From Deseret News archives:
Sans Beckham, RSL-Galaxy game lacks hype
Not only was today supposed to be David Beckham's lone appearance at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2007, but the match between Real Salt Lake and the L.A. Galaxy was actually supposed to mean something. Playoff positioning was supposed to be at stake, at least that's what both clubs expected out of themselves when the season kicked off nearly six months ago.
Instead, Beckham is in California nursing a variety of ailments. As for the late September showdown, it's meaningless unless you consider a match between the two bottom-feeders of MLS meaningful.
With a month remaining in the season, the Galaxy (4-13-5, 17 points) own the worst record in MLS followed by Real Salt Lake (4-13-7, 19 points) and then Toronto FC (5-13-6, 21 points).
Despite the obvious drawbacks, tonight's match figures to be an entertaining one. With both teams still clinging to their unrealistic hope of making the playoffs, they are likely to come out with an aggressive mind-set in hopes of securing three points.
RSL's players are looking forward to the challenge and don't think for a minute that they're thinking about 2008 yet.
"We're getting paid to play soccer, and I'm so grateful for that opportunity," said RSL forward Alecko Eskandarian. "We get paid to come out here and play the game we love ... Players need to have pride and come out and work their butts off every single day."
Technically, Real Salt Lake hasn't been eliminated from playoff contention yet. Realistically though, RSL trails Chicago by 11 points for the eighth and final playoff spot with six matches remaining, and it would take a miracle to narrow the expansive gap.
RSL didn't help its cause either by finishing with an 0-2-1 record on its recently completed three-game road swing. It absolutely needed to lock up six or seven points but instead came home with one.
There were stretches at Houston, D.C. United and Toronto FC in which Real played well, but at the end of the day it just wasn't good enough which has been an underlying theme all year.
"You can sit here and mope, but that's not going to help things get better," said Eskandarian, who admits he's done worrying about the playoffs.
He wants to end the season on a six-game winning streak just for the satisfaction associated with such a streak, not the slim hopes of qualifying for the 2007 playoffs.
Recent comments
I don't think there would have been any hype about the RSL game even...
Yaaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnn | Sept. 20, 2007 at 9:57 a.m.
- Idaho woman dies after fall 9:40 a.m.
- Iran could leave nuclear treaty 9:35 a.m.
- Boise State stops Pack, stays perfect 9:22 a.m.
- Police to talk to Woods about accident 9:21 a.m.
- Man sentenced in China 9:05 a.m.
- 'Pulp Fiction' writer taken off furlough 8:58 a.m.
- Relative sought in killings 8:51 a.m.
- Death toll from floods in Saudi 8:40 a.m.
- 3 Americans die in cargo plane crash 8:34 a.m.
- Saturday, Sunday on TV 8:31 a.m.
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
267 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
212 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
133 - Boys basketball rankings
129 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
109 - Letters: Trump card for believers
93 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
86 - Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
75
It's finally time for the game that everyone has been waiting for all...
Its finally here, the big game. No matter what the circumstances are, it...
Carlos Boozer denied that playing so well against the Chicago Bulls held...
This was the first time I have had the chance to see the COugars play this...
Lets go WebCats!!! Congrats to Coach McBride and the entire squad for making...
Hey, Melting Ice Caps, this is a massive breach of the scientific method and...
Dubai is suffering from a catastrophic property slump. But more importantly,...
Far more likely the gate was manned by far-right wing authoritarians....
Great column! Lets all sit back and share a good laugh about some of the...
First, the Constitution is flexible because there is a provision to modify it...
Sounds like you need to call the police and have some JW's arrested for...
Incredible finish, wait a minute, Illinois was just whistled for another foul.
