CU senior Nikki Marshall, left, and University of Nebraska defender Carly Peetz chase down a loose ball at Prentup Field. (photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

The University of Colorado soccer team will host Texas Tech at 3 p.m. Friday in its final regular-season match.

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On Monday, it was revealed by our sister site EPL Talk that the legendary Martin Tyler of Sky Sports will be joining ESPN for next summer's World Cup as the lead announcer. While I have nothing personally against Tyler (In fact, I like his style, and have seen him present two matches this weekend, since I am currently in India and here the Sky or TWI feed is given for every live match.

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I'm going to dispense with my normal game recap. Needless to say that if you've seen our last 4 games you've seen this one, with the exception of Noonan finding a way to get a ball across the line. The Rapids gave up two goals off of two free kicks and never looked like they were in a game where a win would have clinched a playoff spot. Click to continue reading...

When the Major League Soccer schedule was released many months ago, the first game that stood out was the last one: Saturday, Oct. 24, at Real Salt Lake.

RSL knocked the Rapids out of the playoffs (and put itself in) in the final minute of the final game of 2008. And the league set up a similar showdown by pairing the two in the 2009 finale.

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Martin Tyler has joined ESPN's 2010 World Cup team as the main commentator, according to Sports Illustrated.

EPL Talk speculated back in July that ESPN were interested in acquiring Tyler. And now, according to SI, they expect ESPN to make a formal announcement this week.

Without a doubt, Tyler is by far the number one football commentator in the world and it's an incredible achievement for ESPN to acquire his talent.

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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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The Rapids host the Dynamo in their only home Sunday match tomorrow. At halftime former Colorado striker and current Houston assistant coach will be inducted into the Gallery of Honor where he'll join Rapids legends Marcelo Balboa, Paul Bravo, and Chris Henderson. A well-deserved honor for one of the all-time fan favorites. Click to continue reading...

Random thoughts and ideas from the Colorado Rapids' shameful 3-2 loss against the Fire on Sunday evening in Chicago.

OMAR'S FIRST GOAL: Two things went right on Omar Cummings' goal in the first five minutes of the second half. First, Jamie Smith's shot was difficult enough that Chicago goalkeeper Jon Busch couldn't handle it cleanly.

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The Colorado Rapids will celebrate the newest addition to their Gallery of Honor during halftime of the team's match Aug. 30 against the Houston Dynamo.

Former Rapids captain John Spencer will have his name and number hung permanently inside Dick's Sporting Goods Park, becoming the fourth player in the Gallery of Honor.

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Definitely not the result I wanted (as detailed by my previous posts on this site!), but a well-deserved result for Mexico at Azteca yesterday.
Very enjoyable game by two well-matched sides. Among the few things I noticed while watching on mun2:
() Phil Schoen again showed me that he is the best soccer play-by-play guy in the US. Click to continue reading...

Well, this is more of a Twittery-type thing, but since I'm not taking that leap just yet, here's some shockingly horrendous news for today's U.S./Mexico match that I just happened to stumble upon. If you plan on checking in for the English language in a couple hours, you will be treated to the dulcet tones of the one, the only . Click to continue reading...

First of all, if you have Telemundo the match will be broadcast live in Spanish.

If you don't have Telemundo, or you prefer to watch the broadcast in English, it's baby sister station, mun2, will be carrying the match live as well. On mun2, Phil Schoen and Marcelo Balboa will call the game from monitors in a Miami studio.

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Various sources (not to be confused with Various Styles) are reporting this morning that on August 12, the day of the United States - Mexico game, Telemundo affiliate mun2 (mun dos) will be offering a "Free Preview" of their channel.
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According to NBC Universal, mun2 has already received commitments from programming distributors that almost double their current 31 million household subscriber base. Click to continue reading...

TELEVISION NETWORKS AGREE TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE BROADCAST OF USA-MEXICO MATCH

Several weeks ago I brought you news that a little known network called mun2, a English language Hispanic based network, would be the only carrier of the US v Mexico World Cup qualifier on August 12, at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

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TELEVISION NETWORKS AGREE TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE BROADCAST OF USA-MEXICO MATCH

Several weeks ago I brought you news that a little known network called mun2, a English language Hispanic based network, would be the only carrier of the US v Mexico World Cup qualifier on August 12, at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

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Rapids striker Omar Cummings kept Columbus defender Chad Marshall, right, off balance throughout Saturday's game — but couldn't find a goal for Colorado. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Call it yellow-and-black magic.

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As some of you have seen over the last day or so on my Twitter feed (twitter.com/wvhooligan), NBC Universal, the parent company of Telemundo and mun2 have been emailing the WVH inbox like no other.

Two typical PR-style press releases and one in a slightly response to my post on the ball being dropped with mun2 broadcasting the game a little while back.

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On August 12, 2009, the U.S. National Team will be travelling to Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to play Mexico in their first match of the second half of the CONCACAF Hex for World Cup Qualificiation. Since the match is at Azteca, the television broadcast rights are not held by ESPN but by Telemundo, part of NBC Universal. Click to continue reading...

Random ideas and obersvations from the Rapids' 3-1 loss to D.C. United on Saturday at RFK Stadium:

PASSION AND DESIRE: Colorado coach Gary Smith often attributes his team's victories and losses to the level of passion and desire the Rapids bring to the field. Saturday's two-goal loss was a good example of this.

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Here's the back story: Obama visited Brazil yesterday and received a football shirt by the country's president.
According to Obama, the President said, "I told them we're not gonna give up a 2 goal lead again."
According to The Telegraph in the UK, Obama said, "we will not lose a 2 point lead again. Click to continue reading...

STARTERS
USA President Barak Obama to Brazil President Lula: "We will not lose a 2-0 lead again."
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Yesterday I was a guest on Marcelo Balboa's radio show From The Pitch, in Denver. Co-host Brian Forbes manned the show on his own this week, and he and I talked about many soccer related subjects. Click to continue reading...

I will be a guest today on From The Pitch - the weekly radio show from Denver hosted by Marcelo Balboa and Brian Forbes.
Tune in from 11am to 1pm Central time for the entire show on Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510.
Hear me at 12:35-ish Central time!
I am a big fan of this show, and I am excited to be on again. Click to continue reading...

As the Colorado Rapids prepare to face FC Dallas in a Major League Soccer fixture for the second time in less than three weeks, The Tuesday List looks at the Dallas Burn's draft class of 1996.

The team had one pick in each of 16 rounds of the inaugural MLS draft. The players selected have some interesting coaching accomplishments, quite a bit of international experience and some Colorado ties.

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Chicago's Wilman Conde, left, heads in the winning goal over the head of Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
(photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

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The game was a dud, and so were the fireworks.

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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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For the full pre-game press notes, click here
Some highlights:

• Jonathan Spector and Jay DeMerit have stepped in to start and play 90 minutes in three straight games for a total of 270 minutes each. For Spector, that's more minutes than he played for the U.S. from June 13, 2007, until the start of the Confederations Cup, and for DeMerit that's more minutes than he played from June 29, 2007, until facing Italy on June 15.

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You may have noticed that Marcelo has been out and about lately. He's out bucking for prostate cancer awareness and I back him 100%. It may not be your favorite thing ever but you have to get checked out fellas because ass cancer is bad news. I'm certainly not trying to make light, I'm just trying to keep it real and use the vernacular of this blog's target demo; recent studies by the severely underfunded TOR Institute for Marginally Scientific Research have shown that the word "suck" or "sucks" it the most frequently used word in the comments of soccer-related blogs and message boards. Click to continue reading...

U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Marcelo Balboa got a haircut at last. And while no pictures have emerged of the "after" version of the longtime national team defender, he'll be making a few public appearances soon.
The haircut and the appearances are for the same cause. Balboa's hair -- much of it, anyway -- is going to Locks of Love, an organization that turns donated hair into hairpieces for young cancer patients. Click to continue reading...

From our man Travis at Calle Republic comes video of the shaving of Balboa; the hair may be gone but it can never, will never be forgotten. Click to continue reading...

The Rapids and Ivan Guerrero have decided to go their separate ways.

The team announced Wednesday that it has terminated the contract of the midfielder-defender, who was acquired in a trade with D.C. United for Christian Gomez.

Guerrero had not played for the Rapids this season, and the team said the move was by mutual consent.

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While following the U.S. Open Cup, congratulating Aly Wagner on her face no longer looking like a baseball (her words) and wondering why Toronto just released one-time U.S. national team savior Johann Smith, consider a couple of thoughts about how to beat Brazil:
The fact that Carlos Bocanegra is the first U. Click to continue reading...

Hola South Florida Futbol Fans and peoples of the worlds! (Especialy all the hot mamacitas!) Burrito bring you mucho informations so put on seatbelts cause here we go:
Miami FC win game on Sunday vs los Aztex from Austin by 2-0. Burritos idol Diego Serna hit post on shot then miss penalty but later score when Austin Goalie make boo boo and give ball straight to Serna. Click to continue reading...

With the European leagues done and World Cup qualifying at a break (until the middle of next week, when we finish up in Asia), it's time to do a little housekeeping around the site. That'll take some time, but in the meantime, here's a look at what you need to know from the week gone by and the weekend ahead:
- MLS, best matchup: Chicago visits D. Click to continue reading...

Marcelo Balboa closes a chapter in his distinctive hair era when he lets his iconic locks fall Friday in an effort to help children in cancer treatment with a personal donation to the cause. "I am getting a haircut, yes, sir!" Balboa said Thursday, less than 48 hours before he goes on Univision's Despierta America ["Wakeup America"] Friday morning for a nationally broadcast live haircut of some 10 inches of his hair.

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Grab your 40's and pour some out for Mareclo Balboa's long, luxurious locks as they are going to soccer hair heaven. Who will take over as Lord & Ruler of American soccer's Realm of Adventurous Hairstyles? Who knows but a dance-off between Gino Padula and Frankie Hejduk for the throne is looking more and more likely though. Click to continue reading...