04/24/24
February 03, 2010
Affair Split Up US Men's Team Before '98 World Cup: Former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday -- for the first time ever -- that when he dropped team captain John Harkes from the U.S. men's national team right before the World Cup in 1998, it was because Harkes had an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda. The US went on to finish dead last in the 32-team field. "There are just certain lines that one cannot cross," Sampson said. The incident was dredged up by new reports that England captain John Terry had an extramarital affair with a teammate's ex.
So is John Terry just a John Harkes wannabe?
Why are they all called 'John'?
posted by owlhouse at 06:42 PM on February 03, 2010
Never bothered the Cubs, but I suppose it's not like it would've improved their situation.
posted by feloniousmonk at 01:47 AM on February 04, 2010
I have to say I was a huge detractor of Sampsons after that whole debacle. It appeared to most of us he dropped Harkes for no reason and then went on to finish dead last at the Finals. Now I have to say Sampson took a huge hit for the team not coming out with this story from the beginning. It would have been very easy for him to justify the dropping of Harkes at the time and not look like such a scapegoat. While I still hold a little resentment for the poor showing, I have much more respect for him making what must have been an extremely difficult decision. And it seems Wynalda actually tried to talk him out of dropping Harkes as well. I say well done to both men. As for Harkes, it is sad most of this didn't land at his feet 8 years ago
posted by Ricardo at 07:27 AM on February 04, 2010
This is just wrong on all accounts. You just don't do that to a teammate and think it's going to just slide. Talk about using bad judgment.
posted by BornIcon at 09:03 AM on February 04, 2010
I don't think you blow up a team because they aren't nice to each other off the field.
posted by bperk at 10:24 AM on February 04, 2010
Seems like a lotta room between merely not being nice and fucking your buddy's wife.
posted by Hugh Janus at 10:48 AM on February 04, 2010
Sure, sure, it just happened. Could happen to anybody. It was an accident, right? You tripped, fell on the floor and accidently stuck your dick into my wife. "Oops, I'm sorry, Mrs. H, I guess this just isn't my week".
Bruce Willis in The Last Boy Scout
posted by Ricardo at 11:41 AM on February 04, 2010
I don't believe it! That's exactly what I was thinking when I read this!
posted by yzelda4045 at 12:10 PM on February 04, 2010
Seems like a lotta room between merely not being nice and fucking your buddy's wife.
Maybe if you fly first-class, Mr. Fancy Pants.
posted by yerfatma at 01:59 PM on February 04, 2010
Seems like a lotta room between merely not being nice and fucking your buddy's wife.
True, but he was the captain and it was right before the World Cup. I don't see how you make that move and put yourself in a hole right before an event where the team has to play completely over its head just to make the group stage.
posted by rcade at 02:33 PM on February 04, 2010
put yourself in a hole right before an event
*ahem*
posted by yerfatma at 03:14 PM on February 04, 2010
Stefan Effenberg sympathises.
Is it harsh to say that, given footballers are not known for being particularly sharp off the field, they just have difficulty telling one glamour model from another?
posted by etagloh at 11:29 PM on February 04, 2010
Possibly the only sane response.
And yes, I am being flexible in using the word 'sane'.
posted by owlhouse at 01:09 AM on February 05, 2010
And Terry is out! Rio seems to be the new skipper though I wonder if he'll be fit enough to make the squad, at least for the March 3 friendly.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:12 PM on February 05, 2010
Isn't that what good teammates do?