Comments on: Ricardo Clark does what so many MLS players have been tempted to do

By: James McCormick

James McCormick — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 03:58:46 +0000

As gratifying as it is to see pescadito get his, it does have to be significantly punished. But more importantly it argues once again for post game video review to eliminate diving (and feigning injury like phantom blows to the face). If players know that their play will be reviewed and blatant diving were to get cards after the fact, and red ones I would argue when diving untouched in the box, they would stop. MLS should take the lead. I expect it will be the international norm some day.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:57:17 +0000

good for Clark I don’t know about the rest of ya’ll, but i hate Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz, “el Pescadito” (rightfully named for his flopping)pulled Clark down and had been flopping all game whenever Clark even breathed on Him. Ruiz should be a target and if he ever dives agian should recieve a caution for doing so, he should recieve no “benefit of the doubt.” Oh and Ruiz was rightfully sent off for pulling Clark down, he should also recieve a suspension for inciting violence in a match. I am not condoning Clark, but i do Applaud him, he has done what i have wanted to do after watching the stupid “fish” for several years.

By: Ryan Nelson

Ryan Nelson — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 06:07:33 +0000

Who hasn’t, when playing a sport and being on the wrong end of a cheap shot, retalliate somehow? I never kicked anyone like that, but as a basketball player, I sure kicked a few ankles into awkward rolls. competitive spirits and frustrations are a bad combination, but the kid just lost it. nine games was harsh I think. give him four to five, and a bigger fine.

By: Junior

Junior — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:02:21 +0000

did anyone besides me have dvr and rewinded the replays to see it… because i saw when Ruiz hit his knee on clark while runing up, and if u look at Ruiz he takes a look at clark and slams his knee on clark’s lower back, you can actually see clark’s body move from the contact, after that he fell and kicked ruiz..most replays don’t show the replay i saw, hopefully mls sees that too…just watch the longer replay like when there running in and you’ll see it…..doesn’t justify what clark did but doesnt justify ruiz either(both should have equal suspendtions)

By: Dex

Dex — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:02:13 +0000

Holy cow! Clark really laid into him. I don’t know much about Ruiz but I’m prepared to believe he’s as much of a dick as is reported here (the playacting on the video is outrageous – but I guess the kick didn’t hurt that much or else he would have been holding the body part that Clarck actually connected with). But Clark has to sit down for several games. There are many other ways to ‘get even’ with players who are niggly as Ruiz apparently is (just ask Roy Keane). It sounds like Ruiz has been doing it himself and getting away with it for ages, so why do players on opposing teams not give him a taste of his own medicine?

As much as we might appreciate and understand Clark’s retaliation, his actions are a detriment to himself, his team and the league as a whole. It was stupid and he has to be punished.

By: Aaron Schad

Aaron Schad — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:45:46 +0000

The public opinion has been that way because Ricardo Clark is American and Ruiz is from south of the border, so he must be Mexican right? And who watches MLS? American’s. I am a FC Dallas fan and can see why Ruiz is a villian and do agree Ruiz flops around all over the field and I don’t like it, but what Clark has no place in the game. He should be suspended for the rest of the season including the playoffs, anything else is a joke. If the roles were reversed Ruiz might be kicked out of the league.

By: PH

PH — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:38:49 +0000

Clark *has* to receive a sizable suspension. But Ruiz and his flopping, rolling, head-holding nonsense represent all that’s wrong in soccer, and the single biggest reason for the ridicule it gets in some quarters. (Does anyone remember the match a few years back when someone on the sideline got hit (with a towel, I think) in the midsection and fell to the ground holding his head?)

By: Betfair Kid

Betfair Kid — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:00:23 +0000

I understand why you can say Ruiz had it coming to him – he can infuriate people very easily. But like Scott said above, tangles like this are all part of the game. If everyone reacted as Clark did, players would be receiving their marching orders left right and centre.

I don’t think the league should concentrate JUST on Clark’s actions, but should he receive a lengthy ban and/or a fine, he couldn’t really complain.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:37:11 +0000

He maybe didn’t “deserve” it, but he had it coming. Honestly, what a little bitch. Props to Clark, I don’t care if what he did was wrong. I’m still pissed at him from the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:28:31 +0000

Dude are you crazy. I cant believe people that are saying that Ruiz deserved it. Is clark that much of a wimp that he cant take an elbow during the course of a game? Ruiz is a moron for doing it. Now hes out and like we need another excuse not to score.

But to say someone deserved to get kicked while on the ground is insane.