Z.I.P.

It felt strange reading this story. I remember watching Benny Dargle -- now coaching with Cleveland Soccer Club -- play for Akron in the 70s, but somehow I had the idea he was older than that (sorry if you're reading this big guy!). Benny was one of the best American fullbacks in the North American Soccer League and also played for Cleveland's last professional soccer team, the Cobras. My best memory of the NASL was the final Soccer Bowl championship. Not sure what year that was (maybe 1982 or 83?), but the Sounders played the New York Cosmos, and Akron's Benny Dargle was assigned to mark whoever was the star of the Cosmos and the NASL at the time. I also can't remember who that forward was -- I think either Giorgio Chinaglia or Franz Beckenbauer -- huge stars of international football before finishing their careers with the Cosmos. It will be fun to watch whether Stevie Zakuani becomes the second Zip to star in the Pacific Northwest.http://soundercentral.com/museum/1982%20up...enny_dargle.htm

Is this inside information, because I haven't been able to find anything yet on the net that confirms this?Hula dancers (and Hula Zips) see all, know all.

Is that what they look like (Zippy and the cheerleaders)? Beats the heck out of Curtis Sliwa (who's hangin out in Ewa Beach, O'ahu these days) as far as I'm concerned!

It's good to know Swiech won't be the next Brian Wood, at least. Check it out: http://news.politicswest.com/devlin/ci_11132984

Bring back the Vulcans? Is Sonny Gibbs still living? I just hope the league's #1 draft pick doesn't make more than Steve Zakuani!

Overrated!

Well, if you think it's bad there, you should be in Hawai'i. The governor shut down all schools and told state workers to stay home today, because of a high wind warning! I can't believe what whimps these people are. I had to walk to school through snow up to my waist!

Thanks for that glowing review of yourself Jose. You were here for four years and hardly saw the field. You won't be missed that bad, but good luck at Hofstra, all the best.Didn't he initially verbal to UNC?

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...4799083,00.htmlHere's the picture from across the pond. Steve reportedly joked to the media after his selection that as an Arsenal youth academy player he got to meet then Arsenal star and now Seattle Sounder player Freddie Ljungquist, "but he probably doesn't remember me", was Zak's punchline. Rim shot.Also, I was wondering if expansion may help former Zip left back (think that's his spot) Cameron Knowles, arguably the United Soccer League's best defender. A Sounders bulletin board was mentioning that at least 1/4 of the expansion club's players will be moving over from the "Triple-A" level of US soccer. I can see Cameron easily holding his own in the Sounders' backfield.

Marcus Tracy signed -- or is about to sign -- a pro contract with Danish first division club Aalborg (check out ESPN's Ives Galarcep at soccerbyives.com). That's the reason he wasn't drafted. Tracy and Duke's Mike Grella, who is training in Europe but hasn't yet signed a contract were both rated to be chosen ahead of Steve, if they had stayed home. But let's be honest, MLS salaries are pathetic. Steve apparently does not even get a salary on top of his signing bonus, which is paid by MLS through the deal with Adidas. Most of the players taken today will be lucky to make $30k for the season -- if they make their teams.

Phhhhhewwww! I think Ives Galarcep of ESPN Soccernet and Sigi Schmid of the Seattle Sounders were the only ones who believed in Steve being the best overall player available right to the pick. Get me that Sounders jersey. What's the number, Sigi. Steve-o?

What's the carrot, and what's the stick?As I mentioned previously, there's a private (D-II) university in Hawaii which provides small scholarships to their student rooting section (actually amounts to several hundred $ as I'm told), and to receive it the student has to show up for like 75 or 80% of men's and women's BB games and some other events. I don't know if this is at all feasible for a public university, but you have to have some incentive, as I'm sure like in my day, most students are working adults with little time for Zips games. Good luck Rowdies. I know you sure aided the soccer team, from what I've seen on YouTube.

Holy cr@p! We got destroyed on the boards! And had same # of free throws, but they made what, six more than us? Now we gotta beat them on the road to even up.

After reading all the soccer blogs at MLSdraft.net, soccerbyives.com and especially the Dallas Hoops blog www.3rddegree.net it appears that Steve Zakuani is having trouble beating physical defenders at camp. According to the observers, Steve is not finishing, and is relying on his pure speed, which will always be his advantage, but he is not strong enough to make his way through a crowd. Because of this, coaches have moved Steve to a right midfield position, to take advantage of his pace, and it could be there where he plays this season in MLS. That fact threatens Steve's hanging onto the #1 pick spot by Seattle, as Maryland's 6-5 fullback Gonzalez is wowing everyone in camp. Doubtful that he would fall beyond #2, which would put Steve-o with FC Toronto.Also, I have to reassess the financial position of the Generation Adidas program after reading the article on 3rddegree that Steve may be the highest-paid GA adidas selection ever. According to the blog, he signed for around $175-180k. That's alot more than I thought was available. Spend it wisely young man.

Having seen Buffalo three times two weeks ago, my feeling is they can't afford to have an off shooting night. If Akron's defense plays to their ability, I predict a win, though not an easy one. Rebounding may be the deciding factor. Neither team has size, but Bulls are as scrappy as they come. Akron 68-60

Per Wikipedia, the vote is by all Division I men's soccer head coaches.Speculation: 1) Akron has been a good club for a long time, but has only been an elite (top-10) program for just basically three years (guess what that coincides with), while Wake has played top flight ball for decades. 2) Coaches in the East and Midwest may be familiar with Akron's quality, and Steve, but outside the region, they're more of an unknown. 3) There's a bias, conscious or unconscious, for coaches to vote for American players over imports. 4) Wake was ranked #1 in the nation for the entire regular season. Tracy received sympathy votes from those who felt Wake deserved to win the team title.

Hey L.A., there's this little chain of islands, just off the coast... Also: Zeke's Mom, Does Zeke da Zip have his own page on Youtube yet? I've spent the last few nites watching videos from Akron soccer and our upcoming Major League Soccer #1 draft pick, Steve Zakuani. Steve has a page where you can send messages, along with comment on his vids. Can't wait to see Zeke's Greatest Hits!And, Zipgrad 1990, I loved your reference to Zeke's "Quadriple Double". Reminds me of one of Fred Sanford's favorite beverages, the QuadRipple Double. Maybe in the future, it will be known as the Quad-Zipple-Double! Go Get 'em Zeke! I'll have to buy up the supply of next month's ESPN the Magazine from the local bookkstores for my familly Around the Globe.

Well, for me, this is a bigger disappointment than what happened to the team in the snow. Marcus Tracy of Wake Forest was awarded the Hermann Trophy by Missouri Athletic Club just minutes ago. I am floored, and flabbergasted at this oversight. The numbers are just not there for Tracy this year. He's a great player, yes, but no one came close to putting up the numbers Steve did against excellent competition. In the early season, Zak scored more than one goal for every two shots taken -- that's amazing. Tracy plays in the ACC. Zakuani plays in the MAC. That is the only way I can comprehend this decision. It's a slap in the face less to Steve, than to the league he performs in. It can't help but hurt recruiting. Let me try and raise my jaw off the floor.

Catch the video collection beneath Zakuani's profile on mlsdraft.net. I could stay up all night watching this stuff. Oh, my God, look what time it is! Boss, wait till you see the show Steve puts on! The end of the theOhio State game is outrageous, and then you can watch Caleb address the Rowdies. This is wild stuff. Also, read the comments. Twellman? Someone compares Steve to Henry. You never know, baby. You just never know. http://www.mlsdraft.net/?q=node/9&id=40

Dis is Soooooooooo flippin' awesome, like Duuuuuuuude.http://www.mlsdraft.net/?q=node/144ESPN's soccer analyst has the lineups for this coming week's MLS Combine teams, and guess what -- Akron has not two but THREE members on Club Adidas Power Swerve!!! So who is member #3, joining Steve-o and the Bushmeister? Head Coach Caleb Porter!!!!! That's who. A grand coup for our #1 Duuuuuuuude. Like wow, you da man, CP.Matches will be played Saturday thru Tuesday, and this WILL play a big part in deciding who goes #1, who gets drafted, and who is left for the USL.Oh, and if you didn't notice on the site, Our man, number Double-One has risen to the top of the draft board. Omar Gonzales, out of Maryland is a fine defender, but on this occasion, he'd better "Fear the Roo". Steve-a-Roo dat is. Oh, yeah! Did you see dat roo go past dat turtle? :blink: Hoooweee!!!!Hurry and sign him, Seattle, so I can be the first in HA-Waiiah wit da Sounders jersey. Hey, L.A. Zip -- how bout givin us a combine review?

Is there a website for club sports at Akron? Is there still a rugby club team? I happened across a report of BG's rugby win over WMU, and wondered about UA. Kevin Whelan (sp?) was a Green HS grad (year ahead of me I believe) who went from the Zips ruggers to the USA Eagles in the early 80s.

Damn if you didn't convince me with your reasoning, Cap'n. In fact, this logic is so sterling that I just called up Keith Dambrot and requested that he toss Humpty, Stewart, Bardo, B McKnight and McNees off the team. I expect that will signal the need for improved team unity which leads to an undefeated MAC season.Kangaroo for AD!

Well, if some other guy from Akron can get the treatment, why not the highest paid Generation Adidas signee -- per the rumour mill (don't you love my English spelling?). Being the highest paid GA 'kid' by MLS (I guess that designation's available to anyone who hasn't consumed their entire college eligibility) gets Steve likely something in the mid-5-figure range WOW! Let's all go to Swensons. Anyway, all the US football/socccer bloggers have Steve going either No. 1 to Sigi Schmid and the expansion Seattle Sounders (better for my travel budget from the isles!), or #2 by Mo Rocka and FC Toronto. I'm pulling for the expansion side, as Steve wouold get major PT I believe, and I think Sigi would know better how to bring the kid up to speed. Meanwhile the writers are having a time trying to find someone to compare Zaks to. Is he more like Taylor, or is he more like Landy? Let's have a poll. Everyone participate. I know he's not more like Brian Ching, still a legend at Kamehameha.Check out the goings-on at www.mlsdraft.net (click on Zak's name on the draft list for some righteous video of the budding Super-duperstar and some of his one-time Akron teammates) and the big-time soccer blogosphere at www.soccerbyives.net and www.3rddegree.net/ga-trackingAnd look for our new ad on FSC, tonight at 2:37 a.m. Right after the guy selling "100% pure oxygen".

If memory serves (and perhaps this goes to show how short some memories are, or how little attention is paid to anything outside American football and men's basketball), this has already been done -- but instead of a coach, it was done with student-players. Wahine Zip basketball coach Jody Kest decided that some unwritten and unspoken law was broken when some of her players approached coaches from other schools for a fall-back position, and as George Costanza would say, yada, yada and the next thing you know nearly the entire starting undergrad lineup is playing for other schools, like West Virginia Wesleyan (including arguably the best recruit in school history, a former Miss W Va basketball). IMHO, this attitude on the part of university officials is not just arrogant, but threatens the legal standing of their institutions. University employees and students are covered by the same constitutional provisions of free communication and free association as all other citizens. Contract law notwithstanding. What does the esteemed future councilor Mr Razor think of this?

You mean to tell me there's still such a thing as the Bill of Rights in America? Goodness!