Joe Gibbs' stomach was rumbling when he emerged from the Washington Redskins coaches' meeting Saturday night, Oct. 3, 1987. He was, by his own admission, "kind of snarly anyway" because it was the night before a game against the division rival St. Louis Cardinals. On that occasion, however, Gibbs was even more anxious than usual.
Some fine play from the team's newest arrival and a sensational goal from the club's youngest player Saturday couldn't make up for D.C. United's bad habit of giving up late goals and dropping precious points at home.
Charlie Davies' 25th birthday Saturday ended up being bittersweet.
If you happen to wander into D.C. United's locker room, deep in the bowels of RFK Stadium, you'll see a chalkboard featuring the MLS standings.
The U.S. national team rid itself of the jitters and miscommunication that had plagued it in the group stage games and produced a commanding performance to sweep aside Jamaica on Sunday and advance to the semifinals of the Gold Cup.
Now that the knockout games are here, the United States is ready to put a disappointing CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage behind.
Bob Bradley's tenure in charge of the U.S. national team has been defined by his balancing the notable highs with some dispiriting lows.
Perry Kitchen stood in the D.C. United locker room Saturday night shaking his head in disbelief.
By the time Blake Brettschneider found out he would be kicking off his professional soccer career with D.C. United, the University of South Carolina product had endured waiting through five rounds and 75 picks over the course of two separate drafts.
