Not only will it be hot and humid on Sunday afternoon, but I want to watch the Spain/Germany game!

How does one say, "That's why you get paid millions of dollars" en español? Yeah, it's not ideal. So what? Quit crying about it and play the damn game already.

Welcome to the big leagues Marcelo.

Yeah...my rec league games are at noon, and I don't get the option to complain about the mid-day sun's effect on the attractiveness of my futbol!

eh, I think he's right. Games in that kind of weather are usually pretty tedious for player and fan alike. And RFK really seems to trap the heat.

I wonder how hard the Houston and KC players are laughing right now.

Pobrecito.

just wear the white alternate jerseys. Make the gals sweat it out.

Not only will it be hot and humid on Sunday afternoon, but I want to watch the Spain/Germany game!

Posted by: | June 27, 2008 1:20 PM

Ummm, United kickoff 2 hours and 45 minutes before the final. In fact, they're on the very same network. I'll be making the quick walk from RFK to Trusty's before the 2nd kickoff.

This game should have been scheduled at 5 or 7 pm. Playing at 12 is a death sentence.

You know - who knows - if the game were Saturday night I'm sure tons of people would have come out as well - but it would have been on FSC rather than ABC. I mean surely - ABC couldn't sacrifice that 7:30 Saturday night time slot to show MLS in order to bring us Jeopardy and The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Haunted Mansion.

But I digress. Hopefully a big rain storm on Saturday night will allow the humidity to flush out some. And besides - it could be worse - they could make Beckham and others play at 2PM in the humidity and sun on Sunday in Dallas. Now that would be asking too much.

I think Gallardo makes a valid point. Why pick high noon for such an important match? I suppose ABC couldn't bump America's Funniest Home Videos.

I think it is a valid question as to why the MLS game isn't starting after the Euro Cup final. A 5:30pm kickoff would have probably worked well and would have allowed for advertisment for the MLS game to occur during the Euro game. Also, I think it is easier to get people to simply stay on a channel they are already on then it is to get them to turn it on early to catch a game they are less interested in.

But overall, I think the idea of doubling up on ABC with the Euro final is a good thing. And if it means a game in the heat of midday, well such is life.

I think Gallardo is explaining that the game won't be as exciting for the fans as it would be if it were played in the evening. When it's so hot and humid, the players are slower and the game is much less exciting.

I have to agree with him. But MLS and it's television partners still don't put the game first, regardless of their slogans. It's $$ first and then "no one cares about soccer" next.

Gallardo is 100% right in countries where soccer/futbol is the #1 sport. In America, that is not the case and MLS has to take EVERY opportunity it can to grow and showcase the game. What better opportunity than to show it before the Euro 2008 final? A lot of casual observers have been drawn into soccer with that tournament.

I understand his and everyone elses sentiments, but they have to understand they are here to win hardware AND grow the game in the states. They knew that full well coming to play in MLS.

Actually its usually hotter at 2pm than noon around here, plus the sweat will force fewer beer-induced bathroom breaks.

They had the same problem at the 1994 World Cup. They had daytime matches in Orlando, New York, & Dallas to accomodate European television. It adversely impacted play.

@Phil,

But what if the Euro game goes to Extra Time and Penalties - do people sit at RFK from 5:30 until 7:00 when it could start?

We finally get a game on network TV and now people want a better starting time...deal with it. The league has to do whatever it can for exposure. Colleges start bball games after 9 pm on weeknights...the NHL has an outdoor game now once a year...let's enjoy a potentially great soccer doubleheader on national TV, and pray that neither game ends 0-0.

On any other day, I would likely move heaven & earth to be there for this one. But seeing as how I don't want to miss a moment of the Euro Final, I'll be watching from home.

According to weather reports, the hottest time of the day when humidity is a factor should be between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

It will be hot during the days of late-June through Aug.

MLS thinks their schedule works ok to play games on some of these afternoons.

Maybe they'll change their minds and alter/improve their schedule in future seasons.

Posted by: tim | June 27, 2008 1:53 PM

@Tim, I believe we will be "dealing with it". We'll go to the game. We'll also complain about it on the interweb.

We're soccer fans. It's our nature...

"I think it is a valid question as to why the MLS game isn't starting after the Euro Cup final."
----

It would only be a valud question if people are willing to accept the valid answer--it takes a whole lot more than MLS to bump the local news.

One more thing to say about this:

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/20001?dayNum=1&from=36hr_fcst_undeclared

Tomorrow's forecast has 6pm as one degree HOTTER than noon. Which, if you know something about weather, is pretty normal. It usually gets hotter throughout the day until a high some time in late afternoon to early evening.

If they are doing this to try and promote the league I think it has the opposite effect. I predict a slow, mostly boring game as the players mostly mill about trying to protect their health.
LA 3 DC 0.
DC's offense goes through 2 of the oldest and slowest guys in the league being forced to play in difficult conditions.

IT'S GONNA RAIN!

Primate - your score prediction is bananas

Humidity and latent ground temperatures usually increase throughout the day as the ground absorbs the suns radiant energy. The sun's radiation is strongest at 1:00 (day light savings time) but the heat index usually lags by a couple hours.
So unless you push the game off until after the common afternoon thunderstorm on 90+ degree days ( say 7:00p EDT), it really isn't going to be any different. If you were to start at 4:00 the probability of thunderstorms interrupting play is much worse as well.

Laff, Stan and I were on the same mental wavelength.

Soccer Insider is muscling in on Capital Weather Gang's turf. Watch your back Steve, those umbrellas are loaded with ricin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgi_Markov

It seems like it would have been an easy fix to start the game at 5:30. I don't think that's too late for a Sunday game, but things cool off a bit, you get to promote the hell out of the MLS game during the whole Euro final and everyone wins. Maybe next time. Gallardo better play his ass off tomorrow.

there is nothing wrong with a 9 PM start time..... and hockey and the outdoors go together!!!

will I be able to ask the MLS to pick my ER bill for heat exhaustion and sun stroke?

as for great?

in 90% humidity and 90 degree weather?? the play of game will probably suck.....

@Stan and Leesburg -- thanks for the common sense...I read these last two posts and wanted to scream.

You can't start a game only 30 minutes after the Final of a tournament game. There has to be a winner and if the WNBA game last night, baseball games at other times, NBA, and other Recent Finals (Champions League and 2006 World Cup) didn't teach you - don't budget for TV of living sporting events to end on time.

Kick off of Euro at 2:50 or 3 means that you'll be in extra time from 5-5:30 and then penalties could go from 5:30-6 and the trophy presentation.

it is what it is....

let's play.

Right... because the Telefutura games at 2pm in Dallas... uhhh... Frisco and Houston are so much better. And RFK at least has a few covered seats.

Jimmy Conrad passed out in the heat in a KC-MetroBulls game a few years ago, so apparently, that is the standard for MLS. Whatever doesn't kill you makes the game stronger.

MLS needs to adopt an Apetura/Clasura type schedule which plays fall to spring.

Football is far more attractive in cold weather than in stifiling heat and humidity.

And if the product is attractive, PEOPLE WILL TURN OUT TO SEE IT.

What the hell are long sleeve jerseys (which you can bet Beckham will be wearing despite the heat) and supporters scarfs for in MLS?

What a bunch of whiners. You guys are trying your hardest to prove Marc Fisher right.

The Nats are also playing at 12:00 noon against B'More and you don't hear people freaking out about it ( I know at least 2 people will actually be at the game). You guys are making baseball fans look tough.

If you want bad conditions try an NFL game in 0 degrees in the snow in the middle of winter.

we obviously do it for abc and beckam.

are the gNats seriously also playing at noon? That is just idiotic. They could easily have scheduled that game for 3 PM. So now we will have to deal with all of those morons trying to get into lot 8 at the same time we are!? That always turns into a giant cluster&#*@ even when there's only 18,000 of us. Good thing the parking lot is opening at 8!

First pitch at Nats Park on Sunday, 1:35

What a bunch of whiners. You guys are trying your hardest to prove Marc Fisher right.
The Nats are also playing at 12:00 noon against B'More and you don't hear people freaking out about it ( I know at least 2 people will actually be at the game). You guys are making baseball fans look tough.

If you want bad conditions try an NFL game in 0 degrees in the snow in the middle of winter.
Posted by: Southeasterner | June 27, 2008 3:06 PM
==============================
I see it both the other way around. Only if the Nat's have to run constantly as soccer players do then they will know what it means to play hard games in heat and humid. Some fans would complaint but I don't think soccer players would complaint playing in 0 degree.

Some fans would complaint but I don't think soccer players would complaint playing in 0 degree.

Posted by: td | June 27, 2008 3:34 PM

Please - have you seen the French and Spanish dudes wearing their mittens in English matches played in September. There's be complaints - that's what humans do with weather.

I'll be fine tomorrow, even with a black shirt on! Bring your sunscreen folks.

FYI, Sunday afternoon baseball is AWFUL...

The 'Stars' never play (day game after a night game, oh noes!!!!) and the heat makes for a lazy pace.

It may be a nice day in the sun, but seldom great baseball.

folks, it's not ideal. but it's DC in the summer. get used to it. the weather has been roughly the same around here for, oh, I don't know, 5,000 years? yes, soccer is better in cool weather (anyone who thinks it's better in freezing temps has never played in the snow, it's not a good game) and frankly, as others have pointed out, it is hotter at 5 than at noon. it is what it is. move on.

I'll be fine tomorrow, even with a black shirt on! Bring your sunscreen folks.

Posted by: Kev | June 27, 2008 3:58 PM
============

You really want to avoid the traffic, don't you?

Ha! Just gonna wear the replica shirt all weekend :-)

Welcome to the big leagues Marcelo.

Posted by: | June 27, 2008 1:23 PM

-------------------------------------

Welcome to Rec League Marcelo...

--------

The Nats are also playing at 12:00 noon against B'More and you don't hear people freaking out about it ( I know at least 2 people will actually be at the game). You guys are making baseball fans look tough.

Posted by: td | June 27, 2008 3:34 PM

-------------

I can't speak for fans but soccer players do an awful lot more during a game then scratching their cup/arse and spitting. I think high/heat humidity may slow the game down a bit - w/ baseball how would you ever notice.

james

Are you serious? These guys are professional athletes and Gallardo, in my opinion, is just flat out whining. Gallardo is being paid way more than I'll make in a lifetime to play soccer. Obviously, every player would prefer to play at night when it is cooler. Cry me a river Gallardo I have zero sympathy for you.

@southeasterner

"The Nats are also playing at 12:00 noon against B'More and you don't hear people freaking out about it ( I know at least 2 people will actually be at the game). You guys are making baseball fans look tough. "

That's because throwball players don't break a sweat. They work on their tan while playing the boring game.

Posted by: TOG | June 27, 2008 4:35 PM

@TOG: Where do you see a request for sympathy?

WHy are all of you giving Gallardo a hard time? I bed he didnt go out of his way to find reporters and tell them what he felt. He was asked a question and answered it. And he is completly right, the play will be slow and less attractive.

It will suck, but i will be there, and so will most fans, and definitely Gallardo.

You know - who knows - if the game were Saturday night I'm sure tons of people would have come out as well - but it would have been on FSC rather than ABC. I mean surely - ABC couldn't sacrifice that 7:30 Saturday night time slot to show MLS in order to bring us Jeopardy and The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Haunted Mansion.

-------------------------------------------
Looks like Mickey Mouse will be getting two time slots on Sunday.

Why are all of you giving Gallardo a hard time? I bet he didnt go out of his way to find reporters and tell them what he felt. He was asked a question and answered it. And he is completely right, the play will be slow and less attractive.

It will suck, but i will be there, and so will most fans, and definitely Gallardo.

I think this is awesome. Go to RFK, watch the game at noon, then head out to a local watering hole to watch Germany destroy Spain afterwards.

What could be better?

Didn't know United fans were such crybabies.

Did you see the lightning the other night during the Euro semifinal? They kept playing like it was nothing. In the US, they'd probably have a 1 hour delay and empty the stadium.

If Gallardo just answered a question, fair enough, but he's no dummy, I hope, and realizes that the MLS lead in is MUCH better than to be the closer in this case.

Galaxy +2

I think the tone of Gallardo's comments is being lost in the translation and subsequent transcript.

He was merely commenting on the weather and its effects, but didn't actually state that he or others didn't want to play or had a problem doing so. His comments are more akin to someone commenting about the fact that watching a game under the sun makes the ice in their drink melt faster.

That being said, I am actually surprised that MLS didn't schedule this to conflict with the Euro championship game. That would have been more in line with the way they normally handle schedules. Kind of like when Galaxy v Chivas games get scheduled for 7PM on a weeknight in LA, because of course, LA is always traffic free after work.

In my opinion, the latter underscores part of the point Gallardo was trying to make. While most of us don't have a problem going out on a hot afternoon to support our team, like I did when LA played Toronto a few weeks back, the reality is that a good portion of the audience MLS is trying to appeal to are folks that are less likely to make that sacrifice just to go watch Beckham.

What a pansy. How many of us have played 2-3 games in one day in tournaments in that awful DC heat and humidity? wah wah wah

Gallardo is whining. Summer in DC is predictable. It's one of United's home field advantages.

United's fans, of course, are an even larger advantage. So we'll go and deal with it. Nothing a little liquid refreshment won't help. (And this is where I congratulate myself for thinking ahead and ordering tickets in the shade.)

See you Sunday.

It's funny--I wrote a comment on here about how bad the time is for: players, fans going to the game, and fans in LA, basically everyone except ABC.

They deleted it. I suppose they have ABC people on here (complaining to the webmaster) to make sure they don't get any bad publicity.

it's sad--what happened to free and unbiased news?

I guess special interests do win in the end.

I hope Steve Goff reads this--

To the Washington Post: I am Disappointed.

lay off gallardo he was asked a question and he answered it. he wasnt complaining

One of the players commented on the same thing at the DC United charity golf outing on Monday.

These guys will get gassed and the quality of play will drop off as the game progresses.

I would have loved it if this game was played on a Saturday night but TV dictated this so everyone will have to just suck it up and like it I guess.

Ben Olsen wouldn't complain!

Hey Joe were you the camera man @ euro filming the lightning?
But for some reason you are sure that there was actually a threat of the stadium getting hit right?
If I'm not mistaken someone has actually been hit by lightening @ RFK.
Also I don't know if it's just me but some of the thunderstorms I've witnessed in Arlington and DC have been awfully violent.
As opposed to living somewhere like Hawaii where believe it or not you rarely ever get any lightening and any bit of thunder is very alarming.
You can see lightening from very far away, when it's right on top of you, you wouldn't be getting pretty pictures of it.

Breakfast with the Galaxy. Lunch with the Spanish. Afternoon in the park.

Not too bad here in LA.

The weather might suck, but you really don't escape it if it's humid.
However, starting at noon eastern is retarded.
The soccer fanbase in the US is slanted HEAVILY towards the west coast and the game is starting at 9am here. I for one know I'll be missing at least the first half of this one.
I guess if ABC offers you a slot you take it at this point but man it'll be great when that changes (hopefully sometime down the road)

The weather might suck, but you really don't escape it if it's humid.
However, starting at noon eastern is retarded.
The soccer fanbase in the US is slanted HEAVILY towards the west coast and the game is starting at 9am here. I for one know I'll be missing at least the first half of this one.
I guess if ABC offers you a slot you take it at this point but man it'll be great when that changes (hopefully sometime down the road)

The soccer fanbase in the US is slanted HEAVILY towards the west coast