Seattle Swipes Sigi Schmid. Columbus Cries.

By: Laurie | December 16th, 2008

Note to the Columbus Crew: Seattle has Sigi Schmid and you don’t. So…um…neener neener.

Not that I have anything against the good people of Columbus, including and especially the master tailgater Frankie Hejduk, who is awesome. It’s just that, with Seattle a mere four months from entering MLS, I think it’s time to develop a good ol’ eye-bulging, spittle-spewing rivalry. And the powers that be in Seattle Sounders FC appear to agree with me.

Because how better to create a rivalry than by stealing the reigning MLS Cup-winning coach from the reigning MLS Cup-winning team? Which is what Seattle has just done. As of 11:00 today, Pacific Standard Time, we have officially swiped Sigi Schmid.

I actually feel kind of bad about it. Here Columbus should still be enjoying their Cup-winning high, and instead they’re losing their coach. But I’m sure I’ll get over it when he takes my team to the Cup. (Sorry, Columbus. I’m not a good enough person to feel bad for very long.)

Of course Columbus, rather than leaping into an immediate hatefest, first reacted in the civilized manner: they filed “tampering charges.” Yes, “tampering charges.” Which got them nothing, alas, except maybe a little cash.

Last week, the Crew filed tampering charges against the Sounders FC, accusing the club of negotiating with Schmid while still under contract with the Crew. MLS ruled that there was no tampering but did instruct the Sounders FC to compensate the Crew financially for the rights to sign Schmid.

And so now, with the civilized forms of protest exhausted, the gloves come off. When Seattle travels to Columbus, expect a kerfuffle to end all kerfuffles. A kerfuffle that makes that West Ham kerfuffle look like mere…um…fuffle.

Or something.

Welcome to Seattle, Sigi. Now let’s go kick some Columbus butt.

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Jack

They haven't even kicked a ball yet, and Seattle FC has already shown themselves to be the biggest a-holes in the league. Congrats. It's a joke organization that's usually good for a laugh, but that's about it.
richard

you lost the Sonics, the Seahawks are garbage, and the University of Washington football program is even worse. if stealing Columbus' MLS coach is enough to get the fine people of Seattle excited, that's a pretty damning indictment of the sporting atmosphere up there, no?...
Laurie

So let me get this straight, Bill. You're saying you refuse to engage in rivalry with us because we are not worthy to be your rivals?!?!

Them's fightin' words where I come from, son. From this point forward, my goal in life is to work vicariously through players I don't know and will never meet to prove you entirely and totally wrong! Game on!

(And the fact that you may actually be right? Completely irrelevant.) ;-)

P.S. If we leave up comments questioning our knowledge, humor and parentage -- and we do -- we're certainly not going to take down comments that are thoughtful and on topic. Stop by whenever you like to leave derogatory comments about my team. That's what the blog is for. :-)
Matt

Sorry Seattle fans, but I think Bill Archer has it right. http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum...

The reason Sigi was so successful in Columbus is because he got his say completely with the team. With 4 other guys pulling strings in Seattle, it won't be quite as effective. Also, the part about Sigi coveting the USMNT spot seems interesting as well.