Walter Cronkite Party Animal News

In very sad news, the greatest pioneer of soccer in America, Lamar Hunt, has passed away. He had been suffering from cancer and was 74. To put it in perspective for me, that's the same age as my dad. Hunt was a big name in the days of the NASL and refused to let him dream die. He helped found MLS and owned the Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, and until recently the Kansas City Wizards. He built the first soccer stadium in the league in Columbus and followed that up with Pizza Hut Park stadium in Dallas. The US Open Cup is even named after him - officially titled The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. He was also one of the guiding lights of the NFL, and is the guy credited with inventing the Super Bowl. Now that is huge! He will be massively missed.
-Stories on his life and death from:
Columbus Dispatch
Kansas City Star
Dallas Morning News
Fort Worth Star Telegram
MLS Press Release
Frank Dell'apa at Soccernet
3rd Degree
-Michael Lewis at Big Apple Soccer with Lamar Hunt's top 10 most memorable soccer experiences. It's excellent.
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Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune says that soccer in America needs to chase it's own path, not follow the dreams of Eurosnobs. Hear! Hear! Hooray Beer!
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Happy New Year - sorta - The always brilliant Josh at ThroughBall.com has discovered that Landon Donovan has a gift registry for his upcoming New Years Eve wedding! Josh wants to buy Landycakes a gift. Let's all help Josh do just that. I say we get 'em a pizza stone.
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Real Salt Lake makes it official in signing Panama striker Luis Tejada. He is signed a one year loan deal, with an option to buy. From the Deseret Morning News.
-Are You Loyal? with photos from the press conference. For a dude who's nickname is Fatty, Tejada looks anything but.
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So what's the word on the Kevin Hartman to KC deal? Still nothing official yet.
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MLSnet gives us a recap on the league's select team of young players who went to England and played some exhibition matches.
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AllAfrica.com is reporting that 25 year old Angolan national team defensive midfielder Marco Joaquim aka Miloy will be coming to the USA and having a try out with New York Red Bulls right around Xmas. He was on his countries World Cup team last summer, but is currently without a club. (What does that say about him?). Thanks to Bob for the link.
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MetroFanatic takes an excellently placed cheap shot at former Metro/Red Bulls coach Mo Johnston regarding a former short-lived and possibly returning NYRB player Danilo da Silva.
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On his weblog, Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle with a deeper explanation and more detail on his story of Toluca striker Bruno Marioni's interest in coming to play in MLS. Excellent stuff.
-Houston team president Oliver Luck then talked to Marioni about his interest in possibly joining the team.
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And Glenn Davis of the Chronicle with his views on the leagues new Designated Player rule.
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In case you have not seen it, the bracket is available for the CONCACAF Champions Cup. If DC wins their first round they could face Guadalajara Chivas in round two, and if Houston wins they could face Pachuca.
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Jonah Freedman of Sports Illustrated with the all new latest and greatest World Soccer Power Rankings. It's more excitingly global than ever!
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The FIFA World Club Championship from Japan. Here is the schedule/scores:
Sun Dec 10
Auckland City 0-2 Al Ahly - goals by Flavio & Mohamed Aboutrika.
Mon Dec 11
Jeonbuk 0-1 America - the lone tally by Ricardo Rojas.
Wed Dec 13
Al Ahly 1-2 Internacional - Internacional sensation Pato scored first only to have Ahly tie it on a goal by Flavio. Super-sub Luiz Adriano won it for the South American champs. By the way, Pato is all the rage at this tournament. He is a 17 year old that every big club is chasing. His name means The Duck. Get used to hearing it.
Thur Dec 14
America 0-4 Barcelona - a complete pasting by the UEFA champs. Goals by Eidur Gudjohnsen, Rafa Marquez, Ronaldinho & Deco.
Fri Dec 15
game 1 loser v game 2 loser - 5th place game
Sat Dec 16
semifinal 1 loser v semifinal 2 loser - 3rd place game
Sun Dec 17
semifinal 1 winner v semifinal 2 winner - championship game
-See all the matches on Fox Soccer Channel
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You can go to UEFA.com and vote, from their nominees, for the UEFA Team Of The Year. Here are the du Nord picks:
G
Peter Cech
D
Daniel Alves
Roberto Ayala
Carles Puyol
Phillip Lahm
M
Lionel Messi
Claude Makelele
Kaka
Ronaldinho
F
Samuel Etoo
Thierry Henry
C
Frank Rijkaard
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Pachuca went to Santiago Chile and beat Colo Colo 1-2 on their own turf to win the final of the Copa SudaAmericana 3-2 on aggregate last night. The first leg in Mexico was a 1-1 draw.
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Real Madrid have signed young Argentine striker & star-in-the-making Gonzalo Higuain from River Plate.
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Is German & Werder Bremen star forward Miroslav Klose really going to sign with Juventus for next season? Even though they have no chance of playing in the Champions League? Really?
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Oh Boca Boca Boca Boca Boca! What are we going to do with you? Boca Juniors and coach Ricardo LaVolpe completely blew it. The mighty Estudiantes de la Plata charged up the table late in the season, caught Boca on the last day, and came from a goal down to win the Championship playoff last night 2-1! It was a sight to behold. The Estu fans losing their minds on one side of the stadium, and the Boca fans heaving up their guts on the other side. Wow! As the final minutes of added time ticked away and Boca could barely even connect a pass or control a dribble, TV announcer Max Bretos put it succinctly: Boca look like they just stumbled out of a tavern! Indeed! Can you imagine the Estu party last night. I have no doubt it's still raging right now.
-After the loss Boca Juniors coach, and former Mexico coach, Ricardo LaVolpe resigned. Where is he going to get cigarette money now?