Not Just A Hat Rack

What Marca is Saying

The Spanish sports daily Marca declares "The Yankees have brought us down from the clouds."

From coach Del Bosque: "This is sport and today it was our turn to lose."

Casillas: "Of games like this, we lose one in ten."

Xavi: "We have to learn from the loss."

Villa: "This was like a World Cup for us."

Xabi Alonso: "We have to accept it."

Sergio Ramos: "I didn't see there was someone on my shoulder."

Sweet win.  Let's hope they can come up so big in the World Cup.  Go USA! 

Thoughts on coaches...

In no particular order...

1) I think Bob Bradley is the man for the USA through 2012. We can reevaluate at that point. He can only work with the talent he has... We need a Technical Director for US Soccer, by the way.

2) Jim Tracy's replacement of Clint Hurdle in Colorado demonstrates that a new manager CAN have a huge impact on a team - they've won 16 of 17.

3) I think RSL would benefit from a coach with substantial head coaching experience, but it doesn't necessarily need to be at Jason Kreis' expense.  That being said, I think Mr. Kreis has a long, long leash from Mr. Checketts and will be at the helm for a long time unless the team goes into a protracted tailspin and is eliminated from playoff contention with two months left in the season (which is mathematically improbable in the super-parity MLS).

4) Finally, and this is what truly prompted this post, I can't think of a better fit for the profane, morally corrupt, miserably disheveled and overrated Kevin O'Neill than USC Basketball.  They deserve each other as they move from the Tim Floyd mess to the one that O'Neill will create.  He is Northwestern's most embarrassing hire in the past 30 years.

OJ Simpson Chase - The Handball Connection

If you were watching SportsCenter on Tuesday night, they referenced one of the most memorable moments in sports television history - the OJ Simpson chase on June 17, 1994.  I remember being furious that the chase was preempting World Cup soccer coverage.

ESPN Memorable Moments

But tonight I noticed that the LAPD spokesman who famously declared, "OJ is a fugitive" was none other than Commander David Gascon.  If you recognize the name, it may be because he's the father of USA Women's National Teamer Sarah Gascon.  "Chief" as many of his friends call him, also helped coordinate the USA Women's travel and finances during the team's trip to Mexico City in November 2008. 

"Chief" didn't look so happy back in 1994.

OK, I'll take a stand on this little bit of paparazzi-influenced White House-watching.

I'm for it.  I don't care if it cost $81,000.

The Obamas had a date night!  They flew to NYC, ate at a chic restaurant, caught a play.  No kids, no dog, no curfew.  I say, "good for them!"