Ah, Friday. MLS players supposedly voting to strike, the league talking about progress, nothing at all happening, pre-season matches continuing as usual. Gotta love it. None of us over here are expecting a work stoppage. I think it’s just some last minute hardball before some signature pages get executed. But what do I know. Fans are excited about new teams, new arenas, and the energy is palpable. So let’s just wrap up. Okay?
If you love perms or Didier Drogba, you’ll love the Les Éléphants shirt …
Spain is trying to conquer the world again. This time, they might succeed.
Wow. You blink and you’re ten years older, everybody’s lactose intolerant, people bring their own bags to the grocery store, Landon Donovan is playing in the Premier League, and goalie gloves look like this. If I was going up for a header and looked at the keeper and saw him (or her) wearing these Robocop gloves, I might reconsider the header. Well played, Puma. If keeper attire should be anything, it should be intimidating. I’m certainly feeling Puma’s direction here. Next they should make an intimidating keeper helmet for Peter Cech. Maybe with horns.
More: Fashion & Gear | Lifestyle
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Most of us who follow MLS are paying attention to the labor negotiations between the league and the MLS Players Union. One thing is certain, no one wants to see a strike. We all want to see matches, and we are all aware that a strike right before the World Cup will be bad for the league, bad for the owners, bad for the fans, and bad for the players (particularly those who want to be on the plane to South Africa).
Free agency is one of the issues on the table. The players seemingly want it. But the league says in no uncertain terms that they don’t. As it stands, out of contract players can be held in limbo if they can’t agree on a new deal because their teams still hold their rights. Free agency would allow these out of contract players who are unwanted or unused by their teams to find a new home if there is a demand for their services. Continue Reading »
More: Player & League Development | The Game
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FIFA medical committee chairman, Michael D’Hooghe, told the press this past Sunday that one of his big concerns going into the 2010 World Cup is the possible use of traditional African medicine by players. Apparently this is of great concern because some of these medicines, which are extracted from local plants, may contain untraceable levels of stimulants and may result in an unfair advantage.
I am a bit amused by this stance on the part of the Mr. D’Hooghe. After all, I don’t recall the FIFA medical committee making such a fuss over the local health methods used in past host countries. Continue Reading »
More: Health | Outside the Lines
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Ever thought about all of the energy that’s expended on soccer fields every day? Well, four female Harvard students did and decided to take that thought one step further. Jessica Lin, Jessica Matthews, Julia Silverman, and Hemali Thakkar have developed a soccer ball that is a portable, energy-storing power source. It’s called sOccket.
sOccket captures the energy from a soccer ball’s impact during the regular course of play. This is energy that is normally lost when you kick, dribble, or throw a ball. The energy is then stored inside the ball for future use. Fifteen minutes of play with sOccket can generate enough power to sustain an LED light for three hours. Continue Reading »
More: Development | Social Change
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European fashion designer Dirk Bikkembergs, a member of the influential Belgian avant-garde designers known as the “Antwerp Six”, has agreed to partner with Toronto FC for a two-year term. The designer, who was once the official designer for Inter Milan, will dress the MLS team for all of its official appearances.
Clearly, Dirk Bikkembergs is no stranger to football. Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium in 1986, the designer has been and continues to be well-regarded in Europe for his unique ability to bring the exclusive fashion world together with the world of football. Continue Reading »
More: Fashion & Gear | Lifestyle
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Football for Change is a feature in which Nutmeg Radio highlights work being done by organizations across the globe using soccer to promote development.
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