I got a fever!

And the only cure is MORE FUTBOL!

I really need go to a match right now! Been watching some great games on TV lately and it just fuels that passion to see some great futbol that only a real futbol fan can understand.

Ever since my discovery of the little gem that is La Barra Brava, I have realized that there is no other group on the planet like soccer (or futbol) fans. The only thing that compares in the United States is the clan that call themselves "NFL Fans" (which I proudly include myself in). But that is solely an "american" sport ... you can't travel the world to watch American Football games. But you can travel the world to watch the best futbol known to man.

Lately I have been drawn to the Argentine League. The just recently completed Apetura 2006 was one that will go down in the history books. In simple terms ... Boca choked ... and Estudiantes pulled off one of the greatest runs in history! I fancy myself a Boca fan and dream of one day taking in a match at La Bombonera, but that may be a tall order. In truth, I don't know much Spanish and I am a gringo. That would not help my cause in La Doce (la barra brave de boca). But maybe a seat in the less fervent sections would be possible.

For my next soccer journey ... I am starting the early planning stages of a trip to London in early March. We'll see how that goes ... money may be tight. I am intrigued at the possibilty of seeing two champions league round of 16 matches in the span of two days! If I can find a way to get a ticket to the Liverpool/Barcalona match that would definitely be the deciding factor on if the trip is worth it. Anyone got an ideas as to how to make that a reality???

For now, I am secluded to the couch to watch (and listen) what it is like to be part of a supporters group. I really can't wait for March when Olipmia travels to RFK for a quarterfinal matchup in the CONCACAF Cup. It will be the first gathering of DC United supporters of the new year and it should be an incredible atmosphere.

Hopefully I can pull off the coup and get Comcast to send me to Honduras for the opening leg!!!!

Spreading the Word

You want the beginnings of a soccer show ... here they are ... the two stories that aired on CSN about the supporter groups of DC United ...

THE SCREAMING EAGLES

&

LA BARRA BRAVA

tell me what you think ... the ball is rolling ...

I wish I could find a way to get the package that aired about my trip to the World Cup up on YouTube ...

Not the first time ...

It's a good thing that the United States Soccer Federation scheduled that friendly against Denmark in January. Because if they hadn't, they wouldn't have had to name Bob Bradley as interim head coach of the men's national team tomorrow (which they will in a morning eleconference). with the impending match on the horizon, they needed somebody to piece together a team. their hand was forced.

It looked like Jurgan Klinsmann was indeed the man that they wanted (which was one of the worst kept secrets in the soccer community) but he turned down the final offer, and now we are left with an interim hoad coach heading into what could be the most important year in the development of the United States Soccer program as a whole.

2007 will bring with it a chance to defend the Gold Cup and a chance to make an impression below the equator in the Copa America. Many will remember the impact that the fourth place finish in the 1995 Copa had. That team beat Aregntina in the group stages. The head coach that summer in Uruguay? Steve Sampson, who had just been named "interim" head coach of the national team in April after Bora Milutinovic resigned. Sampson was named the permanent head coach in August of 1995 based, in large part, on the team's performance in Uruguay just a month before. Three years later, he was promptly fired after leading the United States to their worst ever showing in the World Cup.

So what lies ahead for Bradley and the national team prgram? A win over the likes of an Argentina or Brazil during his stay in Venezuela this summer would certainly do wonders for Bradley's resume when U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati re-opens the search for a permanent head coach. But will that be the right move based on what we know of history?

Only time will tell ...