12-Pack Interview Series: Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl (Part Two)

Grant Wahl is the best-selling author of "The Beckham Experiment" and the head soccer writer for Sport Illustrated. Earlier this year he unsuccessfully ran to be nominated for the FIFA Presidency.


In part two of our conversation with Wahl he talks about that run for FIFA's top job, Sport Illustrated's growing soccer coverage in print and online, beer in Qatar, this summer's Gold Cup, early impact players for Brazil 2014, and the soccer's growth in the United States.


You can read part one of our interview here.

Speaking at the American Outlaws Rally.
Photo Credit: Renee Krenk Photography.

FBM: FIFA President. You fell a little short. I don't think you had the money to bribe any officials from federations. They didn't nominate you, but a couple of candidates did come out of the woodwork. What were your expectations? What were your goals? Do you feel like you made your point to the world soccer community?

GW: Oh, yeah. I look back on it now and I'm happy with how the message I was trying to send got out. The response global fans and media was so much beyond what I originally expected. I was pretty floored by the whole thing.

It actually became a lot more than I expected. As a result it became like a second full-time job. Here I am having to do interviews with upward 60 countries. It was interesting to me how much it reverberated in countries like Brazil or some of the European countries. That should, not that it had to do with me, but how much fans around the world are dissatisfied with (current FIFA President Sepp) Blatter and what they're doing.

I didn't know how it was going to play out, but I was trying to get the nomination. I did as much as I could. I contacted 150 FAs (football associations), I went to Paris, the UEFA conference. I was able to write a really long story at the end of it all explaining how hard it was for any outsider to get nominated. I was able to get some journalism.

I taught people to take a different look at FIFA and question some of the absurdities of the electoral process.

In the end I didn't get the nomination, but I was totally satisfied with the process.

FBM: Sports Illustrated had been historically short on soccer coverage. There hasn't been regular soccer coverage in the magazine. Lately, though, we've seen a bit more from SI; magazine stories on Charlie Davies and Jose Mourinho. How has the respect, or the desire to cover soccer changed since you've come aboard? Are you excited about the prospect of continued growth of soccer in Sports Illustrated?

GW: I am excited. I'm excited by their having me go full-time with soccer, by giving me the travel budget to cover it the right way. That's all good stuff. 

I'm excited. When I went full-time in January 2010 it was all about the World Cup, previewing and covering that event. Now that its over here I am covering soccer full-time and it's not about covering the World Cup and how's it going to go forward.

I'm excited about that challenge. It does mean all of the writing I do now for Sports Illustrated, more of it is going to be for the website then for the percentage of what I did for college basketball. And I'm OK with that.

I'm able to treat web stories like magazine stories.

We're in pretty nice position where Jose Mourinho will be willing to give us uncommon access, one-on-one to him, that he really doesn't give to journalists anywhere. Because one thing I've always seen over the years is that the top soccer figures in the world want to be bigger in America. Their willing to give access that they wouldn't give their own journalists in Europe. I can leverage that.

At the same time there's cool things going on in American soccer. I don't want to lose sight of that. I'm pretty much on the ground for every U.S. game. I'll be covering the Women's World Cup in Germany as well. 

I'm perfectly happy writing articles for the magazine, but also for the website.

FBM: SI.com has really carved out a decent home for quality, digital coverage of soccer. In this day and age, print media, magazines have weathered it OK. How does Sports Illustrated and its coverage of soccer stay relevant in the digital age?

GW: It is interesting. SI.com got a new soccer editor, Jen Cheng from ESPN.com, about a year ago and I tihnk he's been great. He's been given a budget to hire high-quality freelancers like Sid Lowe and Jonathan Wilson, Gabriel Marcotti, some really good writers so I don't have to do it all. It allows me the luxury of cherry-picking somethings and focusing on those.

If you look at our coverage of the sport on SI.com there's something good everyday just about now. There's someone in place there that gets the sport. Jen Cheng watches more soccer than anyone I know and he's really having a positive impact.


At the magazine, for about a year and a half now we've had new soccer editor who loves the sport. He's also the NFL editor. He's a rising star editor and he's willing and able to pitch stories to the main SI magazine and get us stories in the magazine. In years past there might have been a hesitancy at the magazine to do consecutive soccer features in the magazine.

It does matter to have a few people in key positions in the media, gatekeeper positions who love the sport. That John Skipper who is tremendously powerful guy at ESPN be a big soccer guy is, I can't tell you how big that is for the sport, for coverage of the sport. There's generation of media people where now, soccer is not a stigma attached to it.

FBM: Alright. A beer question. You knew there had to be a beer and soccer question in here. Beer and Qatar? How is that going to happen?


GW: From everything that I understand, I asked some Australians on Twitter if they were able to get some beers when they were at the Asian Cup. They said that if you're in the hotels before and after the games, but it wasn't like you could at the stadiums. You couldn't walk into a bar off the streets because they don't have any. My guess is, when the World Cup comes around, there will be places to get beer. I don't think its going to be easy. I think its going to be a lot harder that any other previous World Cup.

For as much as beer has been associated with soccer. Getting a beer at a soccer stadium has never been that easy.

Still impact players in 2014.

FBM: If you could project the impact players at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. What would be some of your early predictions for the U.S.?

GW: I still think Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are going to have big World Cups. Potentially Tim Howard. All three of those featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for this World Cup. Then you try to project which other guys might be in there. Right now does Juan Agudelo look like a guy that looks like he could have a pretty big World Cup? Yeah, he does. Does Tim Ream look like a guy that could have a pretty big role? Yeah.

You look at what Timothy Chandler is doing in the Bundesliga and with limited time with the National Team and that's very promising. It's kind of hard to predict the future though, you know?

FBM: When you look at Americans abroad and even some players in the MLS that are making an impact and is it easy to be very optimistic about the trajectory of American soccer?

GW: I do. I think its incremental. There are set backs along the way. That's apart of life for the most competitive sport in the world. I wasn't so bothered by the U-20s failing at the World Cup qualifying as much as I don't really see, right now, potential upgrades on Donovan and Dempsey.

Is that a problem that those two guys are probably going to be the top two offensive players in the next World Cup? Considering that they'll be over 30... I guess I do see that as a concern. I look at a lot of these young U.S. players and I'm not sure they've accomplished all that much yet.


Other sports have had young players with a lot of attention, like LeBron James, and what makes you great is dealing with that stuff and still competing. Michael Jordan or Maradona or Pele. It's producing even after you get that attention.

Number five coming?

FBM: Predictions for the Gold Cup?

GW: It is going to be a very interesting tournament. For the U.S., they have the benefit of playing on home soil, but if they have a U.S.-Mexico final that stadium will be pro-Mexico. And that's no different from the 2007 final in Chicago or the 2009 final at the Meadowlands.

I think there will be a lot of pressure on them because Bob Bradley and all the players have talked about how important it was to go to Confederations Cup and have that experience and to qualify for the next. If the U.S. doesn't win there will be some criticism. We'll get a pretty good sense of what the next cycle for the World Cup will look like.

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12-Pack Interview Series: Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl (Part One)

Earlier this year Grant Wahl made waves in global soccer by declaring himself a candidate for the FIFA presidency. Wahl was not nominated by any member nation's federation, but a light was shone upon Sepp Blatter's unopposed run for his fourth term as the leader of the world's game. In the end Qatar's Mohamed Bin Hammam stepped up to complete for FIFA's top job and Blatter squirms a bit more as the world questions just how beneficial his reign has been.


Wahl is the full-time, head soccer writer for Sports Illustrated and probably the most well-known of all American soccer journalists. He's covered four World Cups for the magazine and is the best-selling author of "The Beckham Experiment".

Damn you, Ditka!

(Aside: In 1998, Wahl was covering his first World Cup as the last of SI's American writers to stick around after the USMNT's crashed out in the first round. I was a freshman in high school having just returned from travelling in Hungary and France during the Cup. A long-time subscriber to SI (thanks grandma!) I was elated to finally see some coverage of soccer and I remember pasting up the magazine's pictures of the WC on my closet door. I watched the final and eagerly awaited the next issue of Sport Illustrated to come in the mail. 


When the magazine arrived I was furious to see Mike Ditka's face on the cover instead of a photo of Zidane burying a header against Brazil. In one of my first acts of advocating for soccer in America I furiously wrote a letter to the editor of SI with a litany of complaints. Wahl, SI, and myself have all come a long way since then.)


The Free Beer Movement had the chance to meet Mr. Wahl when we both spoke at the American Outlaws Rally in Las Vegas and Grant graciously agreed to an interview to talk about the effect of the "Beckham Experiment" in MLS two years later, his FIFA run, the future of soccer in print and digital media, and much more.


Our interview started as our usual "12-pack" of questions, but it turned into a fantastic conversation on media and the game so there's several more questions through parts one and two.

Free Beer Movement: How did you get your start in soccer? Did you play when you were younger? 

Grant Wahl: I played soccer as a kid just like everyone else. And just like everyone else... I quit when I was thirteen. I didn't really pay attention to soccer again until the 1990 World Cup. The US had qualifyied for the first time in forty years. I got into not just watching the US, but the other games. I remember, we didn't get TNT (which had the English-language rights to Italy '90), but we did get Univision and we watched Andres Cantor. Got into there and then slowly progressed from there.


I went to Princeton where (current USMNT coach) Bob Bradley was coach and covered their Final Four run in 1993. In early 1994 I applied for a scholarship at Princeton for students to do a project they could never do on campus. I proposed a project that would take me to Argentina for a four weeks and then Boston to follow the Argentina team when they played there during the Cup. It's funny to think back because it was Bradley that actually helped me make contact with Boca Juniors for the trip.


It was the first time I had ever left the United States; I was twenty years old. 


FBM: Where did you get your start in sports journalism? How do you think you've managed to rise so quickly in the business?


GW: I had always wanted to write for Sports Illustrated someday. I tried to do what I could to pursue that in college. I ended up getting a job offer to start as a fact check. Which is pretty low on the totem pole. It was a foot in the door and an opportunity to write. Early on, no one at the magazine wanted to write about soccer.


My first big thing with soccer was the 1998 World Cup. We have three writers over there and I was, by far, the most junior. After the U.S exit, I was the only one left to cover the Finals story. I know the magazine editor was freaked out about it. I was only 24 and I knew that was kind of a big chance for me. From that point on I've been the "soccer guy" at the magazine, but secondary until January of last year when I became full-time.

Wahl's FIFA Presidential Rally in Las Vegas.
Photo Credit: Renee Krenk Photography

FBM: You recently spoke at the American Outlaws Rally in Las Vegas. A "campaign stop" for your FIFA Presidency run. How was that event for you? How was it meeting the supporters and getting a taste of what it meant to be a supporter of American soccer?


GW: I totally enjoyed it. It's great to meet people in person who are passionate about a sport in American. I was really impressed with what American Outlaws has doen to organized fans. For me it was really fun. I had not planned for it to turn into a campaign thing. Back when I first accepted it was before the FIFA thing. I was pretty surprised to see all the campaign signs and buttons (put together by energy drink maker, Golazo).


What I wanted to say from the start was I've seen the rise of fan culture in American soccer and that includes the National Team and includes MLS teams. It's been very cool to see. I think that's what makes soccer 
fandom more interested and passionate than fandom of a lot of other American sports. I love the passion of it.


FBM: Having covered both college basketball and soccer for Sports Illustrated... what are the differences in covering each?


GW: Honestly I don't cover soccer any differently than I would a college basketball. The way you cover a sport is essentially the same. Soccer is different from college basketball in a media sense. I like being different and doing something that's not typical in sports journalism.


I love the variety of stories in soccer. In college basketball I did get the feeling that a lot of my stories or the story topics started to take on similar qualities. Every season I would do a story on the top freshman in the country that would be the number one pick in the next NBA draft. I didn't dislike that, in yet there wasn't a ton of variety in their personal stories and I feel like in soccer there's a lot more variety because of the volume of stories around the world. 


Soccer touches on so many different things; culture, politics, stuff like that. For the media that's exciting to look at from that perspective.


FBM: I'm going to make you make a defining statement here. Cameron Crazies or American Outlaws?


GW: (Laughs). You know. I made my choice a year ago to go in full for American soccer so I'll go with American Outlaws.

FBM: Beckham is in final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He's almost done with his so-called experiment. How do you rate it in year five? From his perspective, the Galaxy's, Major League Soccer's?


GW: I think you have to look at is from different perspectives. For Major League Soccer and the Galaxy they would certainly sign him again because it brings a tremendous amount of attention. Not just from outside the U.S., but from inside the U.S. as well. From a business perspective it has been a tremendous positive. This guy's jersey was the top selling jersey in the world in 2007.


And yet at the same time, you've gotta look at the on-the-field performance. My book covered the first two years and it was a complete disaster on the field. Obviously it has gotten better since then, but even then you've got to issue some caveats since Beckham hasn't played that much for the Galaxy whether thats due to the loans or serious injuries. He's now playing in his fifth season, but this will be the second one in which he'll be playing the whole season with the team. Hasn't won any trophies.

Just as it was the case at Real Madrid it was very important that we won a league trophy before he left. He did that. I think it is very important for him that how people view his on-field legacy here to win a trophy before he leaves. 

It's very much a mixed bag. In 2011 he's helping create chances for the Galaxy, but to get five yellow cards in the first six games is kinda of ridiculous. 

When I first started my book on Beckham we didn't have any idea how it was going to turn out and for all I knew he was going to win championships like Pele did with the Cosmos and it did't happen that way.

I think its kinda of unfortuante that in some places I've gotten this reputation for being "negative" on Beckham. All I've really done is cover him straight up.

Jury is still out on the "Beckham Experiment".

FBM: It's unfortunate that you get painted those ways. When you're a "truth-teller" sometimes the truth hurts. It's not your fault it's negative. Your subject ends up... it's not the fault that you wrote down the facts; the facts tell a certain story.

GW: I totally enjoyed the whole process. I was able to get so deeply inside a team like I never had before. People were very honest the whole way through. I wanted it to be either really, really good (for the team) or really, really bad. If they were a mediocre team, it wouldn't be a very interesting story.


Turned out they were really, really bad.




FBM: It was really interesting to look at the inside of an MLS team. The only news coverage you got was from the team itself. "Sorry they're not staying at the Four Seasons... the Best Western is what you get for this road trip."


GW: (Laughs) I was lucky in the sense that MLS was still at the point, even with a guy like Beckham on the team, that the access I was able to get was awfully good what you would probably get for an NFL team or an NBA team.


FBM: This dovetails nicely into my next set of questions. The "Beckham Rule", the Designated Player.. if you've looked at the impact of it since his arrival... there's been a whole host of busts: Nery Castillo, Guzman in Toronto, Ladin in Houston. Or there are some that started successfully but then faded: Blanco in Chicago, Ljunberg in Seattle. How would you assess the overall program for MLS?


GW: It's good that teams at least now have the option and really open their wallets. Which wasn't there before Beckham. Is everyone going to make the right decision? No. That's certainly the case we've seen.

You could also argue, though, it allowed a guy like Landon Donovan to stay in the league. I'm a little surprised so many DPs have been busts. At the same time there have been some successes. The chance to bring some star power into the league is something that needed to happen.


In a league that gets microscopic television ratings (0.2 Nielson rating on ESPN) the only thing that moved the needle was Beckham, and maybe Adu the first year he was in MLS. The DP at least allowed the possibility that that would happen.


You are starting to see a divide between larger market and smaller market teams and their ability to afford players like that.

Did he know what he was getting into?

FBM: Do you think that the designated players come in with mistaken impressions of what the league is and what their impact will be?


GW: I do find it interesting. I would compare Henry to Beckham in this case. When they first arrived they, I don't think, they were prepared for the demands of being in the league, the heat, the conditioning required of players in MLS. That led, in part, to Henry not being at full fitness last season. Led to injures. He just wasn't in shape.


Neither one of those guys were fully aware of what they were getting into. I think maybe that's a lesson for teams in MLS, especially for some of these guys that might come in mid-season, from Europe, that they really need to be strong about educating these guys about what they're getting into. My guess is that some of the MLS teams feel like they want to overpower the player or their agent. MLS teams really should do more to educate those players before they actually arrive in the U.S. 


FBM: you also have to look at the scale. Are the expectations too high for the impact of these players? Soccer is a team sport. It's not like having a start quarterback or running back that will be THE silver bullet to it all. It does skew the scale of how you rate these players.


GW: They are one of eleven, but they are one very special player of eleven. I don't think it's unfair to think that Thierry Henry should score a lot of goals in New York based on how much he's getting paid. Now we're starting to see that. These guys get the benefit of being the stars, but there's expectation and that's no different in MLS than in Europe.


More of our conversation with SI's Grant Wahl in Part Two.


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Introducing the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" Shirt

Drum roll, please.....

The time has come to roll out a brand, spankin' new Free Beer Movement t-shirt! Yes, folks, that's right after months of anticipation (at least for us) we're debuting this awesomely, epic shirt.

Our friends at Objectivo/Ultras are back again to support the making, retailing, and shipping of the shirt so if we're already sold you head on over there right away!

If it's not love a first sight here's a short list of things that might convince ya:

1) It's America. Come on! We just got Bin Laden... time to celebrate.

2) Also, its nearly Gold Cup time so support your U.S. Men's National Team. I mean even the American Outlaws would love this.

3) It might be the dopest design you've ever seen. Designed by a real pro, Eric Wheatley. A pint glass, an American flag beer, on a coaster with the continental U.S. and the FBM on it. Plus, our sweet crest is still on the back.

4) We promise you this... it will be the softest shirt you'll EVER own. Made of 50% polyester, 25% cotton, and 25% rayon... its like wearing a shirt made out of a cloud. (BTW... the material is why this shirt is a bit more expensive then the last one)

5) You're helping "Build American Soccer One Beer at a Time". It even says it on the back. Plus, free advertising for the cause you know and love.

So what are you all waiting for!?!?!? Click on over to Objectivo's site. It will be the best $28 you've ever spent.

A traditionalist? There are still limited quantities, sizes, and colors of the original Free Beer Movement shirt. Still available for just $18.


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Better Know A Supporters Group: Bulldog Supporters Group

After a brief interruption in our weekly series we return to our coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report". 

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 "Bulldog Supporters Group", supporters of the reigning MLS champions, Colorado Rapids.

As told to the Free Beer Movement by BSG President Jon Forget.

The Basics

SG Name: Bulldog Supporters Group (BSG, The Bobbies)

MLS Club: Colorado Rapids

Stadium: DSG Park

Year SG Founded: 2010

Section Name (if other than SG name): The East Terrace

Any other SGs apart of your section? West Terrace occupied by Pid Army.

Location of SG in Stadium (section #, side, direction): North side of the stadium, directly under the “2010 Championship” plaque, you can’t miss us.

The Meaty Questions

What are the origins of your groups’ name?

Our name evolved from our home pub. We hail out of the downtown Denver soccer pub “The British Bulldog”. This was a place many of us would frequent before the supporters group formed to watch matches with others. For many of us, our pub is a second home.

Favorite chants/songs?

Glory, Glory Colorado, Conor Casey Rapids’ #9, Mountain Roads Take Me Home, Pabloooooo, Ginger Ninja, We all Bleed Rapids Burgundy, Mental

Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?

No sitting here! We are unique to the league as we are the ONLY standing supporters terrace. I guarantee you will not get the excitement or atmosphere standing/sitting in any other part of DSG Park as you will in the terrace. From the terrace we hope to inspire the team, pushing them on to victory with our voices. Win or lose, we are family.

Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?

We realize that we are new, but that hasn't stopped us from quickly growing and becoming organized. We have many new and old fans that are completely dedicated to the club, and are eager to inject their passion to make it better. It’s this passion from our members that is on display before, during, and after a match. Simply put, we are rowdy, partying, song singing, soccer loving people drinking beer and playing games in the warm Colorado sunshine. There aren't many ways to spend a Saturday better than that.

Greatest game(s) in team history?

Chris Henderson’s screaming volley over Mark Dodd to reach the final in ’97 is something many of us will never forget. Coming back against Kansas City on the 4th of July down a man in ’05. Crushing LA on opening day 4-0 in ’08. Of course our run through the playoffs this past year. Home and away against Columbus, San Jose and Dallas are games that for obvious reasons will never fade from many of our memories.

Predictions for this season?

If we finish out of the top three that would surprise a lot of people. Now that we have a taste for winning in our mouth there are raised expectations. If we don’t get our hands on some kind of silverware I think people will be disappointed. The month of July will be HUGE for us as we will be playing seven games in twenty-six days. After that, we start in the CCL where traveling might take it’s toll. God willing, we will remain healthy and focused enough to be able to mount a serious challenge for back-to-back titles.

Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?

Simply, this is what we have. For people lucky enough to feel so passionate about soccer there IS no other place to start than by supporting your local team. Do it, and be proud of your team, remember your rivalries and that the enemy of your enemy is a friend.

For more information and/or to join BSG check out their website.

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The Beautiful Game: The OTHER Reason We Watch

Editor's Note: We continue with yet another random, new series on the Free Beer Movement. Soccer fans come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and how they became fans of the sport are as diverse as they are. While most of us are engrossed in the on-field action, the tactics, the drama.... for many it is more personal, more intimate.

Introducing "The Beautiful Game" a series that focuses on the lighter side, the more attractive side of soccer. Don't worry we're not trying to become "Kickette", but, in our ever-expanding quest to cover the cultural side of the sport its hard to look past a pretty face. Our contributor Amanda will be serving up soccer's best specimens from both sexes with a wit that only she can provide.

Please leave your feedback in the comments section!


By Amanda / Senior Hottie Correspondent


I started out as a Eurosnob (and I still love Liverpool), but over the past few years, I’ve come to realize Major League Soccer is really where it’s at for me. Nothing like watching a game in person, either jumping and shouting in the supporters section or gossiping and ogling the keeper over a Black Iguana or two with other soccer-loving ladies. And as MLS has matured, one thing that’s come along with much better uniforms (remember this, Sporting KC? Or this, LA?) is former players becoming coaches. Hot coaches. In this installment of The Beautiful Game, we’re taking a look at three old-school MLS players who’ve moved to the bench permanently, and do a damn fine job of looking damn fine.

First up, Jason Kreis. MLS original, Real Salt Lake coach, and GQMF. This man can wear the hell out of a suit. Even back when RSL was a struggling expansion team and not the class of the league (CONCACAF Champions League final aside), they were top of the table when it came to a well-dressed bench. Of course, nothing’s sexier than success, but I like to think having a sharp-dressed man on the sideline helped spur RSL on to their MLS Cup-winning season in 2009 and to the Champions League final this year. If you tell me you don’t want to be the trophy in this picture, I will call you a liar. Even you LA and Colorado fans want a piece of that.

Next, we turn our attention to the Eastern Conference, and D.C. United’s head coach, Ben Olsen. Now, Olsen hasn't had quite as much time as Kreis has and definitely hasn’t had the success (but I think you should get hazard pay for taking over DCU post-Onalfo). However, he is also quite the snappy dresser, though tending a little more toward hipster sweaters and untamed scruff than Jason Kreis, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Especially not when you have an excellently developed
"Sideline Glare of Intensity" and a sweet wool coat to go along with it. And when your team has the leading scorer in MLS in Charlie Davies, who knows what the future holds? Maybe DCU will make the playoffs and we’ll all see just how luxuriant an Olsen playoff beard can get. Fingers crossed.

And finally, Houston Dynamo coach Dom Kinnear, part of the long list of "Terrifying Coaches I Love". Sure, he looks all smiley here, but dude’s been working on his death stare for decades now (when he wasn't working on his awesome curly mullet, it seems). And as much as I love him, I’d be lying if I said Kinnear was anywhere near as well-dressed as Olsen or Kreis.

Actually, he tends to favor team polos and ill-fitting pants. But when he’s not terrifying (i.e. most times except for immediately after a Dynamo loss), just look at that smile. And remember how I said nothing’s sexier than success? Yeah, about that.

Darn right, y’all.

Meet Amanda

I'm a lawyer in South Texas, a.k.a. the middle of nowhere. I drive three hours each way to attend all the Dynamo home games I can, and that's only partially because standing with Texian Army gives me a
great view of Tally Hall from behind. Hot players are a bonus, but I'd love the game even if they all looked like Carlos Tevez (the women too). You can find me on The Girls in the Cheap Seats, talking about the American game as part of a rotating cast of smart female fans. I post my own nonsense over at Needs More Kittens,and tweet more than I should here.

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NEWS WATCH - USWNT Roster for 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany

Coach Pia Sundhage named her 23 player roster for this summer's Women's World Cup in Germany.

Want to know more about the USWNT? Check out our contribution to The Shin Guardian, "The ABCs of the USWNT".

Goalkeepers (3): Nicole Barnhart, Jillian Loyden, Hope Solo

Defenders (7): Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn

Midfielders (7): Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Lindsay Tarpley

Forwards (4): Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach

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Better Know A Supporters Group Photo Essay: Section 8

Chicago Fire training pitch. Toyota Park in the background.

We had to take a brief respite from our weekly series featuring profiles of Major League Soccer supporters groups, because, well, several of them haven't returned their questionnaires yet (you know who you are!).

That being said... we were digging through the dark room at FBM HQ and we came across a bunch of photos we've never featured on the site. Last October we had a chance to catch a game in "Section 8", the supporters section of Chicago Fire the night before the USMNT international friendly against Poland.

Growing up in Wisconsin, the Fire were the closest MLS team for us to travel to so we frequented their games as they played all over Chicago-land; Naperville, Soldier Field, and finally, in their own digs, Toyota Park.

The late fall match pitted Chicago Fire against their arch-rivals, Columbus Crew, and though the home side was starring down a post-season-less 2010, the supporters (and not a supporters group, but an "independent supporters association") were in full voice and in the mood to put a dent in the Eastern Conference leading Crew's march to the playoffs.

The weekend also happened to coincide with the 13th anniversary of the birth of Chicago Fire so the fans were in a festive mood to celebrate their club's accomplishments despite the lack of them that season.

The night was the truest definition of what it means to be a supporter of American soccer; no matter what.... they were behind their club. True support. True passion.

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Soccer Marketing 101 - Fox Soccer to Debut "Soccer Night in America"

Seemingly out of the blue and partway through the 2011 Major League Soccer season, Fox Soccer (Channel?) announced their prime time matches would, from this moment forward, be known as "Soccer Night in America".

The first "SNiA" will be this Friday as Portland Timbers host Philadelphia Union at 9pm (CT).

Getting beyond the fact that FS(C?) pretty much STOLE our nickname MLS matches during the week (we've been Tweeting and Facebooking that out for the last two years.. I'm sure they got it from us) we pleased as punch that the network is making our domestic league a priority.

The channel that's made its name broadcasting English Premier League, Serie A, and this year, Champions League matches, has treated the American league like a red-headed stepchild in its lineup.

Granted they've hired much higher profile names to call their games, but Fox Soccer's coverage of MLS has often lacked the "polish" of other broadcasts. No pre-game or post-game shows, few stats, on-screen graphics, and fewer camera angles to compliment the coverage they did provide.

Finally, though, it looks we can give credit where credit is due. Fox is looking to make a serious push in covering MLS where ESPN has tried and failed. By committing the league to a specific night (Fridays with some Saturdays sprinkled in) with specific branding ("Soccer Night in America") they're giving the league a spotlight for soccer fans to gravitate too.

Friday nights are tough, but for die hard domestic fans it creates consistency, something the league broadcast coverage has sorely lacked. ESPN used to dedicate Thursday to MLS, but the 2010 season saw that formula fly out the window and their broadcasts bounce in and out of a weekday slot all season (with some weeks not seeing an ESPN televised MLS game at all).

American soccer fans have long complained that one of the nation's largest platforms for reaching the greater soccer fan base in the U.S. has punted on their MLS coverage, but now it appears Fox Soccer wants to get serious about it. From what little we've seen so far the areas of great failure will hopefully become Fox's great successes.

Fox Soccer can do little about the on-field product that the league puts out on a weekly basis, but from here on out they can certainly add a degree of professionalism and presentation to help build the domestic game.

In a perfect world, this would be the new intro for "Soccer Night in America":




We suppose this one isn't half bad:



*** We added a question mark after several mentions of "Fox Soccer Channel" or "FSC" because it seems as though the network is increasingly referring to itself as solely "Fox Soccer" instead. Stay tuned.


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Portland Gets an Top-Tier Team, Its Fans Get a Top-Tier Beer

Photo Credit: Free Beer Movement

On April 14, 2011 the Portland Timbers made their smashing Major League Soccer debut. The American soccer world was blown away at the sights and sounds of the league's newest members. A renovated stadium, a supporters-fueled National Anthem, and a team that brought home a victory for the home fans. Top-tier American soccer returned to the Rose City for the first time since the collapse of the team in 1982 and the North American Soccer League in 1984.

The city earned the nickname "Soccer City USA" for it's great support of the sport in the 1970s, but since then has earned another reputation; that of craft brewing quality. Portland, and the whole of the state of Oregon has led the way  in a national revival of high-quality brewing.

The return of top-flight soccer to Portland meant yet another opportunity for beer and soccer to mix.

Opening night in Portland. (Photo Credit: Portland Timbers)

Cascade Brewing Co., in cooperation with the Timber's supporters group, the Timbers Army, released a beer to honor the team's return to American soccer's main stage.

The beer, called "Portland Pale Ale" is a tribute beer for the Army and its long-standing symbolic representative, Jim Serrill (aka "Timber Jim"). Art Larrance, Cascade's owner, is a long-time Portland sports and soccer fan, and the brewer that brought the Portland brew to life.

Larrance started Cascade Brewing Co. in 1994, after leaving Portland Brewing Co. another brewery he helped start in 1985. Today Cascade brews nearly 1800 barrels of beer a year available at both the brewer (the Barrel House) and their restaurant, the Raccoon Lodge and Brew Pub. Larrance is considered one of the "Fathers of Craft Brewing" in Portland along with the likes of the city's other brewing heavy hitters, Brideport and Widmer Brothers.

“I chuckled, in 1985," Larrance recalled. "Wait til those little babies that are just born now are drinking our beers. That means they would have grown up with our craft beers their whole life. Those are who are drinking our beers today. Those who have grown up with our movement, accepted it, and it’s a part of their life.”

Since brewpubs were legalized in Oregon in 1985, Portland is now home to 30 microbreweries, and with 46 microbrew outlets, has more breweries and brewpubs that any other city in the United States. Beer is a part of Portland's culture, and now, so is professional soccer.

For Larrance rolling out a tribute beer for soccer's return to the city was a no-brainer.

"Timber Jim" takes a swig of Portland Pale Ale.
(Photo Credit: Brewpublic.com)

“We decided we wanted to launch that beer at the same time the Timbers we’re getting kicked off this year because we’ve had a long time association with Jim Serrill,” he said.

Not only was it a tribute, but Timbers Army had a hand in helping make the beer a reality, designing the label that graces each 22 oz. bottle.

"Portland Pale Ale" is an original recipe from Larrance's days back at Portland Brewing Co.

Larrance describes the beer, which clocks in at 4.5% ABV:

“A nice easy-drinkin’ pale ale. It’s one that you can drink more than one or two or three. It just goes down real easy. It’s not over hopped, it’s balanced. A nice blend of the sweets of the malt and the bitterness of the hop. And to me that’s what beer is about; the blending of the elements.”

The Cascade Brewing Co. owner's history with beer (he started as a home brewer) is just a bit shorter than his history as a soccer fan in Portland.

"I'm a sports fan to start with," said Larrance who also has had courtside tickets to the Trailblazers NBA team for 40 years. "I can remember standing six or seven hours in line in 1975 to see the Portland Timbers."

With legends like Giorgio Chinaglia and Pele coming through town, the Timber's inaugural season in NASL saw them run all the way to the championship game only to fall to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-0.

Art Larrance and "Timber Jim" enjoying their beer.

(Photo Credit: Brewpublic.com)

"Soccer and Portland... we like winners here. We jumped on them and we filled the stadium,"

Larrance owned season tickets for several years, but after the NASL left town he saw just a handful of games as the Timbers organization floated through the lower echelons of American soccer.

Now that America's top league, this time as Major League Soccer, is back, so is Larrance.

He said with a laugh, “I did jump back on the bandwagon and have tickets to share with the employees as well as myself.”

For Larrance beer and soccer just makes sense.

“It’s just a part of watching sports," he said.

“I think the people that play soccer; after a game you want to have a beer. So when you’re watching somebody else sweat it feels good to drink for them ‘cause they can’t drink one right now.”

In Portland both beer lovers and soccer fans have something new to cheer about.

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Better Know A Supporters Group: Screaming Eagles

We continue to expand our coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report". 

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 "Screaming Eagles", supporters of the capital city's D.C. United.

As told to the Free Beer Movement by SE President Paul Sotoudeh.

(Editor's Note: Last week we featured on of D.C. United's other SGs, Barra Brava. Check their profile out as well!)

The Basics

SG Name: Screaming Eagles

MLS Club: D.C. United

Stadium: RFK Stadium

Year SG Founded: 1995


Section Name (if other than SG name):
The Nest (132-134), The Perch (231-232) and the Aerie (139)

Any other SGs apart of your section?

No (Editor's Note: Other SGs in RFK including Barra Brava, La Norte, District Ultras)

Location of SG in Stadium (section #, side, direction):

Sections 132-134 and 139, as well as additional rows in 231 & 232. Northeast side of RFK (the TV or “loud side”).

The Meaty Questions

What are the origins of your groups’ name?


We held a quick poll amongst the small group of people who came to the earliest meetings. Screaming Eagles was adopted without too much debate. It just made sense. There was an eagle in DC United’s logo and supporters groups scream when they're in the stadium. It serves as a bit of an homage to our fighting men and women (we’re based in our nation’s capital, after all), and we figured that nobody looking for the 101st Airborne would be confused by a soccer group w/ the same nickname.

Favorite chants/songs?


Tough to pick. Although we have a number of go-to chants that we have used for many seasons, we like to keep things fresh and add new ones every year or two, so there’s always a new favorite – we have a good one for Charlie Davies that we just started doing. If forced to pick, I’d say what is currently known as the “Benny’s Army” chant – a chant we first did back when we were “Bruce’s Army” – is a good choice.

Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?

The Nest is along the touchline at midfield, very close to the action, so we have the opportunity to influence the match through our support. There’s no better place to be a fan and really experience and become part of the game. Plus, our sections are where the party is.

Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?


At the start of MLS, the Screaming Eagles set the standard for how American supporters groups are run in terms of organization, style of support, and relationship with our club’s front office, and we continue to push things forward in 2011. Our tailgates are the best in the league, our support for DC United and the US National Team is second to none, and our match-viewing events draw plenty of new fans. But we also sponsor local rec soccer clubs and organize community outreach activities and charitable efforts that spread the game to young and old alike. We are the best grassroots promotional organization for soccer in the DC area, because it isn’t just about watching the match for us. We’re here to grow the game, and that’s what we do every day.

Greatest game(s) in team history?


The 2004 Eastern Conference Final is the greatest match in MLS history. That said, I think the team’s high point is the 1997 MLS Cup at RFK Stadium, when United beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 in front of a sold-out home stadium. For that match, the league erected and sold additional temporary bleacher seats behind the south goal to accommodate the demand. The weather was rainy and bitterly cold. And still, we had 57,000+ people come out and thunderously chant for DC together – and we won a title. When growing the game is your goal, there’s no better blueprint to follow than that.

Predictions for this season?

Great improvement. We aren’t MLS Cup contenders by any reasonable measure, but we’re young and tough and talented. I expect that we’ll make the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference, getting markedly better as the season progresses, and then be a really tough out for whoever we’re matched up with in the playoffs.

Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?

DC United is our hometown team and the US National Team is our nation’s team. There are lots of people who live in America and claim to love the game, but aren’t interested in supporting soccer in this country so that one day it will be as good or better than what they get up early on weekend mornings to watch. There’s nothing wrong with being interested in watching the high standard of play on display in foreign leagues, but this is our game and these are our teams, and we believe in supporting them 100%.

For more information about the "Screaming Eagles" or to join up with them check out their website.

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