Comments on: I’ve got one word: 2009 Season in Retrospect http://lagalaxy.theoffside.com/player-news/ive-got-one-word-2009-season-in-retrospect.html LA Galaxy Soccer Blog Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:02:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Diane http://lagalaxy.theoffside.com/player-news/ive-got-one-word-2009-season-in-retrospect.html#comment-37329 Diane Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:33:13 +0000 http://lagalaxy.theoffside.com/player-news/ive-got-one-word-2009-season-in-retrospect.html#comment-37329 What a lovely post Nathan! My pre-Galaxy experience was different, but my appreciation of the team started in the same way. With my roots in other parts of the world I used to spend all of my football viewing energy finding bars showing games at odd hours, intending to check out MLS and never making it. Once Beckham came to the States, it wasn't much of an effort to check out MLS and I became part of the "Beckham effect," getting season tickets to our local team and enjoying live footy again (even though our local team are the Red Bulls :-(, poor boys). But I couldn't stop following the Galaxy, partly because Laurie was my (hilarious) MLS tutor, but really because of the team you describe in 2007. I never bought that the "problem" with that team was that the kids weren't ready for their close-up. They were fierce, courageous and tireless. Unfortunately, their front office and league were none of those and (in my view) sold the whole lot down the river -- health and prospects included -- in exchange for shirt sales, TV contracts, and exhibition game revenue. The rest of the story is history. Yes, success took putting control of the team in the hands of one person who could coach and knew the league and could keep the focus on football, sometimes against some serious odds (maybe it could have been Frank if he was never given the same chance, who knows) but the courage and determination of the players -- handicapped as you described -- has never flagged in my eyes, and kept me rooting for LA from the other coast. Now, of course, I have to follow at least AJ for the rest of his career! It's also been a pleasure learning the MLS ropes from you guys. Have a great off-season, Diane What a lovely post Nathan! My pre-Galaxy experience was different, but my appreciation of the team started in the same way. With my roots in other parts of the world I used to spend all of my football viewing energy finding bars showing games at odd hours, intending to check out MLS and never making it. Once Beckham came to the States, it wasn’t much of an effort to check out MLS and I became part of the “Beckham effect,” getting season tickets to our local team and enjoying live footy again (even though our local team are the Red Bulls :-( , poor boys).

But I couldn’t stop following the Galaxy, partly because Laurie was my (hilarious) MLS tutor, but really because of the team you describe in 2007. I never bought that the “problem” with that team was that the kids weren’t ready for their close-up. They were fierce, courageous and tireless. Unfortunately, their front office and league were none of those and (in my view) sold the whole lot down the river — health and prospects included — in exchange for shirt sales, TV contracts, and exhibition game revenue.

The rest of the story is history. Yes, success took putting control of the team in the hands of one person who could coach and knew the league and could keep the focus on football, sometimes against some serious odds (maybe it could have been Frank if he was never given the same chance, who knows) but the courage and determination of the players — handicapped as you described — has never flagged in my eyes, and kept me rooting for LA from the other coast. Now, of course, I have to follow at least AJ for the rest of his career!

It’s also been a pleasure learning the MLS ropes from you guys. Have a great off-season, Diane

]]> By: David http://lagalaxy.theoffside.com/player-news/ive-got-one-word-2009-season-in-retrospect.html#comment-37319 David Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:05:20 +0000 http://lagalaxy.theoffside.com/player-news/ive-got-one-word-2009-season-in-retrospect.html#comment-37319 To me, the word for this season was vindication. So many people second guessed the Beckham signing and wrote it off as a terrible mistake. Having been a doubter before he came, I was totally converted once he arrived and knew that it could mean big things. This season vindicates that belief. With real leadership the team built a solid core despite the Beckham and Donovan salary hits and proved that the combination of their two stars and supporting players could be competitive and exciting. When the fans race back to the stadium next year I'll proudly say I was there the whole time. Unfortunately, this does probably mean astronomical suite prices again. To me, the word for this season was vindication. So many people second guessed the Beckham signing and wrote it off as a terrible mistake. Having been a doubter before he came, I was totally converted once he arrived and knew that it could mean big things. This season vindicates that belief. With real leadership the team built a solid core despite the Beckham and Donovan salary hits and proved that the combination of their two stars and supporting players could be competitive and exciting. When the fans race back to the stadium next year I’ll proudly say I was there the whole time. Unfortunately, this does probably mean astronomical suite prices again.

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