Soccer? I Hardly Know Her!

Thanks to Nettwerk Music, Evan and I both attended our very first Major League Soccer game Saturday night, as the L.A. Galaxy took on D.C. United at the Home Depot Center (that still makes me chuckle) in Carson.

Kinky -- the real reason we were there in the first place -- performed directly outside the main stadium before the game began, including their cool cover of "Mexican Radio." The Mexico-based rock/pop/electronic band drew a nice-sized crowd; we were able to stand at a distance (so it wasn't too loud for Evan) and still enjoy the show.

Coincidentally (or maybe it was the radar inside me that spotted the cameras), we wound up watching Kinky right next to where Fox Soccer Channel was conducting its pre-game show. So yes, being the media whore and media whore-in-training we are, Evan and I wound up on camera. (Maria, who wasn't feeling well and stayed at home, managed to record our brief cameo.)

On to the game. (Sorry, no Becks yet -- he doesn't join until July.) We sat in the general admission seats, behind one of the goals. Which was fine -- the Home Depot Center is small enough that the views are pretty much decent whereever you sit. Evan was fascinated by the National Anthem fireworks, and followed the ball as it kicked around the stadium. But he got a bit bored after a while. We made it through the first half, but at that point Evan was ready to go. I really wanted to wait and see a goal -- but turns out I would have been waiting in futility, as the game wound up a scoreless tie.

A few observations: When a soccer ball winds up in the stands, fans race to capture it -- and then throw it back down on the ground. Why aren't they allowed to keep it?

Also: What is that green, frog-like mascot at the game? A Galaxy "alien"? The costume itself is rather sad -- dirty and worn.

The game was well attended. I can only imagine how packed the Home Depot Center will be once Beckham joins the ranks. For now, team vet Cobi Jones, who plans to retire at the end of this season, still gets the biggest cheers.