An Unhappy Reunion

As many of you know, Friday night's Honduras-Panama match was Amado Guevara's first match back at Giants Stadium. It was my first chance to talk to him in months, first chance to ask him about his departure from MLS and about his return to Giants Stadium.

Guevara refused to talk. Not to the media in general, he just refused to talk to me.

Guevara saw me among a group of reporters and promptly halted his interview in the bowels of Giants Stadium. He stated pretty clearly that he wouldn't talk to anybody until I left so I politely walked away so that my fellow writers could get what they needed. It was a little bit of a shock, but ultimately I can't say that I was surprised.

What exactly did I di? I made the mistake of criticizing Guevara on more than one occasion in a few columns since the trade that sent him from the Red Bulls to Chivas USA in December. I thought he might have gotten wind of the criticism, but didn't know for sure until he shook his finger at me saying he wouldn't talk to me.

That's one of the issues you deal with as a reporter and columnist. Sometimes people can't handle criticism, and in many cases, the truth about their own shortcomings.

If you're wondering what I wrote that would lead to such a response from Guevara, take your pick. I have written a handful of columns critical of Guevara, but it may have been the most recent piece I wrote on Guevara, a column in the Herald News on May 1st. The column came just a day before Chivas USA attempted to unload him to Toronto FC after growing tired of his poor play and attitude. Some of you wondered if I had some inside info considering the timing of my piece and Chivas USA's attempt to get rid of him. It was just a case of sensing that Chivas USA wasn't going to take much more of Amado.

Was I too harsh in my criticism of Guevara? Obviously I don't think so. You could argue I was more harsh in criticizing him a year ago in this ESPN.com column. In both cases I don't regret a word I wrote because I feel it was the truth in both cases. Go ask Red Bulls fans and even Chivas USA fans what they think. For all his wonderful skill and ability to dominate matches, Guevara was also a player who could just as easily sleepwalk through matches and not even give much of an effort. At his worst he was capable of losing important matches with terrible mistakes, uninspired play or a loss of his temper.

I actually thought that Guevara had finally grown up last year. He was saying all the right things and playing hard and playing well. He even did enough to make me wonder if the Red Bulls weren't making a mistake by trading him. Clearly it was no mistake, as we saw in his disastrous stint with Chivas USA.

The funny thing about my falling out with Guevara is that I have probably written more pro-Guevara stories than anybody. When he warranted praise I gave it. We actually had a good enough relationship in his first years with the club, good enough that he wasn't above riding in my car back from practice to Giants Stadium when the team would train at locations near the stadium. Perhaps part of that had to do with me writing positive stories about him back then. How could you not back then, in his first two seasons with the MetroStars?

I wrote this piece before the 2006 season about Guevara turning over a new leaf. Back then, we were still on speaking terms and he had no problem speaking his mind to me. It was something he did often. It was the benefit of being the only Spanish-speaking reporter who covered him regularly. Things changed when he went through his controversy-filled final two seasons with the Metros and Red Bulls. Whether it was him getting ejected from key matches or not even bothering to show up in pivotal playoff games (When he played like a ghost in the playoffs against New England in 2005 his teammates privately ripped him and blamed him for their collapse.) Once he started playing like that it became tougher and tougher to defend him and nearly impossible not to criticize him.

Things didn't change at Chivas USA, where he never really bothered to show up. The same shadow of a player that frustrated Preki into trying to unload Guevara in record time. Even with that, it was no surprise to see Guevara show up at Giants Stadium on Friday night and play a good game for Honduras. He surely felt like he had something to prove to the critics, myself included, who said the Red Bulls were better off without him. He scored a magical free kick and pointed to the crowd as he soaked in all the adulation. After the match talked about Giants Stadium being his house.

Sorry Amado but Giants Stadium isn't your house. It was your house a few years ago and could have still been the place you call home if you weren't so inconsistent, so unreliable, so unwilling to grow up, so unable to play every match like it meant something.

Do I regret how things have turned out with Guevara? I'm not sure what to regret since I wouldn't change a single thing I've written about him. I can only hope that Guevara matures enough to someday figure out that he only has himself to blame for the path his career has taken. Maybe then he'll realize that I wasn't being unfair in writing about him. I was simply being honest.

What do you think about this story? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Daniel]

Honestly Ives, there is nothing you should feel guilty about. If Guevara can't take the negatives, the I'm glad he's back in Honduras. El Lobo left MLS with his tail inbetween his legs.

He shows his brilliance one day & then shows his negatives the other. He is the ever popular Jeckyll & Hyde.

[Daniel S.]

Wow, I can't believe he singled you out like that Ives. Then again, after reading that ESPN article for the first time, I have a feeling that could be it.

Even if what you wrote was 100% correct, and looks like you were right after all, you know how typical pro athletes are. Some are aware it's part of being an athlete, but most just can't handle the criticisms.

If he felt you were wrong about him, I'm sure it's not that difficult for a face to face meet to present his case. But for him to pull these childish act, it only further supports your side of the story.

[Steveinho]

as a fellow journalist (or at least that's my major)i also agree that there's nothing to feel bad about...

actually, a big part of being a sports reporter is being able to put those relationships on the side and be as unbiased in your reporting as you can... some players can't handle it, but that's the name of the game.

kudos, ives... you're not the one that's the villain here

[Mike]

Part of being a professional athlete is being able to take criticism from the press. I jsut see this as another line in the list of reasons why Guevara is not a true professional. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[Paul Lorinczi]

Ives,

Your job is call it like it is.

Guevara needs to grow up and take responsibility for his actions or inactions on the field. He was not doing his job and in the real world in which we all live, we get fired when that happens.

Credit Arena who understood the cancer he had and what he has been able to do with his new team.

Shame on Guevara for not taking advantage of the excellent opportunity he was given with Chivas.

You are the most even handed reporter in the business. Your comments are the most sensible when everyone else is up in arms over something. So, for you to write a negative article on Guevara or the management at Real Salt Lake, they must really be screwing up.

Guevara is the one that screwed up. I believe you would have been fair if he had been open to talking to you.

[chris]

Were there other reporters there that typically covered the Red Bulls? Maybe he just didn't want to talk to a reporter that covered the Red Bulls and MLS.

[ag nigrin]

Screw the loco Lobo... just shows what a hotheaded and immature baby he is. I am very glad he is gone.. he jinxs every team he plays for and the BUlls and MLS are better off w/o him! I am with you Ives!

[Brian]

All that matters, Ives, is that Amado has proven himself to be the douchebag we all knew he was.

[Allen]

Guevara , Guevara , Guevara...

I wouldn't worry about it. I'm surprised a head case like him has got as far as he did before imploding.

[eastlachiva]

I'm a CUSA fan, believe me you have nothing to be ashamed about. He's a wuss.
You were just keeping it real.

[Joe in ND]

You have nothing to prove to your readers. Anyone who watched the MLS knew that Guevara was a jerk and an inconsistent performer.

At least you didn't fight with him. Like I have seen in video clips of press conferences from major sports.

[Goose]

There is a diva in midfield, Amado is his name-o
A-M-A-D-O
A-M-A-D-O
A-M-A-D-O
Guevara is an asshole

[nico]

Amado did deserve your earlier criticisms, however, did you expect him to give you a big hug and a private interview? Amado needs to realize his own "shortcomings" but does that involve speaking with a reporter that continuously criticizes him after losing a first round game...? I'm not sure that is a "shortcoming". After all, the one thing you heard him say (Giant stadium being like a home to him) you criticized.
I don't think airing your 'dirty laundry' (regarding Guevara's refusal to speak with you) is particularly "mature" either. After all, this segment had little to do with soccer and a lot to do with Guevara snubbing you. Guevara has clear "shortcomings" on and off the field, but don't ignore your own. It's always easier to criticize others, and there are few journalists that criticize other journalists. You do a great job of reporting but segments like this are simply ridiculous...little soccer in this article. imo

[Nick]

He's a baby, pure and simple. If you can't take the criticism like a big boy, the BIG BAD world of professional sports just might not be for you. And you wonder why Guevara has NEVER been a winner or a leader...

[nico]

btw- my 'shortcoming' is i like watching Guevara play. Not being a NY or Chivas fan, I could careless if he has/had bad games. I could really careless about his off field antics.

[Hudson Valley]

I don't miss him at all.

Good riddance!

[Jasen]

though unfortunate, it's cool to learn and read about something like this, something we otherwise never would have...it also removes whatever doubt was left concerning his character (if there was even any left)

however, with all of that said, i don't think you should spend anymore energy on it going forward...just leave it alone and be the bigger person, which we all know you are.

[Jasen]

nico, this isn't one of Ives' articles for the Herald or ESPN...it's his own personal blog and he can choose to write about whatever he pleases...if you're a fan of Amado's, that's fine, but your criticism of Ives here is completely unfounded.

like i just stated, i think it's cool to learn about these things that we as readers otherwise wouldn't...Ives hasn't launched a personal attack on Amado, and this certainly isn't the first time Ives has written about something not 100% centered around on-the-field action.

get over it.

[Whitescandal]

@nico

I appreciate reading things like this in a blog that I couldn't find in a newspaper. You don't think this was about soccer? Amado is COMPLETELY about soccer to us Metro fans. It was his childish behavior that lead me to throwing away my favorite "Che-Amado Guevara" t-shirt after he left the league.

If Ives wrote this column for ESPN or the Herald News, you may have a case. But here I don't think you do. If you don't like the personal stories, stick to the newspaper.

[Fred]

Yves, I'm sure you can tell us a lot of very interesting stuff that you can't print. I can sympathise. It's a shame that sports figures read the papers.

I watched a game with a well-known soccer reporter one time and he told us lots of interesting stuff off the cuff. Never thinking that anybody important might read it, I posted all of it on Bigsoccer the next day. I got a polite call soon afterwards asking me to remove the post, and I did. Boy was I embarrassed.

Do you know the one about the two MetroStars wrestling naked in the shower after practice?

[Felix]

Ives

As a fellow reporter that covers the Red Bulls, all I can is Amado played when he felt like it and even during his solid MVP season couple games he tanked and when Arena traded him, it was just his fault for knowing he had several games to audition for Arena for the next season and Arean saw a attitude he didn't want in his locker room. He went to Chivas USA and bolted back to Honduras. Yes he played a solid game for Honduras vs Panama as I watched the game as a fan from the stands. A athlete must learn to take positive and negative critism and he can't complain when the press blows you up on the cover and next day we fault you on the back page. Amado job was to create, attack and score goals for the MetroStars and he did that and be the leader of the team on the field, but attitude and how you carry yourselfon/off the field and is your job Ives to report how you see the game. Cool you just walked away and showed class so other journalist could do there jobs.

[Goose]

As a DC fan, I really, really miss him. :)

[DCU Fan]

This just illustrates why they got rid of him anyway. If he had been mature he would have bounced back when Mo benched him and suspended him. Contrast it to the way a real pro like Jaime Moreno took to getting benched a few weeks back. He used it as motivation to get better. Amado simply wasn't a team player. If it was me I would love an opportunity to talk to a reporter who ripped me just to let him know that I disagreed. Obviously he has nothing to say because he can't defend himself.

[inkedAG]

I believe AG Nigrin said it best...Screw the LOCO LOBO!!!