May 21, 2007
Rhinos Soccer.com - RHINOS PLAY SEATTLE TO A 1-1 TIE
Rhinos Soccer.com - 'CAPS UPEND RHINOS, 3-1, IN TRIP FINALE
What a difference a quarter of the season makes.
Before the Rhinos opened the season, head coach Laurie Calloway talked about how this team had the talent to go unbeaten and that should be the team's goal. After 8 games in the USL 1st Division, the team is now looking at fighting for a playoff spot. While the USL 1st Division standings may say that the Rhinos are in a three-way tie for 4th place, if you look at things on a points per game basis, the Rhinos are sitting in seventh place right now.
Sure, the team has a great built in excuse for where they are right now with captain, goalkeeper, and 2006 team MVP Scott Vallow being out for the last 6 matches and likely on the shelf for the vast majority of the 2007 season. But, it's tough for me to listen to that for a second straight year as the Rhinos talked about how losing Jonathon Bolanos and Juninho DaSilva hamstrung the offensive attack in 2006.
This week and a half long trip to the west coast was supposed to be about bonding and bringing the team together. Much like last season's early, extended road trip due to PAETEC Park not being ready for business for the start of the USL season. But, with the team getting four points out of a possible twelve (5 out of 18 if you count the 1-1 draw in Charleston) on the road trip, you have to wonder where this team's head is at right now.
And I can't even imagine what will happen should Chris Economides and the Carolina RailHawks beat the Rhinos out of the last playoff spot.
If only I would have known
Rhinos Soccer.com - Bloggin' with Palguta II
If I knew that the guys were getting to hit the Nike Employee Store, I would have sent along a request list!
My only disappointment with Scott's blog posting from the Pacific Northwest is that there aren't any pranks being talked about in his post.
I need my Deli and Kiwi Punk'd update!
Dear Uncle Phil............
Tell Alexi Lalas to forget about Zidane and to turn his focus on a younger, more talented player to throw your money at.
I know Sheva was just dropping the usual "I want to play in MLS when I'm over the hill" line on an American reporter. But, you have the bankroll to "make him an offer he can't refuse".
Becks and Sheva on the same team. Now that is something that could get me to listen to Alexi say "SuperClub" and not make me bust a gut.
Local MLS update
- Dema Kovalenko played right back with a broken nose for the Red Bulls over the weekend. He may be one of the most hated men in MLS, but I'd have him on my team any day of the week.
- John Wolyniec made the most of a rare start for NY by scoring the opening goal in a 4-0 Red Bulls win over the Crew. Wolyniec also got an assist on Clint Mathis' goal as he flicked a ball on to a wide open Mathis who put it away.
- Jamil Walker's season appears to be done as he reportedly tore his achilles in a reserve match over the weekend. That would appear to end any talk of Walker being cut loose by DC this summer and landing back in his hometown with the Rhinos.
Shameless self-promotion
Late last week, Adam Spangler at This is American Soccer published my piece on the U-20 match between the US and Argentina at PAETEC Park and the experience I had at the practice and the game with my family in tow.
Romario's 1000th goal
Romario claimed his 1000th goal over the weekend on a PK for Vasco da Gama.
I wonder which march to a milestone will be viewed with a bigger collective shrug by the sporting public: Romario's march to 1000 goals or Barry Bonds' march past Hank Aaron in MLB's record books?
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
