In their respective eras, Pele and Lionel Messi took the field while wearing the crown as the greatest soccer player of all-time. Among the many feats these two global icons have in common is that neither of them could score a goal in Cleveland. 57 years before Messi came to Huntington Bank Field for a … Continue reading The Night Pele and a Melee Came to Cleveland
Sports
Sirk’s Notebook: Miami 1, Columbus 0
NOTE: Before starting, I just want to acknowledge that many Columbus Crew fans are understandably upset that this marquee home game was moved to Cleveland. I do address my own conflicted feelings near the end of this. I hope to have a few more pieces tangentially related to this past weekend’s match, but I wanted … Continue reading Sirk’s Notebook: Miami 1, Columbus 0
The Oracles of Crewsmas 2022
There was something in the air on Crewsmas, and it wasn’t just the chill of a February 26 start to the season, a date two days earlier than even the famed La Guerra Fria against Mexico at Historic Crew Stadium in 2001. No, this was something imperceptible in the moment that only became apparent after … Continue reading The Oracles of Crewsmas 2022
A Berry, Berry Interesting #HellisReal
Friday’s Crew game against FC Cincinnati was poised to be either Seventh Heaven or the Seventh Circle of Hell. Entering the match on a six-game losing streak, it was imperative that the defending MLS Cup champions, playing in front of their home crowd in their new stadium, proved to themselves and to the world that … Continue reading A Berry, Berry Interesting #HellisReal
Mr. Numbers Nerd: Crew Comebacks from 2-0 on the Road
Hi. This is going to be very to the point as it is already after 1:00am and I have to get up early tomorrow. But Friday's 2-2 #HellisReal draw in Cincinnati after falling behind 2-0 was only the seventh time in club history the Columbus Crew salvaged at least a point when falling behind 2-0 … Continue reading Mr. Numbers Nerd: Crew Comebacks from 2-0 on the Road
The House Columbus Built
Shortly after arriving at Lower.com Field for the first time since the groundbreaking ceremony on October 10, 2019, I checked out the new Circle of Honor display at the northwest corner of the stadium’s exterior. That’s where I ran into one its inductees. Crew legend Frankie Hejduk, captain of the 2008 MLS Cup champions, radiated … Continue reading The House Columbus Built
Warzycha Knows and Appreciates Zelarayan’s Free Kick Wizardry
The whistle blows for a foul. There’s a deadball opportunity just outside the opposing penalty area, well within shooting range. As you take measure and do your internal calculations, the goalkeeper shouts instructions to the several men comprising the human wall designed to take away half the target. It’s the final minute of stoppage time. … Continue reading Warzycha Knows and Appreciates Zelarayan’s Free Kick Wizardry
Legendary Lucas and His Big Apple Brilliance
It’s been a few hours and I still can’t process what I witnessed. After Eloy Room made some incredible saves to keep the Columbus Crew alive, Lucas Zelarayan stole the show, single-footedly flipping a one-goal deficit to a one-goal victory with a pair of late free kick goals. New York City FC, poised to claim … Continue reading Legendary Lucas and His Big Apple Brilliance
De-Branding the Crew
On Saturday, the Columbus Crew benefitted from a pair of own goals to pick up a big win. That was on the field. Off the field, the club was preparing to launch an epic own-goal of its own and take a big loss, as word leaked out about a disastrous rebrand that would remove the … Continue reading De-Branding the Crew
Through Josh’s Eyes: Lucas Zelarayan
LUCAS ZELARAYANAge at MLS Cup: 28Hometown: Cordoba, Argentina 2020 IN ALL COMPETITIONSGames: 21Starts: 17Minutes: 1515Goals: 8Assists: 9 In 2017, Crew fans were told by a now-former owner that they needed to respect his ambition. In 2020, the Crew's new ownership group took a different approach by actually demonstrating honorable ambition. They took a quick break … Continue reading Through Josh’s Eyes: Lucas Zelarayan
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