Friday, November 20, 2009

MLS CUP Reading Materials

Some MLS Cup related articles for reading enjoyment:

Seattle: A fine place for a final: MLS Confidential/Ridge Mahoney

RSL owner Checketts gets to MLS Cup his way: MLS Confidential/Ridge Mahoney

MLS Playoffs: MLS Cup Notebook: Beckham Wades Into Ankle Debate Carefully: Goal.com/Kyle McCarthy

MLS Playoffs: Friday MLS Forecast: MLS Cup: Goal.com/Kyle McCarthy

MLS Playoffs: After Early Stumbles, Real Salt Lake Found Their Way: Goal.com/Luis Bueno, Andrea Canales

Championship would mean just about everything to RSL: SL Tribune/Michael C. Lewis

Title reward not a huge windfall in MLS Cup: SL Tribune/Michael C. Lewis

Friendships put aside for MLS Cup: SL Tribune/Michael C. Lewis

Size matters? Not for spectactular RSL goalkeeper: SL Tribune/Michael C. Lewis

Real Salt Lake: Kreis evolving as a first-time coach: DesNews/James Edward

For Real Salt Lake, being late worked just fine: DesNews/Brad Rock

Real Salt Lake hopes to team up on L.A. stars: DesNews/James Edward

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MLSCup Daily (from MLSnet)

From mlsnet...

ESPN Classic to Air “History of the MLS Cup”

Tomorrow, ESPN Classic will air a two- hour documentary titled “History of the MLS Cup.” The documentary will air at 4:00 p.m. MT and will take viewers onto the field for the best action from the first 13 MLS Cup matches, including never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews with players and coaches. Copies of the DVD are available at www.mlsgear.com.

Clean and Green Seattle Event

MLS W.O.R.K.S. has partnered with the City of Seattle to engage the local community in a “Clean and Green Seattle” event. MLS players and executives and Seattle Government officials, Washington Youth Soccer volunteers and Seattle Sounders FC players, executives and fans will plant trees, pick up litter and restore green spaces near Qwest Field. The Clean and Green event is a partnership between MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the City of Seattle, working together to promote the importance of environmental sustainability and volunteerism, attempting to make a difference in the lives of the people of Seattle.

The program, which will include Commissioner Don Garber and select players, will commence at 9:30 a.m. PT. Media members will be able to interview MLS All-Stars from 10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.PT.

Press Conferences Today to Feature Beckerman, Rimando, Donovan and Beckham

A press conference will be held at Qwest Field after each team’s training session today. Each team’s coach and players not participating in the press conference will be available in a mixed zone format prior to the press conference. Upon the conclusion of the mixed zone access at approximately 11:55 a.m. PT, Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando will address the media in the Post Game Press Room. After the LA Galaxy’s training and mixed zone end at approximately 2:05 p.m., team captain Landon Donovan and midfielder David Beckham will answer questions from media in the same room. Note: This will be the last media access to Donovan and Beckham until after Sunday’s match. As a reminder, only the last 15 minutes of each team’s training session will be open to media. Media members should pick up their credential prior to attending training.

Price is Right to Offer MLS Cup Package

For the first time since the league’s inception, Major League Soccer will be featured in a prize package for a major television game show. Hosted by Seattle Sounders FC investor owner Drew Carey, The Price Is Right airs daily on CBS at 11:00 am to an average of 4.5 million viewers. The episode will air today and will feature an MLS Cup Prize Package that includes a trip to MLS Cup 2009 in Seattle. Airfare, hotel stay and merchandise are included.

MLS Cup Players to Participate in Fish Toss

Before the Galaxy and Real Salt Lake battle it out on the pitch, LA forward Alan Gordon and RSL goalkeeper Chris Seitz will meet at Pike Place Market at 4:00 p.m. PT for an iconic “Tossing of the Fish.” There will be a limited amount of media parking at the Market on 1st and Pike Street, so parking is on a first come, first serve basis. For media covering Friday’s training sessions and press conferences, a shuttle bus will be available for transportation from Qwest Field to Pike Place Market and then to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown after the event.

MLS Cup Game Guide Available

With both the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake coming from the Western Conference, the dominance of that division in recent MLS Cups will continue. Since 2001, Western Conference clubs have won six of the eight MLS Cups. Until last year’s all-East matchup between Columbus and New York, a 3-1 Crew victory, only D.C. United’s 2004 victory had broken the West’s hegemony. For more analysis, complete rosters, bios, game notes and probable lineups, click here for the MLS Cup Game Guide.

Seattle Weather Update

According to Weather.com, there will likely be rain in Seattle today through Saturday. Matchday forecast shows a 40% chance of precipitation. Temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-40s during the day, and drop to the low-40s at night. Check back tomorrow for an updated weather forecast.

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Weekend Schedule in Seattle

 

FX McRory's - RSL's "Official" Fan Headquarters
FX McRory's will be the Real Salt Lake headquarters while in Seattle for the 2009 MLS Cup. Be sure to stop by FX McRory's throughout the weekend to meet up with fellow RSL fans in preparation for Sunday’s big game! FX McRory's is located in the shadows of Qwest Field at 419 Occidental Avenue South. The establishment offers a full food and beverage menu and is family friendly, with kids of all ages welcome to join. For more info, visit www.fxmcrorys.com.

Friday, November 20

· RSL staffers will head to FX McRory’s early in the day to “dress up” the team’s headquarters in Claret-and-Cobalt. There are no official events taking place at FX McRory’s on Friday, but fans are still encouraged to use the establishment as a meeting place to show their support for what will be “RSL HQ” for the rest of the weekend.

· RSL’s Chris Seitz and Galaxy FW Alan Gordon will take part in an iconic tradition in Seattle – “Fish Throwing” with the fish mongers at the world-famous Pike’s Place Fish Market. The media photo opportunity – in which fans are welcome to attend – will begin at 4:00 p.m. PT.

Saturday, November 21

· The annual MLS Supporters Summit, hosted by various Seattle Sounders FC Supporters Groups, will be hosting events throughout the weekend, highlighted by Saturday’s events at Qwest Field. For a full listing of MLS Supporters Summit events and more information, visit http://sounderscouncil.com/summit/.

· Two players from both squads will take part in a photo opportunity at the top of Seattle’s famed Space Needle, which has been painted in the image of a soccer ball in honor of Sunday’s MLS Cup 2009. The media/photo opportunity is scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m. PT (players still to be confirmed).

· Real Salt Lake supporters will host the official “RSL Cup Kickoff Party” at FX McRory’s Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Come and meet up with the RSL contingency of fans, make posters, and grab some great food as we turn they turn the venue Claret-and-Cobalt!

Sunday, November 22

· RSL fans are encouraged to gather at FX McRory’s for a pre-match party by no later than 1:00 p.m.

· From the restaurant, fans will head over to join the “March to the Match” at 4:00 p.m. in Occidental Park in Pioneer Park. The parade of fans will head south down Occidental Avenue towards Qwest Field shortly thereafter. RSL fans are encouraged to wear their colors – and bring their scarves – to show their support for Utah’s MLS side!

MLS Broadcast Info – Sunday, Nov. 22 – MLS Cup 2009

Real Salt Lake v. Los Angeles Galaxy – ESPN, Galavision

Qwest Field, Seattle, Wash. – 6:30 p.m. MT

Read More...

Expansion Draft – Projected Toll on RSL

Regardless of the result on Monday, Garth Lagerwey and Jason Kreis will be forced to sit down with the players on Monday as they have to turn in their list of players protected and exposed in the upcoming Expansion Draft for the addition of the Philadelphia Union.  The draft will occur on Wednesday of next week. 

Garth Lagerwey isn’t a fan of the expansion draft, “I hate the expansion draft. No matter what I do we are going to lose.  We’re going to lose a player that we really like.  The only thing we can do is be honest with people, look them in the eye, and say thanks.”

Lagerwey is indeed prepared to lose a player, “I don’t think we’re going to be one of those teams that doesn’t have a player selected.”

Lagerwey feels that this is an indication of where they are at in terms of developing the team, “If in the expansion draft we lose a good player, I feel like we’ve done something right. That’s a small consolation in the whole thing.It’s an indication that we have a depth of talent that other teams want to pick a player from.”


Soccer By Ives, pointed out the recently released Expansion Draft Rules (which you can find here).

  • Teams get to protect 11 players, both senior and developmental
  • Generation adidas players do not need to be protected
  • Designated players only need to be protected if they have a no trade clause
  • Teams can only lose one player -- after a team has a player selected, they are out
  • The expansion draft will last ten rounds

 


Our good friend Drew at WV Hooligan, gave us his list of what he thinks.  I think his list is spot on, but I think there is a chance they could protect a talented young player: Alexandre, Cox or Gonzalez and gamble on leaving an older veteran off the list.

Protected

Available

Exempt

Kyle Beckerman

Jean Alexandre

Tony Beltran

Nat Borchers

Raphael Cox

Alex Nimo

Pablo Campos

Rachid El Khalifi

Chris Seitz

Fabian Espindola

Nelson Gonzalez

 

Robbie Findley

Ned Grabavoy

 

Will Johnson

David Horst

 

Javier Morales

Clint Mathis

 

Jamison Olave

Yura Movsisyan

 

Nick Rimando

Tino Nunez

 

Robbie Russell

Kyle Reynish

 

Chris Wingert

Andy Williams

 

With this in mind, there are a few options that the Union could take:

  • Andy Williams – the veteran has had a great run at the end of 2009.
  • Raphael Cox – the kid has shown something in his limited opportunities. 
  • Nelson Gonzalez – if they’ve scouted this kid, they may know that he’d be a steal.

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Interview with Rancid Guitarist Lars Frederiksen

Thanks to a heads-up from TheOriginalWinger, here is an interview with Rancid guitarist Lars Frederiksen.  He discusses among other things his love for Millwall, the fact that he’s a San Jose Earthquakes season ticket holder and his planned attendance at the MLS Cup in Seattle.  As you’ll recall KIR broke the news that he and teammate Branden Steineckart will be in attendance.

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MLS Cup T-shirts on Sale NOW!!!

These just came in today – available in the team store.  $20, but STH get a 25% discount.  If you are heading off to Seattle, get yours before you go.

LAvsRSL[1]

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sendoff to Seattle

SANDY, UTAH (Wednesday, November 18, 2009) – Real Salt Lake invites all fans of the Claret-and-Cobalt to give the squad a proper farewell for its first MLS Cup appearance TOMORROW, Thursday, November 19, at 3:30 p.m. MT, when the Utah side will host a “Sendoff to Seattle rally at the Million Air facility in Salt Lake City (303 North 2370 West), located in the Executive Terminal at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

Real Salt Lake players, coaches, and the team’s entire front office staff will be departing for Seattle – the site of Sunday’s MLS Cup 2009 against the Los Angeles Galaxy (6:30 p.m. MT, live on ESPN & TeleFutura) – tomorrow afternoon. The Real Salt Lake travel party will leave for “The Emerald City” on JetBlue’s “RealBlue” airliner, which was christened by the team when it traveled to Southern California for its 2-0 road victory over the Galaxy back in June.

Please allow adequate time for parking, which will be located at the executive terminal in front of Million Air’s facilities.

WHAT: Real Salt Lake “Sendoff to Seattle” rally

WHO: Real Salt Lake players, coaches, front office staff and fans

WHEN: 3:30 p.m. MT, Thursday, November 19, 2009

WHERE: Million AirSalt Lake City (Hangar 1)

Salt Lake City International Airport – Executive Terminal

303 North 2370 West in Salt Lake City

NOTES: Parking for fans and media will be available at the Million Air facility;

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