Tuesday Morning Espresso Shots

Would you like something with that Espresso shot, sir? Maybe a Danish or Scone? How about some links?

Adderley Wins Player of the Week: I have to spell it out or I think of something completely different. Good for Jamacian Nick. Made the most of an opportunity and punished the Rapids, exactly what United needs up front. He played physical against Colorado spinning their defenders like quarters, something we didn't see the last time he suited up. I think United will have loads of depth up front once they get Moreno back from the Copa America and Kpene back from his injury.

Beckham ZOMG!!!: Individual tickets for the LA Galaxy game featuring Beckham went on sale yesterday. According to the report DC United had already sold about 30,000 before yesterday and is holding around 2,500 back for the bigger plans. So tell your friends to order quick because this one will probably sell out. Also, if you are bringing a big group of friends please tell them to at least wear black and boo the other team.

United and the Copa America: Looks like Boswell is the 4 central defender on the Copa America team as Califf came in for an injured Demerit. I believe this puts Boswell 7th on the full US depth chart. Olsen however is starting, playing well. I don't think that he a legitimate option for 2010, but he has shown through talent, leadership and heart that bringin him in for this tournament was a great move. I didn't catch Bolivia's second game, I am sure Oscar can tell us how Moreno did.

ESPN Hates Hockey???: Lifton over at the SE Podcast has a link and some soccer views on a good little piece about how ESPN is ignoring hockey. Not really DCU related, or even soccer related, but it is good to remember that we aren't the only ones. By the way, the Bill Simmons diary the piece references is hilarous and you should definately read it if you have the time.

The Wandering Armenian

The morning cup of coffee updates:

IF ONLY THERE WAS SOME SHOW THAT COMBINED CELEBRITIES AND DANCING. YOU COULD CALL IT... CELEBRITY DANCE OFF, OR SOMETHING: Yes, Dan Steinberg does have the must read of the week. Look, Washington Post Live has been kinda, well, dull for most of its life so far. Even Troy Perkins wasn't moved much beyond the "Well, we gotta play hard and bring the effort every game in which we're playing, and that requires basics and playing hard and effort..." type of interview. And Troy's an interesting guy. But this? This I will tune in for.

ALLIANCES: I bring this story to your attention because, well, it is going to take more to decode than I have. I did not know that the DC School Board President was also a consultant for Victor McFarlane until he was removed from that job yesterday:

Bobb was fired from his full-time job as a consultant for D.C. United owner Victor MacFarlane's real estate development firm. MacFarlane spoke with Bobb Tuesday afternoon and told him that his work on the school board had become a distraction and that it was best to part ways.

Now, this is interesting in a strange political machination sort of way. Mayor Fenty is proposing a school takeover by the city, essentially removing the school board from most operating decisions. Bobb had gotten a democratic senator Landrieu from Louisiana to put a hold on that legislation, which required congressional approval. Needless to say, DC self-rule advocates were upset by this. A strange story. McFarlane, by removing Bobb, seems to be trying to align himself closer to Fenty. We know Fenty's constiuency, but what I don't know is "Who are Bobb's allies?" In short, while McFarlane may gain a closer relationship with Fenty, who may he have alienated? Sadly, my knowledge of DC politics does not run that deep.

WAIT A MINUTE HONEY I'M GOING TO ADDLERY IT UP (ADDLERY IT UP! [repeat]): John Haydon in the Times grabs the interview with Nicholas Addlery. Nicholas is certainly leading an interesting life (how many ex Vietnamese league players does MLS have?) And it's clear that attitude is something that must impress the DC scouting staff:

Addlery, who is from the Red Hills area of Kingston, Jamaica, said he gets his inspiration from flamboyant French star Djibril Cisse, who is now playing for Marseille on loan from Liverpool.

"I love his desire: two broken legs and his not giving up after being thrown out of Liverpool," Addlery said. "I like players who are hungry with desire like that."

We like players like that as well. Speaking of which...

ESKY IN SLC: I'll depart from our DC focus for just a few words on the Eskandarian-Cunningham deal that went down yesterday. Most people, including me, at first, read this as once again Mo Johnston fleecing Real Salt Lake. Yet the more I think about it, the more this deal makes sense. If Ellinger were still in charge in Salt Lake, then this deal is a disaster. But Jason Kreis just got a player with Alecko Eskandarian who will bleed, fight, and run until his legs fall off. That's not Jeff Cunningham, and I'm not sure if it is many other players on the team. RSL wasn't going anywhere as a team with Cunningham, so there's really no loss in the deal for Kreis. What he may gain is a player who will inspire that team, who will lead by example when it comes to effort. Alecko may not always be effective, but it is never for lack of trying. And if his presence, combined with Kreis' mentality, lifts that team, then this deal may do a lot of good for RSL. That's a lot of ifs. But at this point in the season, can you really say RSL could possibly be worse?

Addition Through Adderly

WELCOME THE NEW NICK: Steve Goff reports that forward Nicholas Adderly is signed. I imagine this is something you probably won't notice this year unless you attend reserve games, which we certainly intend to do. If we see anything of interest, we'll let you know. Look, this is a shot that if it pays dividends, it'll be in a year or two, and if it doesn't? Well, that's why you have the reserve league.

BRADLEY - "MORENO MUST IGNITE": Jeff Bradley at MLSNet sez: "show me a good D.C. team, I'll show you a productive Jaime Moreno." Well, true as far as it goes, but we'll see. Moreno doesn't have the tear up the league for us to be successful. Productive, sure, but "all-star forward" - mebbe not.

UPCOMING ON DCENTERS: We're trying to get an expert to come in on Thursday or Friday for the Columbus game, and we'll have a game briefing on Friday or Saturday morning. Also, I'm working on a new feature that I hope will be somewhat cool, and I hope to have a version up either today or tomorrow.