by Ethan Johnson
June 10, 2007

Warning: Another lonnnnnnng entry. Sorry!

After the emotional roller coaster that was the Houston road trip, it was great to be back in the friendly confines of Pepperoni Park. Since the Gold Cup is happening right now, and Team USA is loaded with MLS players, LA Galaxy is one of the teams that have lost players to the tournament, which bodes well for FC Dallas, who I believe only coughed up Carlos Ruiz, who hasn't been much of a factor for FCD lately anyway. This game was brought to you in stunning high definition - it's called being at the game. Let's reminisce:

• I forgot to kiss the cement of Pepperoni Park. Doop!
• The pre-game tailgate was a cluster-fooge for various reasons, plus it didn't help that Team USA was playing in the Gold Cup just prior to the FCD game. At least the weather was reasonably cooperative; just hot and muggy but no rain. Plus even though I couldn't get a clean shot of this, team president and GM Michael Hitchcock put in an appearance at the tailgate. Really, does Jerry Jones or Mark Cuban do this? I'm thinking they do not. Cool.
• HDNet covered the game tonight, and it was cool to look back and see what I just lived through played back in HD. Section 116 never looked so good. Good thing it was pretty full for the TV angle.
• Juan Toja scored first, but the goal was scored way at the other end of the field where I couldn't really make out what happened other than seeing a ball enter the net. Good enough for me! Plus, I go utterly batshit during FCD goals so I wasn't able to watch the replay very well either. LA tied the game up later despite a valiant defensive effort in the net. It was all downhill from there for LA as FCD scored on a penalty kick and a sweet goal by Drew Moor. FCD: Still #1 in the West. And in our hearts.
• Whenever an opposing player takes a dive, the Section 116 crowd likes to chant "you're going home in a Frisco ambulance." While that may be hilarious, especially when the dives are really fakey, the karma train is a bitch, I tell ya. Kenny Cooper broke his tibia during the closing minutes of the game. Guess where he went. And he's out for 6-8 weeks at least. Crap.

Now the photos. My camera was being goofy this time so I'm afraid the in-game action was not to be had to my liking. I've included the best of the worst.

"Richardinho" shows off his Juan Toja wig:

People hanging out at the makeshift pre-game tailgate:

The atmosphere committee laying out long banners (ribbons) in Section 116:

LA Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon chatting with the Section 116 crowd before the game. Pesto clearly wasn't in the stands yet because he asked me specifically to note how hated Joe Cannon is. No hating during the pre-game warmups though. (Sorry Pesto.)

Warren rallying up the troops:

Travis on the jumbo-tron:

MightyMart is somewhere in this photo, I'm told. Bonus... I was just aiming for the banner:

This kid is either very brave or very naive. Who wears an LA shirt in section 117? Or anywhere in Pepperoni Park, really?

Here come the Hoops!

Raising the colored banners before the game:

The LA Galaxy cheering section. You're not singing over theeeeeeere...

Pre-kick group huddle:

Opening kickoff streamer assault:

First half in-game action:

Drew Moor heading towards the action:

Pablo Ricchetti trying to be everywhere at once, and mostly succeeding:

Joan Toja takes first blood for FCD:

HDNet camera dude:

Dax McCarty warming up during halftime:

Kenny Cooper (right) and Bobby Rhine during halftime:

FCD reserves watching and waiting:

Second half in-game action:

Kenny Cooper down for the count with a broken tibia:

FCD wins!!!

Coach Steve Morrow and FC Dallas walk over to thank the fans:

Look Ma, I'm on teevee! (right side, blurry because HDTV doesn't photograph well at close range)

That's it for home games for me for a long, long time. (Looks like August 4 at the earliest.) That gives me some time to figure out how to get my camera to deliver more consistent results. See you on the couch! <EM>

(Much, much more virtual ink has been spilled by me about Major League Soccer. The fledgling but growing MLS article archive may be found here.)