OSU Alumni Bryan Jordan Playing with Beckham
Former OSU forward Bryan Jordan was signed by the LA Galaxy after joining them on their tour of Asia. The speedy Jordan joins fellow OSU alumni Alan Gordon, the face of U.S. soccer Landon Donovan and the global superstar David Beckham at LA. This is a pretty big break for Jordan. He spent much of his time at OSU appearing as a substitute or injured. After OSU he put in his time with the Portland Timbers before impressing the right people and signing with the Galaxy.

Here he is enjoying the new spotlight:

PlayStation FIFA 2008 Tournament
The Upper Deck (at the Corvallis Sports Park) is hosting a PlayStation 2 FIFA 2008 tournament on April 15 and 16 from 6:00 PM to Midnight. The games will be played on the big screen TV for everyone to watch. The format is 2 vs 2 and the cost to enter is $10. All teams will receive a free beverage.

I got to watch the last tournament they did and it looked like a lot of fun, even if you aren't that good at the game. If you do have some skills though, Seth and Rube are the team to beat. . The New Belgium Brewing Company is providing some prizes. Sign up at the Corvallis Sports Park.

AYSO Scheduling
Any press is good press right? Well maybe not. Brooks Hatch, who covers sports for the Corvallis Gazette Times has mentioned local soccer twice now on his blog. But Corvallis AYSO had to get on his $%!# list for it to happen. Back is August, Hatch was angry because his son's AYSO schedule conflicted heavily with the afternoon Beaver football games. He pointed out that the AYSO games for girls were held in the morning.

It looks like AYSO got Hatch again this spring. His son's afternoon games interfere with OSU baseball. Again he points out that the girls play in the mornings. At least some of the issue comes from the limited field situation that AYSO has been dealing with. Hopefully that is resolved by next fall. My word of advice to AYSO, don't schedule any games that conflict with OSU football at all. That's like one step below scheduling games on Christmas morning.

The Bully List
I warned you guys I would continue to call you out. Here is a list of teams that are bullying their opponents in the recreational and intermediate leagues. My message to these teams: stop stealing wheelchairs and move to a more competitive division. You will enjoy it more.

Mid Valley Engraving (Coed Rec)
Cold Strat (Coed Rec)
Thundercats (Mens Rec)
Ogrenauts (Mens Intermediate)

Lincoln K-8 School Fundraiser Tournament
The Lincoln PTA is putting on a recreational adult soccer tournament to help raise money for the Lincoln K-8 School. The games will be played on Friday evening, May 9 and all day Saturday, May 10. All games will be played at the school. On Saturday there will also be plenty of food and activities for children and parents. Eight teams are expected to participate. Registration is $125. For information about participating or volunteering for the tournament email corvallissoccer@yahoo.com.

...more, continue reading this post >>>

Last Friday I happened to be celebrating a birthday with a few friends at American Dream Pizza when Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Corvallis' favorite pizza place. Unfortunately for us we were at the Monroe Street location. Even though I didn't meet the presidential hopeful, the visit did inspire me to make a political entry. Well, sorta.

Who would win the Political Derby, a grudge soccer match between the Democrats and Republicans? (It was this or write about Robbie Findley missing the game winning goal against Honduras.)

The Democrats
Favoring a progressive style of play, the Democrats are taking the field in a notably equitable and balanced 3-4-3 formation. However, the individual players have been given a great deal of freedom of choice with the expectation that the rest of the team will provide assistance.

Forwards:
Barack Obama is primary attacking threat. His willingness to experiment will keep defenders guessing and at 46 years of age he will have a clear edge in youthful energy.
Bill Clinton has never had any fear of being caught off-sides. He will get away with everything he can against the Republican defenders.
The resilient Ted Kennedy acts as the target forward. Having survived a plane crash and car wreck, nipping defenders will hardly seem a bother.

Midfielders:
Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Old Lady of the team will support her husband Bill and the other forwards.
Al Gore will look to uncover "An Inconvenient Truth" about the Republican defense.
John Kerry has a knack for unpredictable decisions and quick changes of direction that will give the Republicans fits.
George Clooney is free to do what he wants including calling out his teammates for not standing up to the Republican side.

Defenders:
Nancy Pelosi is committed to the defense and security of the Democrats' goal. She will be tough to beat.
Oprah Winfrey backs the players in front of her with considerable influence and golden touch.
Harry Reid has no reservations executing capital punishment on the oppositions forwards.

Goalkeeper:
Michael Moore literally rounds out the team as the goalkeeper because he fills the most area between the pipes.

Coach:
Jimmy Carter who showed the fire is still burning in Sudan will lead the Dems.

The Republicans
The Republican side will field a conservative 4-4-2 formation. The overall strategy is to overwhelm the opposition by allowing the individual players to exert as much influence on the game as possible without restriction. The Republican side is expected to aggressively invade and occupy their opponents territory.

Forwards:
Arnold Schwarzenegger has the physically imposing figure to intimidate defenders. His Austrian upbringing may make him the most skilled player on team.
The diminutive George W. Bush will compliment Arnold. George Best scored incredible goals while he was tanked.

Midfielders:
The courageous Bob Dole will provide a veteran influence in the center of the Republican midfield.
Collin Powell is "The General" and will direct the Republican offensive.
Rush Limbaugh will keep things exciting on the wing. With his low tolerance to pain he can't be expected to mix it up in the crowd.
Ann Coulter is the Republicans' other provocative option on the wing. If needed Ann can drop back to keep Bill Clinton distracted.

Defenders:
Dick Cheney is defensive minded and such a terrible marksman has no business in the attack.
Newt Gingrich will mark Bill Clinton and oppose him at every turn.
John Roberts, a former athlete, will attempt to match up against Obama.
Condoleezza Rice will supply direct service to Geroge Bush from the back line.

Goalkeeper:
John McCain will need all of his mettle to handle the stress of tending the net for the Republicans.

Coach:
Pat Robertson will convey the wisdom of God directly to his team.

Bono, Fidel Castro and Ralph Nader were chosen to officiate the match based on thier objectivity towards the outcome. After is was alleged that Nader would tip the game towards the Republicans he was reassigned from center official to assistant referee.

Jon Stewart, a former soccer player at the College of William and Mary will provide the color commentary for the match.

The stage is set. So who wins this battle of the ages? Share your opinion of how this match turns out.

...more, continue reading this post >>>

OSU assistant coach and obvious head coach prospect Linus Rhode represented Canada a total of fifteen times between '94 and '96. He has appeared against France, Guinea Bissau, USA, Korea, Mexico, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Australia. Linus netted three international goals, played against EPL standout Mark Viduka and even has a win against Team USA.

But we got Canada tonight with a 3-0 win. And the Stanley Cup is in the United States! Nyah-nyah you maple heads.

The Gazette Times has reported that Bob De Carolis has no specific timetable for hiring Oregon State’s new women’s soccer coach. Between the lines this means; De Carolis is up to his ears trying to find a new basketball coach. With the recruiting period complete and the spring season coming up, De Carolis may decide to stall until after the fall season. Installing Linus Rhode as head coach would buy De Carolis some time until then.

Bob De Carolis also stated, “Being competitive enough in the Pac-10 to get to the NCAA tournament is always our goal. (The salary) will be competitive within the market.” I believe him. Check out how the OSU women's soccer program spends its cash compared to other schools. (figures are from U.S. Dept of Education for 2006)

Nike-blessed University of Oregon spends more on its women's head coaches than OSU. But we lay it all on the line for our...assistant coaches? Come on Bob, is that figure correct? Is that really where we want to spending our dollars? A few other items I notice:

1) Why do we carry 26 players? You know only eleven are on the field right. Uh, can't we get a graduate assistant to wash the jerseys?

2) How the ?%+{ is the women's team spending $70,000 more than the University of Portland. Their (post) season runs about three weeks longer than ours! Are we flying a charter jet to USC?

3) I don't care about our non-existent revenue. Don't you dare think about charging us to attend a women's game before the team wins a Pac-10 game again. I like free, thank you.

“For the most part the kids have done well academically,” De Carolis said. “From a student-athlete perspective I think it’s been a good experience, so somebody who could continue that process would be good.” This is what i hear, "The women's soccer program loses over $100 grand a year. It makes business sense to cut the program, but I can't because of Title IX."

Seriously, I have faith in De Carolis here. He has a good track record with his coaching hires. But I'm syaing it now. If OSU hires Greg Ryan I will lose it.

...more, continue reading this post >>>

After ten seasons as the head coach for the Oregon State University women's soccer program, Steve Fennah has resigned. The departure seems to be a surprise to his players. CHS graduate and returning goalkeeper Ashley Wood stated that his resignation was not expected and that he was not under pressure to resign with one year left on his contract. I wouldn't expect the players to know about that kind of pressure though.

The timing is odd. College soccer coaches typically leave after the fall season. That is before the new players are signed. Fennah had just signed ten new players to OSU for another coach to inherit. Although I believe the NCAA allows for new recruits to get out of their commitments in this type of situation (rightly so). Perhaps he just woke up and wasn't feeling it anymore like Bobby Knight. In ten seasons Fennah's conference record is 17-65-8. That many losses would take a toll on anyone.

Eight year assistant coach, Linus Rhode is a worthwhile candidate. He is familiar with the program and would provide some continuity. Typically if an athletic department does not hire internally for the position they would conduct a national search for a new coach. Bob De Carolis, the director of athletics at OSU has a track record of hiring big names for the school's smaller programs. De Carolis has hired LaVonda Wagner (women's' basketball), Taras Liskevych (volleyball) and Jim Zalesky (wrestling) all of whom where relatively high profile coaches.

The Beavers men's' program is recruiting a new assistant coach after what seems to be the quiet departure of Jim Coffer after two seasons. His coaching profile on the teams web page has gone missing with no clue where he went or why. The job posting is interesting reading if you are curious as to what an assistant soccer coach does.

First year women's assistant coach Kellie Evans is also leaving the program. She had been hired to replace Heidi Slaymaker. Her coaching career is still very young and she has more ties on the east coast.

Things are-a-changin' at OSU and I like it. I don't really care what the changes are so long as we do something differently. Just maybe, the changes will be for the better.

...more, continue reading this post >>>

Here is my letter to Nick Webster of FoxSoccer.com and the Fox Soccer Channel regarding, what in my opinion, is his irresponsible view of the horrific tackle by Martin Taylor on Eduardo in the EPL. In case you haven't seen the tackle I've added pictures at the bottom.

Nick Webster,

I’d like to start by saying that I love your work with Fox Soccer and I particularly enjoy Fox Football Fone-in. I enjoy watching your broadcast shows on television and reading your blog. You are a pioneer for soccer in the United States and I applaud you. Keep up the good work.

Now that I have softened you up…in regards to your article, “Horrific injuries: just part of the game” I must say that you have lost the plot man! I am not going to pretend to educate you about the game. But I think that you might have reached your perspective regarding Martin Taylor’s tackle and other tackles like it without full consideration.

I do not believe that Martin Taylor meant any maliciousness with that tackle. However the tackle was grossly negligent and irresponsible. How do we know this? Because that kind of a tackle is worthy of a straight red card booking whether an injury occurred or not. That kind of a tackle carries so much potential for serious injury (obviously, at this point) that it warrants a sending off and very likely an extended suspension.

Martin Taylor is a defender in the EPL. I can't imagine you can perform at that level without being a hard individual. Everyone appreciates a hard man on their side. But Taylor is also expected to conduct himself in a sporting manner. This includes NOT TACKLING WITH YOUR STUDS SHOWING TEN INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND! If nothing else, its bad technique.

If I make a left hand turn at an intersection and hit a pedestrian that I have failed to see with my car, it is my fault! I am responsible for what my vehicle is doing no matter what my intent. Certainly the law would find me at fault and rightly so. Likewise, I hold Taylor fully responsible for his tackle. I find him guilty of gross negligence.

For you to suggest that what Taylor did was “just part of the game” is also irresponsible. Sunday league players around the country will read your article and believe that they are justified as they continue to throw themselves into the knees and ankles of their opponents because Nick Webster said it is “just part of the game.” I believe you know better Nick.

Please don’t justify the “cloggers” existence. Help promote the beautiful game Nick. Celebrate craft and imagination on the pitch. The United States in particular is in desperate need of that don’t you think? I implore you to write a follow-up to clarify that you do not condone that type of play on the soccer field at any level.

LR
Corvallis, Oregon

One of Nick's closing statements is, "You have to have the 'cloggers' because they are the guys who make the skilled players look great." That is no consolation to Eduardo now is it Nick? How "great" does Eduardo look in these images?

...more, continue reading this post >>>