June 29, 2011



Last night, the third round proper, or round of 16, commenced in the 2011 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The round featured eight MLS teams who earned byes to this round. These MLS clubs either qualified for the third round proper by finishing in the top six overall in 2010 or qualifying for the final two entry spots through a chain of play-in propers.

2011 USOC Recap: Third Round

Last night, the third round proper, or round of 16, commenced in the 2011 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The round featured ei...

June 27, 2011


Given the fact that there were so many expected results, there was not much change in the Power Rankings, other than the fact the Galaxy were removed as the Power Ranking leaders, thanks to Dallas overwhelmingly dominant performance over Portland. The week included Aron Winter, Toronto FC head coach, (yet again) claiming that his team came out timid. It saw D.C. United get a bitter taste of their medicine. All of which was complimented by Salt Lake regaining their confidence and their form, drama mounting in New York and Levesque carving his name in the Emerald City hearts.

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 16

Given the fact that there were so many expected results, there was not much change in the Power Rankings, other than the fact the Galaxy w...

June 26, 2011

Photo via Flickr user proforged. Photo used with the CC BY NC-ND 2.0 Creative Commons License.


As Freddy Adu orchestrated a slick pass to Landon Donovan, which led to a jarring 2-0 lead for the United States, I reacted in the same manner as the few fellow American soccer fans did, got up halfway and felt it was a sucker punch to the extreme heavyweights, Mexico.

However, note how I said half way. It hit me. The last time the United States national soccer team went up so unexpectedly, and so early was two years back. Yes, I'm talking about the 2009 Confederations Cup final, when the Yanks bagged two goals inside half an hour, stunning Brazil 2-0. 

And what followed?

Yes. Brazil would rally and nab a 3-2 victory. The unsettling thought seemed practically inevitable. Before I could complete the entire thought and scenario, the United States' impressive, yet shocking lead, evaporating, as the score leveled of at 2-2. 

Rather than being stunned, or unsettled about the Mexican comeback, I just rolled my eyes and subconsciously thought to myself how it was only to come. As the match progressed in the second half and El Tri rallied to score four unanswered goals, the classic problems marring the United States could not have been more evident.

Recap: 2011 Gold Cup Final. Mexico 4-2 USA

Photo via Flickr user  proforged . Photo used with the CC BY NC-ND 2.0 Creative Commons License. As Freddy Adu orchestrated a slick pa...

June 24, 2011

Basic Information

For the third consecutive tournament, the United States and Mexico, arguably the two heavyweights of CONCACAF will clash against one another in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final. The match will be played in Pasadena, California at the Rose Bowl.

TV: FOX Soccer Channel, 8:30 p.m. EST

2011 Gold Cup Final: Preview

Basic Information For the third consecutive tournament, the United States and Mexico, arguably the two heavyweights of CONCACAF will clash ...

June 23, 2011

Well, lets see. Earlier today I saw a comment on an MLSSoccer.com recap of the Mexico vs. Honduras match, where someone claimed that Javier Hernandez's value was around €40M, and to be worth more than the entire United States national soccer team roster.

And yes, that's far more than probably the most expensive player on the U.S. national team. Right now, before even doing any research, I would say either Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey or Tim Howard is the most expensive American right now, and I would put their value, in Euros roughly around €12-16M.

But to say the entire roster? Now, I think any fan with common sense can collectively agree, that's a far stretch. So, lets crunch some numbers and make a wild guess to see if this commenter is making a decent statement or is just trolling the Internet boards.

Is Chicharito worth more than the entire USMNT squad?

Well, lets see. Earlier today I saw a comment on an MLSSoccer.com recap of the Mexico vs. Honduras match, where someone claimed that Javier ...

June 22, 2011

This speaks for itself, but to delve into this fascinating topic, it's a playlist. Made by Grooveshark. It involves songs from senior year of high school. For me at least. Enjoy it.


Senior Year Playlist

This speaks for itself, but to delve into this fascinating topic, it's a playlist. Made by Grooveshark. It involves songs from senior ye...
Photo via Flickr user donr. Used with the Creative Commons Non-Commercial License

Background Information:


US national soccer team vs. Panama in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.

USMNT vs. Panama Preview

Photo via Flickr user donr . Used with the Creative Commons Non-Commercial License .  Background Information: US national soccer team vs...

June 21, 2011

Drink up.


Alright time to do a non-soccer related post. The Pursuit of Victory people want me to write some preview of the U.S.A. vs. Panama soccer game tomorrow, but I feel I'm far too uninformed to write a through piece. Really. I mean, if I don't it's not the end of the World since I volunteer my mediocre scribing for their young soccer blog/news site.

See what I mean by mediocre? I'm already in the second paragraph of the blog, and I've yet to present/introduce the primarily topic and delve into the the background analysis of how the topic came to be in my life, or the impact it is having on this very moment. Then again, blogging is the art of writing how you would speak, and I'm notorious for saying so much without saying anything at all. Being concise is something I have to work on.

Capri Sun Challenge

Drink up. Alright time to do a non-soccer related post. The Pursuit of Victory people want me to write some preview of the U.S.A. vs. P...
Photo courtesy of Flickr user prentz. Used with the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 License

Hate to use such a cliche introduction, but it was, in fact a wild week in MLS. First, the whole diabolical involving Thierry Henry, causing him to be ejected and suspended for New York's marquee match vs. Seattle Sounders. Next, there was the evident flop of D.C. United's Charlie Davies when being "tackled" by Real Salt Lake's Chris Wingert. And to sum things up, the Midnight Riders, the agglomeration of New England Revolution supporters have a bitter, perhaps nasty rivalry with no other than the Revolution Front Office. Teams flew up and down the Power Rankings this week, where only United remained in the same position as last week.

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 14

Photo courtesy of Flickr user prentz . Used with the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 License .  Hate to use such a cliche introduction, but it was, in ...

June 18, 2011



My sleep schedule is finally starting to get back on track, and with it, I have begun the enduring process of finishing up thank you notes to family and friends who have given me any type of gift for graduation. Still way behind, and yet having some to do, I decided to mail off two more thank you notes I finished and sealed off for elsewhere. As I pressed stamps on the envelopes my mom came inside with an envelope in her hand.

Initially, I was at a bit of a confusion, primarily because she was going to run errands and pick up my loving brother, Rory, from a friend’s house. She handed it to me, and explained how she saw a letter from the Mason’s admissions office.

The fact that Mason finally sent me something threw me off like no other. For instance, ever since I got a wait list letter from Mason last April, I knew it could be as long as three months before I heard anything. It was not quite three months, but it was a prolonged wait coming to an end. Unfortunately, it was nothing in terms of we have extra space, nor a plea asking to join them. So with that, I’m for sure locked to going to VCU this fall, which really is nothing in the way of upsetting. Whether I trained myself to think that way or it was a lack of interest that waned each successive day is the real wonder.

A Forgotten Reconnection with Mason

My sleep schedule is finally starting to get back on track, and with it, I have begun the enduring process of finishing up thank you notes...

June 11, 2011

And how he got into Tech and JMU amazes me if this is how he roughly spent a majority of his high school life!

Photo of the Day: June 11, 2011

And how he got into Tech and JMU amazes me if this is how he roughly spent a majority of his high school life!

June 10, 2011

And to think, this was a year ago.

A Year Back on the World Cup

And to think, this was a year ago.

June 06, 2011

1. FC DALLAS
Last Week: 2
Result: W 1-0 vs. NE
Last Five: W-T-W-T-W

I remember about a month or so ago, the American soccer blogosphere, and myself, were speculating whether or not the Hoops would hit an upswing after a rather rocky start. Well, our speculation was not wasted. Dallas looked just as menacing as they were in 2010. Having no call-ups for the Gold Cup will play to their advantage – and raise expectations.

2. LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Last Week: 1
Result: T 0-0 vs. DC
Last Five: W-W-W-W-T

Missing their two Donovan’s, Donovan Ricketts and Landon Donovan, due to Gold Cup call-ups, Galaxy manager Bruce Arena had little hesitation to denounce the Galaxy’s performance. And righteously so. In ways, the Galaxy were a tad bit lucky to finish the match drawn with the revived United side.

3. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Last Week: 3
Result: T 1-1 @ TOR
Last Five: T-L-W-W-T

First, you completely dismantle Toronto FC in their home stadium, before tying the defending MLS Cup champions? Piotr Nowak has to be happy with the Union’s performance in their sophomore campaign as the Zolos steer two points clear of New York and five up against D.C.

4. REAL SALT LAKE
Last Week: 5
Result: W 2-0 vs. VAN
Last Five: W-T-T-L-W

It was a dream performance for Haitien Jean Alexandre, and it looks as if RSL is finally regaining their expected form. Perhaps the absence of Saborio is a factor?

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 12

1. FC DALLAS Last Week: 2 Result: W 1-0 vs. NE Last Five: W-T-W-T-W I remember about a month or so ago, the American soccer blogospher...

June 05, 2011

Was not fun having to navigate online through piles of spam to find actual highlights, but these will likely be up for another hour before they get taken down.

2011 Gold Cup Highlights: Costa Rica 5-0 Cuba

Was not fun having to navigate online through piles of spam to find actual highlights, but these will likely be up for another hour before t...

 

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