Exclusives - Recent posts
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By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Feb 10, 2011) US Soccer Players -- All of a sudden, we are back at it
again. With just a couple of weeks away from the start of the season, it's time to pick a
contender, the team to beat for a title that won't be decided until early December. It's a
requisite, lets be honest.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Feb 9, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The Super Bowl Experience™
(possibly trademarked, I can't be sure, so better safe then sorry), is not an undertaking of small
expense. It costs money to fly to the predetermined Super Bowl city, spend a few nights, and, most
importantly, purchase a ticket for the game.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Feb 7, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The MetroStars/Red Bulls are
the most futile Major League Soccer club since the League's inception in 1996. There is little
argument to the contrary. Nevertheless, the franchise has had a staggering track record when it
comes to producing talented players who have gone on to succeed at other clubs and the US National
Team.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Feb 3, 2011) US Soccer Players -- As weeks go, this hasn't been one
of Philadelphia Union manager Peter Nowak's most successful from a public relations perspective. In
terms of fan loyalty, it has been down right ugly. What transpired in the course of a couple of
days has been the complete gutting of the Union's veteran presence.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 19, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Kris Boyd, born August 18th,
1983 in Irvine, Scotland, late of Eskişehirspor of the Turkish Süper Lig, formerly of Nottingham
Forest, Middlesbrough FC, and - most famously - Glasgow Rangers, current record-holder for most
goals scored in the Scottish Premier League and a name well known in international soccer circles,
is Major League Soccer's newest Designated Player.
In this new series, USSoccerplayers.com looks at how retired National Team players (alumni, if you
will) are using their experience and knowledge to develop and grow the game in the United States.
In a clip of highlights from the 2001 season, Manny Lagos, then of the Earthquakes, has the ball
deep on the left side in the attacking zone.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Jan 30, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When we see the recent success of
former and current Major League Soccer players in England, it has to feel good for fans of North
American soccer. An ex-Revolution player outrunning a pair of defenders en route to a triplet of
goals was a cathartic, ecstatic moment for those of us rooting for Fulham's Clint Dempsey.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 19, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Fox, the national broadcast
network that counts iconic properties like The Simpsons and the National Football League among its
assets, blazed a new trail by airing a live English Premier League soccer match on Sunday. Soccer
getting the full televised sports treatment on a network that isn't an opt-in premium purchase, but
a basic part of most Americans' television rotation, cannot be.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 25, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The United States takes to
the road for the second game of 2012. The match at Panama City's Estadio Rommel Fernandez is aimed
at simulating the atmosphere players will experience during World Cup Qualifying. The dress
rehearsal serves the younger players called up by coach Jurgen Klinsmann for January camp as well
as the coach himself, giving them a firsthand look.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Jan 20, 2011) US Soccer Players -- As with any new year, all teams in
Major League Soccer are in a period of transition. Whether it is a minor tweak here or there, or a
full system reboot, most teams will see a few new faces in training camp. In recent years, that's
been due to the predictable disruption caused by expansion teams coming into the fold.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 19, 2011) US Soccer Players -- With the longest season ever in
the offing, Major League Soccer's preseason is here earlier than ever before. There's much to do
and little time to do it, especially for those clubs preparing to play in the poorly timed (from an
MLS perspective, anyway) continental tournament known as the CONCACAF Champions League.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Jan 13, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Last year's Major League Soccer
season probably had two of the worst injuries I've ever seen. The first I happen to catch on
replay, was Steve Zakuani's broken leg. The physical revulsion of watching a pro athlete's leg
dangling, swinging in all improper directions, was an unnecessary reminder of the brutal side of
the sport.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 12, 2011) US Soccer Players -- After a grueling
invitation-only three-day combine in Florida, young players with professional dreams will be chosen
by needy teams anxious to find the next Taylor Twellman, Steve Zakuani, or Geoff Cameron. It's
Major League Soccer's SuperDraft, a reprieve for those that can't abide a couple of months without
MLS soccer.
What Ever Happened To . . . is a new monthly feature on US Soccer Players that attempts to update
readers on what has happened to players. coaches and officials of the past who helped shape the
game in this country. In our first installment, we catch up with NASL legend and former National
Team goalkeeper Arnie Mausser.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 6, 2011) US Soccer Players -- A funny thing happened to Major
League Soccer on the way to international relevancy. With so much going for it - apparent unlimited
potential for growth, new stadiums providing verifiable soccer atmospheres, the high standard of
living in the US and Canada, a willingness to spend when appropriate, a dash of anonymity some
players might find attractive - MLS sat perched atop.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Jan 5, 2011) US Soccer Players -- If you haven't been keeping up with
the transfer rumors, you might have missed an interesting development. With all the young MLS names
that have been spread across transfer stories, the ones grabbing the most attention and making
actual progress have been with the older designated players in Major League Soccer.
By Justin Shaffer - SEATTLE, WA (Jan 5, 2012) US Soccer Players --Previously, we previewed the year
ahead for club soccer and now we give you a look ahead at 2012's jam-packed international calendar.
Between the Olympics, European Championships, and World Cup qualifying, 2012 should be a huge year
for soccer fans.
By Clemente Lisi – MONTREAL, CA (Jan 4, 2012) US Soccer Players – There is nothing like the
start of a new year to fill one with hope and anticipation. For USA soccer fans, there's a lot to
look forward to from the National Teams and Major League Soccer. The senior side starts their road
to Brazil with World Cup Qualifying.
By Justin Shaffer - SEATTLE, WA (Nov 10, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Many a newspaper, website, and
fan have spent the past month talking about what we saw in 2011, what they hope to see in 2012, and
the big stories they'll be looking out for this year. Here we take a brief look at the club team
events that US fans should have on their schedule.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Dec 30, 2011) US Soccer Players --Ah, the off season. A magical time
when bloggers, sports writers and columnists following and discussing the North American soccer
scene start to maniacally pull out their hair while blankly at the screen to come up with a story
worth reading.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 30, 2011) US Soccer Players – If 2010 was considered a
great year for the National Team because of its performance at the World Cup, then 2011 will go
down as the year where American players shined individually. Just ask Jozy Altidore. The
22-year-old striker turned things around this fall after signing with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar,
proving that he can be a deadly offensive weapon following.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 21, 2011) US Soccer Players – Arizona will be the
epicenter of American soccer over the next two months. The United States will play at University of
Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on January 21st against Venezuela to open their 2012 schedule. A month
later, on February 22nd, four MLS teams – the Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England
Revolution and Real Salt Lake –.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Dec 19, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When you are a kid living in
Bogota, Colombia there comes a time and realization that one day, you must pick a side. The eternal
battle between the local teams, Millonarios and Santa Fe de Bogota is one of the countries oldest
rivalries.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 15, 2011) US Soccer Players -- For the foreseeable future
-meaning for as long as Jurgen Klinsmann is in charge of the US National Team - American
internationals playing in MLS won't be getting much of an off-season. The number of players
spending time training with teams in Europe is staggering, especially considering how few did so
prior to Klinsmann taking the job.
By Clemente Lisi - BROOKLYN, NY (Dec 14, 2011) US Soccer Players -- There have been very few
Christmas presents I received as a child that I can recall now as an adult. Growing up in the
1980's, I do remember the many Star Wars action figures and Atari videogame cartridges that were
stuffed into my stocking – the sort of toys that nowadays would be on display at the Smithsonian.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Dec 9, 2011) US Soccer Players -- An atmosphere counts. If you've
ever seen, let alone been at a soccer match at Old Trafford or San Siro, you would understand the
effect on atmosphere that such venues create. Fans chanting, arms outstretched in unison, the
bickering and bantering of fans at opposing players, the clapping of appreciation of a well placed
tackle.
By Cesar Diaz - NEW YORK, NY (Dec 9, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Since 1996, sports data company
Opta has been in the business of statistics. With offices based in London and throughout Europe and
the United States, Opta collects and distributes data for over 60,000 contests annually from over
30 sports in over 60 countries.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 30, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Let's just go ahead and
overstate this a bit and say that Sharlie Joseph has pulled off the impossible. A domestically
developed, MLS veteran who probably isn't a household name outside of his home market has just
signed a new contract that bestows upon him the coveted "Designated Player" tag.
By Clemente Lisi - LOS ANGELES, CA (Dec 5, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The stench of beer filled the
air in the Los Angeles Galaxy's locker room after the players had spent a good chunk of its MLS Cup
postgame party spraying one another with bottles of Bud. After the game, the players left the Home
Depot Center and partied the night away at the Staples Center in downtown LA.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 30, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Should David Beckham move to
another league this winter, all involved in Major League Soccer would probably expect your last
memory of his time in MLS to be him walking off the field with the MLS Cup trophy. That shining
moment would serve as the natural exclamation mark on Beckham's MLS resume.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Nov 11, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When I was a little kid in
Colombia, my father used to take me to a soccer academy. Every Saturday morning I would wake up,
and be whisked away so I could fulfill his dream of his son becoming the next Colombian National
team goalkeeper.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 23, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Apologies if you haven't quite
processed the Los Angeles Galaxy's coronation as MLS Cup champions yet, but MLS needs your
attention. Sorry if you're still pondering what the future of a League where teams with Designated
Players can actually win championships might look like, but it's already time to move on.
By Clemente Lisi – Carson, CA (Nov 20, 2011) US Soccer Players – The joke in the press box at
the Home Depot Center on Sunday night was that it had been the fault of the large contingent of
English journalists credentialed for MLS Cup (there to see David Beckham) who brought the rain with
them to Southern California.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Nov 11, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When the final whistle blows at
this Sunday's MLS Cup, the story will finally come to a close for one of the biggest
disappointments in Major League Soccer history. It's a story that ended when the Los Angeles Galaxy
knocked New York out of the playoffs, a predictable conclusion when a #1 seed meets the 10th-place
club.
By Cesar Diaz - NEW YORK, NY (Nov 18, 2011) US Soccer Players -- With the 2011 MLS Cup taking place
on Sunday, fans have been debating on whether the Los Angeles Galaxy or Houston Dynamo will win
their third MLS Cup. Along with the debate, many are wondering if this will be David Beckham's
final game in Major League Soccer.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 17, 2011) US Soccer Players -- There is little originality
when it comes to breeding success on the soccer field. That's a truth that applies even in a young
league like Major League Soccer. Enough has already happened, even midway through the second decade
of the League's existence, to have created a set of blueprints for others to follow.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 2011) US Soccer Players -- In their last game of 2011, the
United States takes on Slovenia in Ljubljana on Tuesday in a rematch of the thrilling 2010 World
Cup opening-round contest that ended 2-2. The game comes at a time when Slovenia, failing to reach
the 2012 European Championship, is in the midst of rebuilding after the firing last month of coach
Matjaz Kek.
By Cesar Diaz - NEW YORK, NY (Nov 14, 2011) US Soccer Players -- If American Soccer has taught us
anything, it's that soccer at a grassroots level has outlasted many professional soccer leagues.
It's also well documented how the immigrant community has planted the seeds for soccer in this
country. Alongside the number of youth academies that were founded in those communities, soccer has
flourished in neighborhoods across the US for decades.
By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Nov 11, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The script couldn't have been
written any better. It was the sort of night that everything aligned perfectly for the Los Angeles
Galaxy and Major League Soccer. The LA - Real Salt Lake game had everything you could ask for in a
Western Conference Final.
By Justin Shaffer - SEATTLE, WA (Nov 10, 2011) US Soccer Players -- With the United States
embarking on a new path following the loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final and the hiring of coach
Jurgen Klinsmann, most fans expected one thing to change. Klinsmann was expected to part company
with the bunker and counter strategy that constantly left the USA trailing early in games.
