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Show ^^™ SUMMER UTAH CHRONICLE SPORTS www.dailyutahchronicle.com Friday, June 10, 2005 Vengeful Galaxy faces Real RSL looks to snap three-game losing streak in LA. Brian Shaw Chronicle Writer Real Salt Lake is in the throes of a three-game losing streak, in which they haven't scored a single goal. Several adjustments need to be made, according to RSL midfielder Andy Williams, in order for RSL to start firing on all cylinders again. Saturday, Real (3-6-2) continued its scoring woes, losing 2-0 to FC Dallas in a game that was even less competitive than the score indicated. "The midfielders and forwards are not on the same page. I think we are trying to rush it and tonight just wasn't our night/1 Williams said. Next up for RSL is the Los Angeles Galaxy, a team loaded with stars, talent and most importantly, Landon Donovan, Donovan, Major League Soccer's highest-paid player, has been on a tear of late, scoring three goals for the U.S. National Team in two games this week. He is scheduled to return to L.A. in time for Saturday's game at the Home Depot Center, where a large crowd is expected for Dad Appreciation Night. Fellow forward Carlos Ruiz may also play but has recently been hampered by a knee injury. If Ruiz can't go, World Cup veteran Jovan Kirovski, a pivotal part of the 2002 U.S. team, will take his place. Also returning from national team duty for L.A. is Guatemalan Pando Ramirez, a pivotal cog in the Galaxy midfield. One unfortunate piece of news for L.A. is that defender Chris Albright is not scheduled to play Saturday due to injury. For RSL, the best piece of news is that defender Eddie Pope is back in the line-up following two solid games in which his U.S. National Team posted back-to-back 3-0 wins. It couldn't have come at a more opportune time, since L.A. is welcoming back most of its strike force to Home Depot Center. Despite the three-game skid, Real has V V e need to go back to the drawing board and look ourselves in the mirror" RSL goalkeeper D.J. Countess said. "We are having some issues right now" one advantage on Los Angeles: They defeated the Galaxy earlier this season. Real shut down Landon Donovan and pulled off a 2-1 upset at Rice-Eccles Stadium on May 14. While RSL's spirits are considerably down, their win Wednesday in a friendly match against Chile may boost morale in time for this Saturday's game. Defeating Chilean first-division power Universidad Catolica 3-2 in an international exhibition game may have helped See R E A L Page 8 Universidad midfielder Nicholas Nunez gets tripped up by Salt Lake forward Seth Trembly Wednesday ntht at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Real defeated Catolica 32 by scoring three unanswered goals in the second half tn the international friendly. Women's tennis adds Irish champ Most of the recruiting season may be over, but the U women's tennis team has snagged another player at the last minute. The Utes added an international champion this week, inking Ireland's Leigh Walsh. Walsh, a native of Dublin, is the under-18 Irish champion and currently holds an ITF international ranking. She will join the tennis team next year. "I'm very excited to have signed such a high-caliber athlete and student so late in the recruiting season," Head Coach Megan Dorny said. "Leigh has a huge upside in that she has a lot of potential to grow and develop as a tennis player in the type of environment we provide here at the U." Redskins pick up Dyson Former Utah wide receiver Kevin Dyson, best known for his "one yard short" catch with the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 Super Bowl, found a new home this week when he signed with the Washington Redskins. Dyson, who has battled an injury-plagued career since being drafted in the first round of the 1998 draft, joins the fourth team of his NFL career, having previously played for Tennessee, Carolina and San Diego. The terms of the contract were undisclosed. Phil Jackson near decision on coaching future EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Phil Jackson expects to decide in "another day or two" whether he will return to coaching the Los Angeles Lakers or some other NBA team next season. Jackson said Thursday night that he's talking to some teams about their vacancies, but giving first priority to the Lakers. "There's been some talking going on, but nothing has been determined," he said from El Segundo on ABC's pregame NBA Finals show. "We're kind of narrowing it down now and I know these teams have to have an answer." Jackson had a self-imposed mid-June deadline for reaching a decision about his coaching future. He took this season off after Lakers owner Jerry Buss didn't offer him a new contract last year. "This is the biggest pregnant pause in history, waiting for me to make a decision about this," he said, adding it could come "in another day or two." Jackson, who will turn 60 before the start of next season, has had health issues in the past. He told ABC that he's undergone four series of tests to make sure a possible return wouldn't be interrupted Jackson's successor, Rudy Tomjanovich, left the Lakers in February because of health issues and was replaced by interim coach Frank Hamblen. Asked what would keep him from returning to the Lakers, Jackson said, "The biggest thing with that would be situations that don't work well, roster situations that are capable of change, personnel situations that are capable of change." Jackson and Kobe Bryant had a well-documented upand-down relationship during their five years together, and Jackson outlined the difficulties in a book he wrote that came out last October. Jackson has nine championship rings as a head coach, six in Chicago and three in Los Angeles. He's tied with former Boston coach Red Auerbach for most NBA titles. The Lakers had a 34-48 record this season and missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. The interview was arranged by Jackson's agent Todd Musburger, whose brother Brent is an ABC sportscaster. The Associated Press Pistons vs. Spurs: Good or bad for the NBA? Bad—NBA Finals promise to i be another summer flop • 'This year's Spurs-Pistons seWallace has less control ries, which began Thursday over his temper than the avnight, will certainly be rememerage Rottweiler, and he is bered (or more likely forgotten) supposed to be the Pistons' as the most boring NBA Finals in leader. the history of the league. Not only do the Pistons not As a result of the direction the have any superstars, they are league has gone of late, fan intera team of bullies who would est in the NBA has fallen to an rather punch and fight their all-time low. way to the championship than I can't imagine who would Tye Smith play basketball for it. want to watch this defensive The two teams in the Finals slugfest, devoid of any stars who have already ruined the last are actually enjoyable to watch. two years of NBA Playoffs, and in the process The biggest star in the Finals will certainly could end up driving the league bankrupt. go down as the most underrated big man of NBA execs better hope LeBron James gets his. tiine, regardless of how many rings he on a winning team, and it'd better happen wins. soon. The Finals are not worth watching this Tim Duncan looks too much like an alien year, so don't even bother. brachiosaurus to cement himself in the hearts I would have stayed tuned if the Heat were of Americans, and his play is so mind-numb- there—just to see Kobe Bryant further huingly dull it hurts. miliated by Shaq's success. Oh yeah, they also Duncan is the only guy in the NBA who can have a superstarnamed Dwyane Wade. score 30 points and pull down 10 rebounds There might be something wrong with the without anyone noticing. way Wade's first name is spelled, but there's His methodical style is effective, but he just nothing wrong with his game. doesn't have the same appeal of a person like Wade is a bona fide superstar and he is fun LeBron James or Michael Jordan. to watch—unlike every player in the Finals. The other "big" names of the Spurs won't I would have watched if the Suns were attract good ratings, either: Manu Ginobli and there because they score a lot of points, and Tony Parker—need I say more? Steve Nash did some incredible things this .In any city other than San Antonio, have you year. They also have Amare Stoudemire, who ever even met a serious Spurs fan? I haven't. (I know this sounds sacrilegious to basketball • I also haven't met a lot of Detroit Pistons purists) might be better than LeBron. fans. The Pistons look mostly like thugs who But instead we are left with the most pano one would want to encounter in an alley- thetic of options: the Spurs against the Pisway, not basketball players. The Pistons' emo- tons—a piece of cowboy equipment against tional leader is a thug of the purest variety: a car part. Rasheed Wallace. It's summertime: I would rather see the We're talking about a guy who once re- Heat and the Suns. ceived a technical foul in a McDonald's high tsmith@ school Ail-American game. chronicte.utah.edu Good—Nobody appreciates good basketball these days I've heard the same argument And by people, I mean Tye. again and again: If the Spurs Maybe if Steve Nash knew how and Pistons met in the Finals, to play defense, Phoenix might the NBA would hit a new rock be in the Finals right now rather bottom. Such a series would exthan Tim Duncan and the Spurs. emplify all that has gone wrong This is the dark side of the senwith the modern game. Pat Risationalism that has been perpetley's dream would have finally uated by "SportsCenter"w over come true. the years. Highlight reels are all Fans breathed a sigh of relief people seem to want these days, Chris Bellamy when the Spurs lost in the secand when they don't get it, they ond round last year, only to see call it boring. They take it out on the "boring" Pistons do a number on the star- players who are actually, you know, good. Nash studded Lakers. may have been the MVP, but Tim Duncan is the But now the day of reckoning has come, and I best player of our generation. Even Suns coach hope there are enough of us left out there who Mike D'Antoni admitted as much. actually appreciate good basketball. I know too We see the same problem in other sports; many ADD-afflicted fans whose idea of good people see flash and pizzazz on the tube every basketball is dunks and three-pointers. By and night and that seems to dictate everything. Ask large, these are the same people who think that fans whom they want quarterbacking their NFL a 28-21 football game has way more scoring team, and they'll tell you Peyton Manning and than a 4-3 hockey game. Michael Vick. Ask anyone actually involved Don't get me wrong—I don't necessarily like in pro football and they'll tell you Tom Brady, what Riley and the Knicks did to the NBA. To hands down. me, it seemed like his slowed-down, low-scorThe Detroit Pistons, in fact, are like the New ing style inspired teams to play to not lose, England Patriots of the NBA. People don't rather than play to win. Like everyone else, I want to like them because they don't score 100 would have loved to see the Suns in the Finals. points a game, they don't run-and-gun and they It's great to see a return to up-tempo basket- don't have some superstar who can go for 50 ball—Phoenix was the most exciting team the any night he wants. But the Pistons are also a NBA has seen in years, and the conference team that plays close games every single night, semifinals against the Mavericks was the best a team loaded with some of the best clutch playoff series I've seen in a long time. players in the game. But I can't help but roll my eyes whenever The point is, all these so-called "basketball people (and there are plenty) scoff at the Spurs fans" out there complaining about the Finals because they're under the mistaken impression match-up don't really want to see good basketthat they're a boring team. I'm sorry, but you ball. They want to see an ANDi Mix Tape; they couldn't have watched the Western Conference like being pandered to by "SportsCenter." They Finals and still call San Antonio boring. They don't want to actually have to pay attention. If beat the Suns at their own game. They aver- they did, they might realize that they're missaged 108 points a game in that series. Boring? ing a hell of a series. Pull your heads out, people. cbellamy@chronicle.utah.edu |