Hot To Trot News

The Send Off Series begins tonight:
Tuesday May 23 v Morocco - at The Coliseum in Nashville at 6pm central on ESPN2
I will be rocking at The Blue Nile bar as some of my pals taste the newest brew from Surley. Come and join us won't you?!
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Don't forget that the USA Send-off Series continues Friday night in Cleveland.
-I will probably be out & about somewhere watching, and I will post it here, so you can join up in the rabble-rousing!
-Friday May 26 v Venezuela - at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland at 6pm central on ESPN2
-Sunday May 28 v Latvia - at Rentschler Field in Hartford at 6pm central on ESPN2
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Next Sunday (correction, thanks Chris) in Connecticut v Latvia the USA will wear a very special limited edition "Don't Tread On Me" jersey! USA Soccer is taking pre-orders for this one-off shirt now, and promise to have them to you before the World Cup!
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The law of averages says that in these three friendly's someone is going to get hurt badly enough that they will not go to Germany and that an alternate will be called in. I am not making an predictions, but it's a reality the team will most likely have to face. 4 years ago Chris Armas and Greg Vanney were replaced during this week.
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From ESPN: Get another view inside the locker room of the U.S. Men’s National Team when ESPN’s SportsCenter kicks off a series of behind-the-scenes features that will air nightly from May 24-29. SportsCenter’s World Cup reporter Shelley Smith will deliver the 90-second segments that will be shot and aired the same day, showing scenes from training, team meetings, locker rooms and wherever else the cameras might make their way during the five-day window.
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US Soccer Presents: Ben Olsen's American Football Academy!
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Lars Lifrak of Soccer 365 does a Q & A with USA & New England midfield star Clint Dempsey.
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The New York Times Jere Longman looks at the USA's mystery injury man and potential X factor John O'Brien.
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USA Today has a brief look at Nike's USA World Cup marketing push.
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And that same paper's Kelly Whiteside has a feature on the amazing duo of Beasley and Donovan!
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Jean Philippe Peguero of New York Red Bulls was named MLS Player Of The Week after poking in 3 goals v Chivas.
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A quote from the Columbus Crew goalkeeper coach in today's Columbus Dispatch: "Today, we don’t have a single healthy goalkeeper." Not looking good for them as both starter Jon Busch and his back up Andy Gruenebaum went down with injuries in the game v DC last Saturday. Sadly for Busch the news is real bad, as he blew out the same knee that he tore up almost exactly one year ago now. And Gruenebaum broke his wrist, which is slightly vital to a keeper. The team had other experienced keeper in Johnny Walker but he is out all season with a back injury that needed surgery. So who do they turn to? Can you say dregs? This could be a real disaster for a team that was just starting to click. Some big help could be on the way though as Sigi says he may suit up!!
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Wednesday night MLS game
New York v Dallas - 530pm central time on Direct Kick
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AC Milan and Portugal star Rui Costa is heading to Benfica next season. Will it be his last?
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Newsweek gets in on the World Cup action too now! An article on the young hopeful's of the tournament.
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Ives Galarcep tries to figure out how the USA will play it against the Czech's, for Soccernet.
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Big Soccer poster Cyberthoth gleaned some "Interesting Tidbits" from Monday's Team USA practice at the Coliseum in Nashville.
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Luis Bueno of the Inland So Cal Press Enterprise looks at some of the most talented players who will NOT be playing at this World Cup.
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Pete Grathoff of the KC Star looks in-depth at our big boss man Bruce Arena.
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Soccer America has a feature story on the USA's biggest supporters club, Sam's Army. Of which I am, and you should be, a dues paying member.
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The Newark Star Ledger takes a look inside the company that has bought and now runs the Red Bull New York soccer team.
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The tiny island nation of Bermuda is looking very closely at entering a team in the USL Second Division for next year, lead by that countries biggest ever star player Shaun Goater who played for many seasons in the upper divisions in England.
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Phil Ball delivers his Spanish review for Soccernet: End of season thoughts
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Earnie Stewart's first job at his new club NAC Breda is to find a coach, and his first choice is former England & Arsenal captain Tony Adams. Will it happen?
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The Soccer Times has the full World Cup TV viewing schedule with dates, matches, times and channels (all times listed are eastern).
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Kelly sent me an article from Big Apple Soccer about the new Veterans Committee picks for the US Soccer Hall Of Fame. Being selected is Al Trost. But what Kelly really wrote to me about was.... maybe somebody can explain how the hell Kyle Rote Jr. is only pulling down 35 %. I mean the guy was the first American to lead the NASL in scoring and had a better than respectable career when that league was still stocked with foreign talent. Christ he even had his own poster on a promotion with 7Up - along with Mike Schmidt. And he's also been an owner and announcer since. I can see the modern day sports writer being in the dark, but the veterans committee has no excuse... I fully agree. Rote was the first American soccer player I knew of, and is in the Hall of Fame that resides in my brain.
-Big bucks MLS investor Phillip Anschutz is also being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a special honoree.
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Miroslav Klose of Werder Bremen was named Bundesliga Player Of The Year.
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Another good Jay Demerit article from Charles Gardner at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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And our man Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune gives Jay Demerit some love too: Ball is round, but the spirit is pure Lombardi
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And lastly, Happy 1st Birthday to Kali's Real Salt Lake Blog, who are trying to make a star out of Bob The Janitor.