In what I can only guess is some sort of catharsis for the USA’s 2-1 loss to Jamaica, Steve Davis went off on one for Pro Soccer Talk, writing an Open Letter to Canadian Soccer. Therefore, a Fisk for you on this Monday afternoon. Davis’ words in italics.
Dear, Canada
Hello, there Steve.
United States here. How are the ol’ maple leafs hangin’, guys?
Did you mean ‘leaves’? Or was this an off-topic subliminal penis reference involving one of the worst teams in professional hockey? I don’t get it.
Nice to see you enjoy a little World Cup qualifier lift. That win last Friday was close, but you’re almost into the big regional dance now! You got a shot at final round qualifying.
Hey Steve, patronizing twaddle aside, it might be a good idea to mention we did in fact qualify in 1986, and have been to the Hex in 1997 and 1993. Which I suppose is ancient history when you consider the age of the World Wide Web.
About time, too. Man, when it comes to World Cup qualifying, we’re used to watching you guys fall quicker than beauty pageant queens in a Spelling Bee.
Missed you in ’86! And why the oddly sexist metaphor?
But we’re really writing to give you a little heads-up. See, before, you weren’t much of a threat. About as threatening as one of those adorable little Fiat Abarths at a Monster Truck pull. Beep-beep!
Um, you do know that we’ve been part of CONCACAF for a while now, correct? And have seen it all? Bags of urine, booing our players for ninety minutes during home games. And these similes/metaphors are very…flyover country. We also have an 8-9-13 record against you, which considering we have 1/10th of your population size might be more than a little embarrassing. But that’s just me, Steve.
But now that you look like a burgeoning threat, uh, seems you might get some of the ol’ “American treatment.”
Yeah, you get it really hard in CONCACAF.
Yes, in certain shops of Shanghia, that’s a good thing – but this is something very different. In this case, it means horn-honking or music blaring or drums beating or all of the noisy above. An the eve of a Double Whopper-sized big game. Right outside your hotel. All. Stinkin’. Night.
That’s what we heard, anyway.
Yup, Milan Borjan looked really shocked while he laughed and took pictures with his phone.
So, good luck down there in Panama City. Nice place. More modern and vibrant than you might think. They damn sure know how to build a helluva ditch, don’t they?
We’ve played Panama away before in World Cup qualifying. Did I mention Canada is a CONCACAF member? And is that some sort of convoluted mass murder reference?
Oh, and their soccer team is getting better and better, especially up front with Blas Perez. But you probably know that. Well, you will by Tuesday night, at any rate.
We beat them at home on Friday, and held the lion share of possession and chances. But thanks for the heads up.
I think the ditch = Panama Canal.
Panama Canal built by Yanks.
Steve Davis is a fool.
WTF, What does he think our soccer team has been doing? in recent memory we drew them in a friendly and beat them 2-0 in olympic qualifying. and does he think we don’t travel? he seems out of touch, but i’m sure the americans will eat this up.
I didn’t hear about this, thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Thanks for addressing it to Steve Davis and not to the American population because although it seems they don’t think too highly of us we still have respect for them.
The united States soccer program is really a poor man’s england
I suggest we all go over to the original article http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/10/open-letter-to-canadian-soccer-expect-the-american-treatment/comment-page-1/#comment-4699 and leave some nice comments.
The man is a troll. His article is a troll. There is no point trolling him.
don’t bother leaving a comment on that embarrassment of a site. Why humour him? Just a typical American.
Doesn’t Steve Davis write for MLSsoccer.com as well? Or is he part of a podcast or video series on MLSsoccer.com? I’m sure I’ve seen his name somewhere other than Pro Soccer Talk.
Wow, way to completely miss the point of the article. Though the article’s tone is somewhat condescending, if you would actually read the article you would see that most of the substance is true.
If you look at recent World Cup qualification, Canada has been somewhat underwhelming. Canada failed to make the final round of CONCACAF qualification in 2002, 2006, & 2010. Unfortunately, Canada was almost always placed in the toughest group in the semifinal rounds and never made it past the round.
Frankly, I would be more outraged at the plan by of the Panamanian supporters to basically hold a party right outside of the hotel where the Canadian National Team is staying. If the only way Panama, at home, can beat Canada is by having its supporters disturb the Canadian National Team’s preparations, Panama probably doesn’t deserve to go to the World Cup.
Whatever, hopefully Canada can get a victory in Panama City and basically secure itself a place in the final round of qualifications.
Oh no…. U didn’t!! It’s a shame how Canadians are proud of that ‘goal’ this past friday to MY PANAMA!!! The game was dirty and that goal was out of luck no real play!! An on top of that your team blocking the ball at the end of the game for us…. It’s just annoying…. Yeah we might go a little overboard with your team’s welcome to our country…. But that is our way to remember you that we are not to be underestimated…. What happens today at the game is up to how good our players are…. Not how much their fans hate u for dirty playing last Friday…
“Wow, way to completely miss the point of the article.”
Wow, way to reaveal your mental handicaps Rob! This is exactly the reason why I wish you were in Junior Seau’s place right now instead of him dipshlt!
http://www.youtube.com/user/JulieTorrentino/feed?filter=1
Oh and fock the Score too while I’m at it and their east coast biased bullshlt!
“Hey Steve, patronizing twaddle aside….”
Pot to kettle: you’re black!
Did I patronize you lately?
Good post Richard. Funny as always. You beat Steve at his own game. His article is a bit strange and clearly ill-informed. Why the outburst against Canadian soccer..?
Oh NOW we’re going to get the “American” treatment for away games.
Well let me tell you something Steven Davis: if you knew the crap we have do deal with on a regular basis in central america, you’d call it the “Canada” treatment instead.
Not that I disagree with you about Steve’s overall condescending tone (which, for the record I don’t think was his intent), but come on, stop strawmanning-Canada hasn’t beaten the US in 27 years, just about the same time since you last went to a World Cup.
Also Soccernomics showed that population benefits hit diminishing returns over 25 million.
Rooting for you guys though.
BTW-I’d be careful with population arguments, seeing as you have the third largest population in CONCACAF (more than double the next team) and still haven’t qualified for the past 6 World Cups .
I don’t think it’s the population numbers we should be looking at, it’s the number of people competing in that sport at a competitive level. also look at how competitive we’ve been in other sports; baseball, rugby, football, and of course hockey and lacrosse. sure soccer has fallen behind but I’m certain canada does not have the third highest population of people playing soccer at a competitive level.
That depends how you define “competitive”.
Canada has a huge number of registered players. If memory services, participation in the sport in the country is second only to golf.
The obvious issue is that many of these participants are not competitive in nature. BUT if you take even a small portion of what’s out there Canada should have a very competitive base.
Case in point, when Soccernomics crunched the numbers and said who is over /under performing what they are capable of? Canada was the largest under performer.
Nobody on this thread is claiming the CMNT is better than it is, and certainly not claiming that it is better than the USMNT. Richard’s point is merely that our team is quite used to the antics of footy fans in south america. Steve’s article/rant is quite bizarre, out of left field (or outer space), and seems to be suggesting that Canadian fans are getting carried away by merely cheering for their team. Just because we’re happy about a win doesn’t mean we don’t understand the realities of CONCACAF or that it will be an uphill battle tonight. Rest easy, we get it. The USMNT program is better and more developed (although it really did’t show much in our centennial match). Nevertheless, GO CANADA!!
Amazing display of hyper-sensitivity, Richard.
Steve’s (I’m not Steve Davis, by the way, before anyone gets excited) letter is a little patronizing, yes. But you’re totally missing the point here. Talking about how you’re part of CONCACAF and you’ve gotten through this round of qualifying is a fun way of covering up the fact that Canada has been absolutely irrelevant as a soccer nation since qualifying for ’86. The 2000 Gold Cup win aside, this region has not seen you as a threat. Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, and Trinidad & Tobago have all been to more World Cups in the last 25 years than you. Basically, you guys are where we were from 1950-1990.
But what Steve Davis’ letter is really saying is that you can’t be categorized that way anymore. Canada is up and coming. Canada is getting to where, frankly, you guys SHOULD be: at least 3rd best (or close to it) in the region. You guys are for real. Congrats. We see you differently now, as I’m sure the rest of the region does.
I’m sure you’ll find a way to see this as patronizing, too, and then go off on me for it, and that’s fine. All I’m saying is that it’s cool you guys have gotten (back?) to this point, and welcome to the party. I think that’s really all Steve Davis was trying to say, too.
“Amazing display of hyper-sensitivity, Richard.”
And Steve shows off his amazing display of being a retarded cunt! How sad!
http://www.youtube.com/user/JulieTorrentino/feed?filter=1