Official Kickers Press Release:
RICHMOND, VA – (Monday, February 13, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers continue their strong tradition of hiring from within the organization, naming veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale player/assistant coach for the 2012 season, pending USL and USSF approval.

Big congratulations to Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson as he won the Sportsperson of the Year award at the 60th Oregon Sports Awards last night. I'm not quite sure on the qualifications of such an award, but it's a great accomplishment nonetheless.

Interestingly enough it looks like Merritt Paulson was the first person to receive the award for soccer since Clive Charles won it in 2002 and only the third person (and fourth time overall) somebody from the world of soccer has taken home the award since it's was created in 1957.

Support for FC Richmond soccer coach and former William and Mary player, Ian Stowe who is battling a tumor, continues to come from all areas of the soccer community. Today the Richmond Kickers organization announced they will hold a benefit exhibition match to support #stowestrong.

MISL Press Release: Wichita's Perez Named Player of the Week Scored game-winning goal in Wings' overtime victory against Lancers TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League announced on...
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PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that their regular-season matchup on Oct. 20, at BC Place in Vancouver, B.C., has been changed to Sunday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. (Pacific) due to a conflict with the Canadian Football League (CFL) schedule.

Keeping up with the many moves that have taken place with regards to D.C. United's roster over the last couple of weeks is no small task. Each day it seems as if United are releasing another press release regarding a new player signing or the release of a player. Instead of posting each individual press release here is a recap of the roster moves from the past week up to today.

Here's an interesting early morning trade for everybody. It appears that the Portland Timbers have traded with D.C. United for an international roster spot for the 2012/2013 seasons in exchange for an unknown amount of allocation money.

Naturally one would expect that this would be used on a new signing and it may very well be for the 2013 season, however, not for the season because.

As if the defending MLS Champions needed any more offensive firepower, the LA Galaxy announced today that Edson Buddle would be rejoining the Galaxy after terminating his contract with FC Ingolstadt by mutual consent.

Buddle's addition gives LA the league's best forward tandem, as he and Robbie Keane will lead a line that should feast on the service provided by Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

The day after reports that Edson Buddle had been released from his contract with Ingolstadt in Germany's 2.Bundesliga, Major League Soccer announced that he has signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Buddle left the Galaxy following the 2010 season. "I am thrilled to be able to return to MLS and a club that has meant so much to me in my career," Buddle said in a press release.

Editor's Note: Another semi-regular feature starting up here. "The Open Bar" will focus on all the wonderful drinking options FBMers should avail themselves of.


Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer's official tequila sponsor is launching a set of soccer-specific tequila bottles.

After losing 2-1 to the New England Revolution in a preseason scrimmage in Casa Grande, AZ last weekend, FC Tucson head coach Rick Schantz had a funny remark that made its way into the end of the PDL side's press release. "New England looked a bit surprised but they eventually realized we were better than they expected," he quipped.

Official Announcement by WPS press release:
WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER
SUSPENDS PLAY FOR 2012 SEASON
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 30, 2012) – Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that its Board of Governors has voted to suspend the 2012 season to permit the League to focus on the resolution of certain pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the League as a result of its ongoing dispute with a former owner.

Kickettes, do you recall the veiled threat we (and many, many other members of the media) received from legal firm, Schillings, on behalf of their clients, the Gerrards, requesting privacy from the paps whilst out with their kids?

If not, read about it here.

Well recently, and as we rightly predicted, Lourdes made her grand entrance into the public world via the same pages that pay Alex for her brainless ramblings, which OK!

Their Words "Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and City of Chester Mayer John Linder will join Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and Philadelphia Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz in making a significant soccer announcement at a press conference Tuesday at City Hall." from the Philadelphia Union's press release.

Following the announcement by the Philadelphia Union that a press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday at 11am to take place at City Hall in Center City Philadelphia, philly.com reports that the Union will host the 2012 MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park.

The press release from the Union says that team CEO Nick Sackiewicz, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Chester Mayor John Linder and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter are all scheduled to be in attendance.

Or at least in this self-serving press release I'm reprinting in full below the Galaxy just released telling us all what we've known for hours anyway: That Beckham is back, although of course, he never really left. Read on and you'll discover just how great Beckham has been for the

Photo: Nate Monahan

The Philadelphia Union announced today that 34-year-old Serbian striker Veljko Paunovic has called an end to his 16 year professional career.

In the press release from the Union announcing his retirement, Paunovic praised both the Union fans and the Union organization.

Long rumored Trinidad & Tobago U-20 national and Port of Spain Defence Force FC player Cordell Cato is no longer rumor, nor trialist, but has in fact signed with Seattle Sounders FC. Cato continues the expansion of Seattle's international roster slots, forcing even more competition.

"Cordell provides us speed and versatility as he can play on the flank and up front," said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC head coach via press release.

Today has been an exciting day to be a Portland Timbers fan. First, earlier this morning, we received confirmation that Colombian central defender Hanyer Mosquera has joined the squad. As a big center back with experience he'll be invaluable in helping the Timbers shore up some of those defensive gaffes that were far too prevalent last season.

The United States Soccer Federation announced significant changes for the US Open Cup. The 2012 tournament will be larger than in previous years, and the organizers are bringing an end to Major League Soccer having an advantage in hosting games late in the tournament. The following is from the US Soccer press release announcing the 2012 format: 2012 Lamar Hunt U.

PASL-Player of the WeekCesar Romero, Revolucion Tijuana and Kraig Chiles, San Diego Sockers
PASL Press Release

Romero followed up his record setting nine goal game with a five goal, one assist night against the Anaheim Bolts. Romero helped rally Tijuana from a 7-2 deficit to pull out a 14-13 win in what was surely the most important game of the season to date.

Reading the press release about the arrival of Rob Stone at FOX Sports this week, you would have presumed that Christian Miles was a goner. Without mentioning Miles's name, the press release described how Stone would be hosting Goals On ...
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With camp just starting in Phoenix, United States National Team coach has brought in Seattle players Brad Evans and Jeff Parke to replace the LA Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez and FC Dallas's George John. Gonzalez and John have been allowed to leave camp to "deal with club-related matters" according to a press release from US Soccer.

The Columbus Crew announced on Wednesday that their technical director and US National Team alum Brian Bliss will be assisting Under-20 National Team coach Tab Ramos. He will remain in his role with Columbus. "Having played for the national team, it is an honor to be asked to return and contribute in another way," Bliss said in a press release announcing the additional role.

Well we pretty much knew that it was happening, but today the Portland Timbers confirmed that Brent Richards has been signed as the Timbers first ever homegrown player. Richards joins the club after three seasons with the Timbers U-23 PDL side where he scored 26 goals and 12 assists in 37 games...

The USSF announced today that Wilmer Cabrera will be leaving his role as head coach of the U.S Under-17 Men's National Team. According to the press release the two sides mutually agreed to part ways. "After several discussions with Wilmer, we agreed that parting ways at this time was the best way forward," said U.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

There's been another coaching change in the U.S. Soccer youth tree under the Jurgen Klinsmann regime.

Months after Thomas Rongen and Mike Matkovich made way for Tab Ramos and Richie Williams on the Under-20 and U-18 levels, respectively, U.

No, not me. CONCACAF announced that Tim Howard has been promoted from deputy general secretary to acting general secretary of the confederation. He was previously involved with the original North American Soccer League in the 1970s and early 1980s, and held executive marketing positions with Ohlmeyer Communications (formed by fomer sports television producer Don Ohlmeyer) and the NBA before joining CONCACAF in 1998.

The Dynamo have acquired 24-year old midfielder Nathan Sturgis from Toronto FC in exchange for a conditional MLS SuperDraft pick. Jesus Ortiz broke the news on Twitter.

Sturgis hasn't fit in to Aron Winter's plans in Toronto and he has an extremely reasonable salary which shouldn't hurt the Dynamo's cap space too much.

Courtesy of Professional Arena Soccer League Press Release
Sockers, Waza on Top at Midpoint
The San Diego Sockers and Detroit Waza lead their respective divisions at the virtual midpoint of the 2011/12 PASL season. San Diego, 5-0, has won 13 in a row dating back a full calendar year.

The Society of Black Lawyers (SBL) is urging the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to treat the Luis Suarez affair as a racist incident and argues the Uruguayan should not be treated any differently to Chelsea's John Terry.In an alarming turn of events for Liverpool, The SBL revealed in a Press Release that it plans to make a formal complaint to the CPS about Suarez in the hope that it will launch

The Philadelphia Union announced on Thursday the signing of Costa Rican left back Porfirio Lopez.

The 26-year-old Lopez, who was on loan with Costa Rica's First Division Champion Liga Deportiva Alajuelense from Chinese Dalian Haichang.

The press release from the Union says, "Lopez will be eligible to join the Union upon receiving his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

Trevor James, an assistant coach for the Portland Timbers during the 2011 season has officially departed from the team's technical staff today. Those of you who were with us during this past pre-season will remember that he had spent the previous 5 years as an assistant coach and director with the LA Galaxy, which means he brought a lot of experience from one of MLS's best teams to the Timbers, unfortunately for us.

Well we've all been wondering what the Portland Timbers pre-season plans were and today they've been given a serious spotlight. Per the title of this article, the Timbers will host Chivas USA, San Jose Earthquakes and AIK (from Sweden's first division Allsvenskan) from February 27th-March 4th, about 1 week prior to First Kick 2012).

Nike soccer has launched new colorways of its Mercurial, T90, Tiempo and CTR360 boots. Here is a look at each along with information on them from a Nike press release. They will be available at World Soccer Shop and Big Toe Soccer. NIKE T90 LASER IV Focused on adapting to the technical demands and movement [.

Happy Friday everyone. Yesterday brought news of another loan stint for an American overseas. In this case though, it was one of the more high profile national team players with Landon Donovan headed to Everton.
The Los Angeles Galaxy and Everton came to terms on a two-month loan deal that will see Donovan play for the English side until February 25th.

Well at least we'll be able to watch one Timber this off season as it looks like Rodney Wallace is off to represent Costa Rica once again. Both matches are international friendlies, but any national time he can get the better, in my opinion.

The first match will be against Cuba in Cuba... not many Americans can say they've been there.

On Thursday, United States Under-23 National Team coach Caleb Porter named a 28-player roster for the December 15th-23rd training camp in Florida. "At every camp we expect to push the group forward by continuing to evaluate the player pool while imprinting the concepts of how we will play as a team on both sides of the ball," Porter said in the press release.

It's always a good sign about the your club's future when three players, well three and a potential fourth future Dynamo star, get called in to a US Men's National Team U-23 training camp. Danny Cruz, Kofi Sarkodie and Will Bruin head to Florida starting next week for a week long camp with new U-23 head coach Caleb Porter.

New albums are in abundance for music fans during the Christmas period. Among them is the Real Madrid Legends Music Club from Spanish giants Real Madrid. These are the details on the new set via a press release from the club. ‘Everybody', the first single from The Legends – The Official Real Madrid Digital Music [.