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.Tuesday's Column & More
So Ruud Gullit has trained the Galaxy for all of a week or so now.
Time to take a closer look at the chap and what the Galaxy hope to accomplish by hiring him. This week's column is here.
Meanwhile, access is increasingly a problem in journalism period, but I'm not sure the cause is helped by this sort of whining by perhaps the most boorish sports columnist in the country.
And anyway, the premise of the column is false. Becks isn't the voice of MLS, he's the face of MLS.
He just needs to stand there, look handsome and score the occasional trade mark free kick. More standing than scoring so far, of course.
The Galaxy have confirmed trainer Ivan Pierra has departed the new Gullit regime after a dozen years, joining the U.S. National Team set-up. He's replaced by Armando Rivas who comes over from the Angels.
Also joining the Galaxy: Fitness Coach Chris Neville, a Brit and former pro.
Meanwhile, former Galaxy forward Diego Serna (three goals in 10 games back in 2003) is in town working out with the New York Red Bulls.
Finally, NYRB play Chivas USA in a scrimmage starting at 10 a.m. today at Home Depot Center's Track & Field Stadium. Chivas USA beat UCLA 2-0 last weekend in a closed door scrimmage, with veteran Ante Razov getting on the score sheet.
Comments
Wow, how does T.J. Simmers still have a job? I mean, can you get any more ignorant? If he's trying to piss off the soccer community, it's working.
Posted by: Ronny | February 12, 2008 9:57 AM
Wow, wish I had those 2 1/2 minutes back. Simers relies on the mediocre writer's failsafe - if you can't say something insightful, take a few potshots at a celebrity. Lame.
Posted by: KLF | February 13, 2008 12:12 PM
I read somewhere that access to the athletes in virtually non-existent. No locker room interviews, no one on one's. It is totally different than it is here. Do you have any insight? Oh...and Simers is a total tool.
Nick replies: I don't know where "here" is for you, but in MLS lockers are always open after games for athlete interviews (although not necessarily always in a timely manner) and clubs usually get reporters one on ones with players (some teams are better than others).
It depends though: the Gullit column was done without a one on one (or for that matter particularly significant face time with the coach). Why? Because he's Gullit that's why.
And it's Beckham and his handlers who decide when, where and with whom he talks, not the Galaxy.
Still, English reporters who flew over to cover Beckham games last season were generally amazed at the access (no locker room access over there) to players reporters get, so it's all relative.
Posted by: Poch | February 14, 2008 9:31 PM