During Wednesday's Nats-Phils game, the jumbo TV showed a shot of Washington Capitals players Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom sitting in the plush seats near home plate.
A nice reminder of the fact that the Caps a few short years ago ALSO sucked, and ALSO had their arena invaded by away team fans until they started getting good. Nowadays, GOOD LUCK getting a ticket to a Caps game if you're an away fan.
So as irritating as Opening Day was, I'm willing to wait just a little bit longer to start seeing the Nats become a contender.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Philly Invasion -- INVERTED.
Yes, there's been a lot of moaning and groaning about the invasion of Phillies fans at Opening Day yesterday, but the reality is, given how the Nats have played over the past couple years, what can one expect? One Philly fan told me they brought FORTY buses down from parts north for this game.
On my way home from the game, I spoke with a couple longtime Caps fans on their way to the Caps-Boston game. They knew EXACTLY what it felt like because that's how it was before the Caps started getting good, so it gives me hope that in the next couple years the Nationals can mirror that kind of success, both on the field and in the stands.
For the meantime, however, I'll be one of the HUNDREDS (Edit: As of Thusday 4/8, it's over a thousand) of DC United fans who'll be making the trek up I-95 this coming weekend for the opening game of the Philadelphia Union, where I hope to make myself as OBNOXIOUS a fan as the Phillies fans were yesterday. (Heck, the DCU Team Store even had scarves made for the occasion!)
The difference: In soccer, home teams EXPECT to have away fans in their stadium, and set it up so they're essentially walled off by security in one single section to ward off any unpleasantness (some of which, unfortunately, I saw yesterday at Nats Park).
It's still interesting to see how different sports handle visiting teams' fans (remember that 'Skins-Steelers game at The Snyder MoneyPit?).
On my way home from the game, I spoke with a couple longtime Caps fans on their way to the Caps-Boston game. They knew EXACTLY what it felt like because that's how it was before the Caps started getting good, so it gives me hope that in the next couple years the Nationals can mirror that kind of success, both on the field and in the stands.
For the meantime, however, I'll be one of the HUNDREDS (Edit: As of Thusday 4/8, it's over a thousand) of DC United fans who'll be making the trek up I-95 this coming weekend for the opening game of the Philadelphia Union, where I hope to make myself as OBNOXIOUS a fan as the Phillies fans were yesterday. (Heck, the DCU Team Store even had scarves made for the occasion!)
The difference: In soccer, home teams EXPECT to have away fans in their stadium, and set it up so they're essentially walled off by security in one single section to ward off any unpleasantness (some of which, unfortunately, I saw yesterday at Nats Park).
It's still interesting to see how different sports handle visiting teams' fans (remember that 'Skins-Steelers game at The Snyder MoneyPit?).
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Double Whammy
On a night when BOTH the Nats and DCU lose, all one can say is thank gawd the Caps aren't playing anymore. Wouldn't want a friggin' TRIFECTA now, would we (even if the Caps are a much better team nowadays)?
On the Nats-Phils: Anderson Hernandez had a perfect third-out-waiting-to-happen with the bases loaded if he could have just FIELDED that Ryan Howard (when he wasn't hitting monster home-run shots) grounder cleanly. But he didn't, and the Phils wind up scoring two more runs. And thank Goodness Adam Dunn is one heck of a slugger; otherwise I dunno what I'd do after seeing him commit two errors in left field.
On DCU-Revs: Those three off-the-crossbar shots United had in the first half, if they had gone in, would have made Twellman's Oscar-worthy "I've fallen and deserve a PK" act a lot less painful to watch. At least we get the Red Bulls this coming Thursday, which if DCU can beat them, I may be tempted to sing "Na na naa na, Na na naa na, Osorio, Good Bye" on my way out of RFK.
On the Nats-Phils: Anderson Hernandez had a perfect third-out-waiting-to-happen with the bases loaded if he could have just FIELDED that Ryan Howard (when he wasn't hitting monster home-run shots) grounder cleanly. But he didn't, and the Phils wind up scoring two more runs. And thank Goodness Adam Dunn is one heck of a slugger; otherwise I dunno what I'd do after seeing him commit two errors in left field.
On DCU-Revs: Those three off-the-crossbar shots United had in the first half, if they had gone in, would have made Twellman's Oscar-worthy "I've fallen and deserve a PK" act a lot less painful to watch. At least we get the Red Bulls this coming Thursday, which if DCU can beat them, I may be tempted to sing "Na na naa na, Na na naa na, Osorio, Good Bye" on my way out of RFK.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Numbers 'n Stats
Really interesting ESPN.com article about the dearth of stats in soccer, and a debatable opinion that soccer won't grab a strong foothold among U.S. sports fans until/unless some reliable stats can be gleaned from it.
My view: Who needs stats in soccer? I like it the way it is.
My view: Who needs stats in soccer? I like it the way it is.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
MLS 2009 Supporters Shield Watch Week 8
Chivas USA 7 1 1 22
Seattle 4 2 2 14
D.C. United 3 1 5 14
Toronto FC 3 2 4 13
Chicago 2 0 6 12
Houston 3 2 2 11
Colorado 3 2 2 11
Kansas City 3 4 2 11
RSL 3 4 1 10
New England 2 2 3 9
Los Angeles 1 1 6 9
New York 2 5 2 8
Columbus 1 2 5 8
San Jose 1 5 2 5
FC Dallas 1 6 1 4
Seattle 4 2 2 14
D.C. United 3 1 5 14
Toronto FC 3 2 4 13
Chicago 2 0 6 12
Houston 3 2 2 11
Colorado 3 2 2 11
Kansas City 3 4 2 11
RSL 3 4 1 10
New England 2 2 3 9
Los Angeles 1 1 6 9
New York 2 5 2 8
Columbus 1 2 5 8
San Jose 1 5 2 5
FC Dallas 1 6 1 4
Wait 'Till Next Fall
With the Caps' elimination from the playoffs, I keep hearing that the Pens were the better team. If that is the case, the Pens shoulda SWEPT the series. It should NEVER have gone to seven games, in that case. The "better" playoff team shouldn't have so much trouble getting to the next round.
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As gawd-AWFUL as the Nats have been playing lately, I gotta believe that there's light at the end of the tunnel.
As much as I scream when Acta takes out a starting pitcher in favor of a pinch-hitter at the wrong time (and he's done it less the last few games), I gotta believe that Acta's still in essence a rookie manager who's learning the job as he goes along.
As bad as the pitching has been so far, I gotta believe they'll get better over time (just like Atlanta who started out horrific but then went on to win 14 straight division titles).
So fine, this year may suck donkey balls already, but five years from now when they're playing like the Caps to a full house every night, deep into October, I gotta believe that all this current pain will have been worth it.
I just gotta believe, because the alternative is too depressing. :-)