du Nord spent two great days last week in Kansas City attending the National Soccer Coaches
Association of America convention and the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
It was filled with fun, frolicking, food, fantasy, fast cars, fast women (not nearly enough),
french fries, famous players, a funky monkey, fruit plates, flaun, freaky beards, finely tuned
speeches, frumpiness, factotums, flora & fauna, fajitas, fabulous lawns, firm handshakes, fake
smiles, fake boobs, fantasmagorical nightlife, flibbertigibbets, florescent lighting, ferrets,
fission, fusion, fashion, fabulous frickin barbeque, fat fucks, fine fine music, and more futbol
fanaticos then you could ever hope to find in one place!
It's a special edition of the show, with Ginge with you to get some things off his chest about
both the future of the American Soccer Show (don't worry it's not going anywhere) and some soccer
topics. Zach responds to criticism of his comments about David Downs and offers his thoughts on
MLS' playoff system getting bombed by the fans and media alike.
This week Zach is joined by Dave Clark (Sounder at Heart) to discuss our trepidation about FOX
winning the American broadcast rights for the next two World Cup cycles, beginning with the 2015
Women's World Cup. We also react to David Downs' comments about the WPS and women's soccer along
with discussing MLS' congested playoff schedule , something Dave is fine with and Ginge isn't
thrilled about.
Amanda, Rachna, and Kirsten return to review the final weeks of the MLS regular season and
speculate about the playoffs and the MVP race. Fans of DC United and/or DeRo and/or New York may
want to fast forward to our second segment, where Amanda talks with Beau Dure of Sports Myriad
about David Downs' comments on WPS, Hope Solo, and the state of women's soccer.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
The playoff race
Saturday's 1–1 draw in San Jose put Kansas City in first place in the East with 45 points.
With the opportunity to overtake them and gain a one point advantage, the Philadelphia Union were
unable to prevent Juan Pablo Angel's 90th minute header and had to settle for a 1–1 draw and
second place in the standings with 44 points.
NASL Commissioner David Downs In New York Times On D2 Soccer In USA
Touches on business issues, pro/rel and his failed bid for a future World Cup in the United
States.
Both USSF CEO/Secretary General Dan Flynn and NASL Commissioner David Downs feel positive about
progress toward NASL sanctioning for 2012. The sanctioning of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) for the 2011 season was an eventful process. For those on the outside looking in, it may
have looked a bit more like a soap opera.
Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net
The NASL debuted their new game ball last night at all three league games in Atlanta, GA,
(Silverbacks vs. Islanders), St. Petersburg, FL, (FC Tampa Bay vs. Strikers) and Blaine, MN, (Stars
vs. FC Edmonton).
The ball which is made by Joma, looks very much like the old NASL balls from the 70′s but uses
the new NASL Logo and star.
Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net
The NASL debuted their new game ball last night at all three league games in Atlanta, GA,
(Silverbacks vs. Islanders), St. Petersburg, FL, (FC Tampa Bay vs. Strikers) and Blaine, MN, (Stars
vs. FC Edmonton).
The ball which is made by Joma, looks very much like the old NASL balls from the 70′s but uses
the new NASL Logo and star.
"We welcome Ottawa to the NASL," said League Commissioner David Downs at a press conference held
on Monday in Ottawa, Canada . "As we continue to expand and collectively grow professional soccer
in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, Ottawa is a natural market with a vibrant business
community, large soccer fan base and an exceptional ownership group.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
When they won the 2010 USSF Division 2 Championship, the Puerto Rico Islanders rode a stunning
hot streak after a mediocre regular season.
That doesn't seem to be a problem this time around as Puerto Rico could open up a six-point
lead at the top of the NASL table with a victory over the Ft.
The Strikers are back and with a vengeance! Gone are the Miami FC Blues as Traffic, owners of the
team (And most of the NASL) are ready to put that nightmare behind them. Aaron Davidson set out to
make the NASL a legitmate league by hiring new NASL commissioner David Downs. Of course, we here in
South Florida know the ultimate move was to bring back Tim Robbie as President of the New Fort
Lauderdale Strikers.
The Strikers are back and with a vengeance! Gone are the Miami FC Blues as Traffic, owners of the
team (And most of the NASL) are ready to put that nightmare behind them. Aaron Davidson set out to
make the NASL a legitmate league by hiring new NASL commissioner David Downs. Of course, we here in
South Florida know the ultimate move was to bring back Tim Robbie as President of the New Fort
Lauderdale Strikers.
The Strikers continue to make noise. This weekend they released their new logo. Miami Ultras
President Pieter Brown made some great observations on the design. Read about it HERE.
Following the logo, yesterday the Strikers announced the signing of experienced midfielder Eduardo
"Chacho" Coudet.
"Players like Coudet are very hard to find, his professional
experience will be a great addition to our team.
The Strikers continue to make noise. This weekend they released their new logo. Miami Ultras
President Pieter Brown made some great observations on the design. Read about it HERE.
Following the logo, yesterday the Strikers announced the signing of experienced midfielder Eduardo
"Chacho" Coudet.
"Players like Coudet are very hard to find, his professional
experience will be a great addition to our team.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
It's a time transition at the NASL.
The second-tier of American soccer revealed several changes this morning as David Downs was
introduced as commissioner, a new logo was unveiled and a redesigned website was launched.
Downs is the former executive director of the unsuccessful USA World Cup bid and will officially
take office on April 4th.
