I have no idea what is going on in this league. I just have to say that it's a good thing the season is so long. Otherwise no one would ever really show what they were capable of. Let's hope this weekend Real does just that.
LA Galaxy @ Toronto FC
Both these teams have completely proved me wrong. I said, repeatedly, that there was no chance for either of them. They both keep winning games. However, I think Toronto, with their home crowd behind them, will win this match.
NY Red Bulls @ Houston Dynamo
The Dynamo were impressive for about two games and then lost to San Jose last weekend. New York has not been consistently anything this season. I honestly don’t know what to expect from this match, so let’s call it a tie.
San Jose Earthquakes @ Real Salt Lake
The Earthquakes have already visited RSL once this season. It was an LHUSOC game, but it was still a victory for Real. They also have a long list of players on their injury list and two more who are away on national duty. I think that RSL takes this one.
Columbus Crew @ Chivas USA
Columbus has been the team to beat so far this year. Chivas has not been up to snuff. Even so, I think that Chivas will take the three points from this match.
FC Dallas @ Colorado RapidsThe Rapids, much to my delight, have returned to their ridiculous ways. They can’t seem to do anything right. I’m going to stick with the Hoops to win this match.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
MLS Week 9
No predictions last week. I probably would have gotten everything wrong, anyway. I never would have picked Houston to beat Chicago. Not with the way they are playing. I also would not have guessed that LA would beat Dallas by four goals. What was that? Here are this weeks guesses:
New England Revolution @ Columbus Crew
New England is back with a vengeance. Columbus is, I believe, still #1 in the league, but I think New England is going to put a stop to that this weekend. I would say that they are ready for a victory-and a meaningful one. Let’s go with The Revs.
Toronto FC @ DC United
DC has been so pathetic of late. In their last six games, they have lost five times. That’s not good. Toronto are no longer the team you feel bad for and so you secretly cheer them on. They are now the team you hate because they keep winning and are a bunch of tools. Even so, I bet they get three points this weekend.
Real Salt Lake @ FC Dallas
Dallas fired their coach and I cannot figure out why. Someone must have had a serious grudge against him. Their assistant coach has stepped in, for the time being. Real beat Dallas two weeks ago and really need to win an away game. However, I don’t think that this will be the game they win, much to my chagrin.
CD Chivas USA @ Colorado Rapids
Chivas are making me sad. They were able to beat DC last weekend, but that’s not saying much. Colorado are still in their form of winning a couple, losing a couple. I believe tomorrow’s game is the second of a couple wins. Let’s give them the three points.
Kansas City Wizards @ Los Angeles Galaxy
LA keeps pulling out these crazy victories that no one can explain. 5-1, 5-2; but then they have equally pathetic losses. Kansas City was doing great earlier, but have since fallen a little. I still think KC is the better team and hope they come out with the three points.
Chicago Fire @ New York Red Bulls
Chicago lost last week. At home. To Houston. It made me laugh for a long time. New York will be at home and hungry for three more points. Angel is back to full fitness and Altidore is looking good. However, NY does not have their coach this weekend or Dave van den Bergh. I really want NY to take the three points. I’m hoping that by saying they will, it will make it so.
New England Revolution @ Columbus Crew
New England is back with a vengeance. Columbus is, I believe, still #1 in the league, but I think New England is going to put a stop to that this weekend. I would say that they are ready for a victory-and a meaningful one. Let’s go with The Revs.
Toronto FC @ DC United
DC has been so pathetic of late. In their last six games, they have lost five times. That’s not good. Toronto are no longer the team you feel bad for and so you secretly cheer them on. They are now the team you hate because they keep winning and are a bunch of tools. Even so, I bet they get three points this weekend.
Real Salt Lake @ FC Dallas
Dallas fired their coach and I cannot figure out why. Someone must have had a serious grudge against him. Their assistant coach has stepped in, for the time being. Real beat Dallas two weeks ago and really need to win an away game. However, I don’t think that this will be the game they win, much to my chagrin.
CD Chivas USA @ Colorado Rapids
Chivas are making me sad. They were able to beat DC last weekend, but that’s not saying much. Colorado are still in their form of winning a couple, losing a couple. I believe tomorrow’s game is the second of a couple wins. Let’s give them the three points.
Kansas City Wizards @ Los Angeles Galaxy
LA keeps pulling out these crazy victories that no one can explain. 5-1, 5-2; but then they have equally pathetic losses. Kansas City was doing great earlier, but have since fallen a little. I still think KC is the better team and hope they come out with the three points.
Chicago Fire @ New York Red Bulls
Chicago lost last week. At home. To Houston. It made me laugh for a long time. New York will be at home and hungry for three more points. Angel is back to full fitness and Altidore is looking good. However, NY does not have their coach this weekend or Dave van den Bergh. I really want NY to take the three points. I’m hoping that by saying they will, it will make it so.
There's no one here but me
I have a sort of routine. Whenever I buy a new CD, I put it in my car and listen to it as I drive. It usually takes me about two drives home from work before I’ve been through the whole thing. Then I listen to it again and maybe even a third time. Usually by the third listen I have determined what my favorite song is on the CD.
Once I have that figured out, I listen to that song on repeat until I get all the words down. Then I feel guilty that I haven’t given enough attention to all the other songs on the CD, so I go back to listening to the entire CD. Except sometimes, I still repeat my favorite song a second or third time.
I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember. I realized it again when I bought the new Augustana CD Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt. For anyone who is wondering, this CD is awesome. I would totally recommend you run out to your local music store or jump on your computer and purchase it. It’s beautiful.
When I bought the CD, I only knew one song: “Sweet and Low”. I had heard it on the radio and bought it from iTunes back in early March, so I already had it memorized. I put the CD in and listened until I caught track 4. It is called “Twenty”. I have listened to it about 60 times. I love it a lot. I’m already back to listening to the whole CD. It’s been in my car CD player for about two weeks. But almost every time I pass track 4, I skip back to it again.
Just another one of those quirky things I do. One day I think I will make a CD of about twenty such songs. It will be easy to determine them. They all have about 30 more listens on iTunes than the rest of the songs.
Once I have that figured out, I listen to that song on repeat until I get all the words down. Then I feel guilty that I haven’t given enough attention to all the other songs on the CD, so I go back to listening to the entire CD. Except sometimes, I still repeat my favorite song a second or third time.
I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember. I realized it again when I bought the new Augustana CD Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt. For anyone who is wondering, this CD is awesome. I would totally recommend you run out to your local music store or jump on your computer and purchase it. It’s beautiful.
When I bought the CD, I only knew one song: “Sweet and Low”. I had heard it on the radio and bought it from iTunes back in early March, so I already had it memorized. I put the CD in and listened until I caught track 4. It is called “Twenty”. I have listened to it about 60 times. I love it a lot. I’m already back to listening to the whole CD. It’s been in my car CD player for about two weeks. But almost every time I pass track 4, I skip back to it again.
Just another one of those quirky things I do. One day I think I will make a CD of about twenty such songs. It will be easy to determine them. They all have about 30 more listens on iTunes than the rest of the songs.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Go my favorite sports team!
I actually have a couple of things to write about today. Firstly, my older brother is getting married. It’s crazy fast and I honestly can’t believe it, but it’s going to happen. I will be getting August 7th off work.
My mom is super excited. She has waited so long for one of her kids to get married. I’m a tell you now, anyone who says anything to me like “you’re next” or “when are you getting married?” is going to get a punch in the head. You’ve been warned.
Second item, I was going to post a list like Pepper did detailing 101 awesome things about me (because I’m awesome), but as I was writing the list, I figured I had about 101 potential blog entries. Especially because some of my little facts are super long. Here’s the first one:
I don’t like a lot of sports. When I was younger, I liked basketball because I was pretty good at it. Then I liked football because they allow tackling. Now, I prefer soccer.
The thing is, I’m not really good at any one sport. I play a lot of sports just well enough that I don’t embarrass myself. I’m talking basketball, football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, badminton, tennis, etc. The only thing I’m really “good” at is swimming.
And I’m not trying to brag, it’s just fact. Ask Pepper. She excels at soccer and running, but if we play anything else, I’m a give her a run for her money. Just don’t expect me to play by the rules. There should totally be tackling in all sports.
My mom is super excited. She has waited so long for one of her kids to get married. I’m a tell you now, anyone who says anything to me like “you’re next” or “when are you getting married?” is going to get a punch in the head. You’ve been warned.
Second item, I was going to post a list like Pepper did detailing 101 awesome things about me (because I’m awesome), but as I was writing the list, I figured I had about 101 potential blog entries. Especially because some of my little facts are super long. Here’s the first one:
I don’t like a lot of sports. When I was younger, I liked basketball because I was pretty good at it. Then I liked football because they allow tackling. Now, I prefer soccer.
The thing is, I’m not really good at any one sport. I play a lot of sports just well enough that I don’t embarrass myself. I’m talking basketball, football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, badminton, tennis, etc. The only thing I’m really “good” at is swimming.
And I’m not trying to brag, it’s just fact. Ask Pepper. She excels at soccer and running, but if we play anything else, I’m a give her a run for her money. Just don’t expect me to play by the rules. There should totally be tackling in all sports.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
It's only natural
I am so far behind, but I have a great excuse. I was out of town over the weekend. I wish I could write a big long description about my past weekend. I spent Thursday through Sunday at Capitol Reef National Park. It’s one of my favorite places to go. We visit at least once a year. Unfortunately, I don’t want to ramble on forever and a lot of the stuff I found interesting, no one else will care about. I’ll just give a brief summary of some of the things we did.On Friday we hiked Cassidy Arch. I have hiked Cassidy Arch several times before. The way to the arch is a 1.75 mile hike with a 950 foot climb. It’s a fairly strenuous hike, but the reward is absolutely magnificent. Cassidy Arch is, I think, the most breathtaking arch in Utah. Instead of walking under it or looking up at it, you walk on it and look down through it. The cliffs fall away steeply from the arch and if you fall, you fall to the canyon floor. Standing up there at the top, I kind of freak out, but I love it.
On Saturday, we hiked Sulphur Creek. It starts near Chimney Rock on the west entrance of the park. The hike follows the creek for about 6 miles to the visitor’s center. We had a group of 30 people. We scrambled over rocks, helped each other down cliffs, and watched most of the kids fall into the water and soak their clothes. It was funny and a lot of fun. I would definitely classify it in my top ten hikes. The hike took us nearly 4 hours as we were working with children and trying to walk through water. The creek has three waterfalls that we had to find a way around and that took time. We passed children along and held tightly to their hands. It was a lot of fun. The views were breathtaking. At one point you pass underneath the Goosenecks overlook. Staring up those rock faces is amazing. The cliffs rise so high on either side, it’s crazy.
Otherwise we just did our normal camping thing. We played cards and board games. We pulled out the soccer ball and the football. The kids ran around while the adults sat and talked. There was an infestation of gnats and they all seemed to be grouped around me. I smashed as many as I could. There were also a lot of caterpillars that the kids collected. There were so many, you would just be sitting and you’d find one crawling up your leg. There are going to be a lot of moths in Capitol Reef this summer.
We also did one of my other favorite camping things. The Fremont River runs through the Fruita campground. There is an excellent point right by where we camped where you can just step right into the water. I love to skip rocks and skipping rocks on a river is the best. The flowing water smoothes the rocks down and you can find loads of great skipping rocks. Tip for everyone: skipping rocks works the best when you are closer to the water’s surface. I find the best way to do it is to be in water about to your knees. I am a champion skipper.
I think my favorite part of the camping is the being away from work. I cannot be reached by cell phone or e-mail there. So for four days I had no work. That’s the best.
I hope to visit Capitol Reef again this year, but next time I’m a drag Pepper along.
Monday, May 12, 2008
MLS Predictions
Okay, this may seem completely lame, but I forgot to go home on Friday and post my predictions. I know it's after the fact, but I promise these are the predictions as I wrote them on Friday before any of the games. I've also added whether I was correct or not, since all these games are over. Wow.
Colorado Rapids at Houston Dynamo
Houston are looking worse and worse as the season goes on. Colorado is in their normal form. They win some, they lose some. The same cannot be said of the Dynamo. So far this season, there has not been any “win some” for them. I’m going to stick with Colorado this time around.
Final: Colorado 1, Houston 2
FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake
Dallas started off the season very impressively. They were winning against good teams. I think it took them to week four to lose a game. However, their performance at San Jose was not very impressive last week. San Jose is a scrappy team, but Dallas should not have settled for a tie. The same goes for RSL last weekend. We were at home. We were playing much better than LA. We should have beat them. I think the loss had a lot to do with the poor officiating. Jason Kreis is suspended because he voiced his opinions about that. I think Real can win, but I think they will settle for a tie and I will be furious. Especially if the refereeing goes the way it has been lately. I’m sure my opinion is not at all objective, but there it is. I think the Real victory over Dallas will come the next day when the Reserves play.
Final: Dallas 1, RSL 2
Columbus Crew at San Jose Earthquakes
Columbus are sitting at #1. Congratulations to them. San Jose has been looking better, but I don’t think they have much of a chance against Columbus. The Crew will take the three points.
Final: Columbus 3, San Jose 2
New York Red Bulls at Los Angeles Galaxy
I really badly want New York to win this game. I like most of the guys on their team. I especially like Angel and how feisty he is. He is finally back and played the full match last week at Toronto. I think he is getting more and more eager to get a goal in the books. I hope he will prove that this weekend. The Red Bulls are a better team than LA. Plus, right now, I’m particularly upset at the Galaxy.
Final: New York 2, LA 1
New England Revolution at Chivas USA
Chivas, once the crown jewel of the Western Conference, are not looking good at all right now. They followed an embarrassing defeat by LA with a tie at Houston, who are pretty much pathetic right now. New England are struggling, but I hear that Steve Ralston is coming back to the field. I think that will be the boost they need to take three points from Chivas.
Final: New England 2, Chivas 1
Colorado Rapids at Houston Dynamo
Houston are looking worse and worse as the season goes on. Colorado is in their normal form. They win some, they lose some. The same cannot be said of the Dynamo. So far this season, there has not been any “win some” for them. I’m going to stick with Colorado this time around.
Final: Colorado 1, Houston 2
FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake
Dallas started off the season very impressively. They were winning against good teams. I think it took them to week four to lose a game. However, their performance at San Jose was not very impressive last week. San Jose is a scrappy team, but Dallas should not have settled for a tie. The same goes for RSL last weekend. We were at home. We were playing much better than LA. We should have beat them. I think the loss had a lot to do with the poor officiating. Jason Kreis is suspended because he voiced his opinions about that. I think Real can win, but I think they will settle for a tie and I will be furious. Especially if the refereeing goes the way it has been lately. I’m sure my opinion is not at all objective, but there it is. I think the Real victory over Dallas will come the next day when the Reserves play.
Final: Dallas 1, RSL 2
Columbus Crew at San Jose Earthquakes
Columbus are sitting at #1. Congratulations to them. San Jose has been looking better, but I don’t think they have much of a chance against Columbus. The Crew will take the three points.
Final: Columbus 3, San Jose 2
New York Red Bulls at Los Angeles Galaxy
I really badly want New York to win this game. I like most of the guys on their team. I especially like Angel and how feisty he is. He is finally back and played the full match last week at Toronto. I think he is getting more and more eager to get a goal in the books. I hope he will prove that this weekend. The Red Bulls are a better team than LA. Plus, right now, I’m particularly upset at the Galaxy.
Final: New York 2, LA 1
New England Revolution at Chivas USA
Chivas, once the crown jewel of the Western Conference, are not looking good at all right now. They followed an embarrassing defeat by LA with a tie at Houston, who are pretty much pathetic right now. New England are struggling, but I hear that Steve Ralston is coming back to the field. I think that will be the boost they need to take three points from Chivas.
Final: New England 2, Chivas 1
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
We all fall down
I'm fond of scars. I have several that I am excessively proud of. My favorite is the one I got from kicking my foot against a swimming pool and cut my foot. It's a very neat white line on my left foot. I'm also keen on the one next to my left eye that I got when I fell between the springs of a trampoline. I have many others. I'm an incredibly clumsy person.
Last night we went to a barbecue activity that also included some volleyball. Pepper and I were on a team that included up to ten other people at any given time. That many people on a court, we were bound to have mishaps.
First, while chasing after a ball, I ran into one kid and he stepped on my foot. My three middle toes on my left foot are in pain. Second, I was hit with the volleyball by a failed serve by one of the kids. Third, the pole fell and just happened to land on my right shoulder. Add to that the tiny bruises from hitting a flat ball on my right forearm and just the general soreness from playing a sport I haven't played for a while, and I'm a bit off today.
But because of my love of scars and bruises and all that, I'm alright. I like to be sore. I like to have "battle wounds". It gives me something to talk about, and in my opinion, toughens me up. And as we all know, I think toughness very important.
Last night we went to a barbecue activity that also included some volleyball. Pepper and I were on a team that included up to ten other people at any given time. That many people on a court, we were bound to have mishaps.
First, while chasing after a ball, I ran into one kid and he stepped on my foot. My three middle toes on my left foot are in pain. Second, I was hit with the volleyball by a failed serve by one of the kids. Third, the pole fell and just happened to land on my right shoulder. Add to that the tiny bruises from hitting a flat ball on my right forearm and just the general soreness from playing a sport I haven't played for a while, and I'm a bit off today.
But because of my love of scars and bruises and all that, I'm alright. I like to be sore. I like to have "battle wounds". It gives me something to talk about, and in my opinion, toughens me up. And as we all know, I think toughness very important.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Soccer
The useless MLS predictions will be coming a day early this week. That just means I also get to make a prediction about tonight’s game. I, frankly, have no idea what is going on in the league right now. Everyone is so all over the place in wins and losses, I cannot figure it out. Luckily, the season is still young and there are plenty of chances for the odds to even out.
Here it goes!
New York Red Bulls at Toronto FC
Tonight’s game is at Toronto at BMO field. I think everyone who has ever seen an MLS game knows what a nightmare it is to play there. Toronto managed a win in their last two contests at home, and it looks to me like they will keep up the momentum. I’m giving this match to Toronto.
Chicago Fire at New England Revolution
Chicago has only lost one match so far this season. New England can’t seem to decide whether they are winners or losers. I’m hoping that Saturday night they will decide to be winners and put out the Fire. Three points to New England.
Kansas City Wizards at Columbus Crew
Kansas City were doing so well and then they lost to Toronto. Columbus have been kind of shocking everyone so far by not only winning, but winning against good teams. There is a chance this match could end in a tie, but I think because Columbus has a home advantage, they will walk away with the victory.
Chivas USA at Houston Dynamo
What’s with Chivas this season? They lost to LA? They lost to LA 5-2?!?! That being said; what’s with Houston this season? They are the only team who have yet to win a match. I know that Houston are at home, but I’m inclined to think that Chivas, despite the disgusting loss to LA, are still the better bet.
Los Angeles Galaxy at Real Salt Lake
When I saw the score from the LA-Chivas game I was shocked. For anyone who does not know, LA beat Chivas 5-2, Landon Donovan had a hat trick. It’s safe to say that Donovan is on fire right now. I’m worried about our boys in red. They are coming off a win in non-league play at home against San Jose. I’m hoping that victory gives everyone a bit of confidence. The Galaxy are having little trouble scoring goals this season and I think the key to beating them is to score a lot of goals and not allow them to score any. I realize that’s about the most obvious thing to say, but let me explain. LA’s defense has been sorely lacking lately. They have only managed a shut-out against San Jose. In every other game this season, they have allowed multiple goals. Their offense has been forced to do all the work. RSL’s defense has been pretty solid this season, they just can’t seem to finish. We just need to create a chance, follow-through, and then do what we’ve been doing well so far-defend. If we can do that (for the full time) RSL will take all three points. I’m relying on them to do so.
FC Dallas at San Jose Earthquakes
Dallas ended their unbeaten streak last Thursday with a loss at New England. San Jose are going to be very tired for their match this weekend. They only have like 17 men on their roster (how can they play reserves games?) and two of them ran into each other on Wednesday night. I’m picking Dallas.
DC United at Colorado Rapids
DC used a couple of questionable (in my mind) calls for PKs last weekend to beat RSL 4-1. Colorado lost to Chicago. Colorado is about as inconsistent as they come. One week they shock you by beating someone like New England in an away game and the next they lose to San Jose at home. DC looks like they might be ready to start playing soccer again. I think this is going to be a good match because both of these teams are in line for a win. I’m going to go the other way and say that the home team takes the win.
Here it goes!
New York Red Bulls at Toronto FC
Tonight’s game is at Toronto at BMO field. I think everyone who has ever seen an MLS game knows what a nightmare it is to play there. Toronto managed a win in their last two contests at home, and it looks to me like they will keep up the momentum. I’m giving this match to Toronto.
Chicago Fire at New England Revolution
Chicago has only lost one match so far this season. New England can’t seem to decide whether they are winners or losers. I’m hoping that Saturday night they will decide to be winners and put out the Fire. Three points to New England.
Kansas City Wizards at Columbus Crew
Kansas City were doing so well and then they lost to Toronto. Columbus have been kind of shocking everyone so far by not only winning, but winning against good teams. There is a chance this match could end in a tie, but I think because Columbus has a home advantage, they will walk away with the victory.
Chivas USA at Houston Dynamo
What’s with Chivas this season? They lost to LA? They lost to LA 5-2?!?! That being said; what’s with Houston this season? They are the only team who have yet to win a match. I know that Houston are at home, but I’m inclined to think that Chivas, despite the disgusting loss to LA, are still the better bet.
Los Angeles Galaxy at Real Salt Lake
When I saw the score from the LA-Chivas game I was shocked. For anyone who does not know, LA beat Chivas 5-2, Landon Donovan had a hat trick. It’s safe to say that Donovan is on fire right now. I’m worried about our boys in red. They are coming off a win in non-league play at home against San Jose. I’m hoping that victory gives everyone a bit of confidence. The Galaxy are having little trouble scoring goals this season and I think the key to beating them is to score a lot of goals and not allow them to score any. I realize that’s about the most obvious thing to say, but let me explain. LA’s defense has been sorely lacking lately. They have only managed a shut-out against San Jose. In every other game this season, they have allowed multiple goals. Their offense has been forced to do all the work. RSL’s defense has been pretty solid this season, they just can’t seem to finish. We just need to create a chance, follow-through, and then do what we’ve been doing well so far-defend. If we can do that (for the full time) RSL will take all three points. I’m relying on them to do so.
FC Dallas at San Jose Earthquakes
Dallas ended their unbeaten streak last Thursday with a loss at New England. San Jose are going to be very tired for their match this weekend. They only have like 17 men on their roster (how can they play reserves games?) and two of them ran into each other on Wednesday night. I’m picking Dallas.
DC United at Colorado Rapids
DC used a couple of questionable (in my mind) calls for PKs last weekend to beat RSL 4-1. Colorado lost to Chicago. Colorado is about as inconsistent as they come. One week they shock you by beating someone like New England in an away game and the next they lose to San Jose at home. DC looks like they might be ready to start playing soccer again. I think this is going to be a good match because both of these teams are in line for a win. I’m going to go the other way and say that the home team takes the win.
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