GoSounders.com » 2010

The 2010 MLS Cup

Mike — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:48:04 +0000

Well, I voted for the Galaxy, as did half of the other voters. That didn’t pan out too well. So now, what are your thoughts for the 2010 MLS Cup?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

So What’s Next?

Mike — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:43:10 +0000

What do you guys want to talk about?

MLS Playoffs?
Expansion Draft?
Anything else?

In the meantime, here are all of the 2010 Sounders FC Goals…

MLS Awards Blank Sounders

Mike — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 01:04:22 +0000

Sure, I’m sure if you asked Fredy or Kasey they would say that it is all about how Sounders FC finishes. I can’t argue with that.

But, it’s always nice to see your boys on the Finalist List for the League Awards. This year, no Sounder will take home an MLS Award.

My quick question, why bother with “Referee of the Year”???

Here’s the info from the League Headquarters…

This season’s most outstanding individual plays will be honored on Wednesday, Nov. 17 when the AT&T Goal of the Year and the NAPA Auto Parts Save of the Year are announced. Voting for the Goal and Save of the Year is conducted on the League’s official web site MLSsoccer.com.

The 2010 awards announcements, listed below the finalists, culminate on Friday, Nov. 19 with the unveiling of the 2010 MLS Volkswagen MVP and 2010 Commissioner’s Award.

2010 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists

Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas)
Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Fair Play Finalists – Individual
C.J. Brown (Chicago Fire)
Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Chris Albright (New York Red Bulls)
Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes)
Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

Visa Defender of the Year Finalists
Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)

MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Finalists
Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)
Seth Stammler (New York Red Bulls)

adidas Referee of the Year Finalists
Mark Geiger
Kevin Stott
Baldomero Toledo

Rookie of the Year Finalists
Danny Mwanga (Philadelphia Union)
Andy Najar (D.C. United)
Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)

Coach of the Year Finalists
Hans Backe (New York Red Bulls)
Schellas Hyndman (FC Dallas)
Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)

Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Joel Lindpere (New York Red Bulls)
Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)

Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists
Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
David Ferreira (FC Dallas)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthqakes)

Awards Announcements Schedule:
November 3: Rookie of the Year, Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year, and Goalkeeper of the Year
November 5: Visa Defender and adidas Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
November 8: MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year
November 10: Newcomer and Comeback Player of the Year
November 11: MLS Coach of the Year
November 15: 2010 MLS Best XI
November 17: AT&T Goal of the Year and NAPA Auto Parts Save of the Year
November 19: Volkswagen MVP & Commissioner’s Award

Quick 2010 Sounders FC Facts

Mike — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:44:00 +0000

Sounders look to extend the 2010 MLS Season (Chris Coulter foto)

Here are some trivial facts for the Sounders Fans who like… trivia…

Sounders FC is 13-2-3 in its last 18 domestic (MLS and Open Cup) matches; 10-2-3 in MLS
Seattle is unbeaten in its last 10 (8-0-2) at home in MLS (5-0-2) and Open Cup (3-0-0) play
With 48 points and 14 wins Seattle surpassed its totals for 2009
Seattle shattered its own MLS season attendance record, averaging 36,173 for the regular season. It averaged 30,943 in 2009. There have been 31 consecutive sellouts
A late season five-game win streak matched the longest in MLS this season (Real Salt Lake won five straight in May)
Fredy Montero has 12 goals (six game-winners) and 11 assists in all competitions. He is one of two players to rank among MLS top ten in both goals (10) and assists (10)

Blaise Nkufo has scored five goals in the last six matches, including two game-winners, and Seattle is 9-1-1 in his 11 starts
Seattle finished with the league’s sixth-best record and lost the fewest games (17) in its first two years of any franchise in the 15-year history of MLS
Goalkeeper Kasey Keller has played in 55 consecutive MLS matches, dating to April 25, 2009
Sounders FC is 12-3-3 when scoring first and 1-7-2 when allowing two or more goals
Seattle tied for second in road wins (6) and has posted five shutouts in its last eight away
Nine of the 14 MLS victories have been shutouts and in the 19 wins (19-13-8) over all competitions the average goals allowed is 0.42
19 of the team’s 39 goals have been scored either in the first or last 15 minutes
12 of the 35 goals allowed have come in the final 15 minutes

provided by Sounders FC Media

A Busy, But Convenient August Schedule

Mike — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:20:37 +0000

The Sounders have a whole slew of new matches on their schedule that weren’t there when the 2010 MLS Table was announced.

The Addition of 6 CCL Group Stage Matches fits conveniently into a 2 week MLS break between August 14th & 28th.

Date	Opponent	Time	Type
08/08 – Sunday	Houston	730p	MLS Buy Tickets
08/14 – Saturday	at Chivas USA	730p	MLS
08/19 – Thursday	at Marathon	TBD	CCL
08/25 – Wednesday	Monterrey	TBD	CCL
08/28 – Saturday	Chicago	730p	MLS Buy Tickets
09/01 – Wednesday	Chivas USA	730p	USOC Buy Tickets

Evans, Hurtado Get Salary Increases

Mike — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:49:29 +0000

The MLS Players Union released the 2010 salaries for its players yesterday.

Some quick things to note…

Brad Evans and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado will be making in the low $120s in 2010; both a generous increase
Nate Sturgis’s salary has almost been cut in half
Pete Vagenas took a 26% pay cut
Blaise Nkufo will be making $480,000

Player	2010	2009	%
Alonso, Osvaldo	68,737.50	65,000	5.8%
Boss, Terry	42,500	38,500	10.4%
Estrada, David	40,000
Evans, Brad	123,750	44,500	178.1%
Fucito, Mike	40,000	20,100	99.0%
Gonzalez, Leo	72,000	48,000	50.0%
Graham, Taylor	57,750	55,000	5.0%
Hurtado, Jhon	121,000	37,000	227.0%
Ianni, Patrick	75,600	72,000	5.0%
Jaqua, Nate	238,125	208,121	14.4%
Keller, Kasey	300,000	300,000	0.0%
Levesque, Roger	42,008	40,008	5.0%
Ljungberg, Freddie	1,314,000	1,314,000	0.0%
Tyrone Marshall	169,125	161,250	4.9%
Montaño, Miguel	40,008
Montero, Freddy	180,000	155,000	16.1%
Nkufo, Blaise	480,000
Noonan, Pat	96,000
Nyassi, Sanna	40,000	20,100	99.0%
Parke, Jeff	99,999.96
Riley, James	76,075	72,625	4.8%
Seamon, Michael	40,000
Scott, Zach	42,008	40,008	5.0%
Sturgis, Nathan	69,250	133,000	-47.9%
Vagenas, Peter	117,000	158,400	-26.1%
Wahl, Tyson	52,300	34,650	50.9%
Zakuani, Steve	178,000	163,000	9.2%

Sounders Gear: Jerseys, Jackets, & Sweatshirts- 20% Off

Mike — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:16:32 +0000

Planning on getting some Sounder Gear for Dad for Father’s Day, or … maybe even yourself? Our partner, Seattle Teams, is currently running a sale for 20% Off of Sounder Jerseys, Jackets, and Sweatshirts.

This includes all Men’s Jerseys- Authentic & Replica, Player & Blank, Rave Green or Sounder Blue or Electricity. That means that you can get the new Electricity Jersey or a Player’s Jersey for $72. A Replica Rave Green jersey is $56.

All of the Track Jackets and cold weather gear is also 20% Off.

If you’re a Seattle Sports Fan in general, all Jerseys, Jackets, and Sweatshirts for the Seahawks, Mariners, Huskies, and Cougars are 20% Off too. Hurry Up- This Sale Won’t Last Long!

Time for a Second Camping Trip! (Now With More Hallucinogens)

laurie — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:06 +0000

(This is part 2 of The True Story of “The Camping Trip.” For part 1, from last season, go here.)

Scene: Mt. Rainier, again, after dusk. Freddie Ljungberg and Fredy Montero are washing a skillet and two plates in a stream.
***

Montero: So why are we back here again?

Ljungberg: Sigi says the last camping trip “didn’t take.” Pretty sure that’s American for “you’re still not passing me the ball.”

Montero: Yeah? Well I think it’s more American for, “You need to stop whining.”

Ljungberg: Shut up. This sucks. And this time they didn’t even send food.

Montero: Well, at least the owl’s eggs and wild mushrooms I found made a good omelet.

Sigmund Freud: I’ll say.

Ljungberg: Uh… Who are you and what are you doing here?

Sigmund Freud: I’m Sigmund Freud. Obviously. And I’m not actually here — I’m merely a figment of your mushroom omelet.

Ljungberg: Uh-oh.

Freud: Oh, don’t worry. I’m here to help you work through your issues. Mr. Montero, let’s start with you.

Montero: Uh….

Freud: I believe all the problems you are currently experiencing are rooted in your unacknowledged Oedipal complex.

Montero: My What-ipal complex?

Freud: Your Oedipal Complex. Your problems will be solved when you accept that, like Oedipus, you want to kill your father and marry your mother.

Montero: Ewww! Try again.

Freud: Kill your grandfather and marry your grandmother?

Montero: ICK!

Freud: Brother and sister?

Montero: Who the hell is this guy?

Freud: Wait! I’ve got it! You want to kill Freddie and steal his girlfriend!

Montero: Now we’re onto something.

Freud: Right. First problem solved. Moving on. Mr. Ljungberg? I am certain that all of your problems stem from improper toilet training.

Ljungberg: WHAT?!?

Freud: Your parents were too harsh with you during toilet training, which has led to your current displeasure, culminating in explosions at referees.

Ljungberg: Oh, Bullsh*t

Freud: What? You can’t say that! I’m Sigmund Freud, father of modern psychiatry!

Ljungberg: Yeah? Bullsh*t. I explode at the referees because it’s easier than exploding at the players. I don’t know how to play with guys who aren’t the best of the best, and I want to make them better but can’t. And in the meantime my playing days are ticking away and I’m getting mowed down like alfalfa and I’m afraid of ending my career as a failure because I moved to MLS. That’s why I whine to the referees. Oh, and also because they suck.

Freud: Heheh. Right. Of course. That’s what I meant.

Ljungberg: And I resent Fredy because he’s talented, and he’s young, and he has his whole life ahead of him and he’s pissing it all away.

Montero: You think I’m talented?

Ljungberg: Of course I do! Talented, but lazy. If you made half the runs you should, and stayed late to work on your shooting, and did a little more mental prep before each game, you’d really have something.

Montero: Oh, Freddie, I never knew you cared! I think maybe I can start passing to you now!

Ljungberg: Then I think maybe I can stop whining.

Freud: My work here is done. To celebrate, why don’t we all join into a rousing chorus of Kum Ba Ya!

♫
Someone’s crying, Lord
Kum Ba Yah! ♬

Montero and Ljungberg: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Freud: Oh. Right. Sorry.

Ljungberg: One last thing, Sigi.

Freud: Sigmund. It’s Sigmund.

Ljungberg: Right. Sigmund. The league isn’t going to go all Jeff Parke on us now, is it? Are we going to get a ten-game suspension for accidental mushroom ingestion?

Freud: Tell you what. I have a little pull with Garber. We did some work together. Can’t say much, but his mom is hot. If you know what I mean.

Montero: EWWW!

Freud: Um…yeah. Don’t worry about the suspensions. I’d be more concerned about the “Mushroom Migraine.”

Ljungberg: Mushroon Migraine? Is that what I’m going to be dealing with? You gave me mushrooms that cause… Of all the incompetent….!

Freud: Uh…Freddie? You’re whining again.

Ljungberg: Oh. Right. Sorry.

Freud: Sigh. This may take longer than I thought.

Your Seattle Sounders: Sports Team of the Year

Mike — Fri, 21 May 2010 00:24:00 +0000

The Sports Business Journal announced today that the Seattle Sounders are Sports Team of Year by

Tod Leiweke, CEO of Vulcan Sports, was nominated for the National Executive of the Year.

MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto

jt — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:50:10 +0000

Rumors are true, the Cup game is going North.

Toronto FC and BMO Field will host the 2010 MLS Cup in November.

From MLSsoccer.com:
NEW YORK — MLS Commissioner Don Garber hinted at it prior to the start of the season. Toronto media reported it last week. Today it became official.

MLS today announced that MLS Cup 2010 will be hosted at BMO Field in Toronto on Sun., Nov. 21.

For the second straight year, the final will be played in primetime (8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and Telefutura). Last year’s evening kick-off in Seattle, was considered a popular move by most fans.

Weather conditions could be a concern in Toronto. The average high on Nov. 21 in Toronto is 43 degrees, and the record low, set in 1879, is 4 degrees. However, on the same day as the 2009 MLS Cup final, when a chilly rain swept through Seattle’s Qwest Field, Toronto enjoyed pleasant 50-degree weather.

The MLS Cup announcement comes on the heels of $5.5 million in upgrades to BMO Field, including the installation of additional seating and a natural grass surface, which is currently in progress. The stadium is due to be ready by the April 15 home opener for Toronto FC.

While it was confirmed that Toronto FC season ticket holders would have priority on MLS Cup tickets, the league said it will release ticket information at a later date.

BMO Field has sold out every match since it opened in 2007, including the MLS All-Star Game in 2008.

MLS Cup 2010 will likely be no different.