Nov. 13, 2008 READY TO DRINK BULL If NY wins MLS Cup, Lalas to shot gun drink
Alexi Lalas says he'll shot gun Red Bull down his throat on the TV set at the Home Depot Center on Nov. 23 if the Red Bulls reach MLS Cup. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Former MetroStars defender and Red Bulls president and general manager Alexi Lalas might have gotten a lot of American soccer fans to root for the Red Bulls to win MLS Cup Thursday night.
Lalas, who predicted that "New York's done," prior to its historic upset of the two-time defending champion Houston Dynamo last week, said on ESPN2 that he will "shot gun a can of Red Bull on the set at the HDC," if the Red Bulls win the championship.
The HDC is the Home Depot Center, the site of MLS Cup in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, Nov. 23. The Red Bulls are owned by Red Bull, the Austrian energy drink company. The
Lalas received a ton of criticism for picking Houston over the Red Bulls with his three word prediction.
And guess what? He's going against the Red Bulls in the Western Conference finals when they take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday night (Fox Soccer Channel, 9:30 p.m. ET).
"The fact is, I believe Real Salt Lake will win," he said prior to the televised semifinal match between the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire Thursday night.
Earlier in the broadcast, Lalas talked about his wrong prediction. The Red Bulls stunned the Dynamo, 3-0, in Houston last Sunday, which is considered to be the biggest upset in MLS playoff history and the franchise's most important victory.
"I think I said they were done," Lalas told ESPN announcer Rob Stone. "Don't we look like fools right now."
We? Stone did not make the prediction; Lalas did.
"A blind squirrel catches a nut once in a while," Lalas incredibly said. "Before we get gooey celebrations, everything went right for the Red Bulls and everything when absolutely wrong for the Dynamo."
Lalas then set the bar high for the Red Bulls to get his respect.
He said in order to be considered legitimate and have respect, the Red Bulls would have to win MLS Cup.
"Then you will have my complete and utter attention and my respect," he said.
