Odds and Sods

The Odds and Sods for 23 October 2007

Greg Ryan has been sacked as U.S. Women’s Soccer coach.  Ryan compiled a 45-1-9 record in charge of the team since 2005.  His career came crashing down in a To Catch a Predator-esque decline, when he inexplicably switched goalkeepers mid-tournament, opting for the more experienced Brianna Scurry over the in-form Hope Solo.  A 4-0 defeat later, much of it due to poor keeping, and Ryan was on his way out.  He broke one of the cardinal rules in football, don’t screw with a hot goalkeeper (minds out of the gutter gents).

Tony La Russa has signed a new two-year deal to remain manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.  La Russa is obviously a perfect fit for St. Louis.  Where else could you be complicit with steroid use, get arrested for drunk driving, have two players die in substance abuse related issues, be a complete jerk with nearly everyone encountered and start senseless pissing matches in the middle of games yet still get worshipped?

Apparently the Yankees are out of the playoffs?  Though, they still dominate the headlines.  Probably because Bud Selig will castrate anyone who brings up crazy Jesus cults, humidors, or botch home plate calls with a pair of kitchen shears.  In a shock move, the bombers interviewed Joe Girardi.  They also are prepping an offer for “the third baseman.”

The Chicago Sun-Times want Jay Mariotti in your life 24/7, a thought that could keep couples from reproducing.  The Windy City windbag wrote a column about Beckham a few days ago.  Apparently, Golden Balls is Amy Winehouse without the “Rehab” song.  So, basically, he is an immensely talented British import?  Oh and Americans don’t like soccer because Americans don’t like soccer, thanks for that nugget of wisdom.

Gabriele Marcotti writes an interesting column about offensive language and soccer.  It says quite a lot about the ethnocentrism of the British football media that one has to hunt for a Marcotti article, but those by all of the English hacks are prominently in lime-green display.