In early August of 2006, it was announced that ESPN had paid for the rights to broadcast MLS.  At the announcement, officials from both sides agreed that ESPN would brand MLS with all the glory that its broadcasting style conveys to U.S. sports fans.   But, another MLS season has come and gone and except for the soccer purists, it has passed [. Click to continue reading...

Professional soccer in the U.S. from March to August should play a 40 game schedule.  The schedule should exclude any other type of inter-league or international club play till after the American season is completed.  This schedule will keep the U.S. sports fan focused on the beginning, middle and end to the pro soccer season. Click to continue reading...

We love the single table format. That said, we also love rumors that MLS may be headed in that direction. With everyone from Sean Wheelock to Greg Lalas, to Shep Messing commenting on it as of late there must be something to the rumors. So we decided to look for any fact based evidence rather than seek out a New York bartender who keeps Don Garber's tab. Click to continue reading...

Opportunities for Aussie women on the rise.

Heather Garriock has just returned from an invitation 7-a-side tournament in the UAE. And next she'll be off to America to play.

Young Matildas win, and Aussies off to play in USA league.
FFA Release below.


Three stars of the Westfield Matildas Sarah Walsh, Heather Garriock and Lisa De Vanna are in demand not only in Australia but also internationally. Click to continue reading...

Give MLS a B+.

That's the word from the Racial and Gender Report Card produced by Richard Lapchick of the University of Central Florida's DeVos Sports Business Management Program. See the PDF.

MLS earned an A for racial hiring, C+ in gender hiring and A+ for diversity initiatives.

In 2003, MLS received an F for gender.

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Marta, generally universally acknowledged as the world's best female player, was picked today in the international draft by the as yet unnamed L.A. Women's Professional Soccer franchise.

All told, 28 foreign players were picked by the seven WPS teams over four rounds.

It doesn't mean the players will automatically join the league.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Johnny Exantus, the Haitian-born striker and former star of the Red Bulls Academy team, has left the Red Bulls Academy team and has been linked to Belgian club Royal Racing of Montegnee, but that doesn't mean he has given up on playing for the club that he has spent the past three years developing with.

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One of the ideas I have been trying to impress upon referees in northern California is that soccer——especially professional soccer——can have predictable elements to it. In one presentation and discussion, I used the example of the terrible foul committed on... Click to continue reading...

Apparently I'm a few days late on this, but St. Louis' entry into Women's Professional Soccer isn't going to have a nickname. Not even an FC. Just "St. Louis." Or so sayeth this video. You can call it traditional or a throwback if you like. I call it lazy. Click to continue reading...

Thanks to Nico for pointing me in this direction. Apparently, Dallas' entry in Women's Professional Soccer will be called the Sting when it takes the field in 2010 (pushed back a year because of stadium issues). A familiar name in soccer circles, no? What's interesting is the Dallas team's history: It was from the newly formed High School [. Click to continue reading...

The Richmond Kickers of USL-2 have announced that Zimbabwe-born midfielder Stanley Nyazamba has signed a developmental contract with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, making him the 22nd player in Kickers history to move on to MLS. Nyazamba, 25, was named USL-2 Rookie of the Year this past season after posting eight goals and two assists in his first season with the Kickers. Click to continue reading...

Columbus crew have signed the midfielder from the USL's Richmond Kickers according to the Richmond club's website. Nyazamba was the USL-2 Rookie of the Year award following his 2008 season in Richmond.

Press Release:
RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, September 16, 2008) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that midfielder Stanley Nyazamba has signed a developmental contract with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, marking the 22nd Kickers player to advance to MLS. Click to continue reading...

Boston Head Coach Tony DiCicco (far left) and WPS Part Owner and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash (far right) pose with the Breakers three allocated players: Heather Mitts, Angela Hucles and Kristine Lilly. (Women's Professional Soccer) September 16, 2008 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) announced the allocations of the U. Click to continue reading...

Former South (Torrance) High star Shannon Boxx, Olympian Stephanie Cox and midfielder Aly Wagner were allocated to Los Angeles' Women's Professional Soccer franchise today.

"This is a big day for Women's Professional Soccer, as teams now have Olympic gold medalists from Beijing allocated to their home cities along with other talented national team players," said WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci.

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In a nation of immigrants, the UEFA Champions League has carved a loyal niche among soccer fans and now the CONCACAF version joins the party. Set that TiVo.

Meanwhile, barely in time for today's Women's Professional Soccer U.S. National Team draft, the still as yet unnamed L.A. entry has hired a coach after all.

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September 13, 2008 - The Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) draft takes place next so let's catch up with what's happening with the new league. If you've been living in a cave, the WPS will be the highest level of women's professional soccer in North America. The league consists of seven teams across the country with markets for the 2009 season including [. Click to continue reading...

This November children from India will attend the Italian Scuola Calcio (Soccer School) program run by top Italian professional soccer instructors.

This International program is been made possible by a relationship between Deeksha Sports Management (DSM) a HTC Group Company and Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School a Soccerkix Company. Click to continue reading...

My Red Stars co-worker Pat McNamara posted a great blog today about his life in soccer. i worked with Pat at the Chicago Fire and am very fortunate that he accepted the Red Stars Director of Corporate Partnerships position recently. He is one of the best sellers of the professional soccer experience i have ever known. Click to continue reading...

Let's all take a deep breath, shall we? I know I need one (or several).

D.C. United are champions again.

Tonight, United fought a very scrappy and resilient Charleston Battery side to capture the second U.S. Open Cup in club history. The win marks the tenth domestic trophy - and twelfth major title overall - since the team's inception in 1996.

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The Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League's Division 1 take on MLS' D.C. United tonight in the final of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

With its official beginning dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is the oldest tournament in any sport in the United States. The Open Cup is America's version of the FA Cup by organization as it gives all US Soccer affiliated sides, both amateur and professional, an opportunity to play for the title. Click to continue reading...

Section 8 faithful Tom Dumore shows his support for the Red Stars. The guys and gals in the Chicago Fire Supporter's organization, Section 8, have taken a HUGE initiative here in Chicago: Part in parcel with the enthusiasm from the woman's team performance and in recognition of the upcoming inaugural season of Woman's Professional Soccer (WPS) and [. Click to continue reading...

WOW!!! WHAT A GREAT VICTORY FOR THE USA! The Globe Pub in Chicago was packed with supporters for the Red Stars viewing party which started at 5 am for Germany's 1-0 bronze medal win over Japan. . Everyone was excited to see future WPS players battle on both sides of the gold medal match. At halftime, raffle prizes were awarded and Red Stars GM Marcia McDermott, fresh from her scouting trip to China, welcomed the group. Click to continue reading...

It's time for another guest post, this time from NSC reader Michael Laborde, who has own take on the Michael Bradley transfer saga, albeit with a broader point. Take it away... The Prem is my favorite soccer league in the entire world. It was the first league I started watching and it was my introduction into the world of professional soccer on the international level. Click to continue reading...

Everyone in Women's Professional Soccer is pulling for a US victory tomorrow both from a patriotic and a business perspective.

The prevailing thought is that a return to a world championship, if not world dominance, would provide a good kick start for WPS.

A gold medal for the US would certainly provide a boost for the League for all the obvious reasons, but i think it's also important to recognize that the League benefits if Brazil wins. Click to continue reading...

Been tossing this idea around for a while now, figured I would flesh it out a little bit here. Note: this is MLS only. Today's Entry: The Front Office Front Office Peter Bridgwater I'll let his Wiki page do the talking: "He had been involved with professional soccer in San Jose since 1984, when he was named [. Click to continue reading...

Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) became the first major professional sports league in the world* to create its own social networking site today with the launch of the online WPS Fan Zone branded for now as "Beijing Now, WPS Next".

This is another indication that this League is going to be very smart and efficient in the way it connects with its fan base. Click to continue reading...

It must be an amazing feeling to be a rookie and score your first career goal. Amazing. Patrick Nyarko got that feeling tonight while playing in his fifth career match. Prior to tonight he hadn't started a game and he had not played more then 65 minutes of professional soccer. That didn't stop him from scoring for the Fire. Click to continue reading...

I arrived in Philadelphia on Thursday excited to represent the Women's Committee at the NSCAA Board of Director's meeting. When I got there, I was cordially welcomed by Al Albert, the NSCAA President. He asked me if I'd be willing to accept a position on the BOD as the Women's Professional Soccer representative. Click to continue reading...

Injured USWNT star Leslie Osborne spent yesterday in Chicago promoting the Chicago Red Stars and Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). She flew in from LA ridiculously early and was picked up by Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes who took her to the IWSL Fall Seeding Meeting in Schaumburg, which started at 7:30 am. Click to continue reading...

An interesting move by the Chicago Fire as they acquire the rights to Brian McBride from Toronto F.C. The Fire won't actually get to have McBride play for them until after the Olympic games are over, but that will serve as a good way to get him into game shape and ready for the stretch run and the playoffs. Click to continue reading...

The Toyota Park Annex (aka as the Chicago Red Stars office) has been rockin' with action lately. Consider:

* The interior rehab was recently completed with the addition of cubes for our sales staff and interns.
* The exterior design was completed yesterday with the addition of Red Stars and Toyota Park logos, Women's Professional Soccer word mark and a number of red stars. Click to continue reading...

Yawn. I think the most exciting soccer-related thing I've come across recently was the head wound I picked up at my game on Monday. Seriously, y'all.

Anyway, I figured it was time for another periodic update from the Great White North...

Toronto FC's extended streak of mediocrity continues, as they drew 1-1 with the Montreal Impact yesterday in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship (god, what a stupid name). Click to continue reading...

New signings to make a difference at Sengkang
Syahrom Sulaiman info@sleague.com
All season long, Sengkang Punggol's well-documented problems up front became a major talking point in the S.League. Currently occupying the last spot, the Dolphins' inability to convert the chances in front of goal is putting them in danger of finishing the season on a new low. Click to continue reading...

My new friend, Chris Courtney from Letters From Vagabondia, has written a great piece tracking the evolution of the American player in Europe. Chris had the enviable job of actually getting paid to cover US Players in Europe as a writer and reporter for Soccer Times! He has done a great job of capturing the trends and key names in his Part 1 post (1980s to the mid 1990s). Click to continue reading...

Chase Hilgenbrinck's decision to leave MLS for the seminary and eventual priesthood was surprising but not sudden. The former Revolution defender tells the story ...

Why?
Because I feel called. I've actually had my calling. I've been discerning this decision for several years now.

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