Z.I.P.

Sorry, but the one I'm waiting to here the apology from is named Bob Bradley!

Well, Dave, in football, or if you will, "soccer", you get three points for a win, and one for a draw. My favorite "sports" (and I've always considered football much more than that), are football and hockey (preferably ice). I may be repeating myself, but if basketball wants to improve, they need to change the rules to add the posiition that hockey and football have -- a goalkeeper.

Next month, the film Out of Place premiers at the Hawai'i Surf Film Festival. Is that you Dude? Are you making an appearance? Why don't you answer my PMs?

I bet Nate Linhart will be torn between the two as well. Okay, I give. Or do you mean, like Steve Sweich, etc. etc. (particularly as of late) he's a Ghana? Gotta admit though, I was wondering the same thing. If he roots for the USA, does he lose his royal inheritance? I'm guessing, since he has about a dozen or more caps with Team USA, that that's where his loyalty lies. I wonder if Ampai will be playing for _______________ (hate to be politically incorrect, so I'll admit my ignorance as to which nations he could represent) in the next round of qualifying.

HEY! I've found yet another reason to love the World Cup. Glenn Beck Hates It! (predictably)

w00t, Zavaleta's final choices came down to Akron, Duke, Wake and Indiana. Congratulations to Team Yeagley. Nice interview from last fall. Interesting, his uncle is long-time MLS player Greg Vanney. Looking ahead? Here's Top Drawer's 2012 Top-100. I know that #2 and #4 have to be Akron's top targets -- if they haven't chosen yet. Oliver comes from the same club system as Perry Kitchen and Zavaleta, so I'm sure Caleb and his pal in Hoosierland will be battling it out again . Souder, who is the top talent at Premier Soccer Academy is originally I believe from New England somewhere. And I'm still trying to find out if #3 is related to the Speaker of the House.

Kyle Culbertson Voila! (Another smart kid!)

Thanks Zach. Super quick analysis: Duke and Indiana score great by grabbing Nick Palodichuk and Eriq Zavaleta. Caleb! How could you let those hated Hoosyers get that kid?? Surprising: Xavier with verbals from Will Walker of Crew Academy and a kid from Wisconsin who's scored 125 HS goals in three years!

Ummmmm...Okay. But, answer the out-of-towners' question: Where did you GET those things? Did Yoram Mwila bring them along from Zambia? And where can I get my own? You know, after last year's idea with the scarf to season ticket buyers, we could keep pace by offering our own Zipuzela in appropriate colors with Zippy's image or a "Fear The Roo" sticking out the top. Now, if Waddell were still around, the idea would already be stolen, but can someone pass this along to the brilliant Akron marketing folks? You know Caleb's #, don't you?

Zach...Your source??? I'd like to spread the good news, but I need some confirmation first. Sorry not to see Erik Zavaleta -- yet at least. And furthermore -- about half our club did not play HS soccer -- too busy making a name for themselves nationally and internationally with their club "Crews". And...El Paso, TX is the furthest West Caleb & Co. have wandered. To continue recruiting dominance -- or to get better -- we need to go "no borders" in recruiting. There are a couple kids in Hawai'i who could help. Oh, BTW -- yes, Caleb was already on hand before Rhoads showed up. It was Mike & Mike who put together the recruiting committee, with a lot of help from their UVa connex (including Bruce Arena).

Lance, I wont be drawn into yet again, but I'd start by "deep-six"-ing anyone who writes: "Dosen't matter!" (See top) Spelling does matter.

I know I was not the only ZN.o observer taking in the World Cup post-game on Sunday. How about studio host Bob Ley's remarkable comeback in explaining his guest's indescribable description of events at the France non-training session? "I thank you for your directness..." Apparently, they have different rules of conduct on French television. "Hello, ABC? This is the FCC calling."

May even be familiar with Zipsnation.org... So, what's Ianello's handicap? Hope I got that name right.

Let's put these in order of likelihood: 3,4,1,2. Now two of them are at least fifty-fifty to occur in the next 6 months. The other two, well... Sorry, I ain't holdin' my breath.

$30!!!! That's too funny! Do you think we could find the hidden subsidies that show Can't is actually paying people to attend?

There are few recruiting pipelines more interesting than the Jamaica-to-Akron one! Maybe we can get Michael Reghi to report this. That would be "irie".

I have a picture somewhere of his girlfriend, who was a cheerleader -- from UA basketball trip to HI in 1990. The epic, "I have Zippy's tail, where did you put his head" trip.

Now we're talking!

This makes sense. If Nebraska goes to the PAC-10, the are middle to low level team. If they go to the Big Ten, they will compete for the conference championship next year. GP1! ??? Did you mistakenly flip your conferences above? Nebraska might be a once-in-a-while contender in the Big-10, as they were in Big-12. In the Pac-10, they are a constant threat to win it all (even if SC were allowed to compete). We are talking about American football, aren't we? Nebraska is like the Boise State of the Great Plains. Except their WBB team was awesome last year, and VB ain't bad -- that's it. I'm sure our Great One follows the LadyHuskers fortunes.

Alright, now I'm beginning to understand why someone contradicted me when I predicted Yoram would be our leading scorer this year. Next question: Will he be VCU's leading scorer? Secondly, the loss of Josh will also be felt. Yes you can say, "He's just a backup goalkeeper", but we lose one third of our strength at that position, and someone who a year-and-a-half ago was the presumed starter. Kudos to Giffard, and VCU. With Shaka Smart down there, and now Giffard, this is becoming an interesting inter-regional rivalry. And, BTW -- this could help set up what I presaged yesterday -- with the vacancy for a backup, could it be MONSTER HANDS time in the net? What says you Uncle DREALSCOUT1?

To call anyone in England a "real man" is hilarious. Have you convinced any of those Pac Islanders on the Big Island that they should put down the pads because they aren't "real men"? Those Pac Islanders don't NEED no pads, Brah! You ask DREAL1SCOUT, Doze Polys bring dere own MONSTER HANDS to the game. Which makes me wonder, is Caleb in need of a backup goalkeeper?

Not a special snowflake here... But there is something comforting in that. Not being original or vastly different is acceptable; a feeling of shared destiny and humanity I guess. Now back to hating on Rand Paul. Working Man Rand Paul lost an Anthem. Can no longer play Rush songs note: Ayn Rand inspired some of their music. Just to show that Rush is treating all parties alike, they didn't even allow Tom Sawyer to use the song "Tom Sawyer"!

But Akron MEN do. Go watch a bottom barrel MAC football team or go to a sold out Pouch and watch one of the country's premiere soccer squads. Your choice. I know where I will be. The Pouch? lol.... That's like saying go watch the country's premier bowling team. That's wonderful that they're successful and all, but who really gives a f***? The success of the athletic department will always hinge on football and men's basketball. I've said it before and I'll say it again.... Football and basketball could win MAC Championships, every other athletic team could not win a game, and nobody would bat an eye. TW would be the toast of the town. But if football and basketball lost every game, and every other sport won a national title, TW's ass would be grass, and Proenza would be smokin it. Ole Tom would have the first ticket out of town. It's great that you like soccer, and I support them and love to see them succeed just like I love to see rifle and any other Zip sport succeed, but those sports will always take a back seat to football and basketball, regardless of success. The bottom line is, 95% of people in Akron and UA alumni would rather watch and pay for bad football than nationally ranked soccer any day of the week. Well, I'm glad that I was able to drag ITZ away from his Guinness at the Cock & Bull Pub for long enough to stir up a conversation. So ITZ, have you been able to convince your neighbors in the Midlands there that real football is played by real MEN with enough padding for a team of hookers in London's East End? That it would be more interesting if Wayne Rooney and his mates would stand around in a circle before each kick of the ball so that everyone is aware of the "snap count"? But anyway, congratulations again on matriculating to a country which has its sports priorities better sorted. Cheerio, ITZ. I'll let you get back to imagining how you'll be the toast of the town after Clint Dempsey's game winner come Saturday night around 8:30 in the evening, live from South Africa. Just don't offer to buy a round of Budweisers at the ol' Cock & Bull. They drink ale, like real MEN.

Gentrifying indeed. I'm sure that's DaveinGreen's neighborhood. Chenoweth Drive it appears.