US Soccer Readies for the WC 2006 Hexagonal

Last night, the US Men's National Soccer team finished the World Cup 2006 CONCACAF Semifinal qualifying round with a 1-1 draw vs. Jamaica in Columbus. Dallas Forward Eddie Johnson scored for the US, for his 5th goal in three matches this year.

The US won its group handily with a 3-0-3 record, and along with second-place finisher Panama, advances to next year's qualifying finals, along know as "The Hexagonal." Qualifying from other groups were Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Trinidad & Tobago.

The top three finishers of the 2005's year-long "Hex" will qualify directly for World Cup 2006 in Germany, and the fourth-place finisher will play the 5th place Asian team in a home-and-away series for a World Cup berth. On paper, the US should have little trouble qualifying for Germany.

The team's record vs. Hex opponents since 2000:
vs. Costa Rica: 3-2-1
vs. Guatemala: 1-0-1
vs. Mexico: 6-1-1
vs. Panama: 1-0-1
vs. Trinidad: 1-0-1
TOTAL: 12-3-5

The US, currently ranked 11th in the world by FIFA, finished its 2004 season with a 8-1-6 record, with the lone loss coming vs. Holland in Amsterdam in February. The US finished the season with a 13-match unbeaten streak. Since 2000, the US record is 45-19-19. The US also has a 29-match unbeaten streak against CONCACAF opponents, dating back to a 0-2 loss in Costa Rica on 9/5/2001.

The schedule for the Hex will be determined next month. The first matchday is February 9th.

COMMISHKIN Standings, Week 10

Andy Brown continues to lead the pack after 10 weeks of Commishkin play. Big jump is from Matt Feldman (+2), big drop is from Charlie Conrad (-2).

This Week (Change from last week): Player: Fantasy-Pick 'Em-Suicide (Standing for each game), then Commishkin Points earned for each game (x denotes not participating, t denotes tie, nc denotes no change):

1 (nc): Andy Brown: (1-6-t1) 8-11-11.5: 30.5 Points

2 (nc): David Cutler: (x-1-t1) 0-16-11.5: 27.5

3 (nc): Brian Perkis: (x-t4-t1) 0-12.5-11.5: 24

4 (+1): Mark Fishkin: (5-3-t11) 4-14-3: 21

5 (-1): Mike Steele: (x-t4-t5) 0-12.5-8: 20.5

6 (nc): Dan Fox: (x-8-t5) 0-9-8: 17

t7 (nc): Drew Sumter: (x-12-t1) 0-5-11.5: 16.5

t7 (+1): Brett Friedman: (8-7-t9) 1-10-5.5: 16.5

9 (+1): Will Caligiuri: (x-2-x) 0-15-0: 15

10 (+1): Eric Broder: (6-11-t9) 3-6-5.5: 14.5

11 (-2): Charlie Conrad: (x-t13-t5) 0-3-8: 11

12 (nc): Susie Fox: (x-t9-t11) 0-7.5-3: 10.5

13 (+1): Steve Scheer: (x-t9-x) 0-7.5-0: 7.5

14 (-1): Rob Shapiro: (2-0-0) 7-0-0: 7

15 (-1): Anthony Palomba: (3-0-0) 6-0-0: 6

16 (nc): "Grande Poobah": (4-x-x) 5-0-0: 5

t17 (nc): Adam Lavinsky: (x-t13-x) 0-3-0: 3

t17 (nc): Adam Tarsitano: (x-x-t11) 0-0-3: 3

t17 (+2): Matt Feldman: (x-t13-x): 0-3-0: 3

t20(-1): Dana Atkinson: (7-x-x): 2-0-0: 2

t20(-1): Kevin West: (x-16-13): 0-1-1: 2

The next Commishkin standings will be published by November 24th.

COMMISHKIN Standings, Week 9

The top three players remain unchanged for the fourth straight week of Commishkin play.Big jump is from Steve Scheer(+2), big drop is from Adam Lavinsky (-4).

This Week (Change from last week): Player: Fantasy-Pick 'Em-Suicide (Standing for each game), then Commishkin Points earned for each game (x denotes not participating, t denotes tie, nc denotes no change):

1 (nc): Andy Brown: (1-t5-t1) 8-11.5-11.5: 31 Points
2 (nc): David Cutler: (x-1-t1) 0-16-11.5: 27.5
3 (nc): Brian Perkis: (x-2-t1) 0-15-11.5: 26.5
4 (+1): Mike Steele: (x-t5-t5) 0-11.5-8: 19.5
5 (-1): Mark Fishkin: (6-4-t11) 3-13-3: 19
6 (-2): Dan Fox: (x-7-t5) 0-10-8: 18
7 (nc): Drew Sumter: (x-12-t1) 0-5-11.5: 16.5
8 (nc): Brett Friedman: (8-8-t9) 1-9-5.5: 15.5
9 (+1): Charlie Conrad: (x-10-t5) 0-7-8: 15
10 (-1): Will Caligiuri: (x-3-x) 0-14-0: 14
11 (nc): Eric Broder: (5-t13-t9) 4-3.5-5.5: 13
12 (nc): Susie Fox: (x-9-t11) 0-8-3: 11
13 (+1): Rob Shapiro: (2-x-x) 7-0-0: 7
t14 (+1): Anthony Palomba: (3-0-0) 6-0-0: 6
t14 (+2): Steve Scheer: (x-11-x) 0-6-0: 6
16 (nc): "Grande Poobah": (4-x-x) 5-0-0: 5
17 (-4): Adam Lavinsky: (x-t13-x) 0-3.5-0: 3.5
18 (nc): Adam Tarsitano: (x-x-t11) 0-0-3: 3
t19 (+1): Dana Atkinson: (7-x-x): 2-0-0: 2
t19 (+1): Matt Feldman: (x-15-x): 0-2-0: 2
t19 (-1): Kevin West: (x-16-13): 0-1-1: 2

The next Commishkin standings will be published by November 17th.

COMMISHKIN Standings, Week 8

The top three players remain unchanged for the third straight week of Commishkin play.
Big jump is from Brett Friedman (+4), big drop are from Conrad, Sue Fox, and Grande Poohbah(-2).

This Week (Change from last week): Player: Fantasy-Pick 'Em-Suicide (Standing for each game), then Commishkin Points earned for each game (x denotes not participating, t denotes tie, nc denotes no change):
1 (nc): Andy Brown: (1-4-t1) 8-13-11.5: 32.5 Points
2 (nc): David Cutler: (x-1-t1) 0-16-11.5: 27.5
3 (nc): Brian Perkis: (x-t4-t1) 0-45.5-11.5: 26
4 (+1): Dan Fox: (x-t5-t5) 0-11.5-8: 19.5
5 (-1): Mike Steele: (x-7-t5) 0-10-8: 18
6 (-1): Mark Fishkin: (6-t5-t11) 3-11.5-3: 17.5
7 (nc): Drew Sumter(x-t11-t1) 0-5-11.5: 16.5
8 (+4): Brett Friedman: (7-t8-t9) 2-8.5-5.5: 16
9 (nc): Will Caligiuri: (x-t2-x) 0-14.5-0: 14.5
10 (-2): Charlie Conrad: (x-t11-t5) 0-5-8: 13
11 (-1): Eric Broder: (5-14-t9) 4-3-5.5: 12.5
12 (-2): Susie Fox: (x-10-t11) 0-7-3: 10
13 (nc): Adam Lavinsky: (x-t8-x) 0-8.5-0: 8.5
14 (+1): Rob Shapiro: (2-x-x) 7-0-0: 7
15 (+2): Anthony Palomba: (3-x-x) 6-0-0: 6
t16 (nc): Steve Scheer: (x-t11-x) 0-5-0: 5
t16 (-2): "Grande Poobah": (4-x-x) 5-0-0: 5
t18 (nc): Adam Tarsitano: (x-x-t11) 0-0-3: 3
t18 (+2): Kevin West: (x-15-13): 0-2-1: 3
t20 (nc): Dana Atkinson: (8-x-x): 1-0-0: 1
t20 (nc): Matt Feldman: (x-16-x): 0-1-0: 1

The next Commishkin standings will be published by November 10th.