Archive for the ‘American soccer’ Category

Kansas City Wizards’ New Stadium Plans, Surprisingly Good

By Tom Dunmore • Nov 8th, 2007 • Category: American soccer

The other day, we and some of our commenters poked a little fun at the Kansas City Wizards’ plans for the future, which include moving to a minor league baseball stadium for the 2008 and 2009 stadium. Several Wizards fans stepped up to defend their team, and we’re not afraid to eat humble pie here [...]



MLS and the Water Cooler

By Tom Dunmore • Nov 8th, 2007 • Category: American soccer

Ruud Gullit coming, Bruce Arena going, Blanco-mania, Beckham-fatigue, Angel-love, San Jose buzz, Seattle next? Just a random collection of hot topics surrounding MLS in recent times. Does this add up to a growing cultural presence for the league? Andrew Dixon makes that point.
The beauty of the events of the past week is that they’ve [...]



David Beckham did not invent soccer in Vancouver, Canada

By Tom Dunmore • Nov 7th, 2007 • Category: American soccer, History

In Canada this week, Vancouver finally welcomes the Soccer Messiah, aka David Beckham, for a rearranged game against the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL tomorrow night tonight. As the always thoughtful Global Game blog asserts, though, his arrival is more interesting as it “raises more interest in pre-existing soccer traditions than in the soccer actually [...]



The Kansas City Wizards New Home, Handily Next to a Shopping Center

By Tom Dunmore • Nov 6th, 2007 • Category: American soccer

Readers who like to characterise MLS as a Mickey Mouse league (don’t be shy about it, folks) have a little more ammunition today as the poor old Kansas City Wizards announced their home for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. From playing in the absurdly large Arrowhead Stadium (home to the NFL’s Chiefs), the [...]



Tradition and Rivalry in. . .MLS?

By Thomas Dunmore • Nov 2nd, 2007 • Category: American soccer, World Football Culture

I was at a bar full of Fire fans last night, watching my Chicago Fire beat DC United 3-2 on aggregate in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. It was a thrilling and agonising game for both sets of fans, the Fire almost blowing a 3-0 aggregate lead, with DC’s late equaliser ruled [...]



Who is the Richest of Them All? David Beckham, of course.

By Thomas Dunmore • Nov 1st, 2007 • Category: American soccer

It’s a funny old world when the sports league that probably gets laughed at and dismissed both in its own country and abroad more than any other also employs the world’s biggest earner on any sports team, anywhere.
Forbes’ “World’s Top Earning Athletes” lists MLS’ own David Beckham at sixth place ($33 million), below only individual [...]



Steve Nash to buy into the Spurs?

By Thomas Dunmore • Oct 31st, 2007 • Category: American soccer

And by “the Spurs”, I’m not referring to the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, and I’m well aware Tottenham Hotspur are “Spurs”, not “the Spurs”, as Americans unfamiliar with soccer sometimes wrongly presume (paging Bill Simmons).
Anyway. For those who don’t follow the NBA, Steve Nash is a very good basketball player (has been the NBA Most [...]



The Return of the Pennsylvania Stoners

By Thomas Dunmore • Oct 29th, 2007 • Category: American soccer

Looking for a team to support in the United States? Think names like the “Galaxy”, “Red Bulls” or “Dynamo” are just, well, all too sensible? Well, my friends, say hello to the Pennsylvania Stoners. The Stoners were reformed this month in Lehigh Valley, and will play in the National Premier Soccer League. [...]



Earthquakes: Santa Clara Bound

By Thomas Dunmore • Oct 26th, 2007 • Category: American soccer

The Earthquakes, MLS’ newest expansion team, will play at Santa Clara University, a little west of the center of San Jose. From the press release:
The San Jose Earthquakes will make upgrades to Buck Shaw Stadium beginning in mid-November. The project will include renovating the full-sized practice field, adding approximately 5,000 temporary seats which will increase [...]