either National team experience or have played on a regional team and if those players are in the conference it creates a more competitive atmosphere.

Brian: You were drafted earlier this year by a team that had just won the MLS Cup the year before. How much of an honor was it to be selected by a championship side?

Corey: It was a huge honor simply because they were the defending champs and because I heard a lot of good things about the coaching staff and the team. So it was an honor to know that Dominic and John thought I would fit well into their program.

Brian: What were your first impressions of Houston, with respect to the coaching staff, players, and management?

Corey: I thought that everything about the program was professional. The players and coaches were serious about winning and on the field they meant business. Off the field the players are your friends and if you need anything they have no problem with giving advice or assisting you.

Brian: Was there any player or coach you gravitated to that helped you along through your first season in the league?

Corey: Both coaches helped a lot but I gravitated towards John Spencer the assistant coach. He provided a lot of advice and worked with me one on one.

Brian: What was the most difficult aspect of your rookie season?

Corey: The most difficult aspect was adjusting to the speed of play. The ball moves so much faster so you usually have to have an idea of what you want to do with the ball before you get it.

Brian: What were your expectations for your first season in the League? Did you have any specific personal goals, whether it be getting a certain amount of first team games, or scoring a certain number of goals? Was there any additional pressure to achieve these goals because you were drafted by a team that had just won a championship?

Corey: Honestly I just wanted to play and develop as fast as I could. I obviously wanted to get some playing time with the first team but I knew it would be hard. So I didn't really set any goals except to just develop as fast as I could.

Brian: Back on September 8th, you recorded three assists in the 4-3 victory over Real Salt Lake, which was unquestionably the best game of your rookie campaign. Tell me a little bit about how big of a game that was for you, and how you hope to build on a performance like that.

Corey: It was a huge game because my older brother came that weekend before he left for Iraq so I wanted to play hard for him and make him proud. So not only was it huge that I recorded three assists but I was happy to make him proud. It also did a lot for my confidence. It showed that I belong in this league.

Brian: Obviously, Houston did quite well this year, earning its second consecutive championship. What was it like to be able to celebrate a championship with your teammates in your very first pro season?

Corey: It was awesome to know that I contributed in my first season to a championship team. I helped get Houston to the finals and win. Also, I take away from this experience what it takes to be a champion. I understand the work that goes into making it to the finals and winning. So it was awesome celebrating.

Brian: Somewhat off-topic, but I looked at your MLSnet.com player profile, and it states that you enjoy rap and R & B music. As a fellow hip hop aficionado myself, who's the better MC: 50 or Kanye?

Corey: They are both good but I would say Kanye simply because he is more creative with his lyrics unlike 50. He makes you think about what he is saying and his songs have a message that he is trying to get across to the listeners.

Brian: Is there a pre-match track that you like to listen to before kickoff? If so, which track?

Corey: Kanye West- "Champion."

Brian: Lastly, with your first full pro season now under your belt, what can we expect from Corey Ashe next season?

Corey: More goals and assists and more of a complete and consistent player.

2007 MLS Cup diary

In the tradition of Michael Davies’ World Cup diary, I’ve decided to post my own MLS Cup journal, letting readers know how self-important I think I am. For authenticity purposes, this piece was written in real time to the extent possible, so if there are lapses in grammar, verb confusion, verb tense, and fragments, it was purely intentional.

PRELUDE

Thursday night, 8:45ish – I journey over to Target in Seekonk to pick up some Honey Toasted O’s (Target’s answer to a certain honey nut cereal) and soda for the trip. Being true to my “never wanna grow up” psyche, I walk over to the toys/kids aisle, where I find a beautiful silver MLS Cup Winner’s replica ball.

Hmmmm…

I think about whether it’s worth it to pick it up before the game, for fear of a jinx. It’s really a beautiful ball, and heck? I could use another to kick around the house during the offseason…right? I decide not to…for at least tonight.

Friday night, 8:45ish again – I pick up some very last minute items for tomorrow’s trip, and walk over to see the Winner’s ball again. There are two of them this time.

Hmmmm…

“C’mon”, says inner self, “pick one up for the trip so when they win it, you’ll already have the ball set to celebrate.” But the potential for a hex once again enters my mind. I firmly decide to buy it first thing on Monday – because the Revs will win it all on Sunday.

SATURDAY

8:00am – I wake up and do my usual abbreviated early morning routine. Eat cereal. Shower. Get dressed. Yes, it’s a fabulous life.

8:23am – I call my buddy Mario, who just attended his first soccer game last Thursday – the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette. Prior to that match, he had negotiated his way out of attending any soccer game, much to my constant frustration. But because I accompanied him to a Halloween party in full costume (I was a 1970’s cop, a la Starsky & Hutch), he offered to come with me to the next Revolution game. He held his end of the bargain, and had a great time. Now he’s coming with me to MLS Cup. What a lucky friend he is!

8:43am – Pick up Mario. First thing he asks, “Can we stop by a Mickey D’s?” ARGH!

9:07am- Arrive in the P1 parking lot at Gillette Stadium. I allow Mario to take my car down the street to pick up his desired fat-laced fast food breakfast. I head to the Pro Shop to get some kits customized.

9:20am –The young lady at the Pro Shop tells me that the approximate wait for the jerseys to be customized is about half an hour. Talk about cutting it close. I risk it, and quickly hand over my jerseys (yeah, as if that’ll cut down thirty seconds on the wait time), hoping to have them finished before the bus departs.

9:42am – Hoping that she lied to me, and that the customization process is really is quicker than 30 minutes, I run the equivalent of a 100 yard dash from the lot to the Pro Shop doors and check on the progress. One’s done, says another Pro Shopper. The other’s about five minutes from being done…

Six minutes later, I check again, still a few minutes away. Dammit, I’ll just take the one that’s done, which happens to be the white Ralston jersey. The 2005 navy jersey, to which I requested Clint Dempsey’s name and number, isn’t done, and I tell the guy that I’ll pick it up on Monday. If I were more superstitious than I already am, I’d be concerned - the navy jersey was the one I wore while watching the US Open Cup Final, which the Revs finally broke their Championship curse to win, 3-2, over FC Dallas.

9:55am- Check in to the bus. Lucky for me, there’s one seat near the rear, while Mario takes a backseat – literally –as we’re the last two passengers on the bus. What a surprise!

10:03am – Bus departs the lot, and the discussions begin: Ohio over Michigan? Lowell to the Yankees? Heisman favorite? Hey, I thought this was a soccer game we were goin’ to fellas!

10:20-10:38ish – I misplaced my notepad, so I’m looking like fluffin’ Paris Hilton going through her pocketbooks looking for Sidekick. This is troubling – not that I cannot find my pad, but that I have just compared myself to Paris Hilton.

11:16am – So you know that scene in Shawshank Redemption where Red, en route to Zihuatanejo to meet up with Andy, is peering out the window of the bus with the sun kissing his smiling, hopeful face? Yeah, the scene on the bus right now is nothing like that. The bus is jam packed with Revolution supporters. But I have no complaints…after all, it’s a free ride, and I’m in good company.

12:16pm – Finally hit traffic somewhere in Connecticut. I turn back to Mario to see what he’s doing. Yep, he’s half asleep, only the funny thing is that his headphones are blasting Rihanna’s “S.O.S.” loud enough for the back three rows of the bus to hear. Dear God…

12:52pm – First stop at a rest area somewhere in Connecticut. Driver gives us twenty minutes. Naturally, Mario requires twenty-five minutes, and once again, we’re last passengers back on the bus.

2:18pm – Pass through New York, where I peer out to see the NYC skyline in the distance. When I was an adolescent, my family would take my brother and I down to Baltimore regularly for the family vacation, and I would always peer out of my dad’s minivan to look for the New York City skyline just as we approached NJ. I know it’s been since six years since 9/11, but I still get a sad feeling when I pass by, hoping to see the towers, and they’re longer there.

3:20pm – Another stop, this time somewhere in New Jersey. This time, we’re allotted 55 minutes, which begs a few questions: “What the hell are we gonna do for 55 minutes at Jersey rest stop?” I decide to break my old soccer ball, which is stowed under the seats. I palm the ball into the restaurant, pick up some snacks, and head back out for a little kickabout with some kids who are way better with the ball than I’ll ever be. I picked up this game much too late…much too late…

3:55pm – Back on the bus.

3:57pm – A fellow Revs fan to my right, Nelson, asks if I’m keeping a journal. I tell him I am, and he asks me not to mention his devotion to the Hartford Whalers, or the time he bought a Whalers jersey, and had it customized with Brendan Shanahan’s name and number, only for the right winger to skip out of town soon after. Don’t worry, Nelson, you’re secret’s safe with me. I won’t tell anyone.

3:58pm – 7:17pm – Lots of reading my recently-purchase issues of FourFourTwo, Sports Illustrated, listening to a CD, and a halfhearted attempt at a nap. We pass through Baltimore around 6:30ish (I can tell by the bright lights emanating from M & T Bank Park, home of the Baltimore Ravens) and we’re almost in DC.

7:18pm – Bus arrives at the Sheraton Crystal City. A bunch of passengers get off, carry their belongings into the lobby, and we all check in en masse. Did I say I love being a Revolution fan? Normally, this kind of scene would have perturbed me. It didn’t in the least. I was in the company of fellow Revolution fans, all of whom were as dedicated as I to make the journey down to DC.

7:27pm – Mario and I discuss the password for picking up the tickets, to which he has a field day trying to guess.

7:31pm – Reservation confirmed, tickets waiting in an envelope with “Brian O’Connell” on it. No password necessary, much to Mario’s frustration.

7:35pm – Check into our room. Mario does his thing and jumps on the bed like a sugar-laced kid. Unfortunately, this has somehow morphed into a tradition, which began two years ago in Florida, where he proceeded to literally break the bed in our hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. Luckily, no broken beds this time around.

8:09pm – After settling in I start typing away at the laptop while Mario watches Titanic on TBS. He cries…ok, maybe he doesn’t, but the premise would have been hilarious to me.

8:11pm – Head downstairs to ask some at the front desk to see what they’ve got as far as restaurants in the neighborhood….

8:34pm -…at least that was my intention twenty-three minutes ago…ok, now we’re going downstairs.

8:45pm – Crap. I can’t find my digital camera, which I could have sworn was sighted when we first checked in. Go fluffin’ figure. I know it’s around…I think. If not, it’s on the bus. I hope. Just what I don’t need to worry about while I’m down here…and, no we still haven’t exited our room for supper.

9:02pm – We finally motivate ourselves to actually go downstairs to the lobby, before running into a guy in the elevator who says he’s from Minnesota. He asks us where we’re from, and we say “Rhode Island.”

“Oh yeah? Where’s that?”

The he recommends a pub a few blocks down the street. In all honesty, I question the wisdom of a guy who doesn’t even know where RI is. Mario, a chap more inclined to forgive such ignorance, takes his advice, and suggests we go there.

9:17pm – We decide to walk about three blocks down the street to Crystal City Sports Pub. Looks like a lot of Revs fans took similar advice, as the place was filled ladies and gents in navy, red and white. Unfortunately, we are seated next to some thirty something Clemson University football fans next to a large flatscreen TV.

10:00pmish – A Revolution chant sparks up, and the Clemson fans next to us make a stupid comment about how American football is “the real football.” Yeah, ok dude, next time you make a comment like that, keep it to the privacy of your mom’s basement. Loser.

10:25pm – Head back to the hotel knowing we have to wake up pretty damn early to catch the bus at 9:30am. Mario’s fascinated with a show on ants, while I type away here on the bed and watch highlights of the RIC Anchorwomen 2007 season in between thoughts.

12:45am – Bedtime. We’ve got an early morning filled with expensive breakfasts, packing up shop, jumping back on the bus, and attempting to locate my camera. Goodnight!

SUNDAY MORNING

7:48am – Wake up call three minutes late. I’m exhausted. Around three o’clock in the morning, I was awakened by a rowdy party a few rooms down the hall. A part of me wanted to just put on my glasses, show up in my boxers, and party with ‘em, but I didn’t wanna miss the bus in the morning. In short, I got about three hours of sleep. By the time the wake up call comes, I’m exhausted. I soooo don’t wanna get outta bed, but I figure I must set the tone to be early…or at least on time.

8:29am – Head downstairs for breakfast…after showering, getting dressed, packing my bags, watching 15 minutes of SportsCenter, trying to find a CD, picking up the remnants of my half-eaten bag of Chex Mix, and flooding the bathroom floor.

9:15am – I may have just had the worst cup of coffee I’ve ever spit out. I don’t know what it was, but my cohort suggests that there are too many beans, and thus, it is too strong. I suppose I’ve just grown so acclimated to the generic Dunkin Donuts coffee that true Colombian coffee is wretched. Anyway, we hop on the bus a short while afterward, and much to my delight, the bus driver found my camera. Fewf…that would have been an expensive item to replace around Christmas time.

9:40am – Bus departs for RFK.

10:01am – Arrive at RFK. Take the soccer ball over to the Midnight Riders pre-match party. I call Sean and Kevin to see where they’re at. Unfortunately, I’m unable to hook up with either one of them, so Mario and I make our way back to the bus, drop off the ball, and Mario, to my surprise and delight, asks to wear my spare navy Revolution jersey. The brainwashing is far ahead of schedule…hehehe.

11:31am – I’m unable to carry in the laptop with me, so the next time I check in will be after the match. I’m hoping I get to write about a fantastic win for the lads.

11:45am-2:17pm – Great…our seats are located nearly square inside the Houston supporters’ section. Luckily, we have two DC United fans nearby who say they’ve got our backs, after filing their grievances with some of the Revs players. Matt Reis and Jay Heaps are trash, according to them. DC United should be in this match. A bad handball call cost them in the second leg against Chicago…blah blah blah…Taylor Twellman’s a pretty boy…Reis will pay for what he did to Eskandarian. The thought of being picked apart by the rabid Dynamo crowd is beginning to look appealing at this point. (Just kidding…the DC United fans, aside from their complaints, were very nice to us. We chatted for about half an hour about all things soccer. In fact, I sympathize with their efforts to get a new stadium for their beloved club)

Revs go up 1-0 on Twellman’s 20^th minute goal. I look back toward the orange mass and pop my collarless Revolution jersey toward them in triumph. Fluff you, Dynamo!

Realizing the potential for a clash, Mario and I head over to the other side of the stadium, where we find three empty seats about six rows up from center circle. Unfortunately, we also have a great view of the two successive Dynamo goals, which clinch it once again for Houston.

UGH.

I don’t wanna leave. There’s gotta be more football, right. Guys…? No, the season can’t be over…no…not like this, at least. It feels like I’ve just been sucker punched by Chuck Liddell...five consecutive times.

2:32pm – Long and sad walk back to the bus, and then find a seat in the back. I can only imagine how the players are feeling right now. They’ve got to feel like “what the hell do we have to do to win this bloody thing?”

The faces on the kids are just like mine. Sad, just sad. It feels like a funeral. I plop down in the backseat, and just stare out the tinted bus windows. Ugh. I don’t usually cry after a loss, but this is the closest I think I’ve ever come. It’s tough to watch this type of misery unfold on TV – to witness it in person is exponentially worse. It gnaws at you; because you’ve invested so much personal effort into seeing them potentially win it this time. Alas, they weren’t able to. The Revs outdid Houston in the first half, but for a 20-minute span in the second, Houston was just incredibly potent.

3:07pm – Well, the bus is nowhere close to full, and I’m fluffin’ starving. I don’t know when this bus is taking off, but I hope it’s pretty damn soon. In the meantime, I make a meal out of a handful of Gummi Savers and Aquafina.

4:10pm – Bus takes off from the RFK lot, and we’re back on the road to Foxboro. Although the somber air is beginning to thin, it’s still tough for me grasp the loss. We should have won this time. How many more chances will guys like Ralston, Heaps, Reis, and even Parky (who may be heading overseas to play English football in the near future) get at winning this Godforsaken championship? I feel much worse for them and the rest of the players more than anyone else.

Anyway, I’ll end the journal right there, as I need to doze off and catch some zzz’s. But before I conclude this piece, I just wanted to make a few observations:

After this experience, I absolutely look forward to future bus trips with Revs supporters next season. I had a blast on this little excursion down to DC, and met a lot of fellow fans, both young and old in the process. The common denominator of the Revolution made it incredibly easy to talk to absolute strangers, knowing that we’ve got something fantastic in common.

Lastly, after seeing so many chicks in Revolution shirts, I must say this: there are few things more appealing than a cute chick in a Revolution jersey. Forget the pink Sox tees, pink hats, or even pink Pats hoodies and jerseys; want to impress a lad like myself? Fix up a smile, sport a Revs jersey, and you’ll almost immediately attract my attention.

So, my goals for 2008:

1. Attend more bus trips.


2. Bring Mario (who, turns out, has warmed up to the sport) to more Revs games.


3. Befriend more Revs fans.


4. Do more tailgating.


5. Buy a new camera, and take as many pics as possible in the presence of chicks in Revs kits.

See ya in ’08!

An inside job: Revolution undermined by one of their own

It turns out that the fourth time wasn’t the charm, either.

After Sunday afternoon’s MLS Cup match between the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo, the Revolution failed once again to capture the Cup that has painfully eluded them for the fourth time. Only this time around, the local lads didn’t stand a chance even before the opening whistle.

This time, the Revolution was undone by something far more sinister. Something that required precise planning and impeccable execution. Something that was carefully coordinated, and masked under a veil of good intentions. In short, it was inside job.

Any hopes that New England would finally break its MLS Cup streak was dashed long before the club hit the tarmac at Reagan International Airport. It wasn’t DeWayne DeRosario or Joseph Ngwenya that did in the Revolution. They were only accessories to a larger crime. While it may have appeared that the villain was decked out in Creamsicle orange, the fact of the matter is that Steve Nicol is the actual culprit behind the Revolution’s fourth MLS Cup failure.

How? Rewind to early-October, when the Scotsman banished second-leading scorer Andy Dorman to the bench. Though the attacking midfielder, who piled up eight goals before the MLS All-Star match in July, had slumped during the summer, the attack still remained potent, despite Dorman’s struggles. Nevertheless, Nicol, in a very curious move, switched Steve Ralston from the right to the middle, inserted rookie Wells Thompson in Ralston’s old role, and relegated Dorman to the pine.

With Dorman dropped, the attack sputtered - badly. From October 6th onward, the Revolution became heavily dependent upon Taylor Twellman to put the ball in the back of the net. As a result, the offense became mind-numbingly predictable, as opponents began to isolate the Best XI striker by simply blanketing him with a crowd of defenders. Take away Michael Parkhurst’s 60-yard circus goal against Toronto, and the Revs only cracked two goals in a game once - October 13th - against hapless Columbus, who actually managed to claim victory that night.

Going into the playoffs, Nicol stuck to his sure-fire formula, and the attack looked flatter than it had all season. But luck was on New England’s side during the first three playoff matches. The Revolution beat a New York team that lay in shambles on a mere 1-0 aggregate, (the lone goal courtesy of Twellman) and instead of facing MLS MVP Luciano Emilio and DC United in the Eastern Conference Championship, it was the Chicago Fire, fresh off their 4-3 aggregate upset of DC, that came into Foxboro with nothing more than Cuauhtemoc Blanco to throw at them. Again, luck proved to be the Revolution’s mistress, as Twellman amazingly bicycle kicked the game-winner, sending New England back to their third consecutive MLS Cup appearance.

Despite the fact that the Revolution had only scored two goals – both from Twellman - in during the course of 270 minutes of playoff soccer, Nicol stuck to his guns, although it was evident that the Revolution attack had became one-dimensional since the lineup shuffle.

True to form, Nicol once again deployed the same decaffeinated lineup in DC for the MLS Cup. Though they took an early lead thanks to – who else? – Twellman, Houston smartly adjusted, and surrounded the striker with double and triple teams. Going into the second half with a 1-0 lead, Nicol hoped to keep Houston at bay by abandoning the attack and bunkering up in the back. But you cannot simply dance with the champ – you must knock him down.

Instead of going for the jugular and unleashing Dorman or rookie striker Adam Cristman as a substitute to keep the pressure on Houston, the gaffer opted for the conservative defensive shell that essentially provided an open invitation to the Dynamo to challenge his backs. Like the ill-fated snow owl in Dumb and Dumber, the Revolution was a vulnerable bird that Nicol felt required the utmost protection. But when Joseph Ngwenya uncorked the equalizer in the 61st minute, (sidenote: adding to the symbolism is that Jim Carrey sported a gaudy orange tuxedo when he unknowingly offed the owl), it hit the Revolution bird square in between its eyes, as the the creature quickly hit the ground and writhed in agony.

Presented with an even score, a stubborn Nicol remained steadfast, intent on playing for overtime instead of regulation. But the guillotine finally dropped on Nicol’s fail-safe plan when Dwayne DeRosario headed in the go-ahead tally in the 74th minute. With Twellman completely entrapped in a wall of orange, Nicol tried to counter by deploying Dorman late in the 78th minute. But it was a classic case of shutting the proverbial barn door after all of the horses had escaped, as the Revs were treated to yet another spectator’s view of an MLS Cup celebration.

Nicol’s supporters have often stated that the reason the Revolution has gotten to four MLS Cups is because of him. Yet, a growing contingent of detractors are countering that with each successive MLS championship failure, the Revs have made it to the finals in spite of Nicol; that a team comprised of five MLS all-stars (Twellman, Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Michael Parkhurst and Matt Reis) should make the playoffs. It’s their manager that continues to undermine their efforts in championship play due to an ultra-conservative game plan that has failed each time.
In the wake of their fourth MLS Cup loss, many are calling for the Scotsman to be shown the door.

Given the Revolution’s successful regular season track record, it is unlikely that management will give into the cries for Nicol’s head. Even so, it may be time to shorten the leash tethered to Nicol’s neck. For anything less than an MLS Cup in 2008 should be viewed as a failure on the part of the front office to address this issue well in advance.

The (added) pressure to win

Trophy Town. City of Champions. Current Hub of the Sports Universe.

On Sunday afternoon, the New England Revolution will step onto the RFK Stadium pitch for the MLS Cup with a gorilla-sized burden resting heavily on their shoulders. Sure, it’s the winner-take-all championship match, and another loss to the Houston Dynamo for the second consecutive year would be devastating, to say the least.

But aside from that, additional pressure has stemmed from the least likely of sources: their successful surrounding neighbors. For the championship ventures of the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox have unquestionably elevated the expectations New England’s sports fans, thus creating inexorably heightened expectations for surrounding clubs. The cold reality is simple: anything short of championship on Sunday will keep the Revolution from the fan and media attention that it has long deserved.

In a region that can lay claim to five combined championships in the past six years, it simply isn’t enough to be good, which is precisely what the Revolution has been during the same six-year time frame; a team must be great (i.e. championship great) to have its name invoked by the media. Why? Because the streak of recent success has heightened – perhaps redefined - the expectations of a fan base that have been incredibly fortunate to experience a bevy of glorious triumphs. Due to the meteoric rise of the Red Sox and Patriots, the Boston sports fan now demands greatness. So with these veritable lead weights on their shoulders, the Revs will clearly be fighting for something greater than just MLS Cup spoils: they'll be fighting for the media and fan attention that the great teams of the Patriots and Red Sox have combined to monopolize.The goal: to strike the championship metal while it’s still hot.

To appreciate the steep challenge the Revolution faces in order to accomplish this monumental task, take a look down the list of Boston’s most notable sports teams. The Red Sox: World Series Champions. The Patriots: Currently 9-0, and primed for an unbeaten season and an accompanying fourth Super Bowl victory. The Boston Celtics: 8-0, and the hottest team in the NBA. Boston College football: 8-2, and up until two weeks ago, were flirting with a bid to the BCS Championship game. Talk about trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Yet, in comparison to the “big brothers” of the regional sports scene, the little brother soccer team has actually outperformed the headline-grabbing older siblings in recent years. In terms of playoff appearances, the Revolution has actually bested all four of their elders by clinching postseason berths in each of their past six seasons. Despite this remarkable track record, the club has continued to fly under the sports radar, desperately lost while the talking heads dominating the airwaves discuss the Red Sox and Patriots ad infinitum.

In an odd sense, the current concentration of championship caliber clubs has adversely masked the successes of the Revolution. The Red Sox have won two of the past four World Series championships. Not to be outdone, the Patriots have won three Super Bowls since 2001. Sensing that they were in danger of becoming marginalized themselves, the Celtics went out and acquired two big names (Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett) to join in-house superstar Paul Pierce. Thus, the newly-christened “Big Three" is not just Boston radio, but the entire NBA. The unfortunate result of the unparalleled success enjoyed by these clubs has left the Revs conspicuously absent from Boston’s sports pages, radio, and nightly newscasts.

The perception that the Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics are the only worthwhile candidates for water cooler banter is obstacle the Revolution must try to overcome. Contrary to the opinions of various media blowhards, there are people who do care about this team; it’s simply a matter of trying to convince the traditional mainstream media outlets that they should invest in Revolution soccer as well. Even if the club achieves the MLS championship on Sunday, it may only be the first step – albeit a sizeable step – toward shifting the general attitudes of the media, and in turn, the general fan base.

As if these challenges weren’t enough, the Revolution is faced another, yet far more sinister perception: the perverse idea that soccer is a nothing more than a “foreigner’s sport.” Many so-called sports personalities dismiss the game as patently “un-American”, and thus, go out of their way to bash the sport when the word “soccer” is even uttered. This misguided and troubling anti-soccer sentiment is also held by a surprising number of local sports editors, writers, and producers who simply ignore the efforts of soccer squads by force-feeding their own readers, viewers, and listeners with non-stop baseball, football, and basketball stories. Sadly, there are more than a handful of media types that are unabashedly rooting against the Revolution so as to withhold any attention to the soccer club. Therefore, in order to crack the hardened crust of the status quo, the Revolution must do something big to force the hands of their critics.

That’s no easy task, either. Considering in that the Revs do not have the luxury of a league championship (though they did win the 2007 US Open Cup) or big-name player signing, the organization has nevertheless worked tirelessly to attract the masses. The fruits of their labor ripened this summer when average home attendance rose 40% over the previous season, as the club posted solid home crowds throughout the season. Another encouraging development: an astonishing crowd of 22,000-plus fans came out to see the Revolution take on the Columbus Crew in mid-October on the very night that the Red Sox battled the Cleveland Indians during Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park.

True, the Revolution doesn't have a sports icon like Tom Brady, a lovable and popular performer like David Ortiz, or an insanely talented baller like Kevin Garnett that everyone from the playground to the office can gravitate to and discuss at length. But the Revolution does have great talent. They have one of the best strikers in American soccer in Taylor Twellman. They have the undisputed best defender in MLS in Michael Parkhurst, who just so happens to be a local guy (Providence, RI) as well. And they have a charismatic goalkeeper in Matt Reis, whose clutch playoff performances actually rival those of Brady and Ortiz.

But the question remains whether an MLS Cup victory would bring greater focus to the local XI. The club has undoubtedly enjoyed a greater media presence in the wake of its MLS Cup berth. Reis appeared on NESN SportsDesk this week, while Parkhurst, the local kid, has graced the Rhode Island news channels multiple times during the past two weeks alone. Perhaps the greatest indication that the Revs are shifting ever so close to the mainstream came in the form of a Shalrie Joseph full-page feature in the November 19th issue of Sports Illustrated. For the moment, it appears that the Revolution have been allowed to shed the “forgotten stepchild” label in the Boston sports family, at least temporarily.

Another positive development that may shine the spotlight even brighter: timing. With the MLS Cup kicking off at 12:30pm, the sports populace will be afforded a glimpse of the Revolution in action during the early afternoon without missing a minute of their beloved Patriots, who will be facing off against the Buffalo Bills later that night.

Realistically, the Revolution poses no threat to overtake the Red Sox or the Patriots as the team in New England anytime soon. But capturing a major championship on national television would certainly boost the club’s visibility from Portland to Portsmouth, and all points in between. Granted, Revolution jerseys and caps may not become as in vogue as pink Red Sox hats or purple Tom Brady jerseys. But a championship would create a wonderful springboard for the Revolution to take a cannonball-sized plunge into the trophy-filled pool.The stakes in New England sports landscape have never been higher. New England’s sports culture is immersed (and to a degree, obsessed) in the success of its teams. Fortunately for the Revs, many media outlets are primed to give the club added visibility – and are ready to dole out even more should the Revs bring home the MLS Cup.

It’s no secret that New Englanders, in particular, take enormous pride in championships because of the heartbreak they’ve endured prior to these present glory days. A championship opens the door to a magnificent common denominator between fans of all sports. In the past, many proud Sox fans did not publicly cheer the embarrassing Patriots of the late-1980s. A Super Bowl victory changed that. Essentially, what a championship affords is the opportunity to acquire the respect of the media and fans. That in turn could favorably position the Revolution into the consciousness of New England’s wildly passionate fan base.

What a fantastic opportunity it would be for the Revolution if it secured its very first MLS Cup on Sunday, then headlined the sports pages, websites, and airwaves across New England the following Monday.

It's not 2006 anymore

For many, the image of Jay Heaps biting his jersey in heartbreak and disbelief after he missed the deciding penalty kick in last year's MLS Cup is a microcosm of the frustration felt by Revolution players, coaches and fans after three runner-up finishes in MLS Cup. After each attempt, Revolution players slowly walked off the pitch only to watch others hoist the shiny silver trophy they’ve come painfully close to capturing.

Needless to say, after last year’s painful defeat, the 2007 season could not come soon enough. To dream again. To start anew. To have another crack at the most prized possession in MLS after enduring the heartache of narrow defeat time and time again.

Come Sunday, they'll get that chance - against a familiar opponent, no less.

After the Houston Dynamo thoroughly disposed of the Kansas City Wizards 2-0 during Saturday night's Western Conference Championship, the stars realigned for an MLS Cup encore between the two squads that had to be separated by penalty kicks when it was all said and done in 2006.

Revolution fans need not rehash the events of what looked like the promise of hoisting the MLS Cup in New England. In fact, for a whopping 71 seconds, it seemed like sweet justice would finally bestow itself upon the local eleven. With the score knotted at 0-0 in the 113th minute, Taylor Twellman broke through box and lodged the ball into the back of the net for what appeared to be the clincher. No more frustration. No more bridesmaids. No more barren trophy display. No more teasing from rival club supporters. Seventeen minutes to go, and victory was surely theirs.

To quote the illustrious Lee Corso: “Not so fast, my friend...”

It's difficult to describe the emotions felt during the ensuing 71 seconds. The timespan was so brief that before it could be truly grasped and appreciated, Brian Ching diabolically disrupted the joy with a quick header that evaded the grasp of Matt Reis in the 114th.

Huh?

What?

1-1?

&#$@!

The lead so precariously held for one hot minute and eleven seconds was painfully wrought right out of the Revolution’s hands. Imagine making out with Jessica Alba, all the while thinking about what your friends will think once they find out (among other things, obviously). As you’re about to accompany her to the luxurious penthouse suite upstairs at the Luxor, you cannot believe your luck. This could actually happen. Heading up the stairs few minutes later, her boyfriend, who just so happens to be a seven-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilder, finds you trying to get with his main squeeze. After trading some diplotmatic words to calm down the 'roid raged beau, he punches you with all of his HGH-enhanced might right in the kisser. Goodbye, dignity. Goodbye, top front teeth. Goodbye, consciousness. Thump. That's what it felt like after Heaps missed the penalty.

But this year is different, for more reasons than just the Gregorian calendar saying so. This year, the Revs have already won a championship - the US Open Cup. This time around, the spoils can be realistically grasped. After a total of four oh-so-close finishes in MLS Cup (2002, 2005, 2006) and US Open Cup (2001), the Revolution finally found its playoff mojo and won a major piece of hardware when they beat FC Dallas 3-2 in Frisco, TX - the very site of their last year’s devastating MLS Cup loss. Can anyone say, "Exercised demons"?

Yes, this is a new season - a new postseason, in fact. While some of the pieces have changed (ok, only a few), the crucial ones remain. Taylor Twellman is still one of the league's premier strikers, and when paired with Pat Noonan, both are a force to be reckoned with. Steve Ralston, whether deployed in the middle rather than the right, is as potent a playmaker as he’s ever been during his astonishing 12-year career. Matt Reis - is there another keeper you'd rather have in a match like this?

Besides, who do you think wants this match more? There's certainly much more at stake for New England. The Dynamo, formerly the old San Jose Earthquakes (not to be confused with the new San Jose Earthquakes, coming to an MLS venue near you starting in 2008), have raised the MLS Cup trophy three times (twice in San Jose, once in Houston) since 2001. It's old hat to them. If Houston loses, heck, they've still got three in the trophy display to smile about. New England? None. Zero. Zilch. Goose egg. If Nicol’s boys were hungry for it last year, they're starving and salivating for it this year.

Thankfully, this isn't 2006 anymore. This isn't the same championship-hexed squad of yesteryear. RFK Stadium won't be brimming with Houston supporters like it was last year in Frisco, TX, which created a de facto home game for Dominic Kinnear’s squad. Last year, Twellman (hernia/hip), Pat Noonan (sports hernia), and the Euro-bound Clint Dempsey (right ankle sprain), the club’s top goal scorers, were all limited due to injury. This year, Twellman and Noonan are both healthy, and hellbent on grabbing the hardware after time expires on Sunday’s ultimate showdown. On defense, the Revs haven’t allowed a goal in all 270 minutes of postseason action - the only MLS team to do so this postseason. Despite the fact that many familiar faces remain on both the Dynamo and Revolution sides, don't be fooled - this MLS Cup affair will transpire much differently than last year.

Last year's defeat left an incredibly bitter in the taste in the mouth of many players that has noticeably stuck with them throughout this season. This is not just victory for New England - it's revenge. Vindication. The MLS version of the Buffalo Bills, this team is not. Think about it. This team isn't just shooting for an MLS Cup - they’re also shooting for the illustrious double in the process, a feat only achieved by two other teams (DC United and Chicago Fire).

In short, this isn't 2006.

This is now.

Sunday Morning Striker: Revs and Creamsicles melt to a 3-3 tie

Everyone can relax: SMS has returned from his brief hiatus, one which involved watching the US Women’s National Team play Norway at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.


The match itself was thrilling - with the sheer dominance of the WNT -they're 37-0-7 (put that in your pipe and smoke it!), a cakewalk was anticipated. But, Norway, showing utter and complete disregard for the expectations of SMS, battled and clawed, keeping the U.S. at bay until Carli Lloyd headed home the only goal needed in the 66th minute. SMS truly admires the WNT - how can you overlook a streak of pure domination by any club and not stop to applaud, especially an American one?

As an aside, for all the criticism that Gillette Stadium receives for not being an ideal venue for soccer, it could be far, far worse, Revolution fans: they could be playing at Rentschler Field, which is, by and large, a Foxboro Stadium clone, with even fewer amenities. The stadium is the antithesis of modern sports stadia - back-less benches comprise about 80% of the seating, unpainted and unpadded concrete walls give the surroundings that charming "under construction" look that so many modern complexes lack these days. Calling it drab would probably constitute as a compliment.

But, that's only the view! Wait 'til halftime rolls around, and you and the kiddies stroll up the narrow seat aisles en route to the concession stands. You've got 15 minutes and counting...good luck getting those sodas and hot dogs in under thirty! The lines at the stands were mind-numbingly slow moving, and SMS was not about to miss the first fifteen minutes (optimistic estimate) of the 2nd half waiting in line for a Jumbo pretzel and a $4.00 water. Say what you will about Gillette, but at least the amenities are up to date, and the lines won't keep you from attending your child's college graduation.

In other news, the Creamsicles marched into Norfolk County yesterday hoping to extend their MLS-record 694-minute goal-less streak (“shut-out streak”, to the layperson) against their MLS Cup foes from last season. All things must come to an end, and call SMS an optimist, if you will, but he predicted that the aforementioned streak would come to a halt before the 70th minute of the match.


The proceedings commenced with captains Steve Ralston and Wade Barrett being accompanied by Tweety and Bugs Bunny for the coin toss. Bunny, you may recall, is connected with American soccer as a former mascot for the infamous New York Cosmos of the old NASL.


After the Creamsicles kicked off for the first half, they intruded upon the Revolution end with a series of passes, but did not muster a legitimate chance on goal.

The first sign of what was to come occurred in the 6th minute, when Pat Noonan intercepted a Creamsicle pass deep in their own and end immediately fed the ball to line mate Taylor Twellman. The club’s leading scorer took a touch, and tried to push forward before keeper Pat Onstad smothered the opportunity.


Twellman struck again in the 15th minute when he positioned himself just inside the top of the box and fired a low missile toward Onstad before the keeper harnessed the ball to safety.


As the half reached the midway point, both teams traded fouls as each fought to establish an offensive tempo. Although the Revs created more chances in the Houston end, each attempt was quickly ended with a missed pass or saved shot.


Houston managed their first fine opportunity to strike it rich when Joseph Ngwenya charged the box before he lost footing and, in a last ditch effort, slid a gentle pass goalward that was nearly taken in by an oncoming Brian Ching. Fortunately for the Revs, Matt Reis swept up the ball before it fell into Houston’s hands.


Despite the constant back and forth between Houston and New England, the Revs finally put their foot down when they counterattacked in the 32nd minute. As the lads paraded down the pitch, Twellman passed a bouncing ball to Noonan. Realizing that Onstad was well off his line, Noonan gracefully lobbed a duck well over the keeper before it slowly fell into the back of the net for the first goal of the game. Thus, at 4:37pm ET on July 22, the Creamsicles allowed their first goal since June 10. SMS’s pre-match prediction came true!


As the final seconds of the half ticked away, the Creamsicle attack reorganized itself at the 44-minute mark when Ching took a pass and floated a nice ball to Barrett stationed deep in the Revolution end. Barrett turned, but misfired the shot, as the frame came to and end less than two minutes later.


As the second half commenced, the Revs took the Dynamo by the horns, and immediately established their offensive presence. In a rather jovial sight, the spectators in the Fort unleashed a storm of streamers into Onstad’s goal, causing a brief sequence in which the Revs passed the ball yards way as the keeper must have had to peer through the paper to find the ball. Fortunately for Onstad, no shots found their way to him as the streamers overtook the box, and perhaps, his line of sight.

Soon after the display, Houston counterattacked in the 49th minute, after Eddie Robinson fled toward the left flank and sent a short pass to Dwayne De Rosario. The Canadian launched a long-range missile that sailed just above a Superman-like Reis, as the ball entered the top far corner for the equalizer. 1-1, anyone’s match.


The Revs immediately responded in the 51st minute, when Noonan took the ball into the right corner of the box, and between two defenders, laced a sudden, short pass to Twellman squared right in the middle of the box. Twellman volleyed the ball right into the net, and gave the Revs a brief one-goal lead.


In a hair-pulling sequence at the hour mark, the Creamsicles scored the equalizer and go-ahead in the course of two minutes. The first came off an Ngwenya pass as he closed in on Reis, before sending a short pass to Ching, catching Reis helplessly out of position and easily putting the ball in the back of the net at the 60th minute. Seconds after the goal, Houston found itself pressuring again in the Revolution end, and earned a free kick after Revs defenders frantically tried to stop the surging Dynamo. Stuart Holden took the kick, and sent a menacing ball into the mixer before the ball grazed off of Ching’s melon, and into the Revolution net. 3-2, Creamsicles.


The Revs looked to equalize again minutes later during a controversial interlude that, in itself, had enough material to comprise an HBO mini-series.


To summarize, Ralston took a free kick just above the left corner of the box. The ball went off target, but referee Kevin Stott ordered a re-kick immediately thereafter. On the do-over, Ralston sent another pass that hit De Rosario, stationed in the wall inside the box, square in the arm. As if no transgression occurred, the Creamsicles attempted to jump-start the attack, but Stott ran toward the penalty area, awarding a penalty kick to the Revs.


The contentious sequence did not end there. After Shalrie Joseph fired a grounder to the right on the ensuing penalty, Stott again ordered a redo after the Creamsicles entered the box early. Joseph blasted home the second attempt on a sizzling rocket to left, giving the home club the equalizer. 3-3, who’ll score next?


The lads almost fired home the go-ahead in the 68th, when Twellman was brought down just before the box, earning the Revs an opportune free kick from twenty yards out. Deferring to take a shot rather than curl in a pass, Ralston fired a high laser just above the crossbar.

As the shadows began to overtake the pitch, the teams continued to trade possessions and paint, and it appeared that another goal from either side was imminent.


The fans chortled in the 83rd minute when Wells Thompson took a hard shot on goal that shaved the side of Andy Dorman’s face and clanked off the woodwork. Replays of the sequence showed Dorman ducking away from the hard liner, though the ball appeared to skim the midfielder’s mug.


One final chance for the Revs to attain the game-winner occurred with seconds left in stoppage time, when Riley hijacked a Houston counterattack, and traversed down the left flank before chipping a pass to Thompson. The rookie turned and sent a threatening cross into the box that was lightly headed skyward by Twellman, and upon descent, headed again by Cristman, before the ball came to a halt in the hands of Onstad. As the keeper launched the goal kick, the Stott blew the final whistle, and the teams drew 3-3.


Stat of the Match, part 1: Before scoring at the 51st minute, Taylor Twellman had not scored an MLS goal since May 26.

Stat of the Match, part 2: The Creamsicles went a total of 726 minutes without allowing a goal. They then proceeded to allow three goals in the course of 34 minutes.


Stat of the match part 3: The assist on Pat Noonan’s opening goal was Twellman’s first assist since September 30, 2006.


Stat of the Match, Part 4: Noonan and Twellman assisted on each other’s goals in the 32nd and 51st minutes.


Stat of the Match, Part 5: Brian Ching scored two goals in the span of 1:21.

These four-inch heeled shoes were not made for walking: On Monday, yours truly sat down just in time to catch the final 25 minutes of Victoria Beckham: Coming to America. Hey, watch where you throw that tomato! Anyway, the show's premise, if you haven't guessed it, is the arrival of the Beckhams to the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave - which, if you happen to have say, $250 million to blow, includes attending open houses where the homes are priced above the GNP of a few third-world counties and being chased by the paparazzi. The show also features Posh comically "practicing" her throwing skills, in her trademark high heels and short skirt, with a little league team in preparation for first pitch ceremonies at an LA Dodgers game.

The premise of the show is interesting, but would be so much better if the same production team that handled MTV's reality hit Newlyweds, went to work on this show as well. Sure, it's a Simon Fuller Production, but at no point could I reasonably relate to Victoria, or her high-end, boku-bucks lifestyle. The same, however, could not be said for the highly entertaining Newlyweds series, which featured then-celebrity couple Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. The production team on that program painted a picture of a quirky, yet somewhat reasonably grounded celeb pair, and thus the show was enormously successful.

With the exception of Posh's evident concern for her children's safety upon viewing a house that featured a backyard patio sans surrounding walls hanging over a rather steep ravine, I couldn't relate to her escapades at all. And her incessant need to wear large sunglasses and high heeled shoes wherever she goes - even when she's learning to throw a baseball from the kids - lends the idea that Posh is quite aloof from the rest of us. Again, SMS thinks the show would be much more entertaining if MTV were in charge of the production, for if anyone can make the supermodel-like Posh seem "human", it's them. And for God's sakes Posh, drop the sunglasses and high heels act for one episode.


In a related note, did you catch a glimpse of Thursday night’s entertaining MLS All-Star match? SMS sure did! Between the Matt Reis’ admitted residence under a rock during the past few months, the exciting play on the pitch, and the teeny boppers flocking to the sight of Beckham himself, the entire spectacle was a treat. By far the most entertaining mid-summer classic yet.


By the way, did you see the gaggle of bodyguards and police officers surrounded Becks as he walked along the sidelines between halves? I never thought I’d ever see the day where an MLS player required that much security. I guess this really is the sport of the ‘80s!


Latest jersey bought: Ok, ok, SMS caved in and bought one of those spiffy new LA Galaxy Beckham jerseys at Gillette Stadium. But I definitely wasn’t the only one! There were many spectators in the stands and concourse also wearing the new colors of LA’s most prolific club.

York Revolution update: You may not be aware, but the Revolution is 7-3 at the top of the South Division standings. Of course, I speak on the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. But that means nothing - our Revolution's still better than yours!

In an exhaustive effort to find a tie between the two teams besides the nickname, the only one SMS could establish is that York pitcher Frank Castillo played for the Red Sox back in the early-2000s. While pitching in Boston, he may have read about our Revs on the back page of the Boston Globe Sports section.

Rhode Island Stingrays update: The Rays closed out their season on Saturday in Maple Leaf Land by dropping a 4-0 loss to Ottawa. The exhausted side had played their fourth match during the course of a week, and closed out the season with a lackluster 4-11-1 record.

Despite the standings, the season featured some great moments, as well as a spectacular season clocked in by Jeff Gonsalves. The Rays striker tallied ten goals in fourteen matches, and was easily the most electric player on the pitch for the Rays. Toronto FC's loss was Rhode Island's gain, and SMS sends selfish thanks to Toronto for letting him come back to RI for our enjoyment.

Sadly, with the finish line officially crossed for the Rays, this now means there is one less soccer club to watch when the Revs aren't playing. Fortunately, SMS will only have to wait 'til late August for college soccer to fill the gaps in between Revolution matches.


Revs Reserves Update: The Revs reserves beat the Dynamo reserves 1-0 soon after the first team match. The match took place on the Gillette Stadium pitch rather than the practice field behind the stadium, and a handful of fans from the first match stayed to watch the youngins. Long-time guest player Anders Kelto scored the lone goal in the 86th minute, giving the remaining fans something to cheer about as they disbursed into the emptied lots surrounding the stadium.

Soccer-related random thought: With the "Europeanization" of MLS becoming more apparent every season, with five nickname-less clubs (Toronto, Chivas, Dallas, DC, Real Salt Lake), and an obvious branding name (NYRB), would anyone be opposed to re-naming the Revs "New England 1776"?


Of course, that would entail that the club be nicknamed "the Sixers". Egh...on second thought, keep it the Revolution.


(Note to self: when fall comes around and I begin my inaugural indoor soccer coaching duties, name the club New England 1776).


US Women’s National Team feature: One of the last remaining players from the thrill of 1999 is none other than the brick wall who stopped a critical penalty kick vs. China en route to the ’99 World Cup victory. Though ceding the starting duties to Hope Solo, Briana Scurry is still a big-game performer, and despite the limited playing time as of late, the veteran gives manager Greg Ryan a proven and unshakable performer in net for this Fall’s World Cup. Of course, SMS has a soft spot for the tastefully-named keeper, as he and Scurry both hold degrees in political science.


Join us again after the Real Salt Lake match when SMS will once again deliver his trademark nonsensical drabble for your enjoyment/aggravation. A great aspect of this match will be the fact that it’ll start at 9:30pm, which, should the stars align correctly, allow for a timely submission the following morning. What’s that you say? You’ll believe it when you see it? Ha! He’ll show you…