Advice well taken

I listened to a recent edition of Dave’s Soccer Podcast on ESPN 710, and was thrilled to have one of my messages read online to the world. While I was a bit bummed that Mr. Denholm was strongly against the idea of making a great source of PR with it (Logos, advertising, etc., etc.), I realized he’s a humble guy, and doesn’t need too much exposure. After all, this is it’s first year on the air, so it can’t be made too much of a deal yet.

I was very pleased, though, when Mr. Denholm agreed of bring more high profile guests to the show. Well, Dave, it’s really a no-brainer. See, in order to have a good podcast become a great one that will see the download rates rise, you gotta have some famous faces have a chat. You gotta have former MLS player currently playing in Europe and vice versa, as well as in Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and having some head coaches of team touring the U.S. wouldn’t hurt. You can get their thoughts on the state of football here in the States, and what they can learn from what we do. Jose Mourinho (who Chelsea side will be touring later), Abel Xavier (newly acquired Portuguese international from Middleborough) and David Beckham should be made guests. From these interviews you can segue to the recaps, and even have the guests chime in, just to get more water-cooler talks flowing like rivers.

And this will be critical to the success of the podcast, because with quality come some awesome windfall. This has the potential to set the standard when it comes to covering soccer podcast-style in the U.S., and the list of guests that can be on here...potential, potential, potential.

With that said, god bless you Dave Denholm, and good luck. Make a success of it.

Speaking of success…what is going on with Toronto FC!? Last time I checked, Danny Dichio, the son of Italian immigrants from Hammersmith, London, turned down a contract to play for Brighton and Hove Albion, and scored the first goal in Toronto FC history, sending the seat cushion Frisbees onto the FieldTurf pitch. Along with Edson Buddle, Kevin Goldthwaite and Maurice Edu, the TFC stomps Chicago Firer 3-1. And now, after the club management gave the fans a warning, they listened, and watched Andy Welsh via Ronnie O’Brien score the only goal in the midwekk match with Houston Dynamo, winning 1-0 in the pouringrain. This is the defending MLS Cup Champs, and they lost to an expansion team. The parity of play could not be any more apparent. This will not bode well for current bottom –feeders DC United, a team built on success. They visit the now-unfriendly confined of BMO Field Saturday.

Ryan Kobane of the Union, the guy who interviewed me for this week’s edition of the Union (the last of the semester and year), is Red Wings fan. I’m an Anaheim Ducks fan. Maybe I should have had second thoughts. Aw, just thinking about it is making me sick.

Finally, the Dirtbags have a chance to make a case for the conference title, and host a Regional, as they host UC Riverside. I hope they sweep. Just because. It will take a little steam off the final regular season series with Fullerton (thought I hope they sweep them too at Goodwin). Make it a habit of winning when it matters most, Mike Weathers. You have not excuse not to kick the habit.
Also, the Lakewood Lancer baseball and softball teams go on their postseason journeys. I hope Spud’s boys get to Dodger Stadium. I haven’t been to Chavez Ravine since an exhibition against the Angels years ago. I yearn to go back there to watch 5 games for the price of 8 dollars (or is it 9)? But they have to make to the final first. And just for good measure, I hope they face Wilson. You heard it here first.