tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50418968110723251642024-03-13T06:04:43.204-07:00Miami for SoccerMiami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041896811072325164.post-74469829952010980522010-05-19T10:58:00.000-07:002010-05-19T11:09:55.818-07:00MLS Miami Campaign brewing<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" >Finally the fans have taken matters into their own hands and are launching a campaign to help bring MLS to South Florida.<br /><br />For more just visit this website <a href="http://mlsmiamibid.com/">http://mlsmiamibid.com/</a> or follow them on twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/mlsmiami">http://twitter.com/mlsmiami</a><br /><br />I am getting right behind this effort.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Miami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041896811072325164.post-76930194441712806352010-05-14T04:04:00.000-07:002010-05-14T04:06:36.208-07:00<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I found this fascinating quote today in MLS Rumors, I can not stop thinking that if we had an MLS team Diego would love to be in a place like Miami:</span></span></p><blockquote class="zemanta-reblog-quote" style="margin: 1em 3em;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">* “The MLS has some good players and a league that is growing”</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Brazilian midfielder for Juventus, Diego Ribas da Cunha, opened the possibility of emigrating to the MLS in the United States as the country enjoys a league that is growing slowly.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">After the “Vecchia Signora” has had a poor season in the Italian league, where they ran out of the championship, as well as not qualified for the Champions League, the midfielder showed his liking American football.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">“It could be a solution for my career. I love America and they are very well in organization. The MLS has some good players and is a league that is growing,” said the Brazilian midfielder, who did not make Brazils 2010 World Cup squad.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Also the former Santos player from Brazil, said that his goal is to continue improving in his career and that the MLS is a good option to meet that goal.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">‘Whenever the desire for further improvement is possible Playing in America is a possibility, “said the Brazilian player to the website Goal.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">He just needs to wait to finish this season in Serie A, next weekend, as well as await offers from MLS teams to define the future of Diego Ribas, who could reach the United States as a designated player. Then there is the bad step at Juventus, where he left much to be desired, but is also the possibility to continue the “Vecchia Signora”.</span></span></p><span class="attribution zemanta-reblog-cite" style="text-align: right; display: block; width: 100%; padding-top: 1em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1em; padding-left: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">mls-rumors.net, </span></span><a href="http://www.mls-rumors.net/8537/2010/05/incoming-juventus-brazilian-midfielder-diego-interested-in-coming-to-mls/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Major League Soccer (MLS) Rumors – For the time between the games » Blog Archive » INCOMING: Juventus Brazilian Midfielder Diego Interested in Coming to MLS</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, May 2010</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You should read the whole article.</span></span></p>Miami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041896811072325164.post-51464329239635888162010-05-07T11:33:00.000-07:002010-05-13T08:28:05.901-07:00Miami Soccer Community is sophisticated<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Miami soccer community might be a little too sophisticated for Miami <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">FC</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NASL</span>, after all Miami-Ft. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lauderdale</span> is probably the top rated TV soccer market in the nation, if we look at the Confederations Cup ratings, were Miami Metro was #1. Also, in the last Gold Cup a game between Jamaica and El Salvador drew more than 17,000 fans, and Miami is currently sitting 3 with 18,277 supporters behind the </span></span><a href="http://www.gousabid.com/blog/entry/the-leaderboard-may-3-2010/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2018 World Cup bid</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, only Seattle and Philadelphia are ahead, Indianapolis which is 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> has 14,892 supporters registered.<br /><br />This clearly shows that Miami is a top soccer market, the problem might be that these fans are too sophisticated to appreciate 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nd</span> division soccer, this is shown by consistent attendances below 2000 at Miami FC games, even in the so maligned Fusion years attendance in the last year at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lockhart</span> was more than 11,000, and this was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">pre</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Beckham</span> hype.<br /><br />What surprises me the most is that the owners of Miami <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">FC</span> (a soccer company) do not seem to realize this, and instead of aiming to playing 1st division they have chosen to create a new 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">nd</span> division league. Under the current league even if they increase attendance by 10 times (say 10,000) this team will not be able to make it mainstream, as no big time player a la Henry, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Beckham</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ljumberg</span> will leave Europe to play on a 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">nd</span> division team in the U.S.A. With the possibility of bringing up to 3 Designated Players an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">MLS</span> franchise can bring the level of quality and sophistication the Miami soccer fan needs to be turned on. This city can potentially be a soccer mecca in the U.S. but it needs investors/owners that understand what this city wants. </span></span>Miami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041896811072325164.post-90059101876499848182010-05-06T09:31:00.000-07:002010-05-06T10:51:38.294-07:00It could have been us!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">In the eve of the possible announcement that the Canadian city of Montreal is going to be awarded an MLS franchise, I can not help to think what would have happened if our city had an team owner who wanted to play at the top league in North America. We have seen team after team make the move for MLS from USL (now NALS). First it was Seattle, despite of playing in USL their ownership recognized that a move to MLS would enhance the profile of soccer in the city, and look what they have become. Then, it was Portland and Vancouver, they also reconized that their fans wanted MLS and they went for it. Now is Montreal. I am not putting down any of the merits of these cities, they all deserve to be playing at the highest level of soccer in North America, but I can't help wonder what do these cities have that Miami does not have. I know some of you are going to say passionate fans. None of these teams were breaking attendance records while at USL, the hardcore fans were always there, and they probably grew bigger and stronger because they saw that their ownerships were aiming towards MLS. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We have passionate fans here too. We have the Miami Ultras, who have shown they will follow Miami FC in Miami and Broward, also the Fusion were averaging more than 11,000 in the year the got contracted.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> USMNT-Brazil ratings in Confederations cup were higher in Miami-Fort Lauderdale than any other media market in the country, including NY, Seattle etc. Even, West Palm beach did great and was rank 4 overall. I mean, the fans are here but we need to turn them on, and the first step is to at least play in the biggest stage, which for this country is MLS. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The ironic thing about this is the our team owner is a soccer company, so you would think they would want their team to play at the highest level, or else why be in this market. Yet they are probably the only ownership, in USL/NASL that has not publicly stated that want to make the jump. I can only wonder what would have happened if they had picked-up the pieces of the failed Barcelona bid, and continue working just like Montreal did, and my feeling is that we would probably be making our announcement too. Think about it, we have a brand new (perfect size) stadium in FIU (they are salivating to be in MLS), we have a professional team playing in the area run by a soccer company which organizes events as big a Copa America, Copa Sudamericana. They can organize friendlies to raise awarness for the bid, they can start building a team brand, and build momentum, but they only detail is that they do not want to join MLS, beacuse if they did, in my opinion we would be hearing lots of chatter from our ownership. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Since our ownership will not do it, help me raise awarness or our desire for MLS by signing up for </span></span><a href="http://www.miamisoccerfan.com/Soccer/Tickets.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">MLS Miami season ticket dedications</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> and mention it to your friends. </span></span></span></div>Miami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041896811072325164.post-64506338718719199092010-05-03T07:44:00.000-07:002010-05-03T09:24:31.593-07:00The Blues tie again...more on the USMNT<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Miami FC played to a 1-1 tie with Tampa Bay this saturday, while ties are not such a bad thing, if the Blues are to be contenders this year, they need to take care of business in the home pitch. Captain Zach Kirby was sidelined with a muscle injury, I had the chance to ask him how he felt and he was cautiously optimistic about playing next week agaist Carolina. Le'ts wish our captain a fast and full recovery. There is an article in the </span></span><a href="http://www.miamifc.com/article_info.php?articles_id=472"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Miami FC Website</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with all the details of the game.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clint Dempsey scored this weekend against West Ham, in the same game Jonathan Spector made another costly mistake that ended up in a goal. Foward Charlie Davies is still campaigning for a spot in the USMNT sending positive twitter updates about his fitness, but he may have a chance to prove it on the field as </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">FC Sochaux</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">will face</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Montpellier HSC May 5, and FC Girondins de Bordeaux May 8, and will end the season at home vs AJ Auxerre May 15. We will be watching. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Blogger website </span></span><a href="http://project-2010.net/?p=1260"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Project 2010</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has a great post breaking down the possible selection for the 30 man roster. </span></span></span></span></span></div>Miami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041896811072325164.post-28617298094793186292010-05-01T06:27:00.000-07:002010-05-01T07:14:32.891-07:00Soccer Saturday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Game day is here, and there are a bunch of games we need to pay attention, but at least here locally in South Florida there is a particular interesting game as the </span></span><a href="http://www.miamifc.com/article_info.php?articles_id=471"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Miami FC</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> takes on Tampa Bay tonight at 7:30 pm at the historical Lockhart Stadium. The game will be preceded by what it seems to be the tailgate of the century as team sporsors will be providing among other things free beer, vodka, and cigars (to those of legal age enjoy the of course). The festivities will start at 5:00 pm making sure the Miami Ultras will be ready for the game, and if you know one thing about this guys, is that they can party. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the field the game should be very intense as, I expect </span></span><a href="http://www.miamifc.com/article_info.php?articles_id=471"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Miami FC</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to go for the win to give the home crowd the satisfaction of beating the their hated rivals. If you live in South Florida you </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">should</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> make it to Lockhart, but if you can't here are some other interesting TV options:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4pm </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- Telefutura</span></span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union - 10:30pm - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Direct Kick</span></span></span></strong></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Houston Dynamo vs. Kansas City Wizards - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">8:30pm </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- FSC/FSE</span></span></span></strong></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Villarreal vs. Barcelona - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4pm </span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- GolTV </span></span></span></strong></span></b></div><div><br /></div>Miami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041896811072325164.post-41055042875967625542010-04-30T05:10:00.000-07:002010-04-30T07:04:15.719-07:00Forty days until the Biggest Sporting Event in the World<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">There are only 4o days until the biggest sporting event in the world, for soccer fans in the U.S. is fantastic as is only time that our national media will have thier eyes aimed at the sport the love. Still is a little frustrating to see that even the network that will cover will cover the event A.KA. ESPN does not have coverage it should with just over a month left for the event. Thank God we have the internet to satisfy our daily cravings for soccer news. The </span></span><a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43921/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">USMNT</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> has had an eventfull week, as the sky is starting to clear in the injury front with the reports that Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu have resume full contact training with their squads. Both Charlie and Gooch are active twitters and posted the following:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">"I've resumed full training with my club!! It's about time & it feels great! My speed is getting there too! Today was a good day! God Bless" Charlie Davies</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">"The kid is back!!!! Normal training from here on out, no restrictions.... Bless!!! God is Great!!!" Oguchi Onyewu</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Also, the new home kit was unvieled yesterday, and have to say I like much more that the away kit. Here is a picture Landon posted on his facebook account. </span></span><a href="http://bit.ly/ah3lcK"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Home Kit</span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Well that is all for today... as my favorite soccer play-by-play guy would say, "Don't be afraid to be happy"</span></span></span></div></div><object data="data:application/x-silverlight-2," type="application/x-silverlight-2" width="480" height="324"><param name="source" value="http://mls.neulion.com/mlsvp/scripts/mls.xap"><param name="initParams" value="catid=112,id=4678,shareembed=true,server=http://mls.neulion.com/mlsvp/,pageurl=http://mls.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?id=4678&catid=112"><param name="background" value="Transparent"><param name="minRuntimeVersion" value="3.0.40624.0"><param name="autoUpgrade" value="true"><param name="Windowless" value="true"><param name="enableHtmlAccess" value="true"><a href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=149156&v=3.0.40624.0"><img src="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=108181" alt="Get Microsoft Silverlight" border="0" /></a></object>Miami4Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518133640043888981noreply@blogger.com0