Sounders season unceremonious cut short

Fans sour after rival Galaxy kill the comeback and advance to MLS Cup Final

SEATTLE – Questionable calls leading to a disappointing result has resurfaced for another Seattle sports team in the playoffs.

Heading into the second leg of the MLS Western Conference Final between the Seattle Sounders and the LA Galaxy, Sounders fans knew they would need a miracle if they were going to make up a three-goal deficit to advance to the MLS Cup Final. To the 44,545 fans inside Century Link Field Sunday night, it looked like the Galaxy had an extra player on their side, the referee.

While Seattle won the game 2-1, it was not enough to win the series as LA won on aggregate 4-2 and advanced to set up a rematch against the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup Dec. 1.

The question many Sounders fans have posed throughout the blogosphere: Was the referee paid off to make sure the Galaxy advanced to the championship game so LA superstar David Beckham can retire on top?

I was one of the 44,545 in attendance rooting for the rave green. Despite the difficult circumstances and the pouring rain, I believed the Sounders had the capability to accomplish something special.

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric like always. At the start of the game, fireworks went off and green streamers floated down from the rafters as heavy rain could be seen falling through the bright lights. The Emerald City Supporters on the south end of the stadium jumped up and down singing and kept the energy level high.

Seattle came out aggressive and did what they needed to do, score an early goal. Eddie Johnson connected on a lead pass from defender Zach Scott for a goal in the 11th minute. Just one minute earlier, it appeared Johnson scored, but the goal was disallowed by referee Mark Geiger who called him offside. Replays showed Johnson timed his run and was onside by the time the pass was made. The sound of the referee’s whistle would be a recurring frustration for Sounders fans all night.

Two goals by halftime would have been nice, but the Sounders struck quickly in the second half to make things very interesting.

Scott scored on a diving header off a corner kick in the 57th minute to give the Sounders a 2-0 lead in the game which sent the fans into nirvana. With more than 30 minutes left, Seattle needed just one more goal to draw level with the Galaxy.

But the nervous excitement turned to resounding boos which echoed throughout the stadium when Geiger whistled Seattle for a handball in the box, awarding a penalty kick for LA in the 68th minute.

Galaxy forward Robbie Keane kicked a harmless cross into the middle which caught Sounders defender Adam Johansson’s arm. In a critical moment in the game when Seattle is fighting so hard to catch up, a judgment call by the referee to give LA a free goal on their only real attack of the night felt like a slap on the face to the Sounders fans. Keane’s ensuing goal made the score 2-1 and pushed LA’s aggregate advantage to 4-2, all but ending the Sounders comeback.

At the end of the game, the boo birds came out and some bottles were thrown onto the field.  A couple Sounders players’ frustrations also boiled over. Osvaldo Alonso and Johnson got in the faces of the officiating crew with Alonso drawing a red card which will carry over to next season.

While it is easy for the fans to blame the referee when their team loses, the Sounders did bury themselves in a gaping hole. The fight and resiliency they showed Sunday night should be commended.

In the first game on Nov. 11, the Sounders lost 3-0 in LA, an almost insurmountable deficit in playoff soccer. In the MLS playoffs, the two teams play two games and the combined score of both, or aggregate, determines who advances.

Seattle was in a similar situation in last season’s playoffs against Real Salt Lake. They lost the first game 3-0, before winning the next 2-0, falling short then. If the team has learned anything from the playoffs, it should be, do not give up three goals in the first game.

While Seattle has made the playoffs all four years of their MLS existence, they did not win their first playoff series until a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Nov. 8. With that hurdle now achieved, the Sounders had their sights set on a MLS Cup Title.

Injuries and inconsistent scoring plagued Seattle during this year’s playoff run. On Sunday, team captain, midfielder Mauro Rosales was out of the starting lineup with a hamstring injury, although he did sub in late. In his place was Steve Zakuani, the Sounders first overall pick in 2009 and a fan favorite who has slowly returned from a broken leg suffered last season.

It does not help that star forward Fredy Montero has played 10 playoff games without scoring a goal. Keane by comparison has scored five goals in the Galaxy’s four playoff game this season.

Since 2009, the Sounders have elevated American soccer with the largest attendance in the MLS. The timing of the NBA’s Sonics moving to OKC to become the Thunder coinciding with the Sounders inaugural season created a perfect storm that gave Seattle sports fans a team to fill the void. While football continues reigns the national scene, the Sounders continue to be the best ticket in town and my money on Seattle’s best hope at a winning a championship.

NHL in PNW??

City of Seattle releases plans for new arena to lure back NBA, NHL

Looking to quench my thirst for some live hockey action, I traveled north to Vancouver last Wednesday to watch the Canucks take on the Colorado Avalanche.

Following their tragic letdown in coming one game away from hoisting the Stanley Cup last season, the Canucks are in the midst of another dominating season atop the Northwest Conference and unbeaten in their last 10 games.

On game days, downtown Vancouver is buzzing with excitement. People all over the city are wearing hockey jerseys as they make their way to Rogers Arena for another sellout game. In Canada, hockey is the national identity. It is no different in British Columbia where the slogan goes, “We are all Canucks.”

For me, hockey is the perfect sport with a thrilling blend of speed, skill, physicality, intensity and passion. The exhilaration of a breakaway goal, a punishing check into the boards or the frantic final seconds of overtime is what makes hockey great.

While I don’t mind crossing the border to get my hockey fix, I cannot help but get excited about recent reports that the city of Seattle has unveiled plans for a new arena to attract an NBA and NHL franchise to the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle native Chris Hansen, a hedge-fund manager from San Francisco, has come forward with a proposal to pay $290 million to build an 18,000-seat arena south of Safeco Field. The city of Seattle would be responsible for financing $200 million to cover construction costs and recoup their money through the revenue two professional sports teams would generate. Construction cannot begin until Hansen’s investment group secures an NBA team to lease the building.

While I was devastated when the Seattle Supersonics were stolen and hitched their wagons for Oklahoma City, in the four years the NBA has been gone, I do not miss it one bit.

Growing up, my first love was basketball. Watching Supersonic legends like Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf battle Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals is still one of my favorite sports moments. The Sonics were one of the best teams in the 90’s and Key Arena hosted the biggest party in town. That all changed when the big business NBA, led by villain commissioner David Stern, did not see Key Arena as a suitable moneymaker for the league and allowed Oklahoma businessman Clay Bennett take the team to the Midwest, erasing 40 years of basketball history in Seattle.

The NBA game has changed drastically in the past decade. It is a league with overpaid, overhyped stars who chose where they want to play and when they want to play hard. The passion and excitement is gone and Seattle is better off without it.

The Seattle Sounders of the MLS have helped fill the void as the most exciting team in town, showing the country that Seattle has some of the most passionate fans in sports. I think a hockey team can have that same success, even if it means the NBA returns to Seattle.

Seattle is a great market for an NHL team with a great tradition of hockey dating back to the Seattle Metropolitans who became the first American team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917, long before the NHL existed.  In more recent years, the game has developed a growing fan interest from two Western Hockey League teams the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips. Being in proximity to one of the league’s most popular teams could also create a thrilling Cascadia rivalry. If hockey can survive in warm climate cities like Tampa Bay and Nashville, why not Seattle?

Speculation is that either the Sacramento Kings or New Orleans Hornet are the most likely NBA teams to be relocated for similar reasons Seattle left the league. Hansen has made it clear he is only interested in owning an NBA team, so another owner would have to step up to bring hockey to Seattle.

 In the NHL, the Phoenix Coyotes and New York Islanders are two teams hockey fans in the Northwest should watch out for. The Coyotes are currently owned by the league and are looking for another owner to either keep the team in the desert or move them. The Islanders, who have a long history on Long Island, play in an outdated arena and are having trouble financing another venue.

If professional hockey comes to Washington state, I will support it. I will always maintain my loyalty to the Canucks, but I have room in my heart for two teams.

Just 13 seconds after the puck dropped at Wednesday’s game, the Canucks scored for an early lead. Center Ryan Kesler won the faceoff to Kevin Bieska who sent the pass to winger Mason Raymond who skated into the Colorado zone and passed to David Booth who drove through traffic and beat the Avalanche goalie with a backhander over his glove.

Vancouver put the game away in the third period with a one-timer goal from Janick Hansen and added an Alex Burrows empty net goal to give the Canucks a 3-1 victory.

The Canucks looked primed to make another title run with the offensive firepower, defensive fortitude, depth and dominating goaltending. Hockey has never been more popular in Vancouver and it would be great for fans in Seattle to experience the rush.

BC Lions win Grey Cup

Lions cap miraculous season with championship win at BC Place

VANCOUVER - The BC Lions won the 99th Grey Cup 34-23 over the Winnipeg Bombers for the CFL championship Sunday, Nov. 27.

Seahawks winning streak halted by Redskins

'Skins end a six-game losing streak while snapping Hawks brief two-game winning streak 

SEATTLE - It looked like things were looking up for the young Seattle Seahawks. With the Washington Redskins coming into town with a horrible quarterback, Rex Grossman, and a six-game losing streak, Seattle had the potential to win and hold onto fleeting hopes of catching San Francisco for the division title. Now you can kiss that hope goodbye after the Redskins rallied for a 23-17 win over the Seahawks.

Marshawn Lynch continued to carry the team by rushing for 111 yards and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tavaris Jackson, but turnovers set up the game in the end for Washington to march down the field for the wininng touchdown. Seattle dropped to 4-7 with the loss, six games behind the 49ers in the NFC West.

Seahawks playing themselves out of Luck sweepstakes

Just when you think the Seattle Seahawks could not play any worse, they go out and beat the AFC North leading Baltimore Ravens, a team known for its stout defense.

Seattle’s 22-17 victory over Baltimore last Sunday at Century Link Field was shocking after disappointing losses to Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dallas the last three weeks gave the Hawks six losses midway through the season.

The Seahawks looked good from the start with Marshawn Lynch rushing for a touchdown and the special teams forcing a turnover to set up a field goal and 10-0 first quarter lead. From that point on, Seattle kept their lead by kicking field goals.

Lynch reached the 100-yard rushing plateau for the second straight week, the first time in his career he has done so. He has also rushed for a touchdown in the last five games he’s played, something no Seahawk back has done since the Shaun Alexander days.

It is hard to imagine the letdown Baltimore had considering they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers twice this season and many have predicted them to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. But two fumbles on punt returns cost them and Seattle took advantage of the 12th man support to notch their third victory on the season.

Seattle currently sits in second place in the NFC West behind the surging San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks might as well be in no-man’s land because there is no way they can over take the Niners for the division lead. While the schedule gets easier for Seattle with upcoming games against the struggling St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins, it is hard to imagine the Hawks putting a run together to clinch a playoff spot.

Let me be clear that I am NOT in favor of Seattle throwing in the towel for a high draft pick; it certainly looked at one point that is what Coach Pete Carroll was doing. The offense has really struggled with both Charlie Whitehurst and Tavaris Jackson at quarterback. A lot of the blame should go to the offensive line for not offering protection or blocking in the running game. But neither quarterback has shown an ability to lead while Matt Hasselbeck has had a great year for the Tennessee Titans while mentoring Ferndale’s favorite son Jake Locker.

The number one projected player coming out of college this year is Stanford’s quarterback and Heisman Trophy favorite Andrew Luck. After watching the winless Indianapolis Colts look helpless without Peyton Manning, it looks as though the Colts will win the Luck sweepstakes, getting the first overall pick for having the worst regular season record.

But there is still seven weeks left in the season and who knows what can happen. My hope is that Seattle will draft a quarterback in the first round and groom their franchise leader for the future. Maybe the Seahawks will get lucky.

Sounders eliminated again

SEATTLE - While the Seattle finally won their first playoff game after five tries in three years, the three goal deficit proved too much to overcome as the Sounders were eliminated by Real Salt Lake 4-3 on aggregates in the MLS playoffs.

The highest scoring team with the most comeback wins on the season, came one goal away from advancing in the playoffs. The loss is even more dissapointing considerig it was Kasey Keller's last playoff run and he ended his illustrious career without a league championship.

The L.A. Galaxy ended up winning the MLS Cup in front of their home fans while sending off David Beckham a winner in probably his last game in American soccer.

Sounders comeback win caps Keller's home finale

photo by Greg Pierce

SEATTLE – Arlo White said it best, ‘Who is writing the script for Kasey Keller?’

The legendary goalkeeper’s final regular season home game could not have had a better ending Saturday night.

In front of a MLS record 64,140 Sounders fans, who came to honor America’s best goalkeeper, Keller, did not disappoint turning away seven shots while the Sounders once again won in comeback fashion with two late goals to edge the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1.

A defensive lapse by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado led to a break-away goal by San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski in the 24th minute.

From there Keller put up the wall, denying the Earthquakes with four saves in one exhilarating sequence that had the crowd chanting, “Kasey Keller!”

In the 65th minute, Sounders defender Patrick Ianni rolled a soft pass back to Keller that Earthquakes forward Khari Stephenshon charged on. Keller beat him to the ball and knocked it out to Wondolowski who took a shot off the rebound that Keller had to dive to make a foot-save to the right side of the box. Simon Dawkins then hit the rebound from the top of the box and Keller dove to his right to bat it away with his right hand. Wondolowski had another chance to get to the ball but Keller dove and slapped the ball away in time to keep the Sounders down a goal.

A couple Seattle substitutions in the second half made an impact coach Sigi Schmid was hoping for.

Maruo Rosales, playing in his first game back after missing five games due to injury, assisted on the first goal with a long pass over the Earthquake defense to rookie midfielder Sammy Ochoa. He hit it off the second bounce past the goalie for the equalizer.

Then came Fredy Montero to the rescue in the 85^th minute for the game-winner.

            Keller said after the game his final home game in Seattle was the most nervous he has ever been since his last World Cup appearance in 2006. If he was nervous, nobody noticed as Keller played composed and brilliant as always.