The New England Revolution has become the heartbreak kids of Major League Soccer — three MLS Cup games in a row, four in six years, still waiting for its first title.
MICHELLE KAUFMAN / McClatchy Newspapers | Posted: Saturday, November 17, 2007 6:00 pm
MIAMI — The New England Revolution has become the heartbreak kids of Major League Soccer — three MLS Cup games in a row, four in six years, still waiting for its first title.
As the team headed to Washington for Sunday’s championship match against the Houston Dynamo, coach Steve Nicol and players said they are ready to prove their days as runner-up are over. They have at least two compelling reasons to be motivated.
First, they want to avenge last year’s MLS Cup loss to Houston, a game that was decided on penalty kicks. Second, they want to be mentioned with Boston’s other winning pro teams.
“It’s kind of an infectious thing, the Red Sox winning, the Pats up top, the Celtics sold out,” said Nicol. “Our attendance is up, too. Last year, we had a game during the World Series and we had 8,000 people. This year, we had a game against the World Series and 17,000 showed up. That says it all.”
Midfielder Shalrie Joseph said it is inspiring to show up at Gillette Stadium and see the Patriots’ banners.
“It does rub off on you,” he said. “We want to hang a banner there, too, and be one of the Boston teams everyone talks about.”
Houston midfielder Dwayne DeRosario suspects the Revs will have revenge on their minds but said his team is determined to defend its title.
“There definitely is more urgency for them, more bite, trying to take the trophy from us,” he said. “But last year is last year. For us, there’s no carry-over. If they want to use it as a rallying cry, that’s fine by me.”
HOMAGE TO HUDSON
The cyberworld will now find out what Miami Fusion fans have known for years — Ray Hudson is the most colorful soccer commentator in America.
A fan who wishes to remain anonymous started a Ray Hudson blog earlier this year (www.hudsonia.blogspot.com) after listening to the former Fusion coach’s commentary on GOL-TV. The blog keeps a running list, with some audio links, of Hudson’s witty gems.
Among this week’s entries:
“This hit is hotter than a black leather skirt on Sophia Loren.”
“They couldn’t find Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, and that isn’t an overstatement.”
The blogger would say only that he/she lives outside Florida and wishes to keep his/her identity secret for fear future employers would find out how many hours per week he/she spends watching soccer.
“My initial reaction to Ray’s commentary was not positive — this seems to be common — but the Spanish season was so good I stuck with it, and eventually found myself actively listening out for Ray,” wrote the blogger. “I think the question always in my mind was, ‘What is he going to say next?’ at which point the commentary was already as integral to my enjoyment as the football.”
Hudson, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, is flattered. “It blew my mind,” Hudson said. “Now, I find myself looking on there to see which lines were chosen.” But the best part, Hudson said, is that his 93-year-old father can now hear his wit in England. His sister takes her laptop to the nursing home, calls up the blog on a dial-up connection, and the proud Pop laughs at his son’s hyperbole.
“My sister said it’s the only time she sees him laugh,” Hudson said. “A year ago, I didn’t even know what a blog was. Crazy how things work out.”
SUNDHAGE TAKES OVER
Thumbs up to U.S. Soccer for hiring Pia Sundhage to replace Greg Ryan as women’s national coach. Sundhage, a former Swedish player with an impressive resume, was a finalist the last go-around, and so long as there were qualified women in the pool, it’s nice to see the job go to a woman.
Sundhage, 47, most recently was an assistant coach for China during the 2007 Women’s World Cup. She also coached the Boston Breakers in the WUSA before the league folded. She is the first foreign coach for the U.S. women, which could come in handy, as she is very familiar with the ever-improving international game.
“I have passion for the game, I will inspire, and I love the challenge,” Sundhage said by phone last week. Sundhage spent 22 years on the Swedish national team, and played in the 1991 and 1995 Women’s World Cups and the 1996 Olympics. She is also an accomplished singer and guitar player.
—Bora Milutinovic is out as Jamaica coach. Theodore Whitmore, a member of the 1998 World Cup Reggae Boyz team, replaced him.