At first glance odd that the most European part of America isn't embracing football.

However, in light of the traditional racism of Sawx Nation -- hmmm, nationalism and racism together? -- just reemphasized of course by Gary Matthews Jr in the LATimes yesterday in his comments about having to play at Fenway, perhaps it's better to say that the most European part of the US doesn't need soccer as an outlet for its pathologies. It's aleady got the Sawx.

Racism? or stupefying boredom with 0-0, or 1-0 snorefests? the best comment ever on soccer was from Frank DeFord on NPR in the late 80s or early 90s. A British reporter asked Frank why soccer was not popular in the US. Frank replied that it was obvious, "Americans prefer games like baseball and football which require the use of the hands. After all, use of the hands is what separates us from the beasts of the field."

8/14/2007: Boston 2, Tampa Bay 1

Can you feel the excitement?

We don't bother much with the ravings of 'roid-addled freaks like Matthews. He's gutless in any color.

The most exciting sports event I reven saw was the 1998 France-Paraguay match. 1-0 in overtime. I saved the tape, and showed it to boys I coached to show them how to survive against stronger teams. "Play like Paraguay, and stay alive, while the big teams knock each other off." Got us to the play-offs both years we tried it.

You are absolutely right about the boredom. If you don't understand the game it seems oppresively slow. One may as well get drunk and tear up the seats. If you know what you are seeing, however, it is stunningly beautiful. In 1998, every blue-shirted French player had his ball-side and goal-side lanes blocked by a red Paraguay shirt at every touch--it was that good.

The claim that one needs to understand something to appreciate it is always a confession of ugliness.

Jim is 20 years out of date and Brandon picked one of the best games of the year.

Well put Lou.

Out of date Ibid? Fenway is whiter than the north pole, Matthews comments were made a day or two ago, and most black American players wouldn't touch a Boston contract with a 10-foot pole, as Barry Bonds has noted. The Yawkey's aren't in charge anymore, so the ownership isn't as repugnant as it was, but the fanbase? Yikes.

To the contrary. Gary Sheffield desperately wanted to come and Bonds said he'd welcome the chance. Meanwhile, Coco is the most popular player on the team.

Coco lost a lot of popularity with his long slump and hasn't won it all back yet. Ortiz and Manny remain the most popular Sox.

Matthew's first complaint was about how, when the Sox play the Angels, there are more Sox fans in the stands than Angels fans. That's true in a lot of parks and I'm ambivalent about it. Among other things, I can't do something else and tell what's happening from the fan noise.

He then goes on to say that he loves playing in Fenway, although he does say that he hears racial comments every once in a while. It's not a general condemnation of Sox Nation.

Also, the theory that Boston is hostile to black players was given as the reason that Kevin Garnett would never go to Boston. Of course, when he did come, the first thing he did was throw out the first ball at Fenway. He got a standing ovation.

my favorite soccer commmentary, from a letter writer to The Sporting News in '94, I think: "They could hold the world cup in my backyard and I'd close the drapes so I wouldn't have to see it."