Zip_ME87

This is somewhat old news, but I particularly liked reading this: ...While no one likes to see their favorite team’s coach fined, this should be seen as a positive from Timbers supporters. Porter has already shown that he can turn a cellar dweller into a playoff team in one offseason and after his actions on Wednesday, the Timbers Army know that he is willing to fight for his squad no matter the cost. The penalty cost the Timbers two points but they still drew against the top of the table on the road. This result would’ve been remarkable in the Timbers first two season but under Porter it still isn’t good enough. This team will go along way if they play the passion of their coach and so far this season, they’ve done just that.

Poll: Who should start in place of injured Chad Marshall?

http://www.coloradorapids.com/video/2013/0...e-training-u20s

“For me it doesn’t feel a whole lot different because I was so involved as an assistant,” Embick said Monday. “I was as excited then as an assistant as I am now as the head coach. This is a good group of players. We will probably have another one or two additions that have not been finalized.”

Perhaps if DeAndre hadn't cut his hair, he wouldn't have seen red. Not superstitious apparently. It's okay, though. Just a minor bump in the road, but no DeA and no Steve Zakuani (Lamrar Neagle, Shalrie Joseph, and Obafemi Martins) is going to make it very difficult vs SKC.

@Robbie Derschang Excited to get down to Austin and start the campaign with the @AustinAztex http://austinaztex.com/player-roster/ EDIT: Nice choice. I like the Aztex team colors... James ‏@AztexPunk @RobbieDerschang @austinaztex we can't wait to cheer you on! Lets go Blue and gold.

Top 10 breakdown: Best men's defenders Article Written by Travis Clark, ESNN Bryan Gallego, Akron, Junior: The stakes will be relatively high for Gallego entering his junior year at Akron. There’s a new head coach in Jared Embick, and Gallego will be one of the team captain’s, expected to lead from his center back role on a team that aims to maintain the high standards it set under Caleb Porter over the last five years. I agree with fknbufalobo, given what I saw at Maryland this Spring, there is no doubt that Bryan will lead.

http://www.thecrew.com/news/2013/05/crew-r...p-red-bulls-2-0 It was great to see Chad, Wil, Ben Speas, and future Zip Adam Najem at Crew Stadium yesterday in a reserve game. ...After halftime, Ben Speas added a second tally for Columbus, putting Chad Barson's endline service into the back of the net to make it 2-0. ... I know I'm biased, but I've watched enough good soccer to know that from what I saw in the first team's 1-0 loss to the NYRB, Chad and Wil should be playing with the 1st team.

+1 Very classy. Here's a link to a video story of the day... http://m.portlandtimbers.com/video/2013/05...ne-beat-timbers

I missed this analysis back on April 25th ... Sounders And DeAndre Yedlin

Ampai's club reaches the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League... Thai club Buriram reaches knockout stage Thai club Buriram United reached the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League after a 2-2 draw with FC Seoul on Wednesday. ... Buriram becomes the first Thai team to advance to the knockout stage since BEC Tero Sasana 10 years ago ...

Spring breeds optimism for new look Akron

MLS Power Rankings Week 9: Portland Timbers just keep climbing higher & higher Several of the Power Rankings Politburo can make pretty good arguments for this team being No. 1 in the rankings. They dismantled Houston at home. They dismantled San Jose at home. They drew the Quakes at Buck Shaw, then they simply outplayed Sporting in KC. Who does that? The answer is "a really, really good team."

Yedlin embracing chance to be a part of the U.S. U-20 squad

SBI MLS Team of the Week: Portland Timbers

Wow, maybe Fred is poised to have a "breakout year" (elsewhere) ... U.S. U20 MNT ends camp on high note Second-half substitute Alfred Koroma scored twice for the U.S. including the final tally in the last minute of the game. Dillon Serna, Benji Joya, Victor Pineda, and Danny Garcia also scored for the youth national team in the scrimmage. ... But the U20s scored three goals in the final three minutes to succinctly end the camp on a high note. Joya started the onslaught of tallies with an impressive curling effort from the top of the box to restore a two-goal advantage for the U20s. Koroma then setup former Akron teammate Serna for the fifth goal of the game. Koroma capped the day with a nifty flick at the near post off a cross from Joya for his second of the game and sixth for the U20s.

+1 I would say that, after watching how the Zips conducted their business Saturday against a top ACC side with superior number of players available, 2013 is shaping up to be a good year. I'm very proud of our team and it's leaders on and off the field. It was great to see the contingent of Zips fans and families who traveled and those from the local area. Thanks to all the players for taking their time to talk with the fans as always and best wishes over the summer. I'll be following PDL (and other) as much as I can and looking forward to the Fall season.

Seattle Sounders U23s add Eric Stevenson to PDL roster.

This was mentioned in another thread, but I thought I'd post it here, too. Reinaldo Brenes will be with the Portland Timbers U23s.

Looks like Aodhan Quinn will be back with the Sounders U23s this summer. Aodhan Quinn ‏@AodhanQuinn Excited to be playing in Seattle this summer again #Sounders

Nice. I'm happy for Reinaldo to have this well-deserved opportunity.

It's not enough, and in my opinion, it's not the right formula. They chose the right manager, but they have the wrong approach for getting players. It does take time, and runs in cycles. For a small market club to be successful, they need to concentrate on getting young talent and building the farm system. Their recent draft selections haven't been good. I despise those teams you mentioned and am not looking for a "frontrunner". It would be nice to win something, though. I guess the Tribe has won the AL Pennant, which I didn't think would happen in my lifetime. However, 49 years of futility without a championship among 3 major sports franchises (I realize the Cavs have only been around since the 70's), and counting, entitles me to be critical and cynical. You're welcome to post again and have the last word. I've hijacked this thread enough now. I'm not sure how many years you've been around and following Cleveland sports, but best wishes to you for having your heart stomped on over and again and going back for more. I'll be content to follow former Zips in the pros (MLS, NFL, etc.). I hope we start sending more players to the NFL soon. GO ZIPS!

Simple answer is Zarek Valentin, Chris Korb, Chad Barson, and Kofi Sarkodie. Matt never really competed with DeAndre or Bryan Gallego for playing time. Matt was a starter in DeAndre's and Bryan's Freshman season (after 7 Zips left for MLS, 2 seniors and 5 underclassmen from the 2010 season). Matt graduated and was gone before DeAndre's and Bryan's 2nd season (last season). EDIT: By the way, I like Matt a lot. He's a great player and an awesome person. I was happy to see him at Butler last week as I had hoped I would. (I knew he'd show up to support his team.) I hope he will return to Akron as often as he can, and that UA and Zips fans will always make him feel welcome.

There was a question mark at the end of zestycoyote's reply indicating a question. Nope. I haven't cheered for the Cavs since they left Richfield, and I certainly won't do so now. EDIT: I also haven't cheered against them.

YES. Ask me again IF/when these people make any difference in the futile happenings of Cleveland's so-called pro sports franchises. BTW, I'm not a fan of any other cities' sports teams, except MLS (which Cleveland doesn't have anyway).