A little late and short this week due to free-lance deadlines and a nervous trip to the auto dealer’s service department. (It lived.) Also, these are going to be more Oly/international/MMA and less soccer because I’m already rounding up soccer…
soccer
WPS: Bompastor goes mindless; Solo reviews Dave Matthews
by Beau Dure • • 3 Comments
In terms of lead-ins for the Washington Freedom, D.C. United’s loss in the ancient broiler known as RFK Stadium wasn’t exactly a new episode of Seinfeld. Fortunately, the Freedom and St. Louis Athletica turned around with a game that entertained…
soccer
Quick handoff at United-Freedom doubleheader
by Beau Dure • • 1 Comment
D.C. United and the Washington Freedom warmed up for their back-to-back games Saturday in RFK Stadium with back-to-back practices Friday in RFK, giving those of us seeking economy in our journalism a chance to talk with a few players from…
chess, cycling, olympic sports, soccer, tennis, tv
Friday Myriad: Europa, but no pirate twins?
by Beau Dure • • 1 Comment
The big soccer news for U.S. fans and anyone who appreciates the underdog: Fulham reached the Europa League final, rallying from 1-0 down to win 2-1 Thursday against Hamburg. That’s not exactly Butler reaching the NCAA hoops final — Fulham…
soccer
The perils of predicting prospects’ futures
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
He was a young American phenom, joining a pro team in high school. He was compared to the best players of his generation. After signing in Portugal, things started to go wrong. Freddy Adu? Nope. Jovan Kirovski, subject of a…
mma
‘The Ultimate Fighter’: Season 11, Episode 5: Epic struggle
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
After a week in which Tito Ortiz traded accusations with longtime girlfriend Jenna Jameson, with whom he has started a family, it’s a relief to see an episode that focuses on the fighting. We don’t see much in the house…
soccer, sports culture
D.C. doubleheader intrigue: Watching crowd … and Emilio?
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
D.C. United and the Washington Freedom play a doubleheader on Saturday, and it’ll be interesting to see how many United fans stick around for the women’s game. The typical MLS-women’s doubleheader has been ladies first. This one’s reversed. I’ve posted…
soccer
Sounders fans should blame the duper, not the dupee
by Beau Dure • • 4 Comments
Seattle fans have had a frustrating season so far, victimized by a couple of late goals and a strange scheduling quirk. One of those late goals came from a controversial call Thursday at Dallas. The only person I’ve seen defending…
chess, cycling, mma, olympic sports, soccer, tennis, track and field
Monday Myriad: Bolt flies while U.S. nets wins in tennis and beach volley
by Beau Dure • • 1 Comment
TRACK AND FIELD Penn Relays: Usain Bolt draws record attendance and clinches the 4×100 relay with a blazing final leg. USA fares well in the rest of the relays. (AP) Drake Relays: Christian Cantwell shot putted real far, Damu Cherry…
soccer
MLS Week 5: No sleep ’til Seattle
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
Top five, six or seven items from the week: – D.C. United, mired in a horrible losing streak, got the week off. Seattle got two rough road games in four days, and Sigi Schmid’s roster rotation scheme didn’t really pay…
mma
Could judges have botched the Aldo-Faber fight?
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
They didn’t, of course — no one who saw the WEC Amp Energy featherweight title bout last night would have any doubt about the winner of the fight. The guy who walked out without a scratch (Jose Aldo) rightfully kept…
chess
Why this world chess championship is so exciting
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
Like the world heavyweight boxing championship, the world chess championship has fallen on hard times since the ’70s and ’80s. The succession of colorful, controversial figures died out in a muddle of disputed titles and curious decisions. From a U.S.…
soccer, sports culture
Book review: ‘A Beautiful Game’
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
The first thing you’ll notice about A Beautiful Game is that it’s a beautiful book. The photography is rich and diverse — a treasured pair of dirty boots in Liberia, a youth clinic in Cambodia, a junkyard kickabout in Brazil,…