goingyard

Manny turned down the latest 2 year offer of 45 miilion the Dodgers put on the table. 

Who does he think he is?

I can tell you who he’s not: Magic Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Wayne Gretzky, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Bo Jackson, Don Drysdale, Mike Piazza, Wilt Chamberlain, Eric Dickerson, Marcus Allen, Shaquille O’Neal*, Kobe Bryant*, James Worthy, Orel Hershiser or any of the other great players who played in Los Angeles I may have missed.

These players wanted to play in L.A. They loved playing here. Manny just doesn’t get it. Sure we would love to have him play for the Dodgers but we don’t need him. L.A. has always had and will always have great players who will play here. And we appreciate all that those players have done for us. But we don’t have time for players that don’t want to be here.

Manny your not that special.

*These players have shown some displeasure but for the most part love/ed to play in Los Angeles

No one can say the Dodgers haven’t tried.

Fox Sports reported today that in a meeting that included Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, Genral Manager Ned Colletti, and sports agent Scott (Show me the money) Boras the Dodgers offered Manny a 2 year deal worth 45 million. Not a bad chunk of change. Especially these days (but that’s a whole other blog).

Here’s how the deal breaks down. Manny will get 25 million his first year and 20 million in his second year. He can opt out of his contract after the first year if he so pleases. Which, hopefully, will make Manny happy. Boras plans to call Manny tomorrow with the offer details.

I really don’t know what else the Dodgers can do. They have shown time and time again that they want Manny. They have put thier money where thier mouth is. And I can attest to the fact that the fans here really want him also. But I don’t know how much longer that welcome wagon will be here in L.A.

It may leave soon.

News Source

I almost felt like I was dreaming. Shaq and Kobe sharing an MVP trophy and they were laughing with each other? What was this madness? Then I realized I wasn’t dreaming. This was true.

It was hard to believe what was going on in the All-Star game (And I don’t mean the west’s total dominance over the east). Seeing Kobe and Shaq before the game playing one on one. During the game passing the ball to each other. Laughing while sitting next to each other on the bench. It was a strange sight indeed. But it was about time. They were acting like children way too long.

I was a big supporter of the Lakers decision to move Shaq and keep Kobe (I also don’t think Kobe was completely innocent). I was very vocal that Shaq crossed some lines with the Laker organisation. They were correct in moving an aging star for a young one. But there has been rumors that Shaq wants back in L.A. And  I for one would welcome the move. If he was willing to come off the bench.  And if the two can get along. Which at least from the All Star game seems like that’s a possibility.

Can we get started with the second half of the season already?

At this point I don’t think anyone can blame the Dodgers if Manny Ramirez doesn’t sign with the Dodgers. As a long running huge fan of the Dodgers I in no way can say the Dodgers have no tried to sign Manny.

It’s no doubt that Manny turned the Dodgers around last year. His bat along with his attitude turned a so-so team into a contender. There were two seasons last year: BM and AM. Before Manny and After Manny. As a fan you could feel the electricity every in town. It was something that hasn’t been felt here for the Dodgers in a long time and it was great.  Going to the games also felt different. It was just all around a great time to be a Dodger fan.

All Dodger fans here in L.A. hope that Manny signs with the Dodgers again. But if he doesn’t I don’t think too many people will blame the Dodgers management.  They have been fair in the offerings (Manny is up there in age) that have come Manny’s way. They have not low balled him in any way. But Manny is looking for years + money. The dodgers have to also look at their future and how they will be able to re-sign the young talent they already have if they are locked up in a long term deal with Manny. The Dodgers are doing the right thing.

Hopefully all this will caome to pass soon and Manny will be in Dodger blue this coming season. All I ask is that he does not end up in that crappy Giant brown…

The Galaxy recieved no offer today from AC Milan and according to MLS commissioner Don Garber’s deadline, David Beckham will remain with the Galaxy.

Garber had given the deadline saying that if the two teams could not reach an offer by today that no future offers would be entertained. AC Milan had made an earlier offer which the Galaxy turned down saying they would not have recieved the right compensation for their loss. David Beckham does have a clause in his contract that will allow him to leave after next year.

Here’s my take on this whole situation, I think the Galaxy and MLS should have waited for a second offer. The Galaxy have not made the playoff’s the two years that David has been on the team. The MLS has not gained anymore respect from the rest of the world since David came into the league and he obviously does not want to be here anymore. He is not the savior the Galxy thought he was going to be.

I’m not saying David wasn’t a great player. Everytime he stepped on the field in a Galaxy uniform he showed he was the best player on the field. I just don’t think he ever really had his heart in it. He played like he was just going through the motions, especially in his second season. The Galaxy should really think about the future. A future without Beckham. I think that’s the best way to move forward for all involved.

On a cold frigid night in Columbus Ohio the U.S. Men’s National Team continued their home field dominance of Mexico. Behind a pair of goals by Michael Bradley the U.S. defeated Mexico 2 - 0 in World Cup Qualifying game. Since 199 the U.S. team is 9-0-02 agaisn’t Mexico at home. The U.S. is competing for 3 slots that will take them to the World Cup 2010 in South Africa

The U.S. were saved early on when Tim Howard thwarted what should have been a goal by Giovani Dos Santo of Mexico. After that the U.S. team settled down and started to control play in the mid-field. With quick crisp passes and using speed as a weapon the U.S. showed why they are no longer the pushovers they once were.

Landon Donovan continued his great play created chances for his teammates. It finally paid off when in the 43 minute Demarcus Beasley sent a curling corner kick that found Landon far post. Landon headed the ball to Onyewu who crushed the ball with his own header toward the goal that was initially saved by Oswaldo Sanchez. The rebound though found Bradley who volleyed the ball into the back of the net. The second goal came 2 minutes into stoppage time. Jozy Altidore collected the ball in midfield and made a pass to a streaking Donovan. Bradley then recieved a pass from Donovan and proceeded to drive the ball into the lower left corner passed a diving Sanchez.

The defense played well throughout the game. Except for a few times when it seemed like they couldn’t clear the ball. The midfield played well despite both Clint Dempsey and Sacha Kljestan having off games.I don’t expect that to last very long but you could tell that Pablo Mastroeni was missed in the midfield. Overall the U.S. deserved to win and showed that they continue to improe.

On a side note as a fan who remembers that the U.S. barely beat Trinidad & Tobago in 1989 to make it to the World Cup (Paul Caligiuri scored the winning goal) it is such an awesome sight to see the men’s team playing at such a high level. Well done boys.