Z.I.P.

Also, the U-17 World Cup is coming up from Jun 18 to July 10 in Mexico. Andrew Souders has been wearing the armband the past year. He's the only Akron-associated player, though there could be more under 17s who have offers. I hope to see a TV schedule come out shortly. ESPNU has broadcast the FIFA TV pix the past two U17 WCs (when the US captains were Kofi Sarkodie and Perry Kitchen). The US team dropped a 1-0 warmup to the host Mexican team earlier this month.

If you take him up, GP1, be careful! Lots of neocons up there. 'specially in the far north, militia country. And they can see Moscow from their front porches.

+1 Louisville would be a great rival too, if Lolla had the guts to sign on the dotted line. Lolla's got some drug arrests to worry about right now... Whoa! Now I see why Brock's lil brother didn't sign with the Cardinals. DeLeon and Granger, both returning starters. Lolla won't be easily able to handle this internally.

I plan to be at Harder Stadium on October 5th as well as at the Home Depot Center on Oct 2nd for Chivas USA vs the Philadelphia Union. Going to the Irvine Tourney doesn't work for me because I want to catch a Goats game while I'm out there to make the trip more worthwhile. The Goats game around the time of the Irvine Tourney would mean I couldn't attend the CSU game at home. I won't give up a Zips home game for a road game (or 2). It's too bad the MLS teams don't play the following weekend. That would be easier for me. I guess I could stay in LA over the weekend and then head North. I guess that'll have to be the plan. The LA Galatasaray play Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at HDC. As a fan of RSL, I'd like to see that one.

I can confirm -- Fox Soccer Channel intends to change their normal Friday night NSCAA Game-of-the-Week schedule to be @Harder Stadium for the "Tortilla Invitational" return of the Zips to the scene of the crime. I propose a marketing vehicle in which our schools would meet annually for the Firestone Cup. Anyone with access to the corporate halls of either Bridgestone-Firestone or the Firestone wine/beer peddlers on the Left Coast (the family only brews ale these days) should put the businesses in touch with the universities. It's also looking more than likely that I will personally show up for the weekday game on the Central Coast, rather than the early Sept tourney in LA (Irvine, isn't it?). I have to research whether Chivas, LA Galaksy, etc are intown (LA). Anyone else going, let me know.

Major League Soccer is offering a free weekend of MLS Match Day Live, internet broadcast of every MLS game played this weekend. I don't know much of the schedule, except Chivas USA travels to Utah to play Real SL. Toughest trip in the league, but the young US Goats are playing very hard, motivated football. They have a chance.

I just noticed this. Thanks for sharing. He still has the eyebrows -- that's about the only way I would recognize him. When he showed up as a freshman there's no way anyone who didn't know would have suspected he was a player. Six-five-and-a-half, and a hundred forty-something. He was the "Sneaky-fastest" player I ever saw. His rebounding ability was amazing. But he happened to miss free-throws at the worst times. I only wish we could have had better coaching. He deserved a lot more than he received at Akron. After his senior year (1984), the OVC coaches had to write a letter to US Olympic team coach Bob Knight to give Joe a try-out. I think he looked at him for ten minutes, and sent him packing.

Desmar Jackson, Wyomings leading scorer from last year is transferring to Southern Illinois. http://siusalukis.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl.../041311aad.html Jackson went to Harding not St. V's. Daylen Harrison went to St. V's but I can't find where he is transferring. I just don't get this Ohio-Wyoming recruiting pipeline (if you can even call it that). The Buckaroos had a starting point guard from Youngstown during Joby Wright's era -- and that incredibly quick guard who transferred to OU. I've been to Laramie. Spent a week there one day.

Akron may not be doing very good in the sport, however the next school over is. Baseball America's top-30 poll this week has just one school North of the Mason Dixon line ranked: Can't State @ #27. Good news for the MAC at least.

The Michigan tennis program probably receives more $$ than Akron basketball. I believe their men have three full-time coaches.

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. Hey -- I have to correct myself (belatedly, been knocked out with sinus infection this week) about this player. The English coach I was in contact with told me that I had made the wrong guess. The player he wrote about -- who attended the February camp @Akron did not get 'picked-up' by the team. David Mayer is another prospect, and I believe a VERY good player, even by UK standards.

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.