No Tino Palace, You're Wrong.

In this week's The Clean Sheet, MLSNet.com writer Tino Palace wrote:

"Ridge Mahoney in Soccer America brought up a good point: Frank Yallop being reunited with Alexi Lalas as head coach of the Mutts. Makes sense."

So I wrote him an e-mail that reads as follows:

"Regarding your quote: "Ridge Mahoney in Soccer Americabrought up a good point: Frank Yallop being reunitedwith Alexi Lalas as head coach of the Mutts. Makessense."News flash: This does not make sense, at least not inthe way you're thinking, because Yallop and Lalas were never united in the first place. Yallop left San Jose for the Canada gig after the 2003 season. FormerEarthquakes GM Johnny Moore left the organization (inprotest) before the 2004 season. Thus, Lalas andYallop never worked together."

I got this note back from Tino (read, sarcastic):

"Couldnt you have emailed me before I wrote that? Thanks for nothing.
TP"

Hey Tino, if you need an editor, I'm your man.

In other MLS news, yesterday they announced the roster they'll be sending to Spain to take on Real Madrid on Tuesday. I don't quite understand why, but MLS apparently didn't follow their own plan to send two players from teams no longer in the U.S. Open Cup, and one from teams in it (both Kansas City and D.C. United are sending two players each). Ives Galarceps absolutely threw a fit over on ESPN Soccernet. I couldn't agree more. MLS has become absolutely obssessed with these international friendlies of late, and while I had no problem with the Madrid, Milan, and Chelsea matchups here in the States, MLS' agreement to play this game is the equivalent of saying that they don't care about the U.S. Open Cup.

Today has been a great day for Yanks Abroad. Today's biggest story though has been Bobby Convey's play for Reading. Convey scored two goals against Milwall in a 5-0 Reading win. The announcer said of Bobby's first goal: "And what a goal it was, he rode a challenge,, no more than 30 yards from his own goal, sped from there past the defense and slotted home." Amazing. And, as expected, Bigsoccer is primed to explode.