Wherein I team up with Alexi Lalas, re Sunil Gulati

Mar 29, 2012, 2:15 PM EDT

I’ve never understood the discontent in some corners over U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati. He’s not perfect, and I’ve publicly disagreed with Gulati’s stances or decisions here and there.

But in general, Gulati is a smart guy who does a commendable job of balancing myriad interests.

That’s my opinion. I know a lot of people disagree, and the frustration level spikes whenever a United States national team crashes short of its presumed birthright destination. Suddenly, in some corners, it’s all Gulati’s fault.

While we’re at it, let’s blame the man for outsize corporate tax loopholes and pathogens in our drinking water.

But why listen to me? I’ve said it before. Even I get tired of listening to me. It’s utterly exhausting.

So listen to Alexi Lalas, who just delivered his latest “Shot.” This one is about some recent comments from Bruce Arena. Arena’s words seem directed toward Gulati, a man who dismissed Arena after the 2006 World Cup.

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2 Comments (Feed for Comments)

btrocco - Mar 30, 2012 at 9:07 AM

“Dismissed” is a nice way to put it when referring to Arena.

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schmutzdeck - Mar 31, 2012 at 11:51 AM

Gulati is supposedly unpaid. He also answers to the other 14 board members of the USSF, meaning he only has one out of 14 votes.

So for example, he could not have hired Kilnsmann without a consensus from the other 13.

I have no rooting interest one way or the other but would hope responsible journalists would shed more light on the other they who shall not be named board members and their agendas before whacking Sunil.

As for the U-23 failure, the difference between JK and and Porter is that JK has had a lot more time and a much larger margin of error than Porter did. El Salvador’s goal falls into the category of s++t happens and w/o that we would be talking about our chances against Honduras today.

That said, Porter was exposed for what he is, a very raw and unlucky rookie at this level.

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