Photo by ISIphotos.com

The voting for the 2010 National Soccer Hall of Fame closed on Thursday evening, and while I was able to squeeze my ballot in just under the deadline, it was far from an easy decision to make.

There were 24 names on the ballot.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

The voting for the 2010 National Soccer Hall of Fame closed on Thursday evening, and while I was able to squeeze my ballot in just under the deadline, it was far from an easy decision to make.

There were 24 names on the ballot.

Click to continue reading...

So, thanks to my man Dan Loney, I am reminded that Soccer Hall of Fame ballots are due tonight. Last year, I apparently had until early December. Caught me off guard.

Anyway, last year I voted for Jeff Agoos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Raul Diaz Arce, Marco Etcheverry, Joy Fawcett, Robin Fraser, Pato Margetic, Victor Nogueira, Preki Radosavljevic and Carlos Valderrama.

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We have three new contenders on the National Soccer Hall of Fame players ballot: Chris Henderson, Eduardo Hurtado and John O'Brien.
Welcome to the ballot, gentlemen. Now take a number.
On the ballot for the last few years, we've had ...
- Thomas Dooley. U.S. captain in the 1998 World Cup and perhaps the best overall player on the U. Click to continue reading...

RIP: Robert Enke: 24 August 1977- 10 November 2009

A sight never seen in Germany as tens of thousands turn AWD Arena into a church to pay their last respects to Robert Enke and to support his wife, Teresa a brave figure in black, who knew best her husband's terrible depression and in the end could do little.

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French third division side Amiens took on Variety Club of France for a charity match.A free kick from Zidane during the game was a reminder that he could still be up there with the best in the world.

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I know we had one yesterday, but so much has been going on that we have another. And I meant to have it up sooner, so a few of these may be old news to some...#1 - The National Soccer Hall of Fame has unveiled this year's list of nominees, which includes the two gentleman pictured at left.#2 - Yesterday, MLS tabbed Seattle forward Fredy Montero as Newcomer of the Year and Chivas USA keeper Zach Click to continue reading...

KC Wizards, Peter Vermes & Robb Heineman

Kansas City Wizards President Robb Heineman announced Tuesday that Peter Vermes will become the team's full-time Manager. Vermes assumed the role of Interim Head Coach August 4 and guided the Wizards over the final 12 games of the Major League Soccer season. Click to continue reading...

Keith Hackett stating the obvious.

"I have said to managers in the past that this is an area of great difficulty for referees and it can come down to the viewing angle of the referee."

I think it is time to give him the goods on the human eye. The game has gotten a lot quicker and the art of deception even more perfect.

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All that talk of righting the ship turned out to be bluster as in the Copa Del Rey return leg against Alcorcon at the Bernabeu, Real was able to muster only one goal through Rafel Van Der Vaart. The yellow jerseys of Alcorcon were everywhere as they stifled Raul, Gago, Van Nistelrooy, Kaka, and Lassana Diarra.

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Lyon 5 Marseille 5 at the Stade De Gerland. November 9, 2009. A nail biting epic with end to end action. This match will be talked about for years to come.

With L'OM cruising 4-2 it appeared as if the match was done but Lisandro Lopez who surely must be on Maradona's radar for his late goal scoring exploits brought them back on par in the 81st and 84th minute.

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A 21-year-old Saudi striker Nawaf Al Abed scored the definitive fastest goal ever recorded in a professional football match. The match was played between Al Hilal and Al Shoalah and he scored from the halfline for Al Hilal 2 seconds after kickoff.The ref had just about finished blowing the whistle to indicate the start of the game when he had to blow it again.

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David Beckham chooses the LA Galaxy over breaking Peter Shilton's record 125 England appearances. He can at best case equal it.

Its the pragmatic choice. He earns good money to leaven that disappointment. And the possible gratitude of thousands of Galaxy fans if he takes them to the MLS finals.

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The US National Soccer Hall of Fame has come out with their 24 finalists for this years induction into the Hall of Fame. Six former Wizards are on the list this year, as Mike Burns, Chris Henderson, Roy Lassister, Preki, Mike Sorber, and Peter Vermes are all up for induction. Sorber, the Wizards first allocation back in 1996 is in his final year of eligibility before being moved to the veterans ballot along with Thomas Dooley, John Doyle, and Dominic Kinnear. Click to continue reading...

The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum began the voting process today for the 2010 Player inductees. Among the 24 retired professional players who contributed to the growth of soccer in the U.S. are four D.C. United players. Raul Diaz Arce, Marco Etcheverry, Roy Lassiter and Earnie Stewart are all on the ballot.

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   Photo by ISIphotos.com

The National Soccer Hall of Fame released its final ballot for the Class of 2010 and the 24 former soccer players chosen represent a vast array of teams and eras.

Former U.S. national team standouts Earnie Stewart, Peter Vermes and Thomas Dooley, Women's national team stars Cindy Parlow and Shannon McMillan, as well as foreign-born MLS pioneers Marco Etcheverry, Peter Nowak and Carlos Valderrama are just some of the candidates on the ballot.

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

The National Soccer Hall of Fame released its final ballot for the Class of 2010 and the 24 former soccer players chosen represent a vast array of teams and eras.

Former U.S. national team standouts Earnie Stewart, Peter Vermes and Thomas Dooley, Women's national team stars Cindy Parlow and Shannon McMillan, as well as foreign-born MLS pioneers Marco Etcheverry, Peter Nowak and Carlos Valderrama are just some of the candidates on the ballot.

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The National Soccer Hall of Fame released the Player Ballot for the Class of 2010. Chris Henderson, Eduardo Hurtado, and John O'Brien appear on the ballot for the first time. A player needs 66.7% of votes casts to be elected on the first ballot. If no player meets that threshold, the five highest vote getters will be put on a second ballot. Click to continue reading...

National Soccer Hall of Fame Press Release:
ONEONTA, NY (November 9, 2009) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum distributed the 2010 Player Ballot today to all voters. The ballot features 24 retired national team and professional players who all have contributed to the growth of soccer in the United States. Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

I weep for the Newcastle fans who have to put up with this execrable name. How about MikeAshleydumbass@StJames'Park while we are at it?

I remember living in Miami when they renamed Joe Robbie stadium, home of Miami Dolphins as Pro Player Stadium which I thought was soulless but inoffensive.

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The National Soccer Hall of Fame has announced the ten former stars on the ballot for this year's Veteran Player election. I don't vote in this one (Hall of Famers do), but here are some thoughts on the ten veterans up for election (they're the exact same ten as last year, when no one was elected):

• Desmond Armstrong: I don't think he's going to make it.

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National Soccer Hall of Fame Press Release:
ONEONTA, NY (November 2, 2009) – Two FIFA Women's World Cup champions, two men from the 1990 FIFA World Cup squad, five North American Soccer League alumni, and a 7-time winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the 1920s and 1930s are featured on the Election 2010 Veteran Player Ballot the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced today. Click to continue reading...

• Marlon King:

King has vaulted to the top of the rogues gallery with his second conviction. The first one occurred in 2002 for stealing a car and then pretending to the police it was his own. That time too he was given 18 months in jail which was commuted to five, enabling his return to Gillingham.

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"Henrik Larsson always scores." The clip shows Celtic fighting back through Larsson against Porto in a pulsating 2003 UEFA Cup final.

My memories of Larsson will always be defined by the Swedish striker entering the game in the 2006 CL final against Arsenal late in the second half.

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Jack Bell creates a list of 10 most memorable games at Giants Stadium.

Some of the highlights.

Last summer's USA vs Mexico Gold Cup final turned out be an embarrassing 5-0 rout. David Beckham's New York introduction in 2007 resulted in a 5-4 pulsating shootout between the Galaxy and the Red Bulls.

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Its become almost automatic for the US to qualify for the World Cup nowadays. But there were forty years in the wilderness before the US qualified for the 1990 World Cup when Paul Caliguiri in the grandiloquent "The Shot Heard Around The World" scored against T&T to put the US through. He is therefore the grand poobah of clutch performers.

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FIFA have established a new award named after Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas that will be given to the player who scores "the most beautiful goal" of the year.
It will be inaugurated in December during the 2009 FIFA World Player Gala and presented to the player - man or woman - who has scored the "most beautiful goal" during the past year.

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Gansler coaching the team during the 2001 season.
Former Wizards Head Coach and 2000 MLS Cup Champion Bob Gansler has been named to the 2010 Builder Ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Last season, Gansler finished second behind Bruce Arena on the Builder Ballot by one vote, with no one entering the Hall from the ballot. Click to continue reading...

ONEONTA, NY (October 19, 2009) – Four highly respected coaches and six nationally recognized administrators have been named to the Hall of Fame's Election 2010 Builder Ballot, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced today. The ten finalists are:

Bruce Arena, current coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy
Chuck Blazer, FIFA Executive Committee Member General Secretary of CONCACAF
Dr.

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ONEONTA, NY (October 19, 2009) – Four highly respected coaches and six nationally recognized administrators have been named to the Hall of Fame's Election 2010 Builder Ballot, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced today. The ten finalists are:

Bruce Arena, current coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy
Chuck Blazer, FIFA Executive Committee Member General Secretary of CONCACAF
Dr.

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The US goes through to the World Cup!

I gave the Hondurans the benefit of their stranglehold at San Pedro Sula and happily I was proven wrong.

A blizzard of goals descended on the second half of the match. And the US came out winners in the end. Amongst all the chatter about Charlie Davis, Jozy Altidore, and even Brian Ching; Bradley trotted out Conor Casey to start.

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Not a literal reference to the Honduran coup which ousted Manuel Zelaya but the decision not to broadcast the match by the Honduran soccer federation.

From the US soccer website:

" In regards to the U.S. Men's National Team's match against Honduras on October 10, the rights are owned by the Honduras federation, which chose to sell the U.

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The inaugural induction class of the Madison Area Soccer Hall of Fame will be enshrined Saturday...
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The sad part of it is that it has actually gotten to this point and he's still the coach. Argentina's messed up politics are so intertwined with its soccer, that even now Maradona's head is still sitting on his shoulders.
And the players? What can they say or do besides "supporting the coach"? Click to continue reading...