Apathy Abounds

Wednesday marks the start of another edition of the Nabisco Cup and I would write a big preview of our Group Stage and our prospects for this year. Unfortunately, I do not care. At all. Big yawnfest. These games mean less to me than the Satellite League. Seriously.

First off, the league dictates who can and cannot play due to their "first selection" rule. I'm not too bothered by it this year, because all the young guys who I'm curious to see if they are capable or not are seeing playing time. However, we have a very short turnaround from the home game on the 25th to the road trip down to Oita on the 29th. That's going to be a tired team ripe for stupid injuries playing against one of the more "physical" teams in the league. Ohhhh, did I mention that Oita has no game on the 25th?

Second, I'm not that interested in seeing Marinos or Niigata for the 400th time. And Jubilo plays against us twice in an eleven-day period. Two of the games are on a Wednesday so I'm guessing crowds of 4 to 6000 will show up late and leave unsatisfied.

Finally, I'm looking at who wins these things and I'm not so impressed: usually mid-table teams who beat bigger teams who are going through the motions. Hell, didn't Kashiwa win it once? And the big prize? A trip to LA to play the finest from two yet-to-be-named Asian countries and the LA Galaxy. I'll pass... unless we win and then I'll write a column about how the Nabisco Cup is AWESOME!

If we have to play the games [we do - Ed.], this is what I'd like to see, assuming fitness:

Albirex

GK Takagi
DF Tsukamoto
DF Fukuda
DF Neretljak
DF Hato
MF Ishihara
MF Saito
MF Arai
MF Hashimoto
FW Watabe
FW Lavric

Oita

GK Takagi
DF Tsukamoto
DF Tomita
DF Kataoka
DF Tomita
MF Ichikawa
MF Kanazawa
MF Aoki
MF Uchida
FW Fujimoto
FW Lavric

Omiyans Abroad

I've tried following the exploits of Daigo Kobayashi, I really have. I give up. I don't know what an Odd Grenland is and Tromso sounds just awful... I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. I go by his blog from time to time and his happy soccer-playing cartoon caricature has been replaced by a dark brooding Daigo - one that loves Bauhaus and writes moody poetry and wears mascara. It's like an evil twin has taken over. Emo Daigo, so to speak.

Surprisingly I have been just enthralled with the journey of Takuro Nishimura. As Furtho has reported, our little bundle of energy and indecision and hacking fouls found his way to Portland via Harrisburg and Los Angeles. Now it's fun to read about his exploits with MLS trainers and USL teams. He evidently does this with a trusty sidekick by the name of Kent, who seems to be his international BFF.

What amazes me is that Portland seems to have Takuro-mania! Every review I've read of him has been glowing. It makes sense in a way; USL is a more physical league where you can get away with a dumb tackle easier than in J1. Portland itself seems to be interesting... they have a supporter group leader/mascot/lumberjack by the name of Timber Jim who saws off a piece of log when they score. Not emo at all.

Is it just me being bitter at the guy who I thought would help us out at the start of the season? Is it because I'm American and it takes place in America? Or is it just a more interesting story to see a guy who career-wise is on his last legs make good in the most unpredictable place possible? Maybe all three.

Orange! Happy!!! Football!

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