By definition, the Popie award goes to United's best defensive player in 2009. The award's namesake is former national team defender Eddie Pope. Not only is Pope widely recognized as the best defender in United's history, but he is also responsible for the most important goal in United's history.
Last year's winner was Bryan Namoff with over 50% of the vote. Click to continue reading...

Sacha Kljestan did the impossible over the weekend. He got me to cheer for Chivas USA making the playoffs. Hell, I hope they win MLS Cup now.
Wait! I can explain!
Sorry, another Rocky Horror reference. I should stop that.
In the rapid-fire interview FSC does, "Six Impossible Questions Before Halftime," Sacha Kljestan was asked, "What would you do if you were commissioner for a day? Click to continue reading...

As a follow-up to last month's announcement, Chicago Magic Soccer Club Technical Director Raul Diaz Arce was inducted into D.C. United's Hall of Tradition on Saturday. Here is a video of teammates and staff reflecting on his MLS career. An interesting note from Eddie Pope, talking about how Diaz Arce ran 5 miles before the team's training would even get underway:

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This is the fifth in a recurring series where we look at the DC United season, five games at a time.
Results: 2-1-2. 4 GF, 4 GA
Standings: Third place in the Eastern Conference
Statistical Leaders: Josh Wicks (3 clean sheets); Namoff, Burch, Moreno, Emilio (1 goal each), Gomez (1 assist)
Most frequent lineup:
What we liked:

• Discovering our starting XI – I've often wondered during this season if we're ever going to have a single consistent lineup that can be used every week.

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I've read a lot of strange opinions on Jonathan Spector in the last 36 hours, most of which I disagree with entirely. Speaking with MLS Talk podcast correspondent Chris Riordan, the co-founder of Russian Football Now, we both believe Spector has the type of game rarely seen from an American defender, and that dropping him could be a disaster for the USA.

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Which is good because I interviewed Landon Donovan on the weekend.

More on that in a bit.

I asked Donovan, who is likely to take sole possession of the all-time U.S. Men's National Team World Cup qualifying appearance record when he plays against El Salvador in Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday (he's currently tied at 32 games with Kasey Keller, Eddie Pope, and Claudio Reyna), about the importance of the game:

"It's a massive, massive game," he said.

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As Landon Donovan's national team career ticks on, previous records continue to fall. With the all-time goal scoring title firmly his, a cap on Saturday night will give him the overall lead in World Cup qualifiers with 32.

At the moment Donovan is currently tied with Kasey Keller, Eddie Pope, and Claudio Reyna at 31 qualifying appearances and barring unforeseen circumstances will make the record his own on Saturday night in Sandy, Utah.

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Time for some game day hype. This time we get former US national team defender and WVH favorite Eddie Pope's take on playing Mexico at the Azteca.

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I'm taking the day off but there will be a few things popping up here over the course of the morning/early afternoon leading up to the match. First up is the Azteca according to Eddie "No Smiles" Pope. Click to continue reading...

Jimmy Conrad made his return for the United States in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Haiti. Conrad had been left out of the previous 27 US match squads, a remarkable statistic for such a gifted player with unique leadership skills.

Conrad's solid organization and play helped to save a result for the United States against a superior Haitian side, Saturday.

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One thing that is consistent with Real Salt Lake signings is the lack of buzz surrounding the players that come and play of us. That does not mean we don't have quality players on the pitch, but our pickups tend to either be 'diamonds hiding in coal' or youth projects. Outside of our inaugural year with Eddie Pope and Clint Mathis I would argue that Kyle Beckerman has been the biggest 'name' we Click to continue reading...

Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated is reporting this morning that FIFA has confirmed the rumor that has been swirling since last Wednesday's historic US win over Spain, that Michael Bradley is being investigated by FIFA for a supposed confrontation in the tunnel.

A Spanish news source without a byline or sources cited, claimed that Bradley had verbally attacked referee Jorge Larrionda who had red carded Bradley late in the game for a rather innocuous tackle on Xabi Alonso.

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Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated is reporting this morning that FIFA has confirmed the rumor that has been swirling since last Wednesday's historic US win over Spain, that Michael Bradley is being investigated by FIFA for a supposed confrontation in the tunnel.

A Spanish news source without a byline or sources cited, claimed that Bradley had verbally attacked referee Jorge Larrionda who had red carded Bradley late in the game for a rather innocuous tackle on Xabi Alonso.

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John O'Brien's goal started the 2002 World Cup run

Sunday will make the first tournament final ever in a non CONCACAF event for the United States. However, the US has made deep runs in major tournaments before. Let's take a quick look at these tournaments.

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Running the middle today is Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda. Name sound familiar?
Does 1-1 draw and three red cards in the World Cup ring a bell? Mr. Larrionda, who also did the France-Portugal semifinal in Germany, officiated the USA's tie against Italy in which he issued four yellows and three red cards. Click to continue reading...

Bob Bradley, its been great coasting along in the CONCACAF on decaf but for the big leagues you need something stronger.

Unfortunately, this is what happens when you play in a region that creates a set of inflated expectations akin to playing the grandiosely named World Series. The US baseball team always gets found out in the World Baseball Classic just like the US team today against Italy.

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                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. men's national team will play its first rematch from the 2006 World Cup today as they take on defending World Cup champion Italy (2:25pm, ESPN).

The U.

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                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. men's national team will play its first rematch from the 2006 World Cup today as they take on defending World Cup champion Italy (2:25pm, ESPN).

The U.

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They were supposed to be the group that brought the US to unforeseen heights in world football. The first group of players to graduate the Bradenton Academy joined with the young players who had done so impressively for the US at the 1999 World Youth Championship to usher in a generational change for the US National Team.

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The last time the USA met Italy was during the 2006 World Cup. Jorge Larrionda was one busy man. Before the match was over, the Uruguayan referee had issued three red card and four yellows, unleashing a storm of criticism as well as support over his controversial decisions. Larrionda officiated in the opening match between South Africa vs Iraq where he again faced some criticism.

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TEAM AMERICA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
Here is a preview for tonight's big game for the USA down in San Jose Costa Rica where they have never won before. This game is a serious test.
Important TV Channel Change - game moved from ESPN to ESPN2!
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Match & Score:
-Wed Jun 3 - Matchday 4
Costa Rica v USA - from Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose CR - 9pm Central on ESPN2 & Galavision
Venue: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa - San Jose Costa Rica
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ESPN TV commentators did not travel to the game site - they are calling the game from the studio. Click to continue reading...

A few bonus quotes from Wednesday's USA-Costa Rica preview, which focuses on the fact that it's been 24 years since the USA took a qualifying point out of Costa Rica, and that wasn't in Saprissa.
Eddie Pope (several games; now working with MLS Players Union):
On Costa Rica's team: It seems like that region has taken a bit of a hit. Click to continue reading...

The Scene: When it comes to utter significance and importance to the league's longevity, no Final can match the inaugural 1996 MLS Cup Final. In front of nearly 35,000 fans at Foxboro Stadium, DC United made the greatest comeback in Cup Final history to best the LA Galaxy 3-2 and complete the first MLS Double in league history.

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If MLS Players Union Player Relations Director, Eddie Pope Has His Way The Union Will Receive Requested League Financials
Many of you, our readers called this well in advance:
Courtesy of SportsBuisnessJournal:

Major League Soccer and its players union have begun to meet about a new labor deal, and the league has agreed to share financial information with the union.

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Our good friend Eddie Pope wrote in today in support of the club's plans to team up with Soccer Unites Utah and DKMS Americas to host a bone marrow drive Sunday, March 15 at RFK Stadium from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Participants may park in Lot 5 and enter the building through the Administrative Entrance.

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                                                                                   Photo by ISIphotos.com

The annual U.S. men's national team January training camp is always filled with young MLS standouts looking to impress the U.

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The U.S. beat a clearly out of their depth Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday night, taking advantage of their opponents' obvious inexperience (and lack of leadership as ESPN commentator and former T&T goalkeeper Shaka Hislop pointed out numerous times) to comfortably win 3-0 in Chicago.

Some observations:
*Neither Brian Ching nor Eddie Johnson were particularly convincing (again) at forward.

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D.C. United has announced the 1998 D.C. United team will be returning to RFK Stadium to be honored at halftime on a night the club pays tribute to local military members and public servants during the Seventh Annual Hometown Heroes Night. Geoff Aunger, Judah Cooks, Marco Etcheverry, Scott Garlick, John Harkes, Brian Kamler, Roy Lassiter, Carlos Llamosa, Jaime Moreno, Ben Olsen, Eddie Pope, Tom Presthus, Mark Simpson and AJ Wood will all be in attendance on Saturday, September 13 when the Black-and-Red host FC Dallas. Click to continue reading...

Once upon a time a scrappy thirteen year-old with big dreams came to the city of big ideas for "The Cherry Blossom Festival Soccer Tournament." He was supposed to get to play soccer on The National Mall with a better-than-average club team. Let it be known that this kid was a bit excited at his prospects.

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Word To The Wise: Bookmark this post to save yourself some time as we are just hours away from kickoff.
Want to follow SuperLiga but so far feeling a little left out?
Don't get Telefutura? Don't speak Spanish? No habla Espanol? You're in luck because all SuperLiga games will be presented online in English again this year. Click to continue reading...

D.C. United 2 : 1 Chicago FireD.C. United advances to U.S. Open Cup Semi-Final against New England Revolution.
Six Word Novel Recap

Doe, Namoff score. White meets Red.

Media, Traditional and OtherwiseThe Washington Times, Harlan Goode: "All D.C. United needed Tuesday night was a little more Jaime Moreno. Click to continue reading...

On October 20, 1996, Chris Armas scored what should have been the championship-clinching goal for the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS Cup. But DC United fought back, and in the 4th minute of overtime, Eddie Pope headed in the golden goal, right over the head of the diminuitive midfielder, who was stationed at the near post.

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On October 20, 1996, Chris Armas scored what should have been the championship-clinching goal for the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS Cup. But DC United fought back, and in the 4th minute of overtime, Eddie Pope headed in the golden goal, right over the head of the diminuitive midfielder, who was stationed at the near post.

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OK, so the US men managed to earn back a bit of respect in a 1-0 losing effort to Spain but huge holes remain if the team hopes to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, let alone get out of the first round.
It was nice to see coach Bob Bradley rolling the dice and giving the start to Freddy Adu who managed to be the only player to give the Spanish any problems up front. Click to continue reading...