a one-time Goalkeeper of the Year -- had some rather interesting remarks regarding his first appearance against former road roommate Landon Donovan.
"You don't ever like to play against somebody that talented," Cannon said. "You'd much rather have a guy who doesn't have Landon's heart, his talent or his skill."
Not to totally misinterpret Joe's remarks, but most athletes want to see the best, to be challenged by the best. After an unsuccessful six-month venture in France that cost Cannon his spot on the Quakes, he has nothing but sincere feelings for his former team.
"The whole team, they're so good and they work together so well collectively. It's not like Joe vs. the Earthquakes, it's the Rapids vs. the Earthquakes," Cannon said before he shut them out 1-0.
Off the post
Look out for that darn Carlos Ruiz. He appears to be back to his form of 2002, when he helped lead the Galaxy to the Cup title. It's now five goals in four games for Ruiz, who was sorely disappointed to miss out on an opportunity to play in England and seems to be determined not to blow another chance at the European fame and fortune.
That kind of year
Donovan and Mulrooney join the U.S. national team this week in Dallas to take on rival Mexico in an international friendly that will be anything but.
Get used to it. It's a World Cup qualifying year and the Earthquakes' Donovan and Mulrooney, and maybe others like Brian Mullan, could be on the national team airline shuttle all season long. Throw in Pat Onstad and Dwayne De Rosario with the Canadian national team, Arturo Alvarez with the U.S. under-20's and you have a year when the 18-man roster will be used to its fullest.
John Shrader has been the voice of the Earthquakes since 1996 and has worked in television and radio in the Bay Area for the past 20 years.
