VIDEO - TIMMMY! Scores A Goal

Oh, you know... just another day at the office for Tim Howard. Saving shots and scoring goals.

Wait, what? Did you say score? Yuppers.

So to recap. AMERICAN Landon Donovan starts for Everton and AMERICAN Tim Howard scores a goal. In the English Premier League.

AMERICA.

Not too shabby.

Fun fact: Howard becomes only the fourth keeper to score a goal in the EPL and the first from open-play. One of the other four scorin' keepers? AMERICAN Brad Friedel.

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MLS Fight Night - Rafa Leaves His Marquez

Editor's Note: Before we even write anything... let's get this out of the way... Everyone's favorite American soccer commentator with his best line ever (that's not really saying much with that), "Marquez fell. Maybe a fly got into his eye."

Watching Major League Soccer highlights last night one might think hockey season broke out. Sporting KC's Kei Kamara mixing it up against Matt Pickens and the Colorado Rapids was the nightcap, but the undercard in the early evening proved to be the most compelling.

The American soccer world is buzzing about the post-game handbags between New York Red Bulls Rafael Marquez and LA Galaxy's Juninho. One of the league's DPs in a brouhaha with the Galaxy's midfield cog.

The whole incident (video embedded at the end of the post) started at the final whistle when Marquez, with a history of animosity towards American internationals, threw the game ball at Landon Donovan. There's been some dispute as to whether the Red Bull midfield was throwing the ball back to the ref or at Donovan, but it seems pretty unlikely that the latter explanation outweighs the former.

Either way, Adam Cristman jumped to Donovan's defense, leading Marquez and Galaxy forward to exchange poorly thrown punches (Cristman got a good couple of shoves in there, but man Marquez whiffed). Midfielder Juninho arrives on the scene and as both teams involved themselves in the fray and a trailing elbow (maybe? hard to see...) from the Brazilian struck New York's Stephen Keel. The defender took a theatrical tumble and, Marquez, seemingly mentally attached to Keel, did so too, under some sort of phantom contact from an unknown assailant.

The instigator now became the victim.

Donovan had plenty of choice words for the behavior and play of the Red Bulls squad, alleging their East Coast rivals are a "cheap team". 

On the plus side... David Beckham was able to avoid getting into the fight. That's incredible self-restraint from the man.

In the end, though, this is all about Rafael Marquez and his continual immature behavior. The former Mexican international has a bad reputation of for these types of incidents from the Cobi Jones headbutt to the karate kick to Tim Howard. Earlier in the season he criticized his New York teammates for not being good enough and was suspended for a match for the remarks. 

In his two seasons with the Red Bulls Marquez has solidified himself on the "busts" list of MLS designated players, notching just two goals and six assists and generating quite a lot of accusations of being lazy and unproductive for his side.

Red Bull coach Hans Backe deserves some blame, naming Marquez captain upon his return from suspension and rolling out bizarre rosters (16 players, anyone?) and tactics that would (and have) frustrated any marquee player (ask Theirry Henry how happy he's been this season).

So maybe Rafa wanted to be done with the 2011 season? Maybe he was just tossing the ball back to the ref? Maybe he's kind of a jerk? 

Either way Marquez isn't what New York needs in its midfield for 2012 and building for the future (next season the Mexican will be 33) and so why not get it done and over with now. Red Bulls have the money to go out and look for a new DP with less baggage and more motivation. The long-suffering fans of New York deserve better than watching a side struggle and slough through this sort of drama.

VIDEO - ESPN's "My Wish" with Landon Donovan

USMNT and Los Angeles Galaxy player Landon Donovan meets his biggest fan in this ESPN "My Wish" special.

Try not to shed at least one tear. I dare you.



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Happy One Year Anniversary "Go Go USA"

Yeah... that was a nice moment.

Almost lost in all the run-up to the Gold Cup Final on Saturday versus Mexico is the fact that today is the one-year anniversary of LD's epic last minute (second?) goal against Algeria to propel the USMNT to the top of the group and the knock-out rounds of the 2010 World Cup.

Just a few videos from that momentous day.

Where were you when Donovan scored?

Ian Darke:


Andres Cantor:



From the Stadium, Reverse Angel from TV camera (never seen this before!):


The World Reacts:


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VIDEO - Landon Donovan Behind the Scenes of "Outside" Magazine Photo Shoot

Cover Boy.

We swear the Free Beer Movement site isn't turning into some sort of Landon Donovan Fan Club page (or Robbie Finley for that matter.). LD10 has just been turning a lot of heads lately, and frankly, is the most visible/marketable American soccer player right now.

Donovan is featured on the cover and in a feature article for the January 2011 issue of "Outside" magazine. A nice story about Donovan and what's transpired in his life since the USMNT rode off into the sunset in late June. What we came away with was an intense respect for Landon's work rate (See that there? A compliment for him and we're on a first-name-basis.) and desire to contribute to the Nats in 2014.

Along with the article was an "exclusive!" behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot that led to the cover shot and others in the article. We've never been a fan of shooting process videos that lead to still frames. It always kinda makes the subject look a bit foolish and Donovan jumping around in the waves doesn't change our theory one bit.

Lastly, not to hang one on "Outside" Magazine since they're giving Donovan and American soccer some coverage, but their whole soccer-in-the-ocean shots they did for this article are almost exactly the same as the shots they took of LD when he last appeared in the mag in June 2006 (thanks to our crack research dept. at FBM for this one).

Donovan Video:

Source: OutsideOnline.com

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Donovan's Decision to Stay Home is Good for American Soccer

Landon Donovan is not going on a Euro-trip this winter. The all-time leading scorer for the USMNT and the Los Angeles Galaxy has decided to pass on any potential loan deals when the transfer window opens January 1.

“While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan,” Donovan said. “I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly non-stop for the past two years and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the National Team throughout the upcoming year. I look forward to re-joining my Galaxy teammates for the start of preseason training next month and beginning our quest for another MLS Cup championship.”

Personal opinion (That's why you're hear, right? No? Too bad... you're hearing it now.)?

We're glad he's sticking around. LD10 hasn't stopped playing soccer since, like, 2001, so it might be a good idea for him to take a break. The poor bastard was dragging ass after the World Cup and the Galaxy really have the tools to make a serious run at the MLS Cup in 2011 with Juan Pablo Angel, Edson Buddle, and, of course, FRANKIE HEJDUK filling out the roster.

Would more European experience been beneficial to Donovan? Yeah, sure, but he's proved he can make it at the European level with his stint at Everton last winter/spring so those haters can lay off. Donovan isn't going to be signed to any long-term deals in England and so they loan move would be for...?

And, well, he's the poster boy for Major League Soccer so having him hang around is a huge boost to the profile of the league. If I were him there's enough bank in that alone.

People that are complaining about Landon not moving abroad and then complaining that MLS isn't "high profile" enough and/or should retain top talent can't have it both ways. With Donovan committing fully to the domestic season (minus the Gold Cup) with the Galaxy and the league he's sending a powerful message that the league CAN and WILL retain some of its best players and CAN and WILL raise the league's profile by having America's star international player show his stuff stateside.

We want top American players to play in our league. That's the end goal. And until players start making that decision (although risky, still) Major League Soccer will not be a destination for the best American soccer has to offer. This is a positive step forward for MLS. Not one that every American player will make, but still forward momentum.

Lastly, if you're an American soccer fan you want Donovan rested and ready for that Gold Cup this summer. This is a top priority for the USMNT. Taking the GC title this June will mean a place in the Confederations Cup in Brazil in 2013 and everyone knows what happened last time we played in that.

Glad to have you home, Landon.

Source: Los Angeles Galaxy website

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VIDEO - Donovan's Goal Vs. Algeria Voted ESPN's "Best Play of 2010"

Oh! That goal.... Now, we remember.

So ESPN's "SportsNation" (a show where the collective sports-world rabble speaks their minds) hosted a contest for the "Best Sports Play of 2010" and LD10's game-saving, epic goal against Algeria was thrown up in the bracket. Even got a number one seed. Now, the cynical part of me thinks ESPN and their notorious soccer hating seeded the goal so high just so it could get upset.

But the soccer gods would not have it. Facing the fourteen seed, a Blake Griffin dunk (a Cinderella story, for sure), Donovan's goal withstood the challenge and won "Best Play of 2010".

Check out the clip. There's some other great goals from South Africa along with a great "USA!" USA!" chant from the five members of the studio audience.

Here's the link to ESPN: http://es.pn/epNoEH (sorry we had to disable the embedded clip on the site.. it was f-ing up things)

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Landon Donovan: Baller. Of. The. Year.

"He's the guy who made America pay attention to soccer."

And while you're thinking that sentence could've been written about "Danny Beerseed" we're going to let it slide as GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson assigned that statement to USMNT midfielder Landon Donovan.

Donovan, he the leading scorer of the Nats. He of the dramatic, last-minute, game-winning goal against Algeria in the World Cup this summer. He can now add to his list of accomplishments; "Baller of the Year" bestowed upon him at the men's fashion and lifestyle magazine's 15th annual "Men of the Year" event.

I wonder if this is something that LD10 would mention a few times on the Los Angeles Galaxy's 15-hour flight to Australia today?

LD: "Hey, Beckham."
DB: "Yeah, mate"
LD: "Ummm.... did you get named GQ Magazine's 'Baller of the Year'?"
DB: "No, mate. I did not."
LD: "Bwaaaa ha ha ha ha! I did!"
DB: "I know, mate. This is like the seventh time you've done this to me."
LD: "Still funny, though."
DB: "Whatever. I'm off to shag a flight attendant."

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Who We're Buying a Beer For....

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

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

A beer on us.

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

Yeah... most of this is literary flourish, but if we were to ever run into one of our honorees, say Sir Alex Ferguson (Mar. 8th, 2010) or Landon Donovan (Jan. 4th, 2010), we'd be obligated to let them know that their next drink is on the Free Beer Movement. And we'd hope, dear readers, if you ever ran into one of the ladies or gentlemen you'd let 'em know the FBM owes them a beer (or better yet pick up a drink for them and send us a picture and the tab!)

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LeToux and Mwange: Double Trouble.

First up is the The Sebastien LeToux and Danny Mwange Show from Philadelphia. The Union duo is tearing up nets all across Major League Soccer. The pair have a combined 17 goals making them, by far, the league's most dangerous attack pair. Despite Philly's dangerous position near the bottom of the Eastern Conference LeToux's and rookie Mwange's contributions are keeping the Union in a fight for the playoffs in the parity-driven MLS.

But let's talk about the guys a bit more. LeToux, a French international who just got his Green Card, and Mwange, on his way to U.S. citizenship have formed an effective attach up top for Union coach Peter Nowak. LeToux also leads the league in shot, shots on goal, and assists. At seven goals on the season Mwange is just five goals off the rookie scoring record in MLS with 11 matches left.

The best thing about is how the two are rocketing up the scoring charts in style. LeToux and Mwange's last two hooks up have both been quality set-ups with great finishes. Check the Free Beer Movement's video archives:

August 11 vs. Real Salt Lake



August 14th vs. Colorado Rapids

How soon til we see these two in the red, white and, blue?

Next up from the beer-vending machine (how cool would that be?) is the soccer-fan-and-gamers' wet dream the annual release of EA Sports FIFA. The 2011 edition of will, of course, be their best effort to date and is made even more special with the spectacular receding hairline of one Mr. Landon Donovan aka "Captain Clutch" on the cover. At that point we we're like "Carlos Vela, who?" "Kaka, what?" and wondering why Donovan just didn't get the whole box top to himself. Admittedly we're very biased towards the American "legend". With the release of FIFA 11 slated for September we're positively giddy with excitement. Mrs. FBM? Not so much.

When we saw LD10 we thought back to other great moments in FIFA video game cover history: LD back in '07, Jozy Altidore, and Sacha Kljestan gracing it as well.

We're sure the game is going to be outta sight (as always), but with EA choosing yet another American to grace it's cover it send another positive signal that American soccer is on the up and up; most certainly as a soccer gaming nation, but as a soccer playing nations as well.

And one more thing to consider. The FIFA video game series is a huge gateway drug to soccer watching for the average sports-watching American. We know loads of friends who because of their love for video games have found FIFA to be one of the best sports games available period. Because of this they've also figured out soccer and know the players and teams from all the best leagues. The FBM has personally taken several newbies who were FIFA nuts and that's almost... almost as effective as free beer.

Consider how powerful a free beer and FIFA party would be.... DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN!

Lastly a sympathy beer out to USWNT and Boston Breakers midfielder Leslie Osborne who's season ended last week when she fell and broke her collarbone during Women's Professional League action last week. We're particularly fond of Osborne given her Milwaukee, WI roots as the FBM called Wisco home for most of our life and did the majority of the "beer" training part of the Free Beer Movement in the "City that Made Beer Famous," Mil-town.

This is Osborne's second major injury as she missed out on gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a torn ACL (a terribly common injury for young female athletes). Here's hope that her recovery is swift and she can regain her National Team spot before the 2011 Women's World Cup.

We're rootin' for ya, Leslie!

Photo Credits: FIFA 11 (SoccerNotFootball.com), Osborne (TopFamous.net), LeToux and Mwange (Getty Images/MLSSoccer.com)

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How To Calculate a "Silly Season" Rumor

How much for this guy?

Late July and early August might be the deadest time in the news year. People are taking summer vacations, spending their time outdoors, and generally not paying attention to the world around them.  Unfortunately we're all still stuck with the 24-hour news cycle and the media's desire to make news, any news, important to us in hopes of snagging readers and viewers.

That's why you'll see lots of stories about shark attacks only in August (and this "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel) or Lindsey Lohan's jailing as "breaking news".

For the soccer world and particularly the Euro-centric world this summer time is referred to as the "silly season" and it's particularly bad following a World Cup.  The silly season is defined by an echo chamber of ridiculous rumors about a certain player and a certain team and some absurd amount of money that they might pay for said player. Pretty much anyone that showed a shred of talent in South Africa is a moving target for the press and their appetite for making (as opposed to breaking) news.

In year's past the American media has been immune to the silly season because, well, few were looking through the American storefront. But in the four years since the last World Cup in Germany much has changed.

In 2006 the U.S. was coming off a disappointing Cup run and few American players were seen as attractive to Euro-sutors.  Certainly a few went across to pond to ply their trade (Dempsey, Edddie Johnson, Howard, etc), but real deals were to be found elsewhere.

With the electric performance of the 2010 U.S.squad there is plenty of interest around Europe for many American players. Some are looking to jump from stateside to Europe (Donovan) and many others are looking infinitely more attractive to larger European clubs (Bradley, Dempsey) or bigger North American clubs (Bornstein, Gomez). Even Americans that didn't make the South African journey have picked up European contracts (Kljestan).

Another important side to the silly season is that the money of clubs in Europe has gotten beyond "silly".  With the oil bucks of Manchester City in the market in 2010, as That's On Point joked, they'll be the first senior side with 100 players on their roster. There is more money to be splashed that ever before.

Lastly, the media world has grown by leaps and bounds since the previous World Cup.  The advent of Twitter and other social media, the growth of blogs and other similar publications, alongside the mainstream sports media has made the echo chamber of news, views, and rumor more "echo-y" than ever. The desire for each semi-professional soccer writer in the U.S. to make their views heard via blog post, Tweet, or online smoke signal has flooded the silly season rumor mill with more worthless opinions that ever before. 

Granted their are many intelligent online voices contemplating the weight of such transfer whispers, but most spend their time cranking out 500 words of nothing on their sites or several 140 character word vomits to their followers.

Us Americans are no longer safe from falling into the silly season trap.  We laughed while European clubs splashed crazy cash for players and speculated until blue in the face about player moves, but now we're apart of it all.

So how do we sort through all of the BS of the now-Americanized silly season? Well, we're pretty fond of statistics, so why not a formula to determine the accuracy of such rumors swirling about the Inter-Net-Blogo-Sphere?


For your consideration:
Player A X European Super Club + Ridiculous Sounding Monetary Amount X Number of News Articles, Blog Posts, Guardian Sport and The Sun Articles Written  / Amount of Rational Thought and Consideration of Said Club's Actual Needs Applied to Situation = Accuracy of Rumor




Let's see how this plays out and define our variables:
Player A is Landon Donovan
European Super Club is Manchester City
Ridiculous Sounding Monetary Amount is $15 million
Number of News Articles, etc is 650 news reports, 2,190 blog posts, 1 The Sun article and 2 Guardian Sport articles (2,743 in total)
Amount of Rational Thought and Consideration of Said Club's Actual Needs Applied to the Situation is Undefined (We're still searching for a sound voice on all this madness.)


Either way you run the numbers this whole situation is absolutely bonkers.


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The Most Interesting Man in the World

Who is the most interesting man in the world?

He has controlled Earthquakes with his mind and body.

He has made his critics eat a big shit-sandwich.

His leadership is known to bring grown men to tears.

He's so awesome there's even a female version of him.


Never has such a monotonous voice held so much emotion.

Mountains are jealous of his widow's peak.

His faith becomes OUR faith.

When put on the spot.... he makes the spot move.


He taunts his opponents..... in their own language.

He has shown to be the brightest star in the Galaxy.

He has scored on four continents.

He has chopped and sliced his way through a Honduran jungle.

He has been with Hollywood stars.

People have written that he looked David Beckham in the eye and told him he was rubbish.


He's been attacked by urine, vomit, voodoo dolls, and border agents and lived to tell the tale.

People have said he walked into his neighbor's house and peed on his carpet right in front of him and his friends.

He has saved his hope when hope is lost for most others.

He.

Is.

The most interesting man in the world.

"I don't always score goals, but when I do, they are the most important goals in American soccer history."

Any others? Leave 'em in the comments section to add to this great list.

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!Feliz Cinco de Mayo desde el Movimiento de Cerveza Gratis!

Senor Landon Donovan says have a shitty Mexican beer and put it on his tab.

And just for the record, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day! (That's September 16th). It commemorates the Mexican victory over French forces at Puebla in 1862.



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Who We're Buying a Beer For...

More Major League Soccer love this week as two of our three brewski honorees hail from the domestic league while the other is a product of the American college system.

1) Landon Donovan

The cross-the-pond Major League Soccer product made waves this past week scoring his first goal for his English Premier League team, Everton. It was no Clint Dempsey super-strike, but the goal put LD on the score sheet and fueled Internet rumors of an extend loan deal for the Los Angeles midfielder.

As we've said time and time again any goal-scoring exploits for our boys overseas is good for the domestic game and the American soccer movement. Even if Lando doesn't come back at the beginning of the MLS season he is still a developmental success story for the league.

Donovan is the highest profile player MLS has ever had and continued success aboard is only going to help the US National Team this summer in South Africa. Fans of American soccer have to balance the want of Nats team success versus that of the league's profile with or without LD. It's a tough call, but we're willing to sacrifice the Galaxy's 2010 success at the expense of a Landon Dovovan sharp off a half season in the EPL.

Donovan's contributions to his new Everton side have already been well received by the Toffee faithful and his and fellow Nat Tim Howard's stellar play in goal has reversed the club's fortune's in England.

Here's the goal (fingers cross it hasn't been lawsuited out of the Inter-web-o-sphere):



2) Stu Holden

Speaking of developmental success stories for MLS... Stu Holden, a midfielder for the Houston Dynamo or should we say former midfielder for the Houston Dynamo. The USMNT starlet (and current replacement for Dempsey if he can't shake his injury) penned a loan deal with English Premier League mid-tablers Bolton.

Word on the street is that the "Iceman" is suffering from a mid-hamstring strain and so he didn't feature in the Wanders weekend action, but should see some PT real soon.

Going back to our point above; even as we, as fans of MLS, mourn the loss of our marquee players to foreign league, we need to be proud that the products of our league are desired in far away places. For now and the near future the league is focused on smart growth and player development. Obviously, there is the want to increase the level of play and, of course, the compensation of the players in the league (something up for discussion during the current collective bargaining agreement talks), but until the day comes that Major League Soccer is sustainable, compete salary-wise with the big boys, and an attractive option for American players and others we need to be satisfied that our league's best and wanted aboard.

If you managed to get through that last run-on sentence then congrats. The same congrats we want to extend to Holden for making the jump to the EPL. Even though the Dynamo will be hurting without him (and Ricardo Clark who made the jump to Germany.... probably should get him a beer, too) for the 2010 season each player no one would ever argue that Holden made the wrong call taking a European vacation.

3) Charlie Davies

ESPN's Ives Galarcep reported this past week that USMNT striker Charlie Davies was making a better, and faster, than expected recovery from his injuries sustained in that horrific car crash back in October 2009. Galarcep spoke to Davies and his training on his progress and received tons of welcome news for Nats team fans.

"Charlie is pretty much light years ahead of where anybody would tell you he should be," said Jim Hashimoto, the former U.S. national team trainer who is overseeing Davies rehabilitation. "When everybody heard about the accident, including myself, it was like, 'OK, this is going to be a long one' -- and it's still going to be a long one, but to see his progress is pretty amazing."

Just when it seemed as though the top players for the National Team we're going to be sidelined for South Africa our fortunes reversed. News out of England reported that Dempsey's injury is not as serious as previously thought, Jay DeMeritt is back from his eye injury, Gooch is on the mend in Italy, and Maruice Edu is seeing playing time at Rangers in Scotland again after an extend layoff.

With the USMNT squad looking more secure going forward it makes results like the friendly against Honduras look less troubling. With our European regulars manning the front lines against England on June 12th things are looking up.

Final words Charlie?

"I know I can come back and be one of the best strikers in the world. I know with the improvement that I'm making, if I can continue that with this new feeling I have now, it's going to be tough to stop me.I plan on making a difference at the World Cup."

Fuckin' sweet.

Who We're Buying a Beer For...

1) Clint Dempsey

No one has done more for American soccer this week than USMNT and Fulham FC midfielder Clint Dempsey has by launching what many are calling the "goal of the season" in

the English Premier League.

Funny enough, some intrepid writers have likened Dempsey's strike to the first shots at Lexington and Concord (notice how we're being accused of firing first... damn fish-and-chips-eaters!) and a warning to the English National Team. Add Landon Donovan's impressive debut for Everton this week against Arsenal and the British newspapers are going to lose their shit real soon.

By now as a soccer fan you've probably seen the wonder-strike, but we're sure you won't mind watching it again. Take a took:

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by 1513BB92024

Around the world this clip has put American soccer on the map again. But, alas, for mainstream sports fan it was probably missed.

Mike Cardillo of the brilliant soccer blog (EPL and USMNT), That's On Point, laments the big miss for ESPN to capitalize on Dempsey's goal:

What's actually a little more outrageous is the fact that Clint Dempsey's absolute Gol-azo-azo-azo for Fulham vs. Stoke City on Tuesday was left out of the "Sportscenter" top 10 plays. Imagine if that goal came on Telemundo. Andres Cantor might have pulled a play out the Mick Shrimpton playbook.

You'd think, mind you think, the goal in-and-of itself would be worthy of inclusion -- the next day a play from Sevilla/Barca made the list. But since it was an American, it seemed a slam dunk -- no pun intended for the other clips on the list, especially since it's on the short-list of Premier League "Goals of the Year." (Maybe John Harkes, who won the award back in 1990 with Sheffield Wednesday blocked it.)

Alas, Dempsey's strike will live on in the Inter-tubes, which isn't all that bad.

Yet it holds to a bigger point, which I've made a million times in this space, so if you want to skip ahead no hard feelings.

In the year 2010, ESPN is sports in America. When it comes to soccer it continues to talk out of both sides of its mouth.

On the one hand it's acquired some Premier League rights, the World Cup, USMNT games (mostly), etc. At the same time the Worldwide doesn't have anchors that can get through a highlight with the correct names, or simply ignores the best goal by an American in Europe, perhaps, ever. (Obviously it wasn't better than a pedestrian NCAA basketball dunk.)

You'd think that John Skipper would realize that, hey, we own the rights to these events. Shouldn't we try to drum up interest through osmosis? Wouldn't Dempsey's great goal -- by an AMERICAN -- plant some seeds in the back of the casual fans minds for the World Cup in less than six months? Wouldn't it help familiarize people with perhaps America's most important or at least enigmatic player for the campaign in South Africa?

Look, the most ESPN I watch is on the machines at the gym. So do a lot of people, I'd assume. Wouldn't a glimpse of Dempsey's rainbowing volley subliminally help draw eyeballs to the set in June? Wouldn't it help dispel the notion that Americans can't play at a high level?

I won't even mention MLS's presence on ESPN. Sure it gets microscopic ratings, but wouldn't some casual talk about the league or, gasp, HIGHLIGHTS, help increase interest. Treating MLS like the Pro Bowling and Pro Billiards leagues is an embarrassment. (Of course, the league's rating are that, too.)

Maybe this is an overreaction. Maybe since the game was on Setanta in the midweek (more on that later) somebody missed it. It's possible. The game was 3-1 at the time in the 85th minute, after all.

Again it's goals like the one scored by Dempsey that capture the imagination and make people fall in love with the game. Nothing sends the imagination soaring more than a crack from distance. Half of YouTube and every other tube site is devoted to goal highlight compilations.

For the major sports force in the country to swing-and-miss on a the very definition of a highlight is part of the reason why the best American soccer player is filming ads for the Mexican lottery.

So like sands through the hour glass our ESPN vs. soccer community world continues to turn. Grab a beer and sit down because 2010 is going to be a wild ride.

2) Wayward former USMNTers Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson

Remember those names? Currently answers to the fictional National Team game show question, "Which two Americans were expected to change the face of U.S. soccer in the mid-2000s, but failed miserably and we're quickly dropped from consideration?" Adu and Johnson now find themselves as teammates on the Greek club Aris Thessaloniki FC.

Honestly, we find it pretty bizarre that they both happened to land on their feet at an obscure soccer team in Greece (at least obscure to us... apparently their the fifth best supported team in the league and regular participants in the Europa Cup. Thanks Wikipedia!). More bizarre:



Yes, that's Adu being welcomed by Aris supporters at the airport, in droves, chanting his name.

Count the FBM as skeptical for the pairs' career move, but if it works out the Nats and American soccer are better for it. As newspaper columnist George Will once said, “The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.”

So for us its either a 40 oz. for some dead homies OR celebratory drinks on us to their success.

3) Landon Donovan

The USMNT and LA Galaxy playmaker was on the list last week, too, but the on loan to Everton midfielder made his shock English Premier League debut this past weekend. LD didn't just get a trot out to test the water wings in the British soccer pool, but was thrown to the lions by earner a start from manager David Moyes against top side Arsenal.

Donovan wasted no time is getting into the mix assisting on the Toffee's opening goal and working tireless on the left flank of the Everton attack.

One commenter on The Shin Guardian said:

"I was amazed at how comfortable Donovan looked–almost as if he’d been playing all season for Everton. What a great day for Lando and US soccer.

With the continued success of Dempsey at Fulham, Tim Howard at Everton, Jay DeMerit at Watford, and Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan at Aston Villa, Donovan can add his name to successful American abroad to make up for the mixed performances other intrepid Americans that have plied their trade across the pond. Every successful American performance in England and Europe helps push the U.S. brand further into the hearts and mind of scouts and coaches.



Even the normally anti-American English soccer press was force to say nice things about LD (from Major League Soccer Talk):

“With Louis Saha’s clever runs and Tim Cahill’s waspish presence augmented extremely well by the expert dribbling of Landon Donovan on an eye-catching debut, Everton caused Arsenal serious concern from the off,” Amy Lawrence, The Guardian.

“With Arsene Wenger’s side missing Alexander Song, they struggled to impose themselves in midfield allowing Everton debutant Landon Donovan, in particular, to take advantage. The American gave Gunners left-back Armand Traore a torrid time throughout, and it was from his corner that Everton opened the scoring,” Ian Hughes, BBC Sport.

“With 25 minutes to go and the Emirates pitch turning white, Moyes turned to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, a man more accustomed to the adverse conditions. He replaced Donovan who will have warmed his manager with an industrious first outing on English soil,” Everton FC match report.

“Donovan looked lively on his Blues debut, the American offering an outlet wide on the right as he came in for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.The American will feel he could have done better on the equaliser however when he failed to clear the ball enabling Andriy Arshavin, back after a foot injury, to slip it inside to Eduardo who rolled a pass into Denilson’s path whose shot took a wicked deflection off the unfortunate Osman to wrong-foot Howard,” David Randles, Liverpool Daily Post.

“But Everton have improved dramatically since [the beginning of the season] and the introduction of MLS loan signing Landon Donovan for his debut gave [Everton] an extra creative edge,” The Sun.

And we couldn't agree more. Which is why he's getting another run out on this week's beer shopping list.

Photo Credits: The Original Winger (Dempsey, Johnson, and Adu)

Who We're Buying a Beer For...

1) Mark Wahlberg

If there's one Hollywood superstar that needs to be converted (and we're not talking about more Scientology weirdos) more than Mr. Wahlberg it'd be hard to convince us otherwise after his comments about David Beckham and soccer in the United States.

Marky Mark joined the soccer-haters club after he had this to say:

"Man, we don't want your soccer. There's no way Americans are going to buy the idea of 90 minutes of running around without much happening. Thanks for trying guys, but we'll stick to baseball and basketball."

Wahlberg dropped this bomb while complaining about the fact that ever since Beckham moved into his Beverly Hills neighborhood the paparazzi has ruined the quiet.

Now, frankly, we don't care about the relative calmness of multi-million dollar mansion neighborhoods in California for Hollywood assholes, but we do care about bringing soccer-haters around.

Our proposal: We think that Mr. Wahlberg just hasn't gotten to know Beckham and his sport. We're charging Mr. Golden Balls to invite his neighbor to a Los Angeles Galaxy game when he gets back from Italy. We recommend putting him in one of those game suites, as we're sure anything less would be unacceptable. Load that baby up with free beer.

Our guess? Mark Wahlberg will be drunk and singing with the LA Riot Squad before games end and attending the next Beckham-hosted dinner party in the neighborhood.

2) Frankie Hejduk

With the end of the year and the end of the '00s upon us a number of soccer sites are putting together their "Best of the Decade" USMNTers. Our future FBM spokeperson is making several of these lists from across the Inter-tube-blogosphere including Major League Soccer Talk and our friend's The Shin Guardian.

All the more reason to sign our "Recruit Frankie Hejduk for Free Beer Movement Spokesperson" petition.

Hejduk again, you complaing? Honestly, we could probably figure out some way to feature Frankie Hair Cut each and every week.

Don't make us try....

3) Landon Donovan

The current and future star of American soccer is making his cross-Atlantic debut for English Premier League side Everton this week (we hope!). While the current US Soccer Player of the Year's previous trips to Europe have been less-than-productive something tells us at the FBM that the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder will have a lot more success this time around.

The Liverpool-based club is having mixed results in the Prem league this season and some new, American blood might be just what the coach ordered. Donovan is coming off an electric year with the National Team and led his domestic side to the Major League Soccer finale, proving that he has finally arrived on the world stage.

Here's to hoping that a local Liverpool pub serves up a tasty American brew just in case he gets a bit homesick. Either way... we'll have one waiting for him when he returns from his three-month loan.

Any success that Donovan has aboard personal is only a step in the right direction for the great American version as well.

Who We're Buying a Beer For...

There's no coherent theme to this week's recipients of beer from the FBM. Honestly, we're not sure where you'd get the idea that anything we do here would be considered "coherent".

Anyways, we digress... here's this week's brew-worthy list:

1) Congressional Soccer Caucus

The four co-chairs [Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Mary Bono Mack (R-California), George Miller (D-California), and David Reichert (R-Washington)] of the CSC introducted a resolution in the United States House of Representatives earlier this month congratulating the USMNT for their qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The text reads as follows:

Whereas 2 goals by forward Conor Casey, 1 goal by midfielder Landon Donovan, 3 critical saves by goalkeeper Tim Howard, and an untiring effort by all players led to their ultimate victory; (Introduced in House)

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 8, 2009

Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mrs. BONO MACK, and Mr. REICHERT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Congratulating the United States Men's National Soccer Team for securing a berth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Whereas, on October 10, 2009, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the United States Men's Soccer Team achieved an impressive victory over the Honduran Men's National Soccer Team by a score of 3 to 2 in its penultimate qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup;

Whereas 2 goals by forward Conor Casey, 1 goal by midfielder Landon Donovan, 3 critical saves by goalkeeper Tim Howard, and an untiring effort by all players led to their ultimate victory;

Whereas with its victory over the Honduran Men's National Soccer Team, the United States Men's Soccer Team has joined the national soccer teams from Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, and South Korea as the only teams that will have participated in all 6 FIFA World Cups since 1990, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa;

Whereas with its dramatic and emotional come-from-behind tie against the Costa Rican Men's National Soccer Team by a score of 2 to 2 on October 14, 2009, the United States finished in first place in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings; and

Whereas the entire United States Men's National Soccer Team has demonstrated once again that United States soccer is on par with the level of soccer played in nations that claim it as their national sport: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates the United States Men's National Soccer Team for its achievement in securing a berth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

If there are any Free Beer Movers in the districts of these four House members could you do us a favor and drop a beer off in their mailbox? Thanks.

2) Jens Lehmann
The former Arsenal and Germany number one has been featured on the FBM site before, but Lehmann's continued exploits in the German Bundesliga has him earning top honors as as a receiver of beer from us. We were going to buy him a beer last week for urinating during a match, but after his scuffle in a league game we think we should double our order.

First off is his ingenuity probably because of a few too many pre-game brewskies):



Second is his stupidity:

VfB Stuttgart keeper Jens Lehmann injured his knee in the incident that got him sent off in Sunday's Bundesliga match against Mainz, his club said on Monday.

Lehmann was shown the red card three minutes from time with his team leading 1-0, causing a penalty and allowing the hosts to grab a last-gasp equaliser.

Lehmann, 40, pushed striker Aristide Bance for no apparent reason and injured a ligament in the process, medical checks on Monday showed. He then ripped off a Mainz fan's glasses in a minor scuffle after the match.

If there was any footballer that needed the comforts of a nice, cold beer its the beleaguered Lehmann.

3) Everton Football Club and David Moyes

The Liverpool, England-based Everton FC finalized their three month loan deal for Major League Soccer and USMNT star Landon Donovan. The Los Angeles Galaxy player will head across the pond to give his European dream another shot in January.

Obviously, any playing time in one of the world's biggest leagues, the English Premier League is good news for Donovan and the profile of the American game. The experience against some of England's best players and teams will only improve the USMNT's chances against England in their opening game in the 2010 World Cup.

The FBM's only worry is the freshness and health of our Nats' best player. Our belief is that Donovan has the fitness to not allow his English vacation affect his domestic and international form. A fit LD is the key for the Yanks (or Sons of Liberty as we've pushed) to compete effecctivly this coming summer.

The real focus of our praise is on Everton and their manager David Moyes who've given Donovan this golden chances to prove himself in Europe again. Moyes was full of praise for the U.S.'s best player:

"Landon will certainly add pace, he is a good finisher."

Moyes added that Donovan's numerous accolades proves he will be a much needed addition to his side.

He added: "He was voted best player, yet again, in the American league and is captain of the USA national team. I need players who can hit the ground running, who I think can go into the team quite quickly and make an impact.

"With his experience and the goals he has scored, I am hoping he will be able to do that," he said.

Any good news for LD is good news for American soccer. Beers all around for Donovan's first goal in the colors of Everton!

As always we'd love to hear our readers' suggestions of who we should buy a beer for next week. Leave a comment in the comments section or shoot us an e-mail using the "contact" link at the top of the page (or click the link we just left for you!).

Yankee Doodle Landy and Our "Declaration of Soccer Independence"

Dateline: June 12th, 2010

Like it? Yeah? We made it. We're pretty awesome.

Channeling the spirit of Joe Gaetjens, American Soccer Freedom Fighter:

"When, in the course of World Cup events, it becomes necessary for one soccer nation to dissolve the playing bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the Beautiful Game, the separate and equal station to which the laws of FIFA and of nature's God (Charlize Theron) entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of soccer pundits around the world requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all players are created equal, that they are endowed by Pele with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of more goals. That to secure these rights, soccer is instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of Bob Bradley. That whenever any form of soccer becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the USMNT to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new soccer, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form (other than England's 4-4-2), as to them shall seem most likely to effect their formation and width. Sunil Gulati, indeed, will dictate that soccer long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that American soccer fans and media are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of Sepp Blatters and Jack Warners, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their national team duty, to throw off such soccer, and to provide new center-backs for their future goalkeeping. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these American soccer fans; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present English National Team and Premier League is a history of repeated injuries and hard tackles, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these USMNT and Major League Soccer. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world."

Original Piece: "Yankee Doodle" by Archibald Willard (1836-1918)

This quote works, too:

"Today, we celebrate our independence day!" - President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman in "Independence Day")