MLS Players To Strike If No Deal By March 25
Est. 1993
Major League Soccer players voted to strike if a new labor contract isn’t agreed to before the first season opener on March 25.
The league’s first collective bargaining agreement, a five-year deal, originally was set to run out Jan. 31 but was extended twice while negotiations continued. It expired Feb. 25 after the MLS Players Union refused another extension.
“Recent comments from players simply reflect the fact that the players are unified and, per the results of our strike vote, will not begin the new season if a new agreement with the league is not reached,” union executive director Bob Foose said in a statement Thursday.
Unhappy with the single-entity structure that has seen the league negotiate all contracts since play began in 1996, players want greater free-agent rights and a higher percentage of guaranteed deals.
Player income averaged $147,945 at the start of last season, according to the union. But the median was $88,000 for 323 players listed. This comes on the heels of the MLS Cup attracting 1.1 million viewers, its highest rating ever for the event.
David Beckham Joins Fans In Protest Of Glazer Ownership
Solidarity
David Beckham joined in the campaign to oust the Glazer family from Manchester United ownership when he left the pitch wearing the green and gold scarves that have come to symbolize the fans protests against the club’s owners.
Fans have traded in their red and white scarves for yellow and green, signifying the original colors of the franchise and sending a clear message to the Glazers that running this once-rich franchise into immense financial debt is not acceptable.
It marked Beckham’s first trip back to Old Trafford since leaving Manchester United in 2003, and after mockingly booing the former United captain, the crowd gave him a rousing salute. After the stirring reception Beckham picked up the scarf after it was thrown from the Stretford End on a night when Malcolm Glazer’s sons, Joel and Avram, were inside the stadium to witness the scale of antipathy towards their ownership of the club.
Beckham’s act of public sympathy and solidarity overshadowed two more goals from Wayne Rooney, brings his total to 30, in his pursuit of emulating Cristiano Ronaldo’s total of 42 last season. Rooney’s now has 21 goals in his last 21 games.
Wind Scores Goal
I’m not sure if there is much to say other that is one of the oddest goals I have ever seen.
Wind 1, Humans 0.
Wayne Rooney Sings “You’re The Best Around”
If you don’t know who Wayne Rooney is then you don’t know what a badass looks like. He is the best around and I can’t wait for the full video coming March 19.
Wayne Bridge Refuses To Shake John Terry’s Hand
If you haven’t heard about the drama going down with John Terry and Wayne Bridge it goes a little something like this. The former England teammates shared Vanessa Perroncel, girlfriend of Bridge. However Bridge’s had no idea and Terry got Perroncel pregnant and then arranged for the abortion.
Tiger Woods is impressed.
Nike Unveils United States World Cup Team Kits
I would totally cop one if polyester didn’t look so nasty on how it wraps itself around the skin of fat people. Fat asses like myself should never wear polyester it’s absolutely horrifying. Clint Dempsey pulls it off though.
Nike Unveils New World Cup Team Kits
The wait is over and Nike has unveiled its 2010 series of national football team kits for this years World Cup in South Africa. The design is said to be recycled polyester produced from up to eight recycled plastic bottles.
Suppliers to Nike sourced discarded plastic bottles from Japanese and Taiwanese landfill sites, before melting them down to produce new yarn for conversion into jersey fabric. Nike claims the process reduces energy consumption by up to 30% compared to manufacturing virgin polyester and says it prevented nearly 13m plastic bottles from going into landfill sites.
Specifically, each of the kits features Nike Dri-Fit fabric, some 15% lighter than previous versions and which draws sweat to the outside of the garment where it evaporates. Air flow has also been increased 7%, while ventilation zones consists of up to 200 tiny laser-cut holes.
The shoes are the Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II which features Nike Sense adaptive traction technology. That technology is a system that allows the show to adjust itself based on the field’s conditions.
Nike will supply national team kits in South Africa to the squads of the Netherlands, Portugal, United States, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia and Slovenia.
Slovenia's Robert Koren, Australia's Vince Grella, U.S.A.'s Clint Dempsey, Portugal's Nani, Brazil's Pato, Netherlands Edson Braafheid, South Korea's Chung-Yong Lee, New Zealand's Ryan Nelson, and Serbia's Nenad Milijas.
Dwight Howard To Be 2010 World Cups Newest Reporter
How That Low Post Game Coming?
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has revealed that he will be attending a portion of soccer’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a sports reporter. The all-star said Adidas, a company he endorses, wants to send him to the event to cover the worlds biggest event.
Although Howard said he plays a soccer videogame on occasion, he acknowledges he doesn’t know much about the world’s most popular sport. When asked whether he’s a big supporter of the United States’ team, he volunteered that he doesn’t know the names of any of the players who likely will represent the U.S. in South Africa.
The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin as early as June 1 and end as late as June 17, league officials have noted. The World Cup, on the other hand, is scheduled to begin on June 11, but it is slated to run until July 11.
The U.S. will play its opening game on June 12 when it faces England.
Howard’s summer will continue to stay busy even after the World Cup as he has made a verbal commitment to play for Team USA in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey. That event will begin in late August and end in mid-September, with a few tune-up games along the way.
DaMarcus Beasley’s BMW Car Bombed In Scotland
That Blows
Footballers are used to being targeted but for it to touch an American even on foreign soil is not so common, it could be a numbers thing. United States National Team member DaMarcus Beasley peered out of his window in Glasgow, Scotland he witnessed his BMW being blown up before his eyes.
The object was a petrol bomb which was lit after the attacker laid down a line of fuel.
Beasley, who saw the aftermath through his window, used his Twitter site today to say: “Someone blew up my car.” He added: “Thanks again for ALL the messages and kind words.. But yea I’m doin ok and in the market for a new car! Lol..Gotta try to find some humor.”
The 27-year-old, who has not played since December because of injury and has had his car targeted once before, in December 2008, when it was broken into and ransacked.
Injury May Cause Clint Dempsey To Miss World Cup
Texas Bred
The United States chances in the the 2010 World Cup has taken another hit as Clint Dempsey limped off with a PCL tear in his right knee. Reconstructive surgery would knock him out for eight months to a year, causing him to miss the 2010 World Cup. As well as the news coming that midfielder Michael Essien suffered a partially torn medial ligament in his left knee which could keep him out at least a month but perhaps longer.
Dempsey’s loss coupled with Charlie Davies to trying to regrain strength and condition after he was involved in a car crash back in October makes the U.S. far less versatile going forward.
No matter who actually takes the field in South Africa, Sports Grind Entertainment will be rooting 100 percent for the United States National Team.
Landon Donovan Sneaks Into Mexico For Lottery
First I thought Mexicans hate American soccer and Landon Donovan but I could be wrong. For those that never took Spanish in high school the premise of the video is that Landon is sneaking into Mexico to get in the action on the Mexican lottery because it’s “easy to win”. The border guard sends Donovan back into America where the dollar is about is strong as the pesos.
WTF: Cristiano Ronaldo
Really WTF
Cristiano Ronaldo just made gay men all across the world get a little excited.
UPDATE: Where Have You Gone Freddy Adu?
M.I.A. Again
Back on August 25, I wrote a post about where had Freddy Adu gone with a followup a few days later after he was loaned to Belenenses Eagles was completed, today some more sad news has hit the once promising career of Adu. The Portuguese club just cut him and is headed back to Benfica, the club that twice sent him off on loan. The move comes after new Belenenses coach Toni has decided to get rid of Adu and Brazilian Igor.
Adu, for his part, says “dont worry” on his Twitter account.
It’s time to worry as Adu has made three appearances for the last-place team in the 10th-best European domestic league and was then cut as dead weight.
As previously written Adu sure wishes it was 2004 all over again, at that time he was on almost every sports magazine cover, doing television segments, basically introducing himself to the non soccer fan. He became the youngest player ever drafted in the United States at the age of fourteen, when he was selected by D.C. United in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Adu’s stock was at an all time high, as many pegged him to be the future face of American soccer for many years to come.
Many viewed him as the one with all the tools, technical ability, physical maturity, and instincts. As of yet that hasn’t happened. He’s currently trying to get a loan move, his most recent attempt, a season long loan to Danish club Odense BK fell through over wage demands last week. S.L. Benfica wants his loan destination to pay for his whole wage bill; Odense BK declined.
Adu’s been told by Bob Bradley that he needs to play regularly for a club to get even a sniff at a national team call up. His club isn’t going to play him, and there’s only a week left in the transfer market; with Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, and Kenny Cooper all managing to both play and impress abroad. Davies has already scored more goals in his three appearances with Sochaux than Adu’s has ever scored for any of the European clubs he’s played with. Adu is got to find a club willing to take on his wages and play him, or his chances of getting a call up to the World Cup in serious jeopardy.
Just years ago numerous clubs would have jumped at the opportunity but today, that list is extremely short. The salary is the main issue. In many leagues, there’s a minimum salary requirement for non-EU players. Any team wanting to bring Adu in will have to pay him somewhere around $10,000 a week, which is far more than he’s valued at. Adu’s left with few options seeing he can’t get a work permit in England an S.L. Benfica wont ever play him.
Ronaldinho Is The Best
Some of the biggest stars in soccer today, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Karim Benzema, and Theo Walcott, try to see who got the master skills. Although its a valiant effort, nobody can top Ronaldinho.
MLS Cup Attracts 1.1 Million Viewers
Est. 1993
Ratings and viewership improved for the 2009 MLS Cup.
Real Salt Lake’s victory over the L.A. Galaxy drew a 0.7 U.S. rating and 1.1 million viewers on ESPN November 22, up 17% and 26%, respectively, from a 0.6 and 907,000 for Columbus Crew/New York Red Bulls on ABC last year.
During the decade, the highest rating for the MLS Cup was a 1.0 for the 2001 game between the Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes.
To put the numbers in perspective, the MLS Cup outdrew every single game of the 2009 WNBA Playoffs, and also topped every stage of the 2009 Tour de France. Additionally, the MLS Cup outdrew all but three IRL races on ABC and Versus during the ‘09 season.
MLS Cup Tonight
"Groundbreaker"
To the surprise of few outside of mainstream, but Major League Soccer is succeeding. The MLS Cup takes place tonight and it will likely yield the highest television ratings in the league’s history. The promising showdown between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake landed a beneficial time slot, ESPN will broadcast the final tonight at 7:30 PM CST. Last year’s final was squeezed between the NFL’s regular season schedule on network television in the middle of the day.
Like the Super Bowl, the location of the MLS Cup rotates each year. In a wise decision orchestrated by the league, today’s Cup will go down at Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Sounders. Professional soccer came to the city of Seattle, Sounders owners include Paul Allen and Drew Carey, after their basketball team abdonded them for Oklahoma City.
On Thursday MLS Commissioner Don “Groundbreaker” Garber participated in an online chat, telling the world that all was well with the MLS and would be even better in the foreseeable future.
“This season will forever be known as one of the key moments in the history of soccer in America,” Garber said.
Next year, the Philadelphia Union will debut, in a brand new stadium no less. Portland and Vancouver will follow in 2011. Montreal is also on board. If all goes according to plan, the league will then contain 19 teams. The question just remains is when will the San Antonio city council make a push for a team, in a city that will absolutely support it
People are watching American soccer.
Once again, you can catch the MLS Cup tonight at 7:30 PM CST on ESPN.
When Will FIFA & Calvin Casey Address Replay?
The World Cup can be argued as the biggest sporting event in the world only matched maybe by the Olympics. So why is FIFA ‘handing’ it’s qualifiers a spot on it’s biggest stage this day in age of Television and the Internet as it did in a qualify between France and Ireland?
Do you think it’s about time to FIFA finally added replay Thierry Henry? “Oui.”
Adidas Soccer Commercial Featuring Zinedine Zidane,David Beckham & Steven Gerrard
Kinda reminds me of the early 90’s McDonald’s commercial with Larry Bird and Michael Jordan matching each others shots. Still a commercial packed with Zidane, Gerrard is pretty awesome…I know I didn’t mention the other lad but he gets enough pub as it is.
Charlie Davis Is Released From Washington DC Hospital
Get Well
One month after a late-night car accident that killed a young woman and shattered his World Cup dreams, U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies was released from a Washington D.C. hospital. Davies was hurt early in the morning of Oct. 13, the day before the national team’s final World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica at D.C.’s RFK Stadium. ne of the two women in the car was killed and the player suffered multiple fractures to his leg, elbow and face, in addition to a lacerated bladder.
“I would like to take the time to thank everyone who has dealt with me in the [Washington] Hospital Center and [National Rehabilitation Hospital] for really putting in the time to help me get better as a person and as an athlete,” Davies said in a statement. “I continue to improve every day and I look forward to getting back on my feet and attacking rehabilitation. Thank you for everyone’s support, it really means a lot to me.”
Davies’ doctor, James DeBritz, said, “Charlie faces a long recovery from his orthopaedic injuries. It will take time and extensive physical therapy for his bones and soft tissue to heal. However, his overall health, age and positive attitude should help him to have a good outcome.”
The national team will play friendlies at Slovakia on Saturday and at Denmark on Nov. 18.
Elizabeth Lambert An Inspiration To Girls Soccer
Elizabeth Lambert is an inspiration to the girls of Woonsocket Villa Novans and the Tolman Tigers of Rhode Island.
In the girls soccer championship game and with Woonsocket up 5-0 in the final minute, tempers began to flare and Woonsocket’s Kristen Cahill and Tolman’s Maria Lopera realized they had just one more minute left to try impress the coaches of the University of New Mexico so they started a brawl. It didn’t end just there, during the post game awards ceremony fans from both schools continued the fight in the stands.
My crush on Elizabeth Lambert continues to grow with each passing day.
Elizabeth Lambert Is A Bad Woman
I like my women to have some hood in them and Elizabeth Lambert of the University of New Mexico Lobos women soccer team has just that.
That girl bad and me likey. A lot!
***UPDATE*** Elizabeth Lambert has been suspended indefinitely after engaging in rough play, she is prohibited from taking part in practices, games and conditioning, coach Kit Vela announced.
I say leave her alone, it was all in the name of the game, she’s a good woman.
SMU SOCCER PLAYER NAILS 95 YARD GOAL
Southern Methodist University Ryan Rosenbaum provided what ended up being the deciding goal in the Mustangs 3-2 victory over No. 16 Tulsa and it came about from 95 yards out.
Ronaldo Replaces Beckham As Giorgio Armani’s Model
Across The Globe Gay Men Can't Wait
Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo has replaced English star David Beckham again, this time modeling for Giorgio Armani. The 24-year old Real Madrid player will be the official worldwide testimonial for its Emporio Armani’s Men’s Underwear and Armani Jeans, starting in the spring of 2010.
Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player after his $130 million move from Manchester United to Real in June, also replaced Beckham in the United team in 2003 after the England midfielder signed for Real.
Los Angeles Galaxy’s Beckham is close to signing another five-month loan deal with AC Milan from January in an effort to keep himself ready for England’s squad but Ronaldo’s Portugal could miss out on the World Cup in South Africa.
Charlie Davies World Cup Future In Limbo
SCARY
United States national team forward Charlie Davies will be hospitalized for at least a week following surgery to repair numerous fractures and a lacerated bladder suffered in the one-car accident in Arlington, Virginia.
The injuries of this nature usually have a recovery period of 6-12 months and extensive physical rehabilitation, and there’s know telling the mental rehibliation needed for being associated with the loss of life of Ashley J. Robertag. It more than likely that the 23-year-old will miss next summer’s World Cup that the United States qualified for this past Saturday.
U.S. Soccer said that Davies suffered fractures to the femur and tibia in his right leg, his left elbow and his face, in addition to the injured bladder. Doctors inserted titanium rods in both leg bones and will need additional surgeries on his elbow and possibly his face.
It still unknown whether Davies was the driver or a passenger but it is now known he was out past curfew when the crash happened around 3 A.M.
The U.S. will face Costa Rica in its qualifying finale Wednesday night at RFK Stadium.
