WEEKLY WHINE
Yes, I've been to 22 matches at the Home Depot Center. Many, many exciting things happened there, and we spectators were very, very thrilled to be a part of them. But which 22 events stood top?
22: Sasha Victorine and Carlos Ruiz score in the 59th and 62nd minutes, respectively, to give the Galaxy a 2-0 win in the first leg of their aggregate goal encounter with the evil San Jose Earthquakes. But let's not talk about the second leg.
21: So I find my seat at the 2003 MLS Cup final. Everyone around me is wearing red. I'm wearing white. The guy next to me goes, "You're not a San Jose fan, are you?"
I take offense at this suggestion. "Hell no! I'm an LA fan!"
The guy behind me goes, "Oh, good. San Jose hater."
Yes, it doesn't matter what colours you wear or how long you travelled to get to the stadium, just as long as we all hate those bastards in black and blue.
20: The female footballer in front of me goes, "Go DC!" before turning around nervously.
I go, "You're in the wrong place or something."
She goes, "I know."
19: So the US has this thing at friendlies wherein they pick three fans at halftime to shoot at jerseys laid out in the centre circle. If your shot lands squarely on a shirt, you win it. At the US-Costa Rica women's friendly four months previously, only one person succeeded, but at this men's friendly, which ends in a 1-1 draw, everyone wins a jersey. Believe it or not, the people of Southern California can learn.
18: A new feature for the Galaxy's 2004 season is a halftime trivia question, wherein they pluck a fan and ask a multiple choice question about MLS. This week's question: How many times have the Galaxy played in the MLS Cup final? The guy says five, and he wins the car parts gift certificate or whatever. Only one problem: The Galaxy have only appeared in four MLS Cup final matches! They lost to DC in 1996 and 1999, lost to San Jose in 2001, and defeated New England in 2002. Even I know that.
17: So our discussions turn to the Galaxy's season. The guy next to me offers this helpful advice: "Just win a fucking away game, man!"
16: The Fire supporters begin singing. Luckily, it's not too hard to learn their songs. Try this one: "Fire! Fire! Fire, Fire, Fire! La la-la lah, la la-la lah, la la-la lah la-la lah!"
15: It was hyped as the "largest fireworks display west of the Mississippi". That may be. I timed it at about thirty minutes, and I also took note of this comment on the next evening's edition of MLS Wrap. John Harkes, checking his watch: "I think it's still going on."
14: Chivas pop into the Depot to take on the best of the majors in the 2003 MLS All Star Game, the first time the league takes on foreign opposition. At halftime, Colorado mascot Rapidman stands immediately in front of the Chivas aficionados and delivers a series of blows to a stuffed goat. Wouldn't he be fined if this was the NBA?
13: A peek at the future of women's football as Christine Sinclair scores her third goal of the 2003 Women's World Cup. Alas, Canada lose the third place match 3-1 to the US, but no doubt this will inspire Sinclair to greater heights at China 2007.
12: Much to our chagrin, a penalty is awarded to Kansas City in second half stoppage time. Preki steps up to take it - and he is denied by El Gato, Kevin Hartman. LA get the 2-1 win, and afterward Wizards keeper Tony Meola steams about it: "I just want to be involved in one game where calls don't determine the game."
11: In this Lamar Hunt US Open Cup fourth round match, Galaxy rookie Arturo Torres starts for the first time. The opposition is the Fresno Fuego of the Premier Development League. There seems to be a large number of pro-Arturo faithful a few rows in front of me. Why? Yes, Arturo hails from Wilmington, CA, right down the 110 from the Depot.
10: After the match, the players get their awards from Sepp Blatter, the FIFA prez. Seated across the platform are Bettina Wiegmann, who has accepted the Most Entertaining Team award for Germany; Birgit Prinz, winner of the Golden Boot as top goalscorer and Golden Ball as tournament MVP; Victoria Svensson, winner of the Silver Ball; Maren Meinert, winner of the Bronze Ball and Silver Boot; and Silke Rottenberg, winner of the Best Goalkeeper award. Victoria's blank expression contrasts vividly against the exhausted smiles of her German counterparts.
09: Cheryl Salisbury takes one for the team as she clears a nearly certain goal off the line - her momentum takes her clanging painfully into the post. The Matildas' captain returns to the match, though, and leads Australia to a 1-1 draw.
08: New Galaxy addition Jovan Kirovski hammers a shot past Adin Brown and into net. Net repair crews are on standby, but the shot was not quite hard enough to cause damage. It ends up the matchwinner, though, as LA win 3-2.
07: The first foul of Freddy Adu's professional career. Oh, and he has a shot on goal in there somewhere too.
06: In the 25th minute, LA had just conceded a goal. Arturo races down the field, flicks the ball over two defenders, and then volleys home for his first goal with the Galaxy. He adds a late assist as LA win 3-1.
05: Rapidman may have talked the talk, but Carlos Ruiz heads the head, in the 68th minute in fact. The long ball from Chicago's Carlos Bocanegra goes over the top and right to Ruiz, who heads it in for the matchwinner. MLS take their own All Star Game again, this time by a 3-1 margin.
04: The Galaxy's favourite fish, Carlos Ruiz, goes bicycle late in the first half. A great way to open the scoring at the Depot, yes? Alas, Scott Garlick is right there to make the save. So we all shrink back into our seats and await the real first goal.
03: 98th minute. Renate Lingor with a free kick for Germany about thirty yards out on the right hand side. The lob curls into the area, and Nia Künzer goes up to head it in. Germany win the Women's World Cup, 2-1.
02: Colorado forward Chris Carrieri, who had given an interview with ESPN's Marc Connolly lambasting his teammates, coaches, and just about everyone associated with the Black-n-Blue, receives the ball near the left corner. The guy next to me, the one who came from Chicago for the Depot's opener, shouts, "Carrieri! You suck!" Who says fans no longer feel attachment to players?
01: And there it is, from el Pescadito himself. Simon Elliott's shot is saved by Garlick, but he tips it right to Ruiz. This time, the league's leading goalscorer from a year ago makes no mistake. In your box score, that's LA: Carlos Ruiz 4 (unassisted) 50'.
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