By JAMES CLARK
The Northfield, New Jersey Massive! TM was once again forced to be absent from the MLS action at Estadio de Gigantes on Thursday night, this time due to the lads' commitments with the South Jersey Barons. For the Sunday 5-1 capitulation at home to the Chicago Fire a few Sundays ago, we were otherwise occupied playing for the Vineland Red Vortex, who ran the table at 4 wins and 0 losses in their own Memorial Day Tournament, with Glenn Carbonara showing why he's one of the most highly regarded coaches in South Jersey -- although anyone watching the Barons' Scott Middlemass train a group of lads has to marvel at is his innate abilities. He is a fine technician, too.
This past Thursday night, the Holaks played host, post-Barons practice, with a "make your own pizza" night at their place, with the Bulls-Chivas match on TV serving as the backdrop. What must only be characterized as a "turgid" first half gave way to a more open second stanza, with Juan Pablo Angel (pictured, with Dave van den Bergh) heading home brilliantly from a Dane Richards' cross. The goal gave the Bulls a needed 3 points, but there was something more subtle on display here. Coach Juan Carlos Osoro leaned heavily on striker John Wolyniec off the bench, and it paid huge dividends. Don't be fooled by John Woly's graying mane -- as my lads say, the man is "an animal." In MLS, sometimes that effort level can prove to be good enough. For the Bulls, let's hope so.
