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.

A common belief is that US youth soccer players suffer from over coaching, and in many cases that is true. But in our helicopter parent society where kids rarely can just go 'play in the park', coaches are in a situation where they have to provide SOME instruction and opportunity to develop. How do you create a fun practice where the kids push themselves vs go through the motions while also correcting mistakes and allowing for self discovery of soccer skill?

The logo of Detroit City FC does not feature a cartoon soccer ball. In fact, it doesn't say or show soccer anywhere on it: instead, in grand but subdued tones of burgundy and gold, the badge is dominated by a classy representation of the statue below, the Spirit of Detroit in the city's downtown:

This is the identity that Detroit City FC have pinned themselves to.

Always known for being a bit different (in a fun way), FC St. Pauli has released a video depicting its players killing Santa Claus with a stray soccer ball during a training accident. Relegated from the German Bundesliga at the end of last season, St. Pauli is currently in fourth position in the 2. Bundesliga [.

El arte y el futbol van ligados, algunos hasta lo usan como sinonimo. En otros casos como el de Eugenio Merino un artista plastico que critica a medio mundo, ¿El futbol es sinonimo de muerte, tendra razón?

As we have done every year since starting this site, we think it is time to take a look at holiday ticket promotions around Major League Soccer. This year we will run similar posts over the next couple of weeks to cover the efforts of multiple teams to sell tickets over the holidays. We'll start with Colorado, where the Rapids are offering a Holiday 5 Pack which includes 5 of the most sought after matches, including the home opener, July 4th and the Galaxy visit combined with a free gift from adidas.

U.S. singer Jennifer Lopez balances a football/soccer ball on top of a tiny pen during filming for something or other in Peru, 3.12.2011. She appears to be doing better since the last time she graced our site. Image Credit: Reuters.

Editor's note: For your offseason pleasure, PSP is happy to present the first episode of an eight-part fiction series entitled The Pine Barrens League.

It has happened bro, I'm in trouble again. I can't help it. I feel like a fucking drug addict.

A few days ago, I was about to go outside to rake when I saw a huge cloud of leaves blowing into my yard.

Who knows more about success than University of North Carolina women's coach Anson Dorrance. A resume that includes 20 NCAA championships in 28 years, a winning percentage of over 93 percent of the team's games and 20 National Players of the Year tend to speak for itself.
Success in sport is often emulated in the business world, and Karl Moore of Forbes Magazine wrote a great article outlining lessons that can be learned from the blueprint of Dorrance.

"Ok. You guys both see that women waving in the black top over there? Wow." said the ref.The San Jose Earthquakes are still a ways off from getting final approval for a soccer-specific stadium, but as they continue to push for it more and more details are coming out about its proposed design.

Regularly heading a soccer ball—even just a few times a day—can lead to brain injury, according to a recent study.
Researchers used an advanced MRI-based imaging technique to scan the brains of 38 amateur soccer players then compared the images to the number of times they headed the ball during the past year.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Nov 22, 2011) US Soccer Players -- In today's 5 Questions, Tony questions the Galaxy, ponders Houston, and wonders why it's so hard to see a silver soccer ball on television. How complete was the Galaxy's performance on Sunday evening? You could maybe point to needing better finishing, but Los Angeles was better in every facet of the game.

CARSON, Calif -- I really do like Bruce Arena.

I mean, I like and appreciate him the way I like and appreciate a really mean dog in my neighborhood. I respect that dog. And over time, I think that dog has come to respect me. Why? Becuase I know what I'm doing around dogs. And I don't take any shit from that dog.

By Shane Badger
While indoor soccer has a storied history in America, who but the hardened fan knows that story? It will take an education to break the iconic image of an "indoor Field". Green turf, rubber pellets, modified goals and lines marked to reflects the smaller field.

Photo Credit: Denna RoyIn September, fueled by months of drought and high winds, wildfires swept across Central Texas destroying thousands of acres of forest, parks, farmland, and homes. Thousands were evacuated and many lost their homes. Many, nationwide, opened their hearts and wallets, to aid the victims of some of the nation's, and most definitely, Texas' most deviating wildfires in 2011.

PSP photographer Earl Gardner was on hand as the Philadelphia Union reserves fell 1-3 to the Toronto FC Reserves thanks to two own goals. It was a nice day and the Union is going to the playoffs.

Rob Vartughian gets Zac MacMath and Chase Harrison warmed up.

Roger Torres battles for the ball.

Since mankind painted the walls of caves, we have struggled to capture the immensity of reality in brushstrokes. At the most basic level, a painting or image will simply mirror real life. A family portrait, a postcard these superficial reproductions serve a purpose, albeit limited. However, every once in a while inspiration meets perspiration meets talent.

I had the opportunity to head to New York this past week to check out the all new Nike T90 Laser IV. Nike did a pretty awesome job, giving us a full presentation of the boots technology, followed by the opportunity to actually test out a pair on one of the oldest soccer pitches in New York (the Met Oval in Queens).

Night. A futuristic car silently speeds down a deserted road in the countryside east of Cleveland. Inside are Fake Sigi and Fake Adrian Hanauer. The car winds through valleys and farms before finally entering an underground garage in the middle of the countryside.

FS and FA get out and walk into the new Sigi bunker.

Article republished on businessofsoccer.com

Yesterday in West Philadelphia, former U.S. Men's National Team Goalkeeper Tony Meola and former Mexican National Team Goalkeeper Adolfo Rios surprised the players of the West Philadelphia Hurricanes Youth Team. Partnered with the official insurance sponsor of the U.

Old friend Eddie Johnson's had a spot of bother. Never mind that though I like the caption above: "local soccer pro Eddie Johnson kicks a soccer ball". Which is a) delightfully descriptive, b) not necessarily correct (he's heading it, isn't he?) and c) just nice anyway. It would be good if all football photos had such captions.

Another game, another depressing drive home from Gillette Stadium. This one hurt. It hurt because it's now officially the second half of the season and there is just barely anything left out there. Sunday night I saw a team with their tails between their legs. It even hurts me to relive the game and write this.

Culture?

The following is perhaps the most accepted as insurmountable.

Soccer in the Home

The scapegoat is usually of the "soccer isn't popular" variety. Which of course implies that daddy wants to play catch with the kids; not kick the ball. And even if all those daddy's chose to help their kids with soccer, they never played the game themselves, so what can they possibly teach them?

The 2011 NASL season reached its halfway point this 4th of July weekend with plenty of fireworks on the pitch. The weekend action, which included the unveiling of the new retro NASL official soccer ball, consisted of plenty of holiday fireworks as the Carolina RailHawks won their 10th straight match Sunday by shutting down the visiting Montreal Impact 2-0.

Tony Sanneh has informed me that there is still space available for his very reasonably priced Macalester World Cup Camp held at Macalester College Stadium next week, from June 27 July 1, 2011. Camp proceeds will benefit the Sanneh Foundation.

Here's some information about the camp:

–For Boys and Girls going into 6th, 7th, and 8th grade
–Morning Session: 9:00 am 12:30 pm
–Afternoon Session: 1:30 pm 5:00 pm
–Cost: is $99.

Seattle Seahawks/Sounders StadiumAccording to emails and interviews, AmericanizeSoccer.com can confirm the National Football League (NFL) received a proposal in 2007 to start a pro Soccer league to compete against Major League Soccer (MLS) for the months of March through August/September. It appears though, the proposed new Soccer league, never made it to the desk of the commissioner, Roger Goodell.

Having a catch with Mickey Mouse in Disney World! Ahead of next month's Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament, featuring over 200 teams from 16 countries, Kaká traveled to Orlando to promote the event. Joining him were three NFL players Bryant McFadden of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Travis Johnson of the San Diego Chargers, and Greg Jones of the Jacksonville Jaguars and it's safe to assume they had absolutely no idea who this boy-faced guy was.

High School Girls Select Tryouts will be held at Lake Country Soccer in Springfield, Missouri on June 15th and June 17th, from 6:30 8:30 pm. both nights. We will be on field #8 which is the furthest SW field on the South side of the soccer complex/building. Bring water and bring a soccer ball with you!

OK, so I managed to pull it off this weekend and watch all the soccer that I wanted. I am blessed with the fact that my wife Jenn, is almost as soccer crazy as I am.

We hung out together and watched soccer on tv, she was led on the couch (9 months pregnant) while our 2 year old son ran around the living room.

OK, so I managed to pull it off this weekend and watch all the soccer that I wanted. I am blessed with the fact that my wife Jenn, is almost as soccer crazy as I am.

We hung out together and watched soccer on tv, she was led on the couch (9 months pregnant) while our 2 year old son ran around the living room.

Now entering its 19th exciting year, the Missouri State Soccer School is known as one of the finest quality teaching soccer camps in the nation. The Missouri State Soccer School offers players the opportunity to enhance their individual skills and further develop the concepts of team play.

There are a wide range of camps designed to match your child's needs including:

Boys Jr.

Following yesterday's conclusion of the 2010/11 domestic soccer season in France, the official ball provider of the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), PUMA, has launched the official match balls for the 2011/12 Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 seasons. Both are based on the PowerCat (or PWR-C) 1.10 soccer ball which has been on the market [.

I'm driving around yesterday and hear a radio spot that begins with words along these lines: "The biggest soccer event in the world ..."

So I'm thinking, "Yep. Champions League final tomorrow!" How nice that Fox is spending some green to advertise the final. Very nice! Never mind that this radio station won't mention it, ignorantly convinced that more people in Dallas care about the Game 7 of an NHL conference final; at least they have an advertising spot.

[Editor's Note: The following is a press release from our good friend Jared Montz, formerly of the Chicago Fire, Vancouver Whitecaps and Puerto Rico Islanders.]

Every 45 seconds a child dies from Malaria. You can help!

You can help by participating in the OSA World Juggle-a-thon to benefit Nothing Buts on World Malaria Day which is today, April 25th!

Every 45 seconds a child dies from Malaria. You can help!
You can help by participating in the OSA World Juggle-a-thon to benefit Nothing Buts on World Malaria Day which is today, April 25th! Soccer players, fans and coaches everywhere are juggling to get better, juggling to save lives at 6pm their standard time anywhere in the world they have a soccer ball.

Nike has unveiled the official matchball for this summer's Copa America 2011 tournament to be held in Argentina the Nike Total90 Tracer Doma Soccer Ball (now available at World Soccer Shop). The Tracer Doma was presented to the media in La Plata Argentina on Friday by recently retired Brazilian striker and Nike athlete Ronaldo.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ ISIPhotos.com

It's time to pick a winner for the most recent edition of You Write the Caption. We received nearly 200 entries, though the quality of comedy wasn't up to the standard of past YWTC. We'll chalk that up to rust from not having had a You Write the Caption in months.

Tony Jouaux -- Chicago FireBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- First-year Chicago Fire strength and conditioning coach Tony Jouaux stands by the following assessment from Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho:
"Mourinho always says that a pianist doesn't run around the piano or do a push-up with his finger tips to be the greatest pianist -- he plays a piano," Jouaux said.

The Hollywood version of today's game would have had that rag-tag bunch, the guys who had just met, suddenly reach new heights and triumph together. Music rises, credits roll and all that jazz.
Reality at BMO Field was different. TFC looked like a jittery team. They looked like it was the day after something big had happened.

Hello all...I'd like you to meet David Browning, winner of the 2009 FCD team-signed jersey from The Offside and WorldSoccerShop.com. A while back, we opened up a contest asking for readers to submit their story of soccer in North Texas. We received many submissions, and this was our favorite.