The Swamp

Most of the info isn't out yet, and the whole, "you can't be a free agent because we are single entity" thing is fucked up. I'm willing to bet this is a shit deal for the players. I saw word that the player reps were 18-1 against a deal 24 hours ago, then inconsequential changes were made, and somehow a deal was made.

Maybe they read some fan's post on facebook about how they're all selfish and how that fan would play for free and it made them realize they've been wrong all along.

Maybe they realized how embarrassing it would be if they went on strike and no one really noticed.

I'm glad to see the lower-rung players getting a raise. And a big step in the right direction on free agency. I'd like the players to have complete free agency, but I also remember the NASL.

The tagline for Orlando's 1st MLS game is...

Steve of phpBB wrote:Maybe they realized how embarrassing it would be if they went on strike and no one really noticed.

I'm glad to see the lower-rung players getting a raise. And a big step in the right direction on free agency. I'd like the players to have complete free agency, but I also remember the NASL.

Yes and no. I mean players can go overseas and they can play in the NASL (which is minor league but not the same as the other major leagues. Player rights when the leave the league are screwy, but it is more of an open market than baseball. I guess the best comparison would be KHL as an option for NHLers.

I get $10 off of MLS TV by virtue of being a "founder's club" member of Club ATL (i.e., giving Arthur Blank some money). Might have to give it a spin--I need to learn who to hate.

Just picked up 4 100-level tickets for just over $10 a piece on stubhub for tomorrow afternoon's DC United v. Montreal game.

Rex wrote:I get $10 off of MLS TV by virtue of being a "founder's club" member of Club ATL (i.e., giving Arthur Blank some money). Might have to give it a spin--I need to learn who to hate.

In the East, there aren't too many hateable teams.

You could say Orlando City because they're closest. Columbus is boring. Red Bulls lost Henry. NYCFC has the Yankee connection so that's off the table. The Union are meh. DC could be a good team to dislike. Chicago is now eh. And Toronto is an easy target too, though can you dislike Bradley and Altidore?

Fuck Orlando City. Their tifo yesterday had a lion on top of skulls. Three of the skulls had logos on them. One was my Rowdies, the other two were the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and the Jacksonville Armada. All NASL teams, and Jacksonville has never played Orlando.

Having your goalie blast his head off the post within the first 15 minutes of franchise existence is a good omen, right?


(I listened on the radio until losing reception, a few minutes before "we" Mix-ed in a goal. Best fan.)

mister d wrote:Having your goalie blast his head off the post within the first 15 minutes of franchise existence is a good omen, right?


(I listened on the radio until losing reception, a few minutes before "we" Mix-ed in a goal. Best fan.)

My daughter was mesmerized by the lump on his head the rest of the game and was not grossed out when it started bleeding in the 2nd half (might have been a red card foul had Garzis not been offsides).

govmentchedda wrote:Fuck Orlando City. Their tifo yesterday had a lion on top of skulls. Three of the skulls had logos on them. One was my Rowdies, the other two were the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and the Jacksonville Armada. All NASL teams, and Jacksonville has never played Orlando.

Getting hard to take your Rowdies seriously when they are going to let their fat out of shape owner play in the playoffs if he wants. Sure it is Ronaldo (the Brazilian one), but tough to take the league seriously when he thinks it is like the Sunday league pickup after a good night out.

mister d wrote:Having your goalie blast his head off the post within the first 15 minutes of franchise existence is a good omen, right?


(I listened on the radio until losing reception, a few minutes before "we" Mix-ed in a goal. Best fan.)

He later reopened the head wound while challenging a striker. It looked like a large head zit leaking blood.

wlu_lax6 wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:Fuck Orlando City. Their tifo yesterday had a lion on top of skulls. Three of the skulls had logos on them. One was my Rowdies, the other two were the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and the Jacksonville Armada. All NASL teams, and Jacksonville has never played Orlando.

Getting hard to take your Rowdies seriously when they are going to let their fat out of shape owner play in the playoffs if he wants. Sure it is Ronaldo (the Brazilian one), but tough to take the league seriously when he thinks it is like the Sunday league pickup after a good night out.

That's Ft. Lauderscum, not the Rowdies.

govmentchedda wrote:

wlu_lax6 wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:Fuck Orlando City. Their tifo yesterday had a lion on top of skulls. Three of the skulls had logos on them. One was my Rowdies, the other two were the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and the Jacksonville Armada. All NASL teams, and Jacksonville has never played Orlando.

Getting hard to take your Rowdies seriously when they are going to let their fat out of shape owner play in the playoffs if he wants. Sure it is Ronaldo (the Brazilian one), but tough to take the league seriously when he thinks it is like the Sunday league pickup after a good night out.

That's Ft. Lauderscum, not the Rowdies.

My apologizes. Still not good for the league.

I watched a lot of MLS this weekend... I was impressed with the overall quality. Even the two expansion teams played a pretty entertaining match.

Nonlinear FC wrote:I watched a lot of MLS this weekend... I was impressed with the overall quality. Even the two expansion teams played a pretty entertaining match.

2nd,
Went to the DC United Game
Watched parts of the 5, 7, and 9 Sunday Night Soccer Blocks. ESPN2 & Fox Sports 1 Sunday double-headers are going to be really good for the league if they keep the production quality up. I find Brad Friedel's commentary very good but his voice just is screwy.

wlu_lax6 wrote:

Nonlinear FC wrote:I watched a lot of MLS this weekend... I was impressed with the overall quality. Even the two expansion teams played a pretty entertaining match.

2nd,
Went to the DC United Game
Watched parts of the 5, 7, and 9 Sunday Night Soccer Blocks. ESPN2 & Fox Sports 1 Sunday double-headers are going to be really good for the league if they keep the production quality up. I find Brad Friedel's commentary very good but his voice just is screwy.

It was like he was caught between trying to fake a British accent and using one that he's acquired. So bizarre.

Brontoburglar wrote:

wlu_lax6 wrote:

Nonlinear FC wrote:I watched a lot of MLS this weekend... I was impressed with the overall quality. Even the two expansion teams played a pretty entertaining match.

2nd,
Went to the DC United Game
Watched parts of the 5, 7, and 9 Sunday Night Soccer Blocks. ESPN2 & Fox Sports 1 Sunday double-headers are going to be really good for the league if they keep the production quality up. I find Brad Friedel's commentary very good but his voice just is screwy.

It was like he was caught between trying to fake a British accent and using one that he's acquired. So bizarre.

I mean, he's been stuck there for awhile now. What was funny was that it took him, maybe 3 months to go full on Brit accent. He's been trying to walk it back ever since... What you heard yesterday is the tortured result.

I just scored a fifth row upper-deck, center midfield ticket for tomorrow's Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew game. It's the home opener. I feel like I made out like a bandit getting that seat for $31. I just hope the scoreboard doesn't catch on fire like it did the last time I was at a Crew game.

P.D.X. wrote:I don't really care where Jozy goes (although it's a bit ridiculous that the league is putting it's 2nd high-profile USMNT signing in Canada), but the way they keep handling USMNT allocation is bullshit. Different rules have been applied for Dempsey, Bradley, Jones, and now Jozy, simply because they have a predetermined destination for them but want it to appear like they don't. Probably the #1 thing that most discredits MLS.

This is a big reason I can't get into MLS. I feel like it is a bunch of intrasquad scrimmages. That is how the league started, and I know it isn't as bad, but with the league controlling rights to the players, it is just artificial. I tried to get into it a few times, but if my local team getting a new, gorgeous stadium and my all time favorite player in Henry isn't enough, I don't know that I ever will get into it.

I've been to 3 or 4 Red Bull games in the new stadium, and it is a great atmosphere. One game we went to one of the 2 supporter groups pregame bar across the river in Newark's Portuguese Iron Bound District. Very cool atmosphere in the streets with tons of screaming drunk fans, drums blaring, chants and flags waiving. The food at the bar was awesome, and none of the staff spoke a word of English. The supporters were outside on a patio singing chants, dancing to a Brazilian style drum circle. Before the game, everyone walks from the Iron Bound to the Stadium. It was awesome, very much how I picture a game would be in South America. I enjoyed it, and I plan on going again, but I couldn't find a shit to give about the outcome of the game. I was even sitting right behind the goal Henry put the ball into for his first MLS goal. I was excited about that.

Hey, Sabo, when you visit, we should look at maybe going to a San Jose Earthquakes game. This offseason they built a brand new soccer-only stadium.

Also, Sabo - I saw that Christen Press scored a goal for the USA Women's team in their recent game. I remember you posting about her in the Swamp, after we saw her play for Stanford.

I just bought season tickets (6 games) to Calgary Foothills FC in the PDL. First Calgary soccer team in awhile.

Maybe this will lead to an MLS team in my lifetime.

sancarlos wrote:Hey, Sabo, when you visit, we should look at maybe going to a San Jose Earthquakes game. This offseason they built a brand new soccer-only stadium.

Also, Sabo - I saw that Christen Press scored a goal for the USA Women's team in their recent game. I remember you posting about her in the Swamp, after we saw her play for Stanford.

That'll work. I'm not sure when I'm coming back to the Bay Area. Usually I head out in the spring for the Mac IT Conference but I've decided to skip it this year and go to a different one instead. It's at Penn State, so I might be bothering testuser2 this summer instead.

Press has been pretty stellar of late. I'm glad to see she's become a factor for the USWNT. And it certainly helps that she's a hottie.

I have no idea why the Sounders are trying to play Brad Evans at center back. He made a complete hash of things last night (or, as they say, "lost the plot") and was responsible for all 3 San Jose goals.

Really enjoying the Sunday night double-header concept. The NYCFC game last night in Yankee stadium was great to watch. Seemed like a fantastic atmosphere.

What are the good MLS twitter follows and websites / message boards? I think I have the basics (Wahl, team and league) but that's about it.

mister d wrote:What are the good MLS twitter follows and websites / message boards? I think I have the basics (Wahl, team and league) but that's about it.

SoccerByIves (sbisoccer.com). A bit too much of a New York fan for my taste, but good coverage from an American angle on Europe, US teams (and youth teams), the MLS (and some lower leagues)
Rob Stone is an okay follow
Soccer Insider on WashingtonPost is good stuff. Heavy on DC United.
Paul Tenorio used to be the 2nd fiddle on soccer with the Washington Post but is now the lead man with the Orlando Sentinel.

I have never been a goal.com or bigsoccer

For podcasts
men in blazers is fun
The football ramble (UK based)
Howler Magazine's podcast is very good (although their pickup of the "mixed zone" is a waste--that is the Women's Soccer episode that comes in once a week even if you care about the Women's World Cup & pro league)

wlu_lax6 wrote:

mister d wrote:What are the good MLS twitter follows and websites / message boards? I think I have the basics (Wahl, team and league) but that's about it.

SoccerByIves (sbisoccer.com). A bit too much of a New York fan for my taste, but good coverage from an American angle on Europe, US teams (and youth teams), the MLS (and some lower leagues)
Rob Stone is an okay follow
Soccer Insider on WashingtonPost is good stuff. Heavy on DC United.
Paul Tenorio used to be the 2nd fiddle on soccer with the Washington Post but is now the lead man with the Orlando Sentinel.

I have never been a goal.com or bigsoccer

For podcasts
men in blazers is fun
The football ramble (UK based)
Howler Magazine's podcast is very good (although their pickup of the "mixed zone" is a waste--that is the Women's Soccer episode that comes in once a week even if you care about the Women's World Cup & pro league)

Men in Blazers and Football Ramble are great, but there's not much MLS on either. Although, now that Davo has NYCFC season tix, there might be more on MiB. If you're not limiting yourself to MLS, Howler is a beautiful magazine. 8by8 is nice too. Michael Cox (@zonalmarking) is a tactics genius.

Yeah, looking strictly MLS for now. Maybe in a couple of years I'll take the training wheels off, but not yet.

mister d wrote:Yeah, looking strictly MLS for now. Maybe in a couple of years I'll take the training wheels off, but not yet.

The Fox Soccer MLS feeds are good for game updates

There's TSN FC

http://tunein.com/radio/TSN-FC-Podcast-p507543/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A bit Canadian-centric but talks about MLS in general.

Here's some sweet juice.

Am I right or wrong to dislike Grabavoy? Because I dislike Grabavoy.

mister d wrote:Am I right or wrong to dislike Grabavoy? Because I dislike Grabavoy.

Specific reasons or he just bugs you?

Last weekend against KC was the first time I got to watch start to finish and he looked slow and missed that header like a dick. But, even beyond me not knowing much about soccer, I think I was predisposed to hating him because he came in as a coach's pet and he looks stupid.

(Obviously this is a very well-informed, well-founded basis for dislike.)

YEAH TAKE THAT YOU LOST

But atleast the 70 minutes after the goal and before the late flurry were pretZZZZZZZ ...