[OFF THE POST] Meleanie Hain, who lost her concealed weapons permit after taking a Glock 26 to her 5-year-old daughter’s soccer games, has got the permit back and assured a Pennsylvania judge, “I’m certainly not looking to shoot anyone over a goal.”
What They’re Saying
“We have an agreement – we don’t eat them, they don’t eat us.”
— U.S. defender Frankie Hejduk, an avid surfer, declines one of Trinidad’s famous shark sandwiches while on the Caribbean island for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifying game. (U.S. Soccer)
The Technician’s Fear Of The Lighting
“The quality of the lighting is our biggest fear.” ESPN soccer producer Tom McNeely tells Jack Bell about the logistics of covering U.S. national team games abroad.
U.S. Qualification No Longer In Doubt
“Let’s be honest, was there ever really any doubt that the U.S. wasn’t going to get to the next [World Cup qualifying] round? And, aside from the required platitudes, is there really any doubt in anyone’s mind that the U.S. will qualify for 2010?” Greg Lalas can’t get too excited about the U.S. World Cup […]
For Canada, The Road To 2014 Starts Here
“Now practically everyone expects the CSA [Canadian Soccer Association] to fire national team coach Dale Mitchell, who wasn’t everyone’s first choice but a convenient replacement for Frank Yallop.” Columnist Kent Gilchrist exhorts the CSA to get Canada’s national team program back on track in time for the 2014 World Cup qualifying cycle.
‘Disrespected’ Robinson Ready To Welcome Quakes
“We feel like we owe them [San Jose] one. I think there is a little chip on our shoulder with the way we feel disrespected with not getting to keep our accomplishments from San Jose. We’re really looking forward to showing them who won the two championships there and who won the two here.” The […]
Humble Beckham Accepts Reduced England Role
“David Beckham is not ready to leave the stage,” writes an admiring Kevin McCarra of the midfielder’s England international career. “No critic of his attention-seeking behavior runs short of material. Still, Beckham does show a surprising tenacity and has had to suppress some self-regard merely to cling to the national team.” Beckham is now content […]
Repeatedly Showing The Mother Of All Misses
Most soccer fans will have seen by now Scotland debutant Chris Iwelumo's notorious miss against Norway in Glasgow Saturday, when the striker fluffed a chance from two yards out with nobody to beat six minutes after coming into the 0-0 game as a substitute. Suffering fans in the stadium were not spared either. Despite having […]
FC Dallas Crowds Dive
FC Dallas suffered an average loss of over 2,000 spectators per game at home this season compared with 2007, reports Diego Aparicio. The team drew an average of 13,023 fans to its 20,500-seat stadium in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, compared with last year’s average of 15,145. Dallas ranks 13th in average attendance in MLS, […]
UEFA Slaps Atletico Madrid With CL Stadium Ban For Racism
Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA has ordered La Liga’s Atletico Madrid to play its next two home Champions League games at least 300 kilometres (186 miles) outside Madrid because of racist chanting from spectators at the team’s home game with French club Olympique Marseille earlier this month. In a sign that it’s finally getting tough […]
Gullit: U.S. Doesn’t Want Soccer To Become Popular
After making a less than favorable impression during his ill-fated tenure as the L.A. Galaxy coach earlier this year, Ruud Gullit has been idly theorizing about the future of soccer in the United States. His considered verdict is that soccer will not be allowed to become popular in the U.S. due to a widespread fear […]
AWARDS: Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week
Michigan State’s freshman sensation, Laura Heyboer, is the Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week. For all the Women’s Team of the Week selections for games played Oct. 6-12 …
MORNING BRIEFING: Seniors lead streaking Gators
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Florida, which was hit hard by graduation, but the Gators have won seven in a row and are six-for-six in the SEC.
AWARDS: Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week
Senior Quincy Amarikwa of surging UC Davis is the Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week. For all the Men’s Team of the Week selections for games played Oct. 6-12 …
RISING STAR: Portland’s Michelle Enyeart
SOCCER AMERICA profiles the University of Portland’s Michelle Enyeart, who is busy this fall on two fronts. She is one of the stars of the fourth-ranked Pilots (11-1-0) with five goals and seven assists in 11 games and is expected to be a key player on the U.S. under-20 women’s national team that is headed to the world championships next month in Chile.
MORNING BRIEFING: UCLA’s struggles continue
It’s been another up-and-down season for UCLA, which failed to have a winning season for the first time in 41 years as an NCAA varsity sport in 2007.
World Cup 2010 Qualifying TV Schedule
The Trinidad & Tobago-USA game is one of 11 World Cup qualifiers available on television on Wednesday. For all the listings …
Home bankers in Asian qualifying
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] In Asian World Cup qualifying this week, Australia and Japan have winnable home games, while in Group 2’s big match Iran hosts North Korea.
African aftermath both violent and celebratory
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] The end of the first phase of World Cup qualifying in Africa sparked off violence, celebrations and, in the case of Uganda, widespread confusion.
Two more changes to U.S. roster
[TRINIDAD & TOBAGO-USA] After releasing nine players and adding four others to face Trinidad & Tobago in the next U.S. qualifier, Coach Bob Bradley has tweaked the squad yet again.
Crew labels Supporters’ Shield as ‘first step’
Nobody knows better than Sigi Schmid that sitting atop the MLS standings during the regular season means nothing in the postseason. Clinching the Supporters’ Shield, which the Crew accomplished Sunday by tying the Fire, 2-2, at Toyota Park, isn’t even half the battle in MLS.
Good review for extra linesmen
[REF WATCH] The first official experimentation with extra linesmen was conducted at a European U-19 Championship qualifying tournament in Slovenia and UEFA President Michel Platini was pleased with the results. An extra linesman was positioned near each goal to help alert referees to fouls in the area or diving incidents.
What They’re Saying
“They left us stuck in the plane for an hour and a half. Inside the hotel, we also had numerous difficulties during the night. There was a discotheque and a lot of shouting near the players’ rooms. Four or five players were ill because of the [hotel] food. This creates a certain difficulty.”
— Brazil coach Dunga, who also noted that a Brazilian flag was burned at Pueblo Nuevo stadium and the national anthem was jeered, details the Venezuelan hospitality surrounding last weekend’s World Cup qualifying game, which Brazil won, 4-0. (Reuters)
Soccer on TV
World Cup qualifiers highlight the midweek. The USA plays Trinidad & Tobago, Wednesday night on ESPN. The MLS playoff race continues on Wednesday when San Jose travels to Houston and in Thursday’s MLS game, D.C. United hosts New England. European leagues to return to action this weekend. The Mexican league’s weekend matches and Gol TV’s weekend schedule will appear in Friday’s Soccer on TV e-letter.
Arena: We Live For Another Day
“Well, we live for another day. Ours is a simple formula — we have to win games. I’ve said all along I’ve not concerned myself with standings and points, because for us, we have win games.” L.A. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena is fully aware of the task at hand.
