One of the most memorable quotes from the movie, "Apocalypse Now" is when Marlon Brando's character "Colonel Kurtz" says's "The horror...The horror... right after he is struck down with a machete by Martin Sheen's character, "Captain Willard".
That is the feeling that I had as a fan when watching Nate Jaqua being taken down in the box, late in the first half or when Sebastien Le Toux was taken down later in the match. Neither resulted in a foul but both deserved one.
To Continue:
Maybe it is just me but as a season ticket holder, I pay to see players like Montero, LeToux, Keller, Ljungberg among others.
I don't pay to see the officials. In fact, I don't even want to know his (or her) name. If I know the official's name then that means, that that official didn't do their job. MLS and soccer officials as a whole, should be invisible. For certain, they should not impact the flow of outcome of a match or future matches. Yesterday's official, Tim Weyland, lost control of the match.
Goalkeeper Kasey Keller seemed to think so as well.
“If we were a dirty team running around kicking people that’s one thing," Keller said. "I mean guys are getting sent off for silly things, where guys are getting booted in the game and not even getting yellow cards for it."
Now typically, I am not one to call sour grapes when my team loses or, in this case ties a match, that they could have or should have won, not because they did not execute but because of poor calls, or in this case, non-calls by an official who was not able to control the match that he has been hired to control.
Keller helps make my point. "I just think you have to realize that look ‘try to keep guys on the field’. If a guy does something nasty and punches somebody or repeatedly is kicking people and trying to hurt people, okay send them off. But little handballs and little ticky-tacky things that’s not what the game is about.”
Below is further proof about the lack of control that Mr. Weyland was able to exert and thus impact the match significantly. The numbers don't lie.
Misconduct Summary:
LA -- Alan Gordon (caution; Reckless Foul) 32
SEA -- Brad Evans (caution; Dissent) 45
SEA -- James Riley (caution; Reckless Foul) 57
SEA -- James Riley (ejection; Violent Conduct) 57
SEA -- Freddie Ljungberg (caution; Dissent) 58
LA -- Mike Magee (caution; Dissent) 59
LA -- Tony Sanneh (caution; Dissent) 61
SEA -- Nate Jaqua (caution; Reckless Tackle) 80
LA -- Stefani Miglioranzi (caution; Reckless Tackle) 83
In terms of Jame's Riley's Red card, I watched the replay and I did not see a punch. I saw him react to some physicality by throwing his arm up around the players neck but clearly it was not a punch nor did it do any damage.
A yellow card and stern warning would have been sufficient. Apparently this is what the head official was willing to give. However, Mr. Line judge threw in his two cents by offering his interpretation of the events to Mr. head official and suddenly, the red card is flashed. Once again, for the second week in a row, we are a man down in the second half and another player has to sit out next match.
I have spoken to Riley on several occasions and know him as a very disciplined and well mannered player. He is competitive and is intense in the heat of battle but he is not the type of player that has a reputation of being dirty, let alone punching another player.
"It really did happen so fast. Intent for me to strike any player in the game with my hands. I was trying to grab him. He pulled his head away. That’s why the referee has a whistle. He pulls a yellow, tells me to back off. I do and it just changes," Riley continued. "You just suck it up and take it on the chin.”
I guess that is what we all have to do is just suck it up after a disappointing 1-1 tie due to some abysmal officiating.
It is a shame that my column today is about the quality officiating in yesterday's match instead of talking about how much fun I had standing in the supporter's section with the Emerald City Supporters, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the X-Box Pitch at Qwest Field. Thanks referee.
What do you, the fans think? Please sound off.
Reach Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
