One Last Bit of VW Propaganda

V-dub in da haus! Free cars for everyone! If you don't think the scent of corporate dollars was wafting about RFK Stadium today like so many mildly reheated animal products, you better get your nostrils checked out. We're talking about a major multinational corporation ordering several large helpings of...

By Dan Steinberg | May 6, 2008; 03:52 PM ET | Comments (9)

United Players Are Excited

If all's it takes to get goofy pictures of United's foreign stars is a new corporate sponsorship, I say we make this a weekly feature. This week VW (ding), which joins Adidas; next week Der Spiegel, and the following week Ritter Sport. Anything to get the word "Joghurt" on...

By Dan Steinberg | May 6, 2008; 01:28 PM ET | Comments (8)

Quavas Kirk is Black Thunder

Before we get back to the business at hand (providing free publicity for Volkswagen, making "V-dub in da haus" jokes), a brief interlude concerning United first-year midfielder Quavas Kirk, whose e-mail address prominently features the phrase "Black Thunder." You'll never figure out the full address, so don't bother guessing,...

By Dan Steinberg | May 6, 2008; 12:54 PM ET | Comments (3)

Heidi and VW and the Jersey

Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America: "Before I do my little speech here please understand, as a German if I use the word 'football' I mean 'soccer'. Please don't quote me wrong in your newspaper. I'm so much used to fussball, please understand this and...

By Dan Steinberg | May 6, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (7)

VW Comes to RFK

Things impossible to miss at the Volkswagen-sponsors-D.C. United press event: * Men in dark-framed glasses. * The car, with microphone. Apparently, the car is named Max and is something of a TV personality, starring in commercials with Heidi Klum, commercials which led off the press conference. I don't watch...

By Dan Steinberg | May 6, 2008; 09:48 AM ET | Comments (8)

D.C. United is the New Wiz

Gonzalo Martinez and the number 23. The Wiz could still be the new Wiz, if they would win, but losing makes them the old Wiz, and one more loss will make them the ex-Wiz, and so it's time to find the new Wiz. That would appear to be D.C....

By Dan Steinberg | April 28, 2008; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (3)

D.C. United Lands an MTV Star

Freddy Adu might be long gone from so-called Estadio RFK, but JoJo's influence lives on. D.C. United's newly acuired defender Mike Zaher--whose acquisition can be read about on Behind the Badge and Soccer Insider--once played the leading man in JoJo's video for "Too Little Too Late." Many of his teammates...

By Dan Steinberg | April 3, 2008; 02:43 PM ET | Comments (14)

The Best Sports Weekend in D.C. History*

This photo sums up the past weekend perfectly. (Courtsey of Under the Shell). Due to daddy day care demands, I did not post a word between Thursday late afternoon and Monday late morning. The three days I skipped just happened to form one of the most amazing three-day periods...

By Dan Steinberg | March 31, 2008; 12:46 PM ET | Comments (18)

More D.C. United Roommates

Ben Olsen, sort of. Ben Olsen had a renovated basement to rent. New D.C. United goalkeeper Zach Wells needed a place to stay. Done and done. D.C. United left back Marc Burch had a spare room in his house. Teammate Rod Dyachenko wanted to move into the city. Done...

By Dan Steinberg | March 25, 2008; 04:37 PM ET | Comments (14)

Franco Niell is Short

(Photos courtesy D.C. United) Remember how Franco Niell, he of the 5-foot-4 listed roster height, has that tattoo of a troll playing soccer on his calf? The point being that he's, you know, short? Well, this photo illustrates that a lot better than the tattoo. My goodness, Tim Duncan...

By Dan Steinberg | March 7, 2008; 03:44 PM ET | Comments (7)

D.C. United Is Tattooed, Hard

Quaranta's right arm. I mentioned below that D.C. United's "This is Our House!" video shoot led to no small amount of giggling from players who were supposed to be looking tough while proclaiming "RFK is our house!" But the toughness was nonetheless conveyed this afternoon via non-verbal means. Half...

By Dan Steinberg | February 28, 2008; 04:43 PM ET | Comments (10)

D.C. United: This is Our House

Jaime Moreno, protecting his house. United's new marketing campaign is half-2004 Terps, half NBA "Where Amazing Happens," without the 'fro. "RFK is where championships are won," goes the script that players were reading from during today's video shoot. "RFK is where legends are made. This is the stadium other...

By Dan Steinberg | February 28, 2008; 03:47 PM ET | Comments (8)

D.C. United: New Boots, New Names

New boots. What's new? Well, I didn't recognize anyone, for one thing. Plus there are these new kicks that were everywhere, although I'm told that's just sort of the standard model and who knows how many will make their way onto the field. As for the new guys, British...

By Dan Steinberg | February 28, 2008; 03:01 PM ET | Comments (7)

D.C. United's Well-Dressed Addition

Bobby who? I'm making my long-awaited return to Goff land, aka Estadio RFK, this morning. I don't have much to say in advance, seeing as how I couldn't pick 75 percent of the team out of a lineup at this point, but if this is indeed Quavas Kirk's MySpace...

By Dan Steinberg | February 28, 2008; 11:06 AM ET | Comments (6)

Top 11 D.C. Sports Moments of 2007

Sadly, this is what we'll all remember first from 2007. (By Tracy A. Woodward -- The Washington Post) One year ago tomorrow, I published the Top 11 D.C. Sports Moments of 2006. This year, I had hoped to actually publish my list in 2007, which seems to be the...

By Dan Steinberg | January 2, 2008; 11:46 AM ET | Comments (23)

Bye to Bobby Boswell

Even though I decided I resent Bobby Boswell for starting a blog that unveiled the hilarious off-the-field exploits of D.C. United, thereby completing undercutting my soccer coverage, I'm still sorry to see him go. He had what was easily the second-best athlete blog in D.C. and possibly the country,...

By Dan Steinberg | December 13, 2007; 11:11 AM ET | Comments (37)

Esky's Back!

If you saw the seven-minute span where I actually thought that Esky had been reaquired by D.C. United, feel free to laugh at me, send cached information to various media watch-dog sites, and demand I be fired. If you didn't see it, you can watch this video from BobbyBoswell.com and...

By Dan Steinberg | November 13, 2007; 03:55 PM ET | Comments (4)

D.C. Sports Hit Rock Bottom*

Shazam Shazam Shazam. * Almost. If Jerrico Cotchery catches that overtime pass--a football that was virtually begging to nestle in his arms--the Jets have a first down, are in field goal range, and very likely win the game. And then I'd have no problem declaring the past fortnight the...

By Dan Steinberg | November 5, 2007; 08:36 AM ET | Comments (11)

United Fans Are Upset

Hopefully, Dan won't mind me posting his fine work from last night's D.C. United-Chicago Fire match. Please watch and enjoy. - Jon DeNunzio...

By washingtonpost.com Sports Editor | November 2, 2007; 02:25 PM ET | Comments (8)

DCU-United Preview, From Esky

Nick Young's slippers. Because it's been a while....here are Alecko Eskandarian's thoughts on tonight's playoff showdown at RFK Stadium. "Whoever scores the first goal tonight is going to win, for sure," he said. "If Chicago gets a two-goal lead, it's going to be pretty tough. If D.C. scores first,...

By Dan Steinberg | November 1, 2007; 04:56 PM ET | Comments (9)

D.C. United's Laser Man

Goodstein in action. (Tony Quinn/WireImage) As Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio have rapidly nursed their sprained ankles back to health, they have used compression sleeves and electro-stimulation, Thera-Band resistance devices and Game Ready boot-like devices that deliver "intermittent compression and adjustable cold therapy." They've been instructed to spell out...

By Dan Steinberg | October 31, 2007; 06:12 PM ET | Comments (16)

Go Listen to Justin Moose

RFK Stadium will be veritably overrun with artistic talents this week. "Without a Trace" star Anthony LaPaglia, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and Hootie & the Blowfish drummer Jim "Soni" Sonefeld are playing in Saturday's Marco Etcheverry tribute game. United midfielder Ben Olsen and goalie Troy Perkins both paint...

By Dan Steinberg | October 16, 2007; 05:16 PM ET | Comments (10)

RFK's New Field

Via BobbyBoswell.com, photos of the new and improved RFK, where runners will no longer be stranded at third, fly balls will never again die on the warning track and the dugouts will continue to flood with the smells of sewage on particularly rainy days. Marc Fisher, your tickets are...

By Dan Steinberg | October 10, 2007; 02:31 PM ET | Comments (12)

D.C. Attendance Rankings

Metro columnist/blogger Marc Fisher and I have had a running dialogue about the attendance for local sports teams over many months. The latest skirmish came when Fisher included this line in a recent column: The Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League -- their cheerleaders were the Honeydips --...

By Dan Steinberg | October 3, 2007; 11:37 AM ET | Comments (37)

Fenty on a Soccer Stadium

(By Lateef Mangum -- Courtesy D.C. Mayor's Office) The pre-game parking lot at FedEx Field is perhaps not best suited to political discussions regarding land planning, so forgive me the tameness and generality of this brief conversation with D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty about the future of a soccer-specific stadium...

By Dan Steinberg | September 24, 2007; 11:34 AM ET | Comments (12)

Goodbye to RFK?

Fans who evidently decided to say goodbye to RFK by not leaving. I thought Tom Boswell's column about saying goodbye to RFK yesterday was really sweet, an homage to a stadium that has been so much a part of our D.C. sports-obsessed lives, a stadium whose imperfections and blackened...

By Dan Steinberg | September 21, 2007; 11:14 AM ET | Comments (32)

Troy Perkins Loses His Job

(By Kevin Clark - TWP) Troy Perkins knew what was going on in the mortgage industry, of course. His mom's spent 25 years in the business, and he'd spent two years working part-time in the industry himself, starting off as an entry-level loan officer and moving his way into...

By Dan Steinberg | September 20, 2007; 04:40 PM ET | Comments (8)

Real World: Fort Washington Update

The hair that was. (By Jonathan Newton - TWP) Toward the beginning of the season, I mentioned how D.C. United rookies Bryan Arguez, Kasali Yinka Casal, Shawn Crowe, Guy-Roland Kpene and Kiki Willis were sharing a house out in Fort Washington. Kasali and Kiki, of course, are no longer...

By Dan Steinberg | September 20, 2007; 03:11 PM ET | Comments (6)

Redskins Parking Spaces

This week's reservation, in progress. No, not your parking spaces. The players' spaces. When the team wins, the Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams players of the week get extra special parking spots near the front of the facility, with an extra special little sign and their number painted on...

By Dan Steinberg | September 19, 2007; 02:32 PM ET | Comments (3)

Greetings From Esky and Rimando

(This is an edited version; the full take appears here.) Just got off the phone with Alecko Eskandarian. He's in his hotel room, killing time until tonight, when Real Salt Lake faces D.C. United. He's already done the USA Today crossword puzzle. Now he's watching "ATL" and messing around on...

By Dan Steinberg | September 12, 2007; 03:43 PM ET | Comments (2)

On Soccer Players and Marathons

Josh Gros, running. (Toni L. Sandys - TWP) While waiting for the media to finish up at training today, Bryan Namoff was muttering to himself about Gros's fitness, calling him "the fittest man alive" and "the energizer bunny" and so on. I asked for clarification. "It's unfair, the genetics...

By Dan Steinberg | September 11, 2007; 03:37 PM ET | Comments (18)

Gomito Goes Posh

I'd advise you all to rush out and buy ESPN Deportes the Magazine's Septembre issue, which has both a massive Christian Gomez spread and "5 Minutos Con Luciano Emilio." My intellectual deficiencies prevented me from understanding a word of either story, so first off I need you to translate...

By Dan Steinberg | September 11, 2007; 01:44 PM ET | Comments (6)

Gilbert Locked Out of Canada

Brace yourself, for I'm about to become the first journalist in world history (I think) to compare Gilbert Arenas to Rod Dyachenko. Why? Well, both have been officially Banned From Canada. Rod's travails were well documented by the Soccer Insider, but Gilbert's disaster happened just this week. After the...

By Dan Steinberg | August 30, 2007; 10:41 AM ET | Comments (7)

Ted Leonsis vs. Steve Czaban, Part XVIIVIXVIX

I'm going to summarize this fight for those who haven't been paying attention. It's an awesome, awesome fight, a fight made for the Interwebnetebays, a fight that has left me feeling much more enlightened, and happy once again to make my living writing about sports. Ted Leonsis: I went to...

By Dan Steinberg | August 17, 2007; 01:44 PM ET | Comments (69)

The Beckham Goal, and the Reaction

Ok, I'm allowed to write about Beckham today, because he sort of did something. Having watched the goals from various cameras spread throughout the greater Carson Calif. metropolitan area, my general response is disappointment in the crowd's reaction. A nice big throaty roar, and then some milder cheering, and then...

By Dan Steinberg | August 16, 2007; 10:37 AM ET | Comments (6)

Who Is Beckham?

Much of this clip is the exclusive result of Adam Littlefield's camera work, but it's especially worth watching for the shots of shirtless Barra Brava fan DB aka Dave Brother. Sadly, Littles did not include the part where DB says I'm his favorite journalist in the world, ranking specifically ahead...

By Dan Steinberg | August 13, 2007; 02:54 PM ET | Comments (6)

Bloody Everyone Has a Posse

At the Beckham game on Thursday, someone (K!) stuck a "Christian Gomez Tiene un Posse" sticker on my chest, which I transferred to my notebook, where it remains. I was still thinking that's a pretty fun campaign for a supporters group to mount, and I'm not willing to say I...

By Dan Steinberg | August 13, 2007; 01:42 PM ET | Comments (4)

Ted Leonsis Takes On SportsTalk 980

I've previously noted how Ted Leonsis has come to the defense of his fellow put-upon local sports team owners, but this one is better, because now he's taking on Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban, scourges to fans of all things non-Redskins or -Wizards. Hey, I listen to 980 as much...

By Dan Steinberg | August 13, 2007; 09:04 AM ET | Comments (14)

Touching Greatness: Beckham Capers

Basking in the brilliant glint that still reflects from the sweaty Beckham torso, all while wearing my wristband from the BobbyBoswell.com afterparty, after a night D.C. soccer will never forget. At least for the next two weeks, until Jozy Altidore arrives and the local media go crazy again. Right? Rod...

By Dan Steinberg | August 10, 2007; 05:18 PM ET | Comments (11)

Bobby Boswell on BSPN

The backlash against what Soccer Insider Steven Goff has termed "BSPN" is not going anywhere. The New York Times's soccer blog teed off on ESPN just this afternoon, noting how Wilbon et all couldn't stop talking about Becks last night: Meanwhile, on the pitch, where soccer is actually played, a...

By Dan Steinberg | August 10, 2007; 03:24 PM ET | Comments (28)

The WaPo Finds Beckham

Note: This was written by the Style section's Marissa N. Newhall. Some version of this will appear in tomorrow's paper, but we're being all forward-thinking now and sharing our most important news with you as soon as we have it. It's 11:34 p.m. in D.C. Do you know where David...

By Dan Steinberg | August 10, 2007; 02:25 PM ET | Comments (10)

Last Night: Beckham, Vodka, Stat Boy, Etc

I'm ashamed to admit, I woke up this morning with a red BobbyBoswell.com rubber band around my wrist. Ashamed because such a development symbolizes my long slow decline from a marginally serious newspaper reporter to a no-talent celebrity-obsessed blogger who shows no hesitation in attending MLS after-parties at downtown clubs...

By Dan Steinberg | August 10, 2007; 10:57 AM ET | Comments (15)

Beckham in D.C.

Still trying to figure out what was a bigger deal last night: Beckham at RFK, the BobbyBoswell.com after party, or Gilbert Arenas reportedly getting on stage at the Beyonce concert. Did that really happen? [UPDATED: I'm told it did not. Sad.] Beckham, getting ready to get greasy. (Jonathan Newton -...

By Dan Steinberg | August 10, 2007; 09:58 AM ET | Comments (10)

Bobby Boswell's Famous Friends

Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Despite his massive photo above, this was not written by him. It was written by professional soccer player Bobby Boswell, the author of the cleverly named BobbyBoswell.com. Other guest bloggers will check in later today. Dan will theoretically be back tomorrow. Anyhow, BB writes below,...

By Dan Steinberg | July 24, 2007; 09:54 AM ET | Comments (9)

Welcome to Beckham

Dan Steinberg is on vacation. Luckily, The Dude Abides is not, and he produced this video from last week's Beckham introductory press conference. Text version here. That's longer. The footage of Landon Donovan and friends playing tennis apparently was left on the cutting room floor. A shame. A reminder that...

By Dan Steinberg | July 18, 2007; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (3)

Son Volt Does Beckham

This is certainly not new news, but I've mentioned it to a few folks who hadn't heard, so here it is: the ESPN Beckham ad featuring Son Volt covering the Beatles. Apparently, there will be a "digital takeover" of ESPN.com the day before the Chelsea game, whatever that means. Here's...

By Dan Steinberg | July 16, 2007; 04:00 PM ET | Comments (6)

Where to Watch the Draft, and Cricket, and Other Questions

I'm getting all these things in my e-mail box that demand responses, responses I often do not have, so I throw it open to anyone with inside information. From reader CK: Any idea where a group can go to watch the NBA draft tonight (bar with sound preferred)? I assume...

By Dan Steinberg | June 28, 2007; 11:48 AM ET | Comments (20)

Local Athletes on The Sopranos

During quiet moments this week, I've asked our local athletic stars for a few opinions on the final episode of "The Sopranos," since, judging by the media coverage, it was one of the more important cultural moments of the past two centuries or so. The feedback was, how shall I...

By Dan Steinberg | June 15, 2007; 01:49 PM ET | Comments (8)

Clint Dempsey Hits a Home Run

A few days ago we were discussing MLS goal celebrations, and several Clint Dempsey specials were noted. So, in the interest of comprehensiveness.... At 1:55 of this video, you can see him pretending to hit a home run at RFK, although all parties agree it wasn't a very good swing....

By Dan Steinberg | June 15, 2007; 10:29 AM ET | Comments (1)

D.C.'s Top Six Athletes

Someone asked me the other day to name the Top Five Big-Name Athletes in D.C. No qualifications for judging were given. The point of the exercise was to determine where exactly Caron Butler fits into such a list. Because I can't post much today, I figured this would be the...

By Dan Steinberg | June 14, 2007; 01:14 PM ET | Comments (57)

"Just Run Like An Idiot": On D.C. United and Goals

Eight reporters gathered around Ben Olsen in a mini-news conference today, asking about last Sunday's three-goal explosion. "The stars aligned," was his humble explanation. A colleague asked about the post-game response from friends around the league. "I got more calls and e-mails than I did for my wedding," Olsen said....

By Dan Steinberg | June 13, 2007; 04:59 PM ET | Comments (12)

Bobby Boswell Judges Your Cereals

Why are some of you accusing me of ignoring Ben Olsen's hat trick? Have you no faith at all? Later this afternoon, I'll have a post with some D.C. United teammates critiquing Ben Olsen's goal-scoring celebrations. Don't doubt me. In the meantime.... A few weeks back, I mentioned how Bobby...

By Dan Steinberg | June 13, 2007; 02:54 PM ET | Comments (18)

Bobby Boswell on GUTS: The Video

Way back in the early days of the blogging revolution (last fall), before Bobby Boswell launched his own Web site (in a blatant attempt to steal my readers), I brought you 1,470 words about his appearance on the old Nickelodeon program "GUTS," when he was crushed by a legendary female...

By Dan Steinberg | June 11, 2007; 04:21 PM ET | Comments (5)

Pictures You'll Want to See

1) Go to Information Leafblower, right now, to see a picture of Nelly Furtado wearing a D.C. United kit. Look at the form on that jumper. (Via Skinscast; go there for more.) 2) Also on the list of things I should have done over the weekend: Jesse Armstead's Celebrity Hoops...

By Dan Steinberg | June 11, 2007; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (7)

Esky Checks In

Because Alecko Eskandarian's trade from Toronto to Salt Lake created more questions than it answered, I had to confront him with some of these questions. In a perfect world, MLS fans might have wanted my questions to be about soccer, but remember: never allow let the perfect to become the...

By Dan Steinberg | May 25, 2007; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (21)

Dancing D.C. United

This is, as we say, the director's cut. You might have already seen it at BobbyBoswell.com, which is now scooping the heck out of me. Once again, the dancers are Nicholas Addlery and Stephen deRoux, professional MLS soccer players and dancing fiends. Once again, the music is Sean Paul and...

By Dan Steinberg | May 25, 2007; 10:23 AM ET | Comments (2)

Get Yer Christian Gomez Stickers

From a reader: The stickers in question. This particular one actually traveled to Toronto. Courtesy of an anonymous benefactor, a limited number of Christian Gomez Tiene un Posse stickers will be available to the public at no charge at this Saturday's Barra Brava tailgate, along with not one, not two,...

By Dan Steinberg | May 24, 2007; 02:23 PM ET | Comments (7)

D.C. United Dances

As first seen on Comcast SportsyNet's Washington Post Live, and later on The Dude Abides, here is the visual representation of those D.C. United dancing fiends, as promised. Personally, I think you'd also find it pleasing to watch just five minutes of unedited, uncut dancing. Maybe I'll find a way...

By Dan Steinberg | May 24, 2007; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (1)

Jay Nolly Takes the Field

Master Soccer blogger Steven "Steve" Goff has already mentioned that DCU backup keeper Jay Nolly saw the field as a forward when the United reserves were down to 10 men over the weekend. Here's some more details. Nolly last played the field with the U-23 Denver Kickers in regional playoffs...

By Dan Steinberg | May 23, 2007; 03:12 PM ET | Comments (5)

DCU Does Idol

So, this video of Luciano Emilio singing James Blunt's "You're Beautiful", which led to the DCist post on DCU karaoke? That wasn't a one-off thing. He does it daily. "The only line that he actually knows is 'You're beautiful,' and then after that it's just terrible English, just made-up words,"...

By Dan Steinberg | May 22, 2007; 06:26 PM ET | Comments (9)

Troy Perkins's Olde English Bulldogge

1) The Troy Perkins puppy pictured in the Luciano Emilio video? It's an Olde English Bulldogge, a breed Perkins said dates from the '70s and is a combination of English Bulldog, Mastiff and Pit Bull. He got it from his in-laws. Its name? "Magnus," Perkins told me. "Magnus Ver Magnussun?...

By Dan Steinberg | May 22, 2007; 05:21 PM ET | Comments (10)

Top Five Breakfast Cereals

About two months ago I mentioned that Bobby Boswell has done some Top Five Breakfast Cereal research. At the time, he wasn't ready to talk about his list. I asked again today, and he was still reserved. From Bobby Boswell's Top Five. Tell me you don't crave some Smacks, a...

By Dan Steinberg | May 22, 2007; 02:40 PM ET | Comments (42)

Luciano Emilio Would Crush Jordin and Blake

Simon Cowell says this year's Final is too close to call, but his comments on Blake Lewis are particularly telling: "he's a brilliant entertainer," Simon says, "but the negative is he's not a fantastic singer." I think the same description would be apt in describing the entire D.C. United roster,...

By Dan Steinberg | May 21, 2007; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (8)

Bobby Boswell Wears Fred on Chest

On his blog last week, between saluting his mother (and frequent Bog contributor Susan) and philosophizing about the MLS salary structure, BobbyBoswell.com noted the following: I am currently preparing for the Chili Cook-Off tomorrow, in which I have to wear a shirt that says "They call me the preacher!" on...

By Dan Steinberg | May 14, 2007; 11:01 AM ET | Comments (4)

Vote For Devon McTavish

Remember how I recently wrote about DCU defender Devon McTavish and his starring role in the Winchester Apple Skin Flower Blossom Dance Song Festival? And how his dad then commented on that item? Well, with thanks to reader Grant, I realize I should have posted this: the sports front from...

By Dan Steinberg | May 11, 2007; 03:04 PM ET | Comments (5)

Lunch With Bobby Boswell

If you have a blog that relies on droll anecdotes concerning local athletes and you're ever short on material, just head to the Georgetown "Hoya Court" in the campus student center and sit around idly, counting on MLS defender of the year Bobby Boswell to show up randomly at some...

By Dan Steinberg | May 7, 2007; 03:38 PM ET | Comments (19)

The Season of McTavish

Careful readers of this blog might remember that back in February or so, I suggested I might want to register DevonMcTavish.com, just to make sure no one else moved in on that turf. Devon McTavish being, at the time, a little-used but media-friendly D.C. United reserve. Needless to say, I...

By Dan Steinberg | May 3, 2007; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (19)

Which NBA Player Are You?

I'm not even sure how I got here, but this site Rum & Monkey has this oldish NBA Personality Test, among a whole bunch of odd tests, none of which were odd enough to make me want to fill them out. Point being, it's not really an NBA personality test,...

By Dan Steinberg | May 2, 2007; 12:49 PM ET | Comments (9)

Bobby Boswell Drops Things From Balconies

I swear, everyone stealing my gimmicks. I thought I was supposed to be the guy who hangs around D.C. United and drops funny objects from high altitudes. That was the old days. Now everyone's doing it. Well, rising tides and all that. So well done, Bobby Boswell....

By Dan Steinberg | April 27, 2007; 01:39 PM ET | Comments (6)

What's New With DCU

My attempt to find what's new and exciting with D.C. United circa April 2007, as measured by a trip to the parking lot before Saturday's game, and a brief stay in the press box, before I got tired and went home. Some of this parking lot stuff will be shown...

By Dan Steinberg | April 16, 2007; 04:53 PM ET | Comments (17)

Free Weird T-Shirts

Can't believe I forgot to mention this. Bobby Boswell, the eponymous star of GiantSeveredFloatingRedHead.Com, who also plays professional soccer, will be on Washington Post Live this afternoon, discussing real soccer stuff and D.C. United's MLS home opener, which takes place this weekend. In a brazen effort to increase our ratings...

By Dan Steinberg | April 12, 2007; 03:33 PM ET | Comments (5)

DCU United Fan REALLY Plans to Eat Shoe

I'm pretty sure the guidebook on how to create a successful mainstream media sports blog does not include the following tip: Tip: Ignore writing about athletes and instead include lots of insider jokes about fans, items will appeal to a small group of readers who go by various anonymous monikers....

By Dan Steinberg | April 11, 2007; 03:26 PM ET | Comments (11)

Laettner in Turtleneck

Posting this displays horrible ethics, first of all because FanHaus and Mister Irrelevant have already had their fun with it, but more importantly, because any of you silly enough to click play will now have Naughty by Nature in your head for the rest of the day, which is just...

By Dan Steinberg | April 11, 2007; 01:54 PM ET | Comments (3)

Kiki Willis vs. LeBron

In the category of "moderately interesting things that you almost certainly didn't know and almost certainly didn't really need to know but might be satisfied knowing," I bring you this bit of breaking D.C. United trivia: United rookie midfielder Kiki Willis once played against LeBron James in a high school...

By Dan Steinberg | April 11, 2007; 10:13 AM ET | Comments (5)

Real World: Fort Washington

The best thing I learned upon going to today's D.C. United kickoff luncheon, aside from the fact that the Capital Hilton has cool Capitol Dome-shaped butters, was that five DCU rookies are sharing a house out in Fort Washington: Bryan Arguez, Kasali Yinka Casal, Shawn Crowe, Guy-Roland Kpene and Kiki...

By Dan Steinberg | April 10, 2007; 05:07 PM ET | Comments (15)

D.C. United to go Mobile and Take Over the World

D.C. United had its kickoff luncheon this afternoon, which brought out flawless emcee Dave Johnson, the entire team, and lead investors Victor MacFarlane and Will Chang. During his luncheon remarks, Chang talked about how aggressive the team will be with its online content, and I asked him about this afterward....

By Dan Steinberg | April 10, 2007; 03:59 PM ET | Comments (20)

Bad Gilbert News, Good DCU Graffiti News

Ivan has the news, and the news is awful. Ok, the team just passed out a release, too. Gilbert gets surgery, will be out 2-3 months. He's having the surgery today at Sibley, which is where my daughter was born. Torn left lateral meniscus. The world ends, again. How many...

By Dan Steinberg | April 5, 2007; 11:37 AM ET | Comments (21)

Esky's Blog

This athlete blogging thing is really out of control. Bobby Boswell is chiming in from Mexico about his teammates and their arm-wrestling competitions, for example. And, wouldn't you know, a former teammate was inspired to start a blog of his own. And to give it one of the greatest...

By Dan Steinberg | April 3, 2007; 11:35 AM ET | Comments (4)

Chivas Supporters

Chivas supporters to Barra Brava/Screaming Eagles: Our flags are bigger than yours. Other than that, though, the scene looks familiar: the off-key howling, the shirtless wanderers, the smoke bombs, the drums, the off-key howling. In less humorous news, here is how Juan Pablo Garcia, who used to play for Chivas...

By Dan Steinberg | April 3, 2007; 10:58 AM ET | Comments (3)

Rugby Refs and D.C. United Fans at Nats Game

So I'm sitting here in the press box thinking about what sort of blogging I can offer the world, since Barry's blogging the actual baseball game, and I'm not sure how many people care about the name of Kelli Johnson's fantasy baseball team, so instead I decide I'll go wander...

By Dan Steinberg | April 2, 2007; 03:53 PM ET | Comments (9)

Bog TV Does Bobby Boswell

Not literally. Dan Steinberg here. And this is not about college basketball either. So listen, all my videos will now be done via Comcast SportsyNet, where Adam Littlefield is getting paid to sometimes follow me around with a video camera and put together the results. These things air on CSN's...

By Dan Steinberg | March 28, 2007; 11:34 AM ET | Comments (5)

Luciano Emilio Speaks English

See, when I tried to get him to discuss his English speaking tendencies, dude said no no no, not good enough, and we had to go through a translator, which, of course, was not funny. All he told me was that he likes watching NBA games on ESPN, and that...

By Dan Steinberg | March 28, 2007; 10:56 AM ET | Comments (11)

On Leslie Nielsen and BobbyBoswell.com

Dan Steinberg here. And this isn't about college basketball. So it was a big night for parties last night. First was ROCK THE HILL, a welcome to the 110th Congress featuring Leslie Nielsen, the Stanley Cup and award-winning country artists Emerson Drive, sponsored by the Canadian Embassy, taking place at...

By Dan Steinberg | March 21, 2007; 02:58 PM ET | Comments (11)

Bobby Boswell Goes Gilbert

So as if it's not enough for Bobby Boswell to have his own Web-site-slash-blog....yup, that's right, he's now having a Web-site-slash-blog launch party at a hippish downtown club. No word yet on whether Diddy and Lil' Wayne are coming, but I wouldn't be surprised. Plus, word has it Bobby will...

By Dan Steinberg | March 14, 2007; 02:01 PM ET | Comments (14)

D.C. United: Hair Today, Etc

So I went to D.C. United practice today, not just because of grumblings that I was scared of Official Beat Writer Steve Goff's all-powerful Soccer Insider, but because I had agreed to be shadowed for the day by a high school student who is hoping to become a journalist and...

By Dan Steinberg | February 28, 2007; 04:28 PM ET | Comments (39)

D.C. United Fan Plans to Eat Her Shoes

Steve Goff, as all you soccer fans fully realize, is absolutely slaying over on his Soccer Insider blog. I knew that would happen. That's why I tried to resign, pending the first day of the Goff Blog. Banshee Jay, our favorite tattooed DCU star since 'Tino Quaranta. This image isn't...

By Dan Steinberg | February 23, 2007; 12:29 PM ET | Comments (16)

More Blogging Competition: Bobby Boswell

On the issue of athletes finding ways to own their own content, I present Bobby Boswell's new Web site, which won't debut until March 20, when it will debut in about the best way possible, by offering a ticket giveaway to the David Beckham-DCU match. I'm told the site will...

By Dan Steinberg | February 21, 2007; 10:52 AM ET | Comments (7)

Tommy Soehn, Indoor Superstar

Well, Kim asked for it, so here it is. This is new D.C. United coach Tommy Soehn's 1991 Pacific Trading Cards card, when he played for the Wichita Wings of the MISL. He's listed as a 5-foot-10, 160-pound defender. In his 110 career games to that point, he had recorded...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 03:49 PM ET | Comments (8)

DCU's Rookies Choose Numbers

Did you notice the part of the AP's Austin Kearns story where he said he was switching numbers, from 28 to 25. "Kind of a new start," he said. Well, he's not the only one. D.C. United midfielder Devon McTavish is switching from 22 to 18, the former number of...

By Dan Steinberg | February 2, 2007; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (16)

Meet Your New D.C. United Supplemental Draft Picks: Shawn Crowe

The most viscerally notable newcomer at DCU training this morning was goalie Shawn Crowe, who is one of two GKs currently in camp, along with Ryan McIntosh. (Starter Troy Perkins, of course, is in national team camp.) For one thing, Crowe yells very, very loudly. Frequently, he yells "Good stuff!!!!!"...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 06:27 PM ET | Comments (35)

Devon McTavish Philosophizes

So Sharon Ryan, the philosophy chair at West Virginia, started this blog called "The Question," which asks ordinary non-philosophers to get a tad philosophical. And it seems The Question has been getting all sporty. West Virginia sports celebs like Jerry West, Rich Rodriguez, John Beilein and Mike Gansey have participated,...

By Dan Steinberg | February 1, 2007; 05:03 PM ET | Comments (12)

Bobby Boswell Doing Crosswords

You know, I think I was supposed to provide Bobby Boswell updates from the U.S. National Team Camp, but I forgot, and I can't find his phone number right now. Regardless, the ussoccer.commers have compensated for my laziness with their own blog, which includes two D.C. United items of note....

By Dan Steinberg | January 19, 2007; 04:24 PM ET | Comments (8)

Meet Your New D.C. United Draft Picks: Jay Needham

If you're like me, you've always thought the one thing the D.C. professional sporting world really needed was a greater connection with Chris Mihm. Well, I'm here to tell you, we're all in luck! D.C. United's other third-round pick, in addition to Georgetown's Ricky Schramm, was SMU defender/midfielder Jay Needham,...

By Dan Steinberg | January 17, 2007; 05:39 PM ET | Comments (16)

Beckham Odds

Courtesy this gambling Web site, which sent out a mass press release today. WHAT WILL DAVID BECKHAM DO IN 2007? - Gets a DUI: 10 to 1 - Stars in a movie with Tom Cruise: 100 to 1 - Attempts a field goal in an NFL game: 500 to 1...

By Dan Steinberg | January 12, 2007; 06:24 PM ET | Comments (7)

Meet Your New D.C. United Draft Picks: Ricky Schramm

(And thanks to Reader Dan for the e-mail.) So in the third round of today's MLS SuperDraft, D.C. United selected Ricky Schramm, forward, Georgetown. Ricky Schramm, forward, Georgetown, didn't even apply to Georgetown until a week before the deadline, when the coaching staff invited him to come visit the campus...

By Dan Steinberg | January 12, 2007; 05:02 PM ET | Comments (18)

Manny Acta, Meet Brian Davis

I noted this above, but I thought it needed special emphasis. There's a very nice Baseball America interview with Manny Acta and Fredi Gonazlez in which they talk about being first-time MLB managers. Acta has obviously already shown that he doesn't mince words about very serious stuff, and this isn't...

By Dan Steinberg | January 12, 2007; 10:39 AM ET | Comments (4)

Esky Weighs In on Becks

Just got off the phone with Alecko Eskandarian, former United forward, who is actually in Southern California at the same time Beckham mania is breaking out. (If you're from Holland or Finland or whatever and are just trying to see what the crazy Yanks think about Becks, Esky was a...

By Dan Steinberg | January 11, 2007; 06:35 PM ET | Comments (27)

Beckham: Good for MLS? For Humanity?

Early Becks reactions: Grant Wahl at SI says it's instant credibility for MLS, Americans immediately start naming their children Cruz, USA Today's Beau Dure gives incredible piles of links, and this guy at NBCSports is asking whether Beckham can save American soccer, which I guess is the question of the...

By Dan Steinberg | January 11, 2007; 02:31 PM ET | Comments (81)

Fade to Balls on ESPN Classic

New D.C. United lead investors Christian Laettner and Brian Davis currently facing Georgia Tech on ESPN Classic.... Edit: Try spending two hours blogging while listening to Dick Vitale. It's awesome....

By Dan Steinberg | January 10, 2007; 02:15 PM ET | Comments (6)

DCU News: Name an Owner

My efforts to name D.C. new United owner Victor MacFarlane "Victor MacFarpost" might or might not succeed. Frankly, despite it obviously being the best of all possible nicknames, the response thus far has been a bit tepid. But the more important point is that the new owner most in need...

By Dan Steinberg | January 9, 2007; 09:31 AM ET | Comments (21)

Eleven More Things From This Morning's United Event

1) After the event was over, new owner Will Chang began playing soccer with 5-year-old Brian Davis, the son of new owner Brian Davis. Lil' Brian booted the ball into a cocktail table. "Can you head? Show me a header?" Chang asked Lil' Brian. Then Chang kicked the ball way...

By Dan Steinberg | January 8, 2007; 04:41 PM ET | Comments (13)

On the Barra and the Eagles and the Caps

I guess another key question for D.C.'s owners was how they feel about the Barra Brava and the Screaming Eagles and the team's fan culture. Of course, they all paid lip service to DCU's fans being the best in the league during the formal part of this morning's events, but...

By Dan Steinberg | January 8, 2007; 03:06 PM ET | Comments (13)

Marion Barry on Gilbert's Party

Well, since Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry was at this morning's D.C. United ownership press conference, where he was lavishly praised, I figured I might as well start asking him about Gil's birthday bash. No one else was. "I had a ball," the former mayor said. "I had a...

By Dan Steinberg | January 8, 2007; 02:37 PM ET | Comments (12)

The Breaking News to End All Breaking News

A Bog exclusive!!!!!! So I'm sitting around chatting with Brian Davis post-presser. Asking him the usual questions, which I'll get to later. We get to talking about the D.C. sports scene, since, as has often been mentioned, Davis lives on Mass Ave. in NW. He mentions he's been to a...

By Dan Steinberg | January 8, 2007; 01:17 PM ET | Comments (6)

Whoa. The Mayor has balls.

Brian Davis just said Adrian Fenty has balls. Can I say that? Heck, D.C. United's new owner just said it in front of a 200-person press conference, so I can say it. "We call it 'balls' in sports," he said. "Adrian has balls." An DCU ownership group staffer cringed. Then...

By Dan Steinberg | January 8, 2007; 11:41 AM ET | Comments (10)

Early D.C. United Quotes

Nothing yet from star No. 1, Christian Laettner. Nothing yet from star No. 2, Marion Barry. Lots from Eleanor Holmes Norton. "We can't be a world-class city without major sports teams and here, heavens, we not only have a major team, we have a winning one at that," she said....

By Dan Steinberg | January 8, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (6)

New D.C. United Ownership Comes to D.C.

So we're all at the Willard, waiting for D.C. United to introduce its new ownership group. Maybe you've heard. We're estimating the crowd at about 5,000. Ok, 200. Still, it's a lot. Tom Sherwood is here. Marc Fisher is here. Joseph "the Omnipresent Beret" White is here. Bog friend Dave...

By Dan Steinberg | January 8, 2007; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (1)

DCU Plays Do-Re-Mi

Be honest, you always thought if Freddy Adu starred in a Sound of Music video, it'd be "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," right? Well, you'd have been wrong. Anyhow, this is one of the best videos ever. Another winner from our friends at The Far Post. And I'm not ashamed to...

By Dan Steinberg | January 4, 2007; 03:33 PM ET | Comments (2)

In the Interest of Truth-Telling, a Bog Correction, Implicating Georgetown and D.C. United

Question: Which men have won Oscars for Best Actor in a movie they also directed? Nearly two months ago, I posted what I thought was the correct trivia answer to the correct trivia question listed above, as provided by D.C. United fan and professional trivia answerer Roger Moyer. I don't...

By Dan Steinberg | December 22, 2006; 03:52 PM ET | Comments (4)

D.C. United Rips Out My Heart

Alecko Eskandarian, gone. Traded to Toronto FC for a partial allocation. First Rimando, and now this. Thanks, guys, for systematically purging the most Bog-friendly players from your organization. Next thing you know, you'll be trading Bobby Boswell's mom and that fan named Vlad. And now, when I need a professional...

By Dan Steinberg | December 22, 2006; 02:40 PM ET | Comments (23)

D.C. United Players On Tommy Soehn, and the Caps, and A.I.

So D.C. United alerted the gathered media this morning that if we hurried, we could catch several D.C. United players at Velocity Sports Performance in Alexandria, where they've been working out. So Comcast and Channel 4 and WTOP's dulcet-throated Byron Kerr and I showed up at Velocity, the same gym...

By Dan Steinberg | December 21, 2006; 03:09 PM ET | Comments (9)

Non-Live Tommy Soehn Blog

I take it back. I'm not live blogging the event. Other than a huge mound of free cookies and a rare out-of-costume Judah Claus sighting, there wasn't really much to live blog about. Oh, I did learn that no one in the world reads my blog. In fact, you're not...

By Dan Steinberg | December 21, 2006; 11:49 AM ET | Comments (15)

A D.C. United Christmas Part IV: Leftovers

1) When Talon, the DCU mascot, entered the third-floor caucus room during the Eleanor Holmes Norton Christmas Party for D.C. kids, someone by the microphone announced the arrival of "The Falcon." 2) Talon, by the way, was being played by a Caps season ticket holder. More synergy. 3) Bobby Boswell...

By Dan Steinberg | December 19, 2006; 06:31 PM ET | Comments (5)

A D.C. United Christmas Part III: On Bobby Boswell

So I happened to be with Bobby Boswell, at the Eleanor Holmes Norton Christmas Party for D.C. kids, when the official announcement about his selection for the U.S. National Team camp was announced. Attempting to be an actual journalist, I asked Bobby--the MLS defender of the year--about his National Team...

By Dan Steinberg | December 19, 2006; 04:41 PM ET | Comments (5)

A D.C. United Christmas Part II: Ben Olsen's Wedding Pickup Game

Ok, this entry doesn't really have anything to do with Christmas, except that Ben Olsen was at a Christmas party when he told me the tale. So Ben Olsen and his famous soccer-playing friends head to Jamaica for Ben's wedding. Benny and others get there early. They start chatting things...

By Dan Steinberg | December 19, 2006; 03:31 PM ET | Comments (9)

A D.C. United Christmas Part I: Judah Claus

So, after our groundbreaking coverage of the Wizards Party Bus Christmas Tour, it was only natural that the Bog would be invited to D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's 16th Annual Christmas Party for kids, featuring D.C. United. Promised attendees included Ben Olsen, U.S. national team training camp member Bobby Boswell...

By Dan Steinberg | December 19, 2006; 02:47 PM ET | Comments (4)

Euro-Style Supporters at Caps Game

(Note the PC title.....no longer calling them Barra Brava, now calling them Euro-Style Supporters. And seriously, someone get that StikSav guy from the Caps message board to e-mail me. He's gotten in my head. I've been asking my boss about becoming a copy editor again.) Anyhow, this video is based...

By Dan Steinberg | December 13, 2006; 04:04 PM ET | Comments (23)

Caps Urinal Cakes and Caps Fan Celebrities

So after the Caps lost to the Pens in that shootout Monday night, I caught up with a group of local sports celebrities in the Verizon concourse. The group included Caps superfan Goat, Goat's sister Elenora, La Barra Brava's Duffman (the leader of the Caps' yet-to-be-named-but-still-very-much-alive European-style supporters group), fellow...

By Dan Steinberg | December 13, 2006; 12:03 PM ET | Comments (16)

Good Bye, Water Warrior, Good Bye

Nick Rimando was in the Giant buying wrapping paper when he got the call from his agent, who said he'd been traded to Real Salt Lake. Not that it was any great shock. He'd asked for a trade, after all. There were all sorts of rumors. He thought Kansas City...

By Dan Steinberg | December 12, 2006; 04:23 PM ET | Comments (16)

Barra Brava Come Downtown

Friday night, as incessantly promoted here, D.C. United fans came en masse to a Caps game. They stood and screamed and sang. Virtually non-stop. I left horribly depressed. Why? Fans didn't seem to appreciate the Barra. Because they were, you know, cheering. At a sporting event. Go figure. "They're screaming...

By Dan Steinberg | December 11, 2006; 12:08 PM ET | Comments (83)

The Invasion Nears, Cont.

So anyhow, this whole thing started as an offseason whim for some D.C. United fans, who were also considering outings to go bowling or play darts or whatever. About five of these fans figured they'd do a Caps game. Other bored people joined in, and the group kept growing. They...

By Dan Steinberg | December 8, 2006; 02:19 PM ET | Comments (11)

The Invasion Nears

So, if you haven't been reading message boards religiously, you might have forgotten that tonight is the night of the Barra Brava Invasion in Capsland. I came to the morning skate this morning to spread the word. Here, for example, is my conversation with Ovechkin. Me: So there's this group...

By Dan Steinberg | December 8, 2006; 01:04 PM ET | Comments (28)

New Bog Fave: Shawn Kuykendall

My only previous experience with professional soccer player Shawn Kuykendall came last week, when, wearing a dark suit, white sneakers and a knit hat, he attempted to tie me up with a cord as part of the fake-Water Wars kidnapping that my boss nixed as thoroughly unbecoming of a professional...

By Dan Steinberg | December 8, 2006; 10:31 AM ET | Comments (33)

Airport D.C. United Conversation No. 2: Bobby Boswell

So last night I spoke with DCU defender Bobby Boswell. He, too, was in an airport, set to fly someplace more exciting than here, in his case Guam. Except he was already someplace more exciting than here, in his case Hawaii. Bobby, as I'm sure you all know, is in...

By Dan Steinberg | December 7, 2006; 05:04 PM ET | Comments (11)

Airport D.C. United Conversation No. 1: Nick Rimando

Talked to D.C. United goalkeeper and former Water Wars star Nick Rimando today while he was in the airport, set to jet off to Montego Bay for midfielder Ben Olsen's Saturday wedding. Honestly, instead of sending me to the Gil Zero launch in New York, a better use of the...

By Dan Steinberg | December 7, 2006; 03:02 PM ET | Comments (8)

At Long Last, I Present, Robin Rexroat

From left to right, Jennifer, Robin and Bobby "Lightning" Boswell, the competitors in a 1994 episode of "GUTS." (Family Photo) I briefly left my stakeout of D.C. United keeper Nick Rimando's house around 12:45 last Thursday afternoon to get something to eat. My cell phone rang. It was a...

By Dan Steinberg | December 5, 2006; 10:31 AM ET | Comments (17)

A Few Final Details

"He's dead," Sway said, when he picked up the phone. (First of all, who the heck is Interested Observer? That person has better sources than I do.) Anyhow, here's a sampling of what I know. Maybe the key figures will log on later and fill us in further. Sway and...

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 10:56 PM ET | Comments (11)

It's Over

Sway the Irishman wins. Estimated time of Rimando water death: 10:04 p.m. EST, Friday Dec. 1st. Estimated blog audience: six or seven people. More details to follow....

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 10:11 PM ET | Comments (10)

Nicky in Major Trouble

In the exchange with Iceberg, described below, Nicky lost his weapon when he sprinted off after the mysterious car appeared. No water. In trouble. Edit: Roche has somehow ruled that Nicky gets his gun back. A Back Liner is going to pick it up....

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 06:18 PM ET | Comments (5)

Water is Spilled!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Oh my gosh," said the Back Line member who just called me. Seriously. So Nicky saw Iceberg about a half-block away in Georgetown, ran for him, gets ready to take him down, but Iceberg somehow quick draws his water gun out of a bag and they soak each other at...

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 06:09 PM ET | Comments (1)

More Updates

1) Nicky has or will soon publicly announce that he's on M Street in Georgetown. Hopefully the entire universe will now head there and water apocalypse will ensue. 2) A member of Nicky's crew just called me and said Nick has every intention to win the game by soaking his...

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 05:27 PM ET | Comments (8)

Late Afternoon Updates

Sorry for the absence. I haven't been listening to the radio, so I'm not sure what's the latest. Here's what I know. 1) A security guard at RFK Stadium spotted at least one water stalker hanging around the DCU equipment sale this morning. The security guard wanted to know if...

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 04:39 PM ET | Comments (10)

More Caps-United Synergy

In case you're tired of reading about D.C. United players, here's something new: D.C. United fans!!!! Yeah, I've been meaning to write more about the Barra Brava invasion, planned for next Friday night's Ducks game. But some Caps fans gave me the perfect excuse on a recent msgboard thread. Here's...

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (22)

Early Morning Taunting

Sorry, I turned my phone off last night. Something no good beat reporter should ever do, frankly. At the risk of permanently alienating any readers I have who don't happen to be curious about Nick Rimando's future career as a spy, here are some updates. 1) Iceberg apparently left the...

By Dan Steinberg | December 1, 2006; 08:27 AM ET | Comments (23)

The First Clue

"Anyone up for a pint of Guinness?" Give or take a few words....

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 11:04 PM ET | Comments (9)

Later Later Night Entry

I just wanted to point out that one of Nick's neighbors, whose identity I'll gladly protect 'til death, is now e-mailing me updates. I swear, Fairfax County Police are gonna have to step in at some point. Hopefully Fro will wind up being arrested again. Also, someone apparently working on...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 10:53 PM ET | Comments (7)

Later Night Update

This is sort of developing into one of those cliffhanger election-night situations. If you really care about this, you might not want to go to sleep. That means you, tmc. Anyhow, I just received two Water-Wars-related phone calls. I'd rather not disclose the details of the first. And then another...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 10:41 PM ET | Comments (2)

Stalkers Never Sleep

I guess I usually don't post this late at night, because the theory is that there aren't necessarily thousands of people sitting in front of their computer checking a stupid sports blog at 10:04 p.m., but events have intervened. Just got a call on my phone from a restricted number....

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 10:04 PM ET | Comments (5)

Paging Two Thirds

Brother, you just got singled out for a special, unique humiliation. I identified Two Thirds yesterday as Jeremy Gifford, the owner of T.T. Reynolds in Fairfax, which is true, but he's also a part-owner of Fly Lounge in downtown D.C. Well, it would appear our friend Nicky made a trip...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 04:43 PM ET | Comments (19)

My Phone Rings

"Hello," I say. "This is The Goose," someone on the other line says. "Uh, Nick?" I say? "Some also know me as 'Freebird,'" the voice says. So anyhow, my boss demanded I land an interview with Nick, and sure enough, I got it done. I asked Nicky how the day...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 04:27 PM ET | Comments (4)

Things Take an Ugly Turn

In four parts: 1) My car is starting to smell. 2) Nick, through D.C. United staffers, is now openly taunting his stalkers. Check these photos out. I have no way of verifying that they were actually taken today, as claimed, but I guess I'll take their word on this one....

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 03:46 PM ET | Comments (11)

Turn on DC101

Sources tell me it might be worth your while. Someone might be calling in. Not me. Not sure when. Wait, is it really that easy for DC101 to get free publicity? Well, they're plugging my blog (probably not so safe for work), so I can plug their radio station. Meanwhile,...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 03:17 PM ET | Comments (15)

Now It's Just Me

Sway took off, claiming he has to go to work. The good Col. BD has made the same claim via cell phone, and is saying he's gonna be out of pocket for hours. Two Thirds is also gone, we know not where. Boba Fett and Iceberg have also not been...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 01:21 PM ET | Comments (18)

Back Outside the Rimando House

So I called my boss this morning to ask exactly how many man-hours he wanted to devote to a radio promotion water-gun hunt featuring a D.C. United goalie as its target. My boss scoffed at such concerns. "Do you want to get beat on this by Tom Friend, is that...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 11:19 AM ET | Comments (23)

Rimando Hunt: Morning Update

Before the birth of the Bog, someone advised me that successful blogs were all about mini-obsessions. Whether or not that's true, I now present to you an update as to the goings-on outside the Rimando household last night. If my source can be believed, a sort of soccer party developed...

By Dan Steinberg | November 30, 2006; 08:01 AM ET | Comments (11)

Rimando Status Report

This is where we stood as of 6:30 p.m. on Day One of the Nick Rimando hunt. The five stalkers trying to hunt the DCU goalie with water guns have all appeared, although one, Sway the Irishman, has since disappeared, we know not where. Four of the five have stated...

By Dan Steinberg | November 29, 2006; 05:13 PM ET | Comments (2)

This Might Take A While

Jacqui headed off with the dogs, trailed by various hangers-on. Roche is on DC101, about to disclose that Nicky is the final, golden goal target, in case anyone didn't know that. Nicky is now eligible for shooting, but he hasn't appeared for a while. My computer battery is set to...

By Dan Steinberg | November 29, 2006; 04:14 PM ET | Comments (8)

Casey Zimny Was in This Water Game?

That's what Jacqui Little sez, anyhow. Jacqui being Nick Rimando's wife and a former Washington Freedom player. Look, I actually wrote a long story about her once, a year after the WUSA folded. Funny how this game keeps intersecting with my life. Anyhow, Jacqui and Nick just went out to...

By Dan Steinberg | November 29, 2006; 03:20 PM ET | Comments (2)

Hunting Nick Rimando With Water Guns Live Blog

So I received word from my partner guy that Nicky was at Velocity Sports Performance in Alexandria. By the time I got there, he was gone. So were his pursuers. The staff had been wondering about those guys. They had just been sitting there in the parking lot all through...

By Dan Steinberg | November 29, 2006; 02:42 PM ET | Comments (4)

Nick Rimando Hunt: Esky's Advice

A source close to Rimando reports that three cars have been tailing Nicky around town today. This could be a pretty short game. The source claims that Nicky lost one of the cars after a brief conversation at a traffic light. Still, I'm not feeling too good about Nick's chances....

By Dan Steinberg | November 29, 2006; 12:56 PM ET | Comments (3)

Nick Rimando's Escape Plan

So at 8:30 this morning I got a call from a well-placed source (who lives in Nick Rimando's basement) with an update on the Nick Rimando Most Dangerous (Water Gun) Game. "Two people are already outside our house," the source said. "One guy