The team played reasonably well yesterday. Lucky to come out with the win, what with all of the chances that the Rapids had within the box. I have to say that Saunders has been pretty solid. yes, we gave up our customary 2 goals again yesterday, but man was he close on that PK!

Funny how well the team plays when the pressure seems off them (everyone burying them and getting no attention with Becks gone). If Kenny Cooper did not score in the final minute of stoppage time for Dallas, this could be a whole lot more interesting. That goal, may have been the Death knell for the G-men.

I agree with much of what he’s said and the comments cover much of where I disagree. I want to add a few things about Beckham and one about the league’s growth.

Wahl is on target regarding Beckham’s work-rate in the second half of the season, but wrong on how “happy” he can be when his team is losing. Wahl may have spent more time around the club than anyone in the media, but he can’t have spent that much time with Becks if he isn’t aware of how much he hates losing — even in a kickabout.

In addition to frustration over the Galaxy’s season, these last months have been truly confusing to Beckham’s long-time followers. We’ve seen (shorter) slumps in level of play, and on one occasion I can remember even in fitness, but we’ve never seen the work rate flog in this many games. It can’t be the stress, so far as I know one’s life and family aren’t threatened based on their on pitch performance here. He’s also traveled a lot and always kept the busy schedule — much busier in Europe where the season is 9 months plus exhibitions — but that has never affected his game. And, as I’ve said, a year out doesn’t change the player we last saw in Madrid, playing some of his best football in the run-up to their ‘07 title. Is it the number of miles involved between club matches as well as intl’s? But why low energy level and extreme temper on the pitch — that’s particularly new for him when captaining his team. Maybe it was failing to help the team as much as he expected finally got to him, no excuse as he’s too old for that sort of thing, but who knows…

In terms of his answers to Wahl’s questions, the two things we do know are that he’ll never criticize his team and never ever a teammate (or rarely an opponent)in public. And that isn’t just pretense. Beckham has always been such a daft optimist that he clearly does think anything is possible.

As far as the league goes, anyone who followed football in the international press before Beckham arrived and since will have been shocked to see where MLS tables are now included along with those of the top leagues in the world. Criticism and all, its definitely being taken seriously. Those of us who didn’t follow MLS before Beckham arrived (and only knew one person that did…sorry we’re reformed now) will have noticed how many people who had never given a thought to football/soccer in the past were now discussing it quite frequently.

As for the Beckham effect in my house, we keep an eye on the Galaxy, with particular support from myself obviously. But we’ve also re-discovered what great fun it is to go to a professional match at any level, and now regularly attend our local Red Bulls games — after watching our Premier League and La Liga matches on the tube but still…

Thoughts?

I’ve been so depressed and dejected about this season. I wanted us to win in Ohio, man I hate that place.

Mrs. Jack made me watch the match four times (she kept falling asleep & making me rewind the DVR… dammit). I just felt sick every time.

But hey, as they say, at least we’re never bored. We’re making the pilgrimage to the HDC on the 25th for the closer. I think we’re near the LARS again… on the upper deck… or someplace.

While we’ve been torpedoing our playoff chances, I’ve discovered that my daughter’s school is staffed by ACB, Galaxian, & LARS season ticket holders! We cried together at the pickup line outside the school last couple of matches.

I look forward to chaotic astronomical collisions and rosterizations (that’s a Photoshop pun… not done very well, I admit) in the break and am hoping for some next season magic. One of the kids I hope gets rookie of the year (my boy, Sean) and that will be the brightest star in my winter sky.

Okay, so even after a whole buttload of beers the writing is just not working tonight. I just haven’t posted forever and I felt I needed to and when I say the pretty pictures of celestial objects I got all bamboozley…

On last nights game got to see it on HDNET, damn game looked good, gotta love HD. Columbus really didn’t look that good for being the best team in the league. I thought we had some chances and didn’t get the finishing touch, but we were in it at times.

We have to trim the old and the short. The only person on our team who can win a header is Gordon and he is crap. We need a few players who know what a first touch is…