Shep Messing’s conflict of interest

In addition to being a piss-poor ’keeper with a porn star mustache, Shep Messing is the regular color commentator for Red Bull New York, co-host of the dreadful MLS Extratime … and soccer super agent.

That’s right, Messing is the Bob Sugar of MLS. His clients include Mark Schwarzer, Tomasz Kuszczk and U.S. under-20 star Danny Szetela.

Szetela, according to reports, is considering an offer from Italian giants Roma.

"We're in discussions with Roma, but nothing's agreed," Messing said. "We're also in discussions with MLS. I don't know where they're connecting the dots."

"He's been miserable the last two years, but now the Crew is playing well and he specifically didn't want to go now," Messing said. "If the league comes in with something that knocks our socks off, he'll consider it. I think he should go. I think it would be a good atmosphere for him."

I hope Danny goes to Roma. He is an excellent player and it would be great to see an American playing in the Serie A again, but that isn’t why I’m writing this post. I’m writing this post because I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that MLS allows a player-agent to be one of its primary pundits. As half of the half-brained MLS Extratime (with Alexi Lalas’ malformed shadow), he is portrayed as some kind of MLS media guru.

As the managing director of Global Sport Group, Messing’s responsibility, as his web site says, is to “maximize your value during your playing career.” What better way to maximize his client’s value than by talking him up during a live broadcast?

Now, many of you know my disdain for Messing and his dim-witted blather during MLS matches (check out the latest Messing Moronic Musing on the right). But I’m not the only writer to raise this issue. Check out what long-time DC United writer Steven Goff (Washington Post) has to say about it.

When he approached Messing about the apparent conflict of interest, Messing said:

"As an aside, because of my television work for Major League Soccer, I do not handle Szetela, [Messing's brother] Roy does, although within the same company. I limit my player representation to players outside of MLS."

But Goff correctly points out:

"[GSG’s] web site also shows Red Bulls defender Carlos Mendes among its clients, although Messing said Szetela is Global's only MLS client."

Mendes is actually listed on GSG’s site under the Rochester Rhinos, despite the fact that he hasn’t played for them since 2004. Furthermore, in all the articles I’ve read about Szetela, Shep Messing is listed as his agent, not Roy Messing. U.S. assistant coach Peter Nowak is also one of their clients. What’s to stop him from shilling for Nowak to get the Colorado or Real Salt Lake job during MLS broadcasts?

But, surely, Messing wouldn’t shill for a player or coach. What he lacks in soccer journalism acumen, he makes up for in blubbering honesty. He tells it like it is. Even if that means disagreeing with himself from one sentence to the next. He is unfiltered truth vomit. So, if a client plays poorly, like, say, Carlos Mendes, in a match he is calling, he wouldn’t pull punches, right?

Well if he doesn’t, he isn’t fulfilling his promise to his clients:

GSG “helps players enhance their value in the marketplace, capture that value and maximize their wealth – during and beyond their playing careers. These services are delivered with uncompromising integrity, honesty and un-conflicted advocacy of our client’s best interest.”

What if that conflict is unbiased color commentating?

How can someone with a vested interest in the building up the market value of certain players be allowed to comment on those players and the league in which they play? It’s like letting the president of the Carlos Ruiz fan club referee a Dallas-Los Angeles match.

Perhaps, I’m making too much of this. After all, it’s only Danny Szetela, Carlos Mendes and Peter Nowak that are ever involved in matches he broadcasts. The rest of his clients play overseas. And I’m sure he isn’t planning on signing any more MLS players or potential MLS players. I mean, it’s not like MLS is becoming a destination for European players now or anything (I’m being sarcastic. Could you tell I was being sarcastic? Was I laying it on too thick? I was laying it on too thick, wasn’t I?).

No, Shep Messing, you need to pick a career. You are either going to be a media personality or a sports agent, but you can’t be both, jackass, so pick one.

Beasley shows racist Zeta fans the door

DaMarcus Beasley added a third goal to the 3-0 aggregate lead that put Rangers through in Champions League qualifying over Montenegrin champions FK Zeta. It was the only goal of the contest.

D-Beezle's goal came in the 81st minute, when he made a quick cut inside to past a two defenders before firing a low shot inside the near post from 20-yards out.

The Rangers' away match was marred by racist chants from the Zeta fans aimed at Beasley and teammate Jean-Claude Darcheville, according to reports.

The Rangers will face either Red Star Belgrade or Levadia Tallinn in the next round.

BBC Match Report.

Is there a FIFA jinx?

EA Sports announced that RBNY and under-20 U.S. star Josmer Altidore will join Club America's 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa and Ronaldihno on the cover of EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 08 in North America. The article announcing Altidore's presence on the popular video game had me wondering -- is there a FIFA Soccer jinx?

In the American form of rugby, many media pundits claim that gracing EA Sports' Madden series is the kiss of death. There's even a web site that tracks the results of each cover boy called Maddenjinx.com. From 2000 to 2008, the indentified author of the site details the athletic failures and injuries that plague the cover boys each year.

Rather than go through all the players who graced the cover since the 1994 debut of the game, which would be long and tedious, I decided to examine just the USA cover boys to determine if there is a FIFA cover jinx for American players.

The first American player to make it onto the cover (at least regionally) was "Rocket" Roy Lassiter for the North American edition of FIFA '98: Road To World Cup. In 1998, Lassiter led DC United to their third consecutive MLS Cup final, this time losing to newboys Chicago. Lassiter, however, had a very productive year with 18 goals in 25 matches. Jinx? Nope.

The next American cover boy was Eddie Pope for FIFA 2000. Pope, whose career has been marred by injuries, managed to play in 21 matches in 2000, more than any year previous. But his fouls were up considerably and United's young dynasty crumbled to a 8-18-6 record. United gave up 63 goals that season and went from champions to cellar dwellars. Jinx? Possibly.

DC United continued to dominate the covers, despite their dethroning, as FIFA 2001 featured midfielder Ben Olsen. Here's were superstitious people might begin to wonder. Olsen's career imploded in 2001 with severe ankle injuries that kept him sidelined the entire season. Having been loaned to Nottingham Forrest for their 2000-01 campaign, Olsen had impressed and was expected to be bought on permanently by the English club. The injury nixed that move and continued to affect him in 2002 as well. Jinx? Strong Evidence.

FIFA 2003 featured Landon Donovan on the cover in the U.S. and Canada releases. Donovan's 2003 was spent with the San Jose Earthquakes and, again, his performance explodes the notion of a jinx. The dyed-one led the 'Quakes to their first-ever MLS Cup championship, scoring two goals in the final, and was named Honda MLS Cup Most Valuable Player. He scored 12 goals and added six assists during the regular season. Donovan was also named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2003. Jinx? I think not.

It would be three years before another American cover boy would be selected and it would be yet another DC United player, as Freddy Adu was featured on FIFA 06. Adu's up-and-down career has been discussed at length on this site and others, but 2006 appears to have been an up year, despite his eventual trade to Real Salt Lake in December of that year. He finished third on the team with assists (8), although he only had two goals in 32 matches. He was named to the MLS All-Star team (although that isn't really a measure of success, just check out this year's roster). DC crashed out of the playoffs despite a record-setting 55-point regular season, but Adu avoided injuries and played in every match. Jinx? Nope.

In 2006, EA Sports went back to MLS golden boy Landon Donovan. Following his second cover appearance, Donovan had a crappy 2006. Los Angeles went 11-15-6 and missed the playoffs. Donovan had 12 goals and 8 assists in 24 matches, not a bad showing, but not enough to help his side get into the postseason. And we won't even mention the debacle in Germany. Jinx? Perhaps.

So, there you have it. Or don't have it. It's inconclusive, really. But there doesn't appear to be enough evidence to convince even the most paranoid of fans that there may be some kind of cosmic comeupance for the FIFA coverboy. Three out of the six players made it to the MLS playoffs, two had stellar years. And with the exception of Ben Olsen, none of the players had devestating injuries, like is so common with the Madden series. So, rest easy RBNY and U.S. fans, FIFA 2008 coverboy Josy should be fine.

VIlla sign American defender

With Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner's purchase of Aston Villa, the EPL club could be a prime destination for many talented young Americans.

Eighteen-year-old defender Eric Lichaj will join Villa's academy, and attempt to work his way into the reserve squad. Although he trained with the U.S. under-20s prior to the World Cup, Lichaj was not named to the roster that competed in Canada. He was, however, a prominent member of the U.S. U-17s, and was a member of the prestigious Chicago Magic youth club that has produced many MLS stars (such as Ricardo Clark and Ned Grabavoy). He also spent a single year at the University of North Carolina, where he registered no statistics according to their web site.

Spare a dime for a World Cup winner?

Sure I pee in jar and live in a box, but I scored two goals in the Homeless World Cup. In a sure sign that we've run out of ideas on how to solve the issue of homelessness in America and abroad, a task force in Gainesville, Fla., is attempting to sign up the home-impaired for a little kickabout.

The teams are built upon the premise that physical activity can help alcoholics and other substance-abusers stay sober, and that the structure of team practices and the accomplishment of working toward a goal can give a life new shape - a concept Lyons said deserves a shot in Gainesville.

And that's not all, an American team could have a shot at attending the Homeless World Cup, which is an actual tournament held in Copenhagen. Scotland are the 2007 Homeless Cup champions.

This is the Cup (see right). Keeping with the spirit of the event, it looks as if they found it in the garbage. Also, it isn't, unfortunately, a cup, so the winners still haven't got a pot (or cup) to piss in. Forget the trophy, why don't you give the winners a house?


Here is the U.S. team (Hey, wait a minute. What's Maradona doing playing for the U.S.?):

YA: Weekend Joy for Americans abroad

Pouring through Yanks Abroad’s round-ups of the European matches featuring American players, I’m struck by a couple of things. One, there are Americans playing all over Europe. Two, there are far too many Americans playing in crappy leagues in Norway (etc.) or lower divisions in Germany. Thank God for Yanks Abroad! Because who has the time to ferret out Odd Grenland’s weekend results?

Here’s a Cliff’s Notes version covering those Americans who made a real impact in Europe over the weekend:

DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers) – “If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap!” Ok, maybe not. D-Beezle went the full 90 for the first time with his new club against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and according to YA “looked very much at home with his new team.” But he was also “denied early on by keeper Michael Fraser after the Scottish captain played him through into the box.” I love Beasley, but I have to admit that it isn’t the first time he’s screwed the pooch one-v-one.
INVERNESS 0-3 RANGERS.

Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege) -- Belgian Waffles? Gooch scored the game winner in Standard’s 4-1 win over Zulte-Waregem. Onyewu played the entire match, despite reports that he may be leaving the club very soon. Most recently, the Daily Mail reported that Reading are attempting to buy Onyewu and Sheffield United may also be interested. Gooch needs to get out of Belgium. England would be a better fit for his physical play, although he might struggle on the technical side with some of the quicker EPL forwards.
ZULTE-WAREGEM 1 - 4 STANDARD.

Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96) – “Vould you like to touch my monkey?” Cherundolo played the entire game in the club’s win over Regionalliga club VfR Aalen, and nearly scored in the 29th minute. Fellow American at Hannover Sal Zizzo did not play. YA doesn’t say much about how Stevie played, but it is promising to hear that he is playing at all, considering the back injury that kept him out of the Gold Cup and Copa America.
VFR AALEN 1- 3 HANNOVER 96.


Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock) – “Now’s zee time on Sprockets, ven we dance.” Pearce played the full 90 in Hansa Rostock’s 8-0 rout of Oberliga club Rot-Weiß Hasborn. YA had little to say about his performance because he had little work to do against the Hasborn minnows, but it will be interesting to see if he stays in the first team when Hansa Rostock kicks off the season next weekend against giants Bayern Munich. Stay tuned.
ROT-WEIß HASBORN 0 - 8 HANSA ROSTOCK.

Ian Joy (FC St. Pauli) – “You never forget your first girl.” Joy abounded, as Bundesliga.2 new boys shocked giants Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in German Cup action over the weekend. Joy had a lot of work to do at left back, defending against Tranquillo Barnetta, Theofanis Gekas and Bernd Schneider. Hopefully, some top-flight clubs took notice and Joy can be extricated from the void of nothingness that is lower division German football.
FC ST. PAULI 1 - 0 BAYER LEVERKUSEN.

For a more complete description of all the Americans involved in this weekend’s action, check out Yanks Abroad.

TYH'S PICKS FOR MLS BEST 11 (Week 18)

GOALKEEPER

J. Cannon (LA)

DEFENDERS

A. Jazic (LA), M. Burch (DC), C. Talley (RSL), D. Moor (DAL)

MIDFIELDERS

K. Gray (LA), S. Ralston (NE), S. Miglioranzi (CLB),
J. Gros (DC)

FORWARD

L. Emilio (DC), R. Findley (RSL)

* TYH's Best 11 is based only on MLS league games and doesn't take into consideration SuperLiga performance.

TFC pick up Canadian 'keeper

Despite all of MoJo's whining about how difficult it is to find good Canadian players, he took TYH's advice and went out and secured Greek-Canadian Kenny Stamatopoulos o take over for the injured Greg Sutton.

His first match is shaping up to be the possible MLS debut of "the name that shall not be mentioned." According to the Toronto Star, Stamatopoulos' family were really happy he was back:

"That was the first thing they said," says Stamatopoulos. "It wasn't, `Welcome back.' They were like, `Where's the tickets?'

I'm sure TFC jersey letterers worked well into the night attempting to figure out a way to fit STAMATOPOULOS on a jersey.

Here's the Toronto Star article