Z.I.P.

Maybe he's planning to sign-up with coach Dambrot's November signing class. In which case CK might owe Steve McNees a post-game beer at New Castle's famous Villavova Inn! Hell, I'll buy Steve a fancy umbrella drink when he arrives for the Diamond Head Classic, if he had anything to do with it!

Third time this has come up. I have the shirt on the left. What interests me is finding out just where "Akron Lubricants" is producing their product. In my career, which includes hazmat management, I've found that many fire departments and heavy equipment maintenance shops use the stuff. In fact, I think they have a line intended for fire equipment. Maybe they should be sponsoring the Chicago Fire.

Does MLS still have a reserve "league", with a table that creates at least what could be called a competitive situation? I suspect the answer is "no", which makes one wonder why they are playing reserve games at all.

Does "missing" mean someone hadn't already heard about the departure? Andy Chiu has transferred to Boston College. Alfred Koroma is gone to SMU, latest I heard. We will probably actually miss Koroma's presence on the field a lot, as he is an all-America caliber player. Andy's loss is of another type -- mostly symbolic, as he would likely not have earned much playing time at Akron. However, he is the type of academic all-everything performer that top-flight college athletic programs need to show they are more than overgrown jocks. He filled the role that was served a few years ago by the blogging benchwarmer from Tucson -- someone remind us of his initials again. Sorry, man! I miss him, AND Andy. Good luck to both.

Is it just me, or does the US get the Group of Death about 75% of time in WCs?

I've tried to find the final scoring leaders for the tournament, but no luck. I watched Lassiter for two-and-a-half games, in which he scored either six or seven goals, but could have scored a dozen given his chances. Ariel looks and plays like a young Darlington Nagbe, same size and movement, with the always-present ability to read the game and defenders before they can react to his moves. He's particularly dangerous with his head, as well as both feet. He moves across the field well, can play back to the controlling midfield, yet be able to make attacking runs rapidly and has the rare defensive skills often lacking from young forwards. He's in the U-20 player pool, but missed out on the World Cup. I expect to see him in the R-W-B often in coming years. As an aside, I happened to see a coach from Northern Illinois at the tournament.

The Far West Regional (Region IV) is taking place here in Honolulu this week, and I have to tell you, I have witnessed the best U-18 player I have ever watched. Ariel Lassiter is the son of former USMNT player Roy Lassiter, and he has it all, pace, skill, creativity and team leadership. This is the closest to a LeBron of futbol there may be today. Wow! (Edit: Okay, on reflection, that may be a deeply stupid statement, the timing must have threw me off) Sure wish the Zips could have gotten their grips on this kid. Amazingly, he's headed to Cal Poly, SLO. Here's a report from SoccerAmerica on the tournament and Lassiter: http://www.socceramerica.com/article/52216...raight-win.html

I'll let the cat out of the bag: @Hawaii is a possibility.

Clearly crochet! If you don't believe me, ask this guy.

So what you're saying is: Look out, because AJ is fighting to deny the red-shirt coaches want to put on his back! We'll be looking forward to the display all the malahini (newbie) Zips put on for the fans in the islands, come December 23rd. And hopefully before and after...

Video of the game from the Timbers. Third video screen down to second PDX goal. Ben surprised the defense (or they forgot him) with a late run down the middle, and slotted the pelota perfectly inside the right post. That's his third career score, after two with Chivas. Too bad they allowed two late goals for another draw. This team should be in first. Also, I'm wearing my Cleveland Force shirt today, nice to read about them and Brian Quinn above. I think Brian is still director of the San Diego Surf FC, que no? All I remember of the Sockers was the irrepressible and unstoppable Stevie Zungul. Kai Haaskivi I think also played in SD after leaving Cleveland. Kai still working for Adidas?

Wow! This worthless thread has meandered on for three pages? Well, let me say, I'm ready to sue for peace. My sociology studies were interrupted by a stop for a certificate in Peace Studies. Bottom line on all this harangue: the loss of affordable higher education is one of, if not the the primary cause of growing income disparity in America. And UA wants to drop the cost of a few required Summer Session classes to hook more kids to what they''re selling. Add it to your student loan debt, LZ.

Well, I think I have a clearer concept of where you are coming from pat. I should have known you were a communications major. From your happy-go-lucky attitude you obviously are a success in the public relations field. I have to apologize for having majored in Sociology/Anthropology, where we learned that Karl Marx was as valuable to the development of modern social science as Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton to physical science. My pie in the sky is all about creating a more sustainable and prosperous world for us all. Have a happy day, and don't forget to shut the back door, when you leave.

Ha, ha, ha. You're great at reading your own assumptions between the lines. I am nothing but an advocate of education -- especially for those who like myself came up from modest means. But that is exactly the problem with public universities being "businesses". Businesses are not responsible to either the public trust or basically to their customers. They are responsible to their shareholders -- and becoming even more selfishly responsible to directors and an ever-narrowing list of stakeholders. Now at the university, there is -- and obviously should be, an even bigger disparity between the mission and the profit motive, due to the importance of the mission higher education carries out. This is one of the greatest reasons behind the increasing inequality in America, and the fact that we can no longer say the next generation will have it better than our own. I hope you understand now what I meant -- education is not a drug, undeserved profits from bilking average Americans out of their hard-earned income has become one for the masters (or Ph.d's) of academia.

It's like a drug dealer, giving a discount to first-time users. I offer as evidence this statement: Out-of-state students will get even greater savings: 68 percent and 74 percent, respectively. They offer the biggest discount to their potential biggest customers. This is not education, this is business. It does virtually nothing to reduce the astronomical (and skyrocketing) costs of higher education.

Notice that they drew 6000 to the match. Wow! Wonder if the Sounders U-23s (Kitsap?) can match THAT?

Did he have to milk any cows before the game?

I see new names: Caso, Cross, Gravatt? Do we know these guys?

I notice that both Kretzer and McAdams are listed on the roster as Wings. Jake is the best pure shooter we've had in recent years -- though Reggie has a similar reputation. If the '3' spot is the shooter on the team -- and that's 90% of Jake's game -- does than essentially mean we're playing a 3-guard set? Not that there's anything wrong with that. Perhaps Quincy would be playing the "slasher", while Jake (and-or-Reggie) is at the "set shooter" or "3-Point Specialist" position. I just hope we have a playmaker to get them the pelota.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know how to spell satellite! signed, Z.I.P. Proud East Liberty School 5th grade spelling champion.

Ken.t State and Eastern Michigan are only top-ten seeds I know of. I'm not betting on Akron breaking through this year. As for Quincy Diggs, I know he has talent. Think he can be good in the much-needed sixth-man role this year. See you in the isles, come December.

In Arkansas? Hoooooog, Sooooooie!

What's the sound of one horn honking? p.s.: I like the scarf. I'll sign up for wsoc tix to get one.

And coach Lucas (former tennis pro for the unknowing), should see Zeke's overhead slam!

It's like any college sport recruiting service. They base their rating largely on who's recruiting them. That's all the've got to go on.