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Last-minute adjustments Final preparations complete for biggest game of the year
Posted: Saturday November 20, 1999 07:25 PM
One of the most recognizable soccer players in America, Cobi Jones was named U.S. Soccer's player of the year in 1998. He was also a finalist for the 1998 MVP award in Major League Soccer. Jones and the Los Angeles Galaxy will play D.C. United on Sunday in MLS Cup '99. As he prepares for the league's championship game, Jones is filing an MLS Cup diary for CNNSI.com.
Saturday, November 20, 1999 I think that I finally have this time difference down. I went to sleep rather early last night after playing some video games and had an opportunity to sleep in today. I think that sleeping in and having breakfast a little later paid off. However, I am still a little tired, so this entry may prove to be a little short. Following our early breakfast, we all picked up our equipment from Raul's room (equipment manager Raul Vargas) and jumped in the bus, where we were once again listened to some pretty good tunes in preparation for our last practice. This time our practice took place at the site of tomorrow's game, Foxboro Stadium. It was sprinkling a little when we departed the hotel, but it was just nice and cool when we started to practice. It was good to get to practice on the field where we are going to play our last game of the season tomorrow. We got an opportunity to see where the dry and rough spots were on the field and see how the ball bounced around as a result. The field was a little hard, but according to the meteorologist it is going to rain tonight, which may soften the pitch a little. I was a little nostalgic participating in my last practice of 1999. It was a light practice with an emphasis on stretching to curtail any possible weather-related injuries and tactical issues for our championship game versus D.C. United tomorrow such as dead-ball plays, corner kicks and free kicks. Following practice the media had their last opportunity to speak with the other players and myself. We were there for approximately 30 minutes following practice putting some finishing touches to all of the questions regarding our appearance in the 1996 MLS Cup, which we lost 3-2 in sudden- death overtime to DC. I hope that we have heard the last of those questions, because it is now time to focus on 1999, and this year's final that will hopefully have a different outcome. I am now in the hotel where I am just getting ready to go to our team meeting and meal as we wrap up our final preparations for the match tomorrow. Being less than 24 hours away from our biggest game this season, we now have to concentrate and focus in what we have before us. We have an opportunity to win the first championship for not only the Galaxy, but for the city of Los Angeles, which has not had a championship team since 1988 (Los Angeles Dodgers). Likewise, we have proved to be a great regular-season team, but we now have the opportunity to change our postseason history with a win tomorrow. By the way, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Paul Caligiuri a happy 10-year anniversary. Caligiuri scored the game-winning goal on November 19, 1989, that beat Trinidad & Tobago, 1-0 [and qualified the U.S. for its first World Cup in four decades]. The goal proved to pave the way for soccer in America and Major League Soccer. Congrats Cal! See ya tomorrow. -- Cobi
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