Five Good Minutes With.... Chris Wondolowski

FBM looking all "journalism-y".

Wondo: "You're so funny." FBM: "I know." (Note: These words are not apart of the audio recording below.)

So handsome.

During MLS Cup 2011 weekend we had the pleasure of running into San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski. Wondo was in town for a bunch of MLS W.O.R.K.S. events, but also to receive the MLS Castrol Index "Player of the Year" award.

Apparently because Wondolowski had nothing better to do he granted us an audience and answered a few  questions about a whole range of issues including: what his and San Jose's goals for 2012 were, what he does in the off-season, how to get his new trophy through security at the airport, and whether he'd melt down said trophy to make the Earthquakes MLS Cup rings if he had the chance.

Please forgive us it was our first audio interview we've conducted live on the spot so you're getting the full, unedited brilliance.  There's loads of bad jokes included.

ChrisWondolowski11.19.11

Wondo endorses FBM.

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Nike and Bumpy Pitch - A Celebration of Los Angeles

Nice to see BP's name in lights.

FBM was lucky enough to get a VIP invite to the Nike Soccer/ Bumpy Pitch "Celebration of Los Angeles" party during MLS Cup 2011 weekend. Us, along with the leadership of The American Outlaws took off to the historic Ricardo Montalbon Theater in Hollywood for drinks, diversions, and, of course, some sweet American soccer swag.

The event featured the new Cristiano Ronaldo "CR7" collection and the CR Mercurial Vapor Superfly III, but we were particularly excited to see the new collaboration between the "the Swoosh" and American soccer brand Bumpy Pitch. A big move for the local boys.

Much thanks to Nike Soccer and Bumpy Pitch for having us out. 

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VIDEO - MLS Cup 2011 Hype Video

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FBM at MLS Cup 2011

Yeah... we're just as surprised as you, but the Free Beer Movement will be at the 2011 Major League Soccer Cup Final as credentialed media.

What that means is a whole lot of coverage from us throughout the days leading up to Sunday's final from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Media events, open practices, press conferences, player interviews... the whole enchilada. And, of course, the 2011 MLS Supporters Summit. We're all about the fans here and we wouldn't miss it for the world.

Of course, we'll be checking out loads of beer spots in the Los Angeles-area as well.


Brewery/Beer Bar Visits (Friday and Saturday)


- Golden Road Brewing Company
- Eagle Rock Brewery
- LadyFace Ale Companie
- The Bruery
- Other Suggestions?



Our Media Coverage and Event Appearance Schedule


Thursday, November 17


- Media Happy Hour: 8:30pm - 10:30pm


Friday, November 18


- LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo Training Sessions: 10am - 1pm (closed to public)
- Presentation of 2011 MLS MVP: 1:30pm -2:30pm (closed to public)
- Night Out in Newport Beach with American Outlaws Leadership


Saturday, November 19

- Media Cup: 8:30am - 10:30am (HDC Track Field)
- LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo Training
- Supporters Challenge Soccer Game (HDC) - 1:00pm
- Bumpy Pitch/ Nike: Los Angeles "Celebration of LA Soccer" Party at the Montalban - 9:00pm

Sunday, November 20


- MLS Supporters Summit: 11am - 1pm (HDC)
- Meet and Great with LA and Houston Supporters' Tailgates: 1pm to Kick Off
- MLS Cup Final: 6pm
- Post-Game Presser
- Night Out?


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Major League Soccer Year-End Awards Finalists

Graphic Courtesy of Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer announced the slate of candidates for various year end awards. Players, club officials, and reporters had a hand in selecting the finalists. Dates in parentheses are when the winners will be announced. 

Here's hoping Don Garber doesn't accidentally name-drop this year's MVP a day early.

Who ya got in each category? Vote below.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

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Omar Cummings, yo!

We've been waiting a while to use this one, but Colorado Rapids forward Omar Cummings tallied his first playoff goal and only his fourth of the season to push his side past Columbus Crew, 1-0, and book home and away dates against Sporting KC.

If the Jamaican international gets hot (and we all know that the MLS Playoffs is all about getting hot) will the KC backline look a little like this?

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We Dare You to Get a "October Madness" MLS Playoffs Brackett Challenge Going at the Office

Why wait until March to experience the thrill of guessing wrong about sports? With the Major League Soccer playoffs "kicking off" on Wednesday night (play-in game, anyone?), tomorrow is the perfect time to pass this handy bracket around the ol' water cooler and get your co-workers into the semi-shady world of sports betting a few months early.

Cash prizes, Happy Hour drinks, and/or privileged parking spaces could all be up for grabs among your soccer newbie colleagues!

Seriously... we dare you to do this...


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NEWS WATCH - Major League Soccer Announces New Playoff Format

10 playoff teams? Ribbons for everyone!

Major League Soccer announced their new playoff format for the upcoming 2011 season. The league, now with 18 teams playing, will feature ten playoff teams vying for the MLS Cup.

Here's the league's line:

The league’s new structure will include the top three seeds from each conference and four wild card berths – regardless of conference affiliation – but the postseason will now include two play-in games for those wild card teams.

The expanded system now allows for more teams to be included in the postseason chase, driving more interest throughout the league as two additional teams vie for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

We're all about the American soccer, but having 56% of your league team enter the post-season seems to us like rewarding regular season mediocrity. Certainly that hasn't been the case for the past couple of seasons in MLS.....

If you think of the "wild card" play-in games more like one would for the NCAA basketball tournament then those teams don't really count as "playoff" teams and there's only really eight hats in the ring for the MLS Cup. Granted there's no college basketball play-in teams wining Division I titles, whereas when it comes to the "Fall Classic" for the league, all bets are off.

Being the true optimists that we are about our version of the domestic game we can brag to the rest of the American sports leagues that our "wild cards" are truly wild!

"The MLS Cup Playoffs: Russian Roulette Is More Predictable!"

Here' a helpful video from MLS to explain it all (although if you have to create a video to explain it, then its probably already too complicated):

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