Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.Chivas USA Gameday Thursday & More
Prime Time Preki
The biggest MLS game of the season for Chivas USA live on ESPN2 tonight against league leaders D.C. United and only two print reporters (both from the same set of publications) and one television reporter show up Wednesday for practice. Even the Spanish-language media don't care about Chivas USA it seems.It's the first of four games in 11 days that the Coach, Preki, understands could go along way in defining his team's season. And he was a lot more concerned about that than the, um, media attention that goes along with going top of the Western Conference if Chivas USA wins.
"All the eyes are going to be on us because D.C. has already been there," he said. "It's not about (making) statements for us. We control our own destiny in the next 10 days."
Veteran Mexican defender Claudio Suarez is relishing a big game in a league that needs more of them and hopes for more fans in the stands. Only the Kansas City Wizards are drawing fewer fans than Chivas USA's average of 12,789.
"It's a good opportunity for us to prove we are a team that aspires to win a championship," Suarez said. "We expect more support from the fans."
Chivas USA is riding a club-record three game winning streak, but has never beaten D.C. Here's a brief preview.
Donovan's Pitch
Landon Donovan throws out the first pitch tonight at the Cubs-Dodgers game as the U.S. men continue preparations for Sunday's game against Brazil in Chicago.More than 30,000 tickets have been sold. Coach Bob Bradley called in Kansas City Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin Wednesday, replacing the ill Pablo Mastroeni.
The U.S. faces a daunting task against a Brazilian team packed with some of the most famous names in the game: goalkeepers Doni (Roma), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan); defenders Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Alex Silva (São Paulo), Lúcio (Bayern Munich), Juan (Roma), Alex (Chelsea), Kleber (Santos), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin); midfielders Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin), Josué (VfL Wolfsburg), Fernando (Bordeaux), Elano (Manchester City), Kaká (AC Milan), Julio Baptista (Real Madrid), Diego (Werder Bremen); forwards Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Robinho (Real Madrid), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow), Afonso (SC Heerenveen).
On Wednesday, the three finalists were announced for the 17th Honda Player of the Year Award: Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. The winner will be announced Oct. 5 here in L.A.