August Fourth
#1 -- Beautiful AND Simple?
I was amazed as I walked the dogs around the park last night during my son's first premier team practice. There were at least four or five other teams practicing at this park.
Coaches and players running through drills and participating in scrimmages. I even saw a U16 girls team scrimmaging against a U14 boys team. I would hate to be one of those boys -- those girls are tough.
It was wonderful to see how beautiful and simple play and practice was going.
Then I noticed one boys team over to south side of the park. This group of boys had to be first or second graders. There were seven adults helping coach this team. Seven! Why so many coaches? Oh, yeah, it was a baseball team.
#2 -- This is a Great Month to be an American Soccer Fan.
The dictionary says August, the adjective, means inspiring awe or admiration. And this month promises to bring us some August play on pitches around the world. Think of it…
The local recreational and premier leagues are ramping up. So are high schools and colleges.
There's U.S. Open Cup play. More of the MLS season. The finish to the A-League regular season.
And then there's the PDL Championship [ this Saturday night on FSW]. The W-League Championship [this Sunday afternoon of FSW]. And don't forget Olympic play.
French League 1, the Bundesliga, and the SPL start this weekend. The EPL starts the following weekend. La Liga and Serie A should be getting started soon also.
My wife says I'm obsessed. I say passionate. What do you think?
# 3 -- MLS Parity? What Parity? Certainly Not Viewing Parity?
Okay, so if you look at MLS as a single table, the most points separating any two team's positions is three. A win or two by this team and a loss or a tie by that team and the whole table could change.
But ask yourself, if you are really a soccer fan, which MLS teams do you want to watch?
Here's one quick way to identify those teams. Check the goal differential stat. +10, +7, and +2. That equals KC, LA, and San Jose. Add in the -1 Metrostars because you never know what they're going to do, and you have the four most entertaining teams for 2004.
# 4 -- Burpo -- Excuse Me
Seattle Sounders keeper Preston Burpo, in his eighth season, could surpass the 500 career saves mark as early as this Saturday in a match against the Minnesota Thunder. Only five other A-League goalkeepers have reached the milestone. Unfortunately, my source didn't name those five. Anyone know where a guy can find A-League statistical history?
[Note: Tony Meola in his eight plus seasons in MLS has 956 saves.]
I was amazed as I walked the dogs around the park last night during my son's first premier team practice. There were at least four or five other teams practicing at this park.
Coaches and players running through drills and participating in scrimmages. I even saw a U16 girls team scrimmaging against a U14 boys team. I would hate to be one of those boys -- those girls are tough.
It was wonderful to see how beautiful and simple play and practice was going.
Then I noticed one boys team over to south side of the park. This group of boys had to be first or second graders. There were seven adults helping coach this team. Seven! Why so many coaches? Oh, yeah, it was a baseball team.
#2 -- This is a Great Month to be an American Soccer Fan.
The dictionary says August, the adjective, means inspiring awe or admiration. And this month promises to bring us some August play on pitches around the world. Think of it…
The local recreational and premier leagues are ramping up. So are high schools and colleges.
There's U.S. Open Cup play. More of the MLS season. The finish to the A-League regular season.
And then there's the PDL Championship [ this Saturday night on FSW]. The W-League Championship [this Sunday afternoon of FSW]. And don't forget Olympic play.
French League 1, the Bundesliga, and the SPL start this weekend. The EPL starts the following weekend. La Liga and Serie A should be getting started soon also.
My wife says I'm obsessed. I say passionate. What do you think?
# 3 -- MLS Parity? What Parity? Certainly Not Viewing Parity?
Okay, so if you look at MLS as a single table, the most points separating any two team's positions is three. A win or two by this team and a loss or a tie by that team and the whole table could change.
But ask yourself, if you are really a soccer fan, which MLS teams do you want to watch?
Here's one quick way to identify those teams. Check the goal differential stat. +10, +7, and +2. That equals KC, LA, and San Jose. Add in the -1 Metrostars because you never know what they're going to do, and you have the four most entertaining teams for 2004.
# 4 -- Burpo -- Excuse Me
Seattle Sounders keeper Preston Burpo, in his eighth season, could surpass the 500 career saves mark as early as this Saturday in a match against the Minnesota Thunder. Only five other A-League goalkeepers have reached the milestone. Unfortunately, my source didn't name those five. Anyone know where a guy can find A-League statistical history?
[Note: Tony Meola in his eight plus seasons in MLS has 956 saves.]
posted by hartley @ 3:46:00 PM
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