The Stupidity of Former Galaxy Goalkeeper Josh Wicks
What was he thinking?
Last night's U.S. Open Cup final had plenty of Southern California interest what with the likes of former Galaxy team members Sigi Schmid, Pete Vagenas and Ezra Hendrickson (as an assistant coach) involved for Seattle and Josh Wicks starting for D.C. United.
Wicks, who seems to have learned from his traumatic experience last year in L.A., kept United in the game early, but then came his rush of blood to the head (the second in successive games after a confrontation with a teammate in the previous game for United).
And no, it doesn't matter whether Wicks actually made contact. The intent, whether to injure or intimidate, was there. Check out the highlights here:
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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.
Wow seems kind of out of character for him but I guess we should't be that suprised by bonehead moves like that. Think Zidane using (losing) his head, Beckham calling out some loser in the Riot Squad and those guys were old enough to know better. Glad the Refs got it right.
Nick replies: Yeah, the Josh Wicks I knew was always a happy go lucky guy with a seemingly perpetual smile on his face. Did the pressure get to him?
Montero should have been red carded, too, for his Oscar winning role of faking a man in pain for not being stepped on.
Hate to break this to you SkaT, but simulation -- if it was that -- is only a caution. And, as Nick correctly pointed out, it is not necessary for a player to make contact to have committed a foul or misconduct.
Btw, am I the only person shocked Alex Prus actually sent someone off? I did not think he had it in him ...
I know Josh personally and this is very out of character for him...quite a bummer to see on national television. Hope he can be forgiven and can move forward.