Seattlest: Real Madrid 1 - Seattle 66,830

Taylor

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:15:35 -0800

It doesn't matter which team we prefer. I could support Dallas, RSL, Chicago, what have you... the scenario matters, not the team. The fact that a MLS team played very well against one of the world's top clubs is the main idea here. I think the original post was trying to downplay this victory, and I for one think that as supporters of our respective domestic teams, we should take what we can get as far as gaining a little bit of foreign recognition

Jason

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 08:46:29 -0800

Huh, looks like the DC fans found Seattlest. Just ignore them, that's what most people on BigSoccer do. ;)

Taylor

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:17:43 -0800

While I agree that the All-Star team's success over Chelsea was played up, I think that DC United's playing toe to toe against Real is substantially more impressive. Sure, it's a great step for our domestic to beat foreign champions (regardless of the circumstances in our favor), but we must remember that the All-Stars is just that: a group of the top talent in America (at least according to the votes of MLS fans, the coach, and the commissioner). DC, however, is just a a team, a sample of the types of squads that play professionally in America. In the opinion of most, the All-Star roster is certainly more talented than DC. Even though they sit comfortably on top of the tables, they are are far from an all star team. They have their good players, along with their lesser skilled footballers. Let's not forget the Celtic FC friendly. Although Real was certainly in better form than Celtic, the 4-0 rout of CFC was surely not a fluke, especially with the second half goals scored by DC's reserve. I don't mean to sound like Im plugging DC, but I think I speak on behalf of many MLS supporters who are well aware that media makes a much bigger deal out of these mismatched friendlies (as far as the players' fitness on their respective sides) where the home side has the upper hand in some way or another. America is ignorant to football, apart from the obligatory children's recreational and 'select' leagues, so the more people are exposed to not only American talent but top flight talent from the rest of the world, the better it will be for the sports future here.

Ino

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:59:29 -0800

I am not really sure about the point of either post. But don't fault me for taking the time to read both. I'm merely a soccer fan and there is probably no point to this post either. Friendlies in the US are circus events. I find it more entertaining to people-watch and enjoy the event for what it is rather than scrutinize the quality of play. Games like the MLS All-Stars vs. Chelsea are a joke--publicity stunts. America, fuck yeah. This shit was embarassing: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=375249&root=mls&cc=5901 I agree that these matches are warm-ups and opportunities to make money. But everyone benefits from this sort of thing. The Sounders make money and gain props for presenting, DC United gets paid for playing and local businesses make money from all the yo-yos who roll in for the game. Even if revenues stream from paltry things like parking or peanuts in the alley--it's still cash and it adds up. It's the circle of life. I do like that it brings soccer into the mainstream. If it takes the glam of Beckham to help soccer reach the tipping point in the United States--so be it. It is true that our MLS players do not make tons of money--so respect there. The league is still in its infancy and we simply do not develop our players like they do abroad. However we do have many more players going to Europe to play. Parallel to this, many guys who play in the CFL or Arena Football still "bag groceries" or coach Pee-Wee football in the part-time. Those who are good enough come to the states to play. DC United is a great team with great players, and they were excited to get out there and beat Real. But these teams couldn't be anymore different in terms of quality. Exhibitions lack the investment that you see when teams are playing for cup or country. Whether it's the Sounders v. Portland, Italy v. USA in the first round of the World Cup, or to Co-Rec teams going heads up, there is much more on the line there than any friendly you'll ever watch.

Seth

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:55:03 -0800

Anyway, no one who was there gave a shit about the game, we just wanted to watch these world-class athletes play. Beckham's passing wizardry is so much more impressive in person--when you see him float a ball 50 yards and have it land so precisely and softly it's like he placed a mint on a pillow.

Dan

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:22:29 -0800

Dude, it's not the posts fault you guys didn't play better in the second half. What do you want me to say? That it was a fantastic result against one of the best teams in the world? It was. I didn't know that the United defense sells soccer balls and fits shoes when they're not blanking Real Madrid for 45 minutes. That's cool. And the goal EsKandarian scored came out of a run-up that wouldn't have been out of place in a champions league final. It was awesome. I'm glad we got to see an MLS team play Real instead of some second tier European team like we have in the past. Seattle doesn't have an MLS team however, so we got yours. That's not the posts fault either.

Sr. Brightside

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:10:21 -0800

I dont get the sarcasm in this post and you spelled dude's name wrong (read: Eskandarian). This draw was actually a major major coup for DCU-eventhough Real is only in preseason form. You want hungry, man the back line of DCU make like $30k a year- and two of those bamas were MLS All Stars (the All Stars that beat friggin Chelsea last weekend). One guy works at Sports Authority. The goal keeper works as some mortgage consultant. Real's payroll has got to be in the $150 mill range. I'm just not satisified with this post. It's like you're throwing salt in DCU's game or something. We didnt want this stupid game to be played in Seattle, but DC just didnt have a venue for that date. Your post makes it sound like Seattle was put out for having to host the game. Damn, couldn't one of my homies from DCist have reviewed this game instead?