Carlos Ruiz recently was quoted in article on MLSNET.Com speaking about the playoffs and facing the Houston Dynamo.
“I like these type of matches because many players feel pressured and get scared,” said Ruiz. “I want to see who gets scared in the playoffs and try to take advantage of that.”

Glenn asks: Is this a desperate attempt at gamesmanship by Ruiz? Or does it show that FC Dallas is in fear of facing the Dynamo? Or is it nothing at all?
What do you think?

The Dynamo Power Hour tonite with Glenn Davis on 790 The Sports Animal runs from 7-9pm.
Glenn will preview the playoffs plus have on special guests including FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow, FC Dallas midfielder Arturo Alvarez, Dynamo striker Brian Ching and midfielder Dwayne DeRosario.
Call in number is 713-212-5790, call us with your thoughts on the playoffs, can the Dynamo repeat?

Catch a special preview of the MLS playoffs tonite from Christian’s tailgate in Midtown from 8-9pm.
Tomorrow night it is the Dynamo Power Hour with Glenn Davis from 7-9pm with fans encouraged to call in and talk playoffs at 713-212-5790.
Guests: Steve Morrow-head coach FC Dallas
Arturo Alvarez-FC Dallas
Brian Ching Houston Dynamo
Dwayne DeRosario-Houston Dynamo
Be a part of the show at 713-212-5790.
IT’S GAME ON !

Chivas USA vs. Kansas City: Wizards scrape into this one in search of balance between attack and defense. Curt Onalfo’s squad is riding a hot striker and it is not Eddie Johnson but Scott Sealy who scored both goals against FC Dallas to secure the 7th playoff spot.
Chivas USA won the Western Conference showing character against the Dynamo and will look to grind out results as they have all year. They are competitive like their coach and scratch and claw as evidence a man down against Houston. Maykel Galindo will need to produce timely goals.
Winner: Chivas USA

Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas: Dynamo have owned neighbors to the north since coming to Houston but their is something dangerous about the law of averages. Dynamo will need to re-boot and have suffered with consistent play due to changing personel in lineup. On the plus side Stuart Holden could be an X factor in midfield. Warning: do not make this game about Carlos Ruiz, emotional control will be key and if Dynamo produce first goal against FC Dallas the “Hoops” character and desire will be tested. Game can be seen on HDNET and Channel 55.
Winner: Houston Dynamo

DC United vs Chicago Fire: What a high the Fire are on after winning the 8th playoff spot dramatically at Toyota Park on Sunday. Guess what, they are back there this Thursday and will either thrive off the emotion of last Sunday or it could be a let-down. Cuauhtemoc Blanco is the Messiah in Chi-town right now both on and off the field but their strikers Paulo Wanchope and Chad Barrett have not been up to the task to take advantage of the genius of Blanco.
DC United comes in after a loss to the Columbus Crew so the Supporters Shield winners need to get it rolling against a team that looks to win games 1-0 . Does the “trio of envy” in DC Christian Gomez, Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno get it going in game one ?
Winner: DC United

NE vs. NY As bad as New York have been at times the home and home playoff series really gives no one an advantage. New York matches up well against New England and should have beaten them in their most recent match at Giants Stadium.
The key to beating NE is getting pressure on their backs. Michael Parkhurst is solid but overall their backs are average after him. The strength of New York is up front with Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore who are a handful for anyone. The question is can they get them the needed service.
Claudio Reyna has been a bust through performance and injury and who would have thought that Dane Richards and Joe Vide would be so vital to their midfield? NE could be vulnerable.
Winner: NE Revolution

Ironically it was a bad back pass from David Beckham of the LA Galaxy that went directly to Cuauhtemoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire that led to their game winning goal from John Thorrington yesterday. The Fire gained the 8th and final playoff spot by virtue of the result.
After getting the gift from Blanco he found a wide ball to second half substitute Calen Carr who found John Thorrington who lobbed a helpless Joe Cannon in front of a sell-out crowd on national television at Toyota Park.
The Fire should prove to be a difficult first round oponnent for DC United who come in on a high while United was defeated 3-2 by Columbus at RFK.
On another note one has to make mention of the outstanding goalkeeping performance that Joe Cannon produced yesterday in a losing cause. Cannon was outstanding producing a clutch performance in goal that gave the Galaxy the opportunity to get the win in the final 20 minutes.
I will get you my predictions in the playoffs in the near future.

We all won’t be surprised when Fernando Clavijo is given his walking papers as head coach of the Colorado Rapids.
Fact is that Jeff Plush the managing director of the Rapids has been waiting for the moment.
It doesn’t get much worse than Real Salt Lake coming into your new house and getting a result and knocking you out of the playoffs.
Truth is this organization does not want to win and one has to question Kroencke sports. And maybe even the choice of Denver as an MLS franchise city in the first place.
Here is what Plush had to say in the Denver Post recently.
“On balance I am dissapointed,” said Plush. “I don’t think we played to our ability that’s a big frustration. I think there is enough talent here that the results could be better.”
Just the mere fact that Plush thinks enough talent is in Denver makes you realize his evalution of talent has to be questioned.
The quote also basically admits he will fire Clavijo in my opinion.
So why did he trade Kyle Beckermann? Why did Kroencke Sports not get a designated player to jump start their franchise like Chicago? Why don’t they care to invest in the product and make a REAL effort to be more relevant in Denver.
Fact is Kroencke Sports right now tells me they want to buy sporting properties (Arsenal?) but they are certainly not investing in their product in Denver.
Hey great stadium, get some real leadership and not a soccer-wanna-be and invest in the product so soccer has a chance to prove itself out in Denver because right now it is dead and is dragging down MLS.

This is not the position Major League Soccer wanted to be in today when the Chicago Fire take on the LA Galaxy for the final playoff spot. The game which is at Toyota Park in Bridgeview features designated players Cuauhtemoc Blanco for the Fire and David Beckham for the LA Galaxy.
Now both of these guys have been huge draws in MLS so the elimination of either squad takes away a team that draws exceptionally well .
Blanco has revived the Fire both on and off the field and the late surge from the Galaxy has been mind boggling.
Both are big media markets that are important to the growth of the sport. So who wins this one? Catch the game at 2pm on Telefutura.
I am heading home from Toronto where I witnessed an amazing spectacle of support for Toronto FC on their final day of the season. With another sold out stadium it was an amazing day of passion, color and support for an expansion team.
Michael Parkhurst (excellent all day) scored an amazing goal from the inside his own half over Kenny Stamatapolous, just amazing instinct, awareness and execution. The goal came in first half stoppage time and then Taylor Twellman produced a goal two minutes into the second half to make it 2-0 . But Toronto FC was not to be denied producing a tying goal in the 58th minute with Colin Samuel scoring on a rebound after Marvell Wynne hit the post.
Daniel Dichio with a spinning, swiveling volley tie things up late and continued to build his place in history with the Toronto FC fans who after the game got a lap of honor from it’s players.
Toronto FC officials were on the field applauding the fans who then decided to come on to the field to congregate at the center circle.
An amazing day.
One final note the Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton went to the Reds . Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard had a chance to save the game winning penalty which just might have been savable.

The Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis airs tonite at 6pm and Saturday at 5pm on Channel 55. Catch this great show that features Dynamo review of their 1-0 win at Real Salt Lake and a preview of their Western Conference showdown at Chivas USA on Saturday night.
MLS and national team legend Chris Armas is interviewed by Glenn as well as a great piece on MLS supporters groups including Houston’s Texian Army and El Battalon.
Set your vcr’s or tivo if you can’t catch it live.
Tell Glenn what you would like to see on the show, get your viewer mail on the air or send your videos.
glenn@thetube.net or gdavis98@swbell.net

One of the faces of U.S. Soccer Cobi Jones could play in his last home game at the Home Depot Center tonite in a crucial match against the New York Red Bulls (10pm espn2).
Jones has played in three World Cups amassing a record 163 caps and has been easily identifiable over this years with his dreadlocks. He is the only player to remain in the same squad in MLS with the Galay and is one of only three players with 60 plus goals and 80 plus assists.
So here is what I remember about a player that started his college career as a walk on at UCLA and literally played his entire career in California in front of friends and family.
Jones was a regular in U.S. national teams because of his speed but over the years in MLS we saw him develop into a well rounded soccer player that relied on more than just his athletic ability. He has been amazingly resilient avoiding injury and in 1998 playing as a forward hit for 19 goals.
Eleven days ago he leaped over Wade Barrett to head a ball to the back post to Gavin Glinton who produced the game winning goal for the Galaxy over the Dynamo at Robertson.
Jones is pondering playing another year but for the time being is trying to get his team into the playoffs.
To hear the Cobi Jones interview during the Dynamo Power Hour with Glenn Davis from last night go to www.790thesportsanimal.com, click on blogs, click on Glenn Davis

They were both friendlies that ended with different results, the United States got a late goal from Michael Bradley off a cross from Danny Szetela in the 87th minute to produce a long overdue result in Europe. The 1-0 win over Switzerland gave manager Bob Bradley a chance to see a number of youngsters. In addition to Bradley Freddy Adu, Robbie Findlely , Heath Pearce all got opportunity as Switzerland was booed off the field after the late game loss.
Mexico was defeated by Guatemala in a game that seemed out of control from minute one to it’s end.
Emotions were all over the place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, red cards flowed including ones to Carlos Ruiz and Hernan Dario Gomez the Guatemalan coach. Gonzalo Pineda also got one for Mexico…….The game was littered with diving and although an important win for Guatemala it was an ugly evening of out of control emotion and little soccer.