Cologne Strike Back, Suspend Alpay

Former Turkish international fullback Özalan Alpay who has said he wants to leave 2nd Bundesliga side F.C. Cologne for MLS, was suspended indefinitely by his club team for "egotism." This according to a statement by his club via Bundesliga sources. To rip off a line from Apocalypse Now, isn't suspending a professional athlete for being egotistical like handing out speeding tickets at the Indianapolis 500? Whatever. Alpay allegedly criticized Cologne manager Christoph Daum in an interview with Turkish television (by the way if a Turkish speaker can locate that video and transcribe some of it--the part about him saying he has received offers from MLS in particular--U.S. soccer fans would be eternally grateful) though Daum said the interview did not affect the club's decision (yeah right). Cologne's GM Michael Meier said the team had met more difficult decisions than that in the past and that "egotists may not become standard fare" (loosely-translated). Alpay has not been in the lineup for some time, first due to injury and then due to coach's decision, though Daum said he had planned to use the 34 year old centerback in recent games against Osnabrueck and Erzgebirge Aue.