Really good interview with Mark McCullers by Columbus Alive's Chris Deville. Are you watching, Grant Wahl? The whole thing is pretty good, particularly if you're a Crew fan, but the best part for me was the comment on youth development:

But if [the youth we develop] sign other professional contracts and they haven't signed a contract with MLS, then yes.

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Is to wait and see how this one plays out. To the Columbus fans, welcome to the silly season.
Lest we forget, everything in the transfer window is dramatic with Guille. Remember when he first came to Columbus? It took forever to get the deal signed, McCullers was back and forth, the deal was announced before it was finalized, and yours truly was beside himself:

So McCullers can introduce this guy to the press.

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QUESTION ON MY MIND
Who will help save my team?
The Minnesota Thunder is all but dead. This is horrible news. The team has been around since 1990 and won many amazing games & trophies, but currently finds itself in the hands of ownership who appear to be lying to everyone in sight, and have no money at all. Click to continue reading...

Many of you will remember the letter Mark McCullers sent to the Nordecke last month asking them to be on their best behavior. In today's Columbus Dispatch Sean Michelle explores how that happened:

But not everyone is happy with the bastion of drums, songs, flags, banners and, occasionally, profane chants.

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Big Story
What is it acceptable for fans to chant at football matches? I (hope!) we can all agree there are clearly some things that should always be out of bounds anywhere in the world, such as racist chanting/abuse, and some countries (hello, Italy and Spain) have more work to do than others.

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Yep. From Mark McCullers:

Nordecke Supporters:
I have received several emails regarding the increased security presence in the Nordecke for the Saprissa match. We have respectfully requested that the chants including profanity, most importantly GTFO, cease. Unfortunately that chant has continued, specifically during the Cruz Azul match and then several times during the LA match.

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...This was the message of Defender Captain Frankie Hejduk last night when the Columbus Crew and the Nordecke came together for a Supporters Summit.

The team and staff members in attendance were Head Coach Robert Warzycha, General Manger Mark McCullers, Director of the Hispanic Developement Francisco Terreros, Defender Frankie Hejduk, Defender Danny O'Rourke, Midfielder Brian Carroll and Senior Director of Event Management Ryan Smith.

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So, yeah, it was great seeing Idiot FC get it's still-beating heart ripped out in stoppage time by Frankie Hejduk and Jason Garey. Even though I'm not coaching out there anymore, it warmed my heart.
A couple days ago B.A. Duane published the letter TFC supporters sent to Crew GM Mark McCullers back in April (hey, another page view! Click to continue reading...

STARTERS
And now a message from Columbus Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers:
June 1, 2009
Dear Crew Fans,
I have received numerous emails and letters from fans complaining about the language emanating from the supporters section. We have communicated the standards, policies and expectations of fan behavior to the supporters group leadership. Click to continue reading...

Why does this man seem to do more harm than good every time he speaks?
The following report and op-ed piece was composed by a Columbus Crew fan. An angry one at that. One which if he could vote out the GM such as Seattlites can with their GM, would likely be lobbying for votes. He is also an MLSR contributor who prefers to remain anonymous. Click to continue reading...

Americans Abroad
USMNT Calls Up Clark To Replace Edu - Soccer By Ives
Adverse Habitat Awaits U.S. In Costa Rica - Goal (NY Times)
US Needs To Take Next Giant Step - Match Fit USA
USA Training At Saprissa - Soccer Insider
Diskerud Crackers Inc. - No Short Corners
U.S. Men's Soccer Team Begins Grueling Stretch - The Star-Ledger
Blow For Mo - Rangers FC official site
Hejduk Out For Wednesday, Altidore Fit Enough To Start - Soccer By Ives
Monday's Americans Abroad Roundup - Soccer365
For The U. Click to continue reading...

While tonight's game between conference leaders CD Chivas USA and Chicago Fire should be compelling, this Saturday's between two teams Sigi built should be one for the ages.
First you have the newfound rivalry between Crew and Seattle fans:
Designed by� johntommervik. Click to continue reading...

Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch writes about the support that Columbus Crew head coach Robert Warzycha has from his players and front office.
Despite the Crew's slow 2009 start as the defending MLS Cup Champions, Warzycha has the backing of the entire organization.
"That didn't even go through my mind, that they would get rid of Bobby," midfielder Robbie Rogers said. Click to continue reading...

"Nordeke Is Gonna Party Like It's 1999"....well with the stage which didn't exist in 1999 as pictured above.
Breakout your 90's Stern John and Brian McBride throwbacks Crew Fans, and remember better days.
According to this...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As announced by Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers Saturday on ONN, during the halftime show of the Crew-Rapids game, the Crew will be turning back the clock to 1999 on May 9, in celebration of Crew Stadium's 10th Anniversary.

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Got an article from the past 24 hours that we missed?
Send the link(s) to us at majorleaguewriter@gmail.com
Total articles found today: 63
Americans Abroad / USMNT
Americans Abroad, Monday Edition - Soccer Insider
Report: Heath Pearce Demoted By Hansa Rostock - Goal. Click to continue reading...

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Photo by ISIphotos.com

By CASEY CANNON

Hello and Welcome to the SBI Fantasy Corner – now with more vivid hallucinations!

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� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Photo by ISIphotos.com

By CASEY CANNON

Hello and Welcome to the SBI Fantasy Corner – now with more vivid hallucinations!

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Membership in the Crew Soccer Nation has its privileges. As a season ticket holder I was invited to a Chalk Talk with Sigi, Mark McCullers, and Brian Bliss before the FC Dallas game. Sigi took questions from a group of around 50 fans. There were a few questions about Pat Noonan and some talk about [. Click to continue reading...

It seems to us that a great many of the problems going on in the stories of fan violence have to do with security or lack thereof. As Dougie Brimson pointed out, rather than place blame on a specific supporters group the major blame needs to be placed on the often goon-like security at MLS games. We have seen that in the incident with West Ham supporters, New England Revolution supporters at the Brazil game and Superliga and it is a constant at Giants Stadium in New Jersey where Red Bull New York play their home games:
The following videos illustrates why many in New York do not support the Red Bulls. Click to continue reading...

In an audio interview with a Crew blog, Columbus GM Mark McCullers claimed among other things that:
* Toronto forced the league to take action that resulted in the Columbus enforcement of a ban against throwing streamers on the pitch in Columbus.
* He and DC United's front office gave birth to the Screaming Eagles (an organization which pre-dates United) and La Barra Brava. Click to continue reading...

Due to actions at this past weekend's game at home vs Colorado involving thrown smoke bombs, the Columbus Crew's front office finally decided to take action against the "Nordecke". MLSR has been in contact with a security person at Crew Stadium and we have contacted him for comments which we may publish later on. Click to continue reading...

Sources in Columbus tell me that the Crew aren't about to ship their designated player spot anytime soon. Many feel that given the Crew's status as a small-market team, and the lack of obvious candidates to come in through that spot, they are looking to deal. But that isn't the case, and in fact it is [. Click to continue reading...