Getting This Off My Chest

The Minnesota Lightning should be Minnesota's biggest succes story this summer. A team that was formed, what? Six months ago? Less than a year to be sure. They make the playoffs by finishing in second place in their confrence...by one point...on the last match off the regular season (Thank you Cincinatti). I can't recall a franchise in any sport that qualified for the playoffs in their first season of play. It just doesn't happen, well unless you're a small market women's soccer program I guess. So in the midst of the Twins amazing midsummer run how much coverage did the Lightning get on this stunning achievment? Here I'll repost the combined coverage of the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and television news outlets here in the Twin Cities:

" "

That's right. Not even the three sentance match writeup that the Trib usually has following a Thunder or Lightning game. I'm not asking for wall to wall coverage of the team, or even anything approaching the great stuff we had for the world cup. But would a picture on the sports page instead of another article about how the Lynx failed to win...AGAIN be too much to ask. Apparantly so.

And another thing...

After last night's dubious PK call that took a well earned point away from the Minnesota Thunder it makes three bad ones on the season. Maybe my rose tinted glasses are blinding me since they all have gone against my team.

First their was Dustin Brannan's red card for taking down a Vancouver player as the last man between the attacker and goal (I was pissed about this for a bit too, but have since changed my mind) the ref made the penatly call from the other side of the halfline and ignored his linesman's position on the field. When we went to the pitch after the match there was still a pretty clear indentation from where the players landed...three yards clear of the top of the box.

Second was in the 4-1 rout of Romario, Zinho, and the rest of Miami FC. The call on the penalty was alright as the player was clearly taken down, but the throw in was taken from the high school lines, THREE YARDS INTO THE FIELD OF PLAY. The linesman (Flat Top) was waving his flag like he was swatting a fly but the center ref waved him off.

And after last night's debacle I'm left wondering if a keeper can try to make a play at the ball in the box or if the USL rules indicate that only defenders may use their hands. I've seen high school referees better and more consistent that what we have working the pitches across the USL. It's disgraceful.

Parting shots:

Just remembered hearing this from a dirty scouse this morning, but apparantly a group of Columbus area Liverpool fans brought a banner reading "Welcome neighbors of the five time European Champions" which, unsurprisingly, started a bit of a scuffle in the stands. Who said American footy fans don't know how to get people riled up.

News links of the day:

Ruud passes his physical, will join Real Madrid on Friday

Newcastle get Ventspils (Latvia) in UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round

Scousers to travel to Israel for Champions League tie. (Full Draw)

Cork City will play AC Milan in the third qualifying round if they can overcome a 1-0 aggregate against Red Star Belgrade. And if Milan is allowed to remain in the competition.

That's all for now.