MLS 2011 season

[crabfan]

Pumped that Portland has a team! Looking forward to seeing them at the revamped downtown stadium. Rooting for the SJ Earthquakes as well...

[Rageman]

Pumped that Portland has a team! Looking forward to seeing them at the revamped downtown stadium. Rooting for the SJ Earthquakes as well...

The Timbers looked like shit in the first 30 minutes against Colorado. That was some awful, awful footy to sit through as a Timbers supporter. John Spencer will have them playing sharp eventually but Man, did they look lost early on. They sure look like a team that needs a central midfielder . . . which they have been trying to sign one as a designated player for quite awhile now.

If you're rooting for the 'Quakes, you'll like newly added Steven Lenhart from Columbus Crew. Fearless striker that will not back down when in the box. Very raw but definitely has a nose for goal.

This season is going to be so much fun to watch. 18 teams . . . Vancouver-Portland-Seattle rivalry . . . more 3 striker formations . . . reserve league returns . . . new stadium in Kansas City. All you fuckin' Euosnob football twats that look down on MLS because you saw a match on tv five years ago or actually went to a match eight years ago and it wasn't up to your standards can just go fuck off if you still think this league sucks. The level of play has improved every year, even while expanding from 10 to 18 teams in just seven years. Ten years ago there was one Soccer Specific Stadium in the country, and that was two years old, now most of the teams have their own stadiums with more on the way.

[WOLF]

Looking forward to having my hometown Montreal Impact join next year, to set up a nice, 3-way, Canadian rivalry. Don't get the league moving to 19 teams though. You'd think one more would come in to balance the conferences.

[killeverything]

Pumped that Portland has a team! Looking forward to seeing them at the revamped downtown stadium. Rooting for the SJ Earthquakes as well...

I was pumped the fuck up watching them get the shit kicked out of em'.

Portland is such a fickle town. I'm gonna laugh my ass off when it's gone in a couple years....

[crabfan]

Pumped that Portland has a team! Looking forward to seeing them at the revamped downtown stadium. Rooting for the SJ Earthquakes as well...

I was pumped the fuck up watching them get the shit kicked out of em'.

Portland is such a fickle town. I'm gonna laugh my ass off when it's gone in a couple years....

Portland supports their teams really well. The Timbers have been around for years, just finally in MLS. The Portland/Seattle/Vancouver rivalry will be a great thing for sports fans in the NW. I love how Timbers Management had the juevos to put a "Soccer Town USA" billboard with their logo on it right in Seattle by Qwest Field. That's just awesome...

The Blazers have some of the most loyal fans in the NBA and freaking love that team.

[Rageman]

Looking forward to having my hometown Montreal Impact join next year, to set up a nice, 3-way, Canadian rivalry. Don't get the league moving to 19 teams though. You'd think one more would come in to balance the conferences.

They'll move in one at a time because that's the only ownership group that had their shit together for that season. Portland and Vancouver both came in together because everything fell into place at the same time.

I love it when candidate cities talk about how ________ would be a great place for a MLS franchise. Montreal is in because they had a ownership group step up with a proper stadium plan(this time). Sure there are soccer fans in Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland and Miami . . . but there aren't any local multi-millionaires willing to sign on.

The league sounded like they were going to move the 20th team in New York in 2012 . . . but NY Mets owner Wilpon's money appears to be drying up.

[Rageman]

Week one

Tuesday
Seattle v Los Angeles 36,433

Saturday
Vancouver v Toronto 22,592
DC United v Columbus 18,132
New York v Seattle 20,982
Houston v Philadelphia 19,385
Dallas v Chicago 20,145
Colorado v. Portland 17,139
Chivas USA v Kansas City 18,122
San Jose v Salt Lake 10,525

Sunday
Los Angeles v New England 27,000

211,555 total

21,155 average

27 goals

2.7 average

Congrats to Dwayne DeRosario for scoring MLS' 8,000th league goal . . . and condolences for getting their asses stomped in a 4-2 loss.

[KillDevilHill]

The whitecaps rolling Toronto FC was a big news story in BC, good to see them doing good. I went to two whitecaps games a couple of years ago. It will be weird having soccer in BC place

[Rageman]

Week two just about to kick off in Seattle.

Here's a tweet from Chad Ochocinco after practice with Sporting Kansas City (aha The Sporks!!)

I wish you all can see the skill it takes to play FUTBOL,even with my speed these guys still make me look like shit on the pitch...

[crabfan]

Week two just about to kick off in Seattle.

Here's a tweet from Chad Ochocinco after practice with Sporting Kansas City (aha The Sporks!!)

I wish you all can see the skill it takes to play FUTBOL,even with my speed these guys still make me look like shit on the pitch...

Nice! A little humility is good for 85.

[Kid-Wicked]

i couldn't make it to the whitecaps opener due to hockey commitments but i did watch it on tsn.

the 2 british guys doing commentary need to go. bring back ian michaud.

[Rageman]

Pretty cool comment by recently retired FC Dallas 'keeper Dario Sala, a native Argentinian.

http://www.bigdsoccer.com/2011/3/28/207 ... allas-fans

A few months ago I posted my own tribute to Dario Sala where I talked about his legacy at FC Dallas as the guy who stood between the nets for the first five years of Pizza Hut Park. Well back in February, I was informed of Dario's retirement and move into the business world. I reached out to the Sala family and Dario has graciously written this message to the fans. Thank you Dario and Margot.



Daniel,



First of all, I want to thank you for asking me to write this. My only regret about my retirement has been that I did not have the chance to say goodbye and express my gratitude to the people who supported me throughout my FC Dallas career. I’m glad I have the opportunity to do that now.



Throughout my MLS tenure, I told my friends and family that I would end my career in an FC Dallas jersey. It was just something I knew in my heart. After my contract ended I listened to offers from a few teams but, truth be told, nothing felt right. In the six seasons I spent with FCD, Frisco became my home. It’s where Margot and I chose to raise our family and where we have built a very nice life. I didn’t want to give that up.



So, in January, I officially retired from playing soccer and began a career as an agent. The move has been an easy one, as I had been informally recruiting players to come to the league for years. Now I just get paid for it. I’ve already signed several players to teams here and in Latin America, including Mauro Rosales of the Seattle Sounders.



In addition to my new endeavor, I will continue to run my Dario Sala Soccer Clinics for underprivileged children in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I started the clinics because I believed I had a responsibility to help grow the beautiful game in my adopted homeland. Last year, I received a Hometown Hero award for my work on the clinics and it was so special because it reinforced how I think of Dallas: My home. Even though I no longer wear a MLS jersey, I still embrace that responsibility and want to give back to the community that has given me so much.



I consider myself extremely fortunate to have represented FC Dallas and its fanbase. It was an honor to have played for the legendary Lamar Hunt and to be part of his dream of bringing soccer to the United States. I’m thankful for great teammates, including the entire 2010 club and friends like Kenny Cooper, Drew Moor, Marcelo Saragosa and Daniel Hernandez, players who are great competitors but even better people. Daniel Granados, Marcus Owens, Josh Watts and the rest of the staff also provided incredible support to me during my FCD career. I saw several coaching changes during my tenure, too, but it allowed me to work with quality coaches like Colin Clarke, Marco Ferruzzi and John Ellinger. I’m also grateful to have played for Schellas Hyndman, a man who – on and off the field – stays true to his values and his vision amid even the harshest criticism. I greatly enjoyed watching him prove his critics wrong last year and I expect more good things from his club this season.



But, most of all, I’m thankful for the fans. During the past six years, you cheered for me through many storms (both literal and figurative) and your encouragement did not go unnoticed. Unlike most soccer leagues, MLS players get the opportunity to know fans on a personal level. FC Dallas fans invited me to their weddings, graduations and tailgates. They sent birthday and Christmas cards. They even threw a baby shower for my wife. Simply put, we became a family. I have played for some of South America’s most storied clubs, but I had never had a personal relationship with the fans like I did in Dallas. It’s what makes Major League Soccer special – and it’s the reason why I decided to become a season ticketholder this year.



So, this isn’t a goodbye note. It’s a message to let FC Dallas fans know that I’ve joined their ranks. My family has purchased our season ticket package and we will be sitting in Section 107, singing all the songs I learned while minding FCD’s goal. Please stop by and say hi.



Who knows? Maybe I’ll make my way across the stadium to bang the Inferno drum. It wouldn’t be the first time.



Gracias por todo, FC Dallas fans. I fought as hard as could for the shirt for the past six years– and it was the honor of a lifetime.



Dallas til I die,



Dario Sala

[Bruce Chickenson]

I tried watching some MLS, football bad quality, commentators have no idea about the game, leave football to the rest of the world, go watch Barcelona v Madrid on Tuesday, that will show ya!

[killeverything]

I tried watching some MLS, football bad quality, commentators have no idea about the game, leave football to the rest of the world, go watch Barcelona v Madrid on Tuesday, that will show ya!

They should but they won't. The hipsters have adopted it now so brace yourself for tight pants, ironic facial hair, PBR and Timbers jerseys.

What is fun is it's Portland. Which means that they like everything there will eventually fail.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

You'd better hope it succeeds because I heard some inside skinny that Merrit Paulson is looking to bring a MLB team to town if/when the Timbers succeed and this time Phil Knight WILL help with a stadium and costs.

[crabfan]

You'd better hope it succeeds because I heard some inside skinny that Merrit Paulson is looking to bring a MLB team to town if/when the Timbers succeed and this time Phil Knight WILL help with a stadium and costs.

That would be killer. Portland is actually a great sports town. They don't have much franchise wise but they freaking love the Blazers and Timber. I'd love to see an NHL team in Seattle or Portland at some point.

[killeverything]

You'd better hope it succeeds because I heard some inside skinny that Merrit Paulson is looking to bring a MLB team to town if/when the Timbers succeed and this time Phil Knight WILL help with a stadium and costs.

That won't happen. Even if Merrit uses his daddy's Bush money.

What team? Montreal relocated to Washington. Oakland might move to San Jose, but there is no one left. Tampa Bay would get a new stadium before Selig lets them move. Florida is getting a new stadium.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

You'd better hope it succeeds because I heard some inside skinny that Merrit Paulson is looking to bring a MLB team to town if/when the Timbers succeed and this time Phil Knight WILL help with a stadium and costs.

That won't happen. Even if Merrit uses his daddy's Bush money.

What team? Montreal relocated to Washington. Oakland might move to San Jose, but there is no one left. Tampa Bay would get a new stadium before Selig lets them move. Florida is getting a new stadium.

All I'm saying is that is the story. Knight was quietly told not to get involved with the soccer/baseball stadium issue when it was happening. The soccer market is a HUGE piece of what Nike and Adidas do and Knight wanted to make a splash by helping out with the Timbers. I wondered why he hasn't done dick and why the city let the Beavers go so easily (the whole "save the Coliseum" thing was a joke). Somewhere down the line there will be MLB expansion again or another team or two who can't cut it (Kansas City? Pittsburgh?) and Portland will again be a viable market, except with a real plan and dollars behind it.