The Tuesday 10: Footballers as Fast Food

By "The Other 87 Minutes" / Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents

Make every time a good time. We love to see you smile. Have you had your break today? Foods, folks, and fun. Over the years, the marketing team at McDonald’s has produced some of America’s most recognizable campaigns. You’d be hard-pressed to find a fast food consumer who doesn’t know the “I’m lovin’ it” jingle (Doodoo doo doo doo…), or who hasn’t Supersized just to get an extra Monopoly piece. Really, one of the reasons McDonald’s is able to boast “Billions served” on their signboards is their shrewd advertising. Until now. “You’re the Egg McMuffin of…” is perhaps the lamest thing under the Golden Arches since a hirsute Jason Alexander crooned about a hot-and-cold sandwich called the McDLT in the 80s.

But we’ve never been a particularly discerning bunch, so of course we thought the idea was the best thing since sliced…McMuffin. “Why stop with McDonald’s?” we thought, to which we couldn’t come up with a good answer, even after minutes of contemplation. So today we present to you the unauthorized list of soccer player fast food superlatives.

1. Mesut Ozil, you’re the Wendy’s Junior Bacon Cheeseburger of Real Madrid transfers. If Kaka is a deluxe Triple Stack, then Ozil must certainly be the bang-for-your-buck 99 cent JBC. Okay, so 15 million Euros might seem like a lot, but it’s a paltry sum in the Galactico budget.
2. Lionel Messi, you’re the White Castle/Krystal slider of diminutive forwards. Admit it, part of the appeal is his size. He’s like Napoleon minus the Napoleon complex. And like your favorite slider, he packs a surprising amount of flavor.
3. Paul Robinson, you’re the Taco Bell Beefy 5-Layer Burrito of EPL goalkeepers. When you opt for the Beefy 5-Layer, you’re hoping for complexity and versatility. What you get is slop. Ask for extra napkins because you will spill it. Robinson has been disappointing between the sticks this season, and like this burrito, he’s messy.
4. Clint Dempsey, you’re the Sonic Toaster Sandwich of American stars. Nothing says Texas Toast like Nacogdoches’s own Clint Dempsey. Plus, he’s a standout this season on an otherwise average menu.
5. Carlos Tevez, you’re the KFC Double Down of unpopular players. To most people, you’re repulsive. That’s fair. Like the bunless chicken sandwich, you’re not easy to handle. But boy, it’s fun to indulge sometimes.
6. Joey Barton, you’re the Chik-Fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich of hot-heads. Every good menu has an item with a little heat. Joey Barton fits the profile. Would the EPL be nearly as fun without temperamental philosopher-convicts like Joey?
7. Pepe, you’re the Dairy Queen Dipped Cone of paradoxical defenders. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. He spent the last pair of clasicos stepping on hands for some long stretches, falling over inexplicably during others.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo, you’re the Burger King Whopper of overshadowed superstars. The Whopper doesn’t get enough credit in the king-of-the-burgers discussion. Despite breaking records this year, Ronaldo still plays second fiddle to the back-to-back-to-back Ballon d’Or winning Big Mac.
9. USWNT, you’re the Domino’s 5-5-5 of Olympics qualifying scorelines. Okay, the math isn’t perfect, but they almost knocked in 15 goals against each of the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.
10.  David Beckham, you’re the Hardee’s Monster Thickburger of foreign players in the MLS. I can’t figure you out. You’re either the best thing for America or the worst thing for America. The Monster Thickburger is concentrated death, but it sure is delicious. Beckham’s fickle and sometimes downright unbearable, but he’s certainly doing something right.

About "The Other 87 Minutes"

What is this new site we're exposing you too? We'll let them explain:

The Other 87 seeks to provide something that’s not instant analysis or eve of matchday previews. Think of us as the good bits of your favorite soccer coverage: the profiles that examine what makes a certain player tick, the historical background that sheds some light on how the sport has evolved to the present day, the silly features that are more than just tacking names on a list, but considering and explaining why each one deserves to be there.

O87 wants to be a home for soccer writing that makes you think, but that also treats the game as just that, a game. The greatest game, the one we obsess over and fixate on, to the point where we can’t read that gas costs 3.43 a gallon without thinking of Ajax’s 1995 Champions League winning team. But a game nonetheless.

“When you play a match, it is statistically proven that players actually have the ball three minutes on average. The best players – the Zidanes, Ronaldinhos, Gerrards – will have the ball maybe four minutes. Lesser players – defenders – probably two minutes. So, the most important thing is: what do you do those 87 minutes when you do not have the ball…. That is what determines whether you’re a good player or not.” –Johann Cruyff

Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com

VIDEO - LADUMA Official Trailer

Relive the 2010 World Cup through this amazing documentary by One Goal. Their film project followed the American Outlaws (and other American soccer fans) to South Africa. Their footage shows the amazing passion for soccer in the United States and the future for the sport in this country.

But "LADUMA" is more than just an American soccer film, but a tale of soccer in South Africa as well.

The film is currently being screened in theaters across the country. Get in touch with the awesome guys behind "LADUMA" through email (info@onegoal.com) and Twitter: @OneGoalUSA.

What is "LADUMA"?

"LADUMA" is the story of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, told through the eyes of adventurous American soccer supporters who traveled to South Africa to experience the first ever World Cup on the African continent. It is also about South Africa's long journey from a land suffering through the injustices of apartheid to a richly diverse nations that represents what the sport of soccer - and the world - is all about."


Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com

That's On Point: "Canal Kings" (USMNT vs. Panama Review)

It's about time, right? We've got ourselves a U.S. National Team writer. Mike Cardillo, who we've been reading for YEARS on his site, "That's On Point", for US preview/reviews and English Premier League musings will be providing some coverage of the Nats as they begin their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign.

Mike's has been writing about the National Team for as long as we've been reading about American soccer on the Internet! He's got a quick wit and pop cultural references up the ying-yang. 

So welcome Mike to the site and your opinions on the USMNT fly!

-----------------------------------------------------------

By Mike Cardillo / Senior National (Team) Correspondent


U.S. 1, Panama 0. 


First thing's first, there is a special ring of purgatory reserved for an American soccer blogger/writer with the temerity to poo-poo a result on foreign soil ... even in a no-stakes friendly. In that regard, let's say a hearty well done for Graham Zusi for being Johnny on the spot and scoring inside of 11 minutes and the rest of the U.S. players for holding off a semi-dangerous Panama team for about 30 minutes after Geoff Cameron's straight red card.


It gave Jurgen Klinsmann a solid 2-0-0 start to the 2012 campaign before next month's higher-profile friendly with the dastardly Italians in Genoa. If anything, it's better to see U.S. 1, Panama 0 for the next couple hours on the ESPN crawl, right?


At the same time, there was something, let's say retrogressive about Wednesday night's friendly, though not from a sporting standpoint. It simply felt, oh, like it was 1995 all over again.


During the afternoon on Wednesday American soccer fans were treated, first, to a taunt Liverpool second-leg Carling Cup semifinal victory over Manchester City on Fox Soccer, followed by the second-leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinal between eternal blood rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona. Depending where you were those games were aired in crisp, sparkling HD with pulsating atmospheres at hallowed soccer grounds at Anfield and the Camp Nou, where the eyes -- and tweets -- of the world cast their gaze.


This isn't a "U.S. can never be as good at soccer as it is in Europe argument", yet here it was a couple hours later and the U.S./Panama match wasn't available on cable in English, relegated to ESPN3 online and Galavasision's embarassingly awful Spanish broadcast in murky, standard definition.


Again, this is probably taking complaining on the Internet to another level, yet this felt like the days when my father and I would scramble and cross our fingers a U.S. game would -- if we were lucky -- air on Univision.


In short, everything felt a little second rate from what we've grown accustomed to, if in a totally spoiled first-world problem (ugh, buzzword) type of way.


However you frame it, the eyes of the world weren't exactly fixated on the Estadio Rommel Fernandez(*) for the U.S.'s 1-0 win over host Panama.  


(*) Wonder if David Lee Roth and or Van Halen have ever performed a concert there? (C'mon, you know I'm not writing anything about Panama without sneaking a Diamond Dave or Teddy Roosevelt reference, however forced.) 


Again, quality result for the U.S. "B/C" team. Did anyone on the field against Panama -- or Venezuela -- exactly distinguish himself for Herr Klinsmann going forward? Considering the German head coach still seems to rate Michael Orozco-Fiscal, it's thoroughly impossible to read between his ears.


Brek Shea, hellbent on a move to England apparently, is a lively player with a lot of drive and power wherever you stick him on the field. Nick Rimando, too, is solid as per usual in goal and should even at 32 remain in the mix as a second or third keeper.


The Bob Bradley-approved "Captain" Jermaine Jones and Ricardo Clark didn't do anything great or awful. Jones, for better or worse, appears right in the thick of Klinsmann's plans, even if the German-born midfielder's best chance to help the U.S. was probably in 2010 rather than 2014. If Jones reigns himself in, he's effective, but it all depends on what his role is: destroyer? disruptor? creator? shield? He launched some missiles from deep, but again drew a yellow card.


Clark? Glad he got a positive memory with the 97th minute winner vs. Venezuela, but if Kyle Beckerman didn't withdraw from the squad does he even see the field? Hard to see Clark vaulting past Beckerman or Michael Bradley or Maurice Edu or even Stuart Holden in the middle of the U.S. central midfield pecking order.


Moving on.


Tactically(*), with the U.S. playing a standard 4-4-2, until Cameron's sending off, the main focus of the attack seemed to come from the flanks. If this is going to be the main offensive strategy going forward, when the full U.S. team is called in it better be somebody like Shea serving crosses toward Clint Dempsey, not the other way around. If there's one thing Dempsey does -- obviously he does more -- but the Texan knows how to finish off movements in the box.


(*) These two matches weren't exactly the free-flowing, revoluntionary soccer Klinsmann hinted at in August, no?


Hard to say any of the U.S. forwards who saw the field did enough to declare themselves worthy of being called in for the Italy match -- which figures to be Euro-based player packed. Teal Bunbury has potential, but at what level? CONCACAF or a higher international? Chris Wondolowski is a nice MLS grinder and has the worst luck in a national team shirt, getting denied on an absolutely brilliant reaction save by Luis Mejia.


In typical U.S. two steps forward, one step back fashion Cameron shined against Venezuela only to get sent off for an arm bar on Blas Perez, who'd run behind the defense and had a clear 1-v-1 with Sean Johnson unless the Houston Dynamo man interceded. Did Perez let his feet go out from him rather easily? Sure. At the same time, in the state of the modern soccer game what is and isn't a red card anymore? Who knows. Cameron might have been better off stamping on Perez rather than leaning into his with his forearm.


Again, considering his track record it's probably fruitless to guess what Klinsmann gleaned from this month of practices and two friendlies. Aside from the Bundesliga Badboy, "Captain" Jermaine and Shea nobody else who featured is a sure-thing to play next month in Italy. Maybe a couple of the players, say, Zusi did enough to warrant a spot on a roster vs. a CONCACAF minnow to save guys like Dempsey or Landon Donovan a trip across the Atlantic. 


Like most USMNT January friendlies, the best approach is to take the Homer Simpson reaction to the family's ill-fated shortcut to Itchy & Scratchy Land. So, as he said, "Let us never speak of this again."


Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com

Soccer Marketing 101 - Chicago Fire/ Quaker Oats Jersey Sponsor Launch

Chicago Fire players pose in their new Quaker Oats sponsored jerseys. (Photo Credit: Chicago Fire)

Last week we posted the news and a snazzy video announcing that the Chicago Fire had landed a new jersey sponsor, Quaker Oats, after an empty-chested 2011. Given that several Major League Soccer clubs  do not have shirt sponsors (by choice or otherwise), these news releases are always a sign of forward progress for American soccer.

The injection of cash for the club, advertising partners, and marketing initiatives that accompany these sponsorship deals help propel each team, hopefully, deeper into their local market. Many of these sponsorships are with local companies with large reaches like New England's United HealthCare, Houston's GreenStar Recycling. Seattle's XBox, or Toronto's BMO.

The new Chicago Fire deal follows this strategy of local corporate roots springing outward. Founded in 1877 its headquarters are still in Chicago.

Yesterday the Fire players walked out their new 2012 jerseys that followed your run-of-the-mill unveiling, but it was the behind-the-scene marketing of the Fire that really brought the whole announcement home.

The day before the announcement a package arrived at FBM HQ. "Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill." said the return label.

Hmm....


Open the box up and inside is a Quaker Oats can. Not dissimilar to the one that graces the kitchen counter already. This one, however, was cleverly labeled with several distinct Chicago Fire markings; the club crest and the new jersey. Slapping a marketing partner's logos on your stuff is a pretty basic outreach attempt so this was nothing to get too excited about.

But it was the attention to detail on the entire can that was a step above. The back of the can took the time to fully explain the fullness of the partnership between the Chicago Fire and Quaker. From jersey design, to community support, to stadium initiatives the depth of this sponsorship was well apparent; even down to the "ingredients" and "nourishment fact".

Inside the can were a few Quaker products (enjoyed the granola bar with Nick Jonas on it...) tucked in with the Fire's press release.

You could already chalk all this as a successful effort. More than superficial cross-branding, a deep commitment from a local company, and a creative approach to spread the news of this jersey/sponsorship.

But they had to go and tuck a jersey in the can well. Now its just getting absurd... in the best kind of way.

Us writers love free shit. Stuffed in with the oatmeal is THE shirt that the Fire will debut for the 2012.

A very nice touch, indeed.

Wait... what? What's on the back?

Chicago Fire marketing. FTW.

Free stuff aside this was a fantastic marketing effort the Chicago Fire put together. If they really wanted to take this to the next level they'd expand this cross-branding effort beyond just members of the media. 

Putting jerseys in the hands of paying fans is objective number one, but if each one purchased at the team store came in the can (perhaps with a few Quaker products thrown in as well) or at the very least given out at matches... then you've got something that fans have not only on their backs, but probably in their homes as well. 

The idea and execution has been so top-notch you could see this working well with the general public. Fire fans would appreciate the extra approach without feeling like this was some "gimmicky" effort between the Fire and Quaker Oats. 

A great marketing move with even greater potential for the larger Fire fan base.

Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com

The Tuesday 10: Last-Gasp Winner Edition

By "The Other 87 Minutes" / Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents

For today's entry, we bring you the top ten things  Ricardo Clark’s 97^th-minute winner against Venezuela made us completely forget. 

1. The entire 2010 World Cup, obviously. Welcome back Rico, all is forgiven.

2. Our ongoing scoring record against Western Hemisphere opposition. We just know Herr Klinnsmann’s going to play for the 0-0 draw away at Panama.

3. How bad our U-23 team must be. Seriously, they lost 4-0 to those guys? Sheesh.

4. Teal Bunbury’s meh performance. Apparently his desperation to have the Spanish language announcer once again tell the world how much he likes that Boon-Boo-Ree got him nervous.

Jermaine no make clever passes into attacking third. Jermaine smash!

5. The fact that our main distributor for much of the game was Jermaine “SMASH!” Jones.

6. Those other crucial saves-off-headers made by Venezuela's top performer, goalkeeper Jules Winnfield. 

7. The one nagging doubt we have about Geoff Cameron, who looked great, but seemed so determined every time he got the ball to say “Hey! Look at my passing range! Look at my ability going forward!” that we’d like to withhold judgment until we see him against a team that’s trying.

8.. Brek Shea’s too-normal hair. A disappointing (hair)day from The Rooster’s comb.

9. The C-team service coming from the fullback areas.

10. Clint who? 

About "The Other 87 Minutes"

What is this new site we're exposing you too? We'll let them explain:

The Other 87 seeks to provide something that’s not instant analysis or eve of matchday previews. Think of us as the good bits of your favorite soccer coverage: the profiles that examine what makes a certain player tick, the historical background that sheds some light on how the sport has evolved to the present day, the silly features that are more than just tacking names on a list, but considering and explaining why each one deserves to be there.

O87 wants to be a home for soccer writing that makes you think, but that also treats the game as just that, a game. The greatest game, the one we obsess over and fixate on, to the point where we can’t read that gas costs 3.43 a gallon without thinking of Ajax’s 1995 Champions League winning team. But a game nonetheless.

“When you play a match, it is statistically proven that players actually have the ball three minutes on average. The best players – the Zidanes, Ronaldinhos, Gerrards – will have the ball maybe four minutes. Lesser players – defenders – probably two minutes. So, the most important thing is: what do you do those 87 minutes when you do not have the ball…. That is what determines whether you’re a good player or not.” –Johann Cruyff

Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com

VIDEO - USMNT Highlights vs. Venezuela (With Post Match Quotes)

Post Match Quotes from USSoccer.com


U.S. Men’s National Team head coach JURGEN KLINSMANN: 
On Jermaine Jones and what went in to decision to make captain: 
“It was certainly a difficult situation for Jermaine with the suspension in Germany. I spoke with his coach and the club and we agreed it was beneficial to all of us to have him come in. He arrived the night of the 14th and the next day he practiced twice. Everyone could see why he was playing with a Champions League team. He elevated the group within one training session with his energy and with his leadership. His vision on the field makes a big difference. These young players are all hungry that want to make the next step that want to know how to get to the next level. Jermaine jumped in and talked with the guys and took care of it, and that’s why it was an easy decision to make him a captain. We also wanted to give him a signal that we want this type of leadership from him.” 

On whether the conditioning work paid off: 
“I think that’s a good question for the players. I think it’s very difficult to bring a group for only two and a half weeks from an off season and get them ready for international competition. That is pretty much impossible. You take it just the way it ends up. You hope they have the legs to carry them. We also stretched it out for the past two and a half weeks. We did an extreme amount of work, and that’s what we told the players before the match: you had a tremendous attitude and effort for two and a half weeks, now go out there and get the reward. I think they experienced it now, where you can push it for two and a half weeks and get a win.” 

On Ricardo Clark: 
“I wanted to bring him into camp and see for myself why he was struggling. He had to get his fitness up to the level of the other players, so every day we pushed it a little more and a little more. I knew that when he’s on the field, he is a very technically gifted player. He can play one touch football. We needed to find a way in the second half to move the ball quicker, to get the ball in the box and be a little more aggressive. He gives us more speed with his distribution and we are very happy it worked out for him this way.” 

On Heath Pearce and A.J. DeLaGarza: 
“You’re curious to see and work with them coming off their seasons with their club. We played intense scrimmages and the way they integrated themselves was wonderful. A.J. is the type of player where he can play right back like he did tonight or in the middle. Heath is the same type of player. They understand their roles, and they both do that very well.” 

On the players who got their first caps tonight: 
“It was very important that they knew they were part of a group. We told them that they had a whole group of players out here to help them. Even if a mistake happens, you shake it off and move on. When you have your first camp, you’re nervous, you’re shaky, but the way the group helped them was really cool to see. It speaks for the group. It speaks for their characters that they help these young players coming in.” 

On the impact that switching to the 4-4-2 formation had on the game: 
“It added more danger in the box. We went with one striker, and when the time was right in the second half we pushed it up with two. We did that in practices and scrimmages. It’s good to see that the players can play one system and switch to another in the middle of a game. If we had Juan available maybe we would have started with the 4-4-2, but we didn’t so we switched to it to push the game and push the ball in the box more. It was just about getting one goal sooner or later. We got it—a bit late, but not too late.” 

U.S. team captain and Budweiser Man of the Match JERMAINE JONES 
On the game: 
“I was feeling good. We had good training sessions this week, and we developed a good relationship. I think the game showed that we all connected together, and I think we showed a good game tonight.” 

On the goal: 
“I think the two corner kicks before were dangerous as well. I had it in my mind that maybe this was my last chance and I needed to hit a good ball. I was happy to see Rico was in the right place and scored the goal.” 

On being named captain tonight: 
”I think what was important to see tonight is that everyone was rooting for other guys. I was happy to be the captain tonight, but the important thing was that we played a good game tonight as a whole 
team.” 

U.S. midfielder RICARDO CLARK 
On playing with Jermaine Jones: 
“I think it’s the first time we’ve been on the field together and with games there is a better understanding of each other, but it is definitely a good start. It felt good to be with the National Team. Germany’s training is pretty rigorous, so it is not too hard to stay fit. I just wanted to provide some energy coming onto the field, and it is an ideal way for me to make an impression. I hope there is more to come for the National Team. Goals help to build confidence.” 

U.S. midfielder BREK SHEA 
On switching from the left side to the right: 
“I’m trying to throw the other team off so they don’t get used to our tendencies. Sometimes we did it on purpose, and other times we did it to help each other out and we just stayed there. I don’t think it was my best tonight, but in the team won so it’s good. I’m fortunate to keep being called in, and hope to get better each game. 

U.S. goalkeeper BILL HAMID: 
On making his debut for the National Team: 
“It’s good to put the uniform on and play for our country. It was a good game, a tough game. We had a good run and continued to create opportunities. Our defense played extremely well and were composed and organized. We played a full 90 minutes, and we were finally rewarded at the end. Hats off to the whole team for the effort.” 

On whether it was easy to settle down in his first game with such good defense in front of him: 
“The first couple minutes of the game the butterflies were flying. Once I realized the guys were doing well and felt comfortable, it gave me a bit of confidence to settle down and do what I needed to do.” 

U.S. midfielder BRAD EVANS 
On making changes in the second half: 
“In the first half we were feeling them out. We came in after halftime and said “Let’s go for it.” When we watched them on film, they really pressured Costa Rica when they played them last time. It made it difficult for Benny to find the ball and the forwards to get a hold of the ball and spread it out wide. Our fitness showed through, and in the second half we got a spark from the guys on the bench and we pulled through.” 

On coming in to hear a big ovation: 
“The crowd was great tonight. I think having 22,000+ fans says something about Arizona soccer, which is big. I didn’t see too many Venezuela fans. It was mostly U.S. fans so it was tremendous.”


Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com

That's On Point: USMNT Preview - Venezuela

Smiles mandatory, umlauts optional.

It's about time, right? We've got ourselves a U.S. National Team writer. Mike Cardillo, who we've been reading for YEARS on his site, "That's On Point", for US preview/reviews and English Premier League musings will be providing some coverage of the Nats as they begin their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign.


Mike's has been writing about the National Team for as long as we've been reading about American soccer on the Internet! He's got a quick wit and pop cultural references up the ying-yang. 


So welcome Mike to the site and your opinions on the USMNT fly!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Mike Cardillo / Senior National (Team) Correspondent


"You want it to be one way ... but it's the other way." -- Marlo Stanfield.

Back in the spring of 2010, during my epic, streets of Bodymore, Muderland-tinged World Cup preview, that quote was used to describe a lingering sentiment hanging around certain corners of the U.S. National Team fans.

In short, there's anyways going to be a segment of the USMNT fanbase that who's hopes, dreams ... and maybe ideals of what the team should be don't exactly jive with the reality of the situation. Fast forward to a couple of months from now when the national teams of the big European powers trod onto the fields of Poland and Ukraine to the strains of the White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" (or more likely the ear-cancer, "I Got 2 Feeling" song by the Black Eyed Peas) and they'll probably be some American fans wishing (somehow) the U.S. was in the mix. They want to be decking out in the the latest Nike designed kit, belting out songs, throwing up confetti and jumping up in down in a state of pure nirvana.

Only ... the reality of the situation in June the U.S. will be playing Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala in third round CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Excitement is thy name.

Barring some sort of crazy game of "Risk" that gets applied to the real world, there's no way for the U.S. to up and leave the relative backwaters of CONCACAF  for the higher-rent, more-exciting (in theory) world of UEFA.

That left a lot of U.S. fans, myself at times included, wondering if we can't exactly transplant the intensity and all-or-nothing aspect of European soccer, what's the next best thing?

Hire a European coach, nay a former superstar with a short track record of success but positivity out the ying-yang, obviously.

So in August 2012, out went Bob Bradley -- who despite his success at the 2007 Gold Cup and 2009 Confederations Cup -- was never 100-percent loved and embraced by American fans. In came the erstwhile Tony Robbins of German soccer, Jurgen Klinsmann who came to the States talking about changing the "culture" of American soccer, basically saying everything lots of supporters wanted to hear.

Stuff like "youth development" and creating a "mentality."

You know, vague-sounding buzzwords that inspire lofty aspirations in the mind, but in actuality take years, if not decades to develop to fruition.

In the interim, Klinsmann beat the backwaters of the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga for players with links to American passports, won a pair of games, lost four and drew Mexico in his much ballyhooed U.S. debut.

And here we are in January 2012 with the annual USMNT "B" camp for MLSers, out-of-season European players and whatever other castoffs are remaining without anywhere else to play -- hello Jermaine Jones.

The crazy irony here? When you scan the group of players Klinsmann has called to the Home Depot Center for a month of training, fitness tests, YouTube videos, and games of ping pong ... it's decidedly Bradley-ian.

The Internet's favorite U.S. whipping boy this side of Jonathan Bornstein, Ricardo Clark? Back, as our old pal Dave O'Brien would say, 'into the mixer.' The scorned Chris Wondolowski, of Gold Cup forgetibility, yep he's back too.

Peel away a level of cynicism, and there's some reason for optimism. Forwards at the camp CJ Sapong, Teal Bunbury and Juan Agudelo are all 23 or younger, and as we know a truly world-class, goal-scoring forward remains yet another 'White Whale' in the U.S. soccer fan canon on things we Quixotically always are left searching for.

Aside from that, there's not all that much to get jazzed up about. Or at least that's what ESPN and NBC must have figured since the friendly Saturday vs. Venezuela in Phoenix and Wednesday at Panama aren't available on English language cable. (Realistically, how many U.S. fans have ever thought of the Venezuela/Panama games more than, 'Oh right, there's a game this weekend.'?)

However you want to draw it up, here we are, as U.S. fans hoping and fantasizing for something that's probably unrealistic faced with a reality that is difficult to get all that jazzed up against until the games get spicy in the later stages of World Cup qualification, if even then.

The game is the game, yo. 

Miscellany:

* Forever the reason, the guy amongst the training camp I'm most interesting to check out long term is Geoff Cameron in the center of the defense, perhaps that's since it appears the National Team careers of both Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez might equate to a pair of ships passing in the night, as it were.

* Brek Shea is likely the U.S. offensive focal point. He looked next to dead considering all the games he played in 2011 in his last time out in a U.S. shirt. Hopefully he picked up some good Andrey Arshavin stories during his time training with Arsenal. 

* In a massive, nearly 100-player pool of possible internationals a good or bad thing? Or does it illustrate the U.S. might have a lot of solid players, but not a ton of sure-fire, five-star international caliber guys. 

* Was Benny Feilhaber U.S. Soccer's "one hit wonder" via the 2007 Gold Cup?

Lineup Guess:

(This is purely a guess.)

GK -- Hamid

DEF -- De La Garza -- Cameron -- Parkhurst -- Pearce

MID -- Feilhaber -- Beckerman -- Jones -- Shea

FOR -- Bunbury -- Wondolowski

Final Thought:

Maybe this is a far too simplistic way to look at the last month of U.S. Soccer, yet, unless there's a portal on the 7 1/2 floor in a building somewhere in New York City -- or more likely the U.S. Soccer House in Chicago -- that leads into Jurgen Klinsmann's head, it's nearly impossible to gauge what was learned from the January training camp. You'd have to figure the training sessions or even the time together away from the field with the players will be more valuable than what transpires vs. Venezuela in what is about as low-stakes a friendly as possible barring the players wearing pinnies during the match.

Who We're Buying A Beer For...

The one thing we love more than drinking beer and watching some soccer is being able to share said beer with people. We do it all the time and so do the fine men and women that subscribe to the of the Free Beer Movement Philosophy. We share our beer with our friends, family, and co-workers who desperately need some education on the soccer front to understand the passion that drives our connection to the sport of soccer.

Some people already get it and they're working day in and day out to improve the atmosphere in the U.S. for soccer. Those people or groups deserve some recognition and we only know one way to say thanks.

A beer on us.

Each week we serve up a healthy dose of brewskies for the individuals and organizations that are building a foundation for soccer in America. Hey... kinda like us at the FBM!

Yeah... most of this is literary flourish, but if we were to ever run into one of our honorees, we'd be obligated to let them know that their next drink is on the Free Beer Movement. And we'd hope, dear readers, if you ever ran into one of the ladies or gentlemen you'd let 'em know the FBM owes them a beer (or better yet pick up a drink for them and send us a picture and the tab!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Ryan Rosenblatt / Senior Los Angeles Correspondent

It is not rare for politicians to take a spin on the soccer carousel, but it is in the United States. Sure, President Obama tried his “I support West Ham” thing, but who really bought that? No one. There just aren’t a lot of politicians around these parts who have hopped on the soccer bandwagon, but there is one in Massachusetts who has and he’s even painted it red, white and blue. 

For that, the man deserves a beer.

Senator Downing speaking to some mucky-mucks wishing
he was at his AO Chapter bar with a PBR instead.
(Photo Credit: Sen. Downing's website)

We’re buying a beer for Massachusetts State Senator Benjamin Downing , a man who has embraced American soccer and not just as a casual observer. Downing has is all in.  

Let’s check out the tale of the tape as we evaluate his credentials:

·         * American Outlaws Adams members can attest to his being a regular at the chapter’s watch parties, where he can be found sitting at the bar and chanting along. He shows up wearing his U.S. scarf and is quick to put a PBR in hand.

·        *  He’s a PBR man (keep this is mind when you buy the man his beer).

·        *  He’s an everyday Yank. The man owns a Landon Donovan Everton shirt. He has touted the possible move of Edson Buddle to Everton, his adopted club because of the American presence.

·       *  Soccer, the U.S. and Everton specifically, are regular subjects on his Tweeter machine, including gems like, “Email from fiancee,subject ‘Maybe #USMNT or #Everton?’ Bride makes her own Man City wedding dress.”

·        *  Downing has used his Twitter to advertise for AOAdams, telling his followers that he’ll be at watch parties and encouraging others to come out.

·         * He’s keeping an eye out for MLS, joining in on the #ICareAboutMLS hashtag to push for the Revs to get a soccer-specific stadium.

Just assume he's recruiting Biden
to come to the next watch party.

We all know that President Obama is all on the Chicago sports bandwagon, but has he shown any affection for the Fire? Where was then-California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger saying, “go, Yanks, go” as he did with the Chargers? I don’t remember former President Bush showing up for the first kick at an FC Dallas match.

Then there is Downing, who doesn’t just support soccer with a wave from a suite at a match here or an acknowledgement that a bunch of kids play the sport here. He lives soccer. He lives American soccer just like you and me. He lives it on Saturday mornings watching Everton and at the PNA Bar along with the rest of the AO Adams chapter.

Downing is all aboard the soccer bandwagon and he’s trying to bring others along with him. That he has a platform to do it just makes it all the better. This man has earned his beer. Next election day, Downing won’t have my vote seeing as I am not a Massachusetts resident, but he can have a beer or six on me (a PBR to be specific).

Do us a favor and say thanks to Senator Downing for his support of American soccer through his Twitter account and let him know if you ever run into him you'll buy him a beer.

About Ryan

When not posting about adoracute animals posing with soccer balls, or flying about the country taking in USMNT matches, Ryan Rosenblatt deigns to cover MLS matches for SB Nation Soccer. The lollipop of Soccer, Rosenblatt's got a flavor that will appease anyone: coverage of the US national team? You got it. Stepping in to write about the Eredivisie? I bet you can't even spell the Dutch League correctly. Mocking Arsenal fans? It might not show up on the front page, but it's almost certain there's a running dialogue in this Spurs' supporter's head.

Rosey is also silly enough to be a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that shouldn't make you take his soccer writing any less seriously.

Follow Ryan on Twitter.

Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com