Z.I.P.

Do we know much about David's skills & best position? He is a left back who was recently cut from Wigan FC's youth program From Mike-10's BigSoccer comments, David is 19 Y.O. as of this summer. He started for Wigan youth at LB.

There is no way of knowing if this player is actually a player. Notice the poster did NOT mention Steve Zakuani, so he might not be familiar with Akron -- and so vice versa. Let me assure you, if this kid is Akron material, Oliver Slawson and Caleb will do all they need to provide him am opportunity. Otherwise, I would wish him good luck at Fort Lewis State, a really nice program and location to attend college. But he DID mention Zakuani in post #7 and #8. Thanks for pointing that out Zach. I read Mike's original post, and then scanned the rest of the thread. I probably missed it -- but I may have looked at it before those were posted, not sure. I'll edit my own post there. Does anyone remember this thread? It took me a while to find it, but I can tell you now that the player who was being shopped on Bigsoccer was the most recent Akron recruit -- David Mayer.

Remember your friend Diego?

I'm kind of surprised about this "signing", if it is indeed correct -- coming from across the pond, with no confirmation in the USA, I take it with a grain of salt, so to speak. Does anyone out there have any info that you're keeping to yourself? You can PM me if you want, I'll keep a lid on until we find out the whole truth. Meanwhile, I did find that he was a starting left back for the Wigan Athletic Youth (U-19) squad. Not sure of age, but Brit youngsters finish what we call high school at 16-17, so I guess he might be 17 or 18. He left Wigan one year ago. Here's about all I could find from the folks at Wigan. Roberto Martinez wasn't interested in taking a chance, but there's a lot of turnover in the youth ranks over there.

Sounds as if Sporting Chance USA is in fact based in the United Kingdom. I wonder if this youngster was a participant in the February camp at Stiles Center.

That article is actually from SounderAtHeart, IMO the best Sounders blog out there. Seattle Sports Central just rips off other articles then throws in a mention down at the bottom. Thanks for the addition Tank. I think the guy who blogs as Sounder@Heart is the team-appointed fan club director -- do you know?. I get his e-mails from the team about ticket sales. Actually I owe him, as he helped me get my Barca tix in '09 at a cheaper rate.

Game highlights on FSC showed Ben Zemanski coming inches from scoring his second goal of the season. Ben put the ball on the near post to the San Jose keeper's right, and it squeezed in between the keeper and post, on the goal line, but was captured just before slipping across. Good to see CDCUSA finally pick up three points on a late goal. Haven't seen the table, but they're probably off the bottom. A month ago I picked these two teams to contend in the West -- I still have hope. They should improve.

This article from Seattle Sports Central sums up the situation better than any I've read. The comment from Mullan after the game only makes things worse. He sounds remorseless.

Last Saturday, Chivas USA crossed the border to face the new Vancouver Whitecaps franchise. It was a nil-nil draw, but was honestly one of the best played MLS games I can recall seeing. Both teams played aggressively on both ends, and it made for very exciting soccer for the fans. And let me tell you, having seen Chivas in all but one game this year, Ben Zemanski is becoming one of the team's stars. Most times that they produce a threating push with multiple forward passes, the ball comes through Ben in the midfield, and he is becoming more and more of an offensive threat from the center mid. Chivas is unable to finish yet at this point, but as time goes by, they are going to become a much better team. They possess the ball very well, and when they play with motivation, as at Vancouver, the Goats are a very tough team to beat. I think they have what three draws and two losses in five. They play at San Jose on Sunday. Zarek was subbed on late in the game, but didn't see the ball much.

Fraid so. As I wrote on the other thread, I hoped it was shinpads, but no it wasn't. Maybe it's good that I wasn't watching that closely -- I didn't see the leg bend, but Kyle Martino who did, immediately spoke with a cringe in his voice. Let's just wait and hope for the best. MLS needs you Stevie.

I was watching when it happened. Tough one for Steve, read its a broken tibia and fibula, having surgery tonight. Feel bad for a veteran like Mullan, although it was a horrible tackle and deserves to be banned for a little time. Hoping for a fast recovery to Steve. If you like to send your thoughts to Steve visit this link Best Wishes to Steve The updated news is very sad, indeed. Unlikely we'll see #11 again this season. As far as Brian Mullan's "tackle", it was totally reckless, and uncalled for in the game of football. I think if he wants any sympathy at all he needs to publicly apologize to Steve. He is a well respected vet in the league, and I hope this is not what he's remembered for years from now.

Steve was undercut on a really bad tackle attempt by veteran Brian Mullan in the Sounders game tonight at Colorado, in just the 4th minute. Mullan got the straight red, but that sound on the hit wasn't what I hoped it was -- Steve's shinpad. They put a inflation cast on the right leg, but from the description of the announcers, I fear it might be a compound fracture. The visiting FCSS fans in the corner chanted Steve's name as he was carted into the locker room. He went straight to hospital. Let's hope it's not as serious as it at first appeared.

Well...I guess that makes Akron "the world's shortest giant". How long will that status exist before serious questions are asked?

It makes me wonder how long Coach Goetz will last at Akron. If the team could surpass the guys in Portage, that would be groundbreaking. I was really amazed that they were able to sign a head coach with previous HC experience at schools like Florida State. He's done a good job -- hopefully on the verge (haven't seen any recruiting news yet this year) of doing what has already happened with the tennis team. Let's hope either he's a golf version of Caleb Porter (not likely), or that we can provide enough reward to keep him in town.

This e-mail from the Z-Fund was in my in-box this morning: Akron Zips IMG Trade Show Invitation Dear Akron Z-Fund Member, You are invited to our 4th Annual Akron Zips IMG Trade Show on Friday April 29th at Rhodes Arena. The free event is from 11:30-1:00 p.m. in the upper bowl of Rhodes Arena. Sponsors who are on board for the upcoming 2010-11 season with the Akron Zips have been invited to showcase their business at the event. Each sponsor will have a table and personnel on site to answer any questions you may have. There are approximately 30 Akron Zips sponsors planning to attend. There will be snacks and raffles provide by some of the sponsors. If you have any specific questions please call Ryan Christy at 330-972-8410 or email him at ryan.christy@imgworld.com IMG is the multi-media rights holder of the Akron Zips and serves as the sponsorship arm for the athletic department. IMG is the country's largest and fastest growing collegiate multimedia rights holder, with partnerships involving more than 80 NCAA member institutions, conferences, bowl games and venues. The IMG family of leading universities and conferences reaches into 34 states from the Northeast through the mid-Atlantic and Southeast, while extending across the Southwest and most of the West coast as well. The company, which is based in Winston-Salem, NC, produces a variety of sponsorship opportunities and services for its partner schools and corporate clients, including publications, radio/TV networks, internet sites, game event promotions and stadium/arena signage. Support those who support the Zips! My question is, why did they send this out to all (thousands of) members, rather than a sub group, like corporate sponsors themselves, and those who make corporate decisions about sponsorships/marketing? Is it because they're too lazy to do the work of determing who fits in the subgroup? What exactly is the purpose of this -- to display the services UA Athletics sponsors provide? For that regard -- is the UA AD running this, or IMG? Whatever -- that's fine, but it seems this effort is just too scattershot, rather than directed at the best audience. I might go, if I were in the area, just for the pupus. Did they call them that?

1 2 Team Scores 1 1 Akron 294 289 583 +7 2 2 Illinois 295 298 593 +17 7 T3 Northwestern 308 292 600 +24 T5 T3 Illinois State 307 293 600 +24 3 5 Indiana 302 299 601 +25 8 6 Penn State 311 292 603 +27 4 7 Michigan State 303 301 604 +28 9 8 Ohio State 312 296 608 +32 How's THAT for a kick in the Columbass.

Well, let's hope they don't tear it up TOO bad. Coach Warzycha will be pissed!

Ok thank you, I wasn't quite sure if Xavier had made the tournament last year. Well, it will be another good test for us then. Damn! It's funny (in more than one sense) reading this description. I remember not very many years ago, when "we were Xavier" -- just making the NCAA tournament was considered a successful season. Do not forget how far we have come! And that there is just one Coach Porter BTW, Xavier has a very fine player from Jackson HS -- one of the state's best players in HS, who was "not good enough" for Akron.

What a GREAT article... and statement: Asked further about James' move, Tait added: ''For the past 10 years, the inmates have been running the asylum. Now it appears some of them have decided to burn down the building.'' And after saying he won't be watching or listening to the Cavs post-retirement, Tait added: ''If I need basketball, I'll pop on down the road to Cloverleaf. At least I'll be watching kids play as hard as they can play because they want to play, not because someone is paying them to play.'' Haven't heard his voice in near 30 years, but man do I respect that point of view. Makes you wonder how he's held on to the job all this time. And confirms why I haven't watched an entire NBA game in about the same period -- maybe since the Miracle at Richfield!

Actually, I think they might be pronouncing it right and we were pronouncing it wrong at Akron for two years. Check out his audio diaries that he made while the U20s were in Guatemala. He actually pronounces his own name as Valenteen, which makes me think that is the correct pronunciation. Also, these two segments are really funny, and feature not only Zarek, but his 'special guest' Perry 'whats cookin' in the' Kitchen. If you have free time, I would definitely give them a listen. Yaz, you have convinced me that you are ABSOLUTELY correct! I know that older brother Julian Valentin (national champ at Wake Forest) always had his name pronounced with a "soft 'i'" (like Tim). However, I found in his UA bio that the father is named Manuel, SO I will henceforth pronounce it in the Spanish method, "VAL-en-teen". I have long disliked the Fox broadcast of Chivas' games. They've always attempted to make the team a "semi-official" team of the Mexican-American community, and gone out of their way to hispanicize every aspect of the team, so I assumed they were carrying on in that direction. So, I guess in this case, Christian Miles actually has gotten it correct -- there's a first time for everything! Take a look at the the blog written by Chivas goalkeeper Zack Thornton. A great article about Zarek's youth, schooling and relationship with Julian.

She should try out for the Liberian National Team. She could probably make it.

I saw the first half of this game on TV. Chivas coach Robin Fraser has his work cut out! As far as Valentin goes (and I really wish Christian Miles on Fox would stop calling him Valenteen -- his brother played for the Galaxy, maybe that's the reason lol), he looked like a rookie...a bit murky on his touches and footing at times, but I saw no major mistakes. He's playing the single back (sweeper) in the center...so I can only assume Fraser must have a good deal of confidence in the 19 year old. Chivas' biggest problem so far is not the defense, but the lack of scoring. If that doesn't change, this will be another long season.

Crew, I'm recommending teh U of A hire you. You out-organize the athletic department by ridiculous margins. I imagine they can't afford you though.

Is Caleb listed as a part of the coaching staff, guest instructor...? Inquiring minds...

My uncle lives in Las Vegas and he lives right next to one of the girls thats coming to Akron. He was telling me that she got offers to Penn State who finished tied for first in the big ten with OSU, so i think were getting a very good recruit with her Yes. Lexi is the REAL DEAL. The other players are also good additions. Best recruiting class, by far.