Last night's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match afforded me a fine opportunity to return to the stands. The team, playing mostly backups in an attempt to get them some match minutes, didn't seem to be taking the game too seriously, so I didn't either. No running diary, no post-game interviews, none of that "work" stuff. I just took in the game as a fan. Unfortunately, the team's lack of tenacity also afforded me the opportunity to watch them exit the tournament with a whimper, not a bang.
A few select notes from last night:
--On one hand, the Crew could be glad that only 5,424 fans showed up for this one. Then again, much-hyped Argentine forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who showed up to greet the crowd but not to play just yet, must be wondering what he got himself into.
--To throw old-school Crew fans a bone: Tim Ward = Rob Smith?
--Cobi Jones now looks like a portly, shortly old man. Hang it up, Cobi. I remember when you and Alexi Lalas were on the cover of SI for Kids before World Cup USA '94. Lalas is now a respected executive. He got out while the getting was good.
--Kyle Martino hates Columbus, so Columbus hates Kyle Martino.
--My friend Tommy on Andy Herron: "He looks like a G. Before the game he was rocking a big chain." On his slide tackle in the offensive third: "That was a G move."
--Landon Donovan is one fast-ass dude. The combination of his ridiculous speed (where was that effort in Germany?) and backup keeper Bill Gaudette's unauthoratative play was the difference in this snoozer of a game.
--Speaking of Gaudette, I know he told The Dispatch he was injured a few minutes before Nate Jaqua scored the night's only goal, but I don't see what the injury has to do with his gaffe. The keeper and Marcos Gonzalez were both in the position to intercept Donovan's cross to Jaqua, but they let it slip through because Gaudette didn't call for the ball. You've gotta shout it out, man! If he just takes the initiative and yells "I Gaudette!" the Crew could have secured another one of those thrilling 0-0 finishes. Instead, they lose.