"You can't get much further up against the wall than we are right now. The games are counting down, so we can keep saying that we will play well when we need to ... but we need to now. We are not there yet. Two games at home without a win, especially at this point of the season, hurts a lot."
Those are the words of Landon Donovan after the Galaxy failed to earn the maximum points against Colorado in a scoreless tie. He is basically saying the scoreboard doesn't lie. And while the scoreboard could not be disputed in 2005, the 2006 version also has to be respected whether we like it or not.
As Donovan says, the Galaxy had two home games with six points up for grabs and they come away with just one and a playoff deficit that now stands at six. I could fumble around with my calculator, but it's fair to say the homestand was not very productive.
But hold on a moment. Tell the fat lady to shut up and get back to the buffet line. She is not singing yet. There are four games remaining. There are 12 points available. Three of those points are against Chivas USA on Sept. 30. I still believe these boys can do it. I have to believe this club has the heart to overcome their own yips around the 18 yard box. Put the ball on frame. Force the opponent's goalkeeper to get dirty and the goals will come. The fans feel the urgency. It is time for the players to feel the same.
"We are not a tense bunch, I think we go about our business in a professional way and I think we know that we can go out and play well, and that is what we attempted to do (Saturday)," Galaxy defender Chris Albright said. "But, Colorado came in with a certain mindset. They are a difficult team to play against, and all they had to do was come in and get a point and they did it."
Albright got my vote for Man of the Match against the Rapids. And I understand what he's saying. Colorado plays the ugliest form of soccer you would ever see in the beautiful game, but it's the Rapids who are in the playoffs should they begin today.
The big problem here is outside of next week against Chicago, the Galaxy's remaining opponents will have the same game plan in mind. It is up to the Galaxy to solve the MLS version of Catenaccio.
"We knew that they needed to come out and dominate the game," said Rapids head coach Fernando Clavijo. "So, we came up with a good game plan, and we came out to get what we are looking for, and that is to keep adding points. If we keep playing this way we can add a lot more points."
Yes, a genius at work. When you do name association, you come up with Fernando Clavijo when someone blurts out Marcello Lippi, right? Come on, that is how Colorado plays every game. The Rapids are soccer's version of three yards and a cloud of dust.
And you can bet the house that Bob Bradley will do the same when the Galaxy faces the Goats later in the month. This is it. The pressure is squarely on the Galaxy's shoulders and I like that the boys are cool, calm and collected, but somebody needs to start chewing some hide. Someone other than the coaching staff needs to grab this team where it gets everyone's attention at one time. It is not OK to go scoreless against the Rapids. It is not OK to give up a one goal lead and lose to Houston. It is not OK to be six points out of the playoffs with four games to go.
Where is John Belushi and that scene from Animal House when you need it? Somebody dust off the movie Rudy and have the boys watch it all week. Force them to watch Game of their Lives again. By the way, has anyone seen this movie?
Movies are not the answer. John Belushi is not the answer, although the part when the horse keels over is pretty funny.
The writing is now etched into the wall. This team needs to earn the maximum amount of points every time they take the field. Opponents will defend with nine and ten players against the Galaxy now, especially after 70 minutes. These are the cards that have been dealt. There is nowhere else to look but in the mirror. Easy shots need to find the net. Passes need to hit their mark. Ball watching has to stop and the whole team must become lock pickers for the rest of season because that is what they will be facing - opponents who will take the field like they are guarding Fort Knox.
A Y.A. TITTLE MOMENT?
One of the things you try to do in painting the picture for those listening on radio is not only describe the play, but try to describe body language as accurately as possible. Sometimes you describe a player taking a dive or a great save by a goalkeeper, a goal, etc.
Following the Galaxy's scoreless draw against Colorado on Sept. 16, I couldn't help but notice Cobi Jones crouched outside the penalty box with his head slumped over, looking down at the ground. It reminded me of that famous picture you see of Football Hall Of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle of the New York Giants after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1964. A great player who has given everything he has left and it just wasn't enough. But then again, Jones might have lost a contact and was looking for it. Just a thought.
IT HASN'T GONE TO THEIR HEADS
Today's athlete is not quite as grounded as those who preceded them. Some feel a sense of entitlement even before doing anything worthy of the money, respect or accolades. Name your league and there are legions of these players, with few exceptions.
I received an e-mail a few days ago from a fan who wanted me to know what type of person Kevin Hartman is. The Galaxy goalkeeper recently took the time to sign autographs for a young bunch who decided to name their squad after the Galaxy goalkeeper. Hartman's Homies is the club and I am not surprised Kevin took the time to meet with them. For that matter, I have heard other accounts of such unselfishness on the part of Galaxy players as well as others around MLS and previous soccer leagues in this country.
Soccer players have always given back. I think it is part of who they are. They do it quietly. They do it with humility.
It is funny how those who earn the least in the sports world are the ones that give the most of themselves.
And by the way, it isn't over 'til it's over. Fat lady, step away from the microphone.
Joe Tutino is in his eighth season as the English radio voice of the Los Angeles Galaxy. He can be reached at jtutino@aol.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of the Los Angeles Galaxy or Major League Soccer.
