We've Gone Mainstream

Jeff Rusnak at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Cheers, Jeff.

WISDOM OF HUDSON

GolTV color commentator Ray Hudson is the subject of a Web blog created by a viewer who has been "inspired by the awesome enthusiasm [Hudson] brings to the game," according to the site's home page. I inquired via e-mail about the blogger's identity, but the respondent wished to remain anonymous and only admits to living outside Florida.

Regardless of the site's origin, hudsonia.blogspot.com provides a richly entertaining catalog of linguistic gems from the ex-Striker and former Fusion coach. The blog finds Hudson at his most effusive — and eloquent — when commenting about Argentina's Juan Ramon Riquelme.

By the blogger's count, Hudson called Riquelme's name 68 times during Argentina's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chile last weekend, in which Riquelme scored both goals on long-range free kicks. During the telecast, Hudson called Riquelme "the greatest footballer in the world," "one of the truly great poets of football," "an artist," "brilliant genius" and even a "big, beautiful strolling zombie." He concluded, "That man, who could have been, should have been a bullfighter, because he is a true matador footballer. The tango man."

Hudson's praise would fall on deaf ears at Spanish club Villareal, which mysteriously refuses to play Riquelme, despite his talent. The club said it will try to sell Riquelme when the transfer window opens in January. Argentina will resume 2010 qualifying in mid-November against Bolivia and Colombia....