. . . with rawhide and Bulls’ blood. The Atlantic Cup, once again, is retained (definitively) by DC United. So, with the US Open Cup and Atlantic Cup no longer an issue, that leaves us with the coveted MLS Cup, which is arguably a long shot at this point. First and foremost, we must make the playoffs, and losing to DC last night did not help our cause.

Again, I was unable to watch it live, but after reviewing the highlights, it seemed like an exciting and spirited match. Amado’s goals were sweet, but not enough. However, at the final whistle, the Raging Reds found themselves on the losing end, again. What I find odd is that Bruce Arena, known for his conditioning tactics for the USMNT, commented that he did not feel the team’s conditioning was where it should be???!!! Excuse me, Mr. Arena? We have 3 matches left in the regular season with our playoff hopes in jeopardy, and you are NOW concerned about our team’s conditioning? Richie did not have a problem when he was interim head coach . . . .

With all the ambiguous post-match commentary, it is time for the high-profile Red Bulls coaching staff to put its money (and they are making PLENTY of it) where its collective mouth is. It seems that MLS coaches do no wrong, as most tend to focus on what happens on the pitch. Indeed, a team needs to execute to win. Although, what about starting lineups, formations, substitution strategies, and communicating tactics from the technical area? Are the players to blame 100% of the time? I argue that they are not. Sometimes you have to “buck the system,” shove “political correctness” where the sun does not shine, and say it like it is.

Now, I am not directly blaming the Red Bulls’ coaching quartet for any of our misfortunes as of late, but in my opinion, they are not saints. Honestly, the ambiguous commentary does not even come close to appeasement. Get your act together boys . . . BOTH coaches and players! Players, please show us what you are really made of, like young “Jozie” (who was arguably offside) on his strike in the 92 minute. Coaches, earn your keep. We know you did not come cheap, so “Git ‘er done!!!!”, as they say down South!

Of course, we will be gearing up for your return to Giants Stadium on Sept 30, where we will have a special pregame Roundup. Make the playoffs, and start anew!

On a happier note, RENEW or BECOME a season-ticket holder, and be sure to ask for your RagingBullNation National (Citizen) Passport, with which you can enjoy the Red Bull matches even more than you do now, and for up to 15% off the regular full-season ticket price!!! ASK, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE! We will have more information about the benefits of a National Passport for you soon!

YIRB,

CT

How many times must it knock before the Red Bulls open the door? First, I am upset that I could not even watch the match on TV, because of my work obligations. Second, on the way home from work, T5O leaves me a loooooonngggg voicemail, which began with, “We are down 1-0, and we are playing like s–t . . . .” Wow, that really jazzes me for relaxing after a 12-hour day on my feet! Then, I get home to find out we were blanked 2-0!!! ARRRGHHHH!!!!! For crying out loud, we break ground on Red Bull Park just the day before, but we cannot catch a break?!!!!! The sentiment in the locker room seemed to reflect this . . .

We are staring at just two home matches left this season, and the Raging Reds are perilously slipping out of playoff contention. Mathematically, it is still possible, but I just get tired of seeing us scratch and claw to the playoffs . . .

Well, all this requisite misery is offset by the AWESOME Red Bull Park Groundbreaking ceremony earlier in the week in Harrison. The weather was awesome, the karma was awesome, the Brazilian dancers were the “awesomest!!!” (SORRY Melody et al of the “Red Bull Girls”) RBN Nationals even got to shovel the dirt themselves for a great photo op, but not as good as Johnny Toro’s mug in the NY Times . . . YES, “The Times!” First, Spain. Now, New York! Oh, and let us not forget the Brazilian cuisine around the corner at Boi na Brasa on Merchant, which we eagerly sampled with The Morabito clan! Steph, Joe, and Adam are coming to the WILD SIDE next season . . . right?! More on this historic project can be found here.

I have created TWO new installments in the BEV section, albeit long overdue. The complementary video content is forthcoming. These days, I have had MUCH LESS time to tinker with updates to our site. However, I did manage to get the photos uploaded, including a long overdue “Goal Flag” for Jozie’s award-winning strike last weekend against The Crew. The video is coming later . . . I promise! Please be patient! It WILL be worth it! Genius takes time!

The Red Bulls hit the road again to take on arch-nemesis, DCU. If you can make it there, BE THERE! They need us!!! Then it will be back to The Meadowlands to extinguish (hopefully) the Fire.

Incidentally, tomorrow is the beginning of the “2007 Season Ticket Renewal Window,” which ends Dec 15, 2006. Be sure to ask for your tickets in “The Corral” (Section 115) with RagingBullNation, and receive a 10% discount on a full-season NATIONAL PASSPORT. We also have other flexible partial-season offerings, and a “NEW” Diplomat Visa package. For more information, chieftoro@metronation.net. Why not, right?

I will leave you with the parting POSITIVE THOUGHT . . . ALTIDORE gets the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week! YEAH!!!

YIRB,

CT

Match itself = UGLY

Officiating = UGLY

Johnny Toro = UGLY (but popular; hehe)

Seriously, I really do not have anything good to say about the match this past weekend. Frankly, as passionate as we Nationals are about our Raging Reds, we barely had anything to cheer about, except in the 83rd minute when MLS and Red Bull rookie Josmer “Jozie” Altidore sealed the Crew’s fate with a 30-yard laser! Maybe this will boost his rank closer to rookie peer [”Marvelous”] Marvel Wynne in our “Favorite Red Bull” survey on this site?

Furthermore, I must have been watching a different match, because Bruce just confounds me with some of his post-match remarks. Is it just me . . . seriously?!
Well, the point is just that . . . POINTS . . . three of them to be exact. The East Conference is still choked up across the board with just 12 points separating second from last place and 4-5 matches left in the regular season. Again, playoff standings are anybody’s guess. What is for sure is that the drama looks as though it will last right through the nth minute of the last regular-season match (vs. Kansas City), just like Jeff Bradley predicted.

For those of you anticipating a BEV update, we are postponing it, as some of us will be in attendance for the Red Bull Park Groundbreaking on Tuesday of this week (after which T5O is bringing us to his favorite Brazilian restaurant in Ironbound . . . care to join?) and the ever-critical grudge match against the Revs the following evening (A LOT at stake that evening!) So, there should be a substantial BEV update by the end of next week (including another BULLog post), which will obviously comment on the final Atlantic Cup clash between DCU and RBN at RFK this weekend . . . GRRRRrrrrr!!!!!

Lastly, speaking of updates, I said in the last BULLog that we are working on a special National Passport (season-ticket) offering for those who want to be MORE INVOLVED WITH US next season. We aim to get this to you via e-mail and this web site before the end of this week. SO, SIGN UP FOR OUR eUpdates, and do not miss out on important RBN news like this in the future; including the Sportfriends “SoccToberfest” on September 23, at which the RED BULL GIRLS might show up!

YIRB,
CT

PS

This weekend yours truly set the record for the longest drive on the day of a Red Bull match specifically to watch the match (780 miles round trip)! You got nothing on me Apple Shiner!!

Indeed, opportunity knocked again for our Raging Reds . . . -SIGH- I do not know what to say. This is probably more related to the fact that I could not watch the game because of professional obligations. I did however rush home only to log on to www.nyredbulls.com in the 92nd minute of the match, which resulted in yet another damaging loss in the regular season stretch. The video highlights were not too flattering, either.

Although, I do have to say that Brian Hall seemed to have an Assistant Referee’s flag inserted where it should not be. What was the deal with the second caution on Amado? Unfortunately, Amado being cautioned is not a surprise, but it seemed that Hall was in his usual “egotistical cloud” when he (deliberately and without hesitation) sent Amado off for seemingly touching his arm. Amado did not seem to be mouthing off at that time, right? Hmmmm . . . as a referee myself, it seems that the events leading up to the first caution must have just pushed Brian there over the edge. I wonder where Brian takes is referee gear for dry-cleaning? Hey, Brian! What should Amado do if you touch HIS jersey?

I really cannot ramble too much, but I am really missing being “right there.” That will soon change, and your Clueless Leader returns to The Corral for a little revenge on the Crew next weekend. Listen, if we do not get 3 points here, I think a replay of last season might be brewing. WE ARE NOT OUT YET!! C’mon, Red Bulls! C’mon Bruce! You have a little damage control to do here!

Of course, we are always pulling for the Raging Reds, but with the Red Bull Park groundbreaking just a few days away, it is prudent to begin planning for future seasons. Indeed, we are on it. So, come back often, as we (as an organization) look to impress for the rest of this season and beyond!!!

See you all next weekend . . . FORWARD TO FRISCO!!!!!!!!!!!!

YIRB,

CT

PS

If you watched the video highlights, you heard Shep Messing say that Noonan shielded the ball well with his body. Yeah, right, Shep . . . read the post-match quotes . . .

POST-KCW/PRE-CHI . . .

At the final stretch of the regular season, the Raging Reds find themselves amidst a tightly packed East Conference with games in hand or within easy striking distance to takeover a higher placing. A major opportunity knocked first to hop into third place (from fifth) against the Wizards slipped though their boots on Wednesday night.

A controversial strike by Josh Wolff in the 71st saw the Wizards keep their hopes of rejuvenating their season (after speculation about moving the franchise and coaching changes) alive. A point on the road is always good, but three points could have easily been awarded to the Red Bulls, who obviously played to win, but were disappointed in the end. I was disappointed for obvious reasons, but I also debuted my Red Bull AWAY replica, which did not receive the proper “christening.” Speaking of Red Bull replica jerseys, THE BEST WAY TO ORDER ANY RED BULL MERCHANDISE IS DIRECTLY THROUGH FRANK PERRONE AT RED BULL NEW YORK!

Looking ahead, a win against Chicago this weekend and a New England loss should put the Red Bulls in the optimal second place, where I would ultimately like to see them end up at the end of the regular season (i.e., home field advantage for the “home-and-home” playoff series). Unfortunately, our East Conference opponents just keep pacing us on points, which makes our current “games-in-hand” advantages over Kansas and Columbus all the more important, especially if Columbus beats New England this weekend, which I hope they do.

Mulligan’s provided the setting for viewing this tense match with fellow Nationals and other soccer enthusiasts. Jim, our bartender, was as hospitable as always; even after we made a little fun of Gaelic football . . . only because we are ignorant soccer enthusiasts, for now! Jim vowed to change that. In any case, it was a good atmosphere, and we came across an excellent newsletter, “RBNY Notes,” written and published by ?Dan???. If you are out there, “Dan,” get in touch with us! We LOVE your newsletter!

POST-CHI/PRE-NER . . .

Now, opportunity knocked a second AND third time . . . FOR CHICAGO!!! Capitalizing on two defensive errors, the injury-plagued Red Bulls allowed the Fire to figuratively (and arguably, literally) walk in for two goals by the 60th minutes, against the run of play. The Raging Reds persisted, and gained one back off a typical Wolyniec follow-up in the 78th minute. Honestly, though, the real hero of that play was Joe “[La] Vide [-a-Loca!],” who had a strong showing during his 89-minute first start for the Red Bulls. He made a great “first-start impression,” and could find himself getting more starts this season. The shorter Vide was replaced by lengthier fellow “Reservist,” Blake Camp, who made his first-team debut, and almost made it count in second-half extra time after a Chicago Fire defensive error.

I agonized over this result, as it was against the run of play. Wolyniec valiantly battled for a ball lofted to him from the midfield while towing a Chicago defender. He managed to maintain possession and slide to a trailing Edson Buddle who could have equalized in the 82nd minute. Buddle may have gotten Player of the Week and Goal of the Week, but he needed a left foot tonight . . . However, coming off the bench with an injury, I guess you cannot expect “hat-trick Eddie” to reappear just like that . . . ! POOF !

So, DC United secures a playoff birth, and rest of us in the East all have a chance to make the playoffs. It is anybody’s guess how the table will look at the end of the regular season. I really thought we were going to take second, tonight! GRRRrrrr!! Well, I cannot let this distract me from the priorities at hand, nor must we “cry over spilled milk.” We have New England on the road on September 9, and I am planning on being there. If there is a “Soccer God,” give us a vibe!!!!

Well, I have to cut this short, especially since the sports reporters and Internet wizards have slacked off this holiday weekend. The FANS are still working!!?!!???!!! There is still no article or match highlights to hyperlink (FINALLY!). So, Match Tracker must suffice for now. Well, be sure to visit www.nyredbulls.com or www.mlsnet.com for more details.

I leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow, as opportunity knocks for me, too. From “Yankee” to “Redneck,” “Y’all visit now, ya here!” . . . If you do not, “I am comin’ to git ya’!” Seriously, you will not miss me, because I will make every effort to BE THERE for our Boys!

YIRB,

CT

PS

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE RED BULL PLAYER!!!

PPS

I was remiss in not mentioning the recent induction of Alexi Lalas, former MetroStars and Red Bulls GM, to the HOF in my last post. Congrats, “Carrot Head!”

PPPS

Referee justice?