In my EPL Talk piece yesterday, I discussed all of the reasons that Ireland's potential qualification was better for World Football than France's would be. Much of this thought process centered on the importance of American market to the success of the World Cup.

But alas, Giovanni Trapattoni's side was defeated at the hands of Thierry Henry's France.

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As much stick as American fans of football a/k/a soccer get from the mainstream sports media and sports fan, I'm always shocked at how many fans of the Beautiful Game dismiss the women's game. Those of us who take even a passing interest in women's football know it is not a gentle love fest. Click to continue reading...

El Reportero is the nationwide search for the ultimate sports fan, ready to take their sports knowledge to the next level as an ESPN Deportes soccer reporter. The second installation of the reality show allows participants to audition for the opportunity to become part of the network's team and a fixture in the world of sports. Click to continue reading...

Today's version of The Sweeper at Pitch Invasion on my critique of what the death of print media means for MLS:

Still, I'll maintain my original piece identifies a two-pronged problem not solved by amateur or even semi-pro or team-run online coverage. Firstly, we still do not have a replacement for the loss of an independent reporter embedded with the team and travelling around with them — this can't be done by bloggers unless a much stronger income model is developed and a team-funded replacement is obviously problematic.

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Last week, I discussed the decline in beat reporting on American sports, which is hitting the less popular sports leagues such as Major League Soccer particularly hard. My particular example came from the city I know best, Chicago, where we've seen the major daily here cut its beat reporter for the Fire this year and replace him with an enthusiastic but inexperienced blogger, whose work rarely makes the print edition.

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The collapse of the newspaper industry comes at a terrible time for a growing league like MLS. Numerous MLS teams don't even have beat reporters dedicated to them in the first place. Or if they do, they're the first to go.

Take the case of the struggling Chicago Tribune, who decided a few months ago to drop their beat coverage of the Chicago Fire by moving reporter Luis Arroyave from covering the Fire to covering showbusiness (a fitting move for the former FHM writer).

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The Women's Professional Soccer League has not generated much interest from the casual sports fan, let alone the average soccer fan. Soccer America's Mike Woitalla examines what problems lie within trying to develop a women's professional soccer league.
The first season of the Women's Professional Soccer league produced smaller crowds and bigger financial losses than anticipated. Click to continue reading...

ESPN's SportsNation has spoken in regards to what the average american sports fan thinks about soccer, and it certainly seems like this past summer has increased the interest level of our game-
Which is more likely in the next 10 years?
Cubs win the World Series - 40%
Danica wins the Indy 500 - 37%
U. Click to continue reading...

The weekly show is back and I am happy that it is. On this edition of The Third Half: I speak with my best friend Jason Freeman on the American sports fan and giving the sport a legitimate chance. The conversation then turns to the Bundesliga with...
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If you're a big-time summer sports fan, this is the perfect package for you. We've teamed up with the Royals for a sweet deal the last week of August that features a ticket to our match against Real Salt Lake and their T-Shirt Tuesday match against the Cleveland Indians. To buy, click on www.royals.com/wizards or give us a call at (913) 387-3400. Click to continue reading...

MLS in the US Who Cares?

As I was finishing writing this post, I read Kartik's post on "Invisible MLS" and thought the timing couldn't be better. Here's my recent experience ...

I've just returned from a trip across the country to visit friends and family and spread the good word about Major League Soccer.

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Right. If I were to launch a new range of mineral water (called Tooting Springs) and Waitrose agreed that it was so lovely they had to have it, I would have some hard thinking to do over packaging.

If - and to do this I would have to have really impressed Waitrose I was allowed to place blue bottles of Tooting Springs in half of their stores, and brown bottles of Tooting Springs in the other store, do you think they would sell equally?

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Today I face a day of new challenges. Today is a day that I can honestly say I never saw coming. Today just might be beyond my capabilities. Heck, I'm sure to embarrass myself one way or another.

Real Madrid is in town. They will be holding an open practice tonight and playing Toronto FC in a friendly tomorrow.

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Pro Soccer's greatest obstacle in the busy American sports calendar is figuring out how not to get lost in the shuffle. With the other pro team sports so entrenched in the American sports fan's consciousness, pro Soccer, even in the height of its season, receives little or no time being in the mainstream spotlight.

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It was the perfect set up; A Mexican squad in dire need of a win to gain back confidence, A U.S. squad playing with benchwarmers. U.S. Soccer executives probably didn't figure on 5 - nothing.Â

The damage is done. After huge summer gains with the American sports fans, U.S. Soccer blunders.

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ayer por la noche se presentaron los Xoloitzcuintles de caliente en el tangaloo (reconocida discoteca de la ciudad de Tijuana) se presento tanto el equipo como la nueva equipacion (que a mi se me hizo bastante fea la verdad, me gustaba más la anterior), el equipo se enfrenta el domingo a la una de la tarde ante reboceros de la piedad, como novedad aparte de los nuevos jugadores y la camisa, se estrena también la cabecera norte, que cabe mencionar no es igual a la sur, aparte de los túneles en las esquinas tiene un escenario en la parte central para eventos como conciertos (has visto la cabecera del necaxa que tiene fuegos artificiales?

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ayer por la noche se presentaron los Xoloitzcuintles de caliente en el tangaloo (reconocida discoteca de la ciudad de Tijuana) se presento tanto el equipo como la nueva equipacion (que a mi se me hizo bastante fea la verdad, me gustaba más la anterior), el equipo se enfrenta el domingo a la una de la tarde ante reboceros de la piedad, como novedad aparte de los nuevos jugadores y la camisa, se estrena también la cabecera norte, que cabe mencionar no es igual a la sur, aparte de los túneles en las esquinas tiene un escenario en la parte central para eventos como conciertos (has visto la cabecera del necaxa que tiene fuegos artificiales?

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ESPN has released its first video to begin its promotion of the 2010 World Cup which it'll be broadcasting in the United States.

The video is targeted at the average American mainstream sports fan and explains how global the game is and destroys some of the typical criticisms about soccer such as the low scoring games, why the United States isn't a soccer giantpower, and other stereotypes.

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It's time for the annual MLS flunks out again blog for MLS not taking action during MLB's all-star break. Instead of garnering potential sports media headlines for games on Wednesday, the best day of the break to play games, the headlines went to the Tour de Lance, the NHL's Winter Classic and the comings and goings of the sports blotter.

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New England Revolution investor/operator Robert Kraft is the latest edition to the USA Bid Committee. "Being involved in the 1994 World Cup was one the most thrilling experiences of my professional career and really opened my eyes to the potential for the growth of the sport in this country," Kraft said. Click to continue reading...

Once again, MLS executives prove they are not in tune with their product. The Gold Cup provided the perfect opportunity for MLS to expand their fan base. Collaboration with CONCACAF representatives could have brought doubleheaders for fans for every game of the Gold Cup from the first game through to the final.

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Last night Stephen Colbert addressed the Confederations Cup run and it's impact on the game in this country on The Colbert Report. Of course this being Colbert means it was 50% piss-take, 100% funny. He even had His Ginger Majestyâ„¢ along for the ride talking Azteca. It's madness I tell you, madness. Click to continue reading...

An event like the USA reaching the Confederations Cup final only comes around every so few years; a soccer match that garners the attention of not just the hardcore soccer fans attention, but also the casual soccer fan, and yes even the casual sports fan. For one day, soccer pushed baseball off to the side. Click to continue reading...

FIFA President Blatter's statement a couple weeks back regarding MLS and its schedule was way out of touch with the reality of the American sporting landscape. Blatter said it was imperative for MLS to get on an August to May schedule in order to compete with other leagues for the best players.

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Today is the last day of Interleague baseball for this season of MLB. It ends coincidentally on the same day as the final of the Confederation Cup. As great as the Confederation Cup has been for Soccer, Interleague play has given baseball a great boost as well.

MLB scheduled its Interleague dates to start right after the finals of the NBA.

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Cricket, Socceroos, Wallabies and Kangaroos all vie for the title of Australia's number one national sports team.
The AFL team lacks a real international edge so fair to discount methinks.
For years many Wallabies fans tried to put the Union side up there, but with an Aussie Union World Cup a distant memory, and only 20,000 watching the Wallabies play in Melbourne on the weekend, the Union side has clearly slipped down the rank if indeed it was ever really above the Socceroos. Click to continue reading...

More on the Chicago Fire's trip to the White House comes to us courtesy of this Chicago Sun-Times article:
BY NICK FIRCHAU
President Obama may have courted sports fans last November through his love of basketball, but America's first daughters prefer the world's game.
So it came as no surprise the administration offered the Fire -- Sasha and Malia Obama's hometown soccer club -- an extensive tour of the White House on Friday, giving Fire players a rare treat during the club's only regular-season trip to Washington for a game tonight against D. Click to continue reading...

I was recently asked by ESPN the Magazine writer Chris Sprow whether I paid much attention to statistics in football. My answer was pretty abrupt, and didn't exactly highlight me as a scholar of the statistical side of the game. "I honestly hardly ever look at stats," I told him, and he quoted me with that in this look at statistics and the appeal of soccer in the States.

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Philadelphia Union's Sons of Ben appeal to the anti-establishment sports fan.
"MLS is like the Punk Rock of American sports."
Prophetic words.
Something tells us that when former MLSR contributor Jade1MLS (her BigSoccer nom de plume) wrote that many probably questioned where she was coming from. Click to continue reading...

Yeah I'm jealous of the Caps, and it's not just because they're actually winning playoff games. The Caps are the biggest story in town these days, and rightfully so. Every casual sports fan in the DC area that I know has started following the Caps. And that's awesome. I'm one of them. I grew up watching the Caps, going to a couple games a year, but haven't paid attention to them for the last decade or so, until the second half of this season. Click to continue reading...

I dedicate this post to Otilino Tenorio, who died 4 years ago this week in a car accident at the age of 25. At the time of his death, he was the league leader in goals scored in his home country of Ecuador. It is appropriate that his name, image and legend live on at the top of this article, as the article's focus is about the one thing Otolino did so well.

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I was thinking about the Seattle phenomenon and a thought crossed my mind.

Would it be good or bad for MLS if Seattle went deep into the playoffs in its inaugural year?

What would it say about a league if a brand new team could have such great success in its first ever season?

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From far too many discussions on message boards, I have determined that there are three types of "anti soccer fans", if it's possible to be an anti fan of anything. Here they are:
1. The Soccer Hater: this is your sports fan who understands the basic rules of soccer, but was most likely humiliated playing it as a kid. Click to continue reading...

Xoloitzcuintles vs Cruz Azul Hidalgo 6
Originally uploaded by prismatico Tijuana va de superlider en este torneo, aun y cuando eso no asegura nada la afición tijuanense sigue abarrotando el estadio Caliente y mantiene la ilusión encendida con el sueño de la la Primera División nacional. Click to continue reading...

Love him or hate him, you cannot ignore Jose Mourinho, because he is the proverbial moth drawn to the media spotlight. This recent FIFA International Break found the Special One in the United States as he prepared for the World Football Challenge, which will be occurring here this summer. While paving the way [. Click to continue reading...