Lost My Shape, Trying to Act Casual

KC-EVE: Woo! The day before a game, and that means there's a lot to get to. We got a match briefing to write, see if we can find a special guest, catch up on the news.... Yeah.

THURSDAY NIGHT'S DEBUT - PRETTY GOOD: Caught the debut of Thursday night soccer last night, and was entertained. FC Dallas and LA played a game that was enjoyable to watch for a neutral, if not particularly skilled. If every game is as enjoyable as last night's, then I think ESPN should get a nice return on their money. A few notes though:

1. Famous Daves: Kill the Dave O'Brien voice-over, it sucks. That being said, Dave called a mediocre game last night. Probably his best call since he started. I think the problem with Dave is that he feels the play-by-play role should be a voice of authority on behalf of the game. That allows the color guy to be the voice representing the players. I think Dave lacked knowledge and credibility when he started to take on that persona: It would have been interesting if he had taken a different track and learned the game publicly, allowing new viewers someone to identify with. Instead, he felt he had to be The Voice of the Man. You'll note that Dave never talks about "learning something new" but rather tells you facts. I'd like to see him talk about more of the former, even if it stuff we already know.
2. Graphics: If you have this fancy new offside marker, use it. LA had an offside call in the final four minutes go against them right at the death, and they seemed upset about it. Would have been a natural time to take a look. The thing is, you need to go right to that replay and get back to the game. I feel like perhaps that technology takes time to cue it up, which probably renders it useless for anything but half-time recaps.
3. Officiating: Terry Vaughn called a decent first hour, then swallowed his whistle. MLS Refs need to dish out yellows for persistent infringement. Yes, I know that Ben Olsen would get some of those. Doesn't matter, the laws exist for a reason. You can't just feel like you have control of a game, you need to keep it. That being said, the opening 60 minutes was officiated decently, and I agree with the PK given to FCD.

IDIOT WATCH: Thanks for the 2-nil win over Atlanta, you Charm City Asshat. Oh, and your point might have been stronger if you noted the success of the Blast in MISL the past few years, but you probably can't even keep track of that.

FAR REACHING INTERVIEWS: If you missed the ThroughBall interview with (as DuNord says) fellow freak Mark McClure of the Far Post, you should read it. Mark comes off very well, and Josh allows him to shine quite nicely. Good stuff.

THE IRONY OF "THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...": MLSNet Water-carrier Dave Lifton on DC United returning home. Key graf:

Soehn agrees with that assessment. "I could see blank stares, and you don't often see that with our guys. You hit a stretch of two weeks of traveling and sleeping in different beds, and it just wears on you. You miss your family, you miss your home. All that goes away fast once you get back."