Posts by LaRoche

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Awkward in Seattle

By LaRoche, Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 2:53 PM

The LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake are facing off in the MLS Final at Qwest field in a few hours, at 5pm. It’s a little odd. This would be the “SuperBowl of Soccer” if the Sounders were playing.  The Sounders broke all MLS attendance records with their unprecedented fan base this year. But alas. [...]

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Monday, November 16, 2009

Sounders Wrap Up

By LaRoche, Monday, November 16, 2009 at 11:43 AM

It’s been a week since the Sounders’ first season came dripping to a halt with an 0-1 loss to Houston.  (It was a shitty game on both sides by all accounts.  The loss?  Easy: The pitch-raged patches of grass filled in with sand, just fine for college and high school throwball, but horrible for soccer. [...]

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

SoundersNerd Interviews: Jacqua, Levesque, Schmid

By LaRoche, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 12:57 PM

[Editor's Note: This was originally posted on Saturday prior to Sunday's game. Perhaps, now, after the 1-0 loss, it's for masochists only.] SoundersNerd, along with Steve Clare of Prost Amerika Soccer, interviewed Sounders Nate Jaqua and Roger Levesque, and Sounders coach Sigi Schmid in advance of the match against Houston tomorrow. Full preview coming shortly. [...]

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Monday, November 9, 2009

Sounders Season: It's Over

By LaRoche, Monday, November 9, 2009 at 3:52 PM

The Sounders lost 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo yesterday in overtime, ending their season.  SoundersNerd commiserated by buying a box of wine and a discounted pecan pie from Fred Meyer before he realized he was engaging in “shopping therapy.” Season analysis coming soon.

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Sunday Bloody Sunday

By LaRoche, Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 8:40 PM

As a matter of principle (and personal taboo), I don’t make predictions. But based on PubliCola’s election predictions, maybe I should start.  After all, I was close: I fell over myself lauding Chivas Keep Zach “Thwarten” Thornton in September, and yesterday he won the MLS Keeper of the Year Award. I consider that 1 for [...]

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Tonight: Houston

By LaRoche, Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 3:42 PM

Tonight’s game is a clash of the titans.  As I said on KUOW this morning, I think Houston is second strongest team in the league only to Columbus. Two MLS Cups, three US Nat starters (Ching, Holden, Clarke), and a bucketful of silly stats, like “seven active players who have started at least 10 play-off [...]

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Upper Deck

By LaRoche, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 1:45 PM

I’m so super effing giddy about the Sounders playoff tomorrow, I gotta do a pre-day pre-game post. I thought I’d address two rumors spread last night by my soccer team. Rumor #1: Sounders attendance breaks top 50 in the world! Yep, Prost Amerika cites the August (?) addition of World Soccer Magazine. I couldn’t find [...]

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Monday, October 26, 2009

Sounders End Regular Season with 2-1 Win at Qwest, Face Houston in First Round of Playoffs Thursday.

By LaRoche, Monday, October 26, 2009 at 1:36 AM

The drawback of a press pass? The press box. Sitting high above the field, it’s Sterile and professional. And very quiet. Strictly no cheering allowed. If a Sounders game is about one thing, it’s cheering. I stay the first half, gnawing on my knuckles at the various chances and missed opportunities. In the 16th minute, [...]

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sounders In! Bring On … ? The Only Team We Haven't Beaten, Chivas USA.

By LaRoche, Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Nothing makes a clinical psychologist happier than watching your clients realize their shortcomings, correct them in action, and proceed to triumph in their improved lives. Last night, after falling asleep for 15 minutes in the second half and letting Kansas City score twice—falling once again into the pattern of losing to teams they should beat [...]

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Saturday, October 17, 2009

The Second Team in League History

By LaRoche, Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 11:07 AM

Sounders, 10-7-11, 41pt, 4th in Western, 6th overall at Kansas City Wizards, 8-12-8, 32 pts, 2nd to last in the Eastern standings. Last meeting, April 11th, 0-1 win for KCW 5:30pm kickoff Two weeks ago, the Sounders’ underdog 1-0 win over Columbus pushed them within 92.5% chance of making the playoffs. But while the Green [...]

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Monday, October 5, 2009

Sounders Now in 5th Playoff Spot

By LaRoche, Monday, October 5, 2009 at 8:44 AM

The Sounders adrenalizing 1-0 victory over Columbus Crew brought the Crew’s 22 home-game non-losing streak to a screeching halt  and propelled us to 3rd in the West/5th in the playoffs. It was nothing short of fucking awesome. Our unstoppable first-half defense (countering Columbus’ relentless attacks—they did beat us 17-7 in shots). Columbus hitting the post. [...]

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Saturday, October 3, 2009

Sounders vs. Columbus Crew

By LaRoche, Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 11:12 AM

Sounders 9-7-11, 38pts, 5th in Western Division, 7th overall Saturday 4:30pm at Columbus, 12-4-10, 46pts, 1st overall Last game, 05/30/09, 1-1 draw When we last faced Columbus Crew, we were the hot snot upstarts, the cool fresh kids who hoped to reignite their winning streak with a dramatic win over the defending champions. The Crew, [...]

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Sunday, September 27, 2009

It's Not Fair to Blame One Player, but …

By LaRoche, Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Lots of disappointing things about our 2-1 loss to New England yesterday. However, I’ve already ranted about MLS reffing, so I’ll keep mum on that bullshit handball PK call and just add it to the tally of unprofessional officiating. I also like Riley too much to hold his feet to the fire about Sharlie Joseph, [...]

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Sounders vs. New England and the Playoffs

By LaRoche, Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM

Sounders, 9-6-11, 38pts,  3rd place Western Division at New England Revolution, 9-8-7, 34pts, 4th place Eastern Division Last meeting: 8/20/09, Revs 1-0 victory Two questions arise from last week’s 0-0 tie against Chivas: Will we ever score at home again? And will we make the playoffs? Montero at Qwest last Saturday, Photo by Jack Hunter. [...]

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