A dominating performance from ChestRockwell has seen him take a commanding lead in the competition after correctly guessing eight out of 10 games.
Week 12: Chest 8, AMT 4, Readers 4, Martin 3
Overall: Chest 55, AMT 51, Readers 46, Martin 43
Wednesday June 8, 7:30 PM: Columbus Crew vs. Real Salt Lake
Martin: Tie, Chest: Tie, AMT: Tie
Starting at forward for the Crew: a USL guy and a lazy DP who can't finish. Starting at forward for RSL: The guy that spends all his time playing near the touchline and their back up defensive midfielder. Nick Rimando and Will Hesmer should just duck out early to grab some beers, because their services will not be needed here. (Chest)
Saturday June 11, 7:30 PM: D.C. United vs. San Jose Earthquakes, CSN
Martin:DC, Chest: DC, AMT: DC
Both of these teams are undefeated in their last five games. One of them has done it by identifying its best starting combination and drastically improving its defense while playing playoff contenders. The other spent its May beating up on lowly Eastern Conference teams. The team with Charlie Davies should have no trouble beating the team without Chris Wondolowski. (Martin)
Thursday June 9, 10:00 PM: Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire, ESPN2
Martin: KC, Chest: KC, AMT: KC
What is it with new stadiums and ALLCAPS? We've got JELD-WEN Field up in Portland and now LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in KC. Luckily, the Fire are the perfect team for the Sporks to open up their new digs against. I expect they'll do their best Timbers impression and open their new ground with three points. (AMT)
Friday June 10, 8:30 PM: New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution, FSC
Martin: NY, Chest: NY, AMT: NY
Hans Backe's club may be miles ahead of Steve Nicol's, but the Swede has something to learn from Nicol when it comes to mind games involving his own players. NYRB is missing about 600 national team players right now, while Nicol managed to talk Shalrie Joseph, Grenada's best player, out of what would have likely been his last Gold Cup. (Chest)
Saturday June 11, 4:00 PM: Philadelphia Union vs. Real Salt Lake
Martin: Tie, Chest: Tie, AMT: Phi
Those six goals against TFC don't mean much for Philly in this game, but if they figure out how to find the net against decent opposition - and even a hampered RSL is more than decent - they could give New York a prolonged scare at the top of the East. I still hate that Doop song, though. (AMT)
Saturday June 11, 8:30 PM: Houston Dynamo vs. Chivas USA
Martin: Chv. Chest: Chv. AMT: Tie.
Chivas will be without Alejandro Moreno, but the return of Marcos Mondaini eases the pain. Paulo Nagamura's return to fitness is even more significant, since it gives them a full complement of midfielders that can actually, you know, run (sorry Simon Elliott, but you're about 75 years old. I feel like I'm watching Blue in Old School about to wrestle those co-eds when I see you out there). The Dynamo, meanwhile, are without the two offseason signings that actually stuck around for a minute, their best defender thus far, and the face of their franchise. I can't figure out a way to do anything but pick the Goats here. (Chest)
Saturday June 11, 10:30 PM: Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids, Galavision
Martin: Por. Chest: Tie. AMT: Por.
Nobody wins in Portland except for Portland. Portland and D.C. United. The Timbers will end the Rapids' streak of ties at just five games and they might not even need to take their two mulligans in this one. (Martin)
Saturday June 11, 10:30 PM: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Toronto FC
Martin: LA. Chest: LA. AMT: LA.
TFC couldn't even get a point out of this one if LA brought back Ruud Gullit for a week of "coaching" beforehand. (AMT)
Saturday June 11, 10:30 PM: Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, FSC
Martin: Sea. Chest: Sea. AMT: Tie.
This has nothing to do with the match, but I was torn over Tom Soehn's appearance on the Vancouver bench. Black suit! White shirt! Reasonable tie! No more pastel-pastel-khaki combo! When Soehn was in D.C., he dressed like he was trying out for a guest spot as the assistant manager of Dunder Mifflin's Schenectady branch. Is Vancouver more fashionable than D.C.? (Chest)
Sunday June 12, 4:00 PM: Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire
Martin: Tie. Chest: Clb. AMT: Clb.
As a part-Greek, part of me would like Frank Klopas to do well as a manager. That said, even at my ouzo-swigging-est, Opa!-yelling-est moment, I wouldn't take the Fire on the road against anyone. (Chest)
Sunday June 12, 7:00 PM: FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City
Martin: Dal. Chest: Dal. AMT: Dal.
I think the KC players will be really confused about whether the opener at LIVESTRONG was just a dream as they go right back on the road. And very probably right back to their vaguely endearing losing ways. (AMT)