Still, there is something I can do: send traffic to those Rapids-centric sites – something I’ll do below – and, when applicable, praise them; that can be my contribution to building the Rapids’ base. Something else I can do: provide a slightly more dispassionate take on what’s happening in Rapids-land. For what it’s worth, I see value in both activities…and I respect the opinion of those Rapids fans who count the first contribution as the more significant. So let’s get straight to that and, with it, move on to the other items in the title – e.g. post-game musings and my educability.

In my post-game comments, I floated the idea that Colorado seemed set on the same offensive approach – e.g. flying down the wings and banging in crosses; moreover, I didn’t see Christian Gomez as much of a factor. The two Swella Fellas over at FC Rocky, George Tanner and Angel Fernandez, took a different view – a diametrically opposed view, in fact:

“Finally, the Rapids pushed forward vertically. Gomez’s presence had much to do with this (more on that later … ).”

[SNIP]

“Gomez was able to create scoring chances individually. He set up Cooke’s goal with his quick shot off the post, and he essentially put the game out of reach with a solid PK.”

[SNIP]

“In the 37th minute, Gomez freed the speedy Cummings with a sweet flick forward. The key word there is ‘forward.’ For YEARS this team has relied on playing the ball safely and unimaginatively to the wings and settling for a cross from the sideline. But if Saturday’s game was an indication, Gomez has planted the seed with this team: It’s a good idea to go straight at the defense sometimes.”

Just so you know, for all the love they send to Gomez, FC Rocky, like everyone else it seems, saved the biggest gushes for Terry Cooke…no wonder he got player of the week.

But I wanted to use that mega-(and-hopefully-not-legally-oversized)-excerpt to make a point: I didn’t see the same thing, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t just miss it. In fact, I kind of see what they’re getting at and that gives me something to watch for this week and the next and the next. The point is, I miss plenty; reading other peoples’ perspectives has the capacity to make me smarter at the very least. I won’t always agree, but it – as in watching and thinking and writing about this soccer stuff – is all about building a better understanding of the game. I’m willing to learn….questions of ability to do so notwithstanding…

With that in mind, I have a couple other pieces to pass on. wewantrapidman reserved some of his highest praise for the youthful stand-ins who played so well last Saturday – most notably, Stephen Keel and Kosuke Kimura. And that’s some good news, judging by current mini-plague of injuries – also posted on wewantrapidman. View From The Couch also posted entirely praiseworthy match analysis that ran the gamut between As to his own Qs, match facts, and random observations. Anyone wanting to learn about the Rapids could do a hell of a lot worse than to read these sites.

Speaking of a hell of a lot worse, it’s time to check in with The Official Organ – i.e. the Rapids’ official site, i.e. the narrow font of information from which, absent thorough coverage in the local MSM, Rapids fans learn about their team. Their weekly update spent the first few paragraphs doing what corporate mouthpieces do: go down on the product. That’s not to say there’s no “nutritional value” in there; after all, the piece contains the first mention I’ve seen of the Rapids U.S. Open Cup date with the Los Angeles Galaxy (May 27). Better still, it connects to – I’ll admit it – a wicked cool preview set-up for this weekend’s game against the Kansas City Wizards. Loathe to admit it as I am, it’s not just well-organized, but all techy and smart as well. You got me there, Official Organ…just don’t get it in my hair*. (*Sorry. Wow. Really, really sorry.)

Once your stomachs settle down, do read up on the apparent signing of Tam MacManus, the Scottish striker who has been skulking around the Rapids camp for some time now. Looks like they got ‘im and that he’ll be playing this weekend. The question, though, is what they got.

To paraphrase Admiral John Stockdale, “Who am I? Why am I here?”

(NOTE: Sorry to keep using that line. There’s just something about Stockdale’s performance in the 1992 vice presidential debate: to see a man of such accomplishment reduced over the course of one hour or so into a national punch-line; positively searing. Now I just hope I have the correct year…)

Hello, my name is Jeff Bull. You may remember me from such blogs as, It’s a Simple Game, Center Holds It, Angry Daydream, Goat Fancy, The Sally Field Admirer, and The Herpes Lighthouse – A Forum for Partners. (OK, only the first two – and I think I deleted the third). I volunteered/was strong-armed into writing about the Rapids this season – and possibly beyond – due perhaps to a project I assigned myself on January 7 of this year. You can read all about that here, read an update here, but, in basic terms, it’s a simple thing: between the Colorado Rapids and the Columbus Crew, which Major League Soccer (MLS) original club can revive its fortunes in 2008? And which can do it with the same coach at the helm.

I’ll concern myself here exclusively with the Rapids. At time of writing, I plan on posting that larger narrative on my current home – Center Holds It – but will link to those posts from here for those curious about the project. What holds the two together – in real terms? No clue. But it’s my stretch and I’m sticking to it.

Now, to brasstacks. I don’t think there’s an interpretation under which I could get away with being identified as a Colorado Rapids fan. That said, I do like them – especially since they picked up that “bit o’ nasty” toward the end of 2005 – and fully expect to feel a healthy mix of enthusiasm, joy, and pain as I follow their fortunes through the year. More to the point, they genuinely interest me – especially Fernando Clavijo’s decency-defying longevity. At the same time, I understand there’s a kind of awkwardness to this from a Rapids fan’s perspective. To give an analogy, it’s a little like having sex with a woman with whom your friend is madly in love and describing it to him afterwards.

So, no, I’m not going to give a certain perspective on all this – I’m not emotionally-equipped to do so – but can warmly recommend several sites to “real” Rapids fans where they can find and enjoy this kind of coverage. And, speaking for myself, I’ll link to and borrow from these cats throughout the season:

Black Panther – A Soccer Blog (and a good one)
From College to Pros (no link; my machine freezes on every visit)
FC Rocky (big media peeps – and good ones)
Rapids Class VI (very good, very heart on sleeve)
View From The Couch (good site and, c’mon, the title alone sells it)
We Want Rapids Man (dormant for now, but…who knows?)

That’s a respectable roundup, I hope. And I’m assuming you all know about Big Soccer. Anyway, I hope all these guys come by to correct what I miss and generally keep me straight on Rapids news.

But, wait, there’s less!

It seems fair to point out here that I’m not an inhabitant of Denver, never mind a Colorado. I live in the Portland, Oregon burbs. And, also, I just found out that, due to inexplicably spotty coverage from MLSLive.tv and a decision to air them on media I can access I will miss seven Rapids’ games this season – including the final two (all I can say there is, WTF?! The last two?!). And, yeah, that sucks.

So, what do I offer? Well, me, I guess. I try to make things enjoyable and, when possible, smart. I also try to be honest about my shortcomings and blind-spots, I try to credit others when they do the work, etc. At any rate, I enjoy this stuff and hope you’ll enjoy what I post here throughout the season.

Expect something later today…or tomorrow. And, no, they won’t all be this long.

Center holds it… Holds It… HOLDS IT!!! takes the gentlemanly approach (as they so often do – what a suave site!) and merely requests that Clavijo displays the honor of the samurai.

From College to the Pros goes from mad, to pissed, to reflective, coming up with suggestions on how to right the ship.

And some handsome young devil wrote this in a Rapids preview earlier this year:

Coached by Fernando Clavijo (credentials: played indoor soccer throughout the 80s; coached the Haitian national team; assisted Bora Milutinovic with the MetroStars in 1999 which was “the worst season for any team in league history”) and with 24 players going in/out of the team since last season, it’s hard to see a bright future for the Rapids. The Rapids have ne’er won a thing in MLS, although they did make some ballsy financial moves this year including a partnership with Arsenal and moving into a new state o’ the art stadium. As one of the founding teams in MLS, you’d think 11 seasons would be enough time to show improvement, but the Rapids have never finished above 3rd place in the west (which I think only has/d 5 teams). Despite finishing worse than 60% of the teams in the league, they make the playoffs nearly every year. What a country!

Hey, I’m turning into Bill Simmons, what with the quoting myself and the self-congratulations, and the mushy peas that I like to eat so much. Oy!

• WVHooligan figures Clavijo is #2 on the MLS hot seat list (after Yallop).
• It’s a Simple Game has learned that simple = boring as hell. And yes, it was insanely hot (in fact, it was 100 on Sunday, so imagine how sorry the game would have been had it been played a day later).
• In the longest match report ever written, the 3rd Degree manages to not kill itself while recapping the horrible Dallas – Colorado match played on Saturday.
• And Black Panther wonders what a lot of people are thinking about today… how f***ing great it’s going to be now that Clavijo’s 3 year plan to get to build a championship contender is nearly up. That means we’re just weeks away from being in first place and, I’m 99% sure, winning the championship this season! Alright!! Mission Accomplished!

• Talking Soccer reports on a rumor that Celtic may be signing Rapids defender Greg Dalby after his successful trial in Scotland. Watch those fried Mars bars while you’re over there, Greg.
• An American’s view on Futbol recaps DC United’s loss to Chivas last night, then goes on to predict a 3-0 whipping of Colorado this Saturday. Fantastic.
• Socca Critics is yet another site guessing that DC will beat the Rapids, this time 2-1. Let me remind all you punks that Colorado is the HOME TEAM for this game and playing their first game in a STATE OF THE ART stadium and on top of that, THE AWESOMENESS THAT IS KEEL MAY PLAY 5 WHOLE MINUTES OF THE GAME. How is it that anyone can think the Rapids wont win by a score of at least 5,490 to Negative 6?
• USA Soccer Spot preview the Western Conference of MLS and figure the Rapids have a good chance of finishing dead last. Ugh.

• Are You Loyal predicts Colorado to come in 4th in the west and miss the playoffs. Based on historical data, this sounds about right.
• The Minds of Scads lowers the bar and thinks the Rapids will come in 6th in the west. And, they were nice enough to put what is easily the most disturbing photo I’ve seen in years next to the Colorado entry.
• It’s a Simple Game finally sees some promise in the Rapids roster.