There is an old saying in American sports “Tying is like kissing your sister… No one really wins.”  I had no idea the Galaxy had so many sisters. This weekend was a perfect example of that.

We had it!  I mean I really thought this was the one.  We had saved ourselves, like Cher in Clueless. We were able to convince ourselves, despite the fact the Revs wanted to watch Spartacus, that this was the one we were waiting for… and then we found out the Rev’s were gay.  And it broke my heart.  Why did you have to be gay Revs?

With a 2-1 lead against the best team in the league, all we had to do was hold off the weariest legs in MLS.  10 games and 2 months win-less seemed to be in our rear view mirror.  Then, like death and taxes, the Galaxy let us down.  Yet I am able to find a small piece of solace, because in order to be let down I realize I must have been able to believe in the team.  That alone is a statement that Bruce Arena may be making a difference.  Because for the first time in a long time I started to believe in this team.

Now it’s time to play a game that we as Galaxy fans have become good at, The Blame Game.  I believe that I have established a fairly good record of not calling out players in my articles here at ASR (Not including LMNF*).  Yet the time has come to attach the Scarlett Letter upon one of our players.

That player is Steve Cronin.  You sir denied us three points Saturday.  This is a man’s league and Taylor Twellman understands that ethos.  Hey Steve, see that box 18 yards out lined in white chalk?  That is your temple.  You cannot allow some dude in a jersey sized for a 12 year old and the head the size of a Jack-O-Lantern to enter your fortress of solitude and desecrate it.  A player 5 inches your lesser and with worse starting position cannot be allowed to win that ball.  And like all players who do not go into tackles strong, you have injured yourself.  Please allow your broken finger to serve as a reminder that you must punish all sinners who would attempt to soil the sanctity of your soccer synagogue.  Yes… I love alliteration.

Let Us Pray:

“Dear Lord, please allow us your most hated sons, the fans of the LA Galaxy, to find the strength to believe.  And guide our team through the potholes of this terribly managed international calendar.  Please grant Don Garber the wisdom to see that no league that wants the world’s respect can be taken seriously as long as we play games on international fixture dates.  Please Lord, keep Cobi’s dreads supple and well conditioned. And lastly All Mighty, please upgrade LMNF’s* level of grace to at least that of one of those three legged dogs I see on the streets.  In your name we pray…”

One-Liners:

-In other “Football” fantasy news I’m trying to trade Braylon Edwards and Matt Forte for Thomas Jones and Brandon Marshall.  Think the guy will accept it?

-First person to comment below on what movie is being quoted in my title this week, wins…   my repect.  (Yes I know the quote is not exact.)

-Josh Wicks has a chance to become our soccer savior.  I truly he hopes he comes in cocky and tries to make the #1 goal keeper spot his own.

-Saturday night I was wishing Matt Reis was still a Galaxy player.  Then I watched him Tuesday night.

-How does Landon’s first goal Saturday night not end up even in contention for Goal of the Week.  That is criminal.  That was as clinical of an off-foot finish as you will see against a keeper that was being touted as an MVP candidate by the commentators.

-Luis Bueno has a wonderful article this week on the above mentioned MLS conflicts with the FIFA calendar.

My “Homer” Line-Up:

Pick 11 names out of a hat, you will probably beat me.

* Alan Gordon will now always be refered to as LMNF “Look Ma’ No Feet!”

Now I know how Augustus Gloop felt. That wicked Willy Wonka putting so many tempting treats all around him and expecting him to be able to focus. I mean can you really fault the kid? There was a Chocolate River for god’s sake! Like Augustus, I don’t know where to start, there is just too much to choose from this week.

I know, let’s start with the Classico. I, like the Galaxy supporters groups, was banished to the upper deck for the game. Thankfully it put me farther from that terrible excuse for a pitch the teams played on Thursday night. I know Chivas is probably more at home playing on a dirt lot, but it was an ugly view from up high. The only good thing about my location on the north side’s 18 yard line was that I had a perfect view of the linesman’s terribly missed offside call on Chivas’ second goal. I watched the TV replay and they never gave a good camera angle. Let me tell you how bad it was. Even Alex Prus thought the player was off. He kept looking to the linesman for the sure flag that was coming. It finally took the linesman motioning to Stott before he blew the whistle to signal the goal. The linesman blew that call plain and simple.

My man Cobi needs to be given a little credit, he inserts Michael Randolph and Alan “Look Ma’, No Feet” Gordon into the game late. They both did him proud by hitting the crossbar and scoring the late equalizer respectively. Part of me is glad, however, that that game will be Cobi’s last as head coach for a bit. Now he can “Stay Gold” like Ponyboy. By the way, how pimp was that suit my man was sporting? Showing chest like he was Hasselhoff!!

So on to the big news this week. The Bruce wants to get a tan. Lured by the smell of In-N-Out burgers and the chance to dabble in scientology with Mr. Cruise, Bruce Arena has flipped coasts to become both the GM and Head Coach of the Galaxy. While it is not what I was hoping for, I get it. He will give an air of stability to the team. He’s a players coach. Maybe not to the extent that Yallop was, but Arena has the ego to go with being in LA. He can take the scrutiny. As long as we don’t see any 4-5-1 formations I’ll be a happy man for a bit. Because with The Bruce comes just enough US Soccer goodwill to appease most fans for a short span of time. We are waiting to see which incarnation of Bruce Arena we will see. Will it be the coach that won 5 NCAA titles, 2 MLS Cups, and had that great WC2002 run? Or will it be ineffective one that we saw in New York last season. One thing I do like? Bringing in Dave Sarachan. I always felt that he was all heart when he was in Chicago and that he got a bit of a bum rap there.

Speaking of the Windy City, they are blowing into town Thursday night here in LA. I can smell the Blanco fans already. However, it remains to be seen if he, along with Donovan, will be able to see quality minutes after both being involved in their country’s World Cup Qualifiers Wednesday. My money is on Donovan playing pretty significant minutes Thursday night. I’m happy to report that I will be back in my normal plastic season ticket bucket seat, complete with cup holder and no little red horns. I just hope Brian McBride will look as ineffective in a red Chicago uniform as he did in a white USA one in the Olympics. Sorry McHead, I love ya, but you’re wearing the wrong colors Thursday.

One-Liners:

-Give a raise to Maurice Edu’s agent for getting the kid to a quality team in Rangers FC

-Fire Michael Bradley’s. If he can’t sell a young kid with 15 league goals in the Eredivisie, than he ain’t worth the Bluetooth in his ear.

-Unlike some, I’m liking the potential Eddie Lewis acquisition. Quality service from the left side and someone to teach Mike Randolph and Ely Allen.

-Is it bad that I like that Jesse Marsch felt pain? Not career ending pain, or deathly pain, just enough to make me twirl my handlebar mustache.

-Loving Julian Valentin’s blog. Especially like how you can feel his hunger to get on the pitch. Give the kid a chance. I think Bruce might be the guy to do it. He is much more familiar with his time with the US Youth Teams than Ruud ever was. He’s gotta be better than Vanney right?

-For all the crap that Pete Vagenas catches about back passing and his hair line, you gotta give it up for the only guy in the locker room that you KNOW would bleed for this team. Let’s hope the kids take notice.

-THIS JUST IN: Bob Bradley enters the Betty Ford Clinic for treatment of his certain crack addiction, evidenced by his not calling Kenny Cooper into camp!

My Homer Line-Up:

Cronin

Klein - Franklin - Dominguez - Jazic

Beckham - Vagenas - Pires - Lewis (if Available)

Buddle - Gordon

LA, where you get swept up in the spectacle, then swept out of town. With the departure of both Alexi Lalas and Ruud Gullit, the Galaxy is in a better position than some might think. Loyal ASR readers know that I have been calling for Lalas’ head for some time now. So seeing him pack up his guitar and leaving is a sight for sore eyes. But the resignation of Ruud Gullit leaves me somewhat saddened. I have the feeling that he really could have made a difference here in LA.

But those names are the past. We as Galaxy supporters have the opportunity now to have a fresh start. The team is better than our record reflects and despite our pitfalls we are not even close to being out of the playoff picture. The immediate task of getting this train back on track will fall to Cobi Jones. I, surprisingly, find myself rejecting this notion. Not because I don’t believe in Cobi, or think that the players will not respond to him, but because he is sterling in our eyes.

For all the ups and downs of the club over the last 12 years, Cobi was always Teflon. You only associate him with the good parts, the bad ones just slip right off of him. Now he is being inserted into a very difficult situation where he will have to bear the scrutiny that comes with his new position. The first time I see a “Fire Cobi” sign my heart will sink. I really want to remember him only as a winner. I truly wish him luck and I hope that his players realize what a true gift they are getting in him.

Now assuming Cobi’s “interim” tag is true, we are in need for both a Coach and a GM. Despite Dave Denholm’s claims for the GM position I have a tandem that I believe could be magic in LA. I have two names that, to me, breed such optimism that I dare not speak them.

Peter Wilt and Paul Mariner

The former Chicago GM which I mentioned last week and the long time assistant to Steve Nicol in New England, respectively. Let’s go out and get two guys that are institutions in the league. I don’t want the “Big Foreign Name” or the “Next Guy In Line At AEG.” I want some guys with heart. The kind of guys that when I watch other teams, I am jealous that they have them. These two men can fix this, I truly believe it. Cobi’s time will come, I don’t doubt that, but we need people that can come in today and make a difference. We need people that haven’t been infected by the AEG plague. Please AEG, find the cure to your own disease.

This Weeks Fixture:

Talk about pressure… The Classico is three days away and we are on auto-pilot. Part of me thinks this could be a good thing. Cobi understands this fixture, he has lived it and excelled within it. With Sacha Kljestan in Beijing Chivas is missing an essential piece to their team, one that has killed the Galaxy in its first two meetings. Combine that with Brad Guzan’s departure to Aston Villa and you have a game that the Galaxy could use as a statement game. Come out and show the fans that their team understands its position and will rise up to meet the expectations.

Tabloid Gossip:

Items currently being rumored in Galaxy-Land:

Ruiz trade to TFC- I want it to happen, but it needs to be for a good defensive piece like Maurice Edu. Don’t give me Danny Dichio.

Corey Gibbs Allocation- Fact is, that he is ours if we want him. Can we afford him though? Is he healthy? It is a huge risk taking him on, but the reward may be worth it. I for one would like to go for it. We need to take risks this season if we are going to make the playoffs. Adding a World Cup caliber defender that is not yet over the hill could really help this team. Just please tell him to watch out for slip and trip hazards around the locker room.

My “Homer” Line-Up predictions:

Cronin

Klein - Franklin - Dominguez - Jazic

Beckham - Franchino - Donovan - Randolph

Buddle - Ruiz

In what is sure to be a developing story, Galaxy fans across the globe have been done wrong by AEG. We as fans have put our money where our heart is, only to be taken advantage of. We pay more per ticket than any other team in the league. We pay outrageous parking costs. We can’t get a jersey in-stadium of any player other than Beckham. And we take more scrutiny in the press than any other team in the league.

But you know what? We would let it all roll off our backs in exchange for a winning team. And we have tried.

Phillip Anschultz has been a pioneer for American soccer. Players 30-50 years from now need to know that. If he hadn’t stepped up and believed in the American player, this league may have folded long ago. So I understand his need to finally make some of the millions back that he through into the money pit that was MLS. I really do understand. What I don’t understand is why business and success don’t seem to go hand -in-hand.

The hardest part about looking for answers as a Galaxy fan? We don’t even know who to blame… We don’t even really understand what people in the Galaxy/AEG hierarchy do. In normal American sports management the blame usually falls upon the GM. So we should blame Alexi Lalas, right? Not so fast. It has been made clear that many of the player/personnel issues have been taken out of his hands and now rest with Paul Bravo. Making Alexi much more in charge of the business side of things, which one must admit is flourishing, mainly at the expense of the fan. So Bravo is to blame right? Hmmmm… What about Ruud Gullit. The coach is the one who is supposed to lead the players. But Ruud has said that the salary cap is limiting his ability to get the players that he feels can make a difference. That puts the ball back in Alexi’s court to make the financial part of the salary cap work for LA.

So you can see how it seems to be a game of finger pointing. Well, I have my finger pointed to the top. The only constant through the last 5 years of turmoil has been AEG. We have gone through two general managers, not by choice, and four coaches. So in my mind, the buck stops with AEG. It is their job to make their customer happy, and they are not.

We need someone with a different approach, someone who can bridge the gap between team and fan. Someone with a track record of getting his hands dirty and willing his teams to success. If I am Tim Leiweke I have Peter Wilt on the phone asking, “How much money do you need to come fix this?” Not that Peter Wilt is some soccer savior, but ask any Chicago Fire fan and they will tell you he was a manager they respected. Whether it truly is his fault or not, people don’t seem to be respecting Lalas, and you can’t fire your owner. So the answer, to me, is that you have to change the person steering the boat before we hit the iceberg.

This franchise is a shadow of the team we supported for 10 years. The time for change is now. More than that, AEG needs to decide what is more important to them, perceived stability in management or providing a product that is acceptable to their customer. Cuz I got news for them, Beckham looks just a good on TV as he does in person. People go to stadiums to support a quality product.

*photo credit Stephen DuBois

Yes, to those of you that can deduce it from the title, I enjoy the musical My Fair Lady. What of it? A guy can’t leer at Audrey Hepburn for two straight hours anymore? But that’s beside the point. I’ve been away for two weeks due to my nuptuals and subsequent honeymoon. In that time the Galaxy decided to do me dirty on a few different levels.

First of all I take it of some personal offense that they decided to schedule the rematch of last years 5-4 thriller in the Meadowlands versus New York on my wedding day. My girl understands… but she doesn’t understand enough to push our time back on account of the game. Luckily I was able to watch it the following day, and let me say, the Galaxy don’t really deserve that point. Yes, LA created chances, but so did the Red Bulls. Plus Landon’s goal was a bit of a fluke. One thing I did like was the exciting finish in which we got to see the version of Landon Donovan that is willing to fight for his team’s survival. At least I was able to leave for Mexico on the note that maybe my guys could ride the momentum of those last few minutes in New York and carry it through the All-Star break.

Then Alexi decided to personally attack my post-wedding bliss. As I am packing to leave for Mex I remember I need to check and see that I Tivo my games for the week I’m gone. I knew the All Star Game was Thursday, so I set it up. Then I think, “Is there a Galaxy Game this weekend?” Luckily for me my Season Ticket Holder newsletter endorsed by Big Red himself had arrived that day, complete with the listing of the Galaxy’s remaining games. So I flip it open with pride (the kind of pride $1,800 in tickets buys you in LA), and quickly brush past the oh-so humble full front page over sized picture of Mr. Lalas himself and find the calendar. According to this sacred tomb of Galaxy lore, bearing the six inch stamp of Lalas approval, the next game wasn’t till the San Jose away game Aug. 3rd. Sweet!

Imagine my surprise a week later when I sit down to the computer to not only see the pathetic scoreline of FCD 4- LAG 0, but I don’t even understand it. Did the reserves play or something? Big Red wouldn’t lie to me, would he? He looked so warm and welcoming in his dictatorial pose on the cover of my source material. I must have mis-read it. So I looked again, because it is still hermetically sealed and framed in little twinkle lights on my desk right next to a lock of fire-red chin hair I had braided into a key chain. There it was, clear as day, no game scheduled for Sunday versus Dallas.

So Galaxy fans we really can’t be too mad at our boys for Sundays performance… I mean how could they adequately prepare when obviously the front office didn’t know there was a game.

All poorly conceived satire aside. This month has been abysmal for Galaxy fans. Yes, I know they have only lost 2 of the last four games, but they have won none. Combine that with our dangerous early flirtation with offensive supremacy and our subsequent arid run of goals and it is a tough mix for us fans. In the immortal words of The Dude, “This aggression will not stand, man.”

I have to agree with those saying to withhold much of the criticism of Eduardo Dominguez after only one game. Thank God it looks as if Sean Franklin is on the mend and can be back soon. It is a sad testament to LA’s current state when a rookie can put an entire fan base at ease. I really want to see those two get some quality minutes together, before handing any report cards out on Dominguez.

Luckily the doctor has prescribed the perfect remedy for what ails the Galaxy… A trip to San Jose. Surely LA can get a win against the leagues worst team, right? Well they are 2-0 versus the Smurfs so far on the season so conventional wisdom would say yes. However, these are not the same Little Boy Blues that were run off the field last time LA invaded the north. The addition of Arturo Alvarez, Darren Huckerby and Fransisco Lima make this shakier fixture then earlier this season.

Let’s hope someone told the team there is a game this week, and that they NEED to win.

WANTED: Central defender under 32 years old for emergency backline upgrade.  Perks include sunshine, superstar groupie leftovers and a free copy of Alexi Lala’s new CD.  Crazy hairstyle preferred but not mandatory.

For the second home game in a row the LA Galaxy saw their hard earned goal differential slip away due to sloppy defense and mental lapses.  Normally you won’t see me call out Chris Klein in my breakdowns here at ASR.  No one out works this guy.  His endless overlaps and two way play really fuels the Galaxy’s dangerous right flank.  But he needs to be called out for what can only be defined as a senseless penalty Saturday night.  Now it is true that Robbie Rogers was probably not going to get to the ball, and to some that makes the call controversial, yet if we all knew he wasn’t going to get there, Klein should have as well which makes his foul that much worse.

While we are riding the blame wagon a few more people need to be piled on.  Steve Cronin’s “save”, the rebound from which resulted in Columbus’ third goal, was not what is expected of a starting keeper in MLS.   Cronin has two options, hold the ball or punch it WIDE.  Simply parrying the ball down into the middle of the six yard box is never an option and the Galaxy was justly punished.

But let’s give credit where credit is due.  Edson Buddle’s goal on the night was absolutely clinical.  It was the type of goal that shows a striker oozing with confidence.  For the second home game in a row Buddle has finished side netting from acute angles.  This bodes well for a Galaxy attack that is already the most dangerous in the league.   His continuing hot streak furthers my suggestion that the Galaxy should unload Carlos Ruiz in the upcoming transfer window in order to bolster their defense.

One Liners:

-How bad is Landon wishing he had chosen to hit that sitter with his left foot now?

-The call and response chants back and forth between LARS and ACB is now one of my favorite parts about home games.

-Maybe Beckham should not be expected to convert that last shot Saturday night, but he should definitely be expected to put the ball on frame.

-I am convinced the guy that sits in front of my season seats is the exact look-a-like of the captain of the Wizard from the Deadliest Catch.

-There is a 50/50 chance my fiance would leave me by my wedding day if Ante Jazic asked her out.

Coming up this weekend is cracker of a game.  Galaxy vs DC United.  It is the first MLS rivalry.  Every Galaxy fan remembers the feeling as Eddie Pope’s rain soaked head put the winning goal past our 96 team.  It is the Man U vs Arsenal of our little league.  The best part about this years matchup from a fans point of view?  NEITHER team can play a lick of defense and both are capable of dropping 5 goals on you.  It is the perfect game for a nationally televised network broadcast.

Like the Galaxy, I am on the road this weekend so check back in later this week for Julian Valentin’s blog to get your Galactico fix.

Apologies for being late this week, but it was an intense weekend of sports here in So. Cal. You had our favorite Galacticos visiting our most storied rivals The Smurfs, the Lakers making history in all the wrong ways, and the US showing the rest of CONCACAF that they are, indeed, the biggest fish in this small pond.

God, I wanted to be on that bus to Oakland this weekend, but alas when you have a month till your wedding you don’t get to go away for many drunken weekends of debauchery, besides the bachelor party. For those who may not know, the Riot Squad in conjunction with the front office organized the fantastic opportunity to travel with 300 other Galaxy fans up to Oakland via bus to support the Galaxy. My hat is off to you guys. By all accounts, including mine on the Biggie HD (Yes I name my TV), you guys did great. Through the whole game chants of “L-A Galaxy” could be heard to a nationwide audience. Congratulations to the Riot Squad, Angel City Brigade, Galaxians and all the other Galaxy fans who represented.

The Galaxy’s 3-0 win was the type of performance that makes you feel, maybe it is finally safe to trust this team again. The shutout alone should hopefully do wonders for the defense’s confidence. The good news? They now have two shutouts on the year. The bad news? They both are against expansion side San Jose. The good news? They are both against expansion side San Jose. So while it feels good to beat those little Smurfs, it’s kinda like the bully beating up the kid at school with the helmet on… It’s just not very fulfilling and kinda sad.

In terms of team analysis I really have one question for the Galaxy fans. Does this team need Carlos Ruiz? By that I do not mean to trivialize the man’s talents. His career speaks for itself. But consider the following, with no contributions from Ruiz this team already possesses the #1 offense in the league. Yet it lacks strength in defense. So is Ruiz’s max salary slot being used to its utmost potential? There are plenty of teams out there in need of strikers, with an unused DP slot available in trade. Both Real Salt Lake and San Jose could easily trade their DP slot for Ruiz, assuming that either team is willing to try to spend the money to resurrect their playoff hopes. The Galaxy could then turn that DP slot into a quality central defender.

In other So. Cal soccer events I had the pleasure of sitting with Sam’s Army for the United States’ thrashing of Barbados on Sunday. What a day. 8 goals and every time this was my view of the field.

I don’t know if I can ever go back to a regular seat again. Plus that flag provided the only shade on a brutally hot day. The best part about the 8-0 win for Galaxy fans is that this means Landon Donovan will be back in town for the return of Sigi and his Columbus Crew. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to getting a first hand look at Robbie Rogers. The kid has looked good so far this season.

Exciting announcement this week here at ASR. Julian Valentin has signed on to do a weekly blog. My question to him… Are there any interesting prop bets going on revolving around player’s Euro picks?

Lastly, a moment of silence for my fallen Lakers. I’m afraid in this scenario LA was the kid in the helmet.

It’s a chance for redemption. The 4-0 thrashing by Colorado on opening day must still be lingering on the collective minds of the LA Galaxy. They were embarrassed that day and subsequently torched in the the media world wide. There is no altitude to use as a crutch Saturday night, so the Galaxy need to show the West why they deserve to be the #1 team.

Back from international duty will be David Beckham, Carlos Ruiz and Ante Jazic. Of those three, only Beckham’s absence played any role in LA’s loss in Toronto. With Landon Donovan away with the USA in New York, this needs to be the game where Ruiz shows the league he is back. He went the full 90 minutes for Guatemala midweek, so we know he is back to near full fitness. What remains to be seen, however, is if he still has his scorers touch. To make the storyline even better, Ruiz could get his first start since returning from injury against the very team that blew out his knee with a terrible tackle. I suspect that El Pescadito will have no problem finding motivation for this game.

Colorado are not without their own player absences. With Mike Petke out through injury, and both Bouna Coundoul and Pablo Mastroeni away with their respective national teams, the leagues most potent offense is going up against a defense with large holes in it. Mastroeni’s absence denies Christian Gomez every attacking midfielder’s greatest asset, an enforcer doing the dirty work in midfield. Gomez will have a difficult time getting free to press forward if his defensive duties are increased.

My most exciting matchup to watch Saturday night? Herculez Gomez vs everyone. The Galaxy faithful have not forgotten what Herc meant to us in 2005. He took a lot of pride in that season, and he will be keen to show the Galaxy what they lost by trading him. If you go by stats, the Galaxy haven’t missed much, but every team would love to have a passionate player such as Herculez in their clubhouse. My bet is that Fernando Clavijo will find some way to get Gomez on the field Saturday night, whether as a sub or starter.

From a fan’s perspective, another interesting sub-plot Saturday night will be the “official” return of the Bacon Wrapped Hotdog. A Galaxy street vendor staple since the days of the Rose Bowl, and banned in LA County. The Galaxy Front Office has arranged for the sale of these illustrious items at two grill locations inside the HDC. My hope is that the concession stands can make them with the same taste as those wonderful people in the parking lots on shopping carts. Full report to follow on this breaking news…

Also, on the rumor front… Clint Mathis was seen on the sidelines of the Galaxy practices this week. Rumor has it that Ergotelis, his Greek club, has not renewed his contract. I believe the Galaxy still own his MLS rights. Could Cletus be looking for both a teammate and drinking partner in Joey Fanchino? We’ll see. I, for one, hope he comes back.

My Homer Prediction: 2-1 Galaxy

My Homer Lineup:

Cronin

Klein - X - Franklin - Vanney

Beckham - Pires - MickeyD - Randolph

Ruiz - Buddle

This was their chance. To prove that, at least for one game, they were not just a star’s supporting cast, but players deserving of the leagues respect. With Beckham away on national duty, and Donovan nursing a groin injury, the Galaxy’s lesser knowns were going to have the spotlight. What happened? Stage Fright.

Let’s be honest about this game, it was ugly. Both teams were missing big names. The result was a sloppy game where neither team could string any quality combinations together. The difference however, was that TFC seemed to work harder.

The first half ended scoreless, with the rain starting to poor. The Galaxy had a really tough time adjusting to the wet Field Turf of Toronto in the second half. Every ball seemed to require an extra touch to control. Everyone knows that Toronto has the best home field advantage in the league, but Saturday’s game showed it isn’t only because of its fans. Toronto seemed to understand the pitch and how it would react to the rainy conditions. The Galaxy were left befuddled.

Let’s talk Abel Xavier for a sec. The guy had two decent games for LA leading into Saturdays contest. But can the Galaxy afford to keep a guy around that either cannot or will not play on artificial surfaces? In a Galaxy back line that already is one of the worst in the league, can they really risk the inconsistencies this brings to the team? Roughly 25% of teams in MLS play home games on artificial turf. I don’t see how the Galaxy can expect their defense to improve when the back line will be changing week to week, especially on the road. What this defense needs is some consistency.

Give credit to Toronto. They battled and scrapped for their two goals, with their first coming from a nice aerial effort from James. The Los Angeles strikers, however, could not produce. What became quite apparent in this game, was the lack of creativity through midfield, when both Beckham and Donovan go missing. You cannot expect to start three holding midfielders in Franchino, McDonald, and Pires across a four man midfield and see offensive results. It is my same complaint of Bob Bradley at the national team level. Too many holding players and not enough creativity. And that statement really sums up the Galaxy’s performance this weekend.

Thanks to a youtube posting, the issue of race in MLS is prevalent for the first time in its short history. We have been lucky as soccer in fans in the US. We see horrific stories from around the world regarding riots, stadium collapses and racially charged banners and chants. I was proud of the fact that, while racism is still a big problem in the US, we always seemed to do a good job of keeping it out of our sports. In America the athlete is gray. Until someone goes and messes it up.

As you can see from the clip linked above, there are always going to be individuals who will ruin it for everyone else. I don’t think we can ever truly stop that. What makes it worse for us American soccer fans, is the inevitable hooliganism tag we get smacked with anytime the general sports media gets a hold of any story similar to this. We already fight an uphill battle everyday trying to change the minds of the masses and convert them to what we know is a beautiful game. Instances such as this force our sport to take a step back and see how far we really have left to go.

So what can we do? How we answer this question will show our mettle. There are people who will choose to roll over and dismiss it. There are others who will blow it out of proportion. The fact is that this could have been any stadium on any day, that it happened in Columbus is an unfortunate circumstance for the true Crew fans. They will shoulder the brunt of the blame. And perhaps they should, because what you don’t hear in that clip is anyone standing up to the guy abusing the players…

I don’t think there is a supporters group in the this country that would stand up and say they support shouting out racial slurs from their sections. So, my challenge to the supporters groups? Put your money where your mouth is. We are in a unique position to “police our own”, and we should. The talk of bans is ridiculous. What I’d like to see is something like the following:

The leaders of all the different supporters groups, regardless of size, in MLS should get together to form a Cultural Council of sorts to establish what will and will not be tolerated in their sections. They need to go on record and serve notice that certain guidelines need to be followed. Once the guidelines are established each group should nominate one volunteer to serve as their representative to the council, to update other groups on their results and how they have dealt with their own group’s adversity.

I know many of the supporters groups already have their own proclamations, regarding acceptable behavior, and that is awesome. But couldn’t your experiences in dealing with these problems help another group? We need a handful of people that can put their respective colors aside and talk.

This doesn’t have to be a big formal deal, it can be a private message board on an unassuming server. Whatever it is, it has to happen to show that we, as soccer fans, expect more from ourselves and are willing to take accountability. It can’t be just Columbus alone against the world. Our group, that reads the blogs, posts on message boards and get up at 3am to watch games on Sopcast, is a small but passionate one. To further divide it serves no purpose.

So the ball is in your court supporters groups. Do you want to do something about it? Or wait for it to happen in your section next?