I didn’t catch the second game last night, but the USA v Panama game was a good one, if only for a single moment of Freddy Adu to Landon Donovan to Clint Dempsey. One of those moments when everything just works. Of course you spend hundreds of hours practicing to make that moment “just work,” but you know what I mean. :D

Anyhow, Freddy has matured far beyond his wild youth when he was touted as the savior of US Soccer, Donovan’s pass was just plain brilliant as hell, and Dempsey’s follow through and goal was as meaningful as the subsequent celebration when he kept pointing at Landon and Freddy. Well done, boys. Highlights of both games below.

(Cross post from celsius1414.com)

Current Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has a decent chance not to meet payroll this month, according to people familiar with his financial situation. If MLB has to fund the player payroll, a potential case for a sale becomes stronger. With McCourt’s soon-to-be-ex-wife Jamie McCourt also trying to force a sale, McCourt seems to have one foot out the door. His claim this week that he’s living in a one-bedroom place is a funny one in that he has the penthouse at The Montage, one of Beverly Hills’ most exclusive hotels. (Since I’ve never been there, I can’t confirm the penthouse has only one bedroom.)

Now, I don’t expect he should stay at the Super 8 a half-mile down Sunset from Dodger Stadium (“Comfortable hotel, great front desk staff, Ok breakfast” said one review), but at least be forthcoming about it. Why prevaricate when you don’t have to?

Oh right, it’s Frank McCourt. That’s kind of his thing.

Speaking of CC Sabathia, Ken Rosenthal had some Dodger-related rumor-mongering to accomplish last week. Via MLBTradeRumors:

The Dodgers were one of C.C. Sabathia’s “top choices” when he was a free agent after the 2008 season, and he would “love to have the Dodgers as leverage” when he (as expected) opts out of his contract with the Yankees this winter. As Rosenthal says, impending free agents hope the Dodgers solve their ownership problems quickly so the team can resume its status as a big-market destination.

I would love to have the Dodgers as leverage when I try to decide what to watch on TV next October. At the rate things are going, June is looking iffy.

With all the fans leaving, the elevator headed up to the top before going down again. Russell Martin Sr. happened to get on the same time I did, but he was on the other side of the large car, so I didn’t have a chance to talk to him. He had a bemused expression on his face, listening to all the fans’ conversations.

Before the game, I had come down to the first level to head out on the field for batting practice. Now there was a roped-off line in front of the Dugout Club where fans were crowding, hoping for an autograph or just a glimpse of the Dodgers as they left. I walked past and through a pair of closed double doors, down a hallway to where a guard was stationed at a sort of lectern, double-checked with him that the clubhouse was open, then through another pair of double doors and another long hallway full of boxes, baseball equipment, and miscellaneous items. The actual door to the locker room was a little ways down, and I approached uncertainly.

The locker room was a lot smaller than I expected. Just beyond were the sinks and showers, and various Dodgers were here and there preparing to leave. To my right stood first-base coach Mariano Duncan, and I asked him where Joe’s office was — he pointed out a doorway nearby.

Just past it was the rack you might have seen before, with the five bats representing the five NL West teams, arranged in the order they are in the division, Dodgers currently on top. Then to the right of that I heard the familiar voices of Fox Sports West’s Michael Eaves and manager Joe Torre. Inside his office, I placed myself amidst the reporters and held out my voice recorder.

In the first audio file — joe01.mp3, 1:16 — you’ll hear Eaves asking his last question about Cole Hamels, then Joe’s answer, then one of the other media members asking about infield placement at a particular point in the game, and another answer. Torre had a cold, I believe, so you’ll hear them wish him well.

Suddenly everyone had left the office, and there I was alone with a recorder in my hand and Joe Torre sitting in front of me.

Luckily, I had prepared a pair of questions just in case I had the opportunity, so in the second file — joe02.mp3, 1:07 — you’ll hear me nervously asking him about Kershaw’s performance, then (knowing he’s a big horse racing fan and horse owner) asking for his prediction in the Belmont Stakes this weekend. Great answers, by the way. :)

I thanked him, told him I hoped he felt better, and left, heading back to the locker room in a daze.

More later.