We're calling an audible in the column this week and getting right to what's coming up on TV, because this weekend is like an all-you-can-eat buffet. And not one of those nasty ones in New York City, I mean the really nice ones out in the 'burbs where they have cots in case you need to take the post-meal nap even before you make it to your car.
Anyway, I know we usually have the listings at the end of the column, but the lineup this weekend is front-of-column stuff, so let's cut right to the chase:
GRAB A COLD BUD (OR AQUAFINA) AND PUT YER FEET UP:
WHAT I'LL BE WATCHING:
OK kids, get to the grocery store today and load up on the Zima and pizza rolls, because you may not want to leave the couch this weekend at all. The second-to-last weekend in MLS has some serious battles for playoff spots and positioning, and it's an international weekend across the pond. I haven't been this excited since I heard they were making that third "Bring It On" movie.
I'm gonna layout my dream schedule if I were home, but in the interest of full disclosure I am sneaking off to Oakland on Friday morning to see my hometown Minnesota Twins rally against the A's, so hopefully Saturday I will be wrapping all the footie below around Game Four of that series. Oh, one more thing. Boof Bonser. I just like saying that.
OK, so here we go. We'll keep things on Eastern time for once. You all have to deal with that whole winter thing pretty soon while temps here plummet into the 60s, so I'll throw you a bone.
I'd start off at the pub at noon (you know, if I was into that sort of thing) with England's new 3-5-2 taking on Macedonia at noon. Should be a really closely contested affair.
After that, drag yerself home, plunk down and settle in for an afternoon of more Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Setanta Sports USA has a great lineup, beginning with Scotland-France (au revoir Monsieur Barthez) at noon ET (TiVo it if you're at the pub) and Italy-Ukraine at 2:45. FSC has a Euro doubleheader featuring Denmark-Northern Ireland and Serbia-Belgium starting at 2. Nice start.
When 7:30 rolls around, things get serious as the MLS playoff races take over on the Direct Kick package and on this site, beginning with the Revs in D.C. trying to get into second place.
Three games kick off at 8:30, with the Hoops hosting SuperClub LA (also on HDNet), the Wizards in a huge game with Los Goats and the Fire playing Columbus in a game that FSC for some reason decided to carry.
RSL's uphill battle to make the postseason continues at 9 when they try to contain Brian Ching (I assume everyone has seen the bike by now?) and the Dynamo, and then the Mile High Club hosts the Red Bulls in a huge one at 9.
Whew. Now that is a weekend.
If you need a break from footie after the weekend, here's your old pal Tino's list of new TV shows worth looking in on this fall: Heroes (cool show about people who find superpowers), The Nine (strange show about a strange bank robbery), Jericho (tiny town gets cut off after some sort of nuclear attack) and Ugly Betty (who cares what it is about, Salma Hayek is one of the producers and may be making the odd appearance).
And when you are ready to get back to the soccer, you have more Euro 2008 games coming up in midweek.
And it's a week away, but if you hadn't heard, ESPN is going to show the Cosmos documentary, Once in a Lifetime, on Wed., Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.
Now you see why the TV stuff led the column this week?
THE NEWS: Jeff Agoos joins RBNY as technical director beginning next year.
TCS SAYS: OK, so that's Goose, The Bruce, Richie Williams and John Harkes in the back room. I think Marco Etcheverry is about to get hired as team hair stylist. I mean, holy D.C. United everywhere. If you can't beat 'em, hire 'em, I guess.
And speaking of the Red Bulls, I know the Becks to New York rumors have already come and gone, but wow did I have a good laugh at that thought. Could you imagine David Beckham playing for Bruce Arena?
See, Becks gives great box office, but he doesn't so much, um, work that hard anymore. Yeah, wouldn't exactly fit into an Arena team. And while Beckham in an instant might help turn the organization around, Bruce Arena has built two big programs - D.C. United and the U.S. national team - into big draws simply by winning soccer matches. Apparently, that works, too.
Beckham will be great in the Western Conference in a SuperClub LA kit, hopefully sooner than later.
THE NEWS: According to the Wall Street Journal, the league is FINALLY going to put sponsors on the front of jerseys.
TCS SAYS: This column has been calling for that for years, so it is about time. It brings in a few more sheckels, and more importantly, I have always just thought it can look really cool, depending on the sponsor's logo. Way overdue.
From what I understand, no booze or gambling sponsors, but outside of that, who knows. I even thought about having TCS sponsor the Hoops next season, but when I called up apparently it could cost seven figures. Yeah, not so much with the kit sponsorship. How much for one cleat? Not the entire boot, I mean one cleat?
THE NEWS: Matt Pickens wins MLS Player of the Month.
TCS SAYS: Who?
Oh, speaking of the overrated Fire, Chicago fans had to like all the chatter this week about Brian McBride jumping to the Fire when his deal expires with Fulham at the end of this season. Considering Fulham would probably finish about third in MLS, it'd be a nice jump for McBride. Speaking of jumping, it'd also be an interesting switch for a target striker to move to a city where no one else is capable of using their heads.
THE NEWS: While MLS doesn't give out an award for the biggest whiner in the league, ESPN's Steve Davis stepped up and took matters into his own hands.
TCS SAYS: Check out the fun piece on ESPN's website. In this order, the top five whiners according to Davis: Landon, Little Fishy, Pablo, Benny Olsen and Cobi. Discuss.
THE NEWS: Ramon Nunez and Cletus are both going to miss games this weekend.
TCS SAYS: Nunez is out hopefully making his debut with Honduras against Guatemala, while Cletus ... well, he'll miss the game with the Red Bulls just for being Cletus. Sigh.
THE NEWS: I was in Boston last weekend and saw a photo in the Boston Herald of a couple of Revs players who shall go nameless posing in their under-britches at some charity event.
TCS SAYS: At least I hope it was a charity event.
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
