I feel the source of our discontent is an anxiety that perhaps the rivalry itself is being undermined and is in jeopardy.  Certainly not for the die-hard Quakes (and L.A.) supporters, but part of what made the rivalry so special in the past is the way in which it was able to weave a spell over all those who came into its web, whoever they might be.  The return of Judas match in 2005 was filled with tension and passion, not just from the supporter’s groups, but from every square inch of Spartan stadium.  The famous miracle comeback in 2003 had every last member of that crowd jumping and screaming by the end of it.  Given this rich history, so much of what I witnessed and experienced on Saturday just felt wrong. 

 Much has been made of the Beckham effect, namely the throngs of curiosity seekers and young girls attracted to Mr. Posh wherever the Galaxy touch down.  What most in the media have failed to take into account (or don’t really care enough to find out, I’m looking at you Merc), is that while this is fine, albeit annoying, in Chicago or D.C. or anywhere else in the league, it is absolutely damaging in the Bay Area.  Part of what is so invigorating about the rivalry, as I mentioned, is the way in which it joins every person in the stands (minus the traveling Galaxy fans) into one united entity willing our collective champions to victory.  When this is taken away, and L.A. goals are greeted in our supposed “home” by deafening cheers, it rips at the soul of our rivalry and the hearts of Quakes fans.  I went down to L.A. for the opening game of the season, and I have to say, the experience was not that far removed away from the match in Oakland two nights ago.  In both cases, being in the heart of the supporter’s groups felt like a case of us against the world. 

Is this all an overreaction?  Maybe.  But part of what Quakes fans are going through this season is the realization that we must win back everything we had before.  I don’t think any of us expected a championship team again right from the start, but some of the things we did believe we could have right now haven’t come to fruition either.  Namely, a squad of guys, no matter how untalented or inexperienced, who would leave every last piece of themselves out there on the field against our most hated rivals.  The problem is our players out there, for the most part, don’t hate L.A.  I think it was a strategic mistake on Yallop’s part to play down the rivalry, even though I applauded his decision at first.  Make your team understand the history of the match-up, make them understand how important it is to the fans, make them understand their responsibility.  Yes, that’s a lot of pressure, but at least you make the stakes clear.  We’re not asking for victory necessarily or even a beautiful game.  Just get out there and fight your hardest, and maybe we won’t be happy, but at least those wounds will only be of the flesh, able to be mended by the sweat of those who play for us.

 At the end of the day, Quakes fans felt persecuted in their own home, betrayed by their own players (rightly or wrongly), and worried that perhaps San Jose may become irrelevant to L.A.  Yes, I said it.  After two years absence, what if things have changed and that rivalry can never be recaptured?  Those are the stakes for us fans.  Only if you understand that can you understand the reaction from Quakes’ fans, the deep bitterness so evident in the past few days.  At times, perhaps Quakes fans have come off as being “ungrateful” or too quick to complain about every little thing, especially after we were fortunate enough to get our team back.  However, in the end, if nothing else, we only ask one thing from the front office, from Lew Wolff, from anyone else in charge.  Don’t give us back a body with no soul.  We need this rivalry.  It is part of our identity and enriches the entire league immeasurably.  If that means changing the venue to preserve the spirit, make it so.  If that means losing out on some revenue, so be it.  I know that’s not the logic that will win out in the real world, but I’ll tell you this.  A vibrant Quakes-Galaxy rivalry, the kind that creates memories that will last a lifetime and stories that blend into dreams, will ultimately do more to bring in committed, long-term soccer fans than a legion of Beckhams.

End rant. 

With only a point separating them after their first 10 games, the 2008 Quakes and the 2000 Quakes seem to be pretty evenly matched. Their goalscorers:

As a whole, I think our team this year is better than that in 2000. That team finished 7-17-8 in the lleague, with 29 points. However, that is over 32 games, so over 30 games, they would have finished with 27.12 points. We are just ahead of that pace.

After LA, we play four straight on the road. If we can salvage one point per game on average during that stretch, I think that puts us in a very good position for the second half of the season. After those four on the road, we play 10 of the remaining 15 games at home.

Hate Week will continue shortly.

#8: “The Big Bang” – Eric Wynalda

Not the most creative or inspiring goal celebration, but it was the first, thus meriting an honorary inclusion.  After scoring the first goal in MLS history, Wynalda opts for the classic shirt removal, but only stops halfway, either through choice, fatigue, or getting mobbed by his teammates I have no idea. 

#7: “Goal Envy” – John Doyle

Before his GM days, Doyle was a defender and captain for the San Jose Clash.  Not content with those roles, however, I believe he had a secret desire to be a marauding forward.  Exhibit A: he knocked in a few nice goals during his career.  So what?  So have a lot of defenders.  Ah, but how about Exhibit B. how many defenders do you know punctuate a goal with an acrobatic, half-cartwheel, half-backflip celebration.  He deserves marks for breaking the mold of the classic defender first pump upon scoring a goal. 

#6: “Banishing the Dark Side” – Danny Califf

Speaking of defenders, I remember being a bit skeptical when we picked up Califf from the Scum in ‘05.  It seemed like he had been there a little too long and might not be able to turn from the dark side, as other L.A. rejects have when exposed to the light of San Jose.  My fears were completely unwarranted as not only did he help anchor one of the best defenses in MLS history, but he scored the winning goal against his old team on their second trip to Spartan that year.  Not only that, but he ran towards the Casbah kissing the Quakes crest on his shirt.  Can’t ask for a better exorcism than that.  Game.  Set.  Match.

#5: “The Chicken Dance” – Dwayne DeRosario

This one needs no explanation.  DeRo was always good for highlight reel goals and the unexpected, after which he would unleash his patented chicken dance.  The most famous use was after the winning goal of MLS Cup 2001.  Has been tainted a little by its use in an orange jersey.

#4: “Get on the Ground!” – Troy Dayak

Wow, defenders have come up with a lot of good goal celebrations it seems.  In this case, Dayak’s goal against MIami in the 2001 playoffs was momentous and remarkable, but the celebration itself seemed rather ordinary at first (yes, you guessed it, a fist in the air).  However, Dayak is the unwitting victim of a wrap tackle by his teammate halfway through and wrestled to the ground, soon finding himself on the bottom of a pile of Quakes.  Classic.

#3: “Got Some Captain in You?” – Ramiro Corrales (assisted by Ronnie O’Brien)

Yes, I know, not as important as some of the other goals and celebrations on this list, and the new kid on the block, but I have to give it up for this one because of its creativity and humor.  Corrales puts it in the net off an O’Brien free kick, then runs to O’Brien’s side to pull off a hands-on-the-hip, knee-raised Cap’n Morgan impression.  I can only imagine the story and planning behind this one. 

#2: “Super Ekelund” – Ronnie Ekelund

Probably my all-time favorite if not for the emotional resonance of #1.  After putting the Quakes on top in MLS Cup 2003 through a laser of a free kick, Ekelund crosses his arms and raises his chin, cementing his status as a true Quakes superhero fit to be plastered on propaganda posters and inspiring murals for generations to come. 

#1: “Just Like Heaven” – Rodrigo Faria

Yes, that goal.  After the greatest comeback in MLS history, in the playoffs, against our most hated enemy, Faria seals the deal with a goldern goal in extra time.  He then slides to the ground on his knees and lays back with his arms outsretched and face to the sky.  The rain that was threatening all night began to fall and the Quakes players, coaches, and staff piled on him.  On top of it all, he had just lost his father.  His time with the Quakes may have been short, but he is an immortal part of the club’s history and gets the top spot in this countdown for the pure poetry of his celebration. 

NOTE: All years in which the shootout was in effect, all games that went to a shootout are marked as a draw.

9th out of 11. Not too shabby, for an expansion team. A few interesting things:

* In 1999, that record might be slightly misleading. All 6 “draws” were actually shootout wins for the Quakes.

* The 2005 team, the third-best regular season in the history of the MLS, had a rather pedestrian start. They only lost 4 matches all season, which means they went the next 22 matches with only one loss. Also, at this point, their goal differential was 0, and they ended with a plus 22 goal differential. They went on to score 39 goals over the next 22 matches, while only giving up 17.

* The 1998 team was firing on all cylinders to start the season, netting 20 goals. Ronald Cerritos lead the way with 5, Lawrence Lozzano had 4, Victor Mella, Eric Wynalda, and Eddie Lewis all had 3, and Wade Barrett and Jeff Baicher each had one. Unfortunately, the defense also let in 20, the most of all Quakes teams.

* While we are last in goals scored (no surprise there), the 2008 team is tied for 5th in goals allowed with 2005 and 1996. We are also the only team to be shut out 5 times (the 2000 Quakes were shut out 4 times).

* Finally, it should be no surprise to Tim Hanley that the team we are closest to in points is the 2000 team. Later in the week I will be comparing the two teams more throughly through the first 10 games of their respective seasons.

Richard Mulrooney (14,204)
Ronald Cerritos (12,382)
Wade Barrett (12,218)
John Doyle (11,385)
Troy Dayak (10,830)
Ramiro Corrales (10,310 and counting)

We are extremely lucky to have The Joe back in San Jose, as he is one of the premier goalies in the league. He was a rare bright spot in 1999 and 2000, a solid piece of the championship puzzle in 2001, and he continues to provide a calming presence on defense.

OTHER NOTES

Let’s hope he can provide that presence next week at Columbo, because it looks like Nick Garcia will be out of action. From CenterLineSoccer:

The latest to join the ranks of the barely-walking-wounded was centerback Nick Garcia, who in the words of head coach Frank Yallop, “tweaked his right knee” as a result of a practice game collision with Jamil Roberts. Garcia appears to have sustained damaged to his MCL, and while Yallop stated that he didn’t think the injury was severe, it could be serious enough to render Garcia unavailable for this weekend’s game against Columbus.

Yikes. We’ll see how this plays out in the next couple days, but I would imagine this would lead to the same back line that we had when Cochrane was out, with Riley and Denton on the wings, and Hernandez in the middle.

Tomorrow: Song of the week! Something to life your mid-week spirits, natch.

One of the most glaring issues (in my eyes) form Saturday’s match was the lack of play through the center of the field. That missing piece has been defined by the “#10″ jersey generally worn by the playmaker or attacking midfielder. Such famous #10s in MLS history include:

Piotr Nowak
Cuauahtemoc Blanco
Marco Etcheverry
Christian Gomez
Mo Johnston
Mauricio Cienfuegos
Carlos Valderamma
Tab Ramos

Quite the group of players. San Jose’s all-time #10s, however … not so much (with one glaring exception). They are (with appearances, goals in parenthesis):

1996: None
1997: Christopher Sullivan (25, 2)
1998: Francisco Uribe (12, 2)
1999: Raul Diaz Arce (18, 4)
2000: Travis Mulraine (18, 0)
2001-2004: Landon Donovan (A lot, a lot) (114, 45)
2005: None
2008: Jean Philippe Peguero (4, 0)

Non-Judas Total: 77 appearances, 8 goals

Now as I said, goals aren’t the #10’s job. But they don’t hurt either.

Our current “#10″ is actually #11, Ned Grabavoy. Nedley is a nice enough player, but you would have to say he is much more of the Sully/Uribe/Mulraine grade than anything listed on the first list.

I think a true #10 should be priority #1 when the transfer window opens up. We need help plenty of places, but I would like to see someone with similar qualities of a Donovan or a Gomez come in to create a link with the forwards. One name that has been tossed around is Zinha, but I think 32 is a bit old for a team that will take a few years to build. However, I have full faith in Frank to find our man. In 2001, he brought Ronnie Ekelund (29 at the time) to play a similar role, with Richard Mulrooney assuming defensive responsibilities. Granted, Ekelund had a much better supporting cast than anyone would now, but hopefully we can find someone when the transfer window opens up July 15.

Big Ups to Persing’s Pieces for the jersey number info. That should be a bookmark for all Quakes fans.

Little did I know, Doyle and Kinnear are friends going waaay back to their childhoods in Fremont. And with that in mind, calling these upcoming exhibition games friendlies couldn’t be more appropriate. The article is short and has very little new Quakes news. Basically, the roster is still incomplete and Doyle says he’s focusing on the talent in camp now but doesn’t rule out adding some new players:

The Earthquakes team that takes the field this week should be pretty close to the one that opens the season April 3 in Carson. But Doyle just returned from a scouting trip to Argentina and said his team might add players in the coming weeks. “I’m very excited to see what we have,” he said.

I’m pretty sure the Quakes never released a list of who is in camp and since I can’t find any big-name signing rumors this week (unless you count Corrales), I’m really pulling for the younger players to step up and shine during these games. C’mon Shea, Adam, and Danny… even you, Kei. Put a couple in the back of the net. Think of all the beers us fans will buy you after the games (you guys are over 21… right?).

On a personal note, I just bought a new camera (my last one got stolen) so I hope to have a bunch of pictures of Saturday’s game up on this blog. And to everyone, get excited! Its almost game time!

But now that the dust has settled a bit, its time to ponder exactly where does the average Bay Area fan stand when thinking about that team that continues to field ex-San Jose players and (for now) is still owned by AEG (considered ’round these parts mostly to blame for 2005’s Great Upheaval)? I certainly don’t have any answers to this dilemma but Ryan Cochrane recently gave his two cents to The Merc.

“They’re the Houston Dynamo now,” said Quakes defender Ryan Cochrane, who previously played in Houston and San Jose. “As soon as everyone can come to grips with that the better.”

Nice one Ryan, tell it like it is. I personally think this is a tough one for a lot of people and is going to play out on various message boards and blogs over the next few weeks. The general gist of it is this: how does one respect individual players and staff who gave their time and effort to the old Quakes yet still express their unhappiness with the Dynamo ownership group AND support the new San Jose team at the same time? Wow.

AEG retained player rights when it moved its franchise to Houston and became 1836, er Dynamo.

What remained in San Jose were not only the trophies, and records (wins and losses), but also the team name and colors — i.e., the legacy of MLS soccer here in San Jose, which amounts to much more than “a few extra odds and ends.”

The preservation of the San Jose Earthquakes’ legacy was decidedly NOT “standard” in American sports, where the usual practice is represented by a team like the NFL’s Houston Oilers, which moved to Tennessee in the mid 1990s took all the records and colors with them and deep sixed the name Oilers so that the new franchise in Houston became the Texans, with no ties whatsoever to Luv Ya Blue.

The Quakes’ situation has as precedent in American sports only the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, which ownership moved its players to Baltimore following the 1995 season; former Cleveland players became the Ravens (Matt Stover, a former Brown who became a Raven, is still paying for Baltimore), but all the prior championships, records, name and colors remained in Cleveland as the official legacy of the expansion Cleveland Browns when they resumed play in 1999.

Preserving the Quakes’ legacy would NOT have occurred without the forceful voice of the team’s fanbase, acting through SSV. MLS agreed, at SSV’s specific request, to preserve the legacy at the time of (and even before) AEG’s decampment to Houston, and later the new Quakes’ ownership group, after giving serious consideration to re-branding, ultimately decided that the existing brand was a powerful one that should be retained. Again, the existing fans, acting through SSV, were to my understanding the determinative factor in retaining the brand.

In fact, the Earthquakes brand is one of the strongest in American soccer and is known throughout the soccer world and should continue to grow in value with solid new ownership. Further, it is one of SSV’s missions to preserve the Earthquakes legacy for future generations through our non-profit SSV Community Foundation, www.ssvcf.org.

I totally apologize about the “odds and ends” comment by the way. And wow — I always thought the name, image, and records generally stayed behind when a team moves. Anyways, I hope this information is informative and helpful for those of us (obviously myself included) who were never completely clear on the specifics of the situation the first place.

One last bit of news. Clarence Goodson did not sign a new contract with the Quakes. He’s instead off to go find his fortune in Europe. Thats ok. I really didn’t know how long I was going to be able to keep going with that Beastie Boys connection anyways.

Right, I’m pooped. Congrats to TheCannon. Til’ next time, etc etc etc.