My introduction to Daniele De Rossi was the vicious elbow that he threw at Brian McBride, leaving his face bloody in the USA vs Italy match in the 2006 World Cup. It left a negative impression of him but here is De Rossi doing something rare in football nowadays, acknowledging that he used his hand to score a goal against Serie side Messina.

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Overall, a really good article:

Lambert said she was shaken and appalled by some of the responses she received in e-mail messages, telephone messages and on blogs, which included the publishing of her parents' home phone number in Southern California and one suggestion that "I should be taken to a state prison, raped and left for dead in a ditch.

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Have you heard? We first discovered the news about our favourite Party Boy's new love last week. We've compiled a few fascinating and entertaining details and thought we'd share with you in compact bullet-point form.

- It would seem that Nicklas Bendtner is dating Caroline Fleming, a baroness 13-years his senior.

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Have you heard? We first discovered the news about our favourite Party Boy's new love last week. We've compiled a few fascinating and entertaining details and thought we'd share with you in compact bullet-point form.

- It would seem that Nicklas Bendtner is dating Caroline Fleming, a baroness 13-years his senior.

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Earlier on this afternoon, Coleen Rooney gave birth to Wayne Rooney's first child. The baby boy has been named Kai Wayne Rooney and both parents are said to be ‘overjoyed'.
The bookmakers have done up some special odds for baby Kai already, the poor kid is only hours old. Click to continue reading...

...at least according to Franz Smuda. The new Polish national coach visited Bremen at the weekend to talk to Boenish's parents and the player himself. Smuda was very positive after both meetings and remains optimistic about Werder's defender involvement in the Bialo Czerwoni team. Boenish himself, however, remains a bit more distanced.

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Sent by a soccer mom:

Subject: Change to End of Game Ceremony

To the players, parents, and volunteers of AYSO Region 17,

One of the most basic and vital components to the AYSO sportsmanship program is the end of game hand-shake/high five line for the opposing teams and the referees.

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Of course I want my players to do well in soccer and go as far in the game as they want.� But most importantly I want my players to succeed in life first and soccer second.� I think many lessons taught on the soccer field can be directly translated into real life.� One such important lesson is sportsmanship!

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.. given out at the United Awards Reception.

Join United players, coaches and front office staff at the 6th Annual United Awards Reception taking place tomorrow night at the historic Atlas Performing Arts Center on H St. NE. In addition to finding out which players won Team MVP, Coaches' Award, Fan's Choice, Goal of the Year and others, you'll also find out which players spend the most time in front of the mirror, is the most unlikely to pick up a restaurant tab, is most likely to move back in with their parents and star in a reality show, among others.

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Last week's wacky shaninagians� really reminded me 0f� the short� film The Red Balloon?� If you haven't seen� the French film, originally titled Le Ballon Rouge,� it is the story of a boy who discovers a� balloon that drifts� around following� him� with a mind of its own.

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Many thanks to the Sodium team members and parents who volunteered their time this morning at Project warm up! As you can see the place was packed!
T and T - there DYNOMITE!!
Taylor Coon and Taylor Moscoe lend a helping hand at this years event checking out and bagging much needed clothing for families in the community. Click to continue reading...

This weekend, Mandeville Soccer Club (my old club) is having there huge Midnight Madness Tournament and I am very excited to be one of the sponsors!

This tournament has over 200 teams in it and thousands of people will be at the park all weekend and well into the nights for this one.

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Along with a number of other teams, I currently coach my youngest son's U5 Rec team. Sponsored by Sheetz, their name is the Lil' Sheetz you gotta love it. Anyway we're playing a match that is pretty even this past weekend and both teams are scoring plenty of goals and having fun. I think I had three kids total (it was a cold morning and I had a few sick).

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A girls only High Performance football program was offered by Players FC at Turner Primary School here in Canberra. It started yesterday.
16 places available, 19 girls signed up for the seven week course, ($70 per child), with minimal promotion. Didn't even make the school newsletter.
On the Turner Oval, Yr 3-6 girls come out of school at 3pm, ate, drank and then in time played football, did their drills, exercises and games under licensed coaches. Click to continue reading...

This is a reprint of a post from the U13 season. Posted April 30th, 2009. A lot has happened in 6 months, but I felt this is just as important now as it was back then.
This will be the last post prior to the first Quarter Final game. I want to take this opportunity to address what it means and what it takes to be, not only a Championship caliber, but any, team. Click to continue reading...

View from the sidelines
This section is dedicated to my editorial comments. Some parents may not like it. If you are easily offended by any of my earlier posts I suggest you stop reading now. Proceed at your own risk but don't go slamming me on any forum later, I warned you!
A parent came up to me during the LOSC game and said; "There just another team". Click to continue reading...

Foreign fans rejoice! The 2009 leg of the Bucks for Becks World Tour™ is on. Having already run through Australia, Asia and Canada in off-seasons past, the Galaxy are spending this Thanksgiving in Europe...kind of like that rich kid you went to school with who always rocked Lacoste and had cool parents who would let him have wine at dinner. Click to continue reading...

One goal and all of a sudden journalists find out he's a great interview. Sean Michelle:

"(Conor) Casey should be worried," [Padula] said jokingly. "We have two games left. I can score eight (in one) and eight (in the other)."
Casey, a striker for Colorado, leads MLS with 17 goals.

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In the wake of Kaka's attempts at answering the questions of school children, Jose Mourinho decided to try it himself on Paolo Bonolis' kids show Chi Ha Incastrato Peter Pan? last week. The following is translation of parts of that Q&A session.

Bonolis: Alright, we have the fantastic manager of the Internazionale Football Club here with us, Mr.

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Yesterday Man United said via the official website (www.manutd.com) that the Paul Pogba claim had been put to bed, Le Havre are saying something totally different.
Le Havre claimed that United paid off Pogba's parents so that he would break a contract with Le Havre and join United. Click to continue reading...

FIFA have approved Paul Pogba's move to Man United after a judge ruled that United didn't get the player to break his contract with Le Havre. Pogba is now able to join Man United. United have said that Pogba will immediately be registered with the United.
Le Havre claimed that Man United offered the players parents a house and money if the played moved to United. Click to continue reading...

After Chelsea had been slapped with a ban from the transfer window, news broke that Manchester United could be in for the same punishment after French club Le Havre claimed we had unlawfully gained the signature of youngster Paul Pogba. United claimed time and again that we had done nothing wrong and there was no problem with the deal, much to Le Havre president Jean-Pierre Louvel's frustration.

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It's been almost a month since Emmanuel Adebayor and Arsenal were face to face at Manchester in Mark Hughes' controversial 4-2 win over Arsene Wenger's side.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, ex-Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor revealed insults against his parents were addressed against him, something which he simply "could not stand".

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It's been almost a month since Emmanuel Adebayor and Arsenal were face to face at Manchester in Mark Hughes' controversial 4-2 win over Arsene Wenger's side.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, ex-Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor revealed insults against his parents were addressed against him, something which he simply "could not stand".

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I am nearly over hearing that Brisbane decided to loose Tiatto for a week and Miller for 2 in retaliation for Kruse sending some text messages to them.
Gee how weak the Roar's state must be if someone like Kruse can put them off their game so easily?
Bit of a shame really.
A man in his mid/late 30s punching a 20 year old because they said things that they don't like isn't the way to get parents to take their kids to an expensive soccer match. Click to continue reading...

Alright, this kid extremely confused. First of all, he takes down a player off the ball. Secondly, he does so with an American football tackle. Thirdly, that player he took down was on his team. Fourthly, that teammate was a girl. Fifthly, his shirt goes down to his knees.

I blame the parents.

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Speculations about new signings in January's transfer window were already published on Arsenal despite January being three months away. Manager Arsene Wenger, as always, had to rubbish such rumours by yet again declaring he believes in the youngsters who will play an important part during this season.

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Speculations about new signings in January's transfer window were already published on Arsenal despite January being three months away. Manager Arsene Wenger, as always, had to rubbish such rumours by yet again declaring he believes in the youngsters who will play an important part during this season.

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Thanks to Dirty Tackle for this one. This footballer attempting to stop the ball from going out of play, clearly has some vendetta against old clunky machinery. Perhaps his parents were murdered by a Betamax or maybe he was attacked by a Sodastream when he was a kid, either way he attempts to stop the ball from going over the line then skids into a very old Camera which then lands on him in a manner that must surely have hurt.

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The biggest threat to football's credibility in modern times Following Michele Platini's goal against Fulham last month, OTP can now lift the lid on another Brazilian player pretending to be a French superstar. Meet Makelele - or Leandro dos Santos de Jesus to his parents - of Brazilian outfit Coritiba. Click to continue reading...

A friend of mine, L.E. Eisenmenger who writes for SoccerLens and the Examiner wrote a very interesting piece on the idea of youth transfer fees in the US?� The article talks about how youth clubs should be given part of the transfer fee if a player was developed by a youth club, then picked up by an MLS youth club or MLS Academy team, and eventually sold to a foreign club.

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With Real Madrid sitting atop the table after five matches, Kaka has decided to once again field questions from a group of school children. The following is a transcript of that event.

Kaka: Good morning, boys and girls! I am very happy to be with you here today and I am excited to answer your questions.

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Sol Campbell claims his decision to leave Notts County was based on his desire to make it to the World Cup. Apparently East Midlands Airport doesn't do a direct flight to South Africa.

The guy is an arse. Going there in the first place was a stupid move but to bottle it after one game is just pathetic.

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Last fall Inside Minnesota reported that Augsburg's Matt Bowman (SO, Maple Grove, Minn.) collapsed on the field during preseason and almost died. It was a scary moment for both players and coach Greg Holker. Bowman's parents were also in the stands and knew things were serious. A horrific moment for any parent player or coach.

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Last fall Inside Minnesota reported that Augsburg's Matt Bowman (SO, Maple Grove, Minn.) collapsed on the field during preseason and almost died. It was a scary moment for both players and coach Greg Holker. Bowman's parents were also in the stands and knew things were serious. A horrific moment for any parent player or coach.

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