The imagined rivalry

This is it. It is the American soccer equivalent of Magic vs Bird, Ali vs Frazier, Agassi vs Sampras, Lemieux vs Gretzky…or is it?

Things to be discussed

The redemption of Rico Clark? Not if you think about it.

The newest round of USMNT friendlies have kicked off.  Unlike the previous ones, the team had a chance to work in training for nearly a month before beginning.  With a squad mostly consisting of MLS players, these January camps are usually spots where players try to break through for some call ups with a more “A” like squad.

For Kicks & Giggles: Week of 1/16

For Kicks & Giggles is a series here at Viva la Futbol, which highlights some of the top football blogs that I have found over the course of each week.  If you would like to see your blog added here, either send me a shout on Twitter @MindOfAbram or an email to Viva.La.Futbol.Ahora[at]Gmail[dot]com.  These lists will feature between 8 and 11 blogs, videos, or various web related things at least every other Friday.

I’d like to express interest in…

So the LA Galaxy’s Tim Leiweke has expressed interest in Frank Lampard.  Well not so fast Mr. Leiweke.  I’m calling dibs. I too am throwing my hat in the interest expressing ring of Mr. Frank Lampard.  And my interest to get him is only slightly less realistic than LA’s.

A rising fire

As far as MLS goes, I’ve always been fascinated by the Chicago Fire.  Here’s a team that is in America’s third largest city.  A team that has, unsuccessfully some might say, used the designated player rule.  A team that has its own stadium and a great supporters group.  A team that even has, for MLS standards, tradition.

Footballing in the land of football: #SupportLocalSoccer

There is seemingly a soccer black-hole over the Southeastern United States. Over the next few months, I will be looking at football culture in the Southeastern United States. 

I would suggest that what’s holding us back is our inferiority complex.

It all ties together in the end.  The words of Will Kuhns, the communication director of MLS, were spoken to Eric Wynalda during Wynalda’s panel at the NCSAA.  It works as a definition for American soccer in general, but it can also be specifically applied to the conditions of footballing in the land of football.

For Kicks & Giggles: Week of 1/9

For Kicks & Giggles is a series here at Viva la Futbol, which highlights some of the top football blogs that I have found over the course of each week.  If you would like to see your blog added here, either send me a shout on Twitter @MindOfAbram or an email to Viva.La.Futbol.Ahora[at]Gmail[dot]com.  These lists will feature between 8 and 11 blogs, videos, or various web related things at least every other Friday.

2012 MLS SuperDraft superficial analysis

The MLS SuperDraft is, perhaps, the most fascinating draft in American professional sports.  It is not because it is the best players in the country are entering it, otherwise Marco Pelosi would be the top pick this year, it is because we are hearing names that will either become etched in American soccer lore (Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Fredy Adu, Brek Shea, et al) or will never become anything more than hysterical side notes (Bakary Soumaré, Pat Phelan, Mehdi Ballouchy, et al).

The thing I love about the video (found above) produced by MLS, is that at one point it asks the question, “is this the culmination of a life-long dream, or is it just the beginning?” Will the player play forever in MLS, or will he end up in a top flight, top four, league?

So with all these thoughts in mind, and my iPad and laptop out, I begin journalling my thoughts on the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

Footballing in the land of football: Alabama

There is seemingly a soccer black-hole over the Southeastern United States. Over the next few month, I will be looking at football culture in the Southeastern United States.  There will be a strong focus on Alabama, but I hope to pull in more writers to look at their states as well.

I live in Alabama.  A land of pigskin and field goals.  A place where every child plays soccer until he is eight or nine, before his father or grandfather tells him he has to quit because it is “gay.” A place where people scream war cries of “War Eagle” and “Roll Tide” while expecting a BCS “championship” every year. A part of the country where, despite the crackdown on illegal immigration, the best soccer is played in trailer parks by the children of illegal immigrants.

I’m among the few who football in the land of football.

The Rooney Revolution, flying pigs and all

This is a retread of a piece I wrote for ESPN’s Sportsnation about a year-and-a-half ago.  I find it humorous –and a little sad– that with very few alterations it’s still true.  

All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again.

Hey, Revs, want to fill those empty seats? I have a solution.

The top brass at New England supposedly wants to get the Boston market looking in their direction.  This has been part of the organizations downfall is a failure to catch the imagination of the Boston market –or the Portland, ME, New Bedford, Providence, or Hartford markets either.  So as they do yearly, they begin to claim they are looking to sign Designated Players, one whom obviously needs to be an attacking player. But more than just another Milton Caraglio retread, the Revolution need imagination.  They need innovation.  They need balls the size of the gas tanks on the Central Artery. They need a name who will grab the attention of the locals in order to fill up Gillette.

So, I have a proposition for the Kraft Group:  Don’t sign two or three DPs. Instead sign one, pay him astronomically, and make sure his name is Wayne Rooney.