A favorite quote of mine comes from a statement I heard years ago about adversity being a building block in developing one's character. I used to even prescribe to the theory: 'A B C - Adversity Builds Character'.
Helen Keller once said, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.

Oh it's happening, Kickettes. And it will be starring a real live WAG.

Jessica Lawlor, girlfriend of Aston Villa's Stephen Ireland confirmed on Twitter this morning that she will have a role in WAG! The Musical. Jess added,

In my role I am simply making fun out of the pre conception that ppl have formed of 'WAGS'.

"Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it".

Whether you first heard this quote from pastor and author Charles R. Swindoll or famous football coach Lou Holtz, its message is clear — you are measured not by what happens to you, but in how you respond to those challenges.

At the end of the 2011 MLS season, one of Major League Soccer's veterans retired. After 14 years in the league, Andy Williams chose to hang up his boots and pick up a clipboard as he joined the RealSaltLake technical staff. After winning an MLS Cup, representing his national team and building a life in Utah, the Jamaican is able to look back on his career with pride.

It's high time again for another hat trick and QOTD. Today's piece will focus a bit more on the USMNT as a couple of big games loom tonight and this weekend. One of the matchups includes two American soccer icons in a clash this weekend, which should make for must watch TV. Also follow after the break to have your say in the QOTD.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

WASHINGTON -- Perry Kitchen had just about everything including the kitchen sink thrown his way in 2011.

As a rookie, Kitchen started 30 of a possible 34 games for D.C. United, splitting time across three positions.

The public are comfortable with Harry Redknapp. His rumpled, down-to-earth persona harks back to a bygone era before football became a commercial monster, evoking soft fuzzy Sunday evening television images of a time when society was less complicated and life was better. With Harry, like him or not, you know where you are.

Coventry City fans were in vocal and defiant mood during the 2-0 defeat at Reading yesterday. Several rousing choruses of their signature Eton Boating Song rang out and the raw commitment that perhaps only comes with adversity and temperatures hovering around zero degrees was on full display. Among the targets for opprobrium were the club's owners since 2007 – Sisu Capital – a cabal whose very mention led the comments section to combust after Ian Palmer so expertly picked apart Coventry's parlous financial state during our recent Turmoil Week.

By Joel Greenwaldt @Joel Greenwaldt The Baltimore Blast faced a ton of adversity in their 8-2 victory in Game 1 of MISL Eastern Division Final against the Rochester Lancers. For starters,...
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Who can forget the Santiago Bernabeu erupting in applause as Eric Abidal walked into the limelight of the Champions League finals last year, his first appearance in months, battling liver cancer. Barca was already enjoying a special moment cruising to the title over Man Utd. Abidal's brief appearance was the cherry on top.

With three games squeezed into seven days and Jamie Carragher having started on Sunday, it was surprising to see Sebastian Coates begin the game on the bench against QPR. After coming on late in the first half as a substitute and subsequently being the only Liverpool defender blameless in Rangers' three late goals, and with not even the most hopeful fan entertaining dreams of a push for the top four any longer, it would be rather more than surprising were he to find himself once again starting on the bench against Wigan on the weekend.

West Ham United's 4-2 reverse in today's crunch clash with Reading would have seemed apocalytic if it were not for the torpor that the home support showed in adversity - fortune wasn't so much hiding as participating in out and out hermit status as the team tumbled and even the bubbles had to be artificially produced via vents at the pitch side.

Liverpool's squad have collectively let their heads drop in recent weeks, seeming to at least on some level buy into the woe-is-me narrative suggested by many who believe the season's only real problem has been a lack of luck and not tactics, execution, and team selection on the back of perhaps the most wasteful transfer window in the club's history.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is confident the Reds can emerge stronger next season after a turbulent campaign at Anfield.
The Merseysiders' season has been full of ups and downs, with Kenny Dalglish's men reaching two cup finals but struggling to make an impact in the Premier League.
Poor results in the league have heaped pressure on manager Dalglish, while director of football Damien Comolli was dismissed by the club earlier this month.

Sometimes adversity brings out the best in us. Going into Wednesday's match with the undefeated Puerto Rico Islanders, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers were without their head coach, Daryl Shore, forward/assistant coach Abe Thompson and dependable defender Toni Stahl due to suspension following Saturday's match with the San Antonio Scorpions.

Sometimes adversity brings out the best in us. Going into Wednesday's match with the undefeated Puerto Rico Islanders, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers were without their head coach, Daryl Shore, forward/assistant coach Abe Thompson and dependable defender Toni Stahl due to suspension following Saturday's match with the San Antonio Scorpions.

Pollyanna had a hand in writing this one. You know, the girl with the constant optimism? Over the last 6 weeks I have been pretty much depressed every Saturday night, except for the week of the Sporting KC Game. However with the help of the community here I got through it and now I want to help everyone else.

Bayern Munich have responded to Wesley Sneijder's accusations that the club has not been supportive of Arjen Robben following his penalty miss in the Champions League final defeat to Chelsea, particularly since the winger was jeered by some fans in a home friendly against Netherlands.

Tuesday night's exhibition match saw Bayern's Robben don his national team colors and every time he touched the ball, sections of the crowd voiced their disapproval by whistling at him.