Let’s talk elbows

By: Sabin | April 20th, 2007

Here at this place — MLS News Review: Judging Andy’s Elbow — the author talks a bit about the Andy Herron elbow in last night’s Revolution-Crew game. He makes a few points that I think are pretty interesting, but there’s one thing that doesn’t get mentioned with as much conviction as it should: soccer should not be about violent retaliation.

Even if — as the author states — Jay Heaps does something to harass Herron, his elbow is no more excusable than Zinedane Zidane’s head butt performance in last summer’s World Cup. Retaliation in the “beautiful game” should happen with goals scored, better-than-the-other-guy dribbling, and shocking tackles that steal a ball from between the feet like a pickpocket on holiday. Elbows, hands in the face, shoving, etc. do not belong on the field, and that’s what really got to me about last night’s game.

Most of the teams in the MLS do not behave as Herron did last night. They do what they can to try and elevate the art of soccer in this country and display fair play and all that. They work the angles, hustle the wings, and otherwise play a pretty damned good-looking game. Then there are those teams who, when losing, tend to behave worse than my son when he was three. Late tackles, bad-mouthing the opposition, pushes and shoves, elbows and claw-like fingers, etc. The Crew — in particularly Herron — let their frustration get the better of them last night. They’re not the only team to do so and probably won’t be the last. It has to stop, though, and this is the year for it.

It’s time for the MLS and the United States to be taken seriously. It’s time started to consistently play clean, clinical, beautiful, American football. Yes, American. We’re allowed to have our own style, and my bet is that it looks pretty crazy next to English or Europeans styles. But that’s good! Let’s be crazy — Justin Mapp comes to mind as do Clint Dempsey and Wells Thompson — but let’s be admirable while we do it. No more crappy elbows, petulant tantrums, or “late” tackles.

Thoughts?