Z.I.P.

Please explain. Are we talking about Columbus, Akron or Lodi?

Thank you Bobby! I've been wanting to do that for a few years, believe me. My fear was that either it would take numbers away from the Zn.o, or it might have fewer followers than say the hated Whosers' Bigsoccer thread!

Hilarious! "We've got soccer tennis and cornhole". Wow! Just like Wake island.

US U-18 player, and only ranked #55. What's up with that? Maybe Ampai can put a bug in his ear.

Thanks for blowing my day with this thread! You're likely to get crumby weather anywhere East of the Mississippi, except South Fla. in Dec. Akron will be a favorite pre-and post season for a while, but I like to think sunny Southern California is lucky for the squad.

I've said it before, if KD leaves UA, and it won't be soon, eventually Bron could be his ticket to a coaching spot in The League (assistant, I mean).

Lance, In response to your statement regarding the Mt West/CUSA Alliance that,: If Hawaii join, it would be a cool trip Since Hawaii is a football-only member of the Mt West Conference (beginning in 2012), they would be considered part of the "Alliance". However, all the self-declared "experts" in the islands are saying that with so many teams, there would be geographic divisions whereby Hawaii would rarely have to travel East of the Mississippi. And the AD has declared the school will NOT subsidize travel expenses for any new members, as they are required to currently.

Ryan Bain played for the Zips?? Sorry, guess I blinked on that play. Or my eyes were obscured by the rain, so I could not see Ryan Bain.

As followers should know, I have been a true believer in Tommy's ability since the start (actually since seeing him in Development League Finals). Any holdout non-believers still out there?

Can those of you who are Major MLS fans give us a review of this season's national television coverage? I have been able to watch only one game this season (Philly Union v DC United on the NBCS Net) and was forced to overcome the play-by-play accent of another limey in American soccer. I have nothing specific against the English or British islanders, I just wish US television execs didn't have the belief that so many British accents made the game more "authentic". So, don't ask me about the PA announcer in Seattle! Is it true that MLS is no longer broadcast on FSN? If so, that's a real tragedy.

Only available in white (background)? Nice but not in white. Wouldn't last.

Sorry, the correct answer is: "No impact". The trickle-down effect has no more result in sports than in economics.

"Last year, he averaged 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for Midland, shooting 48 percent from the field and 61 percent from the foul line." Those are numbers that will terrify the entire MAC.

Even more amazing that the story got picked up my a network. BTW, CUH is only a ten minute uphill walk from the UH-Manoa. Kaimuki's the trendy side of town.

I was looking at the UCLA women's soccer roster this morning, and discovered an amazing coincidence. UCLA head women's soccer coach BJ Snow was a teammate of Caleb Porter's for two years at indiana, and attended Portage Central HS in Caleb's hometown of Kalamazoo, MI (Caleb went to Highland HS per a blog story I read about Michigan soccer players/coaches). BJ's also married to US WNT midfielder Lindsey Tarpley, BTW. While UCLA is unable to play the Zips in men's soccer this year, I have to wonder if there's any chance of getting the Bruin women connected in a game or tournament with coach Pfau's ladies. If not, I will begin an effort to get both schools to a future tournament in my hometown of Honolulu (Michele "Bud" Nagamine, Hawaii coach and I can surely swing this one!) -- I found this out while trying to find the name of the attorney who's daughter, Alana Munger is the UCLA goalkeeper and ex-Punahou Buff and Blue and Leahi 92 Elite 4-time state and Surf Cup champ! Strange connections to discover on a Monday morning in the Mid-Pacific!

AND, from the picture on the game article from gozips.com, D.A. is wearing the armband. Is that something new?

This is not Akron related, but I had to add it because of my pride for the Islands! The second best Hawaii footballer, Zach Scott, the pride of Maui County scored his first career MLS goal, and the Seattle Sounders made it stand up in their 1-0 victory at home vs the Colorado Rapids today. Zach's career was almost given up. After starting for the USL Sounders, he's spent most of the past three-plus years languishing on Sigi Schmidt's reserve side in Sounderland (not to be confused with the Black Cats of NE England!). This is great news, that I just hope gets some attention on the Hawaii news/sports tonight. Edit: I found a NEO connection!: Zach played a season for the Cleveland Force in the MISL. Wow!

I can't help getting a laugh out of GP1's reminiscence. That's because when I was growing up, they didn't HAVE playoffs. As I recall, the first year the OHSAA had FB playoffs was 1975 (when I was a junior at Green and they did make the playoffs, but I considered myself grown up by then). Guess that makes me a real ol' fut.

MLS keeps stats and even standings for their "Reserve League", but it's really nothing but practice/scrimmage games.

Choosing Akron over Hawaii? Maybe he likes long-distance driving. Bubba Watson chose Georgia for that reason.

Thanks 88! I think the pressure on Akron coaches must get pretty strong when so many are looking forward to another banner on campus in '12.

This reminds me of when the University of Hawaii played their games at Ala Wai Field alongside the Ala Wai Canal. The side of the field opposite the benches ran along the canal separating Waikiki from urban Honolulu and Manoa. Every game 5-10 times the ball would be kicked into the canal, and someone would come out with a long net and try to reach it before it drifted away. Tended to delay the action.

Okay trivia buffs, who can forget that the biggest upset in Akron basketball history was over the undefeated Tennessee State Tigers in the NCAA national semifinals at Evansville, Indiana in 1972? The star of that Tiger team would go on to start several seasons and win an NBA championship with the Portland Trailblazers -- Lloyd Neal.

According to this post on the Bigsoccer board, Ampai scored for the Earthquakes Reserves squad in a game today vs Vancouver.

Dude! I am sitting at the keyboard right now, WEARING my Atlas jersey (2010 version, similar to the one on top). I got it on e-bay for like $25. Lady in LA sells all Mexican League jerseys. Wore it at CSU-Northridge OT win last Sept. edit: BTW -- off topic completely: working in the enviro eng/hazmat biz, I've found many and various types of industrial oils, greases, adhesives etc. still being manufactured in the Akron area. Had to write to Akron Lubricants few yrs ago for an MSDS, they're address was S. Main St. This past week our fire chief told me that fire dept's (also heavy equipment shops) across the country use parts from Akron Brass Co., which apparently moved to Wooster, which is on the boxes I see.