Snow Fall on the Capitol

Hopefully this is the last of the snow days here in D.C. as I can't wait for March to (finally) roll around. I snapped this picture on Sunday during the height of snow fall on the Capitol.

Damn, son.

Wow.

Last night DC United put a hurtin' on CD Olimpia. The Black-and-Red curb stomped "Los Leones" by a score of 4 - 1. This puts DC in a great position to advance to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Luciano Emilio, the former Olimpia player who joined United this off-season, had a brilliant back heel/flick goal in the first half to silence the crowd in the same stadium he used to call home. If Emilio can play like that during the MLS season, DC will be back in the MLS Championship hunt for sure.

As good as Emilio looked in his debut, the man of the match was without question Christian Gomez. Last year's MLS MVP scored two goals, including an absolutely beautiful strike to open scoring in the 29th minute.

In only the first game of 2007, DC already has two strong candidates for Goal of the Year. Facundo Erpen added a goal late in the 2nd half to seal the deal.

Overall, DC United looked amazing for a team in pre-season form. This was the best possible outcome for the match. In all likelihood DC should advance to the second round for a showdown with CD Chivas de Guadalajara. The return match in this series is March 1st at RFK, and a celebration is in store.

***
I watched the game at Finn macCool's on 8th Street SE in the Barracks Row area of Capitol Hill. There was a nice and boisterous crowd comprised of Barra Brava members. Loud pops for all of DC's goals, and sporadic cheers throughout.

The Irish-themed bar was very nice. It has the restaurant feel of the Dubliner as well as a nice pub atmosphere a la Irish Times. In my opinion it would fit quite nicely located between the two on Mass Ave NW. One of the nicest aspects of the bar was the bar itself. MacCool's has a beautiful mahogany bar spanning almost the entire length of the establishment. It very much reminded me of my time in Ireland, which usually isn't the case with Irish-themed bars.

This was my first venture into Barracks Row and it's quite nice. The area was formally a hotspot in DC before the race riots and white flight. I'll definitely be going back in the future.

DC United vs. CD Olimpia

DC United kicks off it's 2007 campaign tonight with a match against CD Olimpia as part of the opening round in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The Champions' Cup is a competition with the best North American, Central American and Caribbean teams. The winner is entered into FIFA's Club World Cup, which isn't nearly as important as it sounds, but still would be a huge deal if an American team advanced.

CD Olimpia (HONDURAS) vs. DC United (UNITED STATES)
Club Deportivo Olimpia is a storied team in the top flight Honduran League. "Los Leones" have won the league 20 times. They won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1972 and 1988.

This match is a great way for DC to continue it's storied (albeit short) tradition. In just 11 years, the Red-and-Black have won 10 national and international trophies, including this CONCACAF Championship back in 1998. They are one of just two American teams to win the competition (Los Angeles Galaxy won it in 2000.) DC is looking to add yet another trophy to their crowded case.

This is DC's 7th time participating in CONCACAF Champions' Cup, more than any other MLS team. United earned the right to play for this competition by winning the MLS Supporters Shield in 2006. Houston Dynamo, the other MLS representative, also gained entry in the tournament by winning MLS Cup 2006.

There are a few aspects to look for in tonight's matchup:

1.) DC United has a new coach, Tom Soehn. He is replacing Peter Nowak who went on to become an assistant coach for the US Men's National Team.
2.)DC will be without past starters Alecko Eskandarian (traded to Toronto) and Freddy Adu (traded to Real Salt Lake).
3.)Brazilian striker Luciano Emilio signed with DC during the offseason. In a very interesting twist, he will play his first game in Black against his old team, CD Olimpia.

The series is home/away aggregate goal and the return leg will be played at RFK Stadium on March 1st. The tournament bracket is set up so that the winner of this series will play the winner of the CD Chivas de Guadalajara (MEXICO)/W Connection (TRINIDAD & TOBAGO) series in mid-March.

Irish Channel & Billy Goat Tavern

This past Sunday was the perfect time to drink some beers, watch some sports, and relax while snowflakes fluttered down from the sky.

Early in the morning I headed over to the Irish Channel on 5th and H Streets NW to watch the Manchester United/Arsenal match. Since it's located in Chinatown, the Irish Channel is the closest bar that shows Premiership Games. I never went in before because it's on the groud floor of a Red Roof Inn and seemed kind of lame. Turns out the Irish Channel is a very nice place to down some pints and catch some soccer. The barstaff was very friendly and most seemed to actually be from Ireland, which is always a nice touch.

The game itself was fantastic. Arsenal conceded a goal early in the 2nd half to Wayne Rooney, but scored two late to sweep the season series from Manchester United. Thierry Henry scored in extra time to break the tie and thrill the home crowd. There were a handful of people there to watch the game, but it wasn't packed. I would definitely go back to the Irish Channel, even for reasons other than EPL games.

Later on in the afternoon I headed over to the Billy Goat Tavern & Grill on New Jersey Avenue NW. This is a small, little bar on the ground floor of the National Association of Realtors building. (Right across from Georgetown Law School.) The Billy Goat is a "Chicago" franchise bar, named for the infamous "Billy Goat curse" on the Cubs, that caters to displaced Chicagoans.

This was my second time there. I went for the Bears-Cardinals Monday Night game a couple of months ago and for the NFC Championship Game between the Bears and Saints yesterday. (Note to self: Never watch a Bears game at this bar again.)

I thought the allure of watching a Bears game in a Bears friendly bar and receiving free Bear shots every time the Bears scored would be fun. Instead it was unbearable. Bears fans are loud, obnoxious and gross. If you recall, I don't care too much for Chicago Cubs fans, but Bears fans are easily worse. I'm never going back there for a Bears game again.

Although the Billy Goat might be small, it's a very nice spot for some happy hour drinks or an occasional non-Chicago sporting event. This bar has incredible cheeseburgers, or "cheezborgers" from the late John Belushi/SNL clip that the original Billy Goat inspired. I like the Billy Goat, just not as a spot to watch NFL games.

MVP Oversight

Interesting quote in today's Washington Post from Mike Wise in his article Agent Zero, Clearly No. 1. In talking up Gilbert Arenas for NBA MVP considerations, he notes that DC hasn't had an MVP candidate in any sport in over 15 years. He writes,

What matters is that a supernova from Washington, which hasn't had an athlete in the running for such an honor since Mark Rypien finished fourth in 1991 in NFL most valuable player balloting, is in the conversation.

What Mike Wise seemingly forgot is that Christian Gomez won the Major League Soccer MVP award barely three months ago. Gomez scored 14 goals, had 11 assists, and led DC United to the MLS Supporters' Shield. Marco Etcheverry also sported Black-and-Red when he took home MVP honors in the 1998 season.

DC definitely has some of the best soccer fans in the United States. It has also received incredible exposure from many local media outlets, including Comcast and WaPo's own blogger, Dan Steinberg. But DC still has to put up with ignorance from sports writers. Whether he purposely omitted Gomez and Etcheverry or was just unaware of their award winning seasons, it's still a slight to soccer, MLS, DC United and especially the two MVPs. Marco and Gomito deserve better than that.

Hopefully one of the Beckham effects will be sports writers considering MLS worthy of inclusion in general sports discussion.

Bring Esky Back

This town has it's fair share of charismatic sports stars. The Redskins have Clinton Portis, who likes to dress up in character for interviews. The Wiz Kids have Gilbert Arenas, who likes to shout "Hibachi!" when he hits jumpshots.

Unfortunately, we lost one of the brightest, young, charismatic stars yesterday when DC United traded away Alecko Eskandarian to Toronto FC for allocation money.

Alecko won fans over by his incredible performance in MLS Cup 2004, by scoring twice in four minutes. He was named Most Valuable Player of the match. He suffered a season-ending concussion early in 2005 and sat out most of the season. In 2006, he returned (with headgear) and was greeted by DC fans with huge "Bringing Esky Back" and "Fear the Headgear" signs at RFK. This year he scored the only goal for the Black-and-Red against Real Madrid.

This trade could work out if the allocation DC received in the trade is used to lure some big talent to the squad. It could also work out if Esky never reaches his full potential or bolts for Europe. However, in the mean time, this trade kind of stings.

Esky quickly became my favorite United player when he celebrated a goal against the New York Red Bulls by grabbing a Red Bull energy drink and spitting it out in disgust. He had a knack for scoring goals, but also a knack for getting nicked. When he's healthy and hot, he's unstoppable. When he's injured or cold, he's no good.



It could have been worse. He could have been traded to arch-rival New York (Jaime Moreno in 2003) or he could have been traded to a Western Conference team so I wouldn't get to see him often (Freddy Adu). I can't wait to see him tear up the rest of the Eastern Conference next season. Here's to hoping he succeeds in Toronto (except when they're playing DC).

Washington Woes

The Washington Redskins lost their season opener to the Minnesota Vikings. Two stupid plays by Sean Taylor and a missed field goal cost the 'Skins a very winable game. Even though the season is still young, this game could definitely come back to haunt the Burgandy and Gold.

The Washington Nationals suck. They're 26.5 games back in the NL East and have been mathematically eliminated. They're 12 games back of the NL Wild Card. On the bright side, the season is almost over and they're a half game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles.

Even the usually dependable D.C. United are laying eggs. The Black-and-Red are 1-1-3 since the All-Star Break and have almost blown their lead for the Supporter's Shield. They lost to the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Tournament to elimintate them from possibly achieving the first ever American Triple (U.S. Open, Supporter's Shield, MLS Cup). It's unlikely they'll win the MLS Cup since they'll most likely have to play Chicago again, and they always lose to Chicago in knock-out tournaments.

Week One: Redskins vs. Vikings

If you've been asking yourself, "Is it Monday, yet?" for the past few months, you're either brainwashed by ESPN's awful Monday Night Football advertising or a diehard Redskins or Vikings fan. Either way, it's finally Monday.

Washington Redskins (0-0) vs. Minnesota Vikings (0-0)
September 11th, 2006
FedEx Field : Landover, Maryland

The Washington Redskins open their 2006-07 season tonight at home against the Minnesota Vikings. The 'Skins have sky high expectations after last year's incredible playoff run and will be looking to start the season off right. The Vikings also have lofty expectations for the season after the wheels fell off last year's promising squad.

The Redskins lead the all-time series between the two teams, 10 wins to 7 losses. The most notable game was the 1987 NFC Championship game where the Redskins held on 4th and 4 on the Washington 6 yard line to send the team to Super Bowl XXII. The most recent game was the 2004 season finale that saw the 'Skins win 21-18 at FedEx Field. This was the game where Randy Moss walked off the field for the last time as a Viking with time still on the clock. Remarkably, Redskins headcoach Joe Gibbs is 8-0 against the Vikings, with two of those wins occuring in the Play-Offs.

After an awful pre-season, one that left me speechless, it'll be interesting to see the 'Skins first-team offense on the field. Did Al Saunders really only use 2% of his elaborate offense? Can Clinton Portis really be healthy from the shoulder injury after just five weeks?

This game will be the first Monday Night Football game telecasted on ESPN, in case you've been in a coma for the past six months. One interesting note will be the announcing as there's a definite D.C. presence in the booth. Former Redskins great quarterback Joe Thiesmann and current Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser make up two-thirds of the broadcasting team.

D.C. United vs. L.A. Galaxy

Tonight D.C. United (13-2-8, 1st East) takes on their closest rival in terms of on-the-field success in Major League Soccer, the Los Angeles Galaxy (7-11-5, 6th West). The two teams tied back in June 11th, 1-1, at the Home Depot Center. The Black-and-Red are fighting for the Supporters' Shield, while the Galaxy are simply aiming for a playoff spot. These two teams have trophy cases that are absolutely stuffed compared to the other teams in MLS.

D.C. United
1 CONCACAF Champions Cup (1998)
1 Interamerican Cup (1998)
4 MLS Cups (1996, '97, '99, 2004)
2 MLS Supporters' Shields (1997, '99)
1 U.S. Open Cup (1996)
5 Eastern Division Championships (1996, '97, '98, '99, 2004)

L.A. Galaxy
1 CONCACAF Champions Cup (2000)
2 MLS Cups (2002, '05)
2 MLS Supporters' Shields (1998, 2002)
2 U.S. Open Cups (2001, '05)
5 Western Division Championships (1996, '99, 2001, '02, '05)

It's worth noting that L.A. has the upper hand in the all-time series, 13-11-3. However, D.C. beat L.A. twice in the MLS Cup final, in the inaugural game in 1996 and then again in 1999. It should also be noted that the Galaxy have never missed the playoffs, while D.C. stayed home from 2000-02. Without question these two teams are the premier franchises of Major League Soccer.

Things to look for tonight include the return of Santino Quaranta, who was traded to the Galaxy recently, and the treatment of Landon Donovan by the Screaming Eagles and Barra Brava. They don't take kindly to the poster child of American soccer.

United Down Red Bulls

Last night was what I expected from a United-Red Bull matchup. After a fairly even first half, the Black-and-Red toyed with the Red Bulls for the final 45 minutes, coming up with a 3 - 1 victory. Goals were scored by Josh "Ew" Gros and Jamil Walker, who netted two. D.C. United advances to the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup and will travel to Chicago to face the Fire on September 6th.

View from Section 330-something.
This game was definitely a step in the right direction for the team. Most of the usual starters did not play. Troy Perkins, Freddy Adu, and Chrisitian Gomez did not see the field. Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno were subbed in during the 60th minute and seemed to set the pace for the final two goals scored in the game. The mere fact that D.C.'s second team can beat their biggest rivals by two goals is exciting. Now all we need is for the first team to get out on the pitch and dominate someone. They'll have a shot this Saturday as D.C. United takes on their closest rival in terms of success, the L.A. Galaxy.

Bruce Arena got some boos and a lot of cheers for his return. It's hard not to like the coach, but if he sticks with the Red Bulls for a while I'm sure I'll grow to despise him.

D.C. United vs. Red Bull New York

Tomorrow night marks a non-league meeting between D.C. United and Red Bull New York aka New York Red Bulls aka MetroStars aka NY/NJ MetroStars or whatever the hell they're called this week. The winner of the match advances to the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup.

These two teams have sparked a bit of a rivalry, as they compete for the Atlantic Cup. United has won three of the four competitions and hold the lead in 2006. This season, the Black-and-Red hold a 1-0-2 record with the Red Bulls. Although this particular match will not count towards the competition, expect tempers to flare regardless.


Earlier this season, D.C. United's Alecko Eskandarian (YouTube highlight vid) celebrated a goal against the Red Bulls by taking a big swig of the Red Bull energy drink . . . and then spiting it out disgustedly on national television. Also, the company that owns the Red Bulls and the Red Bull eneregy drink, Anschutz Energy Group, paid for over 800 fans to travel for free to Washington, D.C. to see the two teams compete. This didn't sit well with D.C. supporters and there were reported incidents after the game in the parking lots.

Finally, this game marks Bruce Arena's first visit back to RFK Stadium as a visiting coach. He led D.C. United to three MLS Cups, winning two and losing one, in his three years as head coach from 1996-1998. After his run with the U.S Men's National Team, he took the job as Red Bull's head coach. It'll be interesting to see how Barra Brava and the Screaming Eagles great him.

I fully expect D.C. to turn things around after their little slide of three straight ties. Since this game is for a knock-out tournament, one team is guaranteed to win, and everything looks to be in D.C.'s favor. A loss to the Red Bulls would be disasterous.

United Tread Water With Rapids

D.C. United had the perfect opportunity to get revenge on one of the two teams in MLS that defeated them this year, the Colorado Rapids. Instead of unleashing a beating in a statement game at home (the first league game at RFK since beating Columbus back in mid-July), the Black-and-Red came out cold and uninspired and managed just a 1 - 1 draw with the 3rd place team the Western Division. The tie gave the season series to Colorado and left United supporters with the feeling that this team is not nearly as good as they seemed in July.

View from Section 137, Row 7, Seat 1

The team played very well in the second half. Christian Gomez scored on a cross in the 56th minute to tie the game before being subbed out with a hamstring pull. Despite outplaying the Rapids for the last 45 minutes, the team couldn't push ahead in the mid-afternoon heat.

Coming into this game, United's home record in the league was 8-0-1. The Rapid's road record in league was 1-6-1. This was a gimmie game and the team blew it. Was the ref bad? Yes. That was definitely a Penalty Kick for Freddy Adu, who was getting fouled all game. Was it hot as hell down on that field? Yes, and the team dealt with that to get the equalizer in the 2nd half. But these are issues that great teams will overcome to win.

The Black-and-Red are winless in their last four MLS games (0-1-3) against mediocre teams like Red Bull New York, Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire and the Colorado Rapids. Back in July when they won 7 in a row and had a 14-game unbeaten streak going, I was sure that this team was not only the best league team but also the best MLS team ever. Now, um, not so much.

This team needs to start dominating. In the next month, they play eight games of the utmost importance. I am proclaiming this stretch to be Remove All Doubt Month. United need to use these games to run away from the league, clinch the Supporter's Shield, and put themselves in position to claim their 5th MLS Cup. Unless they start playing they way they're capable, D.C. United will keep floating towards dissapointment in November.

Foo for the Soul (City)

Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters played an all-acoustic show at DAR Constitution Hall last night that surpassed all of my lofty expectations. I'm a sucker for the Foo Fighters and for acoustic rock, so there was a lot to live up to. The entire show was truly excellent. Any doubts that I had about the band playing acoustic or Dave's "YEAH! WHOO! C'MON!" vocals were put to rest by the opening song, "Razor." One of the stand outs on the acoustic disc from In Your Honor, the song sounded absolutely beautiful with Dave playing solo. It has a really mellow vibe that set the stage for the rest of the night.

My first concert ever was seeing the Foo Fighters play a free show at Tower Records in Rockville, MD in 1997. This show couldn't match that in terms of sheer awe, but I did get goosebumps a few times throughout the performance. One of those times was hearing "Marigold" as a lead-in to "My Hero." Hearing two of my favorite Foo tracks played back-to-back was surreal.

Dave was very chatty the whole night. He's always had a great sense of humor and it was awesome to hear him tell stories. The "Hold on! You forgot your jumbos!" story as an intro to the b-side "Skin and Bones" was a great way to add some local flavor to the homecoming show. Dave also told a great story about Kurt and Chris before playing "Friend of a Friend." Very cool.

The setlist was what I expected. They played just about every song off of the acoustic disc of the new album, a lot of their hits ("Everlong," "Times Like These," "Walking After You," "February Stars," "See You," and "Floaty") and only one rarity, the aforementioned "Skin and Bones."

The band played for more than an hour and a half, but the show never dragged. There was a healthy mix of solo stuff mixed in with a full band performance. Dave started a few songs solo and finished them with the band, which worked really well on "Times Like These" and "Everlong." The backing band was incredible, with Taylor Hawkins rocking out the whole time and Pat Smear staying chill as ever. The keyboardist from the Wallflowers and the violinist/singer Petra both stood out, as well.

Long story short, the Foo Fighters still put on a kick-ass show almost ten years after I first saw them. The acoustic tour is still in the beginning stage, so if you get a chance to see them do not pass it up.

Exhibition-Smexhibition

I'll be the first to admit I'm a bit of a hypocrite on the issue of exhibition/pre-season matches. On one hand, I was ecstatic that D.C. United competed well against Celtic FC and Real Madrid when they played friendlies this summer. On the other hand, I refuse to watch tonight's pre-season match between the Washington Redskins and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Who cares? Who would ever pay to watch a pre-season football game? Is there any reason to watch tonight's "game"? Nothing good can come out of it. Best case scenario is that nobody gets hurt.

Pre-season NFL football should be eliminated. Get rid of all but one or two pre-season games and add two regular season match-ups, preferably with geographical rivals (BAL-WAS, NYG-NYJ, HOU-DAL, etc.) If a team doesn't have a geo-rival, then tough titties. They have to play a home-and-home with the Arizona Cardinals.

Now, with all that being said, the past two soccer exhibitions have been awesome. D.C. United waxed Celtic by four goals and the D.C. United/Real Madrid match-up made my mouth water. During the Red-and-Black's draw with Los Galacticos, there were a handful of really entertaining moments. The best part was Troy Perkins stopping Roberto Carlos' absolute laser of a free kick from just outside the box. That was a world-class save . . . even if it didn't mean anything.

D.C. United vs. Real Madrid

Tonight, D.C. United takes on perennial Spanish power Real Madrid in Seattle, WA of all places. The match can be seen on Comcast SportsNet at 11:00pm. The international friendly will mark D.C.'s first action since their U.S. Open Cup win over the Columbus Crew. That is, if you don't count the MLS All-Stars victory over Chelsea, in which eight players sported the Red-and-Black shield.

In today's Washington Post article, Real Madrid is described as having "the history of the Dallas Cowboys with the recent performance of the Boston Red Sox and the notoriety of the Los Angeles Lakers."

Not too shabby.

They're stacked to the brim with world-class talent, including: David Beckham, Fabio Cannavaro, Raul, Robinho, Roberto Carlos, Ruud van Nistelrooy, etc. Unfortunately, Zinedine Zidane retired after the World Cup and Ronaldo won't make the trip. They truly are one of the world's premiere club teams and it's an honor for D.C. to go up against them, even if it is just an exhibition.

This match is ultimately useless, but it will be nice to see MLS's best franchise square off with a world-class power. In the past year, the Red-and-Black have matched up quite nicely with Celtic (Won, 4 - 0) and Chelsea (Lost, 1-2). It's nice to see these teams playing the best US soccer has to offer instead of MLS clunkers like the Los Angeles Galaxy.

I would have liked to include a YouTube video of Real Madrid to show what they're like, but I couldn't find any video that didn't have horrible Euro-techno as the soundtrack (Exhibit A, Exhibit B).

Disgusting.

Sharks on a Building

I'm sure every commuter that has recently passed through Silver Spring on their way to/from Washington, D.C. has seen the massive tail sticking out over Georgia Ave. The tail is part of a larger shark that transforms the Discovery Channel headquarters into a gigantic Great White Shark commemorating the channel's annual Shark Week. The station's flagship week of programming began last night at 9pm and runs through Saturday, August 4th.

The shark tail is pretty cool, but nothing compared to the shark head on the opposite side of the building, facing east. My only guess for why they put the tail on the busier side of the street is to keep drivers from careening off the road. The sight is truly something else.

By far the best view of the whole building is from the Silver Spring Metro Station. This angle gives viewers the most complete shot of the shark.

Damn cool. Now, if only the Discovery Channel would get around to promoting a Bear Week...

Dog Days of Summer

Nats Drub Cubs, Sweep Series

The first homestand following the Ted Lerner takeover of the Washington Nationals couldn't have had a better outcome. The Nats swept the three-game series from the Chicago Cubs, and every game had a great crowd and great energy. The series sweep was the first of the year at RFK Stadium.

The new ownership brought luck to D.C.'s side this weekend, as the number 7 kept popping up. The Nats took the series with wins by scores of 7 - 6, 7 - 3, and today's outcome of 7 - 1. Backed by homeruns from Ryan Church and Alfonso Soriano (his 31st of the year), Tony Armas won his 7th game of the year after pitching 7 strong innings with only one earned run.

The new owners called for fans to get their red on...

...and fans responded with attendences of 35, 442; 38, 021; and 30,851.

One of the most popular new additions is the live-action Presidential Race between George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The first race was won by GW, the second by Honest Abe. Today's race was quite the contest...

The cheating Roosevelt was disqualified, and the race was awarded to Tom. No word on any action from league officials.

View from Section 505, row 7, seat 8.

Nats' Bats Club Cubs

On a night when the Washington Nationals officially celebrated the new ownership of the franchise, the new owners sought to please fans accustomed to a last-place team and a dreadful stadium. They treated fans to many new gimmicks including an actual red carpet, live music in front of RFK Stadium, and overhauled concessions. The one thing that seemed to please the most, however, was the play of the team. The Nats stormed back against the Chicago Cubs and sealed the exciting win in front of a massive crowd, sending fans home happy with a 7 - 6 come-from-behind victory.

View from Section 545, row 3, seat 6.

The Nationals relinquished the lead to the Cubbies on a two-run homer by Aramis Ramirez, and then squandered a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the 7th inning. In the 8th, however, the Nats took the lead for good on a two-run double by Alex Escobar.

The new owners emplore the fans to "paint the town red" for the entire weekend, with giveaways including hats, t-shirts, and towels scheduled for all three home games against Chicago.

Paint his town red, paint his wife white.

One thing that really surprised me was the audacity of the Chicago Cubs fans. Rather then embody the "loveable loser" mentality of the team, the fans went for the "drunken asshole" vibe made popular by New York Yankee fans. The one difference between the two is, oh I don't know, 24 World Series championships.

I'll never understand the popularity of the Cubs. They're easily in the top-5 most popular MLB teams, and they're horrible. Almost always have been. They've won ONE play-off series in the last 98 years. Why do I have to pay for premium seats to see a team that's historically terrible and currently 21 games under .500?

Cubs fans are douchebags.

The new amenities are neat. The entire atmosphere has changed drastically from the first half of the season, and the fans reacted accordingly. One of my friends sarcastically asked as we walked to our seats, "Are we in D.C. or is this St. Louis?" My favorite change was taking the President's Race off the Jumbotron and onto the field. Similar to the race in Milwaukee, four oversized cartoon Presidents raced to a finish line behind home plate. George Washington took the victory in the inaugural live-action race, overcoming an early lead by Abe Lincoln. Good times.

New live-action President's Race. Fan-tastic.

United Slam Hoops

D.C. United kept on rolling, defeating Scotland's Celtic FC 4 - 0 in a friendly at rain-soaked RFK Stadium last night. The Black-and-Red were kick started by a goal from 17-year-old Freddy Adu in the 43rd minute, and added three more in the second half. The Hoops, with their trademark jerseys notably and unfortunately absent, looked lost for the entire duration.

It was awesome watching United play at top form with many of their key starters not on the pitch. For various reasons, Jaime Moreno, Brian Carroll, Bryan Namoff and Troy Perkins all did not play. They looked excellent and I can't wait to see them keep this torrid pace up for the second half of the Major League Soccer season. Other teams in MLS should take notice that even when the best players from the best team in MLS are on the bench, the reserves can still take it to a storied team like Celtic. The impressive form of D.C.'s second and third stringers was not lost on the Scottish media.

Mark Wilson of The Herald in Scotland writes of the elite team of MLS:

Even without [Jaime Morano] there was plenty to make the visitors wary. One defeat in 18 matches and a 17-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference are statistics that deserve respect, whatever doubts can still be cast against the overall quality of Stateside football.

He brings up a good question. Can doubts still be cast on American soccer? Or rather, how big are these doubts after another impressive United performance against a highly-respected foreign foe?

Obviously the MLS is light years behind the top leagues in Europe, but the league is definitely headed in the right direction. D.C. didn't just defeat Celtic, that wouldn't be big news considering the Bhoys are on the beginning of a pre-season tour and playing without key starters of their own. What is news is that the Black-and-Red whooped them up and down the pitch for 90 minutes. John Harkes said it best during the Post Game presentation, American clubs are no longer in awe of European clubs, including powerhouses like Celtic.

Anyway, Freddy Adu looked fantastic and surely raised some eyebrows. He'll definitely bolt for a top-tier EPL team in the near furture, if not next season. Luckily for D.C. United, the performance last night from reserves shows that they'll be able to keep pace without him.

D.C. is back on Saturday as they return to MLS action to take on the Columbus Crew at RFK.