Some News for Tue Dec 1, 2009

STARTERS

Here is video of the interview that ESPN's Jeremy Schaap did with Charlie Davies. Thanks to Sundust17 for posting this, and Graham for sending us the link.

dN

AND THEN TONIGHT - Brian Ching & Stuart Holden talk with Charlie Davies on The Orange Slice at 8-9pm Central on 1560thegame.com, followed by another hour of the regular weekly show starring Brian Balboa.

dN

Just 3 days to go until the World Cup draw, and FIFA is supposed to tell us on Wednesday how the teams will be seeded.

BALLON D'OR






Lionel Messi of Argentina & Barcelona has been awarded the 2009 Ballon d'Or, given annually by France Football, and recognized as the true player of the year award.




















MLS CHAMPIONS REAL SALT LAKE

My last piece of coverage for the champs is video that I shot of Real Salt Lake fans about 3 hours BEFORE the game even started. The RSL fans were out in force, and took over Pioneer square. The energy was electric. Big shout out to Real Barra!



MLS

Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune looks at how RSL goes about keeping their team intact for next season. They are going to have to negotiate new deals with some of these guys.
-On his blog Lewis also reports that 3 RSL players, Morales, Olave & Espindola, are all having knee surgery during the offseason.

dN

Kyle McCarthy of the Boston Herald told us yesterday that New England fullback Jay Heaps was going to retire, and today he verifies that story. The official announcement will come on Wednesday.

MLS RUMORS

Greg Seltzer of Soccer 365 gives us a little more on the possible move of young American Vincenzo Bernardo to MLS.

dN

Polish Soca with a rumor that Ebi Smolarek may be coming to play in MLS. Chicago?

dN

Is former DC head coach Tom Soehn headed to Vancouver in a managerial role?

MLS COACHES MERRY-GO-ROUND

Is Martin Vasquez going to get that Chivas USA job? Or are they really going to hire that stiff Steve Sampson.

dN

Is RSL assistant Robin Frazer a candidate for the top spot in DC?

dN

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer on some whispers and speculations for the next New York Red Bulls head man.

USL-1/NASL MESS

Jeff Diveronica of The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle with the full story on the Rhino's defection from USL-1 to NASL.

dN

Do you smell pending legal action on all of this or what?

dN

The Edmonton Sun reports that their city will have a NASL team when Vancouver moves to MLS in 2011.

USL FIRST DIVISION

As of today the league only has 4 teams for the 2010 season: Austin, Cleveland, Portland & Puerto Rico.
-And Cleveland is very suspect.

NCAA MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Inside Minnesota Soccer has an interview with #1 seed and undefeated Akron's leading goal scorer Teal Bunbury. The sophomore has 17 goals this season. Download or listen here.

SOCCER IN AMERICA

Hector Tobar of the Los Angeles Times writes about the joy he has found in the AYSO leagues of Southern California. Great article, showing yet another side of the beautiful game in our country and how it can make changes for the better. (Thanks to Joe for the link)

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Coming Up:

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
-Wed Dec 2
Dominic Cervi - Celtic - v Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Tim Howard - Everton - at AEK Athens
-Thu Dec 3
Bryan Arguez - Hertha Berlin - at Ventspils
Clint Dempsey Fulham - v CSKA Sofia
Eddie Johnson Fulham - v CSKA Sofia

ITALY

The National of the UAE looks at the pressure piling up on those who run Juventus as their game against Inter approaches on Saturday.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Matchday 5 will be played on Wed Dec 2 & Thu Dec 3. Here are those games.

WORLD CUP 2010 - SOUTH AFRICA

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer arrived in South Africa today and gives us the first of hopefully many reports leading up to and including the World Cup draw.

dN

Tim Vickery of the BBC wonders if a European team can finally win a World Cup not played on European soil. It's never happened before.

dN

Al Jazeera looks at the host nations team. Could they be the worst host team ever?

ALL AROUND THE WORLD

Even tech magazine Wired thinks its time for international soccer to embrace technology to assist the referees. (thanks to JJ for this link)

ENDERS

Got these 2 very interesting facts from EA Sports about their FIFA Soccer 10 video game:
-North America is the No. 2 market for the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer franchise, second only to the U.K. and surpassing other football-crazed countries such as Spain and Germany.
-FIFA Soccer 10 sold more than 4.5 million units in its first 5 weeks at retail, making it the biggest sports videogame launch in history.

And those of you that know me personally know I am not a video game guy, so I am not out pimping here, I just thought those numbers were quite interesting.