The Clean Sheet: The "other" team
It has combined some MLS veterans with some new foreign blood to barnstorm around the country in front of all of its fans, who have come out to pay homage to a brand known around the world.
It is combining strong goalkeeping with a couple of snipers, and obviously strong midfield play, to remain less than a game out of first place in the West.
No, I did not take too many little pills this morning. And no, I am not reading the standings upside down.
Lost in all the Beckhammania and the LA Galaxy's drive for the top pick in next year's draft is that there are two teams out here in Los Angeles, and the "other" team just could win the MLS Cup.
Don't look now, but Chivas USA is hanging tough in the West and last night battled league standard-setter D.C. United to a gutsy 2-2 draw.
Not that I got to see it of course. As I was getting all psyched up to go check in on a possible MLS Cup preview at The Home Depot Center, I got the call from the Queen of the Palace. That never turns out good.
Next thing I knew, last night while the game was going on not only was I not in attendance, but I found myself at some book reading at some fancy schmancy Hollywood-type bookstore. The lady was reading her book, which was a batch of interpretations of someone else's dreams.
If you're not married yet, don't. Ever. Seriously.
Then they played some film, which I guess was her interpretations of said dreams.
Look, Los Angeles is a great city in many regards. The weather can't be beat and the eye candy isn't terrible either, if you know what I mean. But man, you can't make this stuff up.
At least TiVo let me see the match, which was highlighted by a fine Chivas comeback from two goals down and a scene late in the second half where it sure looked like the refs blew an offside call and Preki looked as mad as any human being since Jack Nicholson's memorable outburst at Becks' buddy Tom Cruise at the end of "A Few Good Men."
But Los Goats came away with a point and are just two points behind Houston with -- wait for it -- three (!) games in hand.
And things are going to get even more fun down the road for Chivas supporters here and around the country, as the club is getting close to bringing in a major -- and I mean huge -- name.
More on that as soon as I can.
So while everyone out here and around the country -- and believe me, I am more guilty of this than anyone as you know if you read this column -- has completely focused on the imploding Galaxy, it turns out the MLS team from Los Angeles just might turn out to be the class of the league after all.
Turns out we were just watching the wrong one this whole time.
WEEKEND PLANS? CANCEL THEM. NOW.
Kids, this is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill.
This is one of the those weekends, so clear your schedule. I don't care what's going on. Those chores can be put off, that trip to Costco is not necessary, and your wedding can wait.
Saturday afternoon is Euro 2008 qualifiers and there are some doozies. Get thyself to the pub for England-Israel at noon Eastern, I doubt it will disappoint. Then get home quick and fire on GolTV, because if you aren't pumped for Italy-France, well that darn it Jed, I don't even want to know you.
If anyone knows what TV show that line is from, well, you need a life as badly as I do.
There are plenty of other Euro matches Saturday afternoon (Portugal-Poland looks fun), and of course college football fans will be fired up for another Saturday. Well, except maybe in Ann Arbor and South Bend. Nice job last week, boys.
Saturday night, MLS kicks back into gear with four matches, and I'd love to know what the over-under is in that Houston-RSL match. That one could be ugly.
Speaking of ugly, Rampage is doing his UFC thing for free on Spike TV that night. If you don't know what that means, you probably wouldn't want to.
But with apologies to Dynamo, Sunday is when the varsity MLS matches take place. How about Revs-United and Red Bulls-Chivas?
NFL fans, you know what Sunday is. And fellow Minnesota Vikings fans: so do you. Week one of another 5-11 season.
And oh by the way, Bob Bradley's Yanks are taking on some South American national team at 4 on The Deuce.
If your TV -- and any relationship you may be in -- survives the weekend, right around the corner is another day of Euro 2008 matches Wednesday, and if you like the women's game, the US of A kicks off their Women's World Cup on Tuesday against North Korea.
I know we all have responsibilities to our families, careers and to our greater society. When we are not supporting our families or taking care of them, we all should be out trying to make this nation a better place.
There is a presidential election around the corner (OK, in 14 months), and we all need to be more tuned in. We should be learning the issues, and then doing what we can to be better citizens of this great country that offers us so many freedoms.
We should be giving more, volunteering to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We and we alone can ensure this country continues to prosper for generations to come by standing up and actively going out there and making it a stronger nation by actively participating in any way we can.
Your old pal Tino is ready to lead the charge.
Just not this weekend.
During the season, The Clean Sheet runs each week on MLSnet. Views and opinions expressed in this column views and opinions are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com. Send any questions and comments to tcsresponses@yahoo.com
