Can you believe it? It’s finally here, opening day against the biggest club in Major League Soccer. All the sweat, pain, and hard work will finally pay dividends…Hopefully.
With so much player turnover in our business it is hard to get much cohesion going.   I am a firm believer that the first 2-3 games of a season can be won on fitness and heart alone.
Don’t get me wrong, of course it takes talent to play at this level, but do you know how many more talented players I have passed by in my career with heart alone?
Any coach will tell you the same and I expect no different this weekend. I believe we hold a huge advantage with the altitude and size of our pitch; we should be running teams to the ground. Will we? I would like to think so, but the truth of the matter is I have no idea.
I have spoken to friends on the Galaxy roster and they too confirm they have no idea, with youth being the biggest factor. Whose youthful and inexperienced players will come into play? Both teams will field a very young or “new” team if you will. You might hear a name or two that you have never heard before.
I remember my first game it felt like the oxygen was being sucked right out of the atmosphere, and that was only the first five minutes in an empty Arrowhead stadium.
Can you imagine playing in front of a packed house alongside of or versus players like: David Beckham, Landon Donavon, Pablo Mastroenni, Carlos Ruiz, Christian Gomez, or Ugo Ihemilu? That is an intense welcome into the league for any young player yet alone a debutant.
Here is what I would like to think. I feel we have the edge on youth you kind of have to give it to us… Two years in a row reserve league champs! Plus, I see these guys day in and day out and I know what they can do. Advantage: Colorado.
What about the intangibles? The players who are so special you can’t take credit for coaching.
They have some great guys: Landon, Becks, Fish, they can take control of a game. But what about our very own Christian G, Pablo, Cookie, and Bouna Time!?! Special players in their own right. If we are going by bank roll and fame… edge: LA.
At the end of the day it takes one play, one mistake, one break, and you can claim victory or defeat.
And I would love nothing more than to help us get 3 points at the expense of my former team… it’s something that I’m looking forward to.

Herc