Where's Waldo? The question should instead be, Where isn't he?
Former US international and current Fox Soccer broadcaster Eric Wynalda may be called many things, but one of them is definitely not "shrinking violet." Wynalda, at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention in Kansas City, Mo. last week, gave a talk entitled "Why Not US?" And why not indeed? This link brings you to the text of Wynalda's remarks that cover everything from Landon Donovan ("A complex guy") to putting the US on a European schedule (He's for it, but not necessarily in the way you would think.) to Klinsmann (for) and ends with an in-room exchange with MLS communications head Will Kuhns. This is a long read, so settle in, but it is worth every train-wrecking , brilliant second you invest in it. Grant Wahl calls it "Wynalda's Howard Beale moment" but it's more brilliant than that.
4 months ago
Martek
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Wow
that was Spaulding Gray-esque and it was fantastic :)
Of course, I don’t agree with some of the things he said: I wouldn’t mind moving the schedule around, though I’m not sure the German model would work here, certainly not without support from the networks. But, if we shoot more to be a Bundesliga-lite rather than EPL-lite that would be wise.
Also, pay-to-play…do we want to open that can of worms? I know its the de facto system here but is that how we want to continue? If we want to make MLS better then Garber needs to have a heart-to-heart with Gulati about fixing the issues in USSF, particularly as it pertains to the structure and network of PDL teams, how they interact with schools and effectively how youth talent is selected and funneled up the chain. I’ll stop at that, but again, Wynalda is nothing if not entertaining :)
The Problem with Wynalda
Here’s my issue with him. Any good ideas or reasonable suggestions he might have are lost in the avalanche of jackassery and nonsense this guy spews. In the end I think it’s more about him that about improving the game, you just get the feeling that his end game is self-promotion.
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Managing Editor of Dynamo Theory
Bacon-wrapped asparagus?
Clearly I’m hungry, which is driving this analogy but that seems to be Wynalda’s MO: goodness and worthy stuff wrapped in self-indulgence. He typically brings valid points & critiques, but its wrapped in an anecdote or part of a tangent that it is not fully-formed or fleshed out. Never a dull moment with him
But Ginge
That’s precisely why I love Waldo. Here’s the veritable antithesis of John Harkes, the John McEnroe of the US Soccer Media. Love or loathe him, he’s always interesting to listen to- even if he’s having a seemingly bipolar moment.
Remembering Donovan’s chiding of Becks- who knew Landon has an individualized practice schedule?
That stuff about Donovan was priceless. You always wonder when Wynalda criticizes Donovan, who supplanted Waldo as the greatest-ever US outfield player, but an individualized practice schedule? Wow. I wonder just how true that is.
Waldo may be an absolute arsehole, but one thing he’s not is boring. As long as I don;t have to deal with him, I can just sit back and enjoy the show.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
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