Brad

Less than a week to go . Nice article in the Sunday NYT Sports Magazine supplement about the American team. Here's another article in today's sports section by George Vecsey: THEY are no longer a novelty act. The Americans who arrived at the World Cup with sleepy faces and lethargic motions yesterday have been this way before. As soon as they get over the first stupefying blast of jet lag, they will be in a familiar place. There was a time, back in 1990, that the United States national soccer team was like a child's crusade, but this is the fifth consecutive World Cup for the Americans, and they know how to do certain things, even the little details. Certainly, German fans have not forgotten the 1-0 victory over the Yanks in the quarterfinals in South Korea four years ago, after which knowledgeable German fans (and reporters and players and even Franz Beckenbauer himself) volunteered that the Americans had outplayed the Germans. This stuff sticks. Now there are expectations. The American team arrived with a been-here, done-that attitude — not cocky by any means, simply professionals who have been this way before. Fresh off the overnight flight from the States, Manager Bruce Arena had the lads out stretching in the bracing morning air. Why, the German reporters asked. Moving around a little seemed like a novel concept to him, Arena replied, his New York sense of irony seeming to be intact. The Americans are certified quarterfinalists now. These credentials will hang around their collective necks in the next few weeks when they venture forth into their Group of Death against the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana. Like American shareholders, always looking for new growth in the company, casual sports fans will ask, "Well, they made the quarterfinals last time, why not the semifinals this time?" It doesn't work that way, the American players quickly note. With experience come aches and pains. Claudio Reyna, the captain, was moving gingerly, saying his aching hamstring seemed to be improving. He was injured and could not play for the United States in 1994 when they advanced to the second round, but played every minute in 1998 although Jens Jeremies of Germany hammered him in the first five minutes of the first game. In 2002, Reyna played maybe his best game for the national team, roaming the right side against Mexico, not merely controlling but creating. But that was then. "We have a lot to prove," Reyna said yesterday. "All 32 teams have something to prove. Yes, 2002 was a big year for us, but now we want to play three good games and get out of the first round. Our squad has grown a lot." Arena noted how the 1990 team members, innocents abroad who lost three in a row in Italy, were almost all former college players, but now all 23 players are in professional leagues in Europe or Major League Soccer back home. "We never like to think about expectations," Arena said. "Obviously, our standing has risen, but we're still on the outside looking to get in." Arena calls himself an outsider, but he does have his ways of running his second World Cup adventure. He has heard how the American players went stir crazy in their rural chateau in Burgundy in 1998. He put the team in Seoul in 2002, and now has the team ensconced in a fancy chain hotel in the heart of this proud old port city, near the waterside warehouses operated by the burghers of Hamburg for centuries, not far from the bawdy pleasures of the Reeperbahn. "It suits our mentality not to be locked up," Arena said. Most World Cup coaches take their players to monastic retreats, with strict rules against nearly anything. Politely, the local news media wanted to know why Arena was exposing his players to such distractions. "If we have to worry about that, then we have no chance whatsoever," Arena said with a smile. The German reporters had also smoked out the fact that the players' wives and families are along for the ride — in fact, staying at another chain hotel nearby. "Well, it's family," Arena said, nicely. "We've been told that we're stupid and ignorant Americans, but our players are with their families all year round, so why not here?" Perhaps recalling how Ronaldo of Brazil celebrated winning the 2002 Cup by announcing that his enforced celibacy was about to end — and soon — the reporters delicately asked if the American players could stay in the same room with their families or would the families be in separate rooms? "Both," Arena said, ending that line of questioning. The German reporters also noted the stringent security surrounding the American team. Arena shrugged it off, saying: "When security is handled well, you don't notice it. I think we're being handled very well." The reality is that the American players are more visible than most players in a World Cup, as demonstrated by the gracious way Reyna and Steve Cherundolo tumbled out of bed for a 1 p.m. news conference yesterday. Reyna, who proved himself with a couple of German squads early in his career, couldn't rouse any latent German-language skills, but Cherundolo, who plays for Hanover 96 in the Bundesliga, seemed comfortable in his recently acquired German. Language skills are the least of it. The Americans have been picking up a number of talents in recent years. But basically, the challenge starts all over again this month. Four years ago doesn't count.

No offense guy but except for Miami, Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix, does anyone really care? For the most part, I'd say not. There's just no juice here.

That's unusual that you have 10 Mosaics but only 200 other CDs. I think Mosaics are great but I'm almost to the point where I prefer the individual CD. Too many Mosaics and other box set just seem to sit on the shelf.

I hope they're doing their postgraduate work by now.

Not funny, just entertaining. Peck's bad boy in the 21st Century.

I'm on the fourth disc and that commentary drives me nuts. I guess that drivel passed for interesting with the Eisenhower crowd. I'm sure Miles wanted to kill him.

It's gone. Oh, darn!

Well, I've got a year so not to worry. But it is one that I do want to pick up.

To answer your question, for amusement. Maybe we should dreg up -- and I mean dreg -- some of his famous posts such as when he stole the sign for Donaldson Street in LA?

Amen to that. Although I didn't get any of these, this is one of the better BFTs that I listened, no matter the whining about too much baritone. I'll be looking to pick up some of these disc.

It's always the one you least suspect! Ok, that means you buddy

These might be nice cds to have, but they're kind of light wieght, it begs the question: If this is the second group, what next? Sorry if I sound down on these, but I am disappointed in the selections. Of course, I'm not speaking for Chuck, don't want him getting cranky at me. Well, I'm not sure if these are "lightweight" or not, all that is a matter of opinion, and really, if their criteria as I understand it includes that this be material rarely if at all on cd, they're limited and they are going to be offering items that will really please some and confuse or not move others at the same time. Hampton's work during this period is excellent; I think there are a number here who would enjoy this one. I don't see how Slide Hampton, Buddy Rich or Art Farmer could be considered lightweight.

Tell your S.O. you want Dizzy for Father's day (even if you're not, you're celebrating the possibility) and Duke as a pre Christmans or a Thanksgiving present

Counting the Yankees out seems a little premature with so much of the season to play. As bad as they've looked in the past few days, they're doing it without some important players. I can't see the Red Sox running and hiding away. Randy Johnson? Who knows? We all do get old sooner or later.

I've seen this before but I can't remember where and the clip does show them playing. Good stuff, however.

I'm in also. Sounds exciting.

Hope this is available for Father's Day. Hint, hint.

Although I'm not a huge Buddy Rich fan, based on the Mosaic Singles that have come out, which were outstanding, I will pick these up. I've never heard Lee Wiley so I'll be waiting to see what she sounds like. Don't get the Collectibles comment.

True Blue is a fantastic album, one of my great purchases. I like the SteepleChase box but in parts. Not mentioned but also a great cd is A Day in Copenhagen with Slide Hampton. Well worth it if you can find it.

I've got the following Cds up for auction on Ebay. All in mint condition. Thelonious Monk - More Genius of Modern Music - Blue Note TOCJ Thelonious Monk - Genius of Modern Music - Blue Note TOCJ Freddie Redd - Everybody Loves a Winner Bill Plays George Gershwin - Blue Note Sarah Vaughan - After Hours at the London House - Verve LPR Friendship - Clark Terry and Max Roach - Columbia Gene Ammons All Star Sessions - Stitt, Farmer & Donaldson - Prestige Milt Jackson - Blue Note Mini LP - JRVG

Jazzmoose,Jazzmoose. Then he sells them on ebay afterwards. The Mosaics or the bubblewrap?

Probably all of the above. There's some music there I wouldn't be able to get in any other way. I know there have been some who prefer the individual cds which I just used to poo poo but I also now see their point of view. Sometimes, it's just easier to get through an individual cd than a whole box.

I don't care what the format is as long as they put out stuff. As noted, the so called LPRs didn't last that long, at least not in mini lp format.

From listening to some of the McShann sessions that featured both Bird and Jackson, it's hard to tell them apat. They sound similar. I know Phil Schaap has waxed poetic about Jackson. It might be that Jackson never got the break or ventured outside of the territorial bands.

I've got this set and I like it in parts but it's not like it's a must set for me.