Finally, Good News
December 10th, 2009 . 1:41 pm . By: DJ WalkerThough it’s not really nearly enough to stem the overwhelming tide of negative horribleness that washes up on a daily basis as a result of the 24-hour news cycle, it’s still nice to see something on the internets that is at least somewhat encouraging, and just ever-so-slightly heartwarming. No, I’m not talking about anything having to do with Christmas, all I’m talking about is this:  The undeniable beauty that is the absence of artificial turf. I don’t even like Toronto FC, but it still makes me, if not happy, at least slightly less miserable to know that a soccer stadium is replacing that godawful petroleum-based-shredded-tire-soaked abomination with some righteously awesome Kentucky Bluegrass. I know I’m really reaching for something to be happy about here, but on the other hand, it has been a rough year. 8 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
This IS good news!
Between this, Red Bull moving out of Giants Stadium, and Philly joining with their own pitch, the league is getting decidedly friendlier on players’ knees and ankles this offseason.
At first glance I thought that was an old abandoned parking lot that someone was using to set up some temporary bleachers. I agree about the grass and hope Seattle and NE can change to grass in a few years and that Portland and Vancouver change their minds.
But can it withstand Concert seating?
Pegasus, you will never see the Sounders on grass at Qwest.
The stadium isn’t designed for it (poor lighting), the Seahawks can’t stand it, and the team sells more tickets than other MLS teams can even hold in their own stadiums so they aren’t going to build a new place.
Well, that and while good grass is bettter than great Field Turf, at least we don’t have non-soccer lines on the field (like Dallas, Columbus, Houston do on grass), and the Sounders players actually didn’t suffer from injury more than other teams (you know just like players in Norway, Sweden, Russia and Costa Rica that play on modern artificical surfaces).
So you can worship at the altar of grass, but I will take the science that is offered in modern artificial surfaces. Decisions based on facts, not on emotions.
Dave, while you’re busy castigating the pro-grass side for our ‘emotional’ embrace of the surface, please at least acknowledge that most of the ‘facts’ offered as defense of turf comes courtesy of … the companies that make the stuff.
I offer Big Tobacco’s long-time assertion of ‘doubts’ about smoking causing health problems, as well as Taser’s ongoing sponsorship of ‘research’ proving their product is safe, as a short-hand guide to the defensible quality of these ‘facts.’
Sean, the facts I’m referring to are medical studies in Sweden, where they use both surfaces.
I would also point out that dozens of European sides practice on turf which if it caused more injuries would make most of the top sides in the EPL absolute idiots.
Is there anyone outside of Sounders fans who argue for artificial pitch?