Quote:
>>I have noticed that most newspapers ads an extra goal to the score
>>for the team which wins a MLS shoot-out. For example, the
>>Wiz-Clash game ended 2-2 and the Wiz won the shoot-out. The San Jose Merc
>>and USA Today report the score as 3-2. I find this misleading since
>>I would reserve the scoreline 3-2 to mean 3-2 in regulation time.
>>Otherwise, how can you tell the difference? I'd suggest reporting
>>ties as e.g. 2-2 (8-7 on shoot-out). This is how ties broken on
>>penalty kicks are reported in Europe and I believe, everywhere except
>>the US. So who came up with this extra goal for the shootout winner?
>>Is this an official MLS rule, or is it just the media that is being
>>silly/ignorant?
>It IS an official MLS rule. An extra "goal" is "awarded" to
>the shootout "winner", just like the NASL days.
>So San Jose, which won its opener 1-0 but "lost" two shootout
>sessions after two drawn games, now have a "-1" goal difference
>instead of "+1".
I talked to the MLS communications people Monday, and basically, they report
the phantom "goal" to the media (undoubtedly, so they won't have too
much to distract them from their impending trip to the media buffet. I've
been to many press conferences and other press-only events and I swear some
of these yahoos are only in the business for the food.) but in the official
league standings, they don't count the phantom "goal." So in the standings,
Sunday's SJ-KC game went down as +2 GF, +2 GA for each team.
In other words, the various media outlets have been wrong with their tables,
in which case the fault usually lies with SportsTicker and AP.
(Of course, I've got it right at the Unofficial Dallas Burn Fan Web Site, at
http://SportToday.org/~dustin/burn/ )
Quote:
>I can think of one way paying customers can send the MLS a message
>regarding the shootout: LEAVE THE STADIUM AFTER 90 MINUTES
>and do NOT stay for the shootout. That should make the suits
>re-think their decision.
File that under wishful thinking. Most of the fans that I've talked to like
the shootout, even some fanatical fans. I can't say that I don't like them
either. While it's not the way I'd like for the Burn to win or lose, they're
still exciting, entertaining stuff.
--
Thanx, | "Who should give a ***about the
Dustin R. Christmann | scholastics anyway?"
University of Texas '94 | -- Anonymous Nebraska fan
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