More MLS lessons. Thinking outside the box can create something beautiful. Watch what Aloe Blacc does to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
And then the more up tempo version of I Need a Dollar: (more…)
More MLS lessons. Thinking outside the box can create something beautiful. Watch what Aloe Blacc does to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
And then the more up tempo version of I Need a Dollar: (more…)
Who doesn’t spend time pondering how MLS should feel? I’m thinking that it should be something like this. A bit of soulful swag. And what a classy mic. (more…)
WELCOME to NUTMEG RADIO MIXTAPE No. 3: THE DARKO FILES!! Today on the mixtape we have an actual real, live MC, one who can actually play soccer. Ahem … Maryland, stand up.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you former University of Maryland Terrapin soccer player, former high school standout, the first player to win three USYSA national championships in three consecutive age groups, now doing his thing in the rap game, Kwame Darko … (more…)
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WELCOME to NUTMEG RADIO MIXTAPE No. 2: THE GINGER REWIND!! This time it’s with a very special guest, the gingery, former U.S. men’s national team defender and current ESPN soccer analyst, Alexi Lalas.
Opinionated and opinionated, Alexi Lalas has been a fixture on the U.S. soccer scene for almost two decades. As one of U.S. soccer’s first recognizable personalities, we’ve seen much of his career played out in the public spotlight unlike many of his predecessors and probably most players today. Since the early 90s, we’ve been able to follow Alexi through World Cups, Serie A, MLS (both as a player and executive), and into his man-behind-the-desk role analyzing soccer in front of the camera. And then there is his music career, which is another part of Alexi’s legacy that made him stand out at a time when U.S. soccer needed a few breakout personalities. The hair, the play, the personality, and the guitar – it was the perfect storm. (more…)
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Getting back to the music, I thought I’d take you to a bit of an oldie (erm, 2008) but goodie.
Sway, a British rapper of Ghanaian background (who has previously collaborated with Liverpool’s Ryan Babel and Babel’s protégé, Perry Mystique), put together this ode to Ghana called “Black Stars.”
It’s always nice to see an artist give a shout out to his/her home. As you’ll quickly see, “Black Stars” is an anthem giving it up to all that is Ghanaian, from Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, to actors, MPs, and, of course, footballers. (more…)
A bit of music for your listening pleasure. We frequently make the case for soft rock/yacht rock. Genres that are cool, sophisticated and wonderfully measured. In other words, genres that are awesome. In the spirit of awesome, there is no way I could keep Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer to myself. The genre is Chap-Hop, which will soon be self-explanatory. It’s one of the greatest (more…)
“USA! USA! USA!”
Yes, I get it. You’re American. Me too.
That’s where we started. Armed with knowledge of our country of residence and an ability to abbreviate, we launched the USA chant on unsuspecting eardrums. Unsure of what else to say, other than perhaps, “Ref, you suck,” or other expletive-ridden versions like, “Ref you [insert expletive] suck,” we pushed the USA chant to its limits, alternating between stiff chants and Jersey Shore-esque fist pumping while repeating the same three letters over and over again. And I’m glad we did it, lest we be confused with our neighbors to the north. You know, the ones with the socialized medicine. (more…)
Not too long ago, Jason Davis over at Match Fit USA wrote an interesting piece about the American identity crisis in the announcers’ booth.
When it comes to the issue of identity in U.S. soccer, Davis hit the nail on the head. U.S. soccer doesn’t quite yet have a fully-formed identity, which leads us to look to outside influences a bit too often. In certain respects, this isn’t a criticism, but rather just the reality of a relatively new league and a nascent supporter culture. We are in a state of cobbling it together as we go along. But as we cobble, we have to be weary of losing ourselves and ensure that we focus on developing a means of expressing ourselves on our own terms. (more…)
So what do we think of R Kelly and Freshlyground as World Cup musical participants? Well apparently South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Lulu Xingwana, isn’t too fond of the two recent additions to the opening and closing ceremony line-ups. R Kelly seemingly gets the thumbs down “because he sings an African melody in a fake African accent because he is American,” whereas Freshlyground’s (more…)
Major League Soccer (MLS) wants to be popular. Looking at the professional sports landscape in the United States, the market is arguably already saturated. Instead of just competing through measured, strategic growth, MLS may need to think outside of the box to make its mark.
In the history of MLS, steps have already been taken to think outside the box. Remember the thirty-five yard penalty shootout? Yeah, I’m trying to forget it too. But at least it showed a genuine interest in devising ways to make the game more user friendly to a new market. I’m of the opinion that the game on the field needs to be left alone. It seems the league now gets that too. But there is much to be done off the field to change how soccer is perceived by the general public. The game needs to be cooler and needs to lose its suburban feel.
So where should MLS start? Start by hanging out with some reputable celebrities who have actually already expressed an interest in the game. Enter Brooklyn’s Finest, former street pharmacist and current businessman, Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z. (more…)
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.
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