Off the plane, on a taxi drive through rural areas.
The first billboard I see has got Pele emblazoned all over it.
I find out that Duran Duran and the Smashing Pumpkins will be playing here in the near future in Costa Rica.
My cabbie is pretty confident that Saprissa will take care of the Dynamo tonite……..It is all over the radio and that is why these games are also so important for MLS. For players to experience playing foreign competition in foreign countries is a must as MLS continues to climb the latter of respectability.
Irregardless of what happens tonite this will be a game that benefits young players on the Dynamo roster, lets hope they are in it late in the match.
I settled in the airport lobby to have lunch as my room is prepared and I am watching Barcelona take a 1-0 lead over Schalke through YaYa Toure. Man , what a tasty match up that will be between Barca and Manchester United.
So the gentleman next to me is a dead ringer for Jorge Vergara the owner of Saprissa, Chivas USA and Chivas. I am convinced it is him and strike up conversation only to find out it is not him. Seriously, this guy is a dead ringer and I am wondered if he is just playing “possum” with me.

Ran into Craig Waibel, Brian Mullan, Richard Mulrooney and it is clear that the back four will see Waibel move into the middle with Ianni and Richard Mulrooney slot in at right back. Wade Barrett as always will be the left back.
Players seem confident and realize history could be made. No U.S. team either from MLS or representing the United States has ever won a game at Saprissa, then again it is not Manchester United whom the Dynamo are playing.

Throw all of that out the window, then again you have to have concerns with how young players handle this environment .
Did you know that Paulo Wanchope who played in England and with the Chicago Fire is the coach of Heredia in the first division here in Costa Rica?

What player would not want to be in this environment, this is what you play for….I have played against Olympiakos of Greece, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, UNAM Pumas, FAS and Alianza from El Salvador, Linfield and Glentoran from Ireland and then some but most were so called “friendlies” apart from some tournament play. Never did I play in a foreign country in meaningful competition . It just didn’t happen back in the mid 80’s.
How can you not want to go to another country, into someone else’s house and try to get a result.
Looking forward to this one tonite and bringing you a sense of the environment on 790TheSportsAnimal.
Enjoy the game and lets hope the Dynamo and DC can pull off some MLS history tonite.

PS: Marc De Grandpre who was heading up the Red Bulls in New York has resigned, or been fired?
He seemed out of his element in soccer and again it brings up the question of leadership in certain MLS markets…There are a few more that need to follow his lead out the door in certain markets.
The danger of new ownership is sometimes organizations plug in upper level management that may have expertise in certain areas but can’t apply it to soccer…….You can figure out who is struggling……?