Gilbert's Middle Name

Gilbert's Billboard, 8th & H Street NW
There are two billboards around Chinatown with Gilbert Arenas on them asking, "What makes you different?" These are to promote Gil's foundation, ZeroTwoHero.

As well all know, Gilbert is different. His name is different. His personality is different. He rides his bike for exercise throughout DC. He doesn't hang out with a posse. He stays in during nights on road trips, opting to order colon cleansers off of infomericals rather than go to the clubs with his teammates. He wears his own bizarre shoes for Adidas. This has all been widely reported.

With everything that's been said about Agent Zero over the past two years, I've never heard mention of his middle name. This got my mind a'wondering. Could it be as unusual as 'Gilbert'? Could it possibly be 'Danger'? My money was on something glorious and fitting, something that would set the blogosphere on fire, something like 'Alfonso'.

Thanks to the wonders of Wikipedia, I found out that Gilbert Arenas' middle name is 'Jay'.

At first, this was awesome. It brought to mind the episode of The Simpsons where we learn that Homer J. Simpson's middle name is 'Jay', an ode to cartoon legends Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose of Rocky & Bullwinkle fame. The middle name 'Jay' is a big deal in the cartoon world. It was fitting that an animated character such as Gilbert Arenas would share the classic middle name. After all, he did admit to Chuck Klosterman that he watches the cartoon Gummi Bears.

However, on second thought, the name seemed shockingly normal by Gilbert's standards. Sure he's got a nice jump shot, but 'Jay' just doesn't fit the stereotype of the "craaaazy" Arenas. That's when I realized that I've been buying into too much of the hype for Agent Zero.

Gilbert Arenas is not a cartoon character. Gilbert Arenas is not a joke.

Before the mainstream media completely turns him into a one-dimensional "character" that simply does quirky, off-the-wall things, we need to remember that it's his game and revenge mind-set that makes Gilbert Arenas an absolute assassin.

Another billboard, on the NPR building, 6th and Mass Ave NW
Before he was the blogosphere's darling, Gilbert was on a one-man mission to enact revenge on every team that skipped over him in the 2001 NBA Draft. He cried when he wasn't drafted in the first round. He has worn #0 for his entire college and professional career because that's how many minutes his critics said he would play at the University of Arizona. His blog is entitled "The Takeover." He vowed revenge on the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, and (if ever possible - and I wouldn't put it past him...) Duke University because Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski snubbed him for the U.S. Men's National Team.

Does this sound like a joke?

It's apparent that Gilbert takes every insult to heart. Everything negative said about him is taken at a deeply personal level. This is what drives Agent Zero to become #1.

This is also what makes him the player in the National Basketball Association most relatable to fans .

In his most recent blog post, Gilbert wrote, "To understand me is to understand a fan." The reason he jumped off a trampoline at the All-Star Game and did a between-the-legs dunk wasn't for the money offered by Shaq to Gilbert's foundation. It was because he wanted to know how it felt.

How does it feel to be an Elvis impersonator jumping off a trampoline and dunking?

That's the same feeling I have when I see Gilbert ball.

How does it feel to hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating, three-pointer?

That is why I can relate.

If it takes some lunatic antics to get some recognition, than that's what he's going to do. If he needs to fill out an entire box of All-Star ballots to see his name on the roster he'll do that, too. If he needs to insert an oxygen chamber in his house to increase his stamina, he's going to do that as well.

From his clutch shots to his strong personality, Gilbert Arenas stands out from the crowd of NBA players. Never in my lifetime has an athlete exposed a personality that made him more relatable to fans. In today's sports culture, every athlete tries to show their personality to win over fans. Most of the time it seems like an agent-driven plot to gain a shoe contract. This isn't the case with Gilbert. He shows his emotions, his personality, his smile, because he's geniunely having fun taking out the naysayers.

That's why it's a shame that Gilbert Arenas has become known more for his antics than his game. He may be funny, but he ain't no joke. With a plain old middle name like 'Jay', it's easy to see that Gilbert Arenas is human. He's one of us. He's a Clark Kent. And that makes his Superman performances even more impressive. Fans and bloggers need to focus more on Gilbert's dagger and less on his swagger, lest they feel the wrath of Agent Zero.

Finally

Georgetown outlasted North Carolina last night to win the East Regional and move on to the Final Four in dramatic fashion. Jonathan Wallace nailed a game-tying three-pointer with about 30 seconds left, and then the Hoyas clamped down to hold the Tar Heels scoreless for all but the last 8 seconds of overtime to seal the victory, 96 - 84.

This is Georgetown's first trip to the Final Four since 1985, and the first for a D.C. area team since, well, last year's George Mason squad. (We're not exactly starving for college hoops success, unlike all those Philly schools.)

I watched the game at McFadden's in Foggy Bottom then strolled through Georgetown to see the atmosphere. Suprisingly, I went to sleep last night thinking that Georgetown kids just don't know how to celebrate these days. Long story short, I was born at Georgetown Hospital the day between the Hoyas advancing to the National Championship game and the day they won it all in 1984. My mother never let me forget that she couldn't sleep a wink all weekend because of the rowdy Georgetown students. Needless to say, I was shocked to see M Street NW almost entirely empty.

Well, after checking some blogs this morning, it turns out I didn't see anyone because they had already moved down M Street onto Pennsylvania Ave and were chanting "We Want Bush!" in front of the White House.

Beautiful.

Anyway, the Hoyas now collide with the Ohio State Buckeyes for the right to play for the National Title. I'll get a preview up later this week. For now, I'm just going to enjoy the high spirits in D.C.

Love for GDub

Lost in the hoopla of Hoya Paranoia pt. 2 is the tremendous achievement of the George Washington Colonials.

GW has made it to the NCAA Tournament three years running (a longer streak than any other DC area men's team), and they're looking to notch their second win in as many years.

Last year, in one of the most awful hose jobs on recent memory, GW was given an 8-seed after finishing 26-2. Not only were they an 8-seed, the Colonials got to face UNC Wilmington and overall 1-seed Duke in Greensboro, North Carolina. Sweet deal. Compared to that, this year's seed is a gift-wrapped basket.

Three reasons George Washington can advance to the Sweet 16...

The seed. As an 11-seed, George Washington University will play 6th-seeded Vanderbilt University in the first round. If they get past Vandy, they'll match-up with either Washington State or Oral Roberts. GW can beat all three teams. Washington State is so inexperienced that no one on their team has ever played in the NCAA tournament before. Oral Roberts, seen by many as a Cinderella candidate, is still the weakest team in this pool. Also, all these games will be played in Sacramento, California, not exactly a home-court advantage for anyone.

The athleticism. The Vanderbilt match-up is great for GW. Their athleticism could push them by the slower Commodores. I envision Regis Koundijia and Rob Diggs unleashing hell on the defensive end and when going for up-for-grab rebounds. Steals, blocks, and fast breaks will lead to big wins for GW.

The experience. Another key strength of the Colonials is their veteran experience. Carl Elliot is a senior and Maureece Rice is a junior. Never underestimate the importance of guard play in the early NCAA rounds. Never. They've been dancing three years running and a Cinderella splash is not out of reach.

Although the Colonials didn't win the Atlantic-10 regular season crown, (they finished 3rd behind Xavier and UMass), they did string enough victories together to claim the A-10 Tournament Championship. Some might say their title might be tainted because they didn't do any of the leg work. After all, Rhode Island took out Xavier and St. Louis took out UMass. However, GW opportunistically made the most of their chances by wiping both SLU and URI out. Can't blame them for that.

Normally, I don't look favorably on teams that snuck into the NCAA Tournament through the back door, but GW's speed, experience and strong back court will make them a difficult out. I got 'em dancing all the way to the Sweet 16 before bowing out to the Hoyas. But who knows, maybe this year's George Mason is the other other 'George' team from D.C.

A homer? Me? No way.

WaSHINgton, D.C.

D.C. = Docile Crowd?

The Shins played DAR Constitution Hall last night, performing to a sold out, but rather tame, crowd of DC hipsters.

Aptly opening with "Sleeping Lessons," the first track off their most recent album, Wincing the Night Away, the band tried to get the audience into the show early. Since the venue is an all-seater, the crowd had to be implored to stand and get into the groove. This led to the awkwardness of some sections standing, some sitting, and some complaining either way. One positive result of this was clearly hearing the band, especially singer James Mercer's voice, in the better-than-advertised acoustics of Constitution Hall.

After all was said and done, the Shins played 18 songs (a 70-minute, 16 song set and then a two song encore). The setlist mostly comprised of their two most recent albums, Wincing the Night Away and Chutes Too Narrow. They did sneak in earlier tracks "Caring is Creepy," "Know Your Onion!," and "New Slang."

Although the performance made me more appreciative of the new album, the real highlights of the show were almost exclusively songs from their second album, Chutes Too Narrow. The Shins nailed a more aggressive version of "Saint Simon" and "Turn a Square" pleased the crowd more than any other.

It seems the band has two strengths in their live show. First, getting into the zone in some songs and rocking out, as evident in their cover of Modern Lover's "Someone I Care About." The other is the thought-provoking lyrics in slower songs, as heard in "A Comet Appears," the Wincing closer.

The between song banter was mostly filled with references to American history, you know, because nothing ever happens in DC unrelated to government/history/politics. Even still, the band missed so many puns, (Daughters of the American RevoluSHIN, ConstituSHIN Hall, WaSHINgton, D.C.) that I don't think I'll ever forgive them.

Probably wouldn't matter anyway, since they'd be lost on the emoSHINless crowd.

Setlist
01. Sleeping Lessons
02. Australia
03. Pam Berry/Phantom Limb
04. Kissing the Lipless
05. Mine's Not a High Horse
06. Girl Inform Me
07. Girl on the Wing
08. New Slang
09. Saint Simon
10. Turn on Me Girl Sailor
11. Turn a Square
12. Gone for Good
13. A Comet Appears
14. Turn on Me
15. Know Your Onion!
16. Caring is Creepy
__
17. Someone I Care About (Modern Lovers Cover)
18. So Says I

Thanks to DCist.com for helping me finish the setlist.

Can Georgetown Win it All?

23 years ago the Hoyas brought the NCAA Championship to Washington, D.C. This year they have the best shot to bring home the title since the heyday of Hoya Paranoia. They are a trendy pick to make the Final Four, but can they win it all?


The Hoyas are capable of complete domination. There are other teams capable of domination (Ohio State, Florida, Texas), but not to the extent of Georgetown. They could realistically steam roll their way to the National Championship.

Jeff Green is a machine. Roy Hibbert is a monster. John Thompson III is a genius. This does not bode well for the 63* other teams in the tournament.

When clicking on all cylinders (late January-now) they have been a force to be reckoned with. Despite a hiccup against Syracuse, they have been straight killing teams, winning 15 of 16. In those 15 wins, all against Big East opponents, they've won by an average of almost 13 points.

The Georgetown Hoyas can win it all for three reasons:

The experience. They made it to the Sweet 16 last year, giving eventual champion Florida their toughest test by far. Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert know how to get this done. A tough Big East regular season and tournament also prepared them well.

The offense. JT III employs an offense that is Georgetown's biggest tournament strength. There are very few other teams in D-1 NCAA that play the Princeton-style offense (G'Town, Princeton, Air Force, anyone else?). If their opponents haven't seen it, they could get swamped. Sure, other Big East teams have figured it out, but most of them are on the other side of the bracket (Pitt, Notre Dame, Villanova) and unlikely to make it the Finals. Speaking of which, another strength for the Hoyas is...

The seed. On the downside, Georgetown got stuck with North Carolina and Texas in the same region. Fortunately, they'd only need to go through one of them to make it to the Final Four. Also on the bright side, the #3 Seed in the East, Washington State, isn't nearly as threatening as the other #3 seeds, Oregon, Pittsburgh, and Texas A&M. I think they have a clear shot at the Elite 8 before a real challenger steps into the picture. Also, the East Regionals are in East Rutherford, a loooong ways away from North Carolina or Texas.

However, despite the potential, flaws still exist.

The backcourt. DaJuan Summers and Jeremiah Rivers are freshmen. Jessie Sapp is a sophomore. Let that sink in. Young point guards can get trounced by experienced PGs, especially in the first two rounds.

The inevitable. All teams face adversity at some point in the tournament. The Hoyas will, too. Roy Hibbert is hit-or-miss offensively. It's hard for him to do nothing on the defensive end (he's 7'2" for crying out loud!), but if he gets in early foul trouble it could be lights out, especially against UNC or Texas. Hibbert needs to stay in the game and contain Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Durant. The Hoyas can withstand a bad offensive night from Hibbert, but if he's not clogging up the paint they're not going far.

All things considered, the Hoyas have a fantastic chance to dance all the way to the Final Four. If they get past either UNC or Texas, their toughest possible challenge in my opinion, they have a great shot of winning it all. The only team I see as flat-out better than Georgetown is Florida. Any other match up, on paper, favors the Hoyas. Which is why, if they make it to Atlanta, the Hoyas should be cutting down the nets.
____
* I know damn well there are 64 other teams in the tournament. However, it is straight bullshit to claim that both Florida A&M and Niagara are in the tournament. Only the winner of the play-in game is truly "dancing". This is so egregious because it's easily fixable. ELIMINATE THE PLAY-IN GAME. Florida A&M and Niagara are CHAMPIONS. (Especially Niagara, they got hosed. The MAAC is better than that.) They both deserve to be in the field of 64. Who cares if there is one less at-large spot? If anything, the play-in game should be between two at-large teams. In this year's case, I think Arkansas vs. Old Dominion would be a much more sensible and TV friendly matchup.

United Advances

DC United overcame the downpour last night to defeat CD Olimpia 3-2, advancing to the second round of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. United won this series by an aggregate score of 7-3 over the Honduran team.

Sloppy weather marred the victory, but the Black-and-Red won none-the-less. DC received two goals from recent acquisition Luciano Emilio, who tallied a total of three goals in the series against his former team. Christian Gomez, who also had three total goals in the series, netted one last night on a penalty kick.

Rainy view from 136.
Only 8,181 fans came out to see the match, an understandably low number given the poor conditions. It seemed that everyone in the crowd was either in the DC supporters' sections or hiding under the upper deck roof. Speaking of the supporters' sections...

One of the few flags.
La Barra Brava brought it last night. Despite the ugly weather, sections 135, 136, and parts of 137 were rocking. The group sang and cheered for the duration of the match. There were a bunch of attempts to wave flags, but few were successful because of the rain. I was whacked in the face quite a few times. No big whoop. In the end it was a very good turnout for the first game of the year.

Final score in favor of DC.
DC will now face CD Chivas de Guadalajara of Mexico in the semifinals. RFK Stadium will house the first leg on March 15th and the teams will meet in Guadalajara, Mexico on April 3rd for the second leg.

This match should be off the charts in terms of fan support. Chivas has HUGE fan support all over the US, and they will definitely be heard at RFK in two weeks. Hopefully the weather is nicer so DC can show them how we do.

DC United vs. CD Olimpia, 2nd Leg

Round 2...Fight!

DC United takes on CD Olimpia tonight at RFK Stadium for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup first round. DC holds an almost insurmountable lead in the series, having won 4 - 1 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras last week.

As long as DC doesn't lose by three goals or more, they're advancing to the second round and will face CD Guadalajara (MEXICO) in the second round. Guadalajara, aka Chivas, defeated W Connection (TRINIDAD & TOBAGO) in the first round to advance.

For the first time since last season's disappointment in the MLS playoffs, the Black-and-Red will take the field at RFK in front of the homes fans. I can't wait to get back in the thick of things. The off-season has been too long!

Party time!

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.