Archive for June, 2011

Thursday Lunch: De Rosario, McCarty, Frings, and the Copa America

Posted: June 30, 2011 in conmebol, copa america, mls, professional sports, soccer, sports
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By Evan Ream

 

DC United traded Dax McCarty straight up for Dwayne De Rosario, and I’m not really sure how to feel about it. DC started the year with a promising youth movement that included Dejan Jakovic (25 years old), Charlie Davies (25), Jed Zayner (26), Chris Pontius (24), Andy Najar (18), Dax McCarty (24), Ethan White (20), Bill Hamid (20), Chris Korb (23), Perry Kitchen (19), Santino Quaranta (26), and Conor Shanosky (19). All of these players looked to be promising contributors for the next 4-5 years at the very least. Many DC fans such as myself were excited that, while this year might not be the year to win anything, DC could build with all these young players and do something in the next three to four years, possibly become a dominant team. Then DC gave up on their 24-year-old captain and midfield fulcrum to acquire a 33-year-old player in the final year of his contract.

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Tuesday Lunch: Concerned Fan Follow Up–What Has Been Done and What Will Happen From Here

Posted: June 28, 2011 in professional sports, soccer, usmnt
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By Evan Ream and Russell Jordan

 

On Saturday, four other American Outlaws and us attended the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final between USA and Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. If you are reading this, you have probably already heard of the details of what happened, but if you haven’t here is a link to our original post. Please read this if you haven’t as there are many controversial issues brought up in it that we feel need to come to light in order to help soccer in America improve.

 

When we returned from the trip after seeing the injustices that occurred during the game and the obvious security issues, I encouraged Russell (the most outspoken member of our group) to say something that hopefully a few people would notice so that the issue could come to light. After voicing his displeasures on Twitter, Russell was asked by US Soccer to write a note to them explaining what happened. Russell’s now famous note started as a Facebook post, but we ended up posting it to our blog so that people who weren’t his friend on Facebook could have their say in the matter.

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Tuesday Lunch: Lack of USMNT Support in USA a Disgrace

Posted: June 28, 2011 in professional sports, soccer, sports, usmnt
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By Matt Ream

 

In the buildup to the Gold Cup final on Saturday, I was attending a wedding instead of tailgating at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California with my brother and friends. I was nowhere near a television so I was forced to use my phone as a way to stay updated on the pre game coverage. I almost constantly checked Facebook and Twitter, and texted my brother multiple times to figure out what was going on.

 

Among other things was the news that a Mexican fan had thrown a full and unopened bottle of Bud Light destined for the back of my brother’s head while he was engaged in a beer pong game, only to be thwarted by the quick reflexes of a nearby member of the American Outlaws, who managed to deflect it into my brother’s back. Maybe it was a good thing I was not there, as I could have been one of over 20 people arrested (surprisingly only a small amount of people were arrested at the game last night, apparently throwing beer bottles and other things into crowds before and during the game isn’t a crime), likely for confronting the asshole who did that. It really never changes – Mexican fans always seem to behave in the same inappropriate and disrespectful manner toward US supporters and the US national team.

 

Back to my story –

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Monday Lunch: CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI

Posted: June 27, 2011 in professional sports, sports, usmnt
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gold_cup_2011By Evan Ream

 

Ever since the Gold Cup ended, I have been waiting for CONCACAF or FIFA or whoever to release a Best XI; for whatever reason I love them. Unfortunately, none has come and none seem to be forthcoming so I have decided to make my own in a standard 4-4-2 formation. Here are my picks:

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Monday Lunch: 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final Game Report

Posted: June 27, 2011 in professional sports, sports, usmnt
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By TSL Staff

 

Even though the result of the match SUCKED ASS, AO Davis and TSL (minus Jamaal, that loser who did not attend) had a great time supporting the US. Here is our trip documentation, from the road trip down to Los Angeles, to the delicious pancake puppies that tried to make up for the US’ loss.

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Monday Lunch: A Letter to US Soccer from a Concerned Fan at the Gold Cup Final

Posted: June 27, 2011 in professional sports, soccer, sports, usmnt
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By Russell Jordan

I was asked on Twitter to send my story to this email, so here it is. My Twitter handle is @RussaldoAO.

My name is Russell Jordan; I am the president and founder of the American Outlaws Davis chapter. Myself and seven other American Outlaws Davis members made the drive from Davis to Pasadena for the Gold Cup Final this past Saturday. (more…)

Saturday/Sunday Lunch: MLS Week 15 Picks

Posted: June 25, 2011 in mls, picks, professional sports, sports
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Current Year’s Record
Evan: 57-82
Kyle: 54-85
Nick: 46-93
Will: 52-87

NY at SEA
 HOU at DCU LA at SJ Chivas at PHI POR at FCD VAN at SKC TFC at RSL NY at CHI
Evan
DRAW
 DCU SJ PHI FCD SKC RSL DRAW
Kyle
 SEA DRAW LA PHI FCD SKC RSL NY
Nick
 SEA DCU LA PHI POR VAN RSL NY
Will
 DRAW DRAW LA PHI FCD SKC RSL DRAW
NE at SEA COL at CLB VAN at TFC
Evan SEA CLB DRAW
Kyle SEA CLB DRAW
Nick SEA CLB VAN
Will SEA DRAW DRAW

 

Special

Friday Lunch: Clint Dempsey’s Unfinished Accomplishment

Posted: June 24, 2011 in professional sports, soccer, usmnt
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By Evan Ream

 

Clint Dempsey has played 76 times for USA. In those 76 games, he has scored 22 goals including two goals against both England and Brazil and another against Spain. Dempsey is one of three players (Brian McBride and Landon Donovan are the others) to score in two different World Cups. Dempsey has scored three goals in the Confederations Cup and five in the Gold Cup. He has added five more in World Cup Qualification. But most of all, Clint Dempsey has never scored against Mexico.

 

Right now, Dempsey is playing the best soccer of his career. He has taken over from Landon as our go to guy. The only person that has stopped Dempsey during this Gold Cup has been himself (see highlights of the USA vs. Guadeloupe game). Dempsey is now the USMNT’s fifth all-time leading goal-scorer and is just three away from sole custody of fourth place. If Dempsey’s career ended today, one day before the Gold Cup Final, he would surely be a US Soccer Hall of Famer; yet, his career wouldn’t be complete. Fans would remember that there was something missing, and that something is a goal against Mexico.

 

If my memory serves correctly (and it may not) Dempsey has played against Mexico five times and failed to score a goal. (In comparison, Landon has four career goals vs. Mexico). Dempsey will likely get more chances to play Mexico after tomorrow and he will certainly score more goals for the national team, but if he wants to be remembered as a USMNT legend, he has to take his chances tomorrow and score one (or more) against his biggest rival. For so long Dempsey has stood in Landon’s shadow; it’s his time to break out and scoring against Mexico would be breaking out in the biggest fashion. Good luck Deuce.

Thursday Lunch: MLS Picks for Today

Posted: June 23, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Since Will (me) is out of town, I only have time to post the picks for today’s match. The usual table will be up tomorrow with updated standings

 

Evan: DRAW

Kyle: SEA

Nick: SEA

Will: DRAW

Monday Lunch: Projecting the Hexagonal

Posted: June 20, 2011 in professional sports, soccer, sports, usmnt
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By Evan Ream

 

With the Gold Cup winding down with just four teams remain in the competition; I wanted to take a look at the next exciting event in CONCACAF that is just over the horizon: World Cup Qualifying.

 

The Hexagonal format has been in place since qualification for the 1998 World Cup. It takes the top six teams in CONCACAF and pits them against each other in 10 home and away fixtures with the top three teams automatically qualifying and the fourth place team earning a playoff spot against another federation.

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