Soccer - Post mortem of a debacle

The Los Angeles Galaxy's eerie parallels to the Pele-era Cosmos came into sharper focus this past Thursday night at the Home Depot Center. The Beckham-led Galaxy turned in one of their worst performances of this current season: certainly the worst with Posh Boy on the pitch. If one recalls Pele's first season with the NASL Cosmos, that team did not make the playoffs either. It took the addition of suitable players around the Brazilian superstar to make the Cosmos a winner. It appears as if that may also be necessary for the Galaxy. What remains to be seen is if the Galaxy brain trust has the will, money, and acquiesence of the MLS mucky-mucks for such an undertaking.
The defining moment of the game was first half extra time rucus caused by Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch's fairly crude tackle of Beckham. The respective red cards issued to Galaxy midfielder Kevin Harmse and Chivas defender Alex Zotinca had opposite effects: Chivas was energized, the Galaxy let down. Considering Harmse did a lot of the midfield water carrying for Beckham, it was not surprising that during the second half, Chivas played like the home team.
As the Galaxy's fading playoff hopes become more remote, two questions begin to loom large. Will Frank Yallop and his staff be there next season? Who amongst the current roster will be in a Galaxy uniform next season? Considering the stakes, how these questions are answered is fairly important.

Of Dogs and Class

Blogging twice within 36 hours, whoa! All right, it was triggered by the Micheal Vick mess. To recount would merely be adding to media noise already proceeding apace. Instead, I wish to address what is being unsaid. Part of the discussion going on is the reaction of a significant portion of the black population to this. Said portion feel Vick's treatment is manifestly unfair. Said portion of the population has not too many problems with dog fighting. At this point of the blog, I should state that I find dog fighting to be completely reprehensible. It belongs in the dustbin of history along with bear baiting & gladitorial games.
What is being left unsaid is the issue of class. The class of people who enjoy dog fighting are primarily poor. Because the USA has this weird prism that views minority status & class as virtually the same thing while promulgating the myth of a "classless society," (which partially explains why poor southern whites fought and died in vain during the Civil War to preserve a system that produced their circumstances...and continues in a form to this day where the vast majority of Republican supporters vote contrary to their interests). Througout history, activities such as what Vick was doing has been the province of poor people (cock fighting has a similar demographic profile). Left out of the media noise is the issue of class. Why is that so? Could it be that it could provoke a larger more ranging conversation that the elites whom largely control the nation's mass media do not want out there? Throughout history, proverty has always had a brutalizing effect on the people it afflicts. It is sad that this necessary portion of the Vick discussion is being left to outlets such as this blog.

Soccer - Beckham headlines a barn burner

Something unusual happened this past Saturday night at the New Jersey Meadowlands. An MLS match exceeded the hype. What made it that more extra-ordinary was that it occured when the stage was set. Considering the Galaxy's historical proclivity to under-perform at the big occasion (shrinks call it performance anxiety), to say nothing of the "not ready for prime time" past of MLS' most cursed franchise, the New York Red Bulls (the late unlamented MetroStars). What was produced must have brought huge grins from the MLS mucky-mucks from Don Garber on down. Last Saturday's 5-4 win for the Red Bulls was an all to rare instance of disparate forces coming together to create a moment of sporting glory at the right time. What remains to be seen is if the planets can align again to propel soccer in America forward.
Those of us whom remember the 1996 beginning of MLS were mostly warmed by what happened. The game we love is slowly moving forward despite many obstacles: only the most obdurate of American sportswriters disagrees with the notion that MLS has replaced the NHL on the North American Pro Sports totem pole. This was mostly due to the NHL's own strategic mistakes than MLS nimbleness. Soccer fans should be happy that the soccer powers-that-be did not bumble this situation a la the Bush administration in Iraq & New Orleans.
As for the play of Beckham, the tattooed one provided something long missing since the salad days of Mauricio Cienfuegos, a midfield playmaker of vision and passion. Though his arrival maybe too late to get the Galaxy into the MLS playoffs this season, his play augers well for the future if Beckham is able to play out the entire length of his contract with AEG. In fact, the Galaxy maybe better served if they do not make it into the post-season...as long as Frank Yallop is retained as Head Coach. One can only hope that Galaxy General Manager Alexi Lalas will be patient with his first head coach hiring and resist the calls for a change. Considering the Galaxy backline has resembled a M.A.S.H. unit rather a defense, to fire Yallop would be unfair. Unfortunately, unfair comes into it all too often.

Decompress from Comic Con & other events

I do not even know where to begin because there are so many thing I want to touch on. It does not help that I have been rather remiss in posting as well. C'est la vive!
Comic Con 2007 was first and foremost a learning experience. I definately have some ideas as to what I will do differently the next time I set up a table or booth at a comic book convention. Attention grabbing display materials beyond the actual merchandise is certainly on the list. Second is a give-away of some sort: I'm thinking the magnets is good. Thirdly, if I hire help, it will be someone who is a salesman. My next step will be to produce said display materials and have them ready for the Fall and Winter convention season. As for next year's Comic Con, I've already downloaded an application for next year's event.
Meanwhile, progress on producing issue #2 of E.I. and issue #1 of Time Corps is proceeding apace. I am still searching for a colorist / letterer for Time Corps.
Another intersting development was I actually met the Diamond Comics minion who dung E.I. #1. I was able to get more information regarding specific instances that he objected to in terms of the coloring on the revised edition of E.I. #1 (which has yet to see the published light of day). His basic advice was to start again from scratch in terms of the coloring. Unfortunately, that is not free...and I have other items that I need to pay out first. Anyways, I have a contract with Fontes to produce issues 2 & 3 of E.I., so I'll resubmit to Diamond when they are ready.
In totally other news, the Cardinal Richelieu of the Bush regime, Karl Rove, has announced his resignation. It could not have come soon enough. Rove will probably now cash in his infamy and go back to what drew him to the Bush crime family in the first place: republican operative with specialty is dirty tricks. My fantasy is that he brought to justice in a Nuremberg Trials type proceeding where he sentanced to life without the possibility of parole. He would then become a prison bitch (though rumor has it that would actually enjoy that) & rue the day he met our ne'er do well idiot who occupies the White House. Perhaps if there is a Hell, that will be his fate. It is no less than he deserves.