Showing posts with label Philadelphia Union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philadelphia Union. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
VIDEO - All Your Base Belongs to MLS and adidas
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".
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.
Sounds pretty cool. Hopefully ESPN gets some of the data to share in-game with views.
We're just glad they didn't call it SkyNet. We're safe for now.
Right?
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Philadelphia Union's Danny Califf and Sebastian Le Toux Can(Foot)Ball
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| Just four guys. Having a bunch of skyward moments together. |
For the Philadelphia Union's Danny Califf and Sebastian Le Toux it was hanging out with the other football's Eagles and their punter and kicker for "Eagle's Confidential".
The Union teammates faced off against the bizarrely similarly-named Alex Henery (K) and Chas Henry (P) for a little cross-sports contest of skillz at PPL Park. PKs, field goal kicking, punting, and the "French national sport of soccer golf" (according to LeToux) were the order of the day.
Best part? Other than Le Toux nailing a monster field goal, he makes a PK save on one of the Eagles and screams out in his hilariously stereotypical French accent, "It's right here! Like an interception in football!"
Although the Eaglie punter Henry did get a good burn in on LeToux before his first field goal attempt. "French on the front lines? That's a first."
And how did Califf fare? Let's just say... his partner carried the two-some most of the afternoon.
In the end (and not that we're biased) it looked as though the Union pair got the best of the pointy-ball partners from the Eagles.
The full video is here. The Union/Eagles segment is the first one.
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Monday, October 10, 2011
Better Know A Supporters Group - Sons of Ben
Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.
When we devised this idea a while back it was cool to be able to see what each supporter group is about, but in light of the terrible, one-sided, anti-American, condescending profile of Philadelphia's Sons of Ben SG by the British GQ (not even going to link to it to give them the site hits) we think its all the more important to give supporters groups in Major League Soccer the proper exposure and voice they deserve.
Today... it's the supporters group that inspired our series, Philadelphia Union's Sons of Ben.
As told to the Free Beer Movement by Sons of Ben President Matt Ansbro.
The Basics
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| Photo Credit: Paul Rudderow |
MLS Club: Philadelphia Union
Stadium: PPL Park
Year SG Founded: 2007
Section Name (if other than SG name): The River End
Any other SGs apart of your section? The Illegitimates, Bearfight Brigade
Location of SG in Stadium (section #, side, direction): 134 – 140, River Side
The Meaty Questions
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| Photo Credit: Daniel Gajdamowicz |
What are the origins of your groups’ name?
In late 2006, after some long discussions on BigSoccer Ethan Gomberg, one of our original members, suggested the name “Sons of Ben” and it was almost immediately adopted.
Favorite chants/songs?
Dale Philadelphia and Phindaloo
Another favorite to the tune of She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain: We’re the best behaved supporters in the league, when we win / We’re the biggest bunch of bastards, when we lose.
Why is being in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?
There is nothing quite like sitting in an area you had a hand in designing. In conversations with the ownership group from the start they wanted to make sure we had our own section set up in a way that would be the best supporters experience in the league and the most intimidating. We, and the team, have accomplished both
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| Photo Credit: Paul Rudderow |
Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?
“Here before the team”. Sons of Ben was born out of the passion for the game and the desire to have it played in our city. That started in 2007 when SoB was formed and has continued through today. Our members are ridiculously passionate about this game, this team. They bring their energies each and every game, for 90+ minutes, through thick and thin. We’ll abuse our opponents (and their supporters) the entire game all the while supporting our boys and pushing them on to 3 points. Other SG’s have done this longer than us, and some of them are pretty good at it, but we would put our short history up against all of them.
Greatest game(s) in team history?
June 27, 2010 vs Seattle Sounders - The first game at PPL Park and our first true home game, win. It was our first game in the River End. The first time on our new, beautiful pitch. The first time we all got a glimpse of the energy we could create. And, most importantly, the first time we were truly a supporters group.
Predictions for this season?
MLS Cup Champion. Is there really another answer to this question?
Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?
It’s all ours. There is a sense of pride in coming to a professional soccer game near home. Many Union fans had never had that feeling and with ticket sales very strong the interest won’t wane any time soon.
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Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Freddy and Davey: American Soccer "Saviors" Making Good
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| Photo Credit: Drew Hallowell |
Until now.
In 2011 up is down and left is right, as Beckham and Adu, two formerly-appointed American soccer "saviors" are making good now that the limelight has shifted away from them considerably. With the league growing in attendance, stature, and quality (with the addition of some other productive designated players and young stars) the pressure is off and the MLS veteran Beckham and the prodigal-son-returned-Adu are thriving or set to thrive.
Most importantly, both are poised to, or already are, making an impact in a domestic league that's grown to a point where we don't need to rely solely on gimmicks (although the All-Star game is one knock) like 14-year olds or marketable metrosexuals.
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Before Golden Balls was the "next big thing," Adu was the "thing" splashing onto the scene in 2004 at the tender age of 14, appearing in Sierra Mist (does anyone drink that?) commercials with Pele, and filling American soccer fans' heads with the sugar plums of massive marketing and crossover potential.
Much like his romance with one-hitter-wonder, pop "star" JoJo it wasn't to be. The spotlight was thrust upon him too soon and by 2007 he was traded to Real Salt Lake and then jumped ship to chase Europeans dreams with Benefica.
Beckham would arrive the same year and take the mantle for mainstream sports writers and commentators as the savior of soccer in America. It's interesting to compare both players' career trajectories because by 2007 they were about to participate in "Trading Spaces," a show that was definitely a sign of the times.
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| Hey... I got this now. |
Adu, meanwhile, was sneaking out the backdoor as his domestic career fizzled at D.C. United and Real. Adu sparred with D.C.'s coach Peter Nowak and didn't seem to be a part of the upcoming Jason Kries revolution. Despite a positive showing at the U-20 World Cup he made only 17 appearances for the senior team (contributing a paltry two goals). Adu's name was still being spoken with the words "potential," time and time again. Perhaps Benefica would bring out the player American soccer fans so desperately wanted him to be?
By 2010 Beckham and Adu were tired names on the tongues of American soccer fans.
"The Beckham Experiment" by Sport Illustrated writer Grant Wahl depicted the folly of the Galaxy-man's first several seasons. The league's first "designated player" was supposed to be a game-changer; bring untold exposure and popularity to American soccer. Add in that his production was negligible, he danced back-and-forth with AC Milan in consecutive seasons, LA's post-season futility, and a number of high-profile skirmishes with fans left Beckham's image tarnished and his impact on MLS was reduced to a quaint sideshow. "Beckham 23" on the back with the Galaxy crest on the front may have been one of the hottest-selling jerseys of 2007, but four years later they were a bargain at Marshall's. His final contract year was shaping up to be as uneventful as the first four.
The European odyssey that Freddy launched was supposed to provide him with the quality of instruction he couldn't get in the United States. Under the guidance of European coaches, Adu would elevate his game and return stateside to contribute to the National Team in time for South Africa. There were questions of the diminutive striker's maturity and drive, but what kid didn't have those problems?
His time under contract with Benefica was a distaster. He saw just a scant 11 matches for the Portugese giants and spent the next four seasons on various loans: AS Monaco (France), Belenenses (Portugal), Aris (Greece), and Rizepor (Turkey). Adu saw more of Europe than a back-packing college student with daddy's credit card. Calls for poor Freddy to return to MLS got louder and louder; the kid, still only 22, was a bust in Europe.
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As the 2011 MLS season dawned it appeared to be like any other. Quiet, workman-like strides for the little domestic league that could. The difference? Two MLS has-beens are making the mark they should have years ago.
Beckham, in his last contract year, is having the best season since his arrival stateside. The Englishman is on target to play more games and more minutes that any of his previous four seasons. At ten assists so far this campaign, he's already tied a MLS-career best and the Galaxy sit atop the Western Conference. Finally, Beckham is even saying all the right things; talking up a potential contract renewal and the kind words about American soccer we'd hoped to hear all of these years.
"Yeah, there's a chance," said the 36-year old, former England captain. "I haven't made any decision about what I'm going to do after this year. I think it's important that I just concentrate on my play this year. I feel fit, I feel good in games, I feel as if I'm performing well. I need to continue that, and then in a few months I'll think about what I want to do at the end of the day."
Adu, too, have seen his fortunes turn dramatically in 2011. In his last tournament in charge of the United States National Team, Bob Bradley made Freddy a surprise addition to his Gold Cup roster. A cameo appearance on the squad turning into a starring role as he came on as a substitute in the semi-finals, made a spectacular pass the lead to a goal, and started and held his own in the final against Mexico.
Now the 22-year old, in the prime of his career, is returning to America and ironically, to his former D.C. United coach, Peter Nowak, now in charge of the Philadelphia Union. At his unveiling Adu spoke of the maturing he's done and the desire to prove himself in MLS where he failed before.
“I think I am a better player today than when I left MLS four years ago. Maturing helps a lot. As the years go on, you get older and start to put things together. As players your goal is always to play for the national team and represent your country,” said Adu. “But it’s one step at a time — you have to sort out your club situation and you have to be playing and making sure you are helping your team.”
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While neither will totally shed the title of American soccer "savior" they both have the opportunity to become (or in Beckham's case, already) solid contributors to their squads. Both the Galaxy and the Union are in prime position to make post-season runs with Beckham and Adu as cogs in the machine rather than the engines.
For Major League Soccer, the evolution of these two players into role-players rather than marketing men means the domestic game is emerging from being defined solely by it's biggest names. A diverse set of other designated players like Thierry Henry and Omar Bravo, stars yet not solo performers, and breakout youngsters (and homegrown) like Brek Shea, Juan Agudelo, and Bill Hamid gives the league a positive and strong identity it did not have in 2007 when Adu departed and Beckham arrived.
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