In what was perhaps the most entertaining All-Star game in recent memory, the stars of Major League
Soccer rode a late game winner by Eddie Johnson to defeat Chelsea FC. The Seattle Sounders striker
found himself in prime position to shoot while in stoppage time.
The results of the MLS All-Star fan voting were announced Sunday. The players that received the
most votes will be included on the roster that will face Chealsea FC of the English Premier League
July 25th at PPL Park, but will not necessarily be in the starting eleven. That decision will fall
to DC Untied [.
Major League Soccer has announced the First XI All-Star roster that could wind up taking on Chelsea
in this years All-Star match. A star studded group headlines the list, with more selections to be
made by coach Ben Olsen and two supplemental picks by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
It has been announced that the Philadelphia Union would be hosting the 2012 MLS All-Star game at
PPL Park. Philadelphia is an ideal location and few could argue they do not deserve to host such an
event. They have a lively crowd who are passionate, knowledgeable and they have a facility which
rivals every stadium in MLS save perhaps for LiveStrong Park.
In a rematch of the 2010 MLS All-Star Game, Manchester United was chosen to line up against the
2011 All-Stars. During their tour of the US United played and defeated three MLS teams including a
7-0 stroll past the Seattle Sounders.
In a rematch of the 2010 MLS All-Star Game, Manchester United was chosen to line up against the
2011 All-Stars. During their tour of the US United played and defeated three MLS teams including a
7-0 stroll past the Seattle Sounders.
-Jason Davis There's another MLS All-Star game in the books, and it's left me feeling a bit
detached. Unstuck. Like I'm floating in time, untethered. This must be how Billy Pilgrim felt. We
just did this last year. I remember the conversations, the resulting blog posts, the
excuses/justifications/criticisms/rants/re-thinks/polls/screeds/polemics, the hand-wringing and
teeth-gnashing and disgust over the dire performance put on by what is supposed to a collection of
the best players MLS.
"30 Rock" star and stand up comedian Judah Friedlander has been making the American soccer rounds
of late and he appears in this pretty hilarious commercial for the Major League Soccer All-Star
Game (July 27 vs. Manchester United... like it says at the end of the clip).
I'd like to see Friedlander ball it up at next year's "Showdown in Chinatown" charity match.
Here are two things I've decided to jam together for no other reason than that they're not
substantial enough for two posts, and they allow for the somewhat clever headline.
Hype Machine
MLS got a rebuke from writers and fans alike yesterday when they hyped their All-Star Game venue
announcement as "major.
Steve Davis has a dispatch from Toronto this morning on the potential site and opponent for the
2011 MLS All-Star Game. The new Wizards Sporting joint is getting some run in the rumor mill, with
Barcelona as the top choice for barnstorming Euro invitee. The possible location of the game is
somewhat interesting (Red Bull Arena is the other obvious choice, and would be much easier for me
to get to), but what really caught my eye was Davis' note on friendly asking prices.
A Futures Game would help grow the league's academies. (Photo via Houston Dynamo)
Around all the All-Star events there is something now missing for Major League Soccer's summer
showcase, a Futures Game.
Think about it, even with the league being as young as it is and the team's academies being even
younger the time is now to start showcasing those kids at least once a year outside of the SUM
Cup.
I suppose this post is unavoidable. When 70,000 people show up and a significant number can see the
game on a widely available national TV outlet, a drubbing like the MLS All-Stars took last night at
the hands of Manchester United is bound to be a talking point. It certainly was during the game.
Can I tell you something? Bobby Boswell surprised the hell out of me. Dude's All Star party last
night at Venue was beyond funny, beyond great. The club was packed, the ladies were scandalously
hot and there where all manner of pro athletes there to buy them drinks.
As for the comedy, it was unexpectedly top notch and VERY NSFW.
This summer has been without a doubt one of the most exciting for US soccer
fans. From all the World Cup actions, to having teams like l Madrid, Manchester City and
Totthenham Hotspurs playing against MLS teams, fans have a feast of football to watch. Well, this
week we get to see a cracker of a game when the MLS All-star team play against one
of the biggest clubs in the World Manchester United.
The 2010 MLS All-Star Game roster has been named, and the league's fans are licking their chops at
the prospect of chopping down Manchester United. Complaints about the roster are valid, there is no
way Jaime Moreno deserved to make the All-Star team more than Real Salt Lake's Costa Rican
sensation Álvaro Saborío.
I'm not against All Star Games as a general rule. Choosing the best players a league has to offer,
bringing them together, and holding an exhibition game is an American institution stretching back
to the birth of the baseball version in the 1930s. All of our major professional sports have such a
game, and it makes sense that Major League Soccer would have one of their own.
Yesterday, shortly before 4 PM Eastern Time, MLS named names.
11 of them.
A celebrated, honored collection of players, excellent footballers to a man, comprising the "First
XI" of the 2010 All-Star Game. But tragically absent from their number was an unassuming Frenchman
who has been in electric form this season.
Here's photo of Russell Simmons and Maxwell in one of the skyboxes at the All Star game and it
pretty much sums up the scene in the suite level last night at Red Bull Arena: moneyed people much
more famous than you or I with Blackberries and wine glasses at the ready. Oh and models. Lots of
models.
How essential is watching an all star game to being a fan of a sport?
That's the question I am asking myself with the MLS All Star Game later tonight. ESPN2 will be
broadcasting MLS All Stars v. Manchester United (The Rematch) beginning at 8:30 PM ET and I suspect
the ratings for the event will be decent (relatively speaking).
Damn Charlie Davies, you just put the c***block on the All Star Game announcement. Well no, you
didn't at all actually --Steven Goff maybe did just a 'lil bit though-- but news of your possible
move to D.C. United dropping about 10 minutes after the All Star Game announcement was like a
clusterbomb of MLS-related Twitlines.
The 2011 NBA All-Star Game is beginning to take shape. On Thursday, the NBA announced the
starting lineups. Though there is no huge snub in either conference, it is notable that neither
conference's best team (the Boston Celtics in the East and the San Antonio Spurs in the West) has a
representative in the All-Star game starting lineup.
I'm neck deep in All Star activities (read: practices & parties) but I just wanted to say "hey." So
did Heath Pearce, Chris Wondolowski and the rest of the All Star team.
Remember a few weeks ago when I ran into Judah Friedlander, The World Champion, at a party? This is
what came out of it. Big man can move, right?
So let this be a lesson to all the young kids hustlin' out there on how this whole "networking"
thing works: you go to a party, have a drink with someone preferably more more juiced than you,
talk about work, and spin it in to Youtube gold.
BTW I hadn't forgot about y'all, just on that day job grind in Houston. If you are curious as to
what I have been up to I'll tell you: chasing the officiating controversy at the All Star celebrity
game, analyzing Slim Thug's goalkeeping debut, getting called fat by an NFL player, watching Bobby
Boswell call out commentators and catching up with the Five Foot Assassin.
The ringer at last night's party at Venue in Houston aka Bobby Boswell's Def Comedy Soccer Jam was
Houston Texan David Anderson. Kid was a pro up there and could probably get paid a pretty penny to
take his show on the road.
Here's most of his set from last night including his NSFW takes on the University of Phoenix,
teammate Owen Daniels, fantasy football, the ease with which NFL and players attract the ladies.
Check out the tentative rosters for the celebrity game at the 2010 MLS All Star Jam. Phife Dawg
from A Tribe Called Quest be the best coach since ________.
Team 1
Head coach – Phife (Tribe Called Quest)
Assistant coach – Lovel Palmer (Houston Dynamo)
Players: Jeff Agoos (New York Red Bulls technical director; five-time MLS Cup champion; 1998, 2002
World Cups); Baby Bash (rapper); Chingo Bling (musical artist); Brandi Chastain (1991, 1999, 2003
Women's World Cups); Marcus Coleman (former Houston Texans defensive back); Misael Espinoza (1994
World Cup); Allen Hopkins (ESPN sideline reporter); Alexi Lalas (ESPN analyst; 1994, 1998 World
Cups); Bubba McDowell (former Houston Oilers defensive back); David Paul (KHOU Houston); Slim Thug
(rapper); Eric Wynalda (Fox Football Fone-In co-host; 1990, 1994, 1998 World Cups).
For the first time since the Clinton administration the MLS All-Star Game is coming to New York. Or
New Jersey to be more specific since Red Bull Arena is hosting the event which is great for me
because that means I won't have to go away anywhere and sweat for a week. I get to sweat at home!
Allow me to be a company man just this once and encourage you to participate in AT&T MLS All-Star
Game voting (because if you don't vote the terrorists have won). Obviously you can vote online but
if you are so inclined you can also vote by texting the player's last name or their team name to
"22442".
Union play seventh game in 21 days on Saturday. Hackworth proud of his players. Cosmos are back,
again. Blatter knew of payments. Terry found not guilty. More news
Any betting men out there willing to put money down on Philly to host the next All Star game? I
have no inside info on this but I'd favor them over other candidates like K.C. --which hosts the
MLB All Star game in 2012-- and Houston, who have to be a favorite for MLS Cup 2012 with a
gleaming, new AEG-backed stadium in a warm-weather market on the way.
Former players including Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo put on a classic show as Real Madrid beat
Bayern Munich in an all-star match-up. Final score: 8-3.
A mid-major power, the two biggest chokers without three lions on their shirts, and the Germans,
who will, like they always do, win with ruthless efficiency.
Uruguay are like the poor kids in an American sports movie. Forlan is the main character, the
talented kid surrounded by dweebs, and Suarez is the bad boy who joins up later just before the
dweebs discover that they are actually all fundamentally perfect, if unspectacular players
perfectly suited to showcase the talent of the other two.
