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MLS’s Rising Star

Stars like Gerrard, Lampard, and Kaká raise MLS’s quality and fortunes.

The Tottenham Hotspur were startled when they found themselves down 2-0 to the MLS in the 25th minute of Wednesday night’s MLS All-Star Game. Clint Dempsey, Kaká, and David Villa ran rings around the Tottenham defense for the 45 minutes they were given, while MLS familiars DaMarcus Beasley, Gyasi Zardes, Graham Zusi, and Dax McCarty provided useful support.

Tottenham’s top scorer Harry Kane scored a fabulous goal, but was otherwise neutralized by world-class goalkeeping from Nick Rimando. The second half was less spectacular as both squads played “B-teams” and no goals were scored. The MLS all-stars did well to defend their one goal lead and fairly comfortably notched a 2-1 win (full highlights here).

The MLS All-Star Game in recent years has been a showcase of the league’s growth; just look at the results. The arrival of six European legends — Drogba, Gerrard, Lampard, Pirlo, David Villa, and Kaká — has given the MLS some new credibility as an up-and-coming league. Several of the USMNT’s top players, Matt Besler, Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, and Michael Bradley, have also declined opportunities to play overseas and stayed in the MLS.

Most recently, two talented foreign players in their twenties, Sebastian Giovinco and Giovanni Dos Santos, have signed contracts stateside, putting to rest the notion that only old players cross the pond to play in the MLS. Dos Santos has yet to make a debut, but Giovinco, who signed at the beginning of the season, has torn up defenses — just as Villa, Kaká, and Gerrard have done — scoring 13 goals and making a strong case for MVP honors.

The MLS’s salary cap rule, as it stands, prevents oversea talents from taking over the league (unless they all take significant pay reductions), but if the All-Star Game is any indication, the presence of even a few big-name-players raises the level of the players around them. I could see confidence exude from players like Zardes, Zusi, and Beasley when they linked up with the stars. Even if we never have a league filled with European greats, this recent injection of international talent, both young and old, bodes well for the MLS.

Justin Appleby Contributor, FanTalk

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Where In the World is Messi?

Gabon, actually.

Three months ago when I heard Barcelona and Manchester United were playing at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, just a quick Caltrain trip away, I thought to myself: “I must have tickets.”

And, of course, my friends and I forked out $140 each for the chance to see Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar, and Iniesta battle it out with Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie, and Wayne Rooney from the upper deck of the new San Francisco 49ers stadium. Even though I despise the two teams featured at Levi’s on Saturday, it could be my last chance to see some of these players in person, barring an improbable trip to Old Trafford or the Nou Camp within the next ten years.

Earlier this week, I found out that Messi and Neymar would not be traveling with the Barcelona squad. Already disappointed by the loss of Di Maria through an injury, the sale of RVP, I now fear I will join the 93,000 Rose Bowl attendees earlier this week in feeling let down. For Barcelona to leave these players out is disrespectful to the fans that are paying (in the case of one Los Angeles family) up to $1,200 on tickets.

And then I found out what Lionel Messi was really up to. He was in Gabon, upsetting the African nation’s officials with his fashion choices, and laying stones. Ok, not actually laying stones — Gabon reportedly offered Messi £2.5 million to lay one of the first stones in a new stadium meant for the 2017 African Cup of Nations, a symbolic gesture. Instead of wowing American fans with stunning goals and slaloming runs, Lionel Messi is crowd pleasing — ineffectively, according to the article — in Gabon by laying ceremonial bricks and smiling for pictures with politicians. What would the 12-year-old Californian who has been dying to see Messi all his life think?

Three months ago Barcelona promised a showcase for the United States, but several weeks ago they decided to omit the best player in the world. You can argue that it’ll be fun to see youth-team players because they’ll give 100% effort that results in a more exciting competition. But youth players aren’t worth the price I am paying. Messi is.

Justin Appleby Contributor, FanTalk

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As Good as Fool’s Gold?

The specter of corruption is casting a shadow on the Gold Cup tournament, CONCACAF’s premier soccer competition that’s currently underway in the U.S.

Three of CONCACAF's highest-ranking officials, including President Jeffery Webb, are under arrest for fraud after being implicated in the broader FIFA corruption investigation. The governing body also ended its relationship with a primary corporate partner, Traffic Sports USA Inc., after the company plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy charges. The United States’ FIFA investigators allege that CONCACAF officials were key players in acts of corruption, racketeering, and bribery.

In an effort to rebuild its reputation, CONCACAF recently announced reforms that include term limits and independence for executive committee members, and making financial reports public.

These reforms all sound good but, with the level of corruption discovered in CONCACAF, doubts remain about their implementation. Clearly a culture of deceit and criminal activity exists within the organization, and it remains unclear who will police these reforms.

From a PR perspective, this maneuver works out great. The Gold Cup comes at a perfect time to distract from the problems within the organization, and these reforms seem admirable on paper. CONCACAF appears to be taking steps in the right direction, and its premier tournament gives it a fresh start with new officials who promise change and honesty.

Coming off a well-contested friendly win against defending World Cup champion Germany, the U.S. Men’s National Team is a favorite to win the Gold Cup. America’s team has never looked stronger and the sport of soccer has gained major national momentum. In an ideal world, we would simply sit down and enjoy the tournament for what it is: A chance to watch a young, exciting U.S. team develop on the world stage.

Unfortunately, this is not an ideal world. Instead of breaking down strategies and matchups, we sit and watch the charges against CONCACAF officials rack up. The reforms could very well make the tarnished organization honest and transparent, but only time will reveal whether there’s any real substance behind the symbolism.

Redding Haines Contributor, FanTalk

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Waiting for Tiger

While we’re fervent sports fanatics here at FanTalk, the media’s propensity to sensationalize and manufacture stories when no real “story” exists does irritate us. One of the more ridiculous stories we’ve encountered recently is this Golf Digest article chronicling Tiger Woods performance during a practice round for the Greenbrier Classic Pro-Am.

It’s a practice round, people. A PRACTICE ROUND.

The real story here is that Tiger Woods, once Golf’s demigod and savior—seemingly destined to become the game’s all-time greatest player—has been very much a mere mortal since his marital infidelity scandal in 2009. Up until that point, Tiger had accumulated 14 major championship titles and seemed an unstoppable force to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ career record of 18 majors. Since then? Not one single major title. In fact, two weeks ago at the U.S. Open, Woods missed the cut and posted the highest 36-hole score of his pro career.

Eight years have passed since his last major triumph. Golf’s hero has experienced a fall of mythological proportion. Golf enthusiasts have moved on to a new generation of heroes like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Speith, and Bubba Watson, and more casual fans have tired of waiting for Tiger’s turnaround.

And yet… The story isn’t supposed to end this way, is it? We idolized the hero at the height of his powers, we came to resent his hubris, and then we reveled in his fall. But in the end, we want him to reclaim his greatness, don’t we? We want him to have suffered, learned, and survived to return to the state of golfing perfection that once seemed so effortless.

Perhaps then, that ridiculous Golf Digest story says more about us sports fans than it does about the media coverage that tries to satiate us. After all, Tiger did follow up that practice round with a 4-under-par 66 in the opening round of the Greenbrier Classic—his best round of the year. And the British Open is coming up in a couple of weeks.

C’mon, Tiger. You can do it…

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Worth Watching.

In a world where the demands on our time are only growing, and the extra time we have to enjoy our passions is limited, people are being more selective with how they spend their time.  For us sports fans out there, we’re forced to decide which sporting events are worth watching.

Certain events such as the Olympics, the World Cup and a handful of US events such as the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals and the World Series are usually go-to events to watch, but how do you decide what else is worth spending your precious minutes to watch?  Well the simple answer is to watch things that you really care about.  Or, you can watch things you don’t know much about, but that you find exciting and entertaining.  After all, sports is entertainment.  

If excitement is what you’re looking for, then sports such as women’s soccer, women’s gymnastics, women’s tennis, and women’s figure skating are all great options.  Why all the suggestions for women’s sports?  Well Andy Benoit from Sports Illustrated seems to think that women’s sports aren’t worth watching  and I’m here to tell you that history has shown that watching female athletes compete is thrilling.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane back to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA.  Remember a young lady by the name of Kerri Strug?  She was a member of the USA Women’s Gymnastics team that sprained her ankle in the middle of her first vault and still completed her second vault, practically landing on one foot to help lead team USA to the gold medal.  It was incredible.   

Or how can you forget the nailbiter final match between the USA and China at the 1999 Women’s World Cup ?  Where Brandi Chastain’s penalty kick helped seal the win for the US in their second World Cup Championship title, after their first win against Norway in 1991.  

For a more recent example, look no further than the current 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.  Team Japan was playing the Netherlands earlier this week and they made arguably the best goal of the tournament with a three player pass that involved amazing teamwork and coordination.  

The message here is not that women’s sports are more exciting to watch than men’s sports, but rather women’s sports have enough excitement, action and athleticism to keep a captive audience.  Actually as of last year, according to Nielsen, the US Open Women’s Final between Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki drew an audience of over 4.5 million TV viewers, vs the men’s final which only attracted 2.2 million.  This was the first time in history where the TV audience for the women’s final was greater than that of the men’s final.   

As a former competitive female athlete, I’m proud to be the founder of a sports company striving to build the best sports destination for fans of both men’s and women’s sports.  For those that say that women’s sports are not worth watching, I say to you that how you choose to spend your time is your decision, but don’t discourage others from discovering the awe, excitement and inspiring feats of athleticism that can be found in women’s sports.  I know millions of people agree with me.  

Best of luck to Team USA today in their World Cup match against China at 4.30pm PST.  And if you are a female athlete, a fan of competitive women's sports, or both, please watch more women's sports on TV, follow your female athletes on social media, and join the conversation on FanTalk.  We welcome your thoughtful opinions and sports knowledge on any and all sports.  With FanTalk, it’s all sports, all season.

She-Rae

Founder, FanTalk

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United We Stand

Sport is often the means by which we seek to escape life’s everyday realities. It’s a haven where we enjoy the drama of human competition without having to consider much more than the fortunes of our favorite teams and the final outcome of games.

The reality is that the real world often overlaps and intrudes upon our arena of escapism—often in a negative fashion. From issues of domestic violence to institutional corruption to racism, it’s evident that the substance of our society is very much reflected in the games we play and follow.

On occasion, however, sport and/or one of its participants manage to surprise, delight, and inspire in a positive manner. Such was the case earlier this week when New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson posted his thoughts on the tragic Charleston church shooting incident (and the resultant Confederate Flag debate) to his Facebook page and personal website.

Watson eloquently writes, “If we remove the Confederate flag from the State Capitol for any reason other than a change in the hearts of South Carolinians, we may as well leave it be. This is not the time for political statements and worrying about national perception. But if we […] finally listen to the cries and concerns of those we say we care about, soften our hearts, and choose to lay our liberties aside to assuage the pain of our brothers, the only suitable option would be a unanimous decision to remove the flag from the public grounds at the Palmetto State Capitol. The past and its people, as acclaimed or afflicted as they may be, should always be remembered. But it is difficult to completely ‘move forward’ if painful, divisive icons continue to stand unchallenged.”

Whichever side one may stand on the Confederate Flag debate, there is no denying Watson gives a thoughtful, genuine, and highly personal account of his feelings on the issue. His words are certainly worth reading and taking the time to reflect upon.

Read Benjamin Watson’s entire post at http://www.thebenjaminwatson.com/2015/the-rebel-flag/.

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It wasn’t just a dream, was it?

As a lifelong Golden State Warriors fan, waking up this morning was different from, well…every single day of the last 40 years. The Warriors are the NBA champs! Right? They are? They really are? Pardon the disbelief, but even after an undeniably thrilling and dominant season, it still takes a little getting used to.

Being a tad too young to really remember the Warriors’ last championship, it was probably the 1984-85 team and their woeful 22 and 60 record that cemented my bond to the franchise. I do love my underdogs, and it was that sad sack team that found its way into my heart just as my love of basketball was flourishing.

I still vividly remember the ’87 playoffs when the Dubs overcame an 0-2 deficit to beat the Jazz in the first round—only to succumb to the Lakers in the second round despite Sleepy Floyd’s epic 29-point 4th quarter rally in game 4. My voice was hoarse for days from yelling at my 13-inch TV during Sleepy’s heroics. That was also the series that cemented my dislike of the Lakers. God, I hate the Lakers.

Then came the Run TMC years. Magical. (Despite always feeling that the Warriors were just one big man away from being really good.) Then Mitch was gone, and despite hoping and praying that Billy Owens would grow into his potential, so too was the magic.

Hope was resurrected when Chris Webber arrived and crushed once again when he departed. Heartbreaking. Then Sprewell went crazy on Coach, and it was just the dark years for so long afterward…

Finally in 2007, there was a reason to believe again. Nellie found some old magic dust and a scrappy bunch lead by Baron Davis put some swagger back into the Dub Nation. I was there at game 6 against the Mavs—didn’t sit down for the whole game and I lost my voice again for the best of reasons. Days of pure joy like that can be rare, so treasure them.

But this year… It was just so unexpected. I mean, I know the Dubs were on the rise and getting better, but I never expected this leap to greatness. Even in my dream of dreams I thought the Warriors would only ever win a championship by scrapping their way into the playoffs and then hitting some incredible hot streak. But leading the league from beginning to end? Being the best team all year long? It’s almost incomprehensible.

Maybe the real dream here is that I got to share this Warriors championship with my seven-year-old daughter. She was ecstatic when I confirmed that the Dubs had won it all, but then said she was sad that she wouldn’t get to watch them anymore. I told her, “Don’t worry, they’ll be back in the fall.” But I get her point exactly.

Roger Burchill

Editor, FanTalk

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Video of UCLA-SMU Goaltending Call

What do you think?

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No Klay Thompson Versus Atlanta? No Problem

Steve Kerr announced Tuesday that Klay Thompson is expected to miss 7 to 10 days due to a sprained ankle he suffered in the Warriors’ 108-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Monday night.

More specifically, Thompson will not be on the floor when the Warriors take on the Hawks tonight in a showdown that will temporarily crown the best team in the NBA.

Even without Klay Thompson the Dubs should be able to take this game tonite. @katetscott @knbr @knbrmurph

— Brandon Mathis (@Dezacas) March 18, 2015

After Klay Thompson's ankle injury, are the #SplashBrothers destined to become the Sprain Brothers? http://t.co/fqe3y64HR4 @warriors

— Lance Silverman, MD. (@anklefootmd) March 18, 2015

@alpha_talk @jtorrick steph curry is about to go off with klay Thompson missing 7 to 10 days #mvp

— Dj Francis (@onmashyt2k11) March 18, 2015

Although not having Klay will hurt the Warriors’ chances versus Atlanta, it is best to remember time and place for this match.

Yes, Atlanta did beat Golden State pretty handily earlier this year and it would be nice from a Warriors perspective to see them further prove their dominance over the league, but Thompson’s absence will give other players much needed playing time before the playoffs begin in about a month.

Considering the Hawks are the undisputed second best team in the NBA at the moment, players like Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston are going to get a chance to fine tune their play before they face elite teams night in and night out next month.

There have also been rumors that Justin Holliday is going to replace Thompson in the lineup for Wednesday’s game.

Klay Thompson out tonight. Steve Kerr says he's "leaning towards" starting Justin Holiday. I like him, PatPat, & Belinelli for value tonight

— DFS Legend (@DFS_Legend) March 18, 2015

Klay Thompson out tonight. Steve Kerr says he's "leaning towards" starting Justin Holiday. I like him, PatPat, & Belinelli for value tonight

Even though Holliday probably won’t be playing much in the postseason, he still needs to be ready should something like this happen to Thompson again.

Without the splash brother, Golden State will have to find scoring to makeup for his 21.9 points per game. As has been shown that is no easy task as the Warriors have lost both games where Thompson hasn’t played this season, only scoring 103 versus Denver and 95 against Phoenix.

Nevertheless, it is these types of scoring inconsistencies that Steve Kerr knows he has to fix before the Warriors play on the big stage.

It has been a well-known fact all year that once Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson steps off the court, the offensive production goes down considerably. Therefore, both David Lee and Mareese Speights will need to step up off the bench to help ease the pain of resting their stars, and what better way to work on that than against a top-tier team like Atlanta.

So while the Warriors won’t be playing full strength against the toughest opponent they will face all season, the opportunities to improve as a team outweigh the importance of winning the game itself.

Nick Redfield 

Associate Writer, FanTalk

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Chris Borland Retirement Causes Split Reaction

Chris Borland's unexpected decision to abrutply retire after an outstanding rookie season shocked the football world on Tuesday. Given all of the recent concerns surrounding brain injuries and their relation to football, this will only add to the already hot disucssion.

As for the on the field impact, this is a huge blow to the 49er's defense. With Patrick Willis annoucning his retirement just a week earlier, their linebacking core has taken two immense hits. It's hard to imagine a worse off-season for any team in recent memory than what San Francisco is currently going through.

In terms of Borland's decision though, fans were clearly split over the news. As you will see below, some fans are applauding his choice to look at life after football, while others simply cannot understand his logic. Expect this to ignite even further debate surrounding brain injuries all the way through the off-season and into the 2015 NFL Season. Here are some opinions of others. What's your take?

Nope, Chris Borland Doesn't Change a Thing About Football's Future, by @andrewsharp http://t.co/oAaA7MNO4d

— Grantland (@Grantland33)

March 18, 2015

I applaud @ChrisDec26 for not wanting to end up like #JuniorSeau LB is no joke and he wants to live past 30. #TheThruthHurts

— Catalina (@GoCalBears10)

March 18, 2015

MUST READ OF THE DAY: It takes a big, strong man to play football, and a bigger, stronger man to walk away from it... http://t.co/CSPcfixMsf

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider)

March 18, 2015

Rising NFL star Chris Borland says "I don't want to negotiate my health for money" Give him credit for making tough choice based on research

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp)

March 18, 2015

Dude Chris Borland is so young to retire 😭

— natalie (@nataliepek1)

March 18, 2015

The “NFL Live” crew discusses 49er Chris Borland’s decision to retire at 24 due to fears regarding brain injury » http://t.co/ZsTlpmrYlr

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL)

March 18, 2015

We'll leave you with this video from ESPN's Outside The Lines, which shows clips from an exclusive interview with Chris Borland himself, on what went into his decision.

Daniel Ross

Associate Writer, FanTalk

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Fan Reaction to UCLA Making the NCAA Tournament

When it was announced yesterday that UCLA had received an at large bid for the 2015 NCAA Tournament, a lot of backlash ensued from other fan bases.

Fans of Colorado State, Murray State, and Old Dominion were especially irked considering many thought they were near locks for th Big Dance. Even CBS analyst Doug Gottlieb appeared to be visibly upset during the live broadcast after learning of the Bruins unexpected bid.

Gottlieb, of course, has some history with UCLA as his brother and sister are both Bruins alums. He was also recruited by UCLA back in his prep days, but the Bruins opted for Baron Davis instead.

Whether or not Gottlieb still has some bitter feelings toward the school as a result of the Bruins choosing Davis instead is impossible to know.

However, he made it clear yesterday that he VEHEMENTLY disagreed with UCLA's inclusion, going so far as to call it a "joke."

To be fair though, Gottlieb was not the only analyst, fan, or media member who shared the same opinion. Check out the reaction on social media yesterday after it was announced UCLA made the field of 68.

"Harboring Ill Will towards UCLA" is maybe the dumbest retort of all time.But when you have no retort, you shoot the messenger.

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow)

March 16, 2015

NCAA Tournament field is set; Kentucky takes overall No. 1 seed; UCLA is surprise inclusion. http://t.co/wxyKtv1Lln pic.twitter.com/A2f8CfVcpB

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk)

March 16, 2015

@WordUpBuck - UCLA getting in and your Rams not is the stupid call of this selection Sunday

— Torry B-B (@TorryBruce)

March 16, 2015

Selection Sunday Winners & Losers: UCLA somehow makes the field, and UNC is in tough. http://t.co/899Xv6REEP pic.twitter.com/ALYlHa43Ez

— theScore (@theScore)

March 16, 2015

One "day-after" Selection Sunday tidbit: Still mystified as to how UCLA got in the tournament.

— David Bashore (@dcbashore)

March 16, 2015

Like everyone else, @ChrisDobbertean is wondering why UCLA made the NCAA Tournament: http://t.co/9Ze3WQXmZJ pic.twitter.com/wpMmDXiIlh

— SB Nation CBB (@SBNationCBB)

March 16, 2015

@belindamonique how UCLA got in and Colorado State didn't is one of the biggest head scratchers I've seen in awhile on Selection Sunday.

— Ryan Silapan (@RyanSilapan)

March 15, 2015

UCLA squeaks into NCAA tourney amid major snubs: http://t.co/VRcCRqSTFA

— big dreamz baby (@am_bigdreamz)

March 15, 2015

What do YOU think? Go download the FanTalk app at http://bit.ly/getfantalk to discuss, argue, and debate whether or not you think the committee made the right call and share your bracket with fellow College Basketball Fans.

Daniel Ross

Associate Writer, FanTalk

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2015 NCAA Tournament Bracket Announced

View image | gettyimages.com

After much discussion over whether or not the PAC-12 Conference would get three or four teams into the tournament, the decision has finally been made.

UCLA snuck into the field as an eleven seed and will face off against Larry Brown’s sixth seeded SMU Mustangs in Louisville this Thursday.

Oregon received an eight seed from the committee and will play a nine seed in Oklahoma State this Friday. If the Ducks win that game, they will almost assuredly take on the number 1 seed in the West, the Wisconsin Badgers.

Utah earned a five seed in the South Bracket and will play twelfth seeded Stephen F. Austin on Thursday.

As for the PAC-12′s top team, Arizona, the Wildcats were gifted with a two seed in the West Region. They have what would appear to be a rather friendly rode to the final four. A potential Sweet 16 matchup with Baylor is rather benign when compared to other top team’s roads. An elite eight appearance against Wisconsin is not the worst situation for them to be in either, as they played the Badgers last year in that same round in a game that could have gone either way.

To see the bracket in it’s entirety, go here and let the Madness begin!

Daniel Ross

Associate Writer, FanTalk

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Utah Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak spoke about how the long wait for his teams first game affected their first half play as well as the advantage of being able to go 9, 10 players deep every game. Daniel Ross Associate Writer, FanTalk

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Dana Altman discussed how he felt his players started the game with “nervous energy” and how tournament play is different from the regular season.

Daniel Ross

Associate Writer, FanTalk

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Tad Boyle talked about the Buffs inability to put two halves together against the Ducks and how it was indicative of their entire 2014-15 Season.

Daniel Ross

Associate Writer, FanTalk

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Arizona fans TOOK OVER MGM Arena this morning for their game against Cal. McKale Center 2.0 here in Vegas. Wildcats back in action tomorrow against UCLA in the semis.

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UCLA Head Coach Steve Alford spoke on how far his team has come over the last six weeks as well as the improved bench play.

As for Kevon Looney, there was no update on the status of his "facial injury," which he suffered in the first half.

Daniel Ross

Associate Writer, FanTalk