PHOTO - Playing "Frogger" With the USMNT

Photo Credit: US Soccer

The Women's Professional Soccer Final witnessed a squirrel on the field and so did the National League Division Series in St. Louis, but last night's pitch invader during the United States' game against Honduras was a slicker, slimier fella.

It was certainly raining cats and dogs last night in Miami, Florida so this frog really isn't all that surprising!

Are all three (and the raccoons that occupy RFK Stadium) a symbol of man's encroachment on nature and warning of our over-reach? Or is it just good fun?

Wondering what this frog is thinking right now?


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Photo Contest...Vote For Us! Potential Fabulous Prizes!

You're looking for THIS photo.

We're not just connoisseurs of beer and fine American soccer here at the Free Beer Movement; we're artists too.

Over the years we've brought our camera to all corners of the globe and trained it on the beautiful game (and plenty of other things). Photography is a fun little hobby and a great window to the world around us.

Others seem to appreciate it from time to time. We've had our pictures featured on sites like "Vanity Fair" and "The Original Winger".

That second site, TOW, has been running a series for a couple years now that we're big fans of and have submitted several photos to. Called "Soccer in America" it's a collection of TOW's own photos and their readers, assembling a visual demonstration of the sport in this country. A great series.

Now "The Original Winger" is launching a contest where people will vote on some of the finest pics that people have submitted with the winner becoming a Bumpy Pitch (cousin company of TOW) inspired t-shirt and sold at Eurosport (soccer.com).

We're been honored as one of our pictures has been chosen to participate in the first edition of this contest.

Each of the five pictures in the contest are fantastic and we're not hurt if you decide to vote for another one, but maybe, just maybe you click on ours for a vote. Completely biased, but we think that our photo would make one hell of a shirt.

If we win we're going to get a bunch shirts from our friends at BP and reward our readers for their help in pushing us over the top.

So go here and vote for one (hopefully ours) and share the link with friends as well.  Thanks, as always, for your support of the Movement.

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Photo Essay - This Is Our Soccer Life

A few weeks ago we traveled back to the land of beer and cheese, Wisconsin, for a family reunion. Wisconsin is the place where the idea for the Free Beer Movement was birthed (induced... with beer, of course) and the where we cut our teeth playing soccer from the youth level on up to college (intramurals... let's not get ahead of ourselves).

We're always looking for opportunities to define what it means to be a soccer fan in America and for many that fandom comes from playing the game growing up. A life-long passion for the sport is something that other soccer nations already have established and we're finally pulling up to them.

We decided to re-trace our own soccer playing days when we went home. What follows are the places that were most special to us growing up and playing soccer in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin and through college at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

The tree and the power box. One used to be a lot smaller, but this was my first goal. Measured it off and the distance "post" to "post" is pretty close to regulation.  My sisiter and I used to practice in the backyard almost every day.

Sis and I after one of her varsity soccer games. Practice paid off!

Sheehan Park. All of my home youth games were played here. In a sea of softball fields... our one soccer field. The town now boasts dozens of fields.

Ashley Field. Grew up in a football and baseball town and so we played where we got space. The high school football coach refused to mow the field saying it gave his players better grip in games. The far sideline crossed through the dirt of the baseball infield. The new high school built has its own soccer practice field and a varsity field unmolested by baseball.

*** I searched the house desperately to find a photo of me "in action: from high school, but alas... buried to deep in some box, some where. Instead you can have this....

Senior year of high school we sneaked a keg (of root beer) into the school and played various drinking games in the cafeteria to the dismay of the principals. Consider it the beginning of the FBM legend...

Absolutely my most favorite place to play. Playoff and state took place here at Breese Stevens Field every year. It's hosted a variety of sporting events since its construction in 1926 including baseball, circuses, track and field, ice skating, midget car racing, and many Sun Prairie post-season disappointments. 

Attended my first Major League Soccer game. Chicago Fire in Naperville in 2002.

Training field for the University of Wisconsin -Madison men's and women's soccer teams. Right around the corner from my house junior and senior years, my roommates used to sneak underneath the fence and play on here all the time.

First "international friendly". Manchester United vs. Celtic in Seattle, 2003.

Intramural fields at UW-Madison where teams I played on won five different league championships. I've got the free t-shirts to prove it!

One of my part-time jobs during college was coaching "select" middle school soccer. Here's my merry bunch of Eighth graders.

Indoor soccer champions, "Derek and the Dominoes".

Wisconsin to Ohio road trip with teammates and my dad. Best weekend ever. Even met Marcelo Balboa!
USA vs. Mexico. Columbus: Sept. 3, 2005. Dos a cero!

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Free Beer Match Day Four: The Movement in DC Edition

You've seen our fan and game photos from DC, now check out our efforts on the FBM front as well! The whole day was a great success as passed out a ton of our Free Beer Movement bumper stickers to soccer fans old and new. Just in the days after the match we've had bunches of visitors, new Twitter followers, and fans on Facebook so our idea is catching on!

The FBM rendezvoused with their four guests at the pre-game tailgate and the party was on!

Leadership Summit: FBM Prez Dan and American Outlaws President and Founder Korey Donahoo.

The ever-popular "Hand of Justice".

FBM guest Michael helping himself to the beer. EIGHT (count 'em!) different beers!

This group was DEFINITELY following the Free Beer Movement. Not only we're they taking down the suds, they brought a soccer newbie to the game. I ran into her later at the game in the FRONT ROW. That's a great first soccer memory.

Hey, where ever you want to sport it! (Now we're just running into the stickers everywhere!)

Although I wouldn't recommend it straight to the skin.

The FBM stickers were popping up everywhere at the post-game party at Molly Malone's.

We FINALLY got Frankie!!!!! We'll at least a fan of Frankie.

Guy with a sticker, Michael with (yet another) beer. Cheers to both!

Photo Essay: USA v. Costa Rica in DC

We decided to separate our trip photos into two essay because they're just so many great pics from DC. The first one is all about the game and the fans and our next essay will be more FBM-centric. I was sitting right in the trenches of the American Outlaws and Sam's Army at midfield. I even made it all they way up to the front row after half time. What a night!

As Borat would say, "Great success"!

LD banner on RFK. Wondering if I can get that to put on my house when their done with it?

"When the American Outlaws go marching in!"

More general AO chaos.

Costa Rican fans taunt us with tongs and grill covers. Scary. We respond with "America? Fuck yeah! Costa Rica? Fuck you!"

Face of a soccer warrior.

I'm not going to ask how he got all those beads.

Estadio RFK.

" Oh, say can you see...."

Michael Bradley controlling possession.

9th minute tribute to Charlie Davies.

Leading the cheering charge.

Down 0-2 at half. The situation looks dire.

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL #1.

LD waiting to make a difference.

Show 'em how you REALLY feel!

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL #2!!!!!

Timmy! Tossing the jersey into the stands.

National pride.