My Favorite Sports Hair Part 4 (Alexi Lalas)

When judging best hair, it's important not to become distracted by other factors, such as facial hair. This is quite hard in Alexi Lalas's case because, how can you not be distracted by bright red beard primed to poke your eye out?
In fact, I will go on the record as saying that Lalas is one of the most recognizable athletes of my generation. The so called "return" of American soccer in 1994 led to feature stories and pictorials all across various sports magazines. That mop of red hair and scraggly beard looked more fitting next to a garbage can, on the streets of California, than it did on a soccer field. Even though us kids probably never saw him play or had any idea how good he was, it was his face we associated with American soccer.
I knew nothing about soccer growing up and wasn't too interested to delve further into the sport. But I remembered Lalas because of that hair. So in a way, Lalas's hair was good for the sport. At that age it kept my attention better than a 90 minute soccer match could. I remember it like it was yesterday, Sports Illustrated for Kids used to run a page of cheap sports cards that you could tear off. I had a card of Alexi, which has disappeared with time.
Thankfully, sixteen years later I have been reacquainted with Lalas in the form of his ESPN and ABC commentary during the World Cup. After the disappointing US loss to Ghana, I can safely say that Lalas's commentary has been the highlight of the World Cup. I'm aware that he has been criticized for his lack of tactical analysis, but that's not what I'm watching for.
For a casual soccer fan in America, Lalas is a tailor made announcer. He doesn't even try to cover up his bias towards America. He's funny, arrogant, and has very little chemistry (which I have to believe is intentional) with the other analysts.
Lalas and Steve McManaman provided some of the best back in forth I've ever seen after the US and England finished their second games. McManaman just got done explaining what he believed was wrong with England. Lalas's deadpan response, "How about this: they're just not very good."
Once he said it, you could see a rush of energy flow through him. Every possible chance he got, he voiced how little he thought of the English team. As I type this on Monday night, he has made at least one jab at the English every day, even after both the US and England had been eliminated.

But here's what I came here to talk about. I was reading an article about athletes turned musicians. At the end of the article, they ran another side article with a long list of athletes who have released an album. And who do I see? No other than Alexi Lalas, who sold a surprising 2,000 units in 1998, with his pop rock album, aptly titled Ginger.
I had to check this out. So I headed over to Amazon and saw that it was going for one cent plus shipping for a used copy and $1.27 new. I had a decision to make. Do I pay the three dollars for this used album or download it? I'm ashamed to say I downloaded, but you can't really blame me. Despite my new found adoration for the man's commentary, I couldn't muster up the courage to spend three dollars on a CD I figured I'd Frisbee out the window after one listen.
Let me say this, in all seriousness, the album is good. I repeat, if you're into nineties pop this is a good album. Play this for a fan of the genre and they wouldn't be able to tell it's by a soccer player. Lalas displays some good guitar work and vocals, which sound nothing like he does on ESPN. There's a few good hooks on this album that I've found myself repeating, just as any good pop album will do to you.
As of now, my favorite is the album's closer "Half A Chance", a legitimately well written song. Other gems are "Gemini," (no pun intended), "This Should Be," and the surprisingly good acoustic number "Vacancy." I'd link up these songs, but apparently no one else shares the enthusiasm for this album that I do. At least not enough to post the songs on YouTube.
So if you're bored, take a fly on this album. If you're into the genre and keep an open mind, it's not bad at all. The same cannot be said of England's World Cup performance.