Happy Birthday, Nicky

By: Ian Rose | June 17th, 2007

Happy Birthday to Nick Rimando, who turns 28 today. Your present, Nicky, is not, sadly, a pony OR a Malibu Stacy beach house, but another grueling day in goal for RSL, making a dozen or so saves while still probably not getting a win.

Let’s hope Nick’s birthday can bring us some luck. If not, I’ll soon be willing to try anything (sacrificing chickens, etc) to turn the tide. Not sure how well the Mormons would deal with the whole chicken thing … scratch that …

Anyway, today is, of course, the long-awaited match between the two worst teams in the MLS, RSL and the Galaxy. As Laurie points out in her excellent preview, the loser of this game is, without a doubt, the worst team in the MLS, so there’s a bit of honor to be reclaimed if RSL can finally take one today. After the goal-fest that was yesterday in the MLS (18 goals in four games) and Toronto’s Murder-Death-Kill on Dallas today 4-0, another 0-0 or 1-0 is going to be a serious letdown. Let’s keep the trend going, and see some quality goals. (”Ride the walrus” just came to mind … huh …)

My prediction … I hate to say it, but it’s a draw. Frankly, if Landon Donovan is in this game, I think he either beats our defense or forces a stupid penalty, but the rest of the Galaxy boys, I just don’t know. Eddie Buddle, the new guy at the Gals, may surprise me, but I’m not holding my breath. As for RSL, I’ll be happy with some form of attack happening at some point in the match. The offense has been terrible. Let’s see something pretty from Atiba Harris, or from Esky. They are, if nothing else, due.

Jason Kreis is still suspended for this match, and so will be off the sidelines for RSL, after his (entirely justified) outburst at the painfully incompetent officiating in the Dallas match. One of your players practically gets his head taken off, and you have reason to be a tad bit upset.

Good luck, RSL. Lose this one, and you can go ahead and stop renting - you can settle down and start a family in that bottom spot, because this might be your last chance to get out of it.