Since I've Been Gone...For A Long Time

Sorry I've been away.

Works been hectic and I've been everywhere. But hopefully, I get to sit down and blog some more.

So I'm back. I've missed a few things. I've missed a lot of things.

My thoughts of what's gone on since I've been gone...

• Thank goodness the Rays are in the World Series and the Dodgers are at home, sitting on their couches like the rest of us.
• This isn't the NFL we all thought we'd see.
• I still don't think the Titans are for real.
  
• The eyes of Texas are upon us and are upon the BCS title game.
• How the hell are USC and Ohio State rearing their ugly heads again?
• Stephen Garcia better be embarrassed.
• So, how about them Cowboys?
• The NHL is back?
• The Three Lions look might good under Fabio Capello.
• Mexico, on the other hand, does not.
• And wave of the future? Please, but those young Americans have to look better and fare better than they did against T&T
• It sucks to be a Chargers and Cal fan. It makes you pull your hair out.
  
• Don't trade Peavy.
  

Overshadowed Kalou Saves Chelsea's Graces

Wayne Rooney. Wayne Rooney. Wayne Rooney.

When will you learn?

Sir Alex Ferguson did it again, with his tactical prowess, Manchester United took Chelsea out of their element at Stamford Bridge for most of Sunday's super matchup.

Usually backline attacking threats, Ashley Cole and Jose Boswinga, were pretty much ineffective in the attacking third for Chelsea, with their defensive responsibilities taking up much of their action.

And United's goal in the 18th minute was masterful. The Man U really should have taken three points from the Blues.

But Wayne Rooney. Oh you. Sure, Chelsea had opportunity after opportunity to a) take the advantage in the game (that's you Joe Cole) and b) equalize the game (that's you twice Nicolas Anelka).

But Rooney, you're foul in the 80th minute gave Chelsea their change to pounce and they did. Off the foot of the craft Frank Lampard and onto the head of the overshadowed Salomon Kalou, the Blues were able to stay unbeaten at the Bridge in 85 games and stay unbeaten in the Premiership.

Rooney is one of the best footballers in the world. The problem is that he has an identity crisis. Sir Alex plays him everywhere. It's probably because Rooney can play everywhere. But in a game with this much pressure, I think it would have been best, for Rooney's mental stability, to keep him in one spot.

Rooney went from striker to back in the blink of an eye and then gave up the foul which lead to the Chelsea goal.

Kalou and the rest of the Blues thank you Rooney.

And how about this for Man U? That side has only one win in their six Premiership games. It's a long season, but quite a precarious start for the defending champions.

Match Day 1(s) Done in Champions League, Plus Bad Banks

So, did anyone else notice that Manchester United will be wearing a different Champions League patch on their sleeve than everyone else? Yeah, Man U, in its draw with the Yellow Submarine today, was seen wearing a black patch with something to the effect "2008 Cup Winners" (not exact, but something like it).

I've never seen that before. Maybe it's happened in the past, but I really don't recall. Of course, the Red Dragons think that their special and maybe that patch separates them out.

But the bigger news of the week was that of the logo on the front of their jerseys. AIG, who bought that little space on Man U's shirts, needed the U.S. government to bail them out. It's not the first time that a corporate sponsor of a sporting something has almost gone under. Actually, plenty of corporate sponsors have gone away (Enron anyone?). This Time story kind of explains sports aspect of all these banks failing, but not really.

Champions League thoughts:

• Speaking of Man U, not even soon-to-be-world-footballer-of-the-year Cristiano Ronaldo could help United gain three points over Villarreal at Old Trattford. And the Red Dragons play Chelsea on Sunday?! And Man U is in 14th in the Premiership?! No, it's not time to panic in Manchester. But the Yellow Submarine should have stolen that game today.
  
• Speaking of Man U's group, all four teams went scoreless with Celtic and Aalborg drawing nil-nil in Glasgow. Meaning that after one day, Group E stands pat with everyone with one point. Exciting or boring? You tell me.
• Okay, I'm convinced: Chelsea is pretty awesome right now, in my opinion. But their manager is pissed? Things do not look good for Man U on Sunday.
• Roma lost to who?
• Welcome back to the premiere club competition in Europe Bayern, Juventus and Atletico. And welcome back Stevie G, you're still way better than Frank Lampard.
  

Why I Fell in Love With Soccer

This really might blow some people's minds and it really has nothing to do with anything that's going on right now.

But it also might be appropriate given the times and where U.S. Soccer is in the world.

I had the pleasure of sitting with Sam's Army for the first time at last night's World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago at cozy Toyota Park. It was an awesome experience, as it reminded me of my old college days (which aren't that old, by the way), of when the student section would stand the entire game and lead the entire stadium in chants and cheers (though I don't know how much the other 11,000 fans in the Chicago suburb went along with the Army's cheers and jeers).

But it was support, and support of the highest kind. And it wasn't blind support. Members of Sam's Army were able to say when they didn't like a decision by an American player. Sure they bitched if a referee blew the whistle the other way, but their fans, and they have that right. But at least there was recognition of when our team was at fault.

You see, you don't get that at any other professional sporting event in the United States. Where are the rooting sections in NFL stadiums, in baseball ballparks, in NBA arenas or NHL ice rinks? Where is the character and the heart of the fans?

The fans, that's one of the reasons why this game, the one that's called football in other parts of the world, is one of my favorites. There is passion. And passion not just when it's a crucial game 7 in the finals for the championship or passion on the final drive of an American football game. There is passion at all games, against all opponents, no matter the situation.

But I wasn't exposed to that until I watched my very first World Cup, the one back in 2002. I know, that seems a tad late, but I do remember watching the 1998 World Cup in France, but trust me, especially after the Olympics in 1996 and with my San Diego Padres battling for the pennant that summer, the World Cup was an afterthought. And then the United States finished dead last. Didn't really help.

I guess you can say I started as a bandwagoner in 2002. I didn't know too much about the team. I didn't know about its young stars (a kid by the name of Landon Donovan, who barely had his receding hairline and this young speedster by the name of DeMarcus Beasley who flew up and down the left side of the pitch). I knew that it's cover boy, Clint Mathis, had an awesome haircut.

But they were successful. A new coach. A new youth movement. A new World Cup. There was no way that Team USA was going to finish last in 2002. So I followed them and followed that World Cup, waking up or staying awake until the 2 a.m. start times on the west coast for the U.S.'s games.

And then I saw the pride and the fans. And I saw this team win, getting all the way to the quarterfinals.

But since then, with the team waning back towards mediocrity, have I still followed the beautiful game? Why is it that I carve out two hours of my Tuesdays and Wednesdays to watch the Champions League? Why do I watch the MLS Cup Final? Why do I care about meaningless friendlies against Argentina and Spain (which, actually, mean more than you think)?

Well, I'm a fan of my national team for the same reason that someone who grew up in England is a fan of the Three Lions, or someone who group up in Mexico is a fan of El Tri. It's my country. It's my nation. And in a world where nationalism is looked down upon in everyday life, sport gives us pseudo-nationalist the avenue to cheer for our country without feeling embarrassed.

Part of it has to do with the United States' coming together after those tragic events seven years ago. To see the U.S. Men's National Team succeed on a global stage, at least for me--the 16-year-old kid in San Diego--said that we were going to be okay. And it was easier for us, as Americans, to go out and cheer for our national sides because, well, for a short period of time, we were all American. Our country was no longer made up of Californians or Southerners or New Yorkers, but Americans.

The second and most obvious is reason is because of the fans. After that World Cup, I started to watch soccer, not religiously or feverishly (because going to high school, I couldn't watch all the European games), but casually. And I noticed how awesome the fans were around the world, and these were games that had little consequence at the end of the season. Why couldn't we have that in professional sport in America?

And third, of course, the beauty of the game. It's not called the beautiful game for nothing. It's a simple game, with a simple premise. Most anyone--check that--anyone can play this game. All you have to do is get a ball, find some grass or dirt or concrete, and kick it around. It's amazing.

But then, what these professionals can do, it's magic. How can someone bend the ball into the top right corner from 37 yards out? How can someone juggle a soccer ball like that? How can midfielder thread a pass through four different players and, even more amazingly, have the vision to see his teammate make that run?

And there are so many different styles. You have the flair and creativity of the Spanish, the Dutch and Latin America. There's the fast-paced style of England. The defensive poise of the Italians and the brute strength and muscle of the Germans. And all of these schools of football compete against each other every week of the year.

But finally, and I'd hate to admit it because Franklin Foer points this out in his book How Soccer Explains the World, soccer in America isn't the "in" thing. It never has. I hope one day that it will, because it is such a beautiful game and a great game, but it's not mainstream, not at all. And that way, when I first fell in love with it, I could call it my own. It was a way to separate me and my friends. I can be an individual, because I loved soccer and no one else did.

But my view on that has changed. I'm not one of those "yuppie soccer fans" that Foer talks about in his book. I encourage my friends to watch. My last semester at Cal, every week, as the editor at the Daily Cal, I would invite the writers at the sports desk to come what the Champions League knockout stages with me at the on campus pub. Barely anyone came, but people who never watched soccer got their interest piqued and when the Euro Cup came around this year, a lot of my former writers, who never watched soccer, watched.

And so, that's why I love soccer. There's passion in it, there's beauty, it's unique and it's a simple game. It's the people's game. And it is around the world.