Thursday SuperClasico Gameday: Galaxy-Chivas USA
Two former opposing players are now opposing coaches.
Photo by Juan Miranda
The still stunned LA Galaxy (6-8-5, 23 pts.) faces still injury-ravaged Chivas USA (6-8-4, 22 pts.) live at 8 p.m. (pre-game show starts at 7:30 p.m.) on ESPN2 with, um, fourth place in the Western Conference on the line.
This is the 15th time the two intra-stadium rivals have met. The Galaxy won the first five meetings between the teams; since then (June 2006) the series has been even at 3-3-3.
Landon Donovan believes the Galaxy can win despite the events of the past few days:
"They're not exactly flying right now," he said of Chivas USA. "Maybe playing a game (for us) would be a little therapeutic."
Given the tight race in the West - just six points separates the top six teams - Donovan said he was looking forward to the remainder of the season with optimism, despite the turmoil:
"We could be top of the league in three weeks, so there's no reason to be pessimistic. A little reality check is good though."
Phil Collin provides the game preview.
Incidentally, thanks to all of you who voted in our on-going poll regarding who should replace Ruud Gullit as coach.
You can still vote here, but it's pretty clear the people have spoken.
Cobi Jones received more than twice the votes of the next nearest candidate (wonder if that will change depending on the outcome of tonight's game?), Olympic Coach Peter Nowak.
I'm guessing that represents a desire for stability from fans (you can tell me if I'm right by leaving a comment below) who respect a figure who has been the face of the Galaxy for so long.
He may be inexperienced, but Cobi has always been a class act and that seems to be something missing from the organization in general right now.
Wonder how Donovan would have voted?
Here's Donovan on whether he would like to see Cobi take over for the rest of the season:
"I don't know, I haven't thought about it. But if we do well and he leads us the way we need to be led, then I don't see why not. But I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about trying to win a game."
I'll blog from Home Depot Center as usual.
If you're going to the game get there as soon as you can; the game is expected to be a sellout or close to it so traffic could get nasty as kickoff nears.
Almost forgot to mention: Your pregame entertainment at the HDC is famed Mexican folk band Banda el Recodo.
Have a good day.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. 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 and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
And now for some more overwrought propaganda for this rivalry....
Dawn peers over the horizon at the Home Depot Center, as gabachos and mojados prepare to do battle once again. For glory! For honor! For one mill...oops, wrong script. For victory! For increased Honda sales! For no good reason other than the schedule demands it!
This titanic clash of the titans is too big even for Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and General Santa Anna. This calls for the iconiest of Western icons.
Look, over there on that ridge! It's John Wayne leading the Riot Squad, the Galaxians and the Angel City Brigade! And look yonder at the other ridge! It's Antonio Aguilar leading La Legion 1908, La Union Ultras and those tretcherous San Patricios!
Two leaders. One fight.
Coming to a DVD near you is that direct-to-disc Western classic, Rio Puto. Co-starring Ward Bond as David Beckham, Patrick Wayne as Landon Donovan, Denzel Washington as Cobi Jones, Joe Pesci as Preki and Hugo Stiglitz as Claudio Suarez.
With cameo appearances by Peter O'Toole as Grahame Jones, Penelope Cruz as Andrea Canales, Abel Xavier as Ruud Gullit, Porfirio Diaz as Antonio Cue, Victoriano Huerta as Jorge Vergara, Bullwinkle as Alexi Lalas, Snidley Whiplash as Tim Leiweke and Lionel Barrymore as Phil "Old Man Potter" Anschutz.
Rio Puto. Where men are men, and the cattle are petrified
Rio Puto. Because no other name can describe it.
Rio Puto. Come for the soccer. Stay for the blood.
Nick replies: Good grief. Joe, are you off your medication again?
What a hoot Joe - could we see a movie poster mock-up please? (o: