SOME OPINION, MOSTLY FACT

 Talk about being in disarray! The U.S. Men’s Soccer team is unraveling (cliche alert) right before our eyes … dropping a listless 5-1 decision to Colombia (the country). Four goals were the direct result of blunders by the back four … and now the heat is on coach GREGG BERHALTER (again) … You’ll recall he was suspended after a run-in with CLAUDIO REYNA and wife over son GIO REYNA … who was at odds with Berhalter over lack of playing time at the 2022 World Cup … Let’s see … how did that go? … ahh, Berhalter told the world G. Reyna didn’t work hard enough … mom and pop Reyna thought the coach betrayed their son by going public … and lowered the bar even further by telling the U.S. Soccer Federation that Berhalter once physically abused his girlfriend-now-wife, who didn’t press charges. After a thorough investigation (so it was reported), the USSF reinstated Berhalter and gave him his old job back which was not a popular decision … Now, judging from social media feedback, he should be fired. The question is: Who would/should replace him? JESSE MARSCH, 50, who had a brief run with EPL Leeds two years ago and currently serves as coach of the Canadian National Men’s Team, seems a logical choice … if the federation prefers an American … especially a firebrand-type who is the antithesis of the laidback Berhalter.

……. Manchester United’s search for a new coach didn’t 

turn out as expected, so … ERIK TEN HAG will be 

retained … for how long is to be determined … That is 

not good news for the fans or players … Then again, 

who knows? Maybe new management got commitment 

(effective 2025-26) from someone who was worth 

waiting for … JURGEN KLOPP perhaps.

……. Best Advice of the Week: NHL Edmonton’s

 LEON DRAISAITLbetter keep his head up, on a 

swivel ... after nailing ALEXSANDER BARKOV

 with an elbow to the face with 9:28 remaining in 

Monday night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

The Florida Panthers’ star did not return and is listed as 

doubtful for Game 3. A concussion is likely … and 

you can count on Draisaitl being a target for revenge 

before the best-of-seven series is over … The league 

itself took a major hit when on-ice officials only gave 

the Oilers’ high-scoring forward a minor penalty … 

and the league’s department of player safety did not 

follow up with a fine and/or suspension … despite 

replay showing Draisaitl launched himself at Barkov, 

both skates leaving the ice, which in itself has been 

dealt with severely on several occasions previously.”It 

was not a dirty hit,” Draisaitl told reporters ... The 

NHL did fine SAM CARRICK $2,213.54 (don’t ask) 

for spearing the Panthers’ DMITRY KULIKOV in 

the groin … Oilers’ forward WARREN FOEGELE 

got a major penalty plus game misconduct for kneeing

EETU LUOSTARINEN with 9:21 gone. Although it 

appeared deliberate, Foegele escaped additional, post-

game punishment ...Florida holds a 2-0 lead, with 

Game 3 Thursday night (June 13) in Edmonton.

Come to think of it … The NFL Rangers JACOB 

TROUBA – and his outrageous (for him) annual 

salary of $8 million – could be on the trading block … 

and the elbow-throwing, crotch-hitting, deliberately-

kneeing, cheap-shot Oilers would provide the perfect 

landing. The over-rated NY captain had a difficult 

regular season … with a minus 4 compounded by a 

broken ankle suffered in March … He missed 11 

games then returned and had a terrible playoffs, giving 

the puck away consistently as well as being out of 

position enough to prompt coach PETER 

LAVIOLETTE to drop him to the No. 3 defensive 

pairing.

Until next time ,,,