Is It Any Wonder...

...that the US lost in Trinidad earlier this week? I mean, look how scared they look in their pre-game photo!
I love this soccer tradition of the pre-game match photo. Along with a traditional trading of banners, it can't be beat. However, teams should put more practice into how they want to look in these photos. Wouldn't a more intimidating shot be better?

Busy Sports Night!

Those Soca Warriors from Trinidad & Tobago beat the US in World Cup qualifying last night 2-1. The loss was not totally unexpected as the US started a much 'greener' squad looking to get them some international experience. Fortunately, the team has already advanced to the next stage even before their final match against Guatemala next month. Maybe we'll get to see Troy Perkins!

In other news....the Phillies made the World Series! Hooray!

6-1? Wow!

Yes, I happened to catch a bit of the US/Cuba game on Saturday and I definitely came away impressed. Even DaMarcus Beasley scored twice! The 6-1 bombing means that the US has advanced to the final round of World Cup Qualifying.

With each victory, coach Bob Bradley seems to be cementing his role as a permanent fixture on the sidelines. When originally appointed, his leadership seemed only temporary, but with the team playing well, it seems logical to keep him at the helm. Who knows, maybe we'll see some Freddy Adu/Jozy Altidore action in the final game against Trinidad & Tobago.

Gas It Up!

French Team Olympique Marseille had a rough trip back from Madrid after a Champions League loss this week. Evidently, their pilot's credit card was declined so the plane was unable to fuel up at the airport.

Thankfully, the team was able to collect 3,000 euros so they could get home. Coach Eric Gerets was unable to enjoy a cigar after donating 100 euros to the cause. "I felt as though I was in a film, a bad one," he said.

Blatter Doesn't Like Foreign Ownership

FIFA President Sepp Blatter spoke out recently against the influx of foreign ownership in English Premier League teams.

“We have to be alarmed .The economic power of football is immense," he said. His main concern is owners stepping away at will and leaving particular clubs under a mountain of debt.

Currently, 9 teams are under foreign ownership with potentially 3 more coming in the near future. To address the situation, Blatter asked UEFA to enforce tighter licensing rules to potentially block any misguided acquisitions.

Thankfully he did not make these statements in his soccer costume.

Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself...

Each Sunday in the Washington Post, columnist George Solomon comments on a wide range of topics...anything from local to national, baseball to hockey. Yesterday was no different.

His main focus was on a nationally televised High School game in the Washington, DC area this past Thursday night. Towards the end, he made a DC United related comment that really sums up many of the things I've been saying for a while.

"D.C. United seems to play every night, in an MLS game or some tournament I don't fully grasp. And D.C. United seems to lose every night. D.C. United's biggest mistake this century was trading Freddy Adu, who returns to town with the U.S. national team for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Cuba. I miss Freddy."

Yes, the season is really 10 months long!

I Missed It!

I will be the first to admit I missed "Youth Soccer Month" last month. US Youth Soccer uses "Youth Soccer Month" as a way to raise awareness during the start of the fall season. A 7,500 tour of a large, inflatable jersey made its way around the country and even to a DC United game, but I never got the memo!

I was extremely hopeful of getting a picture with the jersey or with "Stickley" (pictured above), but I missed the boat.

Maybe next year...

Eliminated

DC United was officially eliminated from Champions League competition after a 1-0 loss last night at RFK Stadium. The loss drops them to 0-3 in their group, leaving them no chance of advancing. In a matchup of reserves vs. reserves, it was the Mexican foes who prevailed.

Just a quick note to DC United...if you're going to make advertisements like the one above, please make an attempt to advance out of the group stage.

End of the Road?

Could tonight be the end of the road for DC United in the Champions League? Tonight, they host Cruz Azul at home in a definite must-win situation. To advance past the group stage, home wins are needed.....and United desperately need one after dropping their first home and away matches.

Cross your fingers for a better result tonight!

Game Over

...for Brazilian Thiago da Silva, murdered by 3 hitmen hired by his ex-girlfriend. The second division player for Estacio de Sa Soccer Club was killed this week after a run-in with the murderers at the stadium. No word on motivation for the crime.

Sometimes soccer makes the headlines for the strangest reasons...

Surprise, Surprise...

Another game, another loss for DC United. The team was defeated by CD Marathon 2-0 last night in Honduras and falls to 0-2 in Champions League action. The standard fatigue/injury/travel excuses popped up again, and the team must win its next home game to have a realistic shot at advancing past the group stage. Que decepcionante!

Honduras!

DC United has hit Honduras for tonight's Champions League game against CD Marathon. The official pregame article on DCUnited.com claims the team "remains undermanned and short on confidence." Not exactly the reinforcing message you hope to hear the day before the game.

The game will air at 10pm on FSC this evening. Time will tell how they fare, but I see a 4-1 or 3-0 scoreline tonight, meaning a rough trip back to DC for league play on Saturday.

Brrrrrr

Brrrrr....fall starts today! Summer is officially over and fall is here...as of 11:33am. Time to put the shorts away! This also marks the 3rd season of the year for MLS...as they began in spring, played through summer, and will nearly touch winter before it's all over. Besides golf and potentially NASCAR, it's the longest "season" in sports!

DC's next CONCACAF Match...

...is against CD Marathon from Honduras next Wednesday evening...in Honduras. Their website, cdmarathon.com, has a raptor on it. Yikes. If DC loses by less than 3, I'll be impressed.

New Tournament, Same Result

DC United dropped its opening contest in the CONCACAF Champions League 2-0 to Saprissa last night at RFK Stadium. New tournament, same result for DC United. As I've blogged about frequently, DC consistently loses these matches and cannot advance its standing internationally in CONCACAF. Adding insult to injury, the team was shorthanded and the loss came at home.

The excuses (injuries, fatigue) will always be present...but WHY lose at home? Why not put out the best possible team you can? It away matches scheduled in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico, if United finishes 0-2-1 and not 0-3, I will be surprised.

Until the team starts really caring about these tournaments, please take down the splash page from DCUnited.com. Last night's attendance is all you need to know: 6,105.

The Witch Goalie

I'm sure many of you have seen the story that hit the 'net yesterday from the Congo -- a riot at a soccer game in the Congo resulting in 13 dead.

Allegedly, a player began using witchcraft at a game sparked the riot. Soldiers fired into the air to control the outburst but were unsuccessful. Most of the dead appeared to be children.

The official report of the incident made no mention of the witchcraft, but the sole reason the story made news in the US yesterday had to be for this reason.

No word on which team the witchdoctor played for and which team won...or if the game was completed.

My First Game!

I have waited long enough for sure. Tomorrow I'll be going to my first DC United game of the year! Woohoo! Yes, it's true the season is 6 months old, but better now than never. Thankfully they are playing some MLS competition in FC Dallas and not someone from CONCACAF...at least not yet.

Go team!

Hey Hey USA!

The US defeated Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 in World Cup qualifying last night, moving them one step closer to the 2010 World Cup. The team is now 3-0 in qualifying. The game was entertaining through the first half as the US applied most of the pressure.

The real entertainment, though, was former T&T goalie Shaka Hislop in the broadcast booth. After a forgettable into when he couldn't remember the name of co-analyst Jon Harkes, Hislop sounded nervous, uncomfortable, and proceeded to blow a few offside calls as well. Not a good debut for Hislop in the booth...either put him on the sideline or end the experiment!

Brrrrr

Brrr...it was cold this morning in Washington, DC! This morning's temperature...65 degrees. While not technically cold, it was the coldest morning in the last few months. Come Spring, this will actually be quite warm....

Football Underway!

Football has begun! Yesterday marked the first Sunday in the NFL season. American football is the most popular sport in the US today and the season is officially off and running. With English Premier League football underway as well....we'll see how the MLS rating do for the duration of the year. Will you be watching?

DC Wins Open Cup!

It's been quite some time but DC United has captured another "major" trophy. They defeated the Charleston Battery 2-1 last night to win the US Open Cup. The win doesn't have the same flair of an international trophy, but at least it's something! Hooray!

Yes, I will...

...be cheering on DC United from my couch tonight in the US Open Cup Final. The DC website continually asks if you will "bring your friends and cheer the team on to victory" tonight. Unfortunately, many of my friends don't know much about soccer...and they know less about the Open Cup.

Be that as it may, there's also lots of good TV on tonight! Sarah Palin's making her debut!

Open Cup Final!

Tomorrow's US Open Cup Final sees DC United against the Charleston Battery. United is making its return to the final after more than 10 years -- 1997 was the last time they advanced this far. This can be attributed mostly to playing regulars in their semifinal match against the New England Revolution. While the Revolution played mostly substitutes, DC played at near full strength and earned the win.

For Charleston, they've defeated both FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo from MLS on their way to the Final. Most recently, they beat the Seattle Sounders, a USL first division team like themselves. However, the Sounders will be making the jump to MLS next season and many of those players may be called upon on the pro squad.

The stage is set for a DC return to glory or the culmination of an impressive run by Charleston. At the end of the night tomorrow, we'll know which storyline has played out.

...And We're Back!

After a break for vacation, the Demosphere Insider is back. Things have slowed down considerably following the Olympics from last week. I believe many, including myself, are still stunned that the US Women took home gold after beating Brazil last week, 1-0. Our favorite national teamer, Carli Lloyd, scored the game winner! More to come next week.

Finally, some good tv!

There have have been dozens of feel-good stories at the Olympics in Beijing this summer. Rarely do we see negative stories...the Olympics is usually about everything that is good with sports and humanity.

That's why this video caught my eye. Jenn Stuczynski, an American pole vaulter, won Silver after barely losing to Russian Yelena Isinbayeva. She is the current world record holder and also defeated Stuczynski at the World Championships earlier this year.

Despite losing to the best women's pole vaulter in the world, her coach decided to let her have it after the competition. He was clearly disappointed in the loss. Very entertaining.

Bring on Brazil!

Thanks to a 4-2 win over Japan, the US moves to the Gold Medal game on Thursday against Brazil. No word on whether Brianna Scurry will start in goal.

Japan Time!

Less than 2 hours from now, the US Women will take on Japan in the Olympic Semifinals. The winner is guaranteed of a medal and will play the winner of Brazil/Germany in the Final. The loser will play for Bronze. Will the US earn a rematch with Marta and Brazil? We should know by lunchtime!

US Youth Soccer Does Funny Things

"FRISCO, Texas (August 14, 2008) - US Youth Soccer is proud to announce that West Virginia and West Virginia Soccer Association will host the 2009 and 2010 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships as part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The games will take place in the Village of Barboursville."

An interesting decision to say the least! This will be the first time WV has hosted a US Youth Soccer National event and the small town of Barboursville will play host. The town, 40 miles from Charleston, is quite a hike for many of the Region I states outside of WV. With flights challenging and driving just as tough, I would be curious to know exactly what WV offered to get the event in their backyard.

After years of preparation...

...the US Men's Olympic Soccer Team has failed to advance to the quarterfinals. The team lost 2-1 to Nigeria and has officially been eliminated. The result must be disappointing for boss Peter Nowak, the former DC United manager who took the post a few years ago only to be part of 3 games.

The game was lost in the 4th minute when Michael Orozco was ejected, leaving the US with 10 men for 85+ minutes.

For the women, an impressive 4-0 win over New Zealand means they finish first in their group as they advance to the quarterfinals in Shanghai. Go team!

Lalas Does It Again!

Alexi Lalas does it again! It didn't take long for Lalas to run another team into the ground. The LA Galaxy released him late yesterday along with coach Ruud Gullit in a move to shake up the team.

After completely destroying the former San Jose Earthquakes and the New York Red Bulls, it's no surprise that he's up to his old tricks in LA.

No comment yet from Alexi or his brother, a columnist for SI.com.

Where will Alexi land next? Are there any other AEG-owned teams looking to completely implode in the next 1-3 years? Here's hoping he's not put in charge of the new MLS team in Philadelphia!

Open For Business!

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing officially open in about 35 minutes. Unfortunately, we won't see things on TV here until 7:30 due to the time zone difference. There's just something about watching Bob Costas that won't be as good if seen via the 'Net.

On Project Runway this week, the task was to design an outfit for opening ceremonies. We'll see if the female athletes are sporting the winning look!

Who Knew?

I guess I didn't pay close enough attention. I failed to release that the Olympics started today with some soccer action from China. In very early action, the US Women's Team lost 2-0 to Norway. Early reports indicate the team gave up 2 goals in the first 4 minutes. Not the best way to start.

Anyway, with opening ceremonies set for Friday, I did not realize there was action before this point. The team suits up again Saturday @ 5am when they play Japan. Time to focus, ladies!

The Olympic Countdown Is On!

Less than 4 days until the Olympics begin in China! Now that the stories about smog have mostly subsided, it's nearly time to focus on the actual competitions that will take place from Aug. 8-24.

The torch relay is concluding and athletes from around the world have descended on Beijing.

Fear not sports fans, for Jackie Chan has also arrived in China to help promote the China Story. No word on whether Chris Tucker will join him.

One Week 'Til Seattle

Just over one week until the National Cup Finals in Seattle! Each year, USASA, the governing body of adult soccer in the US, runs a nationwide competition to crown National Champions in 8 age groups.

Two of the finals, the Women's U-23 and the Men's Amateur Cup, will be broadcasted by yours truly on Sunday, August 10 beginning at 2p eastern. The event will be held at Starfire Sports Complex just outside Seattle, WA.

For more information, visit the National Cups site here!

No Title Necessary!

Just pure entertainment today.

WNT Hits China!

The Women's National Team has arrived in China! After getting adjusted to the time difference, the team has begun training for matches that will get underway next week. Our very own Carli Lloyd posted a blog update from Qinhuangdao and it's pretty interesting.

As we know, the task will be a tough one for the ladies as they are without top forward Abby Wambach who broke her leg in an exhibition match against Brazil recently. The team is also without Brianna Scurry which means Hope Solo is back in the net!

Many storylines to follow as the team opens August 6th against Norway.

America's Got Talent!

Interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on Friday. It focused on European soccer clubs, notably West Ham United, and their efforts to discover players in the US to bring to Europe.

We've been aware of such efforts for the past few years and have seen more European clubs partner with both youth and professional clubs with hopes of finding a diamond in the rough. West Ham has also partnered with USL to identify some players league-wide that might have what it takes to compete in England.

"It would be wrong of us to dismiss this country," said Tony Carr, a West Ham scout.

Freddy's Rich!

Freddy's going to Monaco! After his first season with Benfica in the Portuguese league, Freddy Adu was loaned yesterday to Monaco of the French league.

After a year, Monaco can purchase his rights or return him to Benfica. It was rumored that he was offered back to MLS but no teams wanted to take him on as a "designated player".

The good news for Adu is his destination. He will have no problem finding a Mercedes dealer (or much else) in Monaco. Thankfully he didn't end up with a smaller, lesser known French team like Guingamp or Sedan. Yikes.

Brawlin!

In their preparations for the MLS All Star Game, West Ham set up a seemingly innocent exhibition with the Columbus Crew. Violence erupted, however, between Crew supporters and West Ham hooligans, leading to more passion than normal at an MLS game.

30 ambitious hooligans took on over 100 Crew supporters, but no arrests inside the stadium were reported. No word on an official winner in the stands, but West Ham won the game convincingly, 3-1.

Big # 100

Roughly 6 months in the making...we've finally made it to post #100! My goal was to reach this milestone late last week, but some cross country travel derailed my plans.

On Saturday, I was in LA for the US Soccer Development Academy meetings. The event marked the conclusion of the 2007-2008 season and the opening of the 2008-2009 season.

2007-2008 was the inaugural year for the Development Academy. It brings together over 60 elite travel clubs with the hope of developing elite talent for our National Team. For 2008-2009, Demosphere will be the official IT supplier and the Academy will expand to 74 teams.

In the final match of 07-08, Carmel United's U-16 team won the National Championship 1-0 over PDA. Who knows...maybe a Demosphere powered club will be champions next year?

P.S. I know you were deeply concerned, but DC United lost their final SuperLiga match 3-1 to Houston. Their final slate...0-3 with all games at home, 7 goals allowed and only 4 scored.

"I Think They Were A Little Overconfident"

The quote above, said by Atlante coach Jose Cruz, tells the story. DC United had yet another chance to win a semi-meaningful international match last night and came up short against the party boys from Cancun, 3-2.

As before, the game was at home at RFK Stadium. The odds were even more stacked in United's favor, though. Atlante was coming off a 4-0 thrashing from Houston, was on the road for more than a week, and was still in preseason. Yet despite seemingly long odds, Atlante held on for a 3-2 win, assuring DC it will not advance to the next stage. Atlante Forward Gabriel Pereyra commented, "Out of all the U.S. teams we've faced, it's the one I like the best." I wonder why?

In other news, it appears currently that DC will have no representation at the annual All Star game in Toronto. How can the Washington Nationals have an All Star while United does not? Simple...Major League Baseball requires at least one per team.

Amen!

An interesting story hit ESPN today...the story of New England Revolution defender Chase Hilgenbrinck. He recently decided to walk away from his team and MLS to....enter priesthood.

After 6 years of studies, he will become a Roman Catholic Priest in his native Illinois. Wow!

SuperLiga....no surprises

SuperLiga 2008 kicked off this weekend with 4 games hosted in the US, and to no one's surprise, DC United lost to Chivas, 2-1.

Sadly, this game was played at RFK Stadium and was a good chance to catch Chivas during their preseason training. Despite all the advantages, including a PK opportunity, DC still found a way to lose again in a semi-prestigious international tournament.

My favorite part of this game was owner Will Chang betting a buzzcut with Chivas owner Jorge Vegara. Chang lost last game...and he lost again. What would prompt him to want to lose again?

Thankfully, more home games remain, but just when will the lights go on for DC United in these international matches? We all know they have zero chance of winning outside the states.

You Drunk!

News hit the US this morning of a report of a drunk referee in Belarus over the weekend. Our friend, seen below, complained of a back injury and had to be helped off during a match. It looks like a youth match as well! After further investigation....he was drunk. Not kidding. Make sure to watch the very end as he salutes the crowd on his exit.

DC Advances!

Against all odds, DC United advanced to the US Open Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire last night. The team magically erased a 1-0 deficit and came on to win in extra time with a Bryan Namoff header.

The game, played in Germantown, MD at the Maryland SoccerPlex, attracted a healthy 4,000+ person crowd.

Unfortunately, they were the only people to see the game...it was not on TV....anywhere.

The semifinals will be played in August against the New England Revolution who defeated USL Second Division Crystal Palace Baltimore on penalty kicks.

Our American Pastime?

July 4th weekend. The time of year when everyone feels a little more American. What better way to celebrate July 4th than a BBQ and some sports on TV. What better sport than.....tennis?

That's right, the story that captured everyone's attention this weekend was the Federer/Nadal rematch on Centre Court at Wimbledon. Let's also not forget that a close 2nd was the Williams sister act in the Women's Final.

How is it that on the most American of holiday weekends that a very European sport like tennis can capture the headlines?

If tennis can do it, why not soccer? Yes, the Nadal/Federer match yesterday was one for the ages and the recordbooks...can't the same be said for the Euro 2008 Final between Germany and Spain?

Reserves Reward Soehn's Faith

The title says it all. A day after DC United defeated the Rochester Rhinos 2-0 in US Open Cup action, DCUnited.com posts a more in-depth recap talking about the match lineup.

The article dressed up the topic discussed yesterday about MLS teams taking it easy in the competition. Despite a few days off, much of the squad was "dinged and drained" after the Galaxy match. If the match was a league game, I'm sure they would have recovered. Thankfully, this time the team was able to inflict some pain as Francis Doe did (above).

However, coach Soehn was comfortable "taking a measured gamble" and then team won 2-0 on two late strikes from Marc Burch. The team moves on to the semifinals against the Chicago Fire. Will that look more like a league game or a reserve game? I guess we'll see...

MLS Dislikes Open Cup

Let's be clear: MLS doesn't like the US Open Cup. The Open Cup, a US Soccer tradition, pairs teams from up and down the professional and amateur ladder to crown the top club team in the States.

The third round, played last night, invites MLS teams into the fray and three of them lost. The NY Red Bulls lost to 2nd Division Crystal Palace USA, Houston Dynamo lost to 1st Division Charleston Battery, and Chivas USA was beat by the Seattle Sounders.

DC United played last night as well, beating the Rochester Rhinos 2-0. The game, played at the Maryland SoccerPlex, drew 2,000+ spectators.

Yes, the other MLS teams won. Hooray. By looking at DC's lineup, though, you can see how much energy they put forth in these matches. Only 4 of their 11 normal starters began the game last night, and the 2 goals came on set pieces from a good part-time player, Marc Burch.

In a few weeks, the Cup will end like past years...2 MLS teams bleeding their way to the final to play what amounts to a regular season game that doesn't count for much.

Why don't we eliminate the MLS teams or force them to play their better players? What would make this mean something for them?

Soccer Doubleheader?

Wow, a soccer doubleheader on ABC! Can you believe it? Due to the lack of sports this weekend, ABC decided to show two soccer matches yesterday afternoon. They went head-to-head against PBA Bowling on ESPN...I wonder who had better rankings?

In the opening contest, DC United defeated David Beckham 4-1. After their recently announced sponsorship with VW, DC United has decided to play its home games at a VW dealership. Goodbye, RFK.

In game 2, Spain defeated Germany 1-0 in the finals of Euro 2008. The match was a terrific culmination to a month of soccer in Switzerland and Austria especially considering it was Spain's first big tournament win in 40+ years.

Cookin in Phoenix

I'm in Phoenix today for some meetings with Arizona Youth Soccer Assn. and boy is it hot! It was 108 yesterday and it looks to be on its way to 100+ again today.

How do these people stand the heat? Good air conditioning!

Euro 2008 Semifinals!

Only 3 games remain in Euro 2008! Heavy favorite Germany takes on Turkey this afternoon while Russia and Spain do battle tomorrow. I am still surprised to see Russia in the mix....who knew they were in Europe?

I Finally Watched A Euro 2008 Game

We've reached the knockout stage of Euro 2008 and I finally got the chance to take in a game. The third quarterfinal between Russia and Holland was quite the game. After tying the game in the final 5 minutes, the Dutch had renewed hope heading into overtime.

It was not to be, however, as Russia scored twice in the final moments to escape 3-1. The commies now move forward to a semifinal rematch with Spain. Spain killed Russia earlier in the group stage, so we'll see if anything changes the second time.

Both Germany and Spain are poised for the final, but I will surely be cheering for more upsets from the commies!

Ben Olsen Does Dick's!

While watching last night's MLS game on ESPN, I noticed a funny commercial during halftime. DC United's own Ben Olsen and former United member Christian Gomez.

In the commercial, Olsen is the star, heading into Dick's with his family. He gets distracted by some MLS players and the commercial ends with his "son" buying a Beckham jersey instead of an Olsen one.

The video above has some behind the scenes footage of the shoot from earlier this year. I guess Ben had some extra time to devote to acting with his injury this year.

Euro 2008 Fields Women's Division?

I'll admit, I haven't watched as much of Euro 2008 as I anticipated. Games in the early afternoon haven't worked well with my schedule.

Anyway, aside from a strong performance from the Russians and the Dutch, the tournament has proceeded according to plan for the most part. The quarterfinals open today with Poland facing Germany.

The game last Sunday might have been the most intriguing one of the month. In anticipation of the Germany-Austria game, a 6v6 Women's game was held. However, the women were only wearing thongs and body paint. The stunt attracted worldwide press, even in the US. Please see the family-friendly picture above.

While Austria "won" the game, 10-5, it was the Germans who got the last laugh...their team advanced to the semifinals of Euro 2008 with a 1-0 win over Austria.

CONCACAF Champions League Announces Groups

CONCACAF announced the groups for the inaugural Champions League yesterday. Once again, the representatives from MLS are DC United and Houston Dynamo.

At this point, even as a DC United fan, isn't it time to potentially look at some other MLS teams for CONCACAF events? I know results are based on previous season results, but why not the New England Revolution, Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, or LA Galaxy?

A substitution would allow DC fans like myself the inevitable letdown of a road loss and subsequent elimination. It also might get some other US markets further interested in international competition.

I'm not clamoring for another tournament to determine who gets in, but I believe past history should weigh in, to some degree, in determining which league teams get to participate in these international club competitions.

8-0????

There has to be an explanation for yesterday's 8-0 National Team drubbing of Barbados at Home Depot Center. Seriously.

Did Barbados send their B squad for the match? It is tough to imagine the US is that good.

"It's going to be tough when we go to Barbados," said US Goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Is he crazy? If the US even remotely puts itself in position to lose the series, the team should be disbanded. The game is next Sunday.

Euro 2008 In Full Swing

The world's second most prestigious tournament, Euro 2008 enters its fifth day of opening round games today in Switzerland and Austria. The most surprising result came Monday as Holland blanked Italy, 3-0.

Group play continues until the 19th when the Quarterfinals open. Still a ways to go until the Final in Vienna on the 29th. Thankfully the game is late enough such that those fans in the US will be able to tune in.

Right now, both Holland and Spain have three points with a +3 differential...will they carry strong opening game performances through the rest of the group stage?

Heat Wave!

Today marks the 4th straight day of temperatures in the 90's in the Washington, DC area. For early June, it's quite hot!

Thankfully the head seems to be helping struggling DC United. After having two players sent off, United managed a road win on Saturday against the Chicago Fire. With the win, United moves out of the Eastern Conference basement and ahead of Toronto FC by one point. They still trail conference-leading New England by 10.

Two straight home matches now follow against the Red Bulls and Earthquakes. Can United keep the heat on?

3 Games, No Goalshttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The third of three Men's National Team tuneups took place yesterday at Giants Stadium with the US drawing Argentina, 0-0. The game comes on the heels of two losses in Europe in the past 10 days, first 2-0 to England and then 1-0 to Spain.

On the bright side, Landon Donovan got his 100th cap and the US was able to compete against 3 top-tier teams. Unfortunately, they finished the 3 game stretch with no goals to show for their performance. Outmatched in each game, the team now knows what it will take to compete at the highest levels.

World Cup qualifying opens June 22 against Barbados...let's hope they use their goal-scoring boots that day!

End of a Long Week

Whew! Finally the end of a very busy week (and a half) of travel. Please find a nice picture of Carol demonstrating some great Demosphere services.

We have already had an opportunity to follow up with some groups we originally met at the Grass Roots Football Expo in Birmingham, UK. Just yesterday, I spoke with a gentleman who directs a field hockey league, so the Expo had wide appeal in the UK.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be gearing up for Summer Soccer Tour '08, a series of week long tours in Las Vegas, Arizona, Florida, and New York. Stay tuned to the website for more information, but the first tour kicks off in less than 3 weeks!

The Travelin' Continues!

The whirlwind travel has subsided for the next few weeks. Yesterday saw an early rise and a late evening as Jay, Ben, Miles, and I all trekked to Chicago and the US Soccer offices. We met for most of the day in US Soccer House at 18th and Prairie in downtown. The house was part of the piano-famous Kimball family for many years and is now the home of US Soccer's organizing body.

For a newbie, it was exciting to set foot in the building and explore the many trophies captured by our National Teams. There was even a commemorative trophy from Disney World.

Anyway, we all got back to the DC area around midnight and came back to the office with some good stories from our trip.

I still owe some additional stories from the Grass Roots Expo plus some pictures -- hopefully they'll be on tap for tomorrow!

Grass Roots Expo Wraps Up

Our 3 day tour of Birmingham is fast coming to a close. The Grass Roots Football Expo wrapped up earlier this afternoon after a third full day at the NEC.

Today, we saw some old friend with the Cranfield Colts, a community club that uses a Demosphere system. We originally met the Colts at last year's show in Coventry.

Additionally, Jim Risher from Eurotech stopped by to give us his take on the show after meeting with a number of vendors and clubs.

We also met with many other community clubs and some folks with the Umbro Tournament series. All in all, a successful day.

After a full day traveling Monday, we'll be back with more Grass Roots items!

Grass Roots Day 2 Report

Day 2 of the Grass Roots Football Expo is in the books and it was another busy day in Birmingham, UK.

As you can hopefully see from the picture, the show is quite large and this is only part of the exhibitor area. There is a complete exhibitor area plus two large play areas. One area features individual skills and the other focuses on team play. Numerous sessions have taken place across the Expo geared toward youth players and coaches.

Additionally, Demosphere VP Carol Baker had an opportunity to meet with a representative of the FA. She also spoke at length with Nick Gates from Coaches Across Continents about some of his many international youth soccer experiences.

After two successful days, the final day is set to begin. Check back later for full coverage of the end of the Grass Roots Football Expo '08!

Grass Roots Day 1 Completed!

Closing in on 6pm local time and Day 1 of the Grass Roots Football Expo has concluded. The aisles were packed most of the day and quite a few groups showed strong interest in some Demosphere systems.

Late in the afternoon, Nick Gates from Coaches Across Continents dropped by to share stories about global outreach. We also connected with Nick at SoccerEx in Johannesburg last November.

At the close of the day, we noticed a booth from our friends at XL Travel. We plan on speaking with them tomorrow.

Day 2 begins tomorrow morning at 9:30am. Will Jim Risher from Eurotech Camps & Tours drop by? Only time will tell.

Grass Roots Live!

We are live at the Grass Roots Football Expo at the NEC in Birmingham, UK! It is currently lunchtime on Day 1. Already today, we have met with numerous local organizations as well as Jim Smith from the Glasgow City Cup -- a top-level Scottish Tournament hosted by Demosphere.

Check back soon for more updates!

Welcome to Birmingham!

Exactly 12 hours until the Grass Roots Football Expo gets underway in Birmingham, UK. After a long day of flying, Carol and I arrived in Birming around 8:30a local time this morning. The Demosphere booth has been constructed and awaits 3 days of action from the youth football fanatics of the UK.

Stay tuned for pictures from the NEC as things get underway. We look forward to meeting many exciting groups this weekend!

England Awaits!

Carol and I are heading to England tomorrow! Birmingham to be exact. This will be Demosphere's 2nd trip to the Grass Roots Football Expo, the largest event of its kind in the UK and Europe. It is the equivalent of the NSCAA convention in the US, with coaches and team personnel from the UK youth football realm.

After a successful trip in 2007, we look forward to meeting even more groups in 2008 and learning more about the youth soccer (football) world across the pond!

Holiday Weekends are Fun!

Three day weekend ahead! Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer season and to kick things off, Demosphere is hosting over 10 tournaments. Wow!

Some of us are trekking over to Fairfax for the check-in for The Virginian, the largest tournament in the Demosphere world. Over 700 teams take part in this annual event just outside Washington, DC.

Will you be attending a tournament this weekend or simply enjoying the weather? Either way, have a good Memorial Day!

Woe is United

Through its first 9 games, DC United is a woeful 2-7. The latest disaster came last evening north of the border against Toronto FC. A goal in the 7th minute was enough to secure a 1-0 shutout for a team that had previously never beaten DC.

At what point, as a supporter of the team, do you stop caring? With the team showing unable to win points on a consistent basis, it's difficult to continue watching. After watching the Moscow thriller between Manchester United and Chelsea, DC United soccer leaves so much to be desired.

Aside from the actual in-game play, there were two corner kick opportunities that really exemplified the differences between European and American soccer. One, taken by Gallardo, sailed clearly over the danger area and out of bounds while a second by Quaranta touched the back of the netting and never had a chance of making it even in play. I thought this was professional soccer?

Finally Time For The Final!

In just a few short hours the results will be in and we'll have a new Champions League Champion. Manchester United and Chelsea are set to do battle this evening in Moscow with the game set to be broadcast on ESPN mid-afternoon in the US.

The competition, widely considered to be the 2nd most important soccer competition aside from the World Cup, will no doubt be heavily watched across Europe this evening despite the all-English tilt.

In addition, the Demosphere crew is only 1 week away from heading to Birmingham for the Grass Roots Football Live show! Stay tuned for more info.

Push the Panic Button!

After DC United's most recent loss on Saturday, it's now time to officially push the panic button. What is happening to the perennial playoff team? Currently, they stand dead last in the Eastern Conference, 5 points behind both Kansas City and Toronto.

Is it the coaching? Tommy Soehn and company have tried different lineups, formations, etc to get the team back on track. Is it the players? A roster shakeup combined with an ineffective Emilio have made it a decidedly tough road.

That said, it's still nearly inexplicable how a team that is so good on paper lost 3-1 to Chivas USA on Saturday night after leading 1-0 for most of the contest.

It's "back to the drawing board" yet again for the team and fans are getting restless. How many more times can we hear that before something more dramatic is done?

Home Cookin

Read a funny snippet in the Wall Street Journal last night. The article talked about young athletes getting adjusted to new surroundings after arriving on their first pro roster. Three sets of athletes were listed -- among them Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino of the Phillies.

When Victorino made the roster, Rollins offered his guest room to Victorino since he was having trouble finding an apartment. The living situation brought them closer together both on and off the field.

DC United's own Ben Olsen was also listed. His situation was a little different because he didn't live with a teammate...he lived with a coach. That's right, back in 1999, Olsen lived in coach Bruce Arena's house during the season.

According to Arena's wife, Ben attempted to help out around the house and once put away dishes that he didn't know were dirty. So much for the help.

Did Olsen's proximity to Arena help his standing on the team that year? After winning MLS Cup, he was named MVP, so you can decide!

Bricks Are Fun!

How can you say no to a brick? The US Soccer Hall of Fame has announced that bricks are for sale in the Walk of Fame located outside the Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY. Halfway between Binghamton and Schenectady, Oneonta is also only a half hour from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

As you can see, the Walk of Fame is perfectly located just outside the "exploding" soccer ball -- a terrific location to be noticed!

Have any good brick ideas? Let us know! We're considering having our own permanent presence at the Hall of Fame!

Ow, That Hurt!

Interesting article in the New York Times Magazine this past Sunday. "The Uneven Playing Field" focuses on female injuries in youth sports. Their case study was Janelle Pierson, a high school senior in Florida.

In addition to competing for her high school team, she also played for the Weston Fury, a Demosphere client.

In short, due to the way female bodies grow, they are susceptible to more injuries through their adolescent years. With the increase in competitive sports and additional playing opportunities, injuries are happening at more rapid rates than ever before.

Pierson had multiple ACL surgeries before the age of 18 and despite being able to play soccer in college for Lehigh University, she will never be able to run "full speed" again.

If you have a few minutes, the article is a good read.

Oh, Canada!

The Women's National Team ended a 3-game US exhibition tour in resounding fashion Saturday night with a 6-0 dismantling of Canada. Natasha Kai scored her first ever hat trick and Demosphere favorite Carli Lloyd added one as well.

In a strong soccer town like Washington, DC, it's disappointing the team couldn't draw more for the game. With Canada a competitive opponent, the Women were able to draw just over 9,000 for the game. In cavernous RFK Stadium, many empty seats were found....as evidenced by the picture above. Yikes! Where were all the local youngsters?

The training continues in mid-June out in LA as the team continues to prep for the Olympics.

What A Climb!

The Olympic Flame has reached the top of the world. Five climbers ascended Mt. Everest in Tibet today as part of the 2008 Olympic torch relay.

The flame had never been to the 29,035 foot summit of the world's tallest mountain in the history of the Olympic torch relay. In their quest to impress the world this summer, China needs more events like the Everest climb to help deflect some attention from the Tibet crackdowns earlier this year.

Many torch relays have been subject to widespread protest of China's treatment of Tibet. China went to great lengths to show unity on Everest as the final climber was indeed Tibetan.

We'll see what other events China has planned to continue to refocus attention on the games and not on its actions in Tibet.

He's Sorry!

Following up on a story from last week, Ronaldo has apologized for his encounter with (people of questionable character).

"I made the stupidest mistake ever of my personal life,'' he said. "Anyone can make a mistake, and I made a big mistake.'' These comments came after a run in with multiple (people of questionable character) in Brazil while recuperating from an injury.

These (certain people of questionable character) tried to extort Ronaldo to keep the story private, but he refused the $30,000 price tag.

It's onward and upward for Ronaldo, though. Still a national hero in Brazil, he hopes to play for Flamengo after his days with AC Milan are over. "I'm sure the doors of Flamengo will be open for me," he said.

Women Win Again!

Another late-game squeaker for the Women's National Team yesterday as they beat Australia 5-4. The game was an interesting one...two own goals for the US which contributed to blowing a 3 goal lead...only to win in stoppage time...wow! Unfortunately, only 5,000 people in Birmingham got to see it!

They are now 12-0-1 this year and now will look forward to their next match against Canada in Washington, DC this Saturday.

New coach Pia Sundhage has the team playing well, even formerly-disgraced goalie Hope Solo. After being sent home in China, Solo is starting again for the US and looks to be the starting keeper for the Olympics.

Onward to Washington...

The All-England Final

Only one game remains in this year's edition of the Champions League -- the May 21 Final between Chelsea and Manchester United. After victories over Liverpool and FC Barcelona, respectively, the teams have drawn the right to do battle in Europe's most prestigious championship.

The game, slated for Moscow this year, has universal interest, even in the states. The past few years, both Chelsea and Manchester United have ventured to the US to play exhibition games in the run up to their English Premier League season. Even before their visit, the two teams are two of the most recognizable names in sports worldwide.

Unfortunately, with the return leg of the semifinals played this week, there will be a long 3 week wait until the final kicks off. This is one game not to be missed!

Podcasting for the sake of Podcasting...

In a small corner of the US Soccer site, I noticed a Podcast area. In April, there were 7 posts. Not too bad for a group just getting started in the Podcast realm. Five of the posts were interviews -- four of which were National Team players, and one a National Team coach. Great content.

The remaining two pieces were "Referee Reviews". They focused on the previous week in MLS play and had an assignor and referee discuss the in-game officiating.

My only question is....why? This might be beneficial for the actual referees, but why would this be published for personal consumption on USSoccer.com? The discussion in each Podcast centers around topics such as extra time at halves and the atmosphere at games.

Could you imagine if they were critical of specific officials? Would fans make signs saying "You got called out on the USSoccer.com Podcast!"?

In the end, I'm very much in favor of learning more about players and coaches, but referee assessments should stay private. They're rarely in good graces with fans and the Podcasting isn't changing that.

That person has Ronaldo's wallet!

I started getting into soccer in the early 90's. In USA '94, Ronaldo was so cool. His Brazilian team captured the World Cup Title that year. They also captured it in '02 when he lit up the tournament for 8 goals.

Since then, much has been said of Ronaldo's decline. He's still one of the most recognizable players on the global stage despite his eroding talent.

Today, he hits the news for a different reason. At home in Rio de Janeiro recovering from knee surgery, Ronaldo was questioned after a run-in with some (people of questionable character). Please note that engaging with (people of questionable character) is fully legal in Brazil.

I'm sure this isn't Ronaldo's first (people of questionable character) encounter. However, it's definitely his first encounter with (certain people of questionable character). As the story goes, he didn't realize they were (certain people of questionable character) until returning to his motel room with them. He was nice, offering to pay them anyway. The (people of questionable character), realizing it was Ronaldo, tried to extort him for $30,000 to keep the story quiet. That's when the disagreement started.

In the end, nobody's happy...Ronaldo, the (certain people of questionable character), or me, after reading this story. Yuck.

It's Finally Over!

From Long to Vobora, the NFL Draft is finally over! Spanning two days and approximately 15 hours, the 252 pick draft wrapped up yesterday evening. Strange as it may seem, many folks kept abreast of the proceedings until the bitter end. I saw online Draft Trackers all weekend long in various locations as fans snuck away from their daily tasks to get their first taste of the '08 NFL season.

Now the fun begins. Teams must hustle to get players signed and into mini camps before training camp begins in only a few short months. Once the NBA and NHL playoffs wrap up, everyone's focus will turn to the NFL season (and the Olympics, albeit briefly).

Here's hoping MLS can steal at least a small chunk of the spotlight as the season progresses...

The Best Draft Of Them All

This weekend marks undoubtedly the best draft of the year -- the NFL Draft. Slated to begin at 3p on Saturday, the 7 rounds of the draft will take place this season at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

There are a few reasons the NFL Draft is king -- football is the most popular sport in the US, fans are allowed to attend, it's 7 rounds long, and let's not forget the massive hype.

These factors combine to make NFL Draft weekend special. With diehard fans waiting months since the Super Bowl, the Draft truly marks the start of the season. Trades, signings, etc pick up after the draft and last until well into training camp in August.

Here's hoping the Eagles pick up some good players!

Have You Seen Us Lately?

This Spring, Demosphere began another advertising run on MLSNet.com. During the start of the season, All Star Game/midseason, and Playoff time, look for Demosphere as you browse both the main MLS site and your favorite team's site. Make sure to tell your friends where they can find Demosphere too!

My Favorite Team!

Rarely do I post non-soccer items, but today I wanted to post the highlights from the GW Women's Basketball team. I work on this video each year and the team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. A must watch!

The Olympics Are Coming!

It's time to start thinking about the Olympics! Groupings were announced yesterday for both the Men's and Women's teams as they continue to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The Men face the decidedly tougher road -- Netherlands, Nigeria, and Japan in the first round. Yikes. The Women have a slightly easier path -- Norway, Japan, and New Zealand. A nice warmup for the elimination rounds. Who knew New Zealand had a Women's team? They do, and they're currently ranked 23rd in the FIFA rankings.

Keep in mind that the teams are not the same. The Men's team is actually the Under-23 team while the Women's team is the senior national team. It's unfortunate the opening group difficulty wasn't reversed.

While a good challenge for the Men, it will be very discouraging if they do not advance. The U-23 nucleus will be relied on heavily as we move towards World Cup 2010....

Penthouse to Outhouse

Four games into this young MLS season and DC United finds itself tied for last in the Eastern Conference with a 1-3 record after the most recent 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew last night at RFK.

After bouncing out of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, the team has descended mightily from the Supporters' Shield days of 2007. Many roster moves later, the team finds itself with a fragmented group with nowhere to go but up.

One potential cause for the disruption was the trade of defender Bobby Boswell. Now with Houston, Boswell finds himself in the starting XI after finishing 2007 on the bench for DC. The trade has taken its toll on Boswell too -- his blog, BobbyBoswell.com is nowhere near as entertaining as it was last season.

Potential Soccer Injury?

Running an errand yesterday, I found myself parked outside a dentist's office. Their sign in the window (above) was interesting to say the least.

Normally, stores advertise services in their windows with the hopes that people will stop in and give it a try, but after seeing the visual of a dental implant, I quickly removed myself from the shopping center in question.

I know the graphic isn't the best of quality, but it shows a regular tooth on the left and an implant on the right. The implant looks like a fake tooth with a huge screw drilled into the gums.

I realize missing teeth and hockey go hand in hand, but it has to happen in soccer eventually, and thus, it's Insider worthy!

The Women have Qualified!

I am happy to report that the Women's National Team has qualified for the 2008 Olympics after finishing first at CONCACAF Qualifying in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico over the weekend.

After advancing to the championship game against Canada, the team had already qualified...the overall win was for pride only.

The game went into overtime after a scoreless 90 minutes until Demosphere favorite Carli Lloyd scored on a free kick in the 108th minute. Canada equalized, sending the game into a penalty kick shootout. Carli scored again, and the US won 6-5 on kicks.

Good luck to the team as they prepare for this summer's festivities in Beijing!

Very Naked in Vienna

Finally, a creative way to promote a soccer match! This May, 2,008 naked people will pose for renowned photographer Spencer Tunick in Vienna as part of the run up to the Euro 2008 Tournament.

The photo shoot will happen at Ernst Happel Stadium, host of the Euro 2008 final in late June. While 2,000+ seems substantial, it will not even come close to Tunick's largest shoot of over 18,000 in Mexico City last year.

Exciting? Sure. Quotable? Not necessarily. "This very special ephemeral installation that we are inviting you to be part of is devised to capture and combine the spirit of sports, the grand sweeping waves of stadium architecture and the abstract relation of the human form to modern structures," organizers said in a statement. Riiiight.

Soccer Returns to San Jose!

After a multi-year hiatus, professional soccer returns to San Jose tomorrow afternoon when the Quakes take on the Chicago Fire. This will be the first home game since the Quakes moved following the 2005 season.

It's relatively uncommon for a team to return to a city that previously lost it -- see Cleveland's Browns or Washington's Nationals. In a league with only 14 teams, it's even more uncommon due to the other major US and Canadian cities without teams.

Nevertheless, a new Quakes chapter begins at home this weekend. The old Quakes actually turned out pretty well -- back-to-back MLS Cup Champions -- so time will tell how the new breed will fare.

La Bomba!

Another international competition, another loss. I can't say I'm surprised. DC United lost the semifinal leg of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup to Pachuca 3-2 after a 2-1 win last night in DC.

Charles Boehm of MLSNet.com sums it up perfectly: "For all their success and consistency in league play over the past four years, United have been repeatedly denied the glory they crave in regional competitions like this one and once again the capital club found themselves unable to string together the necessary results over the span of a two-leg series."

When will DC break through the international barrier? The semifinal losses to Mexican teams get old after a while.

Please DC, no Bomba tonight!

DC United fans wait with nervous anticipation of tonight's second leg of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup Semifinal against Pachuca.

In the first leg, Pachuca came away with the home victory, 2-0. Tonight's return leg in DC could spell the end of DC's run in the Champion's Cup, however, they do have the chance to advance to the final for the first time in many years.

Each year, DC participates in numerous international competitions but always seems to exit in the quarter or semifinals. Here's hoping to a different end to this year's story (7:30p on FSC).