Fire Clavijo Website Appears

Denver is growing into a full fledged European style soccer town under owner Stan Kroenke. First Kroenke had a new facility, probably the best in the country built. Then he bought a piece of Arsenal and is trying to buy the North London club outright. Now the fans of his club have become the first I can recall in MLS history to launch a website to fire a coach. The website, http://www.fireclavijo.com/FireClavijo/index.htm is in the developmental stages but it indicates that MLS' efforts at parity have had some consequences. The reality from my perspective is that Fernando Clavijo got more out of the Rapids in the first two months of the season than could be expected considering the weak squad he has. But with a gem of a new facility, a committed ownership situation and the tie in with Arsenal (which will only get larger if Kroenke succeeds in buying the Gunners outright) Rapids fans will soon run out of patience in mass. So one way or another Clavijo better get the ship righted.

Mathis and Arena Reunited

I must admit, I never saw this coming. It seemed perennial bad boy Clint Mathis had found a home in Colorado where Fernando Clavijo seemed more capable of controlling him than his previous coaches. Now Colorado has traded Mathis to Red Bull New York coached by none other than Bruce Arena, the same Bruce Arena who ran Mathis, arguably the 2nd most talented American player off the national team in 2003. Mathis enjoyed his best professional seasons in New York after being acquired from the LA Galaxy in 2000. Mathis also was one of the best American national team players between 2000 and 2002, scoring a notable goal versus South Korea in World Cup 2002, but Mathis' bad behavior and poor work ethic ended his stay with the Nats in 2003.

Arena and Mathis never saw eye to eye in the past but with the Red Bulls desperate for some scoring punch, acquiring Mathis is likely a sign of the times for Arena. Unlike unproven young MLS players, Arena knows Mathis can produce if he is motivated. Leave to Arena and the Red Bull staff to push the right buttons and hope Mathis makes an impact this year.