The Coach has answered.

By: Herschel | June 12th, 2009

Before I give my short pre-game analysis of Saturday’s game at the CAB I would like to say that I feel honored because it seems that Coach Curt Onalfo took the time to read my last post and e-mail me his opinion on my criticism about the team, the players and his coaching. Since the Coach sent me an e-mail and did not post his answer in an open forum (comments) I will not answer his e-mail in an open forum (although I will do it if he’s OK with that), but regardless of his displeasure with how I see things, I can only say that my article is actually based on facts and my opinions were based on those facts. I am not responsible for how players have played, coaching decisions or things done by the front office.

I do not work for MLSNET.COM or the official Wizards blog hillcrestroadblog.comand therefore I am not paid to write politically correct pieces that try to shield the truth for the “betterment of the image of the MLS or the team”; in other words I’ll call a spade a spade. One thing that I believe needs to grow here in the United States for soccer itself to grow is soccer reporting. Only a few journalists actually will readily call out either an MLS team or the U.S. National Team when they don’t produce (Ives Galarcep, Steve Davis and Jeff Carlisle, Steve Geoff).

I admit that I troll the message boards/forums and comments at BigSoccer.com, Downbytheline.com, etc and I can read what fans and bloggers post and it is very different to what is written by MLS reporters, not only regarding how a game was played, how the team played and even how the referee acted. Again, MLSNET reporters or those paid by the teams are not paid to express their opinions but to strictly report and I guess showing favoritism could be detrimental for their job status, especially in this economy, but just because they are asked to be soft on players, teams, coaches and refs doesn’t mean that this group should be expecting the same from fans who pay to go watch these games, either at the stadium or through cable/directkick.

I am not saying that any blog, let alone mine, will change the face of soccer journalism/writing, but just because the “official” league internet publication tries to avoid controversies or tries to avoid inflaming or inciting fans does not mean that those of us who express our opinions in blogs have to do the same. On the five points I presented in Part 1 of my “rant” I explained why I thought the way I thought based on the facts and situations that occurred either in specific games or at different times of the season. If I said something that was not true I am willing to hear evidence to the contrary.

I have been blessed with being able to speak a few languages and I invite Coach Onalfo and anyone who feels offended with my criticism to watch either on TV or online the criticism that coaches and players get outside the U.S. (i.e. “Futbol Picante” on ESPN or ESPNDEPORTES.COM; The Times, etc.). Granted I am not even close to the level of those journalists, I actually think my take on the Wizards’s situation is much lighter than what many others get from journalists that work for those companies.

Again, I will not apologize for expressing my opinion. When I took up this “job” I was given guidelines which I believe I have followed. I never personally offended the coach, the players or the front office; I have never met them but they seem like nice people. But they are nice people who are also public figures who are paid to play a sport in the public eye where followers are can express their opinion. What I say in this blog is actually nicer than what many people post on soccer forums online where they do at times engage in personal attacks on less liked players or even the coach.

Let me be clear, I will be the first one to jump and celebrate Wizards goals every week, I’ve even been know to run down next to the linesmen and express my opinion of his handling of the flag (especially in Arrowhead), but because of that and because of the fact that I buy my ticket/pay my cable/directkick subscription I also have the right to show my disapproval on where I see the team headed, the way players act on the field and the decisions that front office makes.

Sorry, Coach, I respect you and you seem to be a really nice guy and I understand your displeasure, especially considering you received a less than mediocre team and have done some good things with it. That being said I was given this blog to write about my opinion on the team and how everyone on it does their job. I understand that you have to defend your actions and those of your players, but like I said before, I have to call a spade a spade.