While I've been tearing Simmons' articles apart there's been some pretty good Soccer being played here in the U.S.

Apparently some genius decided to have DC United play Real Madrid at 11pm EST (at Qwest field in Seattle), and on local cable only. The game is tied 1-1 at the half on two pretty goals from Cassano and Elecko Eskandarian. Real Madrid is definitely the stronger team and has had about 4 near misses, but United is hanging in there.

I think I'm sticking it out for the rest of the game (if I don't pass out). No one seems to be talking about these games, so if I'm not back on tonight I'll have more tomorrow. Dave Johnson and Grant Lagerway (sp?) are our announcers, and have some jetlag so I'll go easy on them.

***UPDATE***- Well I did make it through the rest of the game, and while the second half was exciting there was no scoring and we ended in a 1-1 tie.

Perhaps the most exciting moment came on a free kick from right outside the box. Roberto Carlos crushed (and by crushed I mean it was the hardest ball I've ever seen kicked) a ball past the wall, and Troy Perkins made one hell of a save. Well somehow the ball went to the right side of the net and then sent back across off the post, and then magically cleared off the line.

It was a good game and I could get into soccer if there were more of these games in the middle of each League's season. Since it's preseason for EPL most of the players are not conditioned well, and there are a ton of subs.

On a side note: This DC United team is pretty special. They crushed Celtic earlier on this year, the MLS All-Star Team (made up of almost all United Players) upset Chelsea, and they tied one of the best teams in Europe last night.

I think I might actually go to a game for the first time in my life.