Nov 3, 2009
Yesterday I went to a basketball game with my roommate who runs a blog of the home team. He mentioned how he used the official tags of his blog. So in that vein I decided to codify a few guys of my own. These things may be obvious to those who have read the blog since it started a few months ago, but I'm always a fan of award things and that's pretty much what this is. Like I said, for those who have been reading (hi mom!) these are just affirmations of things you've probably already figured out. If you're a new reader, feel free to accept this as a brief look into where my warped mind stands on the soccer world.
So without further ado (resisted the Adu urge) here at the official Officials of Compelling Soccer:
The Player of Players Award: Steven Gerrard. Duh. I own the jersey and have his goal against West Ham in the FA Cup finals embedded on the right rail. I also name my man of the match award after him.
Runners Up: Clint Dempsey, Fernando Torres
The Bobby Bonilla Award for Goat of Players: One guess. Hint: his initials are BC. Hint Two: One of my favorite artists (penciller) on the comic book series Knights of the Old Republic shares the name.
Runner Up: Landon Donovan- he'll always be here until he cuts in Europe.
Tremendous Upside Potential Award for Favorite Young Gun: Freddy Adu. I don't care that he's a product of the American hype machine. He's got talent and a creativity that is lacking on the American team. He will be a player. He may not be the player everyone thought he'd be, but he will be one. Now if he can only find playing time. But mark my words, by the time he's 24 he'll be a contributor at a good side somewhere in Europe. Just remember, he's still only 20 years old. Not everyone can be Michael Owen and making themselves known internationally at 18.
Runners Up: Jozy Altidore, Jose Francisco Torres
The Flash in the Pan (FIP) Award For Momentary and Fleeting Success: Eddie Johnson. For the record, I'm now pulling for Johnson. He still strikes me as the biggest overnight US sensation turned flame out in recent memory. He was so dangerous in CONCACAF qualifying four years ago and now... now he's just a forgotten man. I bet a lot of people don't even know where he is. But I respect him now more than I ever did four years ago because he's working his way through with Fulham. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn't. I give him credit nonetheless.
Runners Up: Clint Mathis (Old School!), El Hadji Diouf
The Alex Rodriguez Award for Secret Love for a Player I Should Hate: Giovanni Dos Santos. Yes, he's a Mexican. But he's so damn exciting to watch. So quick, so skilled on the ball. When Mexico faced Costa Rica at the Saprissa, he made my jaw drop with how badly he embarrassed their backline. How can you not respect a player of his caliber no matter who he plays for? Also he's playing in Europe, something that many Mexican players do not do.
Runners Up: Michael Owen (Can't forget that I once rooted for the guy), the South Korea National Team, Phil Brown
The George Washington Award for Top American: Clint Dempsey. Deuce frustrates me at times, but how can you hate on a man with his own rap video. Also being one of the more successful midfield/striker players abroad gives him props too.
Runners Up: Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Freddy Adu
The Benedict Arnold Award for Official Traitor: Owen Hargreaves. The man played for the English national team before ever living there. He's a Canadian who played most of his club career in Germany. Play for the maple leaf Owen. Maybe if they had you around they might have been able to qualify for a World Cup.
Runner Up: Giuseppe Rossi
Team of Compelling Soccer: Liverpool FC. I explained this one back in my first week doing this blog. And as a show of their acceptance of me as a fan, the club promptly went into the tank, something all of my teams do. I'm honored. I really am.
Runners Up: None really
The MLS team of Compelling Soccer: Seattle Sounders. They just are a heck of a lot nicer to watch than most MLS teams. Something also amuses me about the fact they have their Xbox 360 advertisements on their Unis displaying on the PS3. At least I think they do; I mean, it is their kit, right? Not owning FIFA 10 for the PS3 means I can't know for certain.
Runners Up: New York Red Bulls- I am from the NY area originally.
The Senegal (2002 WC ed.) award for top Underdog: Trinidad and Tobago's national team. They peaked in 2006 (actually probably in 2001/2002) but the dream lives on they'll get back to the WC one day.
Runners Up: Eddie Johnson (these days), Japanese National Team for some reason I can't explain