It's been about three years since I stopped following baseball religiously. It used to consume my life. I planned everything around what time the Braves played each day. I was a huge Braves fan for as long as I can remember. My parents told me stories of how I'd recite the Braves lineup with perfect accuracy when I was only 4-years-old.
As time goes on we mature and move on from things we once loved. I suppose baseball is one of those things for me. I don't watch much anymore. Back in 2008 however, I was a pure fanatic. I lived and died with the Braves. I spent the majority of my time on a Braves message board (shout out Braves-Nation dot com <3) talking and arguing with others about the latest news and even the most mundane Braves-related items.
Following prospects has always been a hobby of mine no matter if it's baseball or soccer. I just dug knowing about the upcoming generation of stars. We all heard stories of Tommy Hanson's exploits in the minor leagues. About how he was blowing batters away with his unbelievable arsenal of pitches. Even how he threw a no-hitter for the Mississippi Braves in Double-A. But until you actually see for yourself you can't truly become a believer.
That moment for me came in the Winter of 2008. Tommy was in the Arizona Fall League, a postseason league for Major League Baseball's top prospects, competing with the Braves' best up-and-coming talent. He won the MVP award for that particular season and started the Championship game for whatever the team was called that he was assigned to. I don't even remember the result of that game, I just remember getting to see him pitch for the first time. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. A fastball that would snap the catcher's mitt with a thunderous echo. His curveball was something from another planet. The break of it left so many opposing hitters baffled. Needless to say, excitement and expectations for his future were at an all-time high.
Unfortunately, shoulder issues derailed a potentially great career. But it doesn't matter. I'll always cherish the way Tommy Hanson's pitching made me felt. As a fanatic of sports, nothing beats that special feeling of excitement you get when you watch a truly great athlete. Tommy was truly great, even if it was for a very brief window. I never met him in person, only watched him on tv. I knew people who had and say he was a genuine and down to earth person.
News of his death hit me hard. I've been lucky so far in life to not have experience much death. So, when one of the athletes I've been connected so closely to passed away it was almost like losing a family member. I'm not one to get overly emotional about anything in life (except maybe soccer), but as I sat on my bed last night reading a book trying to get my mind off of the news, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Tommy touched my life and so many other Braves fans with his tremendous talent. They say pitcher's wins and losses don't matter in baseball, but this loss matters. You will be sorely missed, Tommy. Rest in peace.
In the sport of Soccer, no position is more scrutinized than the Number 9. The Striker. When your club is playing well and your best goalscorer is filling the score sheet all is right with the world. On the flip-side, when the club is in a relegation fight and struggling each week, it's the Striker who gets the majority of the blame.
When a young Striker comes along and shows promise in a top league, the whole world takes notice. Harry Kane has emerged as one of the best young strikers in not only England, but the world. The 21 year old Tottenham Hotspur Striker and set the Premier League on fire scoring a total of 24 goals in all competitions this season. Not only is he hitting the target, but he's also refined in every tool a Striker needs at his disposal. His hold up play with his back to goal has been phenomenal. He has a unique ability to hold off defenders while keeping possession for his side. What sticks out most of all about Kane is his technical ability. His first touch is scintillating and his ensuing touches in tight spaces are like a master thief escaping an elaborate heist.
Most of the Strikers in the world today specialize in one or two areas of the game. While there are plenty of good goalscorers, some are weakened by a flaw in their game such as their weak foot or aerial ability. The truly special players are capable of scoring goals in every way possible. Harry Kane possesses this special ability. So far this campaign he has amassed 13 goals with his right foot, 5 goals with his left foot, and 6 goals with head. If there is a weakness to his game, we haven't discovered it yet.
Every time Harry Kane touches the ball, the stadium, be it home or away, holds its collective breath. He's a danger to the opposition no matter where he is on the field. He's had a tremendous season so far, but the potential for bigger and better things is clear for all to see. The inevitable rumors have already started. All the big clubs have him on the tip of their tongues. An England call up beckons. No matter how matter what the future holds for Harry Kane, it is undeniable that he is a truly special Striker.
The CBA has finally been agreed upon. Hallelujah! Praise Garber! After a last minute deal was struck, the 2015 MLS season is officially a go.
Now it's time to get down to the fun stuff. Meaningless preseason prognostication that we'll rub in everyone's face on the minuscule chance we get something correct, and never think about again when we're most likely wrong.
I will be giving you my expert (*giggles*) opinion on who I think will win the major awards come November. Those predictions will include Supporters' Shield, MVP, Golden Boot, and US Open Cup. I refuse to predict an MLS Cup winner because playoffs are a Crapshoot and stupid. I'll fight anyone who thinks differently.
Supporters' Shield: New England Revolution
Last season the Revs came within a devastating loss in Extra Time from lifting the MLS Cup. After their acquisition of Jermaine Jones in late August, New England caught fire. In the 10 games after Jones' arrival, the club only dropped 5 of a possible 30 points. Their hot streak propelled them all the way up to a second place finish in the Eastern Conference. Behind Jones and MVP candidate Lee Nguyen the Revs continued their amazing run of form in the postseason until their heartbreak in the final. Many argued at the time that New England were an extremely well-balanced side with their only main weakness being a true back-to-the-goal striker to hold up the ball. Thanks to several lucky (or unlucky, depending on point of view) transfer failures, their former star striker Juan Agudelo fell back into their laps. Agudelo, who in 2013 enjoyed the best form of his promising career with the Revs in his 14 game stint. With the addition of a talented, well-rounded striker, and a full season of Jermaine Jones, the Revs are poised for a monster season.
Runners up: Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC
MVP: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas)
First off, let me admit that this is a completely biased pick. I love Mauro Diaz -- he's one of the best pure number 10's the MLS has ever seen. For my money, he's as dynamic of a player as this league has. His mixture of technical ability and creativity is truly breathtaking. At times he looks like a full level above everyone on the field. Last season Mauro got off to an MVP-worthy start until succumbing to an injury that forced him to miss 3/4 of the season. Barring another major injury, this is the season Mauro becomes a superstar in MLS.
Runners up: Robbie Keane and Obafemi Martins
Golden Boot: Dom Dwyer (Sporting KC)
There are many candidates for this award. I picked Dom Dwyer because he's young, his team's main goal threat, and he won't be missing any games due to international duty. There's not much reasoning behind this pick, just a gut feeling and a matter of circumstances. Dom is a clinical finisher and durable, there's no reason he shouldn't be near the top of the goal scoring chart. Players like Cubo Torres and Jozy Altidore would be in consideration if they were not missing so many games. Then there are older players like David Villa who I fear won't hold up under the long season.
Runners up: Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Villa
US Open Cup: New York Cosmos
What a Cinderella story this would be! A reward for all the great fans of the storied New York Cosmos who've stuck with this band of misfits and senior citizens. They probably have a few good players who you heard of in 1995 and can't believe are still playing professional soccer. All of the people who spend the entirety of their free time hating MLS because it wouldn't let him sit at the cool kid's table will finally have their ultimate revenge! Are you still reading this? I'm just kidding with you. Some MLS team with a lot of depth will win someone like Seattle, LA, or New England. I'll just say LA.
Runners up: Harchester United and South Bronx School for the Blind
The USMNT has won it's 5th Gold Cup and did so in dominating fashion. In this blog post I will go through every player on the Gold Cup roster and evaluate their performance in the tournament and where that leaves them in the grand scheme of things. Let's get started:
Goalkeepers -
Nick Rimando:While starting all but one game, Rimando had a steady Gold Cup with little to no bumps in the road. He made all the saves he was supposed to make and was brilliant in distribution and ball handling.
Prognosis: Unfortunately no matter how well Rimando did he was never moving up the depth chart ahead of Brad Guzan or Tim Howard. He did nothing to hurt his case, but only proved he's a reliable option in an emergency situation. Sean Johnson: Johnson started the last group game against Costa Rica. He had a very good game making a tremendous save moments before Brek Shea scored the game-winning goal.
Prognosis: Johnson has solidified his spot as the Goalkeeper of the future in the player pool but barring injury has no shot at making the 2014 World Cup roster.
Bill Hamid: N/A
Defenders -
DaMarcus Beasley: After being named captain, Beasley led the ship like a true captain would. Always working hard he had only one noticeable defensive lapse in the entire tournament. Bring down Ricardo Zelaya for a penalty in the Quarterfinal will be the only mark on his otherwise perfect record.
Prognosis: The revitalized Beasley has proven himself more than worthy of a World Cup spot. He has locked down the backup Left Back job and could even start depending on where Fabian Johnson is used. Edgar Castillo:In the beginning of these seven games it looked like Castillo would play a big role. Unfortunately for him he could not replicate his good club form to the international level. Struggling with first touch issues, he never got going in the tournament after losing his spot(s) to Beasley and Torres.
Prognosis: Barring injury, I see no reason to bring Castillo to Brazil. With Beasley locking down the second Left Back spot and Torres and Shea emerging as Left Mid options, he may be out of luck. Michael Parkhurst: Parkhurst started every crucial game for the Yanks in the Gold Cup. Without any stand out options at Right Back, it was left up to him to hold down the fort. Hold the fort he did. Parkhurst is a very good defensive player. Only problem is he offers very little going forward.
Prognosis: Parkhurst is a 'wait and see' case. He is very much on the bubble right now waiting to see what happens with Cherundolo and Chandler. Tony Beltran: Tony Beltran started a game. That's all I have. Nothing impressive or bad about his 90 minutes. Prognosis: Beltran has no chance of making the World Cup roster in my opinion. He is at best an MLS filler for Camp Cupcake and B Team Gold Cups. Clarence Goodson: Goodson had a very good Gold Cup. He started every crucial game and was solid in all of them.
Prognosis: I think it is safe to say Goodson has booked his ticket to Brazil as at worst the third Center Back on the depth chart.
Oguchi Onyewu: Gooch had a promising start in the warm up friendly versus Guatemala. That was followed by a good performance against Cuba in which he sustained another injury making a goal-saving tackle. He was replaced after the group stage.
Prognosis: I think we may have seen Onyewu play his last game for the USMNT. Oh what could have been for the once-dominant Gooch. Matt Besler: Besler replaced Onyewu after the group stage. He started every game after doing so. He was flawless in the tournament and solidified himself as the best Center Back in the current USMNT pool in my opinion. Prognosis: Besler is surely a lock to go to Brazil and most likely will be a starter. Michael Orozco-Fiscal: Orozco played sparingly but was solid in doing so. He also scored a goal versus Belize. Prognosis: If certain chips fall, I could see Orozco sneaking on to the World Cup roster as the last defender. He's certainly on the bubble. Omar Gonzalez: N/A
Corey Ashe: N/A
Midfielders -
Mikkel Diskerud: It is no secret that I rate Mix very highly, so I'll try to be as unbiased as possible in my evaluation. Mix had a good but not great tournament. He showcased his skills for the first time in front of the US Soccer fan base. He is not a flashy player. To truly appreciate Mix's talents you have to understand and appreciate the small details of Soccer. His technical ability, in my opinion, is second to none in the player pool. This is not to say he doesn't have flaws. He could certainly be more aggressive in attack and a little more aware defensively.
Prognosis: While on the bubble, I think Mix is on his way to Brazil with Stuart Holden's injury.
Joe Corona: 10 years from now we may look back at this tournament as the starting point of a great career for Joe Corona. I really think he's destined for great things with the USMNT. He had a very good tournament and proved his quality. Versatile and Dynamic, Corona can play in the middle and on the wing. His best moment of the tournament was finishing off a 23 straight pass move with a wonderful finish. He has a bright future ahead of him. Prognosis: While he's not a lock, with another good club season I think Corona can make the roster to Brazil with the National Team lacking options on the wing. Jose Francisco Torres:My love/hate feelings towards Torres continue to fluctuate in this tournament. He had a really good Gold Cup, holding possession and creating chances. He seemed to fit Jurgen Klinsmann's gameplan perfectly. Inexplicably he was left out of the starting lineup in the Final and was missed dearly, in my opinion.
Prognosis: Torres is a Central Midfielder by trade. We are far too deep at this position for him to break in there. Fortunately for him, Jurgen also sees him as an option on the the left wing. This could be his ticket to Brazil. He has to beat out Brek Shea and Edgar Castillo over the next year to win a spot. Stuart Holden: I love Stuart Holden. You love Stuart Holden. How could you not? However this will be a unsentimental as possible. Holden started off the Summer with a great performance against Guatemala. After that however, he faded into obscurity on the field. While everyone wanted him to be his old self, he didn't show much in terms of productivity. While the old intelligent movement was there, the explosiveness was no where to be found. Now turning sentimentality back on: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! My heart, along with every other US Soccer fan's broke seeing Stu laying on the ground in the Final. Another knee injury, likely another long recovery. Prognosis: As hard as it is to stomach, we may have seen Stuart Holden's last meaningful USMNT game. Kyle Beckerman: Kyle Beckerman had a dominant tournament. This is undeniable. However, he is still a very average player, in my opinion. While he's able to dominate much weaker opposition, his effectiveness is diminished against good competition. His passing ability is nullified when he doesn't have tons of space in the midfield to work with. On the other hand, he is still the best defending midfielder in the player pool. Prognosis: With Danny Williams falling off of the map, Beckerman will likely be on the roster as the only true defensive midfielder. Alejandro Bedoya: Bedoya had a few bright spots this summer. He scored a goal against Guatemala and was also involved in a few goals in the Semi-Final. I'm not a huge fan of his. He is a useful player but lacks the "it" factor, in my opinion. Prognosis: While anything is possible, I don't see Alejandro making it to Brazil unless Zusi or Corona get hurt. Brek Shea:Has there ever been a USMNT player more frustrating than Brek Shea? As Mr. Gump will attest, Shea is the proverbial box of chocolates every game. One game he can look like he's never played the sport before, the next he can look like a world beater. With 2 game-winning goals including a cup-winning one, Brek seems to have embraced the Super Sub role. It's hard to judge Shea right now, as he hasn't gotten consistent club minutes since December. If he ever breaks through at Stoke City and gains regular playing time, look out world.
Prognosis: Brek seems to be Jurgen's boy. If he gets club minutes I think he'll beat out Jose Torres for the back up Left Midfield spot.
Forwards -
Landon Donovan: He's Landon Donovan. He's All-American. And he is back. Not back to 2010 World Cup form, but pretty close. He pretty much put this inexperienced Gold Cup team on his back and carried them to victory. He tied for the Golden Boot and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's most valuable player. He also became the inaugural member of the USMNT's 50-50 club. Most importantly he's enjoying his Soccer again. His self-imposed sabbatical seems to have done wonders for him.
Prognosis: Barring some catastrophic England-like feud with Klinsmann, Landon will be in the starting lineup the opening match in Brazil.
Chris Wondolowski:Wondo is a good striker. He is just not an International level striker. I'm sorry. He can score all the goals he wants in MLS but he'll never have what it takes to be successful against strong competition for the USMNT. He started out like a bat out of hell with five goals in the first two group games against terrible opposition. After that, he disappeared when the competition got even remotely difficult.
Prognosis: There is no need for Wondo in Brazil.
Herculez Gomez: I don't think any player hurt his cause more in the Gold Cup than Herc did. Coming into the tournament he was looking like an easy choice for the full USMNT. Granted he was playing slightly injured, he was extremely ineffective during the group stage and was subsequently replaced before the knockout rounds.
Prognosis: While his case is stronger than Wondo's, I could see a scenario in which Herc is left at home during the World Cup. It's very much a 'wait and see' case at this point.
Eddie Johnson:While Gomez hurt his case, I think EJ did the most to solidify his spot. He almost had a flawless tournament. If not for one terrible miss in the last moments of the Final, EJ would've been a perfect 3 for 3 in his Gold Cup appearances. He's all but locked up the second striker spot on the depth chart.
Prognosis: I hope Brazil is ready, because a Grown Ass Man will be there in 2014.
ESPN's Marc Stein broke the news Friday afternoon that AZ Alkmaar and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore would complete a transfer to English Premier League club Sunderland AFC by Monday. Before the transfer window opened, many USMNT fans had big dreams of where the country's top striker would land after two great seasons in Holland. Clubs like Schalke, Lazio, Everton, and others had been speculated about. In the end, Jozy will end up going to Sunderland. A team that staved off relegation by 3 points. On the surface it looks like a mediocre move. But contrary to early popular opinion, I believe Sunderland, under new manager Paolo Di Canio are primed for a breakout season.
This is not Jozy's first stint in the English Premier League. In 2009, Jozy was loaned to Hull City from Spanish side Villarreal. His first trip to England's top flight was a forgettable one to say the least. He and the club struggled mightily and we're second to bottom of the table come season's end. Jozy only managed one league goal. That Hull team did not have Premier League talent on it to support Jozy. While Jozy himself had not come into his own yet as a player. 2009 would be his first true full season in Europe after spending much of the previous season on the bench and in exile at Villarreal.
If the 2013 version of Jozy Altidore saw tape of the 2009 version he'd probably laugh and wonder who that player was. He has grown so much as a player and as a professional since that time. He garnered much criticism for his work ethic off the field in his younger days. It wasn't until moving to AZ Alkmaar, under the tutelage of Gertjan Verbeek that Jozy was really pushed to work as hard as possible to be a professional athlete. In his years at AZ he transformed himself into a star and prolific goal scorer. Improving drastically in every facet of the game, Jozy is ready for his return to the league that used to laugh at him.
The 2013-14 Sunderland squad has very good potential with the likes of Adam Johnsson, Sebastian Larsson, Steven Fletcher, and Stephane Sessegnon in attack to support Jozy. Di Canio has also brought in others to help the cause, such as, CB Modibo Diakite from Lazio and CDM Cabral from Basel. While Sunderland aren't a Champions League side, I don't think they are the near-relegation side that showed themselves last campaign. I expect a full season under Di Canio will propel the Black Cats to the top half of the table.
Today is the 4th of July. America, and all that. There are three MLS games scheduled for tonight. Two of the games feature the league's biggest markets in LA and New York.
So, I'm flipping through my TV guide to plan my amazing night of MLS watching, BBQ eating, and alcoholic beverage consuming and what do I see on ESPN2? Canadian Football League. What? I thought this was supposed to be America's holiday?
Oh well. ESPN isn't the most MLS-friendly network. They usually show MLS games when it is convenient for them, like 11pm at night. Surely NBC Sports Network will have what I'm looking for. What do I see scheduled for primetime tonight? A Tour de France replay. Not a live event, no, a replay. A replay of bicycling.
So I, like every MLS fan is stuck sitting behind a computer screen to get my MLS fix tonight. This is a real problem. How can anyone expect America's league to continue to grow when the games are so hard for the mainstream public to get access to? Next month I'll be able to watch every English Premier League game via computer or TV for free. How is it I can't watch America's league on TV on America's holiday?
If my calculations are correct the MLS' TV contract with NBC and ESPN expires after next season. The negotiations for the new contract will be a milestone moment for the league.
Hello. My name is Rob. I am not a writer. I am not an expert. I am simply a fan of the beautiful game called Soccer...or Football, Futbol, Calcio, etc.
I've never played a competitive match in my life. My playing résumé consists of pickup games after school. On the other hand I have been watching this sport since I was 11 years old. My first major experience following the game was during the 2002 World Cup. I still remember the USA National Team's magical run to the Quarterfinals. I also remember crying after the heartbreaking and controversial loss to Germany. Still the only time I've ever cried over a sporting event.
I am a US Soccer supporter. I watch every USMNT game whether it is a U20 game or a meaningless B team friendly. I also watch a lot of MLS and follow the major Yanks abroad.
I cannot bring you expert analysis, breaking news, or interviews. There are plenty of great sources for that. What I do have, are opinions, lots of them. Not all of them will be right and you probably won't agree. That is the beauty of this sport. 100 people can look at the same game and form 100 different opinions.
I don't care if this blog gets 0 views. This is simply for me to jot down some thoughts and opinions I have that may be longer than 140 characters. Feel free to follow me on Twitter for daily banter and thoughts (@RobUsry). If you have any thoughts on my posts or topics you'd like me to cover please leave a comment.
