[MLS] Major League Soccer released the initial list of 65 college seniors — 55 Americans or green-card holders and 10 foreigners — from 45 Division I schools who have been invited to participate in the 2009 adidas MLS Player Combine, which will be held at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jan. 9-13, 2009. For the complete list …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rio Tinto Cuts 14,000 Jobs
Mining company and Real Salt Lake stadium sponsor Rio Tinto is cutting 14,000 jobs globally to try and reduce its debt of $38.9 billion. The company announced Wednesday a 15 percent cut in its workforce, a halt to its expansion plans, and the sale of some assets.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo Proud Of Himself
"I'm proud of myself. This was never an easy fight at any moment and I'm winning. Corinthians believed in me, they have a fantastic project for 2009 and I'm very confident it will be a great year, although I know I will have a lot of difficulties at the start." Brazilian striker Ronaldo, 32, lauds […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
It’s Official: Sigi’s Gone
"I think the way things left off after the win in L.A. when Sigi brought us together seemed like a goodbye speech. It was very heartfelt and we all got the message." Columbus Crew forward Alejandro Moreno after his team officially confirmed that MLS Coach of the Year Sigi Schmid has parted ways with the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Angel The Gold Standard, Says Agoos
"To me, Juan Pablo [Angel] is the gold standard of the designated player slot. We look for a player who is going to be a leader and have an impact on and off the field. Juan Pablo is that person. Throughout the league there's been a debate about how effective the designated player has been. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Faces Of Bigotry Made Public
"We want to send a clear message that abuse of this kind will not be tolerated and that we are taking robust action. I'd urge anyone who recognizes these people to contact us as soon as possible." Superintendent Neil Sherrington on 16 photographs the police has made public of Tottenham Hotspur supporters who were allegedly […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hildebrand Signs For Hoffenheim
http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/501521/
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Spanish Press Critical Of Ramos Appointment
The Spanish media has greeted Real Madrid's replacement of Bernd Schuster with Juande Ramos with generally critical commentaries in the wake of the new coach's recent failed stint at Tottenham Hotspur. Daily sports paper Marca called out Real's president Ramon Calderon and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic, citing "the Kafkaesque sacking of Schuster" as "nothing more […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Is It Ethical To Invest In Young Players?
The Hero Global Football Fund sounds like a noble endeavor, but in fact it is a group investing in young soccer players with a view to making a profit on their future sales, as David Conn explains. Although FIFA and the English Football Association have tightened their rules on third-party ownership of players in the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Jolly Unsporting, Old Chap
An English FA Cup second round game Tuesday between fourth-tier Chesterfield and non-league Droylesden "witnessed one the most bizarre passages of play in its 137-year history," according to The Times. With the score at 1-1 after 79 minutes, Droylesden put the ball out of play after an injury to its striker Carl Lamb. When Chesterfield […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber And Paulson Face Skeptical Portland
Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber faced “skeptical questioning” Tuesday at the first meeting of a city task force set up to examine Paulson’s idea of using $85 million in city-backed bonds to upgrade PGE Park to an MLS-grade venue and build a new baseball stadium. Group member Mark […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
OBITUARY: Youth soccer pioneer Frank Wall
Frank Hall, a member of the Washington State Youth Soccer Association’s Hall of Fame, died recently at the age of 73 after a battle with cancer.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. Youth National League kicks off second boys season
The U.S. Youth Soccer National League kicks off its 2008-09 boys season with under-15, under-16 and (for the first time) under-17 play beginning Thursday at the Ross Stewart Soccer Complex in Dallas. Games are being held in conjunction with the Men’s College Cup in Frisco to provide greater exposure of these teams to collegiate and national team coaches. For the complete schedule …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Texans perfect in National League girls play
The Dallas Texans Red, the defending national champions, won all four games in the under-17 girls division, making them the only team to win all four games in the U.S. Youth Soccer National League’s opening weekend of girls play in North Carolina.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Development Academy Winter Showcase honor roll
Sixteen teams were perfect in their three games at U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy Winter Showcase in Lancaster, Calif.: U-17/18 teams Andromeda, Colorado Rush AS Monaco, D.C. United, FC Delco, Derby County Wolves, Greensboro Youth Soccer, Lonestar, Met Oval, Miami FC Kendall, Real Colorado, Richmond Strikers and U-15/16 teams CASL, Crossfire Premier, Empire United, Irvine Strikers, Los Angeles Galaxy. For all the results …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
High School All-American boys and girls teams announced
The 2008 NSCAA/adidas Boys High School All-America Team included six repeat selections, all from fall programs: Brian Forgue (Downington West, Pa.), Andrew Wenger (Warwick, Pa.), Kevin Bick (St. Xavier High, Ky.), Jordan Cyrus (Norfolk Academy, Va.), Rafael Diaz (Morris Hills, N.J.) and Ben Newnam (East Forsyth, N.C.). The girls selections included Laura Heyboer, who earned her third high school All-American award for her play last spring at Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, Mich., and was also selected to the NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I All-America team for her standout season as a freshman at Michigan State. For all the boys and girls selections …
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“What is surprising and so hard about this case is that the people using this service are youth groups, research consortiums — people who are not big enough to host it on their own. We are talking small non-profit organizations — pretty vulnerable groups.”
— Marina Len, the attorney representing the 1,600-member Montclair Soccer Club, which filed suit against online registration firm Count Me In in U.S. District Court in Seattle, alleging that the club is owed $142,000 for past donations and registration fees handled by Count Me In. Other sports and non-sports organizations have since come forward, claiming that are owed money. (TechFlash)
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
COACHING MOVES: Gettler resigns at Richmond
Jeff Gettler, the winningest coach in Richmond men’s soccer history, has resigned, ending his 14-year tenure with the Spiders.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
GOAL OF THE YEAR: Quincy Amarikwa’s bike (VIDEO)
No player helped his stock more in his senior year than UC Davis forward Quincy Amarikwa. The Aggie star out of Bakersfield, Calif., finished with 15 goals, including a stunning bicycle kick against UC Santa Barbara that is surely the College Goal of the Year.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Women’s Scorers (Final)
With her two goals in the Women’s College Cup final, North Carolina’s Casey Nogueira won the NCAA Division I women’s title for points (58) and goals (25). For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Men’s Scorers
With three assists in the 5-0 win over South Florida, Wake Forest’s Cody Arnoux moved into second place behind Akron’s Steve Zakuani in the race for the national scoring title. Arnoux, who trails Zakuani by five points, and Marcus Tracy are the only players among the top 10 leaders in points competing in the Men’s College Cup. For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MEN’S COLLEGE CUP: Wake seniors are back yet again
Of all the accomplishments defending champion Wake Forest has achieved this season — No. 1 ranking, top seed and the nation’s top offense — perhaps none is as remarkable as the fact that Jay Vidovich has six seniors projected to start in their third straight final four. Sophomores Ike Opara and Corben Bone may be Wake’s top pro prospects and junior Cody Arnoux is its leading scorer, but the heart of the team is the six seniors — defenders Lyle Adams and Evan Brown, midfielders Sam Cronin, Jamie Franks and Michael Lahoud and striker Marcus Tracy — who all started at College Cup ’06 and College Cup ’07 and are projected to start in Friday’s semifinal against North Carolina (TV, ESPN2, live, 5:30 pm ET).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Didn’t work for me, but give it a try
[OFF THE POST] West Ham United’s new shirt sponsor, after the collapse travel agency XL, is the online sports betting service SBOBET. That means winger Matthew Etherington, who racked up $1.2 million in gambling debts, will be sporting a jersey encouraging others to test their bad luck.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USASA Announces New Award
The U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) will honor a Recharge Team of the Year, which will be selected from monthly winners recognized for their off-field contributions to their communities.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
A little at stake
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/TV SCHEDULE] All 16 knockout round qualifiers are set, so Wednesday’s games (Group E-H) are only about group winners and UEFA Cup qualifiers, because the third-place finishers move into that competition.