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B. Courtney McBath MinistriesP.O. Box 12846 Norfolk, VA 23541-0846Revive Line (Prayer ) Hours of Operation:Outside VA - (800) 917-0070Mon - Fri 10 am - 4 pmPhone: (757) 321-7703Sun 7 am - 12 pmPhone: (757) 321-7729
It's never good for the Devil when people rise up and be what God meant them to be. It's never good for him when people walk in their destiny. Don't miss out on this powerful 4-part series.


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Rated 3,7 out of 5 by 297
Rated 5 out of 5 by Sperez impress with staff .. the first ppl u incounter.lobby.
staff was veryy helpful ..especially night supervisor
3. März 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by Mosh Compassion and Consideration
I stayed here with my sweet 16 year old cat who was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. She went into a partial remission during our stay but sadly died a week after we left the hotel.
I cannot say enough about the compassion and consideration we both received. Everyone, including the people at the front desk, concierge, housekeeping, and in-room dining inquired about how she was doing and spoke well wishes often. At time of checkout, I wrote a lengthy note to the general manager of the hotel indicating this.
This is my choice for stay when I am in Brooklyn and the number of friends and family I have recommended it to since my stay.
I look forward to returning soon!
26. Februar 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by mommy1 Hotel stay
The hotel was clean and staff very friendly.
Always have a great hotel experience at this sheraton.
24. Februar 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by ChocolateNupe895 Best Value and service for the money!
I had, as usual, an excellent stay at this hotel. The staff is always courteous, they know what they are talking about, and they meet your needs quickly.
22. Februar 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by ketri Best location near trains and shopping!!!
Great location, location, location and excellent rates stylish rooms.
5. Februar 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by LeoJ Awesome
Excellent accommodation, wonder staff, always saying good morning, welcome back, have a great day, which is not the norm for NYC. The room was the most comfortable room that my family has ever had. When we finished our vacation, my wife asked me and the kids to share the 5 best things about our vacation and my number 1 thing was the hotel and room comfort. Thank you very much and on my next trip to NYC I will stay there again.
28. Januar 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by Jax07 Feedback
I had one of my greatest hotel experience. I was overwhelmed by victor kindness he met me with a smile and went over and beyond to give excellent customer service. We need more customer service like Victors.
Great experience
21. Januar 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by grandfather34 pleasant stay
very convenient to downtown. Victor, staff person on desk very helpful and pleasant. Music in restaurant is however much too loud!
21. Januar 2014

subset: commoncrawl


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Audit: Exodus of aging workforce looms for welfare agency
The state's embattled welfare department — already under fire over massive EBT card fraud and abuse — is bracing for a possible mass exodus of retiring staffers, with some workers already handling caseloads as high as 1,500, a Herald review of a recent internal audit found.
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That Boston Marathon men Dick and Rick Hoyt, Red Sox slugger
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WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday sided with a Wyoming property owner in a dispute over a


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Greensburg —
An autopsy was conducted on William Cundiff, 38, Thursday morning, and medical examiners say it will take four to six weeks before toxicology results are known.
Cundiff was found dead Wednesday near the loading dock of Greensburg's Aldi.
Investigators with the Greensburg Police Department have ruled out the possibility of foul play.
The Daily News will have more on this story as it develops.
— Daily News
January 4, 2013
Toxicology results pending on man found dead at Aldi
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Few things in high school basketball are more difficult to do than beating a conference rival, especially twice in a season.
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- Police Blotter Incidents DCSD March 6 3:23 a.m. - EMS run to Westport GPD March 6 2:19 p.m. - EMS run to the 300 block of N. Carver Street. 5:15 p.m. - Domestic battery in the 200 block of S. Broadway Street. 5:16 p.m. - Juvenile/incorrigible in the 300 block of N.
- Cougars' season ends in OT It was as heartbreaking as any game could turn out to be. Friday night's outcome in the South Decatur Sectional 60 Semifinal was not the result that the South Decatur boys basketball team had expected. The second half had a championship feel to it, a
- Elementary school celebrates diversity with cartoons GREENSBURG - With soft drinks, popcorn and subtitled cartoons from around the world, Greensburg Elementary School celebrated the diversity of its students. About 200 children and parents gathered in the school's cafeteria Thursday evening for about a
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- Illuminate Ticket Sales Illuminate Ticket Sales Tickets for Illuminate can be purchased at: First Christian Church of Greensburg - contact Alex Sefton Community Churches of Greensburg and Batesville - contact Barry Morton Greensburg Wesleyan Church - contact Doug Preston F
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meets every Wednesday at 8:30pm
PC 14 will be auctioning off desserts for all of campus. |
http://www.obu.edu/admissions/upcoming-events/ for details or call our office to inquire. We'll be happy to give you details.
CAB Movie- Hercules
The Women of Tri Chi and the Women of Chi Rho Phi plan to have a Kindergarten Mixer
The men of PC '14 (and some others) are being auctioned off for dates to the women of Ouachita.
meets every Wednesday at 8:30pm


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The 404 642: Where Justin jumps down the emergency slide with a Shirley Temple (podcast)
Fresh off her appearance on MSNBC, Caroline McCarthy replaces Justin today to talk Net neutrality, iPhone users getting laid more than Android owners, Fallout New Vegas, and a Web-surfing contest.
There have been a lot of misconceptions and misstatements about Net neutrality. Usually on The 404, we strive never to talk about real issues, but the Net neutrality debate has really stirred up the emotions with Jeff, Wilson and Justin. Caroline helps explains some of the issue from her appearance on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" on MSNBC, and if it means a lot to you, be sure to check out Wilson's rant yesterday about the issue.
But ultimately, there are several competing interests involved, and we just want make sure that the next Google or Facebook that comes down the road won't have to pay to get priority access. The stakes are high here, people! Everything will be delivered over the Internet in the coming years, from books, to newspapers, magazines, blogs, social networks, video channels, radio, music, etc.
Rant over. Moving on.… Read more


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FoodScience of Vermont Arabinogalactan Powder -- 3.53 oz
Mixes well
I haven't used this long enough to tell any big changes but I can say it mixes REALLY well with liquids. You get a slight hint of a taste but nothing that will ruin your drink or food.
May 7, 2013
Love this product
I struggle with constipation while pregnant and started taking this helped with energy level and colon health. Taste leaves something to be desired but you can mask it in something nutritious.
July 8, 2008
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Bobagoat, Seeker, GotMaul, SWFreak... and crew!!!
Bobagoat, Seeker, GotMaul, SWFreak... and crew!!!
Awesome. Great costumes (or perhaps lack thereof :lol)
Here's some more con goodness!
holy **** that's awesome...
Yeah, the booth looks like it is ROCKING! :thumbsup
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
AWESOME costumes .... and Turo ... amazing job on the paint and weathering on those pieces !!!!!!!
Looks like all the training for you Spartans paid off - You look great !
Ditto!!!!!!!!!! Way too cool!!!!
Awesome suits, helmets, booth and, um....cod....bikini......Spartan thingies. :lol
Great job, keep the pics coming. :thumbsup
Those are some outstanding 300 suits! The helmets, shields, and spear tips are amazing!!!!:love
Nice Booth Guys!!!:thumbsup:fettesb
I have now officially seen too much of certain members of our TDH community.
Have fun guys, like I need to tell ya!
Wow, definantly awesomely manly gear.
I told myself I wouldn't look at D*C photo threads for a few weeks, and I know why! I'm so bummed I couldn't make it this year, not being able to get the time off work, but thats the way it goes sometimes... Looks like everyone's having a blast and I love that we've got a fan table now! Now I hope I can score whatever swag you got there, like those posters and t-shirt and maybe one of those shiny coins ;)
Next year my friends, next year :)
very awesome wish I could have gone!
I'm up in Chicago, and I have internet access again! That means I can upload my pictures! The con was so much fun ... I'm really glad I got to meet up with some of the folks on here who I haven't seen for a while (some since last Dragon Con) and some folks who I met for the first time.
Like I did after C4, I will pull out a couple of good pictures I got and post them here ... just so y'all don't have to wait while I upload the many photos I have to my Photobucket. I did get quite a bit of pictures!:thumbsup So, here is what I've got:
Here is Travis in his custom Mando, WebChief as Jayne, and me as :jango:
Oldtimer, Predatormv, and Gilmore of OK:
Seeker & GotMaul in their Spartan costumes:
Who is this guy to tell me "no disintegrations?!!!":lol:lol:lol:lol
I had the opportunity to meet some members of the Mandalorian Mercs. Here is a picture of them just before the parade. Quite an impressive group!
Here is the 501st bounty hunter picture. Only a few short of having all of the hunters there, but I've never seen such a great variety:
Here is the picture the Mandalorian Mercs took for Karen Travis. She will be VERY pleased:
This is a priceless moment for the both of us pictured here. I am :fettrotj, but who is :jango????
Yep, it's Gilmore of OK trooping in a Fett costume!:skull:jango:skull He asked me Thursday night if he could step into one of my Fett costumes. I initially thought he was messing around, but he was actually serious. (I swear I have such a hard time distinguishing sarcasm from seriousness:o.) When I found out he was serious, I immediately told him he could! It was a priceless moment for him because he hadn't been in Fett armor for about 4 years and NEVER actually trooped in Fett armor. It was priceless for me because #1) father-son Fett trooping is something special to me (there is a long story behind that), and #2) I was able to give the guy a really special moment before he headed off to Iraq. Just writing that almost brings a tear to my eye.:fettrotj:jango
Just a little bit later, evan4218 shows up with something absolutely amazing to see in person. His FPH helmet!:eek:thumbup:thumbsup:fettchest
Here is the TDH group photo before we all headed off to dinner:
The TDH dinner at Max Lagers (a big thanks to Mirax for putting this together:thumbsup)
Here is evan4218 in his Crimson Guard ... first time I've seen this one!
And here is TK-7602 as :fettrotj and his wife, dancer:
AND one more!!! This was hilarious and very impressive at the same time!:lol:eek:lol:thumbup One of the 501st TIE pilots acting as a drill sargent came on by, and TDH's very own oldtimer was in his Fett costume. This was what happened shortly thereafter:
Anyway, that's all I have for now. I'll start uploading my pictures later today.;)
Great pictures guys, looks like you're having a blast! :p Every year I say the same thing..."Maybe next year" and then next year never seems to work out. It's just like being a Cubs fan. :(
Dang it! Even Eric left me! Oh well, looks like everyone had a blast!
WOW! Awesome pix all the way around. Is anyone on this board making a 300 Persian Immortals suit? I'd love to see a few of them opposite the Spartans. :)
I had fun meeting you guys and hanging out with ya. The moment I had with Seeker and GotMaul in the elevator was priceless. I knew exactly who they were but they had no idea who I was :). I guess I need to post more. Man I look Man-pregnant in that group pic, I need to get on that 300 work out
Excellent pics! Everyone looks so great!
That video was hilarious! :lol
Fantastic pics! DragonCon was a blast as always but manning the TDH table and meeting so many TDH'ers was definitely the highlight for me. I can't wait for next year :thumbsup
Awesome pics guys! My gf Leslie couldn't stop drooling over all the Spartans heh. We didn't really take many pics but here's our galleries.
Sorry for so many pics of Superman, he just kept doing stuff and saying Hey Steve take a picture of me doing this!
Wow I'm tired!
Those are some fantastic pics!!! I have a bunch too. I'll have to upload them tomorrow.
It was a BLAST seeing everyone again! I can't wait till next year.
It was also an absolute honor to participate in the Spartan project. It all really came together.
It was a blast meeting everyone! Jimmy B, your Jango rocks! Dustincropsboy, I hope you had another lucky streak on Sunday without me =D Just remember, it's the custom!
Soon as I can get the Mercs protecting Erik Estrada pic then I'll get it up on here. I don't think I've had my feet bleed since I was in the Navy, but after the amount of walking that was done in the armor...it took it's toll over 4 days.
Thanks for the awesome time guys.
Great pics!
This was my first Dragon*Con - and It was amazing!!! Great meeting some of my fellow TDHer's in person!!!
Some of my photos aren't family friendly - not sure if I am allowed to post them here.
My wife sure loved SEEKER's (Arturo's) Spartan costume though... ;) Oh well, what can ya do? (See for yourself below):
Got to show off my Holiday Special Fett (FINALLY)! That ESB Fett is Shabad's - IMO, his was one of the best looking Fetts there! (No offense to the other Fetts though!) ;)
Can't wait until next year! :thumbsup
I met so many new people from TDH that I'll probably have trouble remembering all your names.:lol
DragonCon was a blast guys, and meeting you guys made it even better.
Here's a couple pics I got:
Me and Arturo:
Me heading back to my room to suit down,man was it hot in there!!
Here's a start...
Some stuff here, too:
Spartans! Tonite we dine in Hell!!!!
:thumbup You guys look great! :thumbup
Stay safe,
Looks like you guys had a blast.....One of these years ill make it out.
now all you spartans get out there and eat a bucket of fried chicken and a pizza!
my pics will be coming soon. i'm not home yet... we stopped for the night with friends in maryland, so i'll be getting home around 8-9 tonight.
My First Public Apperance went over well, got alot of tips from people
Heads up to BOBBY FETT and SPEEDO, You guys Rock!
Loved the Booth and the New Shirts, thanks to Everyone!!
THanks to the Mando Mercs as well!
That, was one heckuva GRAND Time at DragonCon! It was great to meet many of you and to hang out with you all was even better! :D :D
Lookin' good everyone!
I wish I could have been there.
It was great meeting you Rex ! I didn't know it was you the whole time. Great story about your GF and prop room ...thats a keeper bud !:cheers
I love this con. There is no other con even close to it and the closest one being Comic Con which is still not that close. Please, anyone who has not tried this one out, please go next year !!
best pic from the con... future tdh members...
I`m just exhausted.
It was a blast seeing everyone again. I wish I could have spent more time at the TDH table, but with our BSG project in full swing at DCon, it was just hard time wise....there`s never enough time!!
I will get my pics uploaded tonight. And any incriminating pics you see of me and Webchief getting into trouble...just ignore.
Move along...move along...nothing to see here..:lol
Ohh, I picked up some Shwag at the Booth, whoever does the design for the site/logos/Business card.. Great Job, I LOVE the Card as well as the Stickers..
If you guys made some PROFESSIONAL grade Vinyl stickers, I'd wear it on my suit..
Maybe the Dented Helmet logo on a Patch?...
Now I know how our beautiful women feel like while at Dragon Con.
I felt like a piece of meat, but I loved it!!!:lol:lol
here's some pics of our spartans costumes
Gotmaul, SWfreak, and myself.
Alex, Mike, Alex's wife, Gotmaul and myself
DANG TURO:eek, you guys look Fantastic!!:thumbsup
Great pictures so far...I hate that I missed D-con again.:(..maybe next year.
Hey guys, whats GotMaul staring at in this pic? hmmmmm? LMAO :lol
it was great to meet some of you for the first time and see some of you again,
This pic is of me and the fiancee and DustinCropsBoy at the TDH table Saturday night
Had a blast!
Glad I took off work Tuesday. Even though I drove ten hours yesterday and felt fine last night, it all caught up to me today and I crashed.
This was my first time at DragonCon and it was everything I was expecting x 10. The best part for me was meeting so many peers that do things at the same level of craftsmanship as I do, but in different genres of costuming. I was very inspired to work on a wider variety of things that are not just Star Wars. It was also great to just meet so many new people in general who share this hobby and are "good people". I also finally got to meet Seeker and Art, although briefly.
Anyway, I didn't take many pictures. Just some costumes that interested me.
Those Gears of War costumes look SWEET!
These are all great!!!!
Thank you all for sharing - you are all a great inspiration!!
I could've sworn, you were going to post this pic! :lol
I thought you'd all want to know there's a new ZAM I AM!
Ok, ok, ok, the truth, so we swapped so I could be a cylon...
Here's the link to all our D'con photos
Yep, and someone is missing in that pic. :rolleyesQuote:
Here is the TDH group photo before we all headed off to dinner:
My God, somebody actually did a costume based on my Photoshop of the Sanrio vader from this thread???
I finally got my photos online...
most of my costumed time this year was spent in the firefly 'verse...
though boba did make it out for a while...
Must be nice to have Mandalorians for bodyguards =D
That's awesome. I'm surprised there hasn't been a Concept Hello Kitty Vader action figure released yet.
Back on topic... I have to say that the reality of convention attendees dressed as Spartan gladiators is much better than the mental image I initially got when I heard about it. That could have been a disaster! :lol
I don't think I'd make a very good spartan. I've been more like the ones on Sunday who had KFC buckets on their heads and pizza box shields =D
Yeah, me either...there's nothing "spartan" about my body...is there such a thing as "Excess-ans"?:lol
Here are some shots of Jamie (clawdite77) winning one for the TDH team during the Star Wars Costume Contest!
Best Bounty Hunter and Best in Show!
some other shots...
jamie's alter ego...
jdfett,maulmaus and clawdite77
JDfett as Maul and Clawdite77 as Zam
Here's some of our Starship Trooper fun:
haha love it kristin, looks greats.
Bloody Starship Troopers, cool! Hah, you got the leg stump in there too. :thumbsup:thumbsup
Congrats on the win Clawdite77. :thumbsup
I gotta say, we got more use out of that severed leg than I expected, it was great!
Great Pictures !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wish I could afford a Starship Trooper outfit. But, I'm spending all my pennies finishing up boba
Count down to Dragoncon 2008 hehe
Hey, I didn't realize one of the dollar stuffing ladies belonged to the TDH ! I would have only charged .50 cents !
Starship was more fun than I remembered in a long time. Thanks for making me do it Art and K.
Here are some more of our members...one of these is rather snifftastic ;)
I knew it, Eric Estrada is The Sniffer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol
Eric give you a big smack on the lips Mirax? He seemed to enjoy giving one to the Mercs girls LOL.
I'm still working on getting all of my pics up, but I did complete the set of the ones I got before the con started as well as the ones I got from Friday.
Before the con:
I accidentally shot Rex:o
Here is Chris Askins from Garrison Carida as an awesome Captain Barbossa:
Mr. & Mrs. Fett:
And this was one bounty I should NOT have made a deal on!!!:eek
Greeeaaaat Starship Trooper pics!! That's what inspired me to join the Mobile Infantry!
Looking forward to joining you next time!
Ack! A Endor Commando caught in between Fett and a Republic Commando!! What's a fella to do?? Zzzap! Ah! Catch a blast from Fett!! :D :D
Absolutely ace photos!
What costuming is all about. Loving the spartans and the Gears of War guy.
Just read this back, I have got a girlfriend ok. LOL
Looks like you all had a great time so well done! :)
Finally got mine uploaded:
Woah, you guys had a blast.
Now, let me get this straight, Erik Estrada is The Sniffer? I'm amazed that someone like him would come to our little corner of cyberspace... but then again, I had one forum thinking I was Chuck Norris for about a month :)
It's amazing how many free things you get when people think you have a third fist instead of a chin ;)
That picture isn't freaky enough!
Well looks like I will nott be getting any sleep tonight. Thanks guys.
Here are some of the pics I took.
First off are the pics I got of the SST group out side the Marriott. Seeing them made me want to get a SST uniform for next year. Mirax looked extra awesome with her new wounds! LOL
Next are some pics of the booth that I took. It was very well set up. Though we were confused with the 501st booth a few times. It had lots of cool TDH buys and the new Tshirt is my favorite so far! GREAT WORK BLASTECH AND TK409!!!
Here are some pics from the dinner. It was really well organized, as we had a space on the top floor to our selves. I was lucky enough to get to spend a bit of time chatting with Thomas, Dallas and Art and Kristen as well as the infamous Gillmore!!! It was really allot of fun. If you missed it you missed a good time!
More pics to come.
I just want to say that it was great meeting so many folks this year. Bob and Bill, wish I had had a chance to talk with you guys more, you both seem like great guys. Bob, your a riot! Even on the other side of the bar you make me laugh. :lol
And the Chicago crew! You rocked Dcon with your Spartan costumes. Way to go!
It was a real pleasure to meet those of you I'd never met before, and great to see old friends again..
Seeker.. you and your fellow Spartans... just ****. Never has being in shape looked more appealing.
To whoever it was I gave my email addy to Sunday night for 300 info:
PLEASE send it on. Sitting on my butt feels.. uhh... like sitting on my butt.
Pics will be forthcoming.
Ya'll be good.
My pics are here.
Me and Erik :)
View from the table:
Some I found online of my wife and of me that I liked:
And here are the rest of my pictures which I finally got to upload:
I found this picture in TK-7602's pictures. Brian, I hope you don't mind me using this picture from your gallery.:o But this is BY FAR the best picture I have EVER seen of my :jango costume:
OH MY, I am crying from pure laughter and total sorrow for not being there this year!!!! These pics rock !! The Spartans looked insane! The Zam's looked killer! The SST'er's looked legit, somebody needs to build a "bug" costume for next year! Jon, doe's Rose know that you borrowed her Sith cheerleader get up?!?j/k LOL!!
TXFett, group counseling starts tomorrow I will see you there I am bringing the dounts someone needs to bring teh coffee
[quote=Zam I Am;279771]I could've sworn, you were going to post this pic! :lol
buahahahaaa - nice!
and that Gears costume is amazing!
... suddenly getting an idea...
It will be a while before I can share my own Dragon*Con 2007 pictures, but I did find a couple from others that encompass much of my Dragon*Con experience;
Picture from Mealanie. Out of respect for family values, I won't caption this one.
This is my Demon friend, dressed as Darth Traya. (Photo by Dionne.)
It was a wonderful reunion. Aside from a little medical issue I had that kept me out of the parade, the convention was beautiful. TDH was trully the slickest operation on the floor. I am proud of the this forum, and very happy to be able to contribute to the whole.
Be well,
Ok, now I really want a Gears of War costume. That's just awesome. Anyone know where he got that?
argh now I'm supposed to exercise and get muscles because my gf wants a spartan of her very own..(though maybe I just need an airbrush)
those look like the nightmare armor folks...
Yeah nightmare armor... Your looking at $2,000-$5,000 a suit though.
Great pictures! Depresses me further...
Repost from the zam forum just in case you didn't see:
I had an absolute BLAST at D*Con. Art... payback's a ...... :lol :lol :lol
Hanging with everyone WAS my D*Con. I didn't go to a single panel (the one I tried to go to was cancelled) and all I did was hang out with everyone, laugh, drink and have one of the best times of my life.... seriously. I've never met a better bunch of people then here on TDH. True friends.
I miss everyone badly and I'm going through post con wildrawls. I don't want to be at work and I think I need a beer already. Ugh... real life is so dull.
See you next year for sure!
Here's my pics:
Boba getting a bounty of a different kind
MaulMaus and FANGS manning the booth
My gear on the table... never looked better!
Andy in his gear
Me in one of my Jayne get ups
PredatorMV, Oldtimer and me
JodoKast3 and his wife Lisa
Clawditte77 after winning BEST IN SHOW
Kimmy and I
Dallas, Art, me and Kristen
Alrighty! webchief ~ you got a pick with you and kimmy yay!
Me with Jose and ?, is there such thing as an embarrased cylon? The funniest thing Jose said, "your hubby is gonna kick my ...." (And we made hubby take the pic...)
I like this one much better: Gotmaul/Jose, me and DGasser/Dana


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Well, if you´ve lost Lindsey Graham... Click Here if you Like this Comment
"WE" Kemosabe? I´m betting all the kings´ men and all the kings´ horses will land softly enough. In fact there was some extra feathering going on just this week as King Obie passed around some sorely needed raises to his own. But hey, fellas, thanks for lookin´ out for us little people. We know you´ve had our best in mind. Click Here if you Like this Comment
What would we do in a crisis without Lindsey to pontificate about it? Click Here if you Like this Comment
I heard Lindsey around noon and was simply aghast at his ignorance. Apparently someone capable of thought explained it to him. As a nation we are broke. We need to quit spending. We can´t afford to pay people not to work for 2 years. That 30 billion is two thirds of the tax increases on the rich. The 60 billion Sandy aid is one and a half years of taxes on the rich. Click Here if you Like this Comment
You can´t find common ground because there is none. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Four clueless posts here. Graham has been pretty strong. It probably did look as though the President would pull it off. Haven´t we all worried that he would? If Lindsey thinks he was wrong, so what does that prove? I think we should go over the cliff rather than let the President use the money for new spending, which is what the Republicans are trying to prevent. Get yourselves on the right side and stop harrassing our own people. Click Here if you Like this Comment
These people are simply creating drama so whatever crummy deal is reached,people will breath a sigh of relief.Taxing people´s estates is something I´ll never get,they already paid taxes on the accumulated tax and this kills farmers.A farmer´s land could be worth millions on paper but they´re otherwise cash poor.Having to sell their land to cover a dead relative is ludicrous. You can bet Ted Kennedy didn´t pay a dime in estate taxes. Click Here if you Like this Comment
@7 IIRC, Miss Lindsey wouldn´t be in her seat after the last election if GWB hadn´t intervened. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Care to explain #9 how GWB got Graham elected? I don´t agree with Lindsey about 30% of the time but he isn´t stupid and he will be reelected should he choose to run. No one who is any good will run against him, he has a lot of money, and his seniority becomes more valuable by the day. Click Here if you Like this Comment
This government reflects the state of the nation quite well... Two quite different and quite irreconcilable approaches to our current fiscal predicament. At the head of this government is the unLeader, above it all, oblivious to his own incompetence, and haughtily lecturing anyone foolish enough to listen and believe he has the nation´s best interest in mind. Click Here if you Like this Comment
"Crisis" number 9467201 for the Zippy Administration.Hey, how can you stampede the rubes without a "crisis?" Click Here if you Like this Comment
#9 When you resort to name calling ............ well do I have to spellit out? Click Here if you Like this Comment
This whole argument is a farce. We are going over the cliff sooner or later. That is a certainy. This tax hike wasn´t going to stop it. Obama already had the money spent. I think the generation that caused this mess ought to be the one to pay for it. Click Here if you Like this Comment
L.Com is not an ordinary website and doesn´t deserve to be peppered with name-calling and ad hominem attacks on each other. It lowers us to the level of liberals. We´re better than that, so can we please mature the tenor of this discussion just a tad and have a serious discussion?Lindsey Graham has his opinion as do many other Senators. He´s got no more inside information than most. I say let´s go over the cliff because even though we haven´t yet done so, we already being blamed for it. So let the chips fall where they may.#5, you´re right and that is really the crux of the matter. At their very foundations, the GOP and the Democrat Party have nothing in common. Both parties have drifted away from any hope of compromise because one Party wants socialism and the other wants free-market capitalism. How do you find common ground between those two worldviews, especially when Democrats want to cut the military, confiscate guns (ultimately), raise everyone´s taxes and establish a dictatorship?The GOP would be wise to refuse to compromise and let Obama´s disastrous last four years play out into the next four years. Eventually, without GOP fingerprints, the public will realize how wrong they were to put their faith in this shallow little man. Twice. Click Here if you Like this Comment
But there IS common ground! It´s the one zooming up toward us as we drift oh-so-numbly, and upon which we´ll all go SPLAT in a few hours.Happy New Year! And enjoy floating.(Guess I´ll be ´grocery shopping´ at the year´s supply of emergency food I bought knowing Obama would do this to us sooner or later. But hey - I´ll probably lose weight, and get healthier! Goal is the 60+ grandma-warrior irregulars.) Click Here if you Like this Comment
Not everyone in this generation caused this mess. Power hungry greed is not inherent in any one generation. We are at this crisis because it has been building for decades driven by people who think they know better than everyone else and want ultimate control of people´s lives. We have seen it rise to power and fail in Europe and now it is here on our doorstep. It did not end well for those who would not stop it and it will not end well here. Much more than money is on the line. Our very freedom is at stake and Americans at any age should recognize that. Click Here if you Like this Comment
I think he´s right. I´m making personal plans for the "event"....I don´t think the republicans could have won....Let obama take the blame -- where -- BTW -- it belongs....LZK Click Here if you Like this Comment
The fact that there is no common ground in this crisis is a good thing. Obama and his greedy horde spent us into oblivion and the democrats own the disaster. The fiscal cliff illusion is simply an attempt to attach blame to the republicans. If they deserve any blame it´s because they did not resist the wasteful and shameful vote buying that obama wasted our entire treasury on.Concerning the present generation paying for its own excesses, that goes against the entire SOP of the democrats. If the entitled people had to pay for what they got, they wouldn´t get it and democrats would not get elected. Far better to let the unknown future generation clean up the mess. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Will South Carolina PLEASE stop electing this head case? Click Here if you Like this Comment
Thank you #6! Very well said. I don´t always agree with Lindsey Graham, but let´s give our guys some support when they try to do the right thing. Graham has held strong on this issue and he is entitled to speak his mind. Geez! Click Here if you Like this Comment
Women!! Always changing their minds. Has there ever been a Hurricane named Lindsey? Click Here if you Like this Comment
Those throwing stones at Senator Graham are greatly appreciated by Obama's team. They send their regards and thanks. Good work.The cliff is not there because we have failed to give Obama enough taxes; it's there because he (and GWB) spent too much. The government beast must go on a diet. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Let´s go off the cliff, then. The first victims will be the 2.1 million unemployed "99ers" who take Obama´s long-term unemployment money (instead of working). Their Obama checks will get cut off first. Let them go run and cry and scream to their liberal paymasters in the Senate (Reid, Patty Murray, Boxer, and all those new liberal senators from Indiana, North Dakota and every other "conservative" red state that showed idiocy in the last election). Let them howl and squeal. The liberal fasco-wienies will be back to bargain. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Remember, if you make an uncalled for comment about a Senator who normally sides with Senator McCain, and the ´give all illegal´s a pardon group´ you... wait a minute, he is an idiot after all. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Did you create this problem?Did you spend like a drunken sailor and spend and spend and spend?Did you ignore all signs of fiscal calamity?Did you tell the voters they don´t understand?Again ... did you LDOTTER create this problem which will crush you?NO Click Here if you Like this Comment
Like others here, let´s all stop the infighting and concentrate on the topic at hand.When you think about all of the repercussions, you will come to understand that no matter what the Republicans do or what happens, they, the Pubbies, are going to be blamed for it. I can hear Obozo and the MSM saying now, that if they were just given what they wanted, everything would be just fine. The Dims will never take responsibility for anything. Remember, the Dims of today are NOT the Dims of yesteryear. Back then, some of them actually had the nation´s needs at heart. Today, they are no more than socialists/Marxists that what one party rule (not govern) and have their man/woman elected as president for life, if they ever hold elections. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Irony is, the Dems may have overreached and miscalculated. We´ve all assumed (you know what that word means) that the cliff will play to NerØbama´s benefit. That, IMO, is a head fake. It´s only to his benefit to drive a wedge between conservatives. 2014 and the debt ceiling are his real targets.Pain on everyone at this point will hurt the Dems more than the Pubs. Conservatives plan ahead, and will survive the "hit". Obama´s drones are the ones who will be hurt the most. Plus, as Trump is pointing out, the Pubs have the leverage once we go over. They will have already taken NerØbama´s best shot, and will still be standing to get some real spending cuts - now - if there is to be any increase in the debt ceiling. Otherwise, the debt ceiling will take care of things by itself. Worried about the 2014 election? That´s a political eternity away. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Lindsey Graham kept praising obama for standing his ground and congratulated him repeatedly. Lindsey Graham is a democrat masquerading as a rino. Click Here if you Like this Comment
I watched Graham in his "come together moment" with Feinstein on Fox Sunday. It gave me a sinking feeling to hear that he thought that there was deal coming. As Lindsay said, "Hats off to the president. He won." And, he reminded us that he was once one of a Gang of 14 that hijacked the Senate when Republicans had finally gained control. I guess he wished he could go back to those heady days when the McCain party would just step in and decide for us.These clowns that want to make a deal deserve neither our respect or support. In today´s vernacular, "they all suck". They have betrayed the American people in order to feather their own nest, and they don´t do math.There was a post a couple of days ago that put it all into perspective: Knock 8 zeros off, and you will see that we "make" (tax revenue) $22,000 a year, spend $38,000, and have a credit card debt of $160,000. Now, these geniuses (the dems and "he won republicans") are going to swoop in and save the day by taxing the rich who make over $250k a year. In the scenario above, that´ll raise 8 days of funding, or about $240 bucks. They "promise" that they are going to "cut" another 1 trillion in the next 10 years, or about $1,000 per year when you knock the zeroes off. Feel better now?Just take us over the rhetorical "cliff", and get it over with. The sooner the inevitable misery sets in, the better off we´ll be. Click Here if you Like this Comment
How does this get so much camera time? What makes him more knowledgeable about matters than any other senator or congressman.Me thinks he is in love with the camera and himself - kind of like the black guy just down the street. Click Here if you Like this Comment
#7 pegged it. Lindsay has zero role here. Rep senators might as well stay home--this is between BO and the House. Reid, Graham, et al have zero influence on this outcome. If any Senator gets invited to a meeting, it´s just out of politeness. Click Here if you Like this Comment
The juvenile name calling by the right against our sideis tiresome.People like Limbaugh and Levin promote and encourage this type of unhelpful and childish behavior.It only helps the Democrats.The left rarely devours their own like the right consistently does.Graham has an odd way of speaking-his phraseology is sometimes hard to understandand he often seems to contradict himself in the same sentence.It´s like some type of verbal dyslexia.I saw Graham on FOX yesterday and his statement about Obama seemed more like a combatant acknowledging the success of an opponent.Obama won.Senate Democrats have increased their number by 2 for the next session to 55 ( 53 Dems, plus 2 Indys who side with Dems ) to 45 Republicans.Republicans in the House lost 8 seats for the next session.I pity Boehner and McConnell , they are trying to accomplish the unattainable.Trying to find common ground ( which is impossible )with Reid and Pelosiand Obama while ducking rotten tomatoes and brickbats from the right.Their strategic options are very limited and unlike, Obama ,Reid and Pelosi, they are tryingto do the best they can for Americans. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Thank you poster #30 for confirming for me what my eyes saw yesterday on Fox News Sunday. By the end of their segment Ms Lindsey was ready to skip down the yellow brick road with his best buddy Diane Feinstein. It was sickening. Click Here if you Like this Comment
Amen to #6, #15.When Senator Lindsey Graham is right...he shoots it out of the park.By avoiding an interrogation by him, Hillary is probably saying, "lucky, lucky,lucky subdural hematoma for me". Luckier than overlooking billable hour receipts "right there all along" on a table in a room you searched high and low for and couldn´t find. Click Here if you Like this Comment
#30´s example puts it into perspective...so, now, where is the crisis? That taxes will rise? No, it´s that spending will largely remain as it is. No one in Congress, not Republican or Democrat, wants to do that in any meaningful way. As for "defense" being cut...more scare rubbish. The cut won´t even break the skin over the fat there if it´s applied with any sense. As far as most of the rest of the sequestered cuts, who´ll miss it? Of course, they´ll say the parks will be closed, and the monuments. We´ll be left without law enforcement protection, too. I´m sorry, but I´m not buying the notion of any crisis...spilled beer in a brewery. The next Congress can get real about this, starting with electing Paul Ryan as Speaker. Click Here if you Like this Comment
I´m just disgusted by the low-class, eternally campaigning, jibjab 0bama in his photo-op with the little people today.How could anyone not see through the smirking arrogance and the put=downs? When is SOMEBODY in the Republican party going to start trading jabs with him and naming names? This senatorial respect and language is totally not working.I don´t want to hear anything about this so-called cliff. The "Gang" voted for it. Since when do FIVE people get to tell all of us what to do? Don´t we have representatives that should have voices? This is crazy! Click Here if you Like this Comment


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WFAA Project Green is a community education and outreach program designed to help North Texans live cleaner, smarter, richer lives and in doing so help preserve the environment.
This year has marked the 5th year of Project Green and the 2nd year for Eco-Educator Awars. The goal of the Project Green Eco-Educators Awards is to celebrate school personnel who lead, create and execute projects that educate students and improve the quality of the environment.
WFAA Project Green asked for nominations of eco-educators who demonstrated innovation and creativity by executing a "green" initiative at their school during the 2011-2012 school year.
A panel of judges evaluated all entries based on the following criteria:
- (A) Originality and Innovation (25%);
- (B) Educational Value (25%);
- (C) Potential positive effect on the environment (25%)
- (D) Evidence of the cause and effect of the defined environmental issue (25%).
Winners were selected in three categories by the panel:
(A) K-5th Grade,
(B) 6th-8th Grade, (C) 9th-12th Grade. One winner was selected by viewers' votes on the WFAA Project Green Facebook Page. Each Eco-Educator winner was surprised by WFAA's Colleen Coyle at their school. All four winners received a personalized plaque and $1,000 donated to the the school from Chevrolet and WFAA to further their environmentally friendly projects. Congratulations to the Project Green Eco-Educators of 2012!


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Apple suppliers are gearing up for mass production of a new iPad mini that will likely feature a high-resolution screen from Samsung. The WSJ's Lorraine Luk talks about what consumers can expect in the next iPad mini.
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New York Red Bulls
Major League Soccer today released the final list of players eligible for Stage Two of the MLS Re-Entry process to take place via teleconference Friday afternoon at 2pm CT.
Midfielder Corben Bone, defender Dan Gargan and goalkeeper Jay Nolly remained on the list from the Fire after passing through the Stage One draft last Friday. Of course the Fire were the only team to select a player in that draft, picking Brazilian forward Maicon Santos.
The Stage Two draft typically has more activity as teams who select players on Friday can negotiate their salaries. In Stage Two, teams cannot select their own players until after all 18 other teams have passed on them.
Players that pass through Friday's draft without getting picked are free to sign with any MLS team on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're at all still confused, I explained the entire Re-Entry Process in this blog last Friday.
The list of the 49 eligible players for Re-Entry is below. Salary numbers are from the most recent report by the MLS Players Union.
This is probably a weaker Re-Entry Field than we've seen in the two previous versions. Given the three players the Fire have exposed to the draft and considering the moves made so far this offseason (re-signing Arne Friedrich and Gonzalo Segares; acquiring Maicon Santos), who, if anyone would you want to see the Fire take in Stage Two tomorrow?
Tell us in the comments below...
Team | Player | Position | 2012 Base Salary |
CHI | Jay Nolly | GK | $78,250 |
CHI | Corben Bone | M | $100,000 |
CHI | Dan Gargan | D | $88,000 |
CHV | Juan Pablo Angel | F | $350,000 |
CHV | Peter Vagenas | M | $70,000 |
CHV | Danny Califf | D | $275,000 |
CHV | Alejandro Moreno | F | $185,000 |
CLB | Will Hesmer | GK | $170,000 |
CLB | Julius James | D | $100,000 |
COL | Tyrone Marshall | D | $90,000 |
COL | Scott Palguta | D | $63,670 |
COL | Conor Casey | F | $400,000 |
COL | Hunter Freeman | D | $105,000 |
COL | Jamie Smith | M | $148,992 |
COL | Ian Joyce | GK | $44,004 |
COL | Joseph Nane | M | $44,100 |
COL | Tyson Wahl | D | $65,000 |
DC | Mike Chabala | D | $75,000 |
DAL | Bruno Guarda | M | $60,000 |
DAL | Kevin Hartman | GK | $165,000 |
DAL | Julian De Guzman | M | $1,863,996 |
DAL | Scott Sealy | F | $50,004 |
HOU | Colin Clark | M | $105,427 |
KC | Olukorede Aiyebusi | D | $44,100 |
KC | Luke Sassano | M/D | $81,000 |
LA | Chad Barrett | F | $220,000 |
LA | Andrew Boyens | D | $62,500 |
LA | Bryan Jordan | F | $55,000 |
LA | Pat Noonan | F | $70,000 |
MTL | Shavar Thomas | D | $80,000 |
NE | Tim Murray | GK | $44,100 |
NE | Blair Gavin | M | $60,000 |
NY | Bill Gaudette | GK | $60,000 |
NY | Stephen Keel | D | $65,000 |
PHI | Chase Harrison | GK | $44,000 |
POR | Lovel Palmer | M | $85,000 |
RSL | Paulo Araujo, Jr. | F | $65,000 |
SEA | Andrew Weber | GK | $51,996 |
SEA | Mike Seamon | M | $33,750 |
SJ | Jean Alexandre | M | $44,100 |
SJ | Tim Ward | D | $65,000 |
SJ | Ramiro Corrales | M | $173,250 |
SJ | Joseph Gjertsen | M | $85,000 |
SJ | Khari Stephenson | M | $190,000 |
TOR | Eric Avila | M | $125,000 |
TOR | Adrian Cann | D | $126,000 |
TOR | Ty Harden | D | $90,000 |
VAN | John Thorrington | M | $170,000 |
Was the 2012 Chicago Fire Goal of the Year tournament just not enough for you? Did you think someone got short-changed?
Check out all 48 Fire goals scored in MLS play this season, put together by our video man, Leo Flores...
Following Wednesday's disappointing knockout round exit to Houston, taking in the rest of the MLS Cup playoffs this weekend didn't sit all the way at the top of my "want to do" list.
Being the seasoned Team Writer that I am, I decided it was a good idea to take in the four games from Friday to Sunday…
Real Salt Lake 0, Seattle Sounders 0 – Friday
With the Fire out, I have to say there are few teams in the league I would feel alright about winning MLS Cup and you know the Sounders do not fall in that category for me.
On the flip side, RSL has Fire legend C.J. Brown, defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe and even former Fire beat writer Sam Stejskal slingin' PR in Sandy, so if someone has to win MLS Cup, I wouldn't mind for it to be our friends from the Sawatch Front?
Playing on the Seattle Seahawks outlined pitch at CenturyLink Field Friday night, it was Nick Rimando who stood tall in net, making five big saves for RSL and even suffering a broken nose and laceration in the 67th minute after a collision with the Sounders Christian Tiffert.
The display left RSL head coach Jason Kreis to say, "I think it would have to go down as one of the best individual performances by any player that's ever worn an RSL jersey."
In my opinion, Rimando's historic performance will likely go down as one of the best ever in MLS postseason play.
In the end, RSL escaped Seattle with a 0-0 draw and head back to the friendly confines of Rio Tinto Stadium for Thursday night's second leg.
D.C. United 1, New York Red Bulls 1 – Saturday
Knowing that one point at any time during the regular season would have had the Fire playing in this series, I had the most trouble watching this game of any during the weekend. With that said, it was nice to see D.C. switch home legs with New York after Hurricane Sandy left Red Bull Arena unplayable for the weekend.
WATCH: D.C. United 1, New York Red Bulls 1
Come the 33rd minute of the tie, United looked to be in good shape when Red Bull defender Connor Lade was whistled for a handball in the box, forcing referee Jair Marrufo to point to the spot. Chris Pontius' take however wasn't the greatest, allowing Red Bull 'keeper Luis Robles to make one of his five saves on the night.
Despite the save, United would get on the board just after the hour mark when Chris Korb's dangerous cross to the six left Red Bull's Roy Miller with an attempted clear, instead roofing into the top of his own net.
In what seemed to be a comedy of errors, Red Bull would pull level with a United own goal just four minutes later. Off a corner kick from the right, defender Heath Pearce headed the ball back across goal, catching United goalkeeper Bill Hamid wrong footed before catching the ball inside his own goal and clearly across the line.
Perhaps most comical was Hamid's insistence that he'd been fouled on the play. A replay shows Red Bull defender Markus Holgersson ducking even as United's Dejan Jakovic is pushing him towards Hamid.
Own goals aside, the story of the match would be DC right back Andy Najar's sending off in the 71st minute. Shown a yellow card for his foul on Joel Lindpere in the 71st minute, the Honduran international threw the ball at Maruffo, forcing the referee to show the Honduran international a second yellow and then a red card, forcing United to play a man down the final 19+ minutes of the match.
United will definitely be without Najar as they head back to Red Bull Arena for leg two and if they advance, it's a fair bet they could lose him throughout a potential Eastern Conference Final series.
Houston Dynamo 2, Sporting Kansas City 0 – Sunday
In the surprise of the weekend, Houston came away with a dominant 2-0 victory over Sporting KC in leg one of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at BBVA Compass Stadium.
WATCH: Houston Dynamo 2, Sporting KC 0
Having defeated the Fire 2-1 on Wednesday night, the Dynamo were charged by the partisan crowd in Houston and went ahead in the 18th minute off of Adam Moffat's wonder-volley from outside the area.
On the other side of halftime, Will Bruin would score his third goal in two playoff matches, connecting once again with former Fire striker Calen Carr to seal the 2-0 victory in the 75th minute.
It's interesting to note that though the two sides finished even with 13 shots each, the Dynamo held just a 2-1 advantage in shots on goal, finishing both of their attempts for the win.
Houston can now go to LiveStrong Sporting Park on Wednesday, lose 1-0 and still advance to the Eastern Conference finals, knocking out the team with the second best record in the process…
San Jose Earthquakes 1, LA Galaxy 0 – Sunday
While the Dynamo didn't look like they'd played at midweek, the LA Galaxy certainly did, looking tired a times throughout Sunday night's home encounter.
Despite that, LA threatened just as much as San Jose but as so many other teams have this season, would fall victim to a late, late Earthquakes goal.
This time the marker would come from Honduran midfielder Victor Bernardez, who hit a low free kick underneath the jumping Omar Gonzalez and past Josh Saunders in the 94th minute, allowing the Quakes to stick with their "Goonies never say die" tagline.
The star-studded Galaxy will have a tall but not impossible order to overcome the 1-0 deficit in Wednesday's second leg at San Jose…
Second Leg Picks
New York Red Bulls 2, D.C. United 1 (NY Advances)
Sporting KC 2, Houston Dynamo 1( HOU Advances)
Real Salt Lake 2, Seattle 1 (RSL Advances)
San Jose Earthquakes 1, LA Galaxy 1 (SJ Advances)
Yesterday I detailed the heartbreak of the 1999 Western Conference semifinals against Dallas. Today, we look at the run to MLS Cup 2000…
With new commissioner Don Garber coming on board the previous fall, new rules were put in place for the 2000 season, namely 10 minutes of extra time instead of a shootout to decide tied games, the clock counting up (like the rest of the world) instead of down and perhaps hailing to his roots in the NFL, a switch to three divisions of four teams instead of two conferences of six.
Even though the Fire set club records for both points (57) and goals scored (67) in a season, the team still tied for first with Kansas City, but the Wizards owned a superior goal differential (by two goals), leaving the Fire the second seed heading into the postseason.
Because the 2000 playoff run ended up being the longest in club history (7 games) descriptions will be a tad bit shorter.
#2 Chicago Fire vs. #7 New England Revolution – MLS Cup quarterfinals (best of 3)
Chicago Fire 2, New England Revolution 1 (Game 1)
Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
September 15, 2000
It would take just four minutes for the Fire to respond though as Revs defender Mauricio Wright attempts a headed clearance of Peter Nowak's free kick but instead hits it off the underside of the cross bar and into goal to equalize.
Fiery, second-year midfielder Dema Kovalenko would provide the winner in the 73rd, receiving a perfect chip from Hristo Stoitchkov in stride before beating a Revolution defender and finishing past Jeff Causey to give the Fire a 1-0 series lead.
New England Revolution 2, Chicago Fire 1 (Game 2)
Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
September 19, 2000
The Fire would surrender the first goal in Game 2 as well when Wolde Harris picked up a loose ball on the right before springing future Fire forward Eric Wynalda through before the then all-time U.S. goal scorer tucked the ball inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.
Dema Kovalenko would find the 83rd minute equalizer when defender Tenywa Bonseu played a 35-yard ball forward from the right sideline and over three player into the path of the Ukrainian midfielder to finish past Causey for the second straight match.
The tying goal would stand only three minutes when Jose Luis Morales's free kick found Mauricio Wright who redeemed his own goal from Game 1 by heading the winner home inside the left post to send the series back to force Game 3 in Chicago.
Chicago Fire 6, New England Revolution 0 (Game 3)
Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
September 22, 2000
While Games 1 and 2 were tight, from nearly the first whistle Game 3 was a complete shellacking as the Fire took a 1-0 lead when Ante Razov cleanly finished DaMarcus Beasley's cross in the fifth minute.
Hristo Stoitchkov would put his name on the scoresheet first in the 14th when Kovalenko crossed for the Bulgarian who finished from the left. Three minutes later, Stoitchkov let loose on a 50 yard run before slipping his effort through the legs of Causey.
Into first half stoppage time, Stoitchkov heads Peter Nowak through the middle of the field before the Polish midfielder rockets his effort into the back of the net.
With the game firmly in hand after halftime, the Fire would provide two more strikes as Razov finished Stoitchkov's pass in the 65th before Same George cleaned up Razov's rebound in the 75th. The final goal gave Fire the then most lopsided victory in club history as well as advanced the club back to the MLS Cup semifinals.
#2 Chicago Fire vs. #3 MetroStars – MLS Cup semifinals (best of 3)
Chicago Fire 3, MetroStars 0 (Game 1)
Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
September 26, 2000
Despite the Metros holding a 9-7 shots on goal advantage by game's end, the Fire carried the momentum from the previous match over to Game 1.
WATCH: 2000 Eastern Conference Final and MLS Cup
The home side would go up 1-0 in the 21st when Dema Kovalenko's shot from the right eludes the dive of Mike Petke and falls perfectly for Hristo Stoitchkov who taps in from close range.
In the 35th minute, Chris Armas steals the ball at midfield, dibbles down the center channel and plays Jesse Marsch into the right corner. The veteran midfielder then crosses to the middle of the box for Kovalenko, providing the second-year Fire player his third goal of the playoffs.
The team would close out the game late when Diego Gutierrez chips DaMarcus Beasley into space up the left. The rookie winger dribbles around Metros 'keeper Paul Grafer before centering for Razov for an easy finish in the 84th minute to give the Fire a 3-0 win.
MetroStars 2, Chicago Fire 0 (Game 2)
Giants Stadium in The Meadowlands, NJ
September 30, 2012
The MetroStars would bounce back with a solid performance in Game 2, using Mark Chung's individual effort in the 40th before Adolfo Valencia iced the match in the 84th to send the series back to Chicago for the MLS Cup decider a week later.
Chicago Fire 3, MetroStars 2 (Game 3)
Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
October 6, 2012
The Fire would get on the board early when Hristo Stoitchkov's corner finds its way through traffic before finding C.J. Brown who touches it inside the left post, scoring his only MLS Cup playoff goal and just one of six in his 13-year FIRE career.
The Men in Red looked to be coasting to an easy victory in the 31st when Ante Razov laid off a ball for Stoitchkov on the left. The former European Player of the Year juked Mike Petke before lashing a beater past Mike Ammann to take a 2-0 lead. If his goal wasn't spectacular enough, his fishing-pole celebration certainly was.
The advantage would be erased within five minutes though as Adolfo Valencia tallied his second and third goals of the series. The first would come just a minute after Stoitchkov's strike, as the Colombian forward glanced in Petke's cross from the right. Four minutes later midfielder Alex Comas' shot was spilled by Zach Thornton and Valencia was there to clean up the rebound.
After a back and forth second half, the Fire would eventually find the winner in the 88th minute when Chris Armas sent a long ball up the middle of the field for a streaking Razov. The club's all-time leading goal scorer beat the offside trap, took a few touched and finished to the right of Ammann to send the team to its second MLS Cup final in three seasons.
#1 Kansas City Wizards (1-0) #2 Chicago Fire – MLS Cup Final
Played October 15, 2000 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
After the two sides tied on points during MLS regular season, they would fittingly meet in that year's MLS Cup final.
The Fire would go down early in the 11th minute when Chris Klein streaked up the right and crossed for Danish striker Miklos Molnar. On a bit of a broken play, Molnar's first attempt deflected off of Jesse Marsch but then fell for him to tap in from close range.
The Fire would take charge of the rest of the match being thwarted time and time again by Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola. Going through a career renaissance that year, the veteran U.S. international would make a frustrating 10 saves in the match. I'll save the trouble of describing each one by just saying you should watch the highlight video.
After a disappointing finish in 1999, the Fire put in a valiant effort in 2000, falling just one hurdle short of a second MLS Cup in three years of existence.
Six days later though, the team would get some redemption by hoisting its second Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 victory over Miami.
Saturday night's flat performance at New England combined with results in New York, D.C. and Houston have put the Fire in a precarious position going into this weekend's regular season finale vs. United. With all five playoff teams now known, the result for the Men in Red means the team could literally still be seeded anywhere from second to fifth in the East come Sunday morning…
With only one regular season game left, this will be the last edition of Playoff Math for 2012 where I look at each team's best and worst case scenarios and potential seedings. Enjoy!
1) Sporting KC
Current Points: 60 (40 GF)
Maximum Possible Points: 63
Highest/Lowest Possible Seed: 1/2
Last Game: vs. Philadelphia (10/24).
The Rundown: Things have worked pretty well for KC heading into the playoffs. Saturday night they went and earned a second result in New York this season and combined with the Fire's failure at New England, have nearly locked down the top spot in the East. At the very least, they'll finish second.
The Best Case: All they need to do is earn a draw in their final game against Philadelphia to take the top seed.
The Worst Case: A loss to Philly at midweek combined with a D.C.win over the Fire would push Sporting down to second based on the Goals For tiebreaker.
Beyond just being a solid team, Sporting have more than earned their position in the table by being smart about how they've earned results in difficult places to play.
2) D.C. United
Current Points: 57 (52 GF)
Maximum Possible Points: 60
Highest/Lowest Possible Seed: 1/4
Last Game: at Chicago (10/27; 3pm CT on NBC Sports Network)
The Rundown: D.C. was the biggest mover of the night and did it all in dramatic fashion by coming back from two deficits to eventually down the Columbus 3-2 behind Lewis Neal's stoppage time strike. The win propelled United past the Fire and into second, qualified them for their first postseason berth since 2007 all the while helping to end the Crew's postseason hopes.
The Best Case: A win Saturday against the Fire combined with a Sporting loss to Philadelphia would push United to first in the East. They could still lock down second on Saturday with just a draw against Chicago.
The Worst Case: A loss to the Fire and a New York win over Philadelphia would push D.C. to fourth and force them to host the Eastern Conference play-in game on October 31 or November 1.
3) Chicago Fire
Current Points: 56 (45 GF)
Maximum Possible Points: 59
Highest/Lowest Possible Seed: 2/5
Last Game: vs. D.C. United (10/27; 3pm CT on NBC Sports Network)
The Rundown: After winning seven of eight in late summer and fall, the Men in Red have dropped their last three of four. There is reason to be nervous but be glad the team is home and can still control their own destiny as it comes to earning a higher seed.
The Best Case: All it would take for the Fire to lock up second in the East is a win at home against D.C. on Saturday.
The Worst Case: New York will end its match with Philadelphia a half hour before kickoff at Toyota Park -- If the Red Bulls win and the Fire lose or draw against D.C. the team will at least be condemned to fourth place.
Then the team will point its eyes to Denver where Colorado hosts Houston (8pm CT) in the final match of the 2012 MLS regular season – if the Dynamo win with a Fire loss against DC, the Men in Red will fall to fifth and open up the postseason at Houston. If the Fire draw against D.C., they'll remain fourth regardless of what happens in Colorado.
4) New York Red Bulls
Current Points: 54 (54 GF)
Maximum Possible Points: 57
Highest/Lowest Possible Seed: 3/5
Last Game: at Philadelphia (10/27; 12:30pm CT on NBC Sports Network)
The Rundown: New York will be disappointed to not have done more against Sporting KC in two huge home games towards the end of the season but will be happy to go into the final weekend with a playoff berth locked.
The Best Case: Because the Fire and United play and are already ahead of New York, there is no way for Red Bull to finish higher than third. With that in mind, all they need to do is defeat Philadelphia to lock in third place and avoid the play-in game.
The Worst Case: A draw or less to Philadelphia and then Red Bull will also be watching the Houston/Colorado match closely that night. A Houston win would mean the Dynamo would at the very least host New York in the play-in game, while a draw or loss would mean Red Bull would host the Dynamo.
5) Houston Dynamo
Current Points: 53 (48 GF)
Maximum Possible Points: 56
Highest/Lowest Possible Seed: 3/5
last Game: at Colorado (10/27 8pm CT on Direct Kick/MLS Live)
The Rundown: Houston's 3-1 win over Philadelphia Saturday night combined with D.C.'s victory over Columbus clinched the 2011 MLS Cup finalists a place back in the playoffs. Because of their appearance in last year's championship match, the Dynamo also have to juggle the final group game of CONCACAF Champions League play this Wednesday when they welcome Honduran side Olimipa to BBVA Compass Stadium.
Luckily for the Dynamo, they need only a draw in the game to ensure advancement to the next round ahead of having to close out the regular season and fight for positioning in the East with a match at altitude in Colorado.
The Best Case: The Dynamo could finish as high as third in the East if both New York and Chicago lose their games earlier in the day and Houston defeats Colorado.
The Worst Case: The Fire and Red Bull both win their earlier matches condemning the Dynamo to fifth and rendering the game that night at Colorado meaningless. In that case, Houston would travel to D.C. United for the play-in game.
A lot has changed since my last Playoff Math entry. The team had just come off a disappointing 2-0 loss to Sporting KC while almost no other result in the East had gone the Fire's way that weekend. The team would follow the loss to KC up with a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Philadelphia on Anniversary Night before earning a solid 2-0 win at New York three days later.
It all goes to show that Playoff Math isn't always foolproof but a good read nonetheless. With that here's the latest update, also recognizing the field in the East is down to six teams with Montreal's elimination last week…
1) Sporting KC (qualified)
Current Points: 59 (40 GF)
Games Remaining: 2 (1 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 65
Average Opponents Points: 44.5
Magic Number (for first place): 4
Remaining Schedule: at New York (10/20), vs. Philadelphia (10/24).
The Rundown: Sporting KC took a potential blow to their first place bid by leaving two points on the field late at Crew Stadium last Sunday. KC still has the inside track to finishing top of the conference for the second straight season but will have to navigate a tricky match at Red Bull this week to get there. If they can earn another win in New York, they'' all but clinch the top spot in the East, then needing only a win the following Wednesday home to Philadelphia.
2) Chicago Fire (qualified)
Current Points: 56 (45 GF)
Games Remaining: 2 (1 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 62
Average Opponents Points: 41. 5
Magic Number (to first place): 9
Remaining Schedule: at New England (10/20), vs. D.C. United (10/27)
The Rundown: Despite falling in two of the last three matches, the Fire are in the playoffs and still find themselves with a reasonable shot at taking first in the East with the Sporting/Red Bull match looming this weekend. If Red Bull is able to win and the Fire can come away from New England victorious as well on Saturday, they'll be even on points with first place Kansas City and actually ahead on the first tie breaker (goals for).
That scenario would almost assuredly just require a Fire win on the final of the season vs. DC United to lock down first place (Sporting KC would have make up 6+ goals on Philadelphia in order to jump over the Fire.
More incentive to keep in mind… Should the Fire win their final two games, they'll at least finish third overall in the MLS standings, giving them a real shot at the CONCACAF Champions League should either Sporting KC or San Jose make MLS Cup.
3) D.C. United
Current Points: 54
Games Remaining: 3 (1 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 60
Average Opponents Points: 52.5
Magic Number (to qualify): 2
Remaining Schedule: vs. Columbus (10/20), at Chicago (10/27)
The Rundown: D.C. has the most difficult remaining schedule of the group but with them hosting sixth-place Columbus Saturday, can step into the playoffs with just a draw Saturday against the Crew. With United facing the Fire on the final day of the season, D.C. has plenty of incentive to go for wins in both games in order to possibly finish with home field advantage in the first round. Should the Fire and Sporting KC completely collapse the Capital City club even has an outside shot at first in the East.
4) New York Red Bulls
Current Points: 53
Games Remaining: 2 (1 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 59
Average Opponents Points: 47.5
Magic Number (to qualify): 3
Remaining Schedule: vs. Sporting KC (10/20), at Philadelphia (10/27)
The Rundown: New York's form the last four games combined with front office shake ups and chatter about head coach Hans Backe's status for next year can't fill a Red Bull fan full of confidence. Still, they control their own playoff destiny and can qualify as well as play spoiler this weekend with a win at home vs. Sporting KC.
With the Red Bulls going 10-0-3 through their first 13 matches this season at Red Bull Arena, both Sporting and the Fire found the chink in the armor there in recent weeks. Even still, New York remains 11-2-3 at home this year and shouldn't be underestimated with their backs a bit against the wall on Saturday.
5) Houston Dynamo
Current Points: 50
Games Remaining: 2 (1 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 56
Average Opponents Points: 33.5
Magic Number: 6
Remaining Schedule: vs. Philadelphia (10/20), at Colorado (10/27)
The Rundown: Despite having a reasonably easy schedule to close the 2012 campaign, Houston has made things sort of difficult on themselves down the stretch, going 1-1-1 in their last three matches all against sides outside of the playoff picture. Luckily, they still have the easiest schedule of all remaining playoff teams, hosting Philadelphia this weekend before visiting Colorado on the 27th.
With that high-altitude trip looming on the final day, the Dynamo would do well to take care of business Saturday against the Union where a win would necessitate just a draw on at the Rapids. A win Saturday combined with a Crew loss at DC would push Houston back into the playoffs for the second straight season.
6) Columbus Crew
Current Points: 49
Games Remaining: 2 (1 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 55
Average Opponents Points: 38
Magic Number: 8
Remaining Schedule: at D.C. United (10/20), vs. Toronto FC (10/28)
The Rundown: Another late goal last Sunday at home vs. Sporting KC likely salvaged the Crew's season, keeping the team within one point of fifth place Houston heading into a harrowing six-pointer Saturday at DC.
A victory keeps the team in the playoff hunt heading into the last match of the season, a very winnable home game vs. Toronto. A win plus a Houston draw or loss puts the Crew in the driver's seat. They've played with nothing to lose since August, no reason they should stop now.
From a traveling fan perspective, all of Fire nation should want the Crew to sneak into the playoffs and the Fire to have a chance at them in the first round.
This Week's Predictions:
New York Red Bulls 2, Sporting KC 1
Chicago Fire 2, New England Revolution 0
D.C. United 1, Columbus Crew 1
Houston Dynamo 2, Philadelphia Union 1
If those hold true the standings coming out of the weekend would be...
1) x-Chicago - 59pts. (47 GF)
2) x-Sporting KC - 59pts. (41 GF)
3) x-New York - 56pts. (56 GF)
4) x-D.C. United - 55pts. (50 GF)
5) Houston - 53pts. (47 GF)
6) Columbus - 50pts. (41 GF)
Let's hope I'm right!
After dropping their last two games, the Fire travel to New York Saturday afternoon to face a Red Bulls team that has only lost at home once this season (LIVE at 2:30pm CT on NBC 5 Chicago). The Fire had their worst performance of the season on Wednesday night against Philadelphia while New York demolished Toronto FC last time out. That being said, both teams are level in the standings with 53 points and will be looking for a win in an effort to catch Sporting KC at the summit of the Eastern Conference. Here are some things to look out for from a tactical standpoint.
When you have it, keep it: ball retention
In the Fire's last two games, the team failed to keep hold of the ball for long stretches, often gifting it back to their opponents. Against the better teams, this can be a nightmare because it means that you have to defend wave after wave of attacks. Against Philly on Wednesday night, players were making misplaced passes all over the field and it prevented the team from getting into any sort of offensive rhythm.
Maintaining possession is important in any game but especially in matches away from home. The Fire could deploy a similar tactic to the one used in Kansas City last week, namely, getting the ball to Sherjill MacDonald and relying on him to hold the ball up and wait for support. Against KC though, the team were unable to get MacDonald the ball enough and on many occasions gave it away in the process.
If the Fire play the same way against New York, they must get the ball in to MacDonald's feet because not doing so will only hand the possession to Red Bull.
Center backs: beware of getting stretched
Fire color commentator and former defender Evan Whitfield made an excellent point in Wednesday night's game after the Union's first goal. He noted that center backs Arne Friedrich and Austin Berry were not close enough together, leaving a gap between them which Jack McInerney exploited to perfection on the first goal. The same thing happened against the Montreal Impact a few weeks back when Marco Di Vaio got in between the center backs to score.
Unfortunately, these are not the only two instances of this happening this season and its something the team needs to address. There is no one explanation as to why this is happening but there are some ways of limiting its negative effects.
We all know that Arne Friedrich likes to roam forward from time to time in an effort to help the attack. When this happens, the Fire need to be wary and drop one of the defensive midfielders into the back line if they lose possession. Also, when a ball is played in behind the outside defenders, it forces Berry or Friedrich to go wide to pick up the runner, leaving a space in the middle. When this happens, the outside back or someone else has to drop into the space left vacated.
Thierry Henry: picking him up when he drops deep
It may sound cliche, but the Red Bulls are a much, much better team when Thierry Henry is in the starting eleven. He single handidly tore Toronto FC apart last weekend, tallying a goal and three assists in a 4-1 victory.
Henry is a converted winger and still loves to move out wide, pick the ball up, and run at defenders. He did this on countless occasions against Toronto and was not dealt with. When he goes wide, the Fire must not drop back and allow him to run at defenders.
Henry also likes to play the "false 9" role, dropping into the middle of the field, to pick up the ball and then either take players on or look for a killer pass into the space he just vacated. This is a role that Chris Rolfe often plays for the Fire.
The other problem that Henry gives teams is that he draws so much attention away from his teammates, often leaving them with acres of space. Its a very tough balancing act, but the Fire must find a way to limit Frenchman's effectiveness while at the same time not allowing players like Tim Cahill and Kenny Cooper to go undetected.
Set pieces - the fewer the better
One of the things not mentioned in the last paragraph about Henry is that he takes almost all of New York's set pieces and is especially good at corners, often putting the ball into very dangerous areas.
Though the Red Bulls have many smaller players in their starting eleven such as Dax McCarty and Connor Lade, they also possess some who are genuinely dangerous in the air in Wilman Conde, Kenny Cooper and Markus Holgersson. Another player famous for his aerial ability Tim Cahill. The Aussie scored countless headed goals for Everton before signing for the Red Bulls earlier this season.
Though he hasn't made as big of an impact as most were predicting, the Fire coaching staff will be very disappointed if the teams allows the Red Bulls' biggest threat to hurt them on Saturday afternoon.
Limiting New York to only a handful of set pieces will be crucial for a positive Fire result
Prediction: Fire improve tenfold from Wednesday night to earn a deserved point with a goal from Sherjill MacDonald.
Stephen Piggott is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. Follow him on Twitter @irish_steve.
A 2-0 defeat at Sporting KC Friday; Red Bull defeat Toronto FC 4-1; Columbus takes advantage of an offside goal to earn another late win; The Dynamo overpower New England 2-0…
The Chicago Fire were about 11 minutes from having literally every result this weekend go against them before Portland's Bright Dike roofed an effort past Bill Hamid to earn the Timbers a 1-1 home draw against D.C. United.
That result in Portland combined with the other four this weekend pushed the Fire down to third place (tied on points with New York) and just five points ahead of the sixth-place Crew with four matches remaining and just as many openings in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Fire and many other fans in the East deserve to be a little frustrated. The past few seasons it didn't take this much to qualify for the playoffs.
Even with most teams having three to four games left in the season, total wins in the East are currently at 122, up from 88 which was the total through the end of 2011. Playoff team wins (or translated to last year, Top 5 team wins) total in at 76 right now over 59 through the end of 2011. More simply put, it took fifth place New York just 46 points to qualify for the postseason last year, while this year sixth place Columbus sits on 48 points and outside of the current playoff bubble.
WATCH: Sporting KC 2, Chicago Fire 0
Make no mistake, all five teams that make it from the East will have earned it this season…
PLAYOFF MATH…I've added magic numbers to the breakdown this week. For a definition on what the magic number is in soccer, click here.
1) Sporting KC (qualified)
Current Points: 58
Games Remaining: 3 (1 home, 2 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 67
Average Opponents Points: 43.6
Magic Number (for first place): 8
Remaining Schedule: at Columbus (10/7), at New York (10/20), vs. Philadelphia (10/24).
The Rundown: Sporting KC navigated their difficult stretch of three games in nine days about as perfectly as they could have expected. The team earned a valuable 2-0 win at New York on September 19, played strategically for a point at Montreal three days later and returned home on Friday to defeat the Fire, taking seven points from the three matches.
WATCH: New York Red Bulls 4, Toronto FC 1
The victory over Chicago on Friday not only opened up a somewhat comfortable five-point gap between first and second but also pushed KC back into the playoffs. They still have two tough games at Columbus who are 10-3-2 at home this season and fighting for their playoff lives and a trip back to New York, but if they can negotiate that two-game stretch as well as the three games before it, they shouldn't have an issue finishing in poll-position in the East.
2) New York Red Bulls
Current Points: 53 (tied with Fire, ahead on Goals For tiebreaker)
Games Remaining: 3 (2 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 62
Average Opponents Points: 47
Magic Number (playoffs): 5
Remaining Schedule: vs. Chicago (10/6), vs. Sporting KC (10/20), at Philadelphia (10/27)
The Rundown: New York did what they needed to in taking a 4-1 victory over Toronto Saturday night. They face perhaps the toughest remaining schedule of anyone in the East, having to face both the Fire and Sporting KC, albeit at home, in back-to-back matches. The results of those two games will go a long towards determining where all three teams will finish.
How they qualify: Red Bull can qualify for the playoffs this week by defeating the Fire and having Columbus either lose or draw to Sporting KC (Sunday) or Houston lose to Montreal (Saturday).
3) Chicago Fire
Current Points: 53 (tied with New York)
Games Remaining: 4 (2 home, 2 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 65
Average Opponents Points: 40.75
Magic Number: 5
Remaining Schedule: vs. Philadelphia (10/3), at New York (10/6), at New England (10/20), vs. D.C. United (10/27)
The Rundown: While it wasn't what you wanted, there was nothing disastrous about Friday night's result at Kansas City. One thing to remember is that the Fire hold a game in hand over everyone else in the playoff race and that game is made up this week with Wednesday's clash vs. Philadelphia and Saturday's match at New York.
If the Fire can manage to take at least four points from the week, they would almost assuredly have booked their place in the postseason and even three points would go a long way toward playoff qualification. Anything less and the team will have made things much more difficult than need be on themselves.
Luckily enough, Wednesday's game comes against lowly Philadelphia who will be on one day less rest than the Fire and who haven't beaten any of the top seven teams in the East away from home, going 0-6-0 in those games this season.
WATCH: D.C. United 1, Portland Timbers 1
While it'll be expected for the Fire to take three points against the Union, the more difficult match will come Saturday against Red Bull. If the team gets a win against Philly, a draw would be ok to keep the Fire in position ahead of New York to push for second place in the East.
Keep in mind though, waking up Sunday morning is all the more reason to hope the Fire can earn just one more point than Red Bull as there's little to no chance the team will win a tie-breaker with the high-flying New York offense.
How they qualify: The Fire can qualify for the playoffs in a variety of ways this week but at the very least need three points from their two matches vs. Philadelphia (Wednesday) and at New York (Saturday), combined with a Columbus loss or draw vs. Sporting KC (Sunday) or a Houston loss vs. Montreal (Saturday). Two wins in the two matches and the rest won't matter as the Fire will have booked their ticket.
4) D.C. United
Current Points: 51
Games Remaining: 3 (1 home, 2 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 60
Average Opponents Points: 41
Magic Number: 7
Remaining Schedule: at Toronto FC (10/6), vs. Columbus (10/20), at Chicago (10/27)
The Rundown: Given that it would have made for a three-way tie for second place, D.C. will be a bit disappointed not to have taken three points at Portland Saturday. Taking care of business at Toronto on Saturday will be most important for United as their final two matches look like they could be of the six-point variety.
How they qualify: They can't this week. A win at Toronto and a Columbus loss this weekend won't be good enough to get D.C. into the playoffs before the international break as it would only equal six "magic number" points.
WATCH: Columbus 3, Philadelphia 2
5) Houston Dynamo
Current Points: 49
Games Remaining: 3 (2 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 58
Average Opponents Points: 33.3
Magic Number: 9
Remaining Schedule: vs. Montreal (10/6), vs. Philadelphia (10/20), at Colorado (10/27)
The Rundown: Houston stumbled last weekend at Philadelphia and had a bit of trouble in the first half Saturday night vs. New England but eventually got the job done. The Dynamo undoubtedly still have the easiest schedule in the East, with their hardest game coming against Montreal on Saturday. The goal of every team ahead of Houston should at least be to finish with more than 58 points as that is the closest thing to a playoff point threshold that exists right now.
How they qualify: Won't be able to think about qualification until at least October 20.
6) Columbus Crew
Current Points: 48
Games Remaining: 3 (32 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 57
Average Opponents Points: 43.6
Magic Number: 10
Remaining Schedule: vs. Sporting KC (10/7), at D.C. United (10/20), vs. Toronto FC (10/28)
The Rundown: The Crew did it again Saturday night, scoring another late winner, albeit one that was clearly offside. That doesn't matter now as Columbus kept pace in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race.
The result was huge as the Crew will be facing the East's top team in Sporting KC on Sunday before a certain six-pointer on October 20 at D.C. United. How they fare in these two games will go a long way to determining where they finish in the East but it seems a minimum of three points from the pair of matches will be absolutely necessary to stay alive going into their final game of the season vs. Toronto FC.
How they qualify: Would need a bit of help but could qualify on October 20.
7) Montreal Impact
Current Points: 40
Games Remaining: 3 (1 home, 2 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 49
Average Opponents Points: 32.3
Remaining Schedule: at Houston (10/6), at Toronto FC (10/20), vs. New England (10/27)
The Rundown: Idle this week, Montreal are only mathematically still in. To qualify, they would need a monumental collapse from either Houston or Columbus while the Impact would have to run the table to finish the season. Even a draw at Houston on Saturday will bring their season to an end.
After Sunday, D.C. United continued to move up the Eastern Conference table even without Dwayne DeRosario, earning a 1-0 home win over Chivas USA. The shock result of the weekend likely came earlier in the day as Houston dropped a 3-1 decision at lowly Philadelphia, leaving them just one point above sixth place Columbus for the final playoff spot in the East.
Seeing as I broke down each team's remaining schedules prior to Sunday's two matches, I won't do it again here… Refer to that blog for an almost up-to-date breakdown.
Instead today's edition of Playoff Math will be shorter and potentially sweeter as I focus on "Magic Numbers"…
I've come to find out that with three variations of a result, "Magic Numbers" in soccer are more difficult to come by than in baseball, basketball or football. but I felt it part of my duties as Team Writer to work out just how close the Fire (and the rest of the East) are to playoff qualification.
To be clear, the "Magic Numbers" below do not reflect the number of points a team needs to earn but rather, the number of points a team needs to gain combined with the number of points the sixth place team (right now Columbus) needs to drop. In the Crew's case, it's in comparison to fifth place Houston.
As an example, the Fire could achieve their magic number of five by winning Friday night at Sporting KC (3 points) and then have Columbus lose (drop 3 points) or draw with Philadelphia (drop 2 points).
Also find the "Soonest Could Clinch" column which is pretty self-explanatory. It's factored by taking into account the date a team could gain maximum points and have the sixth place team no longer able to catch them.
Make sense? Here's the table…
Team | Games Left | Points | Max. Points | Magic Number | Soonest Could Clinch |
Sporting KC | 4 | 55 | 67 | 3 | 9/28 |
Chicago Fire | 5 | 53 | 68 | 5 | 9/29 |
NY Red Bulls | 4 | 50 | 62 | 8 | 10/7 |
D.C. United | 4 | 50 | 62 | 8 | 10/7 |
Houston Dynamo | 4 | 46 | 58 | 12 | 10/7 |
Columbus Crew | 4 | 45 | 57 | 13 | 10/20 |
The only other team that can clinch qualification this week is of course Sporting, who simply need a victory over the Fire or a draw and Columbus defeat to book their ticket to the postseason.
Not that you need much more reason to tune into the Fire's game at Sporting KC Friday at 7:30pm CT on NBC Sports Network but it could end up being one of the biggest games of the season…
The Fire and Sporting KC did their part this week to make Friday's showdown at LiveStrong Sporting Park a massive one for the national television audience on NBC Sports Network... Below is a breakdown of the Playoff Math after Saturday's games. On Monday, following today's two matches, I'll have an update, including magic numbers for all team's in the East race.
WATCH: Chicago 2, Columbus 1 (9/22/2012)
1) Sporting KC
Current Points: 55
Games Remaining: 4 (2 home, 2 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 67
Average Opponents Points: 43.7
Remaining Schedule: vs. Chicago (9/28), at Columbus (10/7), at New York (10/20), vs. Philadelphia (10/24).
The Rundown: Ending a stretch this weekend in which the team played three games in eight days, Sporting manager Peter Vermes did well to manage the scenario and keep his team atop the East with a huge 2-0 win over Red Bull at midweek before playing for a point at Montreal Saturday afternoon.
The decision to go for a draw with the Impact shows Vermes' confidence in his side heading into Friday's all-important six point clash with the Fire. A win for Sporting and they'll open up a five point lead at the top, while a loss would push the Fire into first place by one point, with the Men in Red holding a game in hand.
2) Chicago Fire
Current Points: 53
Games Remaining: 5 (2 home, 3 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 68
Average Opponents Points: 41.6
Remaining Schedule: at Sporting KC (9/28), vs. Philadelphia (10/3), at New York (10/6), at New England (10/20), vs. D.C. United (10/27)
The Rundown: Fans had all the reason to go into Saturday's game with chewed up finger nails. Sean Johnson's early giveaway that led to the Crew's early goal might have made you loose a bit of hair. In the end, what could have been a bogey game and a missed opportunity for three points just turned into yet another Fire win.
The club is on the brink of its first playoff qualification since 2009 and while going first on Friday is a real thing, they could also potentially clinch a postseason berth if the Crew fall next Saturday night against Philadelphia.
3) New York Red Bulls
Current Points: 50
Games Remaining: 4 (3 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 65
Average Opponents Points: 39.2
Remaining Schedule: vs. Toronto FC (9/29), vs. Chicago (10/6), vs. Sporting KC (10/20), at Philadelphia (10/27)
WATCH: New England 1, New York 1 (9/22/2012)
The Rundown: Save Montreal who are almost completely out of the playoff race, no one in the East had a worse week than Red Bull. A flat effort at home in midweek against Sporting KC in a match that could have taken them to the top of the East table combined with a gut-wrenching 1-1 draw Saturday at lowly New England leaves New York in a precarious position at the moment.
The good thing is that three of their remaining four matches are at home and two of those are against the Fire and Sporting KC. The bad thing is both D.C. and Houston play Sunday. A win by United over Chivas USA would pull them level with Red Bull on points while a Houston win over Philadelphia would pull them within one.
4) DC United
Current Points: 47
Games Remaining: 5 (2 home, 3 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 62
Average Opponents Points: 35.4
Remaining Schedule: vs. Chivas USA (9/23), at Portland (9/29), at Toronto FC (10/6), vs. Columbus (10/20), at Chicago (10/27)
The Rundown: Not a lot to say about United until they play their match vs. Chivas USA tonight (6pm CT on Galavision). D.C. did well enough to earn three points at Philadelphia at midweek and if they can take advantage of the easier schedule over the next few weeks, they'll be in very good shape for a top three finish, even without DeRo.
Food for thought: If D.C. were to drop a 4-0 scoreline on Chivas USA at RFK tonight, they would actually move into third place, beating Red Bull on the second tie breaker of Goal Differential...
5) Houston Dynamo
Current Points: 46
Games Remaining: 5 (3 home, 2 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 61
Average Opponents Points: 30.4
Remaining Schedule: at Philadelphia (9/23), vs. New England (9/29), vs. Montreal (10/6), vs. Philadelphia (10/20), at Colorado (10/27)
The Rundown: Same as D.C. above. Houston should be favorites to win all five of their remaining matches, with their toughest opponent being Montreal on October 6. The favorable remaining schedules for both the Dynamo and United should give great caution to Sporting KC, Chicago and New York if they expect to finish in the top three.
6) Columbus Crew
Current Points: 45
Games Remaining: 4 (3 home, 1 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 57
Average Opponents Points: 37.7
Remaining Schedule: vs. Philadelphia (9/29), vs. Sporting KC (10/7), at D.C. United (10/20), vs. Toronto FC (10/28).
The Rundown: Again last night, the Crew continue to showed why some should be skeptical about their late-season run as the team hasn't beaten anyone ahead of them lately. For a team trying to climb up the table, dropping points against those above you won't help your cause. With three of four remaining matches at home, Columbus is far from out of the race but can't afford many more slip-ups.
The October 20 game vs. United could be the make or break of their season.
7) Montreal Impact
Current Points: 40
Games Remaining: 3 (1 home, 2 away)
Maximum Possible Points: 49
Average Opponents Points: 32.3
Remaining Schedule: at Houston (10/6), at Toronto FC (10/20), vs. New England (10/27)
The Rundown: Just here because of mathematics. Montreal did the Fire and the rest of the East a bit of a favor by earning a 0-0 draw with Sporting KC Saturday but leaving two points on the field at Stade Saputo has really determined the Impact's playoff fate in their expansion season. They'll take next weekend off and the rest of the East will hope they can pull another result at Houston before they finish off the season with games at Toronto and vs. New England.


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