Ghosts of Joe Slovo

So, as my loyal readers know, I am something of a futbol junkie, with the perverse twist of being a futbol junkie for the domestic US-Canadian top flight league, Major League Soccer.

I've subjected both of you to many posts on this subject, but you can now rest easy on that score.

The owner of one of the biggest futbol blogs in the Unites States, Ives Galarcep, put out a call recently on Soccer By Ives, for 14 weekly correspondents to follow each of the MLS teams during the season, writing from a fan's perspective. I, who's obesession runs into such esoterica as actually playing the damn official MLS Fantasy soccer game, put in an application and a writing sample. And what do you know? Ives, who must have been suffering from a mild stroke or passing dementia, picked me to blog about the LA Galaxy.

So, starting next Tuesday you could be able to go to the site and see my 250-500 word musings on the beautiful game.

Kick ass and put it in the net!

So. I am a soccer junkie. Most people do not know this about me unless you read this journal, because while I am a junkie, I am high-functioning and manage to spend little on my habit. Well, until this year. Here's teh backstory.

In 2006 I moved to Los Angeles, which has the fortune of having two Major League Soccer franchises the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. I moved from the Bay, which until 2006 had the San Jose Earthquakes. The 'Quakes and the Galaxy hate each other and the Galaxy and the Goats hate each other, as should any two teams who play in the same state and have any pride at all.

In 2005 I was a major Quakes fan, although mostly I was a major soccer fan and just loved to see good games. This makes me a major Galaxy hater. In 2006, finding myself in LA and with the Quakes now playing in Houston (where they ended up winning the championship) I was without a home team. Given the nature of Galaxy-hatred (which was made so blessedly wonderful by the fact that they really sucked last year - think the Cowboys going 1-15 - in other words, pure joy) and the fact that it turns out Chivas USA put together a team that played elegant attacking soccer that was exciting to watch, I started becoming a Chivas fan.

But then several things happened. First, the architect of Chivas' style and one of the best coaches in the country left to coach the US men's team. Then one of their best midfielders left as did an effective striker. But then they got one of the best midfielders in the league. But then...

Well then the Galaxy signed David Beckham the most famous footballer in the world, even if he's really only a very very very talented role player. Well dang it all to heck! I am a soccer junkie. One of the best known players signs with what has been a decent but evolving league nowhere near the quality of the best leagues in the world. With the team in the town in which I live. But not the team I kinda like. No. With the team I've always hated. So I have the chance to see Beckham play in half the team's games in 2007 (due to the way the MLS season works versus other leagues in the world), but to do it I have to become a Galaxy season ticket holder.

Oh I know what some of you are thinking: just get the tickets and root against the team while watching Beckham play. But, look, I know how this fan thing works. You get inside the stadium, everyone else is rooting for the home team, you start imbibing their values and then BAM! you're the victim of the Stockholm Syndrome, rooting for the Galaxy despite your best intentions, despite your own personal values and integrity!

But then, I thought to myself, I live in the US and I love soccer. I am reviled by sportswriters and the butt of routine jokes from everyone from Conan O'Brien to Harry Scherrer. I have a domestic league that can maybe be compared with the 2nd tier leagues around the country. David Beckham comes to my hometown team. I owe it to myself to take this opportunity to see some world-class soccer being played where I live.

So I did it. I got season tickets to the Galaxy. I got eye-socket-fucked on the price, but, well David Beckham! And now Captain America is comeing to Red Bull New York so I get to the see the best American player ever live at least once. This could be fairly awesome, especially for an American soccer fan and an MLS fan, which means someone with rountinely low expectations, but high high high hopes and dreams.

Kick ass and take names.