tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15665977503743798632024-03-17T03:31:55.891-05:00The Free Beer Movement"Building American soccer one beer at a time"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger747125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-55102279248669344842012-05-14T19:34:00.001-05:002012-06-02T15:55:48.817-05:00We've Moved!We got some new digs.... head on over <a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com">here.</a>
Cheers!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-81306563256274569402012-04-12T20:01:00.000-05:002012-04-12T20:01:22.455-05:00VIDEO - Chicago Fire's Dominic Orduro is Fast, Freaky Fast<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xlh3V386qEk?rel=0" width="600"></iframe>
<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
What happens when Dominic Oduro puts his salary on the line to prove how fast he is?<br />
<br />
Well.... that's a lot to fight for. And you can only imagine how fast one of the fastest players in the league is going to run to protect his earnings.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/freakyfast8">"@FreakyFast8" on Twitter</a> easily claims his end of the bet, a jelly donut from "Touchline TV" host Brendan Hannan.<br />
<br />
Next up? Usain Bolt?<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-70789394108917212952012-04-11T04:49:00.000-05:002012-04-11T07:07:59.160-05:00Announcing "The Austin Aztex Project" Documenting the Building of American Soccer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76rDu5cv7mm_PUEe45ZaiqACm5utK_fzydaYgGeilm2MXRJ1TDtN1qDSpin4U4EehK6AC-8QIENL2DrBLiO37yOYDocFVY6E_dLUM5_r7uqEf5bkM1PdDK-l2bs9pPjtFwYURD2EnT6U/s1600/AAProject.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76rDu5cv7mm_PUEe45ZaiqACm5utK_fzydaYgGeilm2MXRJ1TDtN1qDSpin4U4EehK6AC-8QIENL2DrBLiO37yOYDocFVY6E_dLUM5_r7uqEf5bkM1PdDK-l2bs9pPjtFwYURD2EnT6U/s640/AAProject.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
Last September the <a href="http://www.austinaztex.com/">Austin Aztex</a>, under new ownership, announced their return to the American soccer fold. Almost a year earlier the first incarnation of the Aztex had <a href="http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2010/10/25/austin-aztex-confirm-move-to-orlando-flordia/">packed up for greener pastures in Orlando</a>, leaving supporters in the lurch and a bad taste in the mouth of the local soccer community.<br />
<br />
Austin is a city with seemingly perfect demographics for success: a booming population full of young professionals with disposable incomes, a great place for raising a family, and a strong Latino community. But for all of these factors leaning in their favor former Aztex 1.0 owner, Phil Rawlins cited a lack of local investors (in a tough, recession economy), geographic isolation from the league's other teams, and an awkward stadium situation that gave them team downtown real estate, but a place (since it was high school American football field) where no alcohol could be served or corporate suites be added..<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
The relocated club ditched the Aztex name and re-branded as <a href="http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/home/">Orlando City Soccer Club</a> and went on to immediate success, winning the United Soccer League's PRO division title in 2011 and stoking speculation that the Central Florida team was on Major League Soccer's shortlist for expansion.<br />
<br />
Back in Austin, the soccer community found little comfort in Orlando's on-field and off-field success. Behind the scenes, though, a former minority owner, David Markley, was working to bring some team, any team back home.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.austinaztex.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/KickoffReceptionAztex-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://www.austinaztex.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/KickoffReceptionAztex-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USL's David Winner, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, <br />
and Aztex owner David Markley.<br />
Photo Credit: Austin Aztex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On a sunny late September day Markley would stand side-by-side Austin's mayor Lee Leffingwell and USL President David Winner and make the much anticipated news that soccer was indeed returning to Texas' capital city. A return to the USL, however, would be at a different level of the American soccer pyramid than the recently departed Orlando side.<br />
<br />
Austin's American soccer journey would begin like its predecessor, in the USL's <a href="http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/">Premier Developmental League</a>, a confederation of regional and sub-regional leagues populated by mostly local, college-aged kids trying to keep their skills sharp in the summertime. Thus, the first disappointment of this new team had emerged; any potential clash against Orlando would have to wait until Austin built strong enough local support to garner a "promotion" (not promotion in the global sense, of course) out of the PDL.<br />
<br />
The excitement of the return of live, local soccer was, though, the overwhelming feeling of the moment, overshadowing the fading, bitter memories of last fall.<br />
<br />
But now the main task stood front and center.<br />
<br />
How would this Austin Aztex organization, version 2.0, be able find success where the other had not?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
--------------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Regular readers may or may not know this, but Free Beer Movement HQ is located in Austin, Texas so <a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2010/10/frailty-of-american-soccer.html">the loss of the original Aztex were quite a blow to our American soccer laboratory</a>. With the return of live, local soccer to our community we wanted to take the opportunity to not only go out and support our local American soccer team, but to tell the story of the return of the Austin Aztex.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The FBM is about using the power of beer to open newbies to the idea of American soccer, but more than just that, our website has always been about documenting the culture that surrounds it and the growth of the game. With a new team beginning in our backyard it only seemed appropriate to follow this story wherever it took us.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Over the next few months, we'll have unprecedented access to the new Aztex ownership, coaching staff, players, and fans in order to document the highs and lows of building American soccer. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
At several points through the season we (FBM and Austin-based <a href="http://www.theother87.com/">"The Other 87 Minutes"</a> writer Eric Betts) will observe soccer in Austin from three main angles: the front office, the tactical/team side, and from the fans' perspective. Through exclusive interviews with all these parties we'll try and gather what it takes to try and build a successful soccer club in the United States.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Welcome to "Building American Soccer: The Austin Aztex Project".</div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-75402685927448147932012-04-10T10:51:00.002-05:002012-04-10T10:51:49.277-05:00D.C. United Players Just Want to Bang on the Drum All Day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsxiisQDQDAE7GJg3Jrm2YM1YHtTkDHnegpBbQJTYITEo9PPAtTvbT1cNbgL9iL-FIG1XvDxys6Qk8G81bX-SeqFHNtFS6yseEQ6Cp1G26pBImUVTxRn0TyygJP-u4189lKLbOZHw0SU/s1600/najardrums0412b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsxiisQDQDAE7GJg3Jrm2YM1YHtTkDHnegpBbQJTYITEo9PPAtTvbT1cNbgL9iL-FIG1XvDxys6Qk8G81bX-SeqFHNtFS6yseEQ6Cp1G26pBImUVTxRn0TyygJP-u4189lKLbOZHw0SU/s640/najardrums0412b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: D.C. United</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When most professional athletes (and European soccer players) can't suit up for a game they're usually seen living the good life up in a luxury suite with the owner and/or their wife/girlfriend, but not Major League Soccer players.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecE-7tPl6nT8oEaWF0Ro06wrVPIyey3uDpFy3h1Fr8NbqN4qk-oiwW-glNkyDprNpfxgDJIADFlZkv_F6OEm1ff0AWeOVga_P3mkx0sBzU2q4schKPuwYBEugzKV9Zz1AvVcU2YK2qak/s1600/543257_10150732042861489_60072341488_9261293_816104723_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecE-7tPl6nT8oEaWF0Ro06wrVPIyey3uDpFy3h1Fr8NbqN4qk-oiwW-glNkyDprNpfxgDJIADFlZkv_F6OEm1ff0AWeOVga_P3mkx0sBzU2q4schKPuwYBEugzKV9Zz1AvVcU2YK2qak/s320/543257_10150732042861489_60072341488_9261293_816104723_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: D.C. United</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you want more evidence of why American soccer is so great look no further than scenes from last Saturday's D.C. United home match against the Seattle Sounders. Despite the 0-0 scoreline defender Brandon McDonald, who was suspended, and midfielder Andy Najar, who was sick, took the the supporters section to bang on the <a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2011/04/better-know-supporters-group-barra.html">Barra Brava</a>'s drums alongside other supporters, the<a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2011/05/better-know-supporters-group-screaming.html"> Screaming Eagles</a> and La Norte.<br />
<br />
Players joining the supporters during matches are <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/dc-united-players-play-drums-in-the-stands/2012/04/08/gIQAn3cw4S_blog.html">nothing new at D.C.</a> or even the rest of MLS. The most famous example of an "off-duty" MLSer is, of course, our main man Frankie Hejduk <a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2009/09/frankie-hedjuk-fbm-spokesperson.html">slamming beers with Columbus Crew fans</a> before a match against Los Angeles he was suspended for.<br />
<br />
American soccer might be getting bigger and bigger everyday, but the league players continue to be as humble as ever. Signing autographs forever after matches and at practices, showing up at local bars and restaurants and mingling with fans, <a href="http://www.downthebyline.com/2011/01/great-snowball-fight-2011.html">even buying everyone in the room Chipotle</a>.<br />
<br />
This is American soccer and the closeness we, as fans, feel to our teams and players is one of the most vital parts of what makes our version of the sport, and it's authentic growth, so enjoyable.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-42173003391741539322012-04-10T09:23:00.000-05:002012-04-10T09:23:40.431-05:00VIDEO - All Your Base Belongs to MLS and adidas<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WdLVIPr-USw?rel=0" width="600"></iframe>
<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Many Americans continue to wonder about Snooki's weight (98 pounds!) who's going to be eliminated next from "The Voice" or what twists and turns will happen next in "Game of Throne"/"Madmen".<br />
<br />
The computers, well, are preparing to take over the world. The upcoming Major League Soccer All-Star Game on July 25th in Philadelphia will feature the first world's first "smart soccer match" where all the players on the field will be tracked by adidas' miCoach system and the data will be available instantly for analysis.<br />
<br />
Sounds pretty cool. Hopefully ESPN gets some of the data to share in-game with views.<br />
<br />
We're just glad they didn't call it SkyNet. We're safe for now.<br />
<br />
Right?<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-53089607301359190592012-04-10T06:00:00.000-05:002012-04-10T06:00:11.115-05:00The Tuesday XI: Piano Man Edition<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriIUu2_2VJqVY9i2n5uhG1PWohTIQGL4Pd2LX1uSCSSIMH5lZ2QctqWoufkJQEtsdlkTHr0zHlsOvwRcq1WeZzA4bAP6HtQZhhanRheN7A30Ym6ATImhBJJUNRBm1Cw-7dqa0uxG24A0/s1600/tuesdayten2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriIUu2_2VJqVY9i2n5uhG1PWohTIQGL4Pd2LX1uSCSSIMH5lZ2QctqWoufkJQEtsdlkTHr0zHlsOvwRcq1WeZzA4bAP6HtQZhhanRheN7A30Ym6ATImhBJJUNRBm1Cw-7dqa0uxG24A0/s640/tuesdayten2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">By </span><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">"Th</a><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">e Other 87 Minutes"</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> / </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>We're stepping back into the music world this week in honor of last week's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions (We're pro-Beastie Boy.). Except instead of putting together an team of musicians, we're lining up songs, specifically famous title characters from songs, into a harmonious XI.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/title-character-xi1.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" height="515" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/title-character-xi1.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; display: block; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;" title="Title character Xi" width="336" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 18px;">
<dl style="background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 632px !important; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 212px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/the_macho_man_randy_savage_-_randy_poffo_28.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" height="210" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/the_macho_man_randy_savage_-_randy_poffo_28.jpg?w=288" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="the_macho_man_randy_savage_-_randy_poffo_28" width="202" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't think that's the right one.</span></dd></dl>
</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">GK – Macho Man</strong> – Uses his inflated ego, and pectoral muscles, to deflect goal-bound shots.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">LB – Minnie the Moocher</strong> – Bought a diamond car with some platinum wheels with her first top-flight paycheck.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">CB – Bad Bad Leroy Brown</strong> – Something a throwback to the old-timey center-halves of yesteryear. If the baddest man in the whole damn town doesn't get the ball, he's going to be sure to get the man.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">CB – Superfreak</strong> – Definitely not the kind of player you'd take home to mother. TheYouTube highlight reel is topped only by the outlandish off-the-field antics. Imagine if you crossed Marvell Wynne with Mario Balotelli.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">RB – Eleanor Rigby</strong> – Picks up the ball, on the flanks, in the space, where the winger has been. Crosses like a dream.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 18px;">
<dl style="background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 632px !important; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 207px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/iron_man.gif" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" height="210" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/iron_man.gif?w=281" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="iron_man" width="197" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not exactly...</span></dd></dl>
</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">DM – Iron Man</strong> – Has really raised his game in the center since he was turned to steel in the great magnetic field.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">CM – Baba O'Riley</strong> – Fights for his meals out there in the field, and always gets his back into his motoring up and down from box-to-box.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">AM – Mack the Knife</strong> – Someone's sneaking behind the defense, ghosting late onto crosses or to collect drop-offs from our center forwards. Could that someone, perhaps, perchance, be Mack the Knife?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">LW– Jumping Jack Flash</strong> – Hits defenses like a cross-fire hurricane down the left side.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 18px;">
<dl style="background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 632px !important; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 214px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/men-in-black.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" height="210" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/men-in-black.jpg?w=291" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="men in black" width="204" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fine, whatever.</span></dd></dl>
</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">CF – Man in Black</strong> – It says it right there in the song, “Up front there oughta be a man in black.” You want to argue with a guy who only dresses in all black?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">RW – Voodoo Child</strong> – Provides craftiness and guile up top to balance the speed of Jumping Jack Flash and the power of the Man in Black. He’ll move mountains to get our side a goal, or at least chop them down with the edge of his hand.</span></div>
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<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<u><b>About "<a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;">The Other 87 Minutes</a>"</b></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWvD826LJegYwdcNfh80U9zv260qqd0iyWYUjBb31T3IyIK2W4QjYvVuAUojEeH8KV2Ooo8lxuYcpxZYzH1TDS6cDCUn_MhLRJ4tcbHggta4KoNqlI1O7NMrH34QCphdrRtFAGUs2zis/s640/blogger-image--1791320927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #990000; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is this new site we're exposing you too? We'll let them explain:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>“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</i></span></blockquote>
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;">Objectivo.com</a></b>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-24942287288922530382012-04-06T11:14:00.001-05:002012-04-07T07:55:37.819-05:00Making the Case - No More Trolling<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfocPovqnjSdV1Gyaw6sejz8x1JNn1GcVxDpj2pPfb1r_5MSIMSafkNj_pHv1Olh1vv8XOOo6Qo01bMDHNDK_gkw8EnVaR44Z4Eoq_b7iQxEsFRYUcKSA0sHa_Nxx5STMXDS191BCVhpQ/s1600/Peeoples+Beer+Case+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfocPovqnjSdV1Gyaw6sejz8x1JNn1GcVxDpj2pPfb1r_5MSIMSafkNj_pHv1Olh1vv8XOOo6Qo01bMDHNDK_gkw8EnVaR44Z4Eoq_b7iQxEsFRYUcKSA0sHa_Nxx5STMXDS191BCVhpQ/s640/Peeoples+Beer+Case+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a case of beer. We are making an argument or case about something. See the connection?</td></tr></tbody></table><b>By <a href="http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/">Mike Cardillo</a></b> / <i>That's On Point</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Crawl. Walk and then run." -- Clay Davis</i><br />
<br />
<i>"I'm just a troll who's intentions aren't good, oh lord please let me be misunderstood." -- Anonymous</i><br />
<br />
Where are we as soccer fans in America?<br />
<br />
Certainly past infancy and the terrible twos. Perhaps we're now in the petulant teen mode. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3x7Ly2kqsWobw-WefsXFBBevcpcgms4yKlWKFry1c2LFxVFOJdRQ8pBrUGYOjZUPVXZReFdevU8PQaD7B47ClcHnFNDQEjmgIfamH-12k7abK5XIOqBglVtQImXAwRhpRyhbST1mJe4/s1600/soccer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3x7Ly2kqsWobw-WefsXFBBevcpcgms4yKlWKFry1c2LFxVFOJdRQ8pBrUGYOjZUPVXZReFdevU8PQaD7B47ClcHnFNDQEjmgIfamH-12k7abK5XIOqBglVtQImXAwRhpRyhbST1mJe4/s320/soccer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(I must file a strongly-worded letter to the<br />
maker of this graphic, post haste!)</td></tr></tbody></table>We want everything -- immediately. Right now! Every game, every second, every play should be a World Cup final multiplied by the Champions League wrapped in the 5-foot-7 frame of Lionel Messi with a cooing Ray Hudson shrieking in the background about champagne bubbles. <br />
<br />
Right or wrong behavior or mentality, that's sometimes how it seems. Yes, sure, it's progress from the "modern" era of U.S. soccer that began with the 1990 World Cup, but maybe it's a little unrealistic. <br />
<br />
One place where we can all, as American soccer fans, agree is that we probably need to grow up -- or at least grow a thicker skin -- when the old, dying wave of media members with an ingrained hatred of the Beautiful Game open up their yaps or get behind their keyboards and spew garbage, as <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303404704577309930226957316.html" target="_blank">Joe Queenan, a "humorist" did in the Wall Street Journal</a>, trying to frame the U.S. U-23 team's failure to qualify for the London Olympics as proof nobody in America cares about the sport. <br />
<br />
At the same time last week, apparently, UFC president Dana White called soccer boring in advance of promoting a fight at a soccer stadium in Brazil, leading to some banter back and forth on Twitter.<br />
<br />
My question: why give these trolls any credence? <br />
<br />
The Queenan story in the WSJ was so fraught with factual errors it was actually hilarious and, come on, does anyone truly care if the UFC president does or doesn't like something? Does it cause you to lose sleep at night? <br />
<br />
Same thing goes for the King of American "soccer haters," Jim Rome. His schtick is about as fresh as rollerblades, stuck somewhere in 1993 where calling your listeners "clones" was considered edgy.<br />
<br />
Truly, why engage people who are have nothing left to cling onto other than the fact, as has been proven for years, that America soccer fans have the softest skin in the world? (I, like all of us, is guilty of this, admittedly.) <br />
<br />
Look, in a way, trolling especially via Twitter and other Internet means fascinates me. Gun to may head, the ultimate troll account, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/FanSince09" target="_blank">@Fansince09</a> might be the most hilariously brilliant use of the medium out there. If you don't get the joke, I feel bad for you. <br />
<br />
As it is, when you go onto an online forum whining -- yes whining -- about the mean things a Queenan writes or a Rome says, you're playing into their hands when realistically these idiots are no better than a pranking troll like Fansince09, albeit much less offensive or hilarious. For decades there was no lazier sports' columnist trope than writing how soccer was for commies or would never be accepted in America, and watch the teary-eyed fans lash back and retort. <br />
<br />
More than anything, as soccer and soccer fans mature in America, shouldn't we be past worrying about who does or doesn't like the sport? Sure, the anchors of "SportsCenter" still can't pronounce half the names correctly when they read a highlight -- but soccer plays are a almost a daily fixture in their "Top 10" plays.<br />
<br />
Over the weekend when New York Cosmos legend Giorgio Chinaglia died it garnered more attention than was expected, all with the proper amount of reverence -- especially for a player who was most famous for playing in a league that became extinct nearly 30 years ago.<br />
<br />
And let's face it too, when the NASL died in the early 1980s soccer did nearly fade away from the American sports landscape. Nowadays you almost can't go a day without a major soccer event on television. Just look at this week, starting with the weekend's European action, the Monday Manchester United/Blackburn game, the (UEFA) Champions League and CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday, MLS and Europa League on Thursday ... there's never a dull moment.<br />
<br />
That's not even to mention the new generation of kids on playgrounds kicking a ball around or sitting in their bedrooms trash-talking me when they beat me at FIFA, who've grown up not knowing a world where soccer wasn't part of the mainstream American sports culture. <br />
<br />
So yeah, if you want to fall into the fading, desperate trap in the last wheezing breaths of the soccer-haters, be my guest. Yet when people leap to the defense of the sport they themselves end up coming off as preachy, evangelists. It's a free country. People can like or dislike sports as they please. Personally, I loathe professional golf and tennis. I understand why people are interested in it -- maybe not rooting for an individual golfer who probably wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire -- but it doesn't bother me one way or another. Yet no matter how much purple prose is waxed poetic about Roger Federer, I'm just not going to care. In one ear, out the other. <br />
<br />
Granted, soccer fans have had thin skins for years of being told that their sport sucks, is for fancy European divers and will never be popular in America. At the same time, trying to convince someone why they MUST like something gets tiresome after a while (<b>EDITOR'S NOTE</b>... No... never.).<br />
<br />
In the world we live in circa 2012, shouldn't we all better than that? There's enough high-level soccer easily accessed that a person can decide on their own whether or not they like it. (<b>ANOTHER EDITOR'S NOTE</b>: Free beer does help, though)<br />
<br />
Shouldn't we all have grown up, if only a little?<br />
<br />
And isn't one of the biggest leaps from teenager to adult learning to be comfortable in your own skin and not worrying about what everybody else thinks?<br />
<br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-43557599495102687232012-04-04T21:55:00.001-05:002012-04-05T06:56:20.889-05:00National Free Beer Movement Weekend 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCiPubppFchj1RYk9eyJzabaa46Faozy7dfXFiXOI1Kb_nlmZQycKv0BWQ48C9RE2MeFqFMx-80dnp4BhyphenhyphenOE9j7PWj8rM-ssLFY4mexuGscx7pkMFCGj7dEzSWA-NCIUQp9djOYyV37o/s1600/prhobition-we-want-beer-parade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCiPubppFchj1RYk9eyJzabaa46Faozy7dfXFiXOI1Kb_nlmZQycKv0BWQ48C9RE2MeFqFMx-80dnp4BhyphenhyphenOE9j7PWj8rM-ssLFY4mexuGscx7pkMFCGj7dEzSWA-NCIUQp9djOYyV37o/s640/prhobition-we-want-beer-parade.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soccer newbies demand you buy them a beer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRnpOOsZiuqWGpR7z9kdZx_Lo1jO-iw_oKsFjnIpxjq-WyJzyb93d8403B2LfEMozpCUW2vWih6gc2VwbPe4Qkd4_yb3oXV9njqwxX3OQG6BBdXXa00chj73eQEl2Dz3fMHWDd1E0Iu8/s1600/NationalFBMWeekend2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRnpOOsZiuqWGpR7z9kdZx_Lo1jO-iw_oKsFjnIpxjq-WyJzyb93d8403B2LfEMozpCUW2vWih6gc2VwbPe4Qkd4_yb3oXV9njqwxX3OQG6BBdXXa00chj73eQEl2Dz3fMHWDd1E0Iu8/s320/NationalFBMWeekend2012.jpg" width="305" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">This Saturday is "National Beer Day,"<b> </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">the unofficial holiday in which Americans celebrate the return of delicious beer and spirits to the nation's bars and stores with the end of Prohibition in 193</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">3.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Millions of Americans lined up at their local bars, pubs, and taverns ("New Beer's Eve") awaiting this moment when at twelve midnight they could drink again without fear of their suds confiscated or their speak-easys shut down. Happy days were here again. (In fact, 4,207 liquor licenses were issued in Milwaukee alone on April 7th!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">To celebrate the resurrection of beer drinking in the United States we are encouraging each American soccer fan to exercise that Constitutional right to drink beer and do it this weekend at a soccer game with a soccer newbie.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Celebrate "National Beer Day" by making this weekend "National Free Beer Movement Weekend".</b><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Without the repeal of the 18th Amendment we wouldn't have delicious, delicious beer. And without said beer we wouldn't have the greatest motivator in the world to build American soccer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This weekend when you're attending a Major League Soccer game... bring a friend. When you're watching English Premier League match Saturday and Sunday mornings.... bring a co-worker. When you're pulling up a seat to any soccer game that's live on on TV anywhere in this great nation or from anywhere in the world.... save a seat for a family member.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">All of these people, in all of these situations, are potential soccer fans and they just need the proper setting, the proper education, and the proper brew, all provided by you, for them to be exposed to the wonderful world of soccer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This is the perfect weekend to participate. All across Europe there are matches that will make-or-break title contenders and games that will decide the survival of other clubs. And, of course, in our domestic league, the love of our life, the MLS season (and the NASL is kicking off) is in full swing. First Kick has come and gone, but the newness of the season is still alive. Every team is still alive and optimism still reigns supreme.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">There are tailgates galore to grab a brew, bars abound ready to fill your pint, and fridges fully stocked to host a gang so why not bring a few new fresh faces along and expose them to the beautiful game?</span><br />
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<div>
<b>We want your to share your beers and buds with us. Share the beers you're drinking across the country and the friends that you're introducing soccer to with us. </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><a href="http://www.twitter.com/freebeermovemnt">Tweet</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/freebeermovement">Facebook</a> us with your photos of FBM in action this weekend, National Free Beer Movement Weekend 2012.</b></div>
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Cheers!<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Historical Note:</b> For many beer nerds, December 5th is the ultimate Prohibition-ending holiday called "Repeal Day" in honor of the final necessary 2/3rds of states (Utah, of all places) ratifying the 21st Amendment. For the Free Beer Movement we're going with this day to honor when President Franklin D. Rooesvelt signed Cullin-Harrison Act became law, official ending the failed Prohibition experiment and allowing beer and other alcohol to flow freely again. Also, since this date falls during the MLS season it makes even more sense.</i><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-70234791245867209112012-04-03T19:20:00.001-05:002012-04-03T19:20:44.400-05:00VIDEO - Becks on BK<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/z04x13m3Bfg?rel=0" width="600"></iframe>
<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
"Handsome Man" David Beckham has sold a lot of things in his day on either side of the Atlantic, watches, fancy-pants underwear, fast cars, but these new Burger King smoothies are something we might actually be able to afford.<br />
<br />
Given his benching by Bruce Arena this weekend put money on Becks sipping on one of these on the sidelines if he's there again this week.<br />
<br />
That's product placement for ya.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-11729059490849428022012-04-03T18:40:00.002-05:002012-04-03T18:40:33.556-05:00The Tuesday 10: Ten Most Interesting Events in Soccer Since We Started As A Blog One Year Ago<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkt-ZcF5rq5cNYfU712F1VOaWdRkXAaYEhIL8F99P7p5bKaCLc781dEp2ACImSOhRkSEfT0f-kfWAmUhSgEzVDXBGprLBcc6I2E5lNQQG7NkEwxBsleJwB1glJn-Q1w0Nz-2eYT0Ti5s/s1600/tuesdayten2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkt-ZcF5rq5cNYfU712F1VOaWdRkXAaYEhIL8F99P7p5bKaCLc781dEp2ACImSOhRkSEfT0f-kfWAmUhSgEzVDXBGprLBcc6I2E5lNQQG7NkEwxBsleJwB1glJn-Q1w0Nz-2eYT0Ti5s/s640/tuesdayten2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">By </span><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">"Th</a><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">e Other 87 Minutes"</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> / </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Our friends and contributors from "The Other 87 Minutes" celebrate their one year blog-versary!</i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. US Women lose the World Cup to Japan. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That World Cup run was amazing in many respects, but ultimately we were all left with that bitter feeling of not meeting expectations.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Messi becomes Barcelona’s All-Time Scoring Leader. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cue comparisons with Pele, Maradona, Jordan, Armstrong, Ruth, Dimaggio, Gretsky, and Phelps. None of them unjustified.</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Cristiano Ronaldo goes a year without crashing his Ferrari. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wait did he? We’ll have to check on that one. Oh, he didn’t, but one did break down on him.</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. At least six </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clasico</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">s were played. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UEFA drastically increases the quota for the number of yellow and red cards a ref must have on his body during a match.</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Manchester City finally took its spot among the major players in the Premier League. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now if only a Saudi sheikh would buy out everyone else, it’d be the least bit fair.</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Wayne Rooney got hair plugs. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well he had to spend that hard-fought and won contract money on something. Next up, fake biceps.</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. AC Milan broke the Inter Milan deadlock on the </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">scudetto</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Italian FA opened a symbolic match-fixing investigation. #neverforget</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Fernando Torres scores a goal. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No really! I mean, we didn’t </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">see</span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it, but we heard from someone who did.</span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Neymar becomes the next Messi. And then is savagely outclassed during the Club World Cup by the old Messi, who hit the Brazilian with his walker and told him to get off his lawn. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. The LA Galaxy win another MLS Cup, their first with David Beckham. </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To celebrate, they all went out drinking and revelling. Beckham suspiciously disappeared about 30 minutes before the bar tab appears.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">About "<a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;">The Other 87 Minutes</a>"</span></b></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWvD826LJegYwdcNfh80U9zv260qqd0iyWYUjBb31T3IyIK2W4QjYvVuAUojEeH8KV2Ooo8lxuYcpxZYzH1TDS6cDCUn_MhLRJ4tcbHggta4KoNqlI1O7NMrH34QCphdrRtFAGUs2zis/s640/blogger-image--1791320927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #990000; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is this new site we're exposing you too? We'll let them explain:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>“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</i></span></blockquote>
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<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-65176965829231774142012-04-02T18:42:00.002-05:002012-04-02T18:42:26.601-05:00VIDEO - Another Sweet NBC Sports Network MLS Promo<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MX8ylq_zI9k?rel=0" width="600"></iframe><br />
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Another promo from NBC Sports Network for their Major League Soccer coverage.<br />
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All rise.<br />
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Is there anything more to be said?
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<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-58959311384988717742012-04-02T10:26:00.001-05:002012-04-02T10:26:16.536-05:00VIDEO - RIP Giorgio Chinglia and 50 Goals<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="437" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zJvRMAwFs7c?rel=0" width="600"></iframe>
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Giorgio Chingalia an American soccer legend passed away yesterday at age 65. An instrumental part of American soccer history he tallied 193 goals (and 43 in the playoffs) for the iconic New York Cosmos.<br />
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In 1980 he scored 50 (50!) goals for the Cosmos.<br />
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<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-86945496775288152922012-03-28T06:00:00.000-05:002012-03-28T07:02:30.798-05:00Tuesday... Err... Wednesday 10: Real Madrid's Amusement Park<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkt-ZcF5rq5cNYfU712F1VOaWdRkXAaYEhIL8F99P7p5bKaCLc781dEp2ACImSOhRkSEfT0f-kfWAmUhSgEzVDXBGprLBcc6I2E5lNQQG7NkEwxBsleJwB1glJn-Q1w0Nz-2eYT0Ti5s/s1600/tuesdayten2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkt-ZcF5rq5cNYfU712F1VOaWdRkXAaYEhIL8F99P7p5bKaCLc781dEp2ACImSOhRkSEfT0f-kfWAmUhSgEzVDXBGprLBcc6I2E5lNQQG7NkEwxBsleJwB1glJn-Q1w0Nz-2eYT0Ti5s/s640/tuesdayten2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">By </span><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">"Th</a><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">e Other 87 Minutes"</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> / </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> </span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/resort.jpg?w=300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="168" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/resort.jpg?w=300" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 5px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Madrid Resort" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; font-size: small; line-height: 17px;">When Villarreal gets relegated, they'll <br />operate submarine service to the island.</span> </td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The apocalypse is nigh for Jose Mourinho and his band of merry men. Just a few short weeks after amassing a double-digit lead in La Liga, Madrid have seen their lead reduced to just six points – with a <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;">clasico </span>left to play in the Nou Camp. Mou is no doubt sweating bullets and wondering whether Perez will give him the axe – perhaps literally – if he doesn’t produce more than bus-dented silverware this term. So like any forward-thinking mad genius, the Madrid boss has built a fortress of evil on an island somewhere in the ocean. When the media caught wind of his plans, Mourinho covered his tracks. “Heh. Heh heh. Evil fortress? No. This? No no. This is magnificent resort. I think this is most special resort in sea.” <span style="font-family: inherit;">With that, he cancelled his press </span>conferences and jetted off to hide his true intentions. What’s left is, ostensibly, a <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;">Blancos</span>-themed amusement park. We preview several of the attractions in this week’s Tuesday 10.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">The Florentino Freefall</strong> – Not for the acrophobic! Strap into a special bucket seat, withdraw millions from your personal account, and our special bungee contraption will slowly carry you 300 feet in the air for a gorgeous view of the resort. Then, experience the thrill of defying death as your seat is released in freefall – gravity does the rest! Your cash will fly all over the island, indiscriminately, but not without giving you the rush you crave. No pacemakers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">The Bearded Lady</strong> – Don’t forget to visit our Tent of Wonders, where the star of the show is Iker Casillas, the Bearded Lady. He’ll dazzle you with facial hair so unkempt that only a Portland-based indie frontman could challenge him for most brooding face on earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">The Ricky Kaka Experience</strong> – One of our most popular rollercoasters, although it only reaches one peak! Encounter bone-chilling heights in the Ricky Kaka Experience. As you slowly climb to the top, you’ll see Madrid Island ahead of you. Enjoy the breathtaking view! From there, it’s all downhill. What a wild ride!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Pepe’s Stomp Stomp Revolution</strong> – Come by and win prizes in the arcade room. Get there early if you don’t want to wait in line for Stomp Stomp Revolution, our take on Dance Dance Revolution, the gaming phenomenon in which kids shuffle their feet to arrows flowing across the screen. In our take, you’re stepping on Barcelona body parts! Try the hot new track <em style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;">Copa del Rey</em>, but be careful, some of the combinations are tricky (practice the Messi foot/Pique arm/Messi foot at home). If you get a red card, the game ends, but you can still win bonus points yelling at the ref.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Poke-a-Tito</strong> – You’ve heard of Whack-a-Mole, but we think that cushioned mallet is a little too forgiving. In Poke-a-Tito, you have no equipment but your own index fingers. Test your reflexes as the Barcelona assistant dodges your attacks, and get the vindications you <em style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;">deserve </em>for the role he played in embarrassing your team again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">The Altintop Locker Room</strong> – Need somewhere to store your bag? We provide complimentary lockers so you can enjoy the park with that peace of mind. Anything you don’t think you’ll need to use – however expensive – will fit, guaranteed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">The Petting Zoo</strong> – Something for young children. Our experts have scoured the globe for animals that embody the Madrid spirit. Pet the scaly, bug-eyed Ozil Chameleon and the hairy, buck-toothed Khedira llama, but if you only have time for one thing, make it the Sergio Ramos pony ride!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Galactico Ring Toss</strong> – Think about it: Do you really feel that adept tossing rings onto bottles? We’ve upped the challenge level and improved the reward at the same time. In the Galactico Ring Toss, we’ve set up rows of high-profile transfer targets. Stand behind the line, toss a ring, and if it lands around a player’s neck, you take him home!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Xabi Alonso Strength Test Game</strong> – If you want to win your girlie a prize, what better way to do it than grabbing a mallet and hitting the target? In the Xabi Alonso Strength Test Game, the goal is to swing as hard as you can. Don’t worry so much about accuracy or finesse. The harder you swing, the better you are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Hall of Legends</strong> – Eye poking. Press conference boycotts. Leg stomps. Conspiracy theories. This is the Madrid we know and love, and it wouldn’t be what it is without a club of rich and notable history. Visit the Hall of Legends, where we tell the stories of the dignified and respectable players and managers of old. <em style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;">Closed for renovations</em>.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">About "<a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;">The Other 87 Minutes</a>"</span></b></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWvD826LJegYwdcNfh80U9zv260qqd0iyWYUjBb31T3IyIK2W4QjYvVuAUojEeH8KV2Ooo8lxuYcpxZYzH1TDS6cDCUn_MhLRJ4tcbHggta4KoNqlI1O7NMrH34QCphdrRtFAGUs2zis/s640/blogger-image--1791320927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #990000; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is this new site we're exposing you too? We'll let them explain:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>“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</i></span></blockquote>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-47013456342113547742012-03-26T19:17:00.002-05:002012-03-26T19:31:18.167-05:00The Best of Both Worlds - Kansas City's Supporters Groups Built a Beer-Rainbow for a St. Patrick's Day Parade<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcNBNeExVyGLlDaK-cKGcPI3Lfx4WFgIetCkOqA3yiwlUJskpUBAgr0ZlBCHCK95GWMhu6-ACA_CFhFEzBblPTEgfzTgSh7wUPZciE7RDXUKQDA5F5L4TcnRXO3CsyqyWP_otwCC5JLY/s1600/405961_10150530853753372_721228371_9200110_339883880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcNBNeExVyGLlDaK-cKGcPI3Lfx4WFgIetCkOqA3yiwlUJskpUBAgr0ZlBCHCK95GWMhu6-ACA_CFhFEzBblPTEgfzTgSh7wUPZciE7RDXUKQDA5F5L4TcnRXO3CsyqyWP_otwCC5JLY/s640/405961_10150530853753372_721228371_9200110_339883880_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">When soccer and beer collide... that's the best of both worlds. This space reserved for any intersection of the suds and the sport whether business, beer and soccer events, or random humor. </i>
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Saint Patrick's Day is always a bit of a haul for Americans as we over-indulge on unnecessary things like green beer and Jameson when we'd never think of doing such regularly. For several Major League Soccer teams it was their 2012 home opener as well.</div>
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Normally you'd think that this was a all-hands-on-deck sort of situation for the folks in Kansas City and their supporters group "the Caudron"; getting TIFO, tailgates, and tickets all straightened out. But throw in a St. Patrick's Day parade and that's when a few flags and the like will do.</div>
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Or you could build a float that resembles a beer-rainbow. We're sure there's plenty of time for that...</div>
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Oh wait there is?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxZ__yAnN9r7aH8wTnO1bbSAsOi6fPTfQNYM9UGXwF6wNPxCTM_s8clKA5TZm-0YdWvThLlrigwMT9AARWdJJttuHymKaNjh_i5pvwwSYw1i6WioCrrly0YwymyedJjrD2fcFMJlUQEg/s1600/540088376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxZ__yAnN9r7aH8wTnO1bbSAsOi6fPTfQNYM9UGXwF6wNPxCTM_s8clKA5TZm-0YdWvThLlrigwMT9AARWdJJttuHymKaNjh_i5pvwwSYw1i6WioCrrly0YwymyedJjrD2fcFMJlUQEg/s400/540088376.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
Makes us thirsty just looking at it.<br />
<br />
Mmmmmm.... beer....<br />
<br />
Local TV coverage of the float and KC's supporters:<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M9YjMy_e73U?rel=0" width="600"></iframe>
<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-90371818746331666432012-03-24T08:32:00.001-05:002012-03-24T08:32:33.111-05:00Your American Soccer Weekend (March 23-25)<img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/Logo%20Art/acbwMAP.png" style="height: 473px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Get your American soccer fix this weekend! All the satellite, online, local, and national TV listings so you can spread the free beer love.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10" style="width: 600px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><h2>
FRIDAY</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Home</b></td>
<td>Away</td>
<td>Time (CT)</td>
<td>TV</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> <img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/SeattleSoundersFC.png" style="height: 73px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/houston_dynamo2.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>9:00</td>
<td>NBC Sports Network</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><h2>
<strong>SATURDAY</strong></h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Home</strong></td>
<td><strong>Away</strong></td>
<td><strong>Time (CT)</strong></td>
<td><strong>TV</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/toronto_fc_logo.jpg" style="height: 43px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/sjearthquakes.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>12pm </td>
<td>TSN/RDS/Comcast (SJ) /MLS Live</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/revolution_logo.gif" style="height: 47px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/PortlandTimbersNewCrest.png" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>3pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/Comcast Sportsnet (NE)/ROOT Sports (POR)<br />
/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/Columbus_Crew_SC-logo-20870C49A6-seeklogo.com.gif" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/impact_montreal_logo_detail.png" style="height: 58px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>7:30pm</td>
<td>Direck Kick/Fox Sports Ohio (Columbus)/ TVA Sports (Montreal) / MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/chicago-fire.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/Union_logo.png" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>7:30pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/ Comcast Sportsnet (Chicago)/ The Comcast Network (Philly)/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/rsl-logo-300x300.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/chivasUSA.gif" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>8pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/ Prime Ticket (LA)/ KUCW-30 (Salt Lake City)/ MLS Live</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/Vancouver_Whitecaps_MLS.jpg" style="height: 63px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/dc_united.jpg" style="height: 69px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>9pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/Comcast Sportsnet (DC)/ SNET Pacific (Vancouver)/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><h2>
SUNDAY</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Home</strong></td>
<td><strong>Away</strong></td>
<td><strong>Time (CT)</strong></td>
<td><strong>TV</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/nyredbulls.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/colorado-rapids.jpg" style="height: 75px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>3pm</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/sporting-kansas-city-logo.png" style="height: 56px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/fc-dallas.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>6pm</td>
<td>Galavision/ MSMO (KC) / Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-5339185507981033842012-03-23T06:54:00.002-05:002012-03-23T17:11:26.738-05:00Local Beer, Local Soccer - Three Days in Montreal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvaSm_xsqiTlzOiERISOCeySW4L5vN3gR1xx2fDc9JpGlKk4yg8A1EqHC6wbDytfy2bykf5bq_Aum-qaQ7hn4XSM_CFDkhCA_XfBHwgz6g7EPis1S-Geqf4pFrp2igdLixEThiPxEeAU/s1600/Montreal1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvaSm_xsqiTlzOiERISOCeySW4L5vN3gR1xx2fDc9JpGlKk4yg8A1EqHC6wbDytfy2bykf5bq_Aum-qaQ7hn4XSM_CFDkhCA_XfBHwgz6g7EPis1S-Geqf4pFrp2igdLixEThiPxEeAU/s640/Montreal1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<b>By Ludovick Martin </b>/ <i>Montreal</i></div>
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What would life be without passion? </div>
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There
are many things that I'm really passionate about, writing, playing Legos with my
son, good beer, riding my bike for 100km on a sunny morning and watching my
favorite soccer team, the Montreal Impact. I'm pretty sure that early morning
beer drinking and cycling is a bad idea, and I'm not too keen on beer drinking
and Legos, but writing? About beer? And soccer? That's probably the most
stimulating thing I've had to do in a while. </div>
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What I'm going to do is simple,
I'll take you through three days in beautiful Montreal; from the moment you check
into your hotel Friday afternoon to the moment you leave on Sunday.</div>
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<span lang="FR-CA">Before we start, let me tell you something
about beer and Montreal: the first thing that should come to your mind now is
Molson. Let me say you're far from wrong. The Molson brewing company was
founded here in 1781. That beer is still brewed here. The name Molson is
visible at many points in this city. The local football team plays at Molson
Stadium, the Montreal Canadiens hockey team is owned by the Molson family,
there's rue (street) Molson and the John Molson school of business at Concordia
University. All that is nice, but it's not a reason not to try to drink something
else.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Friday 4pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">:
You just checked into your hotel, probably downtown or in the old port. The
first thing to do is to get out of there and explore your surroundings a
little, maybe you could find a place to buy a gift for your girlfriend who stayed
at home, or maybe you could find a nice place to have the late breakfast you're
probably going to need at some point.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Friday 5pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">:
It's now time to make yourself familiar with the Metro system. It's made up of
four lines, identified by colors. For the little trip I'm planning you should
ask for 6 tickets, it's cheaper to buy them that way and that should be enough.
The only thing you have to remember is to validate your tickets when you enter
the station, keep it with you for the duration of your ride. You should also be
ready to walk a little, it's the best way to really discover the city, or any
city for that matter.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Friday 6pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Time to eat! You'll start your week end at one of the most classic place in
Montreal, Schwartz. This old deli is a must for everyone who comes here and
despite the fact that lots of tourist come to this place it still is a favorite
of the locals. To get there take the Metro and stop at Sherbrooke station on
the orange line. Get out on rue St-Denis, go through the park in front of you
(Carré St-Louis) and find rue Prince Arthur on the other side of the park. Walk
away from the park until you get to boulevard St-Laurent then turn right. After
that keep walking until you get to number 3895. It's on the right side if
you're facing north. If you weren't hungry at the beginning of your trek you
should be now because it's a good 20 minutes walk you just did. Now that you're
here just do like everyone does, order a smoked meat sandwich, "Bon
appétit".</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Friday 7pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Hail a cab (or walk for 20 min) and go to Dieu du Ciel (29 rue Laurier Ouest).
This place is definitely away from most tourist spot, but it's the best
microbrewery in Montreal. The tricky thing now is to find yourself a place
because this pub is small and extremely popular. If you're lucky enough to find
a table hang on to it, it's worth it. Most of the beer is brewed here, but they
also have another brewery north of Montreal. They always have close to 20
different beer on tap and they update their menu daily. Péché Mortel is my favorite.
It's an imperial stout with a coffee taste and high alcohol percentage. Just be
careful with it, as I like to say in French "ca fesse fort".</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Friday 10pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: By now your alcohol level is probably a bit high, maybe you should go for a
walk. Follow rue Laurier towards the east until you get to St-Laurent then head
north until you get to Vices et Versa (6631 boulevard St-Laurent) it's a 2km
trek (a little bit over a mile). This is the place to taste the best beers that
are made in "la belle province". Many different microbreweries sell
their product here and the menu changes regularly. Just ask the staff what they
recommend. If you're hungry they also serve some snacks.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 1am</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: The metro is closed, take a cab back to your hotel and get some sleep.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 8am</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Come on, it's time to wake up. I know it's early morning and you were out late
last night, but it's soccer time. If you're here during the European season you
need to find a place to watch the games. I suggest Burgundy Lion Pub (2496 Rue
Notre-Dame, Métro Lionel Groulx green/orange line) close to canal Lachine. They
open at 9am and show the premiership every week end. If you're here during the
summer you might want to catch some of the action at the Euro. If Italy plays I
suggest you go to one of the cafes in the little Italy. Just take the metro to
De Castelnau station (blue line) and head south on St-Laurent. If you're lucky
Italy will win and you'll see the celebration that usually takes place
afterwards.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday noon</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: You're probably tired a little bit now and hungry too. If you were
in little Italy you should go to Jean Talon market and buy some snack for a
picnic. Then, take the metro again and go to Mont-Royal station (orange line).
Once outside take bus #11. It will take you to the top of the mountain where
you can finally eat that snack and take a little nap in the grass (if you're
here in March or April it would probably be a better idea to take that nap in
your hotel room).</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 3pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: You're now <i>"frais comme une rose"</i> so it's time to move on. The best
way to really wake up is simply to walk down the mountain. Try to head south so
you arrive close to downtown. If you haven't done it already it's probably time
to buy that souvenir for your girlfriend. Rue Ste-Catherine is quite good for
shopping.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 4:30pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Still on Ste-Catherine? find a place called Les 3 Brasseurs. There
is one close to rue Crescent (1356 Ste-Catherine Ouest) and another one close
to rue Université (732 Ste-Catherine Ouest). This place is a restaurant chain
from France and they make decent beer. To go with that they also make decent
food. Perfect for a pre game snack.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 5:30pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Finally, it's close to game time! Take the metro again and head
for Pie IX station (green line). The first thing you have to figure out is
where the game is played. If it's at Stade Olympique just follow the crowd in
the tunnel that leads to the main entrance. If it's at Stade Saputo you will
have to go outside and walk around the Big O. Stade Saputo is just at the top
of the little hill close to the tower.</span></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIE9rCyZXomnV3EZZsKs7RwCTeIA2JVsQ5e3TWywsZkEVdcY3z0-mdvR4KW-IVVuO_7ky4EuQAzT4Vyt5AmJqDDliDN9AHh7BZy0u2J5e9EXYsHZy75_Fa4Dryplmjg5zlhafyEwAMP4/s1600/Montreal3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIE9rCyZXomnV3EZZsKs7RwCTeIA2JVsQ5e3TWywsZkEVdcY3z0-mdvR4KW-IVVuO_7ky4EuQAzT4Vyt5AmJqDDliDN9AHh7BZy0u2J5e9EXYsHZy75_Fa4Dryplmjg5zlhafyEwAMP4/s640/Montreal3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA">It's now time to talk about the Montreal
Impact. Expansion team they might be, but just like the Seattle Sounders, the
Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps, they are far from being new. They
played their first game in 1993 in the APSL. The next year they won their first
championship. They won championships in 2004 and 2009 too, but this time in the
USL first division. The team was also able to qualify for the CONCACAF
Champions League quarterfinal. In February 2009 a crowd of over 55000 people
packed the Big O to see the Impact win 2-0 against Mexican opponent Santos
Laguna.</span></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA">At the beginning the team was owned by the
Saputo family, around 2000 it was sold, but the new owner went bankrupt and the
team nearly folded. The Saputo decided to get involved again and the Impact
became a non-profit organization with Joey Saputo as president. From that
moment everything started to fall in place for Montreal, attendance went up and
soon Centre Claude Robillard where the team was playing became too small. The
family decided to build their own Stadium with a bid for MLS expansion in mind.
Last year that dream finally came true and once the expansion of Saputo Stadium
is done the Montreal Impact will be able to say "mission accomplie"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA">Throughout its history local players were
always a big part of the identity of the team. Players like Mauro Biello
(assistant coach in 2012), Nick DeSantis (technical director in 2012), Gabriel
Gervais, Rudy Doliscat, Patrick Diotte and Nevio Pizzolitto were the backbone
of the team. Many members of the Canadian National team also were a part of the
Impact during their career, most notably Jason DeVos, Sandro Grande and Ali
Gerba. Today it's up to Brossard native Patrice Bernier to carry the torch. He
first played with the Impact in 2000 before moving to Europe where he played
until last year.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 7:30pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: I'm really sorry for the crappy beer inside the stadium.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 9:30pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Game over, sorry your team lost. You'll probably need to drown your
sorrows in a good beer. Hop back on the metro and get out at Berry-UQAM station
(green, orange and yellow line). Exit on rue St-Denis and walk north for 3
minutes. Stop at St-Bock (1749 rue St-Denis) where you will be able to eat some
good pub fare while drinking one of their excellent beers. If you want they
also serve some beers from other microbreweries and have a huge selection of
imported bottles.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Saturday 11pm</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Maybe a change of scenery would be good. Get out and walk one
little minute north to l'Amère à Boire (2049 rue St-Denis). This is your chance
to travel a little bit by tasting their brew inspired by Czech beer, the Cerna
Hora. If that's not your style you can try l'Amère à Boire, it's a bitter that
is usually served from a cask. Personally my favorite here is a German inspired
beer, the Vollbier.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Sunday 1am</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: If you can still walk you still have the time to visit one last place tonight,
go north on St-Denis and turn left on rue Sherbrooke, then walk for about 5
minutes and you will arrive at Benelux (245 rue Sherbrooke Ouest). I'd love to
tell you this place has great beer, but I can't. What I remember from my last
visit here is a little bit blurry, too much to drink. I guess it means it was
good.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Sunday 3am</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Last call was 10 minutes ago, time to go to sleep again.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Sunday 10am</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Remember that advice about late breakfast I told you about? Now is the time to
go there!</span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR-CA">Sunday noon</span></b><span lang="FR-CA">: Time to check out of your hotel room before going back home, but maybe you want
to bring a souvenir for you too? May I suggest beer? If you want the best of
what the Quebec microbreweries have to offer you have to go to Dépanneur Peluso
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">2500 Rue Rachel est, Métro Mont-Royal</span>)</span>. They have a huge selection of bottles from all over the province. Don't be
afraid to ask questions.</div>
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<span lang="FR-CA">That's it for your soccer/beer oriented
week end in beautiful Montreal. This city is definitely something special and it
has a really good vibe. The people are great and there is lots of stuff to do
apart from drinking great beer. You can see free shows outside pretty much
every weekend in summertime and there's also a great fireworks festival,
Fantasia film festival, Formula 1 and NASCAR races, World Tour cycling Grand
Prix and many other interesting event. </span></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA">Don't be shy, come and visit us!</span></div>
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<span lang="FR-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsctqhZcBstLAt5Fz_jEcdLjQf9h0jjvPLljci2flzEy55uUMitpOVSAkXrCGJ4fo8lsytQjDLciUDWwCLR5vumHhsUuaAOavKFl7KL2vrdEoRlp02Len5_k85mbslvqOVo0RBag9HXXI/s1600/Montreal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsctqhZcBstLAt5Fz_jEcdLjQf9h0jjvPLljci2flzEy55uUMitpOVSAkXrCGJ4fo8lsytQjDLciUDWwCLR5vumHhsUuaAOavKFl7KL2vrdEoRlp02Len5_k85mbslvqOVo0RBag9HXXI/s640/Montreal2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="FR-CA">Picture by Amir Lowery, midfielder for the
Carolina Railhawks</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>About Ludovick Martin</u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>You can practice your French and keep up
with the Impact on my blog (I sometimes write in English too)
<a href="http://www.optimum-soccer.com/">www.optimum-soccer.com</a></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-align: center;"><i>You can also follow me on Twitter
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/lekurosawa">@LeKurosawa</a></i></span></div>
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<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-18151975019773848262012-03-19T19:31:00.000-05:002012-03-19T19:31:51.018-05:00The Tuesday 10: Harkes on History, Part Deux<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkt-ZcF5rq5cNYfU712F1VOaWdRkXAaYEhIL8F99P7p5bKaCLc781dEp2ACImSOhRkSEfT0f-kfWAmUhSgEzVDXBGprLBcc6I2E5lNQQG7NkEwxBsleJwB1glJn-Q1w0Nz-2eYT0Ti5s/s1600/tuesdayten2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkt-ZcF5rq5cNYfU712F1VOaWdRkXAaYEhIL8F99P7p5bKaCLc781dEp2ACImSOhRkSEfT0f-kfWAmUhSgEzVDXBGprLBcc6I2E5lNQQG7NkEwxBsleJwB1glJn-Q1w0Nz-2eYT0Ti5s/s640/tuesdayten2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">By </span><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;">"Th</a><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;">e Other 87 Minutes"</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> / </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span> </div>
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<a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/john_harkes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/john_harkes.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>You didn’t think it’d be that simple, did you? That we’d be rid of him so easily, that the break would be so complete, that he wouldn’t return in a new, improved, ultimate form to wreak havoc once again, at least across the Washington D.C. metro area. This spring, John Harkes made good on the words of another famous Terminator, and he is indeed back, calling D.C.United games for Comcast along with Dave Johnson.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>That’s good news for us, because it gives us a chance to revisit one of our favorite Tuesday Ten ideas. This is Harkes on History, Part Deux.</i></span></div>
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<strong style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">2,345 B.C.: Noah’s Ark launches</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t understand it, Dave. You’ve got limited space in the Ark, why do you go with two of everything? Two zebras, two lions, two giraffes...The key to success is versatility, Dave, and Noah just doesn’t have that. Sometimes late in the game it’s a good idea to bring on a Tyrannosaurus Rex, you know what I mean?</span></div>
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<dl style="background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 632px !important; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 285px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/thermopylae.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img height="202" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/thermopylae.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Thermopylae" width="275" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"These Spartans have a rock-hard backline, Dave."</span></dd></dl>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">480 B.C.: Battle of Thermopylae</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />I mean, you’re right, Dave, the Spartans have done well at keeping their shape. But at a certain point, you’ve got to throw caution to the wind and try to get some forward push. You can’t park the bus for two days and expect for an army as talented as the Persians not to break through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">1066 A.D.: Battle of Hastings.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />Well Dave, you can’t take over a country by force without winning at least one battle, and to do that you've got to kill more than the other guy. If William keeps this performance up, someone's going to come up with a really great nickname for him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">1492 A.D.: Columbus lands in America.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />Wow, what an achievement, Dave. The first man ever to set foot on this whole new continent. The leadership he displayed in getting his men here, and the diplomacy in dealing with this whole new population, I just can’t say enough about him. Where would MLS be without Christopher Columbus?</span></div>
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<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/last-supper.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" height="348" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/last-supper.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Last Supper" width="640" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I bet Jesus was more of a meat and potatoes guy, Dave."</span></dd></dl>
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<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">1498 A.D.: Leonardo da Vinci finishes the Last Supper.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />I don’t really agree with what da Vinci’s done here, Dave. Jesus Christ, one of the big names in all of history, is having his final meal with twelve of his closest friends here. Does Leo really think all they had there was some bread and some wine? He should paint some burgers in there. I’d bet they had burgers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">1588 A.D.: Defeat of the Spanish Armada.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />It’s a tough loss to swallow, but they’ll be back, Dave. The Spanish are too resilient not to get over this one. Soon we’ll all be able to say that the sun never sets on the Spanish empire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">1777 A.D.: Drafting of the Articles of Confederation.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />I’ve got to say, Dave, the Founders have outdone themselves here. They know the American people don’t want to live under a strong central authority, and they’ve drafted a magnificent document that’s going to allow the individuality of the states to shine through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">July 3, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />This is more like it from Lee, Dave. He must have seen the Battle of Thermopylae earlier this season. He knows he can’t hold up against the Union forever, so he’s taking the initiative and ordering General Pickett to counterattack down the center. A great strategic move.</span></div>
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<dl style="background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 632px !important; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 250px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/bulb.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" height="300" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/bulb.jpg?w=240" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="bulb" width="240" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I believe he got the idea after flying a kite in a thunderstorm, Dave."</span></dd></dl>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Oct. 22, 1879: First successful test of Edison’s electric light bulb.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />I love this Dave. The light bulb is going to be huge. It’s a brilliant idea, just absolutely brilliant, you know, like a light bulb should be. This little light of Edison’s? I’m going to let it shine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">August 29, 1997: Skynet becomes self-aware.</strong><br style="line-height: 1.5;" />I don’t understand what all the fuss is about, Dave. When I was playing, we didn’t need an artificial intelligence system in charge of our stealth bombers and nuclear arsenal. I’m sure they’ll just pull the plug on it and that will be that.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">About "<a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;">The Other 87 Minutes</a>"</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is this new site we're exposing you too? We'll let them explain:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>“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</i></span></blockquote>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;">Objectivo.com</a></span></b><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-14687618969826409662012-03-19T06:00:00.000-05:002012-03-19T06:57:01.206-05:00Snorting The Endline - Kei Kamara's Irish Jig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>A long, long time ago we tried to start a soccer website; thought we were writers or something....</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">It was called "Snorting the Endline" named after Robbie Fowler's </span><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/356345-the-25-greatest-goal-celebrations-of-all-time/page/12" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">infamous goal celebration</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> and one of our favorites of all-time. </span><a href="http://snortingtheendline.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">That site failed miserably</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. I mean who would want to read our ramblings!?!?!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The name, however, will live on in a new feature we're bringing to the Free Beer Movement. American soccer culture is just as much about what happens on the field and some of the greatest contributions to this culture are the creative celebrations that occur during the aftermath of scoring a goal. Some are premeditated while others are spur-of-the-moment.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>We want to capture all of them in recognition of their contribution to American soccer culture. Welcome to "Snorting the Endline."</i></span></div>
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Sporting KC made easy work of the New England Revolution, winning 3-0, but it was the second goal of the match that celebrated in the St. Patrick's Day spirit by Kei Kamara.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2011/01/just-snowball-fight-but-also-little.html">Kamara is no stranger to silliness</a> and his rebound goal off his own shot proved to be the perfect opportunity to dance away the Irish holiday.</div>
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Kamara slid to the turf, but then popped up and ran to the signboards in front of <a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2011/02/better-know-supporters-group-kc.html">the "Caudron" supporters section</a> where forward C.J. Sapong joined him. Two "Irish" hats were tossed from the crowd and the pair danced a little jig.</div>
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Surprisingly, no cards were issued by the ref!</div>
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<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-1011795115039096502012-03-18T09:31:00.001-05:002012-03-18T09:31:18.804-05:00VIDEO - The upside of those silly sideline coaches' interviews<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="335" id="cf5e2c6oi" name="cf5e2c6on" width="600"><param name="movie" value="http://p.mlssoccer.com/CxXrn/video/908443/908443_2012-03-18-002443.640hq.mp4">
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<br />
<br />
American sports TV producers think fans love to hear coaches talk about what's going right and what's going wrong. And while there's nothing objectionable about these types of interviews, they usually result in empty cliches and lack any real insight into a coach's or team's mindset.<br />
<br />
In most sports these interviews take place as the football or basketball coach is heading into the locker room or return from it on either side of halftime, but since soccer's action is continuous and there's a need to air commercials and halftime highlights and plugs the sideline interview takes place in-game.<br />
<br />
Usually they're just as mundane as their other sporting counterparts, but this time Portland Timbers' head coach John Spencer provided the small upside when Darlington Nagbe picked up the equalizer against FC Dallas last night's 1-1 game in the middle of one of these in-game chit chats<br />
<br />
Loads of euphoria.<br />
<br />
American soccer is pretty cool.<br />
<br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-18549681492182153522012-03-17T09:50:00.001-05:002012-03-18T08:44:02.051-05:00Your American Soccer Weekend (March 17-18)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/Logo%20Art/acbwMAP.png" style="height: 473px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Get your American soccer fix this weekend! All the satellite, online, local, and national TV listings so you can spread the free beer love.<br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="1" style="width: 600px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><h2>
SATURDAY</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Home</strong></td>
<td><strong>Away</strong></td>
<td><strong>Time (CT)</strong></td>
<td><strong>TV</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/impact_montreal_logo_detail.png" style="height: 58px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/chicago-fire.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>1pm </td>
<td>TSN/Comcast (CHI) /MLS Live</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/sjearthquakes.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/houston_dynamo2.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>4pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/Comcast (SJ)/Fox Sports Houston Plus<br />
/ Multimedios (HOU)/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/sporting-kansas-city-logo.png" style="height: 56px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/revolution_logo.gif" style="height: 47px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>7:30pm</td>
<td>Direck Kick/ MSMO (KC)/Comcast Sportsnet Plus (NE)/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/fc-dallas.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJWG7ttMlSYlAQmObEKOfnfd1RTkiGBShxEfWRiF4ppPnGt5qVSC9k4m4xxBXYwvV5iUCmHalnX1YbD-pPUpR_-2bd8oWZ9mcTonu06so2Cp3qbtE9Bod82h-U1Xp3E8uKRbBW6yK23o/s1600/PortlandTimbersNewCrest.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJWG7ttMlSYlAQmObEKOfnfd1RTkiGBShxEfWRiF4ppPnGt5qVSC9k4m4xxBXYwvV5iUCmHalnX1YbD-pPUpR_-2bd8oWZ9mcTonu06so2Cp3qbtE9Bod82h-U1Xp3E8uKRbBW6yK23o/s200/PortlandTimbersNewCrest.png" width="50" /></a></td>
<td>7:30pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/ Fox Sports SW (Dallas)/ ROOT Sports (Portland)/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/rsl-logo-300x300.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/nyredbulls.jpg" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>9pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/ KTVX-ABC 4 (SLC)/ MSG Plus (NY)/ MLS Live</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/SeattleSoundersFC.png" style="height: 73px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/toronto_fc_logo.jpg" style="height: 43px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>9pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/ KONG (Seattle)/ Sports Net One (Toronto)/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/chivasUSA.gif" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/Vancouver_Whitecaps_MLS.jpg" style="height: 63px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>9:30pm</td>
<td>Direct Kick/ KDOC (LA)/ Sports Net Pacific (Van.)/ MLS LIVE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><h2>
SUNDAY</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Home</strong></td>
<td><strong>Away</strong></td>
<td><strong>Time (CT)</strong></td>
<td><strong>TV</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/Union_logo.png" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/colorado-rapids.jpg" style="height: 75px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>3pm</td>
<td><a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30092015/ns/sports/">NBC Sports Network</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/la_galaxy_logo_big.gif" style="height: 54px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td><img alt="" src="http://freebeer.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/images/MLS%20Logos/dc_united.jpg" style="height: 69px; width: 50px;" /></td>
<td>6pm</td>
<td>Galavision/ KDOC (LA)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-51185864942371657342012-03-16T12:35:00.001-05:002012-03-16T12:49:31.723-05:00FBM Public Service Announcement - Don't Drink Green Beer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0rrrCsaY_juLMwj_6qP9g991NiDWKXd-zBJ5Jd_HZkgNd3ORAdqSANIS4vxyC3PyJ3RzRsiayaMHmboBS6_7oOlCX6PHauMq-PFB_Os5ARoxyvOYxVN0HBSywXH24QB8Gv51THQHmc4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0rrrCsaY_juLMwj_6qP9g991NiDWKXd-zBJ5Jd_HZkgNd3ORAdqSANIS4vxyC3PyJ3RzRsiayaMHmboBS6_7oOlCX6PHauMq-PFB_Os5ARoxyvOYxVN0HBSywXH24QB8Gv51THQHmc4/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't make a mistake by going with Green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tomorrow you're going to wake up and really want a beer. Not that it's all the different than any other day for most of us, but for some terrible reason you're going to feel compelled to throw out common sense and really want a green beer.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Resist the urge. Please.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, you, dear reader, spend the other 364 (or in the case of this year, 365) days of the rest embracing the deliciousness, creativity, and authenticity of craft beer. If you don't, and you spend most of your days drinking macro-brews, you're not the worst person in the world (come on... that's Hitler) then well you can't be helped.<br />
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But if you do love your quality craft beer then, please don't be mesmerized by the siren song (or peer pressure) by the marketing gimmick of a "St. Patrick's Day" green beer. You don't like Irish folk dance (maybe you do..) and you might even turn the dial away after hearing U2 for the millionth time tomorrow so why would a little food coloring make a Miller Lite of Budweiser any more tolerable?<br />
<br />
Save yourself. Save your friends. Save some strangers. Avoid the urge to drink green beer. Unless of course you've got a craft brewer that makes an authentic green brew (<a href="http://www.freetailbrewing.com/">Freetail Brewing Company</a> in San Antonio makes a <a href="http://t.co/3vvJPRTB">Spirulina Wit</a>, a naturally green beer).<br />
<br />
Find an Irish Stout, a Irish Red, a Guinness in a pinch. If truly lost... drink a bunch of whiskey.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/products/green-beer-every-day/">Or try a truly "green beer" in Sierra Nevada.</a> The sixth-largest brewery in the nation is completely self-sustaining and has won California's premier environmental award for businesses five-years running. Even when "craft beer" is hard to find in bars... Sierra Nevada usually can be.<br />
<br />
This St. Patty's Day... be crafty like a leprechaun.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-30351175644907434602012-03-15T09:44:00.002-05:002012-03-15T16:43:37.251-05:00DrinkWear - Beer Rags? FBM's 2012 MLS Western Conference Kit Preview<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqHzd-Y7LsHOWMcyxtWm8RNRybOH3VwhvpaTi4gCfVDDWpTOlOHhY9ymrIA6nJFnD2VkWpV9FjkvtFWh_1HYmCm3P6s0gKhRGT0g3pC8GDs7mhrpGdBu2GC6BzmWff6Q3KMBa-PUGd1w/s1600/mls.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqHzd-Y7LsHOWMcyxtWm8RNRybOH3VwhvpaTi4gCfVDDWpTOlOHhY9ymrIA6nJFnD2VkWpV9FjkvtFWh_1HYmCm3P6s0gKhRGT0g3pC8GDs7mhrpGdBu2GC6BzmWff6Q3KMBa-PUGd1w/s640/mls.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">By Nick Sindt</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> / </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Senior Shirt Correspondent</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With the MLS season about to dawn, we at the Free Beer Movement thought we’d sit down and evaluate this season’s offerings for those who are unabashed kit-nerds like us. Hey it’s part of the US Soccer culture, right?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(I will do my damndest to refrain from lambasting the ALL ADIDAS ALL THE TIME motif in MLS. In truth that contract is great for the league, and thus the American game in general, but I’ve been drinking whilst composing this so I make no promises.)<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To rate all of the kits (new and last year’s offerings that will be kept due to the two-year agreement between MLS and adidas) I will be making suggestions on what type of beer to toast each kit and its sponsor with:<u></u><u></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lowest of the Low</b> = Macro-Brewers who produce flavored beers to be represented by Bud Light Lime. You’re on thin ice; one step away from being toasted with two 40oz-ers of Zima. Heretofore referred to as <b><i>Bud Light Lime.</i></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Below Average</b> = Macro Brews like Miller Lite and Bud Light. You have your place and time, and I appreciate everything you did for me in college, but really it’s time to add some depth, nuance (Lime is not a nuance), and maturity to yourself just like I purport to have done. Heretofore referred to as <b><i>Miller Lite.</i></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Average</b> = Macro-Micro Brews like Same Adams, Leinenkugels, etc. You’re pretty widely distributed because you’re easy on most palates but restaurants still up-charge you as if you’re a Micro-brew simply because you’re not Miller or Bud. Heretofore referred to as <b><i>Sam Adams.</i></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Above Average</b> = Micro/Craft Breweries. Pick your favorite local small-time brewer’s year-round offerings and toast the kit designers for a job well done with your go-to grown-up beer. Heretofore referred to as <b><i>New Glarus Moon Man.</i></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Best of the Best</b> = Seasonal Micro/Craft Brews that you wait all year long for and are willing to shell out the extra scratch for. It’s so good it’s worth it, so raise a glass with your best can/bottle/glass of suds because even if it’s not your team this is a classy shirt and deserves its due. Heretofore referred to as <b><i>Surly Abrasive.</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2012/03/drinkwear-beer-rags-fbms-2012-mls.html"><b style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Read Nick's reviews of the Eastern Conference teams' jerseys.</b></a><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">LA Galaxy</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.soccershirtsonline.net/upfile/201201051230056604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.soccershirtsonline.net/upfile/201201051230056604.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.football-marketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/LA-Galaxy-2011-third-jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.football-marketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/LA-Galaxy-2011-third-jersey.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.jerseyrevival.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/LA-Galaxy-Home-20121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.jerseyrevival.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/LA-Galaxy-Home-20121.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The new home shirt for 2012 is quite simply a class act: a) the sash is not a design element anyone else in MLS uses, b) the detailing within the sash makes this pretty badass to wear off the field (let’s be honest you won’t see it on the TV feed or from the stands), and c) the shade of blue is not Crayola “Blue” nor is it Crayola “Navy” which adds to the depth of the shirt. Let’s be honest, did you expect anything less for the team that has David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and 8 or 9 other DPs if they so desired?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Surly Abrasive<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Miller Lite – </b>Not a huge fan of ‘Herbalife’ spelled out, the logo would be better from the design side of things but the sponsor name spelled out likely works better with the sash…<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As an away shirt, it acts as an ok compliment to the home one. On its own the only thing saving it is the different shade of blue, otherwise this is pretty tame.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Miller Lite – </b>Given the plainness of this template a more design-esque sponsor could definitely help this shirt out.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Third<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like all shirt manufacturers, adidas has a boring template to slap some colors on when necessary, and this is one of those times. As boring as the template is the hubris behind the black and metallic gold totally redeem it for me.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = New Glarus Moon Man<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Miller Lite – </b>Same thoughts as the away shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Portland Timbers<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.footiepro.com/wp-content/uploads/store/products/images/1145400194369036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.footiepro.com/wp-content/uploads/store/products/images/1145400194369036.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/600/22092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/600/22092.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/300/45240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/300/45240.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1566597750374379863" name="13611e2755fb0043_OLE_LINK1" style="color: #1155cc;"></a>Bravo adidas. The inaugural shirt for the Portland Timbers was beyond well done. Two-tone coloring on the body of the shirt and white sleeves are above and beyond most MLS shirts, throw in the chevron detailing in between the two different greens and this shirt just hits a whole new level.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Surly Abrasive<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = New Glarus Moon Man</b><b> – </b>Maybe I’m a touch biased by how nice the rest of the shirt is, but the sponsor’s name being large doesn’t bother me. It could be due to the font, possibly the good beer I had earlier tonight.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If the home shirt is on a different level from the rest of MLS, this one will force the Poet Laureate to create some new adjectives to describe it. Keeping many of the same design elements from the home shirt – two-toned body, white sleeves, and awesome detail separating the two shades of red (thorns this time) – adidas wins again with the ‘Rose City’ inspired away shirt. My only complaint is that I’d have to shell out an extra $40 to get the Rose City logo on the right chest of the shirt as adidas’s “replica” shirts don’t have them.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Surly Abrasive<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = New Glarus Moon Man – </b>Same commentary as the home shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Third<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 2012 3<sup>rd</sup> kit for Portland is something straight out of that 70s show. Like the frosted mini-wheats commercials of yore, the adult in me appreciates the nod to the past, while the kid in me is somewhat confused about this radioactive, highly flammable material (I know it’s not old-school polyester. I know you wouldn’t make players play in that kind of shirt). All in all, not a bad effort, but without other teams following suit this feels a touch out of place in the league. As a shirt to wear outside of MLS games or watch parties, it’s not horrible but takes a certain bit of style to pull off; who knows maybe everyone in Portland has that style.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Sam Adams<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = New Glarus Moon Man – </b>Fitting for the era and the shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">FC Dallas<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/600x600/28639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/600x600/28639.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/240475/28637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/240475/28637.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like the Rapids, the Dallas Burn went through a re-branding a few years ago to become FC Dallas Giant Steer Heads (‘<i>There’s only two things in Texas…’</i> ). Along with the name change was a switch from the sanitized MLS solid-colored shirt to become the first MLS team with hoops, a la Celtic and others. Since that time adidas has shown some invention with Dallas’s hoops and while not everything is a home run, neutrals like me at least appreciate the effort. The 2012 edition of the home shirt is an almost brilliant offering. The small “border” striping for the thick hoops not only gives the shirt a touch of nuance, but it also furthers adidas’s three stripes everywhere-all-the-time motif. The collar is a nice touch for the shirt that isn’t being used much elsewhere throughout MLS. If I were to nit-pick the extra three stripes along the shoulders is a bit much of adidas’s branding on the shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = New Glarus Moon Man/Surly Abrasive<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = N/A – </b>FC Dallas across the chest is a bit reminiscent of other US sports, especially high-school and college teams; when in doubt follow Atletico Madrid/San Jose’s lead and go without a shirt sponsor.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Same template but with blue as the primary color and the detailed, smaller hoops are grey which is a nice alternate look – not radically different away colors but not as humdrum as other MLS away offerings where the home color becomes trim on a white shirt. The collar is slightly different from the home shirt, and FC Dallas appears to be larger text across the chest. Other than the text sizing looking weird (could just be the MLSGear.com website picture), this is a solid away effort.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = New Glarus Moon Man<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = N/A – </b>Same thoughts as the home shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chivas USA<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.soccerjerseysclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/28629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.soccerjerseysclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/28629.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/600x600/19657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/600x600/19657.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2012 sees CD Chivas USA get a new home shirt with a pretty standard vertical stripe shirt with a navy collar. When a team has stripes or hoops as their tradition it’s tough to do anything that’s vastly different from years before; though adidas is definitely trying with the GrinGoats. Though a pretty standard offering in terms of stripes, the collar is a nice addition and elevates this shirt up to the borderline between middle of the road and just above.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Sam Adams/New Glarus Moon Man<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = <s>Corona</s> I mean New Glarus Moon Man – </b>I’m not a fan of Corona as a beer but I like to see beers sponsoring the league and the continued tie-ins with Mexico make it an interesting choice.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On its own the away shirt is not bad, sublimated vertical stripes on a solid blue shirt. However, as the away/compliment to the home shirt, this is a better-than-solid effort though a little too much white trim.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Sam Adams<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = New Glarus</b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Real Salt Lake<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/300x300/28661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/300x300/28661.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.footiepro.com/wp-content/uploads/store/products/images/2170100195521387.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.footiepro.com/wp-content/uploads/store/products/images/2170100195521387.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year’s RSL kit wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either – just a shade below middle of the road. This year’s effort continues adidas’s trend away from conformity and tosses the navy blue trim onto a single sleeve. Not too shabby; though, would’ve been better if the adidas three stripes had also followed suit and gone to the single, navy sleeve. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Sam Adams/New Glarus Moon Man<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Miller Lite – </b>From a looks perspective Xango doesn’t add much to the shirt. From marketing their own name and brand perspective, I have googled this company a few times because I’m intrigued about what they do or make.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Same template as the home shirt but back to the boring white away idea. The single sleeve spruces it up a touch and it’s definitely an improvement from last year’s 98%-white-with-a-few-splashes-<wbr></wbr>of-color away shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite/Sam Adams<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.football-shirts.co.uk/fans/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/SaltLake3rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://www.football-shirts.co.uk/fans/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/SaltLake3rd.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Miller Lite – </b>Same thoughts as the home shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Third<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year’s garish bright yellow 3<sup>rd</sup> kit returns (I think) for the 2012 season. It’s tough to form an opinion on this shirt…on the one hand that color is extremely loud and the shirt template is pretty basic. On the other it’s a third kit and it’s supposed to be somewhat “different.” Regardless of your opinion, I think we can all agree that this shirt is definitely not part of the usual boring dreck that we see in MLS.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Sam Adams<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Miller Lite – </b>Same thoughts as the home shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vancouver Whitecaps<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.in2sports.ca/products/large/Vancouver-Whitecaps-Jersey_hm-i1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.in2sports.ca/products/large/Vancouver-Whitecaps-Jersey_hm-i1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.in2sports.ca/products/large/Vancouver-Whitecaps-Jersey_aw-1L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.in2sports.ca/products/large/Vancouver-Whitecaps-Jersey_aw-1L.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whitecaps FC’s inaugural home shirt is an interesting take on the horizontal stripes/hoops idea though I think adidas should’ve pushed the envelope a bit with the thickness of the stripes to make more of an impression. With the current stripes these shirts appear (from afar) to be just a white shirt with a modicum of blue trim; it’s a step up from boring but not by much.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Sam Adams<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Sam Adams – </b>not sure who Bell is or what they do, but thankfully BMO isn’t sponsoring every team north of the border.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One word describes this kit perfectly: Almost. A quick glance and you think this is a typical solid blue shirt with some adidas stripes. Upon closer inspection there is a nice sublimated pattern on the shirt that appears to be an interlocking of the club’s crest. However, the sublimation hardly stands out against such a dark background. Again, if the envelope had been pushed to create a little more contrast (think Olympique Marseille’s argyle away shirt from 2009 but less ostentatious) this could’ve been a great shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Sam Adams/New Glarus Moon Man<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sponsor = Sam Adams<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Colorado Rapids<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.suleyssoccer.com/images/radpids-2011-jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.suleyssoccer.com/images/radpids-2011-jersey.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/600x600/19461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Datafeeds/Graphics/Products/ImageCache/600x600/19461.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of years ago the Rapids re-branded themselves with a new crest and a new color scheme. The maroon and frosty blue are a breath of fresh air in a league that seemed, prior to the Western Corridor getting involved, hell-bent on only using Caryola’s 8 standard colors. That being said, this home shirt (a hold-over from 2011) is a little too “clean” for my tastes; the only splash of the secondary color is on the crest. Whereas the Crew home shirt has a collar and the black “pops” against the yellow, the white is a weak compliment if only utilized for the 3 stripes. A splash more of the secondary color and this could have been a solid offering.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = N/A – </b>Could one add to this shirt? Possibly, but I don’t think it’s necessary.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The same template as the home shirt (and again a hold-over from 2011), but with the club’s primary color adorning the shoulder portion of the shirt and a chevron down the backside. While I can appreciate the touch of color to keep this from being a solid white shirt, it feels like a different direction could’ve been taken with this; possibly an Arsenal/West Ham/Aston Villa-like base with different-colored sleeves…especially considering the tenuous connection between the Rapids and Arsenal. Overall, this shirt is on the same level as the home one, but just barely.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = N/A – </b>Could one add to this shirt? Possibly, but I don’t think it’s necessary.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">San Jose Earthquakes<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/300/30394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/300/30394.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/300/28663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://mobile.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/300/28663.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year’s home shirt had the same template as RSL’s Third shirt but with more color variation, which was not too bad except for all of the white detailing standing out too much against the black. This year’s shirt is much, much more basic. Removing the white piping detail to have simply a black shirt with blue trim (aside from the white adidas striping on the shoulders) actually made San Jose’s shirts better. Though, it’s still pretty plain.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = N/A – </b>Could one add to this shirt? Possibly, but I don’t think it’s necessary.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Same template different color. From a uniform perspective, this is a much improved effort on the basic white shirt from last season – you’ve figured out by now that I hate white away shirts for white away shirt’s sake. However, the white shirt appears to be more wearable by the fan base than this effort.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = N/A – </b>Could one add to this shirt? Possibly, but I don’t think it’s necessary.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seattle Sounders<u></u><u></u></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wvhooligan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ssfc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://wvhooligan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ssfc.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/pkyu6.ncfa5/v/vspfiles/photos/WEB1200000-2T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/pkyu6.ncfa5/v/vspfiles/photos/WEB1200000-2T.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Home</span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a gut feeling (not based on any research or discussions) that Seattle is attempting to be the front-runner in EVERYTHING for MLS, which is great for the club, the league, and the fans. However, with their shirts for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, I get the feeling that they’ve jumped the shark a bit. What are those silver things; backpack straps? Is it supposed to be futuristic like a Delorean and hover boards? Remove that weirdness and this is not a bad solid-color-with-trim shirt especially given Seattle’s color choices.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Sam Adams</b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Away<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Same template as the home, but I’m digging this charcoal-navy color combination. Remove those backpack straps and this would be a very solid away shirt.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Miller Lite/Sam Adams<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sponsor = Sam Adams</b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Third<u></u><u></u></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This shirt makes RSL’s Big Bird 3<sup>rd</sup> shirt look tastefully fashionable. I have no words in my to describe these colors, aside from “oh my god, my eyes, they’re bleeding.” The collar and color panels help keep this template from being boring-ish with normal colors. Seattle & adidas’s choices for the third shirt colors will ensure that this kit will at least be talked about. Biggest question, will TV cameras be able to pick up the players against the bright green turf of Qwest Field.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kit = Bud Light Lime<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sponsor = Sam Adams</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/2012/03/drinkwear-beer-rags-fbms-2012-mls.html"><b style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Read Nick's reviews of the Eastern Conference teams' jerseys.</b></a><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-27815218807360266352012-03-15T08:35:00.003-05:002012-03-15T08:35:49.538-05:00DrinkWear - Bumpy Pitch "Tavern Tee"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMps-N-jFmv8LLk9D6OtPHY_9gh6tul_angW0tNlNtGszN3COwCkycWaJenQKuilhUOVfE2Wsy5zCausbCRTOAmeyDp9bhv39pXfdfgg45Ph4Lwtcyk6Exdb1PvtAo0AbzuZCdFGKdWc/s1600/bumpy-pitch-tavern-tee1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMps-N-jFmv8LLk9D6OtPHY_9gh6tul_angW0tNlNtGszN3COwCkycWaJenQKuilhUOVfE2Wsy5zCausbCRTOAmeyDp9bhv39pXfdfgg45Ph4Lwtcyk6Exdb1PvtAo0AbzuZCdFGKdWc/s400/bumpy-pitch-tavern-tee1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Why spend you hard-earned money on green beer this St. Patrick's Day when you can have something waaay more epic and long-lasting. Bumpy Pitch, the California-based soccer lifestyle brand, has <a href="http://store.bumpypitch.com/stpatricks.html">dropped another limited edition shirt for the upcoming "drinking holiday"</a>. But it's much more than that.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"One of the greatest things about the experience of owning a business is the experiences that you get to have along the way. Luckily for us, the Bumpy Pitch and The Original Winger is a crew of friends that is about much more than what we do as a company. We’ve all been friends for years and we all hold each other down in business and in life. We’re greater than the sum of our parts.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">To celebrate all that that night represented, and the journey, we proudly present the </span><a href="http://store.bumpypitch.com/stpatricks.html" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Bumpy Pitch Tavern tee</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">. The inspiration is clearly taken from that St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s also inspired by the idea of celebrating life with your folks. It’s a hectic world we all have to deal with, and sometimes you just gotta stop and enjoy the moment. Speaking of that night, here is a very small slice of what went down…</span>"</span></blockquote>
Inspired by the look of a pint of Guinness with their own BP twist this shirt is available for just a short time. Be the envy of all your drinking buddies and <a href="http://store.bumpypitch.com/stpatricks.html">snag this one first</a> and the call "dibs" on wearing it Saturday night.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-38794857234165081002012-03-13T11:55:00.001-05:002012-03-13T11:55:00.494-05:00VIDEO - Highlights from MLS "First Kick"<iframe width="600" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/28xsB-zFYjI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Goooooooaaaaaals! Saaaaaaaaves! Taaaaaaackles!
You get the idea. All the cool stuff from week one of Major League Soccer.
<br><b>Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1566597750374379863.post-81274720271783128002012-03-13T09:26:00.003-05:002012-03-13T09:28:48.470-05:00The Tuesday XI: Erin Go Bragh Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriIUu2_2VJqVY9i2n5uhG1PWohTIQGL4Pd2LX1uSCSSIMH5lZ2QctqWoufkJQEtsdlkTHr0zHlsOvwRcq1WeZzA4bAP6HtQZhhanRheN7A30Ym6ATImhBJJUNRBm1Cw-7dqa0uxG24A0/s1600/tuesdayten2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriIUu2_2VJqVY9i2n5uhG1PWohTIQGL4Pd2LX1uSCSSIMH5lZ2QctqWoufkJQEtsdlkTHr0zHlsOvwRcq1WeZzA4bAP6HtQZhhanRheN7A30Ym6ATImhBJJUNRBm1Cw-7dqa0uxG24A0/s640/tuesdayten2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">By </span><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">"Th</a><a href="http://www.theother87.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">e Other 87 Minutes"</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> / </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Senior Unemployed English Major Correspondents</i> <i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 24px;">Saturday is St. Patrick's Day (and the birthday of one A.W. Pickard, so if you see him buy him a green beer). In the spirit of the celebration, we've put together a 4-4-2 line-up of Irish writers, historical figures, and Bono.</span> </span></i><br />
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<a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/irish-xi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/irish-xi.jpg" width="260" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5;">GK – </span><strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Peter O’Toole</strong><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); line-height: 1.5;"> – Our inspirational leader and captain, his presence is a steadying influence in times of crisis, and his voice can rally the troops when a goal is needed. Our squad members don’t come for money, they come for him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">LB – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Wolfe Tone</strong> – I admit I’m not entirely sure how his history as an Irish revolutionary would make him a tremendous left back, but isn’t that a badass name?</span></div>
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<dl style="background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 632px !important; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 123px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/saint-patrick.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img height="216" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/saint-patrick.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="saint patrick" width="113" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You better believe he's the first name on the team sheet.</span></dd></dl>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CB – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Saint Patrick</strong> – Technically speaking, not every one of this team’s attacks start with him. But it sure can seem like it sometimes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CB – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Daniel O’Connell</strong> – The other rock at the center of Irish history; no one loves the team more than he does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">RB – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Patrick Pearse</strong> – A natural defender of his home turf, he only runs into trouble when he pushes too hard for freedom in his role.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">LM – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W.B. Yeats</strong> – Once a center midfielder, but was moved out to the flanks after it turned out the center could not hold when the team relied on his tackling ability to stem the blood-dimmed tide of the opposition’s assault.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CM – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Samuel Beckett</strong> – Sometimes criticized for his lack of forward passing and drive, but there’s no denying that he sees the game in a completely different way from other players.</span></div>
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<dl style="background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 632px !important; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 199px;">
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/jamesjoyce.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img height="151" src="http://theother87.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/jamesjoyce.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="jamesjoyce" width="189" /></span></a></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joyce is the only member of our midfield who doesn't have a Nobel Prize. That's quality.</span></dd></dl>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CM – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">James Joyce</strong> – A maddening perfectionist on the pitch, but on his day it seems he can dictate the game down the last detail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">RM – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">George Bernard Shaw</strong> – Endlessly versatile – he won a Nobel Prize, an Oscar, and cofounded the London School of Economics for Pete’s sake – the man tracks back on defense one minute and goes bombing forward the next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CF – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Michael Flatley</strong> – And you thought Cristiano Ronaldo’s feet were fast. Dazzles in the attacking end with his rapid-fire combinations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CF – <strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Bono</strong> – May lack the urgency he once felt, but still has his moments where he can overpower and outperform any competition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is this new site we're exposing you too? We'll let them explain:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>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.</i><br /><i></i><br /><i>“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</i></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from <a href="http://store.objectivo.com/home/free-beer-movement-pint-t-shirt.html">Objectivo.com</a></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08411545153770218430noreply@blogger.com1