Keeping track of all the news....the word is out that Charlie Naimo, past coach of Jersey Sky Blue, has been hired as the GM of the Los Angeles franchise of WPS. Naimo, whose Pali Blues won this year's W-League championships, looks to feel right at home in Southern Cal despite his New Jersey roots. In my opinion, Naimo's strength is that he is a "people person." This is a skill that will serve him well in his new job. I credit Charlie with getting me involved with Sky Blue, and work that is very inspiring and exciting. "Cleats (as opposed to hats) off" to Charlie on the new position!
Don't forget to get your tickets the the USA Women's Nat'l team vs. Ireland at Giants' Stadium on Sept. 17. Look for Sky Blue there, and come by and say hello.
Check out the article on www.womensprosoccer.com, (the WPS website) with comments on the WPSL combine by our own coach Denise Reddy.
In other news, Pat Santo Pietro drew my attention to the interesting articles below.
Olympics Draw High Percentage of Women Viewers, and Ads Intended for Them http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/sports/olympics/19adco.html?_r=3&ref=media&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin The
Soccer Mamas of Summer
New York Times - United States
“Now we are old ladies,” says one member of a popular women’s soccer league that plays on the Parade Ground in Brooklyn. “But we still try to keep fit. ...
See all stories on this topic
SBS Blogger
First, an admission. I belong to a family of Brazilian men’s and women’s soccer devotees. My household has long revered and respected the incredibly technical skill and dazzling art of the “Jogo Bonita” style of play.
Before the Olympic final, the sentiment in my household was: Hey, if the USA can beat them, they deserve to win the gold. And thus, with their winning record, their intelligence and fitness, and tremendous goalkeeping, the Americans persevered. Bravo!
Understandably, the mood at Sky Blue today is celebratory. Yes, victory does that. But victory for us comes in many forms. Staffer Natalie Smith said that the energy of the Olympic final staff viewing party (complete with bagels and homebaked cookies) made her feel the joy of working here.
Those of us who labor for the success of Sky Blue and the WPS feel that Olympic victory is inherent on so many levels—from the attention that is showered on the winners, to the excitement and anticipation of the fabulous international players who will bring so much extra to the game played on American fields.
The ingredients are in place for our success. It is our audience though that is the key. If you like what you saw in the Olympics, don’t hesitate. Make us your mission; spread the word; share your passion. Commit to Sky Blue, and to WPS, and give us your support.
So that every golden Olympic moment will translate to a golden WPS moment.
SBS Blogger
The USA women’s defeat of Canada under rainy skies, and in a game that included a rare prolonged weather break, showed a team that is steadily improving. Their possession (and confidence) seem stronger, especially the further they progress from their opening upset loss to Norway. An opening goal by Angela Hucles (most goals for the team with 2), was matched by the overtime game winner, a stunning header by Natasha Kai.
The semi-final match-up with Japan on Monday should prove as competitive as most games in the tournament thus far. The Japanese defeated a young Chinese team (featuring 8 players under age 22), 2-0. The talented veteran Hamare Sawa of Japan’s textbook header for goal number one proves she intends to give it her all before her post-Olympic retirement.
It was no cake-walk for Brazil, who fortunately created a padding for themselves with a 2-0 lead over Norway by late in the game (another one coming from Marta). Young keeper Barbara created a PK by taking down a Norwegian player in the box, and at 2-1, the Scandinavians kept attacking until the final whistle. What impresses about the Brazilians is how much they smile. Commentator Lori Walker mentioned the Brazilian expression, "Play Joyfully." I love that. It should be a motto for everyone. And the Brazilians clearly live by it.
In another overtime nail-biter, it took the German team until the 103rd minute to break a 0-0 deadlock against great play by Sweden. When the corner was set up, as my fellow viewer is my witness, I predicted: This is it; on a header by Kerstin Garefrekas. (I had to throw in I called this one, which I based on her phenomenal success on heading in crosses in big tournaments). After a second goal by Simone Laudehr on a very tough angle, the nail-biting let up.
Germany, which has not conceded a goal in not only this tournament, but in all of World Cup 2007, faces Brazil on Monday in a rematch of the 2007 Women’s World Cup final.
Nothing seems predictable. No player in the tournament has scored more than three goals. All games have had some fantastic play, with abundant talent in evidence. The contrast in styles (a broadcast that switches straight from the physical Canadians to the technical Japanese) has made these soccer games incredibly entertaining. The US has done well to incorporate a bit of everything into their game, and couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to reach the final.
SBS Blogger
By now everyone has heard the news. The photo of Abby's Agonizing Face could be seen all over the internet. I heard the story even crossed the lips of the Today Show anchors.
Having just met the tall and humble striker at her WPS sponsored appearance at the Region 1 championships in Maine, I find it particularly painful on her behalf. When you meet such a "class act," it isn't just the player, it's the person you find yourself connected to. And when you feel that connection, her fate becomes personal.
Abby Wambach valiantly said all the right things in support of her team after her injury. But the looks on the faces of other key US players were revealing. Tears streamed down the cheeks of Carli Lloyd and Heather O. And it looked like with the saddness for their teammate, their confidence would take an understandable hit. Let's hope that's only temporary.
When discussing the American women's soccer strengths, the veterans in particular talk about the "USA mentality." It's what has set them apart, kept them on the victory stand. So, now the question is whether that strength of confidence, attitude and spirit--that nebulous quality you can't quite put a finger on--will be their salvation--especially since the player who most defined that mentality on this team is the one out of the Games.
Even an iron mentality though can't erase the disappointment they, and all of us, feel for an athlete and person like Abby Wambach. Hers is a loss we feel on all fronts.
SBS Blogger
“This is sick…”
That’s what come out of my 18-year-old daughter’s mouth when we first entered Giants Stadium in New Jersey yesterday for the USA men v. Argentina exhibition match. My own mouth was open, speechless, in awe.
(Sick, for anyone over a certain age who might not know—in this case means it was simply incredible, phenomenal, unbelievable).
What’s it like to be among a record 78,682 fans—the largest in Giants Stadium history for a US Soccer men’s game?
The signs and flags were everywhere, and surprisingly evenly divided between the USA and Argentina--this in a world (and a stadium) where South Americans and Europeans usually outnumber US fans by at least 3 to 1.
Young guys had red, white and blue painted torsos, and signs in Spanish, like love letters to their team, proclaimed “We’re always with you,” and “in our hearts.”
And the noise!
At one point, the volume literally made the plastic cup in my hand vibrate (or maybe that was the feeling from a few sips of the beer inside that cup…).
And the soccer!
Sitting only five rows up from the field, I could literally see Lionel Messi’s shoe laces, despite the fact his notorious feet moved with such speed that his cleats were a blur.
It was all so exquisite and athletic, it caused me to think in clichés:
This isn’t soccer; this is art.
Colin Stephenson of the NJ Star Ledger, who is a great supporter of the sport—had written an article last week pointing out that New Jersey produced such a dearth of elite male talent, as compared to the prolific women’s side. But there for all the world to see was local product Tim Howard, Player of the Match, who could almost touch his native North Brunswick with the phenomenal reach of his arms. And when Sacha Klijestan took the field, my daughter turned to me in excitement, recalling the days she used to train in mixed scrimmages with him at his alma mater, nearby Seton Hall University.
This game fueled hopes, that on whatever level, Sky Blue and WPS can create that wide-eyed wonder. And that everywhere in our league and in our games, one fan can turn to another and proclaim,
“This is sick.”
SBS Blogger
**** **** ****
Thanks Joe!
Special thanks to Joe Krzysik, friend and father of former Sky Blue and U. of Virginia player Nikki, who is the first person I know who has gone on record as reading my blog!
SBS Blogger
Don't let anyone tell you that people don't come out to watch soccer in this country.
Tickets for the US men's National Team vs. Argentina on June 8 at the Meadowlands went on sale on April 14. As of today (May 7), our NY Times friend Jack Bell writes, 40,000 have sold (and I own one of them). Tickets aren't cheap either--you can sit in nosebleed for $35, and close enough to see the sweat fly for $195. In fact, the nationalism for this match is so intense, there will be separate seating sections: Argentina, USA, and mixed/neutral.
On the flip side, the US women's national team played a couple of friendlies vs. Australia in the last two weeks. Remember, this is an Olympic year, so "fan fire" should be flamed. There was an audience of about 3,600 at the first game (Carey, NC) and an advertised 5,000 for the second (Birmingham, AL). Wassup with that?!
We need to connect the dots. OK. No overnight miracles. You've heard this argument before (worldwide football vs. USA soccer). Maybe Lionel Messi and Landon Donovan have caught fire because this is a in a "man's world." But can we hope, with the international players coming to WPS, we can capitalize on what feeds the flames of fandom?
Sky Blue had about two weeks to organize the game v. the National Team of China last June. It poured rain, but almost 4,000 came out to Rutgers stadium. Among them was a huge contingent of Chinese from the nearby area, which turns out to be one of the largest Chinese communities in the State. And they were families: men, women and children.
Women's soccer in other countries is rapidly improving. Our appreciation of the international passion for the game, and our nurturing of it, has got to be a key to our success. Let's hope so, anyway. And let's hope this league, and Sky Blue, is part of it.
SBS Blogger
Add comment