Klaatu Barada Nikto

I think that is the hand from the Evil Dead movies.

Apparently, the hand helped DC United beat Colorado 3-0.

Ben-ny Ol-sen! Ben-ny Ol-sen! Ben-ny Ol-sen!

What a great game that was. United destroyed the Galaxy, Beckham was non-existant, Landycakes got a bloody nose and the heart and soul of DC United was back on the field. I must admit I got a little choked up when Moreno handed the captain's armband to Olsen. BTW, I am totally taking credit for starting the Ben-ny Ol-sen chant.

Nice WaPo article here.

Pic courtesy Michael Connor/Washington Times

Oh yeah, and it turns out Becks can't sell a win at DC. HA!

This makes me sad.

Whenever I think of my DC United heroes: Marco Etcheverry,Jaime Moreno, John Harkes, Eddie Pope, Carlos Llamosa I always leave out Ben Olsen. Because, for me, he is a given, the bedrock upon which the tradition of United has been built. So when I hear that he, like Josh Gros, may have to retire prematurely, it makes me sad.

I saw history tonight

Jaime Moreno scored goal 109 to take the most MLS goals spot. Too bad it was on a penalty kick. When's he going to score one in the run of play again?

Interesting - Vaunted Boroughs

Was checking out Eschaton came across this post which led me to this graph. Some interesting data here. Completely unsurprised that DC has the lowest fuel consumption per capita. Despite how much I personally complain about WMATA and Metro in particular DC has great public transpo, could be better, yes, but still great.

New York is second, I bet, take out NYC and that drops to the lower third.

Then there are some weird things.
Big states and little states are not distributed based on size. 5 of the top 10 are big to medium-big states (NV, AZ, CA, OR, WA), see state size rankings here. 5 of the bottom 10 are also big to medium-big (MO, ND, SD, OK, WY). Here's where it gets really weird, fuel consumption does not correspond to population density, although no wonder DC is first, the next closest state, New Jersey is 9x less populated. (As an aside, I'm a little leery of the website that population density links to. "Demographia is "pro-choice" with respect to urban development.
People should have the freedom to live and work where and how they like.", could very well be a pro-sprawl statement).

What does it all mean? I don't know, but there's a lot to study here.

DCU - 2 CLB - 0

So, yay, a good win against Columbus. Great strike from Fred, nice poaching by Emilio for the goals. Greg Lalas was the color commentator; stick to the writing Greg. He was horrible. The win puts DC 3 points behind New England and tied with NY.

Speaking NY, holy crap! 66,000 people, Beckham's first start, Beckham's first two MLS assists, 9 goals, that's right 9! Defense? Not so much. BTW, Jozy Altidore is the real deal.

The links don't work because MLS's video technology is shite.

Huh. Beckham is captain.

FUCK!!!! 2-0, LA

Does DC ever win on narrow fields? No.

Fuck LA. I hates them.

But I'll be rooting for them in the final I guess. Soccer makes for many shifting allegiances.

So, the SuperLiga folks have to be happy, Becks in the final...good for them and good for the SuperLiga. Seriously, if you can't have the most decorated team in MLS in the final at least you have Becks.

Ok, now DC needs to come up with a narrow field game plan.

Muerte o Gloria

I'm in!
I read this and realized, "what the hell, at games, that is where I want to be." I just paid my membership dues, sorry A&P and B&K I'll be on the other side of the stadium next season.

I bleed black and red

Well, well

Looks like Freddy is on his way to Portuguese club, Benfica. As recently as Wednesday it looked like the deal had fallen through mostly because it seemed that MLS was asking WAY too much for a transfer fee, $7.5 million (at least that was the number Steven Goff threw out, sorry can't find the post where he said that). Now it looks like the transfer fee is a much more realistic $2 million. Freddy flies to Portugal tomorrow, seems like a done deal. Good for Freddy. He needs to be on a team where he is not the star. Let's just hope he doesn't get Donovan Syndrome. Surprisingly, becasue of the complicated deal that sent Freddy to RSL from DCU means that DC gets $150k and RSL's third round pick next year (which really is nothing). That $150k would be very useful towards the Juan Sebastian Veron to DCU rumors.

Uh, guys?

Houston (and the rest of MLS), I think we have a problem.

With the addition on Juan Pablo Angel it's looking like NY Red Bulls may finally be living up to the hopes and expectations of the MLS executives.  They are 5-1-2 with 6 shutouts.  Take a look at these highlights. I'm kind of ok with this development, the DC-NY rivalry, in my mind, was always the one with the potential to be the most intense in MLS... except that NY has always sucked.  Maybe now DC can welcome them to the elite of MLS which currently has a membership of one (suck it LA).

crap picture from dc united game

Peter and Anika after the DC United - CD Olimpia (Honduras) game. DC won the game 3-2 and won the series 7-3. Fairly convincing. Next up Chivas de Guadalajara March 15.

BTW, for those who don't know this was the second leg of the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Champions Cup