Recent content by Rogue

I'm of two minds about this whole thing: first of all, I believe in Freedom of Speech. I'm old enough to recall the Pentagon Papers and to value the transparency they gave to the filthy corporate crimes behind the Vietnam war that killed not only thousands of civilians, but also the fathers and...

How is this done? Or is it a moot point without a Fifa money packet in an anonymous brown envelope?

Holding out but slowly declining, I would think. Too slow for most kids.

If I have my stats correct: "soccer" has more youth involvement than any other sport in the US so that means a lot. The problem has always been - and I say this as a dedicated youth coach - keeping them in the sport. I constantly lose them to basketball and grid-iron hand-egg pointy ball. Never...

You raise an excellent point. For years, World Cup after World Cup, I have looked forward to shocking photos of sexy women in ridiculously skimpy outfits made out of the rag bits of flags. Just another thing to hate about this World Cup. No cleavage? Forget about it.

Yeah, Connecticut has a really rich footballing history. Lots of old Immigrant Clubs that stand alone. When I was young, growing up in Westport I played for, at one time or another, Bridgeport Italians and Vasco de Gama. Both teams, it must be said, were mostly made up of Greeks.

Look, do you guys need me to fly over and play? Though I'm 46 I still excel at diving and dirty slide tackles. I'm proudly Italian, which means I'll go to the ground before the whistle blows, holding my leg and grimmacing . . . should be good for a free kick here or there.

The big thing about foot-occer in the States, from my perspective as a long time youth coach, is that it reflects the changing demographics of the nation itself. I currently live and coach in the Deep South. My league winning/cup winning U16 boys team does NOT reflect the Old School White Anglo...

I think we have to question what he means when he says "Top League" - perhaps something like Netherlands or Portugal? I can see that happening within the time frame. Maybe. I can also see a cure for male pattern baldness too, so perhaps I'm not a great source.

Apparently the club has a youth affiliate in my home state of Connecticut! I had no idea! I now live in Georgia and all my sons play here but, by the Great Bleeding Jesus, I may move back home so my boys can wear the Blue! http://http://www.evertonamericact.com/

there's only one True Everton. Hope you win, pal.

For the U20s I was extremely impressed by that kid from Notre Dame: Dillon Powers. Agudelo for sure. Tristan Bowen was fast, attacking player - loads of pace.

He's coaching. Looked surprised someone knew him. I cornered him and made him take pictures with my sons. He was quite gracious about it. One of the first US midfielders who knew how to dictate the pace of the game.

I got a chance to watch the U20s play in Atlanta. Some very good stuff. Very pacey players, attack oriented. Exciting! Then I got to walk out of the stadium and realize I was walking next to Claudio Reyna and I got watery knees and behaved like a ridiculous fanboy.

My boys and all the boys I've raised up as a son-of-immigrants football coach came that close to seeing a World Cup. The first real generation of born in it, raised in it footballers in this country. Now I get to explain to them that, really, football isn't just the finest sport on earth, it is...