All Nations Cup kicks off Friday

Go to their website at www.AllNationsCup.org for more information on this year's local soccer festival happenings.

I hope I have a chance to get out to a match or two. It's a great festival and definitely worthy of your time and support. You'll see the power of culture and the power of soccer within all of our various cultures, plus some really good competition, too!

Times Opinion: Heal political wounds with soccer

I guess Taso G. Lagos is serious in his editorial in today's Seattle Times. I don't know. Seems well intentioned enough.

I just have to add...what about all the Independents or Revolutionaries, or the Worker's Part, or the Green Party? Will they be allowed to be the refs and ball 'people?'

Hey, let's start our own political soccer revolution. RAVE GREEN Party, anyone?

Excerpt:

This is why I suggest we turn the Sounders opening game not only into an event heralding Major League Soccer in Seattle, but also one to celebrate community and to transcend political differences.

I propose a special soccer game before the main event between elected Republicans and Democrats. This game would be shorter than most soccer games: 60 minutes total, or 30 minutes halves. It should be played by those fit enough and skilled enough to make it entertaining. Any moneys raised for this charity game must go to local foundations.

But most important, it is a game between rivals that unify for the good of our community.

It may sound corny, but it is such "corn" that softens the edges of life and reminds us what connects rather than what separates us.

Schmetzer featured at Soccer Seattle Style

www.SoccerSeattleStyle.com is back with a new look and new content too.

The latest is a feature on the life and times of Seattle native and longtime Sounders player and coach Brian Schmezter.

"One of the most important things I learned from Alan Hinton is that he liked to use the phrase “my players.” The words “these are my players” sounds so simple but in saying that he always meant what he said. Whenever he said those words and however he said those words it always made his players feel special. Coach Hinton was always proud of the guys who played for him.

I stole those words and sentiments from Alan. So, all those guys (all of the Sounder players) are my guys. When the team does well the players get the accolades and when the team does poorly the coach takes responsibility."

Read the first part here.

Seattle: Soccer Party Time!

Mexico, China, Brazil and Canada have come and gone.

Over 100,000 fans have come with them. I wonder if they've gone, too? Or is Seattle about to become the soccer party capital of the country?

"Seattle Soccer Show" debuts online

The "Seattle Soccer Show" is taking shape over at www.SeattleSoccerShow.com.

I had a chance recently to ask a few questions of one of the show's hosts and creators, Mati Bishop. He'll join Seattle P-I soccer freelance writer and KJR Radio behind-the-scenes guy Matt Gaschk in the new venture. Here are a few questions and replies from my visit with Mati.

How did this soccer show come about?

I went to try and get set up for a job putting together weekend updates for KJR and mentioned that I wanted to put a soccer show together to Matt. He was really into the project and next thing you know he had us set up to record a pilot episode.

Will you be strictly online for now, or maybe occasionally live on the radio?

Right now we're strictly online. I'm hoping to slowly work soccer updates into the regular mix in the on-air side of KJR and potentially one day get our own on-air show.

How do you think you and Matt will compliment each other?

Matt and I have known each other since I started putting together The Sounders Insider in 2006 and we've always had good conversations about the game. We come at the game from different perspectives and I think the key to the show being interesting is meeting somewhere in the middle.

The Seattle soccer scene is exploding. How are you guys going to take advantage of that and also help it along?

Our goal right now is to develop the reputation as Seattle's Number One Soccer Show and make KJR the local leader in soccer specific media coverage. We're working on a series of contests and events to get people involved in a grassroots level. The key is to grab the mainstream interest in the Sounders FC and introduce those people to Seattle's soccer culture.

You both are big fans of the sport. Is that how you'll approach your show...as a fan?

Matt is a huge fan, but is also very good at approaching the game from the media viewpoint. My strength has always been in my passion for the game as a fan. This is another one of those spots where meeting somewhere near the middle is going to make the show the best it can be.

Seattle soccer fans have been hungering for more news and places to hear about their sport. What ways will you try to reach out to them and make this a 'must listen' for them?

We're working a a variety of projects to get the fans involved and give them some "must listen" content. We plan on having a guest on the show as often as possible. These will be prominent members of the soccer community who have an interesting story or two to tell. We're also putting together a fan line, where fans can call in and leave their rants, commentary, desires in a voice mail that can be worked into the show. We've got some contests, like the Euro 2008 Prediction Contest, and are planning some events to help get the word out about the show. We're always open to ideas as well.

Do you guys plan to talk about the full-spectrum of Seattle soccer (youth, college, semi-pro, pro) or just mainly on Sounders FC?

The goal of the show is to develop a conversation about the World's game from a Seattle perspective. This will include news, updates and features about local soccer and coverage of the game around the World. Of course, Sounders FC is on the tip of everyone's tongue right now and we want to be the place that casual and die-hard fans can find out exciting and interesting information about their club.

When is your first show?

The Pilot episode is online right now. Our first fully produced episode with a guest will hit the netwaves late Thursday or early Friday of this week.

Connecting with Alajuelense of Costa Rica?

Mike Rodriguez on trial in Seattle this May.

(David Falk)

We've gotten a tip that Sounders FC are or have been looking at two players who once featured at Costa Rican club Alajuelense.

The first is defender Michael Rodriguez, who we met in person before the home opener for the Seattle Sounders on May 10th at Qwest Field.

The other is forward Kenny Cunningham.

Sounders FC are likely to have at least one Costa Rican on their 2009 roster. Adrian Hanauer has been making connections down there for years in his role with the USL-1 Sounders.

Franklin Chacon and more notably Jonathan Bolanos are two Ticos who played for the USL Seattle club.

It's hard to find very much information on either of these guys (see highlighted links). Cunningham played the second half in the Championship match against winner Saprissa last Sunday.

Perhaps you'll uncover something and post it in the comments section.

Cunningham scores a goal. Poor YouTube quality...

Hanauer shares more from world travels

Sounders FC GM Adrian Hanauer shares a bit about his recent world travels to set up networks for finding players...

After China in the fall and South America earlier this spring, we departed Seattle with open minds, a busy itinerary and with a better base for exploring. With each trip, we go with a little more knowledge.

Ultimately, these trips are all about building a world class football side. What we’re doing now, in all aspects of our business, is learning the best ways to do things, be it building a youth system, an academy, how to treat our players, the best medical techniques, strength and conditioning techniques and even the ways to gain the home field advantage at Qwest.

We’re able to pick up kernels of knowledge everywhere we go, one building block at a time, from styles of play to creating connections from youth system to the first team. It all helps us make good decisions and also make this franchise more successful from Day One.

Read the rest at www.SoundersFC.com

Sounders draw 0-0 at Miami

Kenji Treschuk was red-carded in the Sounders' 0-0 draw at Miami June 1st.

(Jenni Conner)

Plugging away before hundreds of fans at home and on the road is taking its toll on the 2008 USL Seattle Sounders. Not the attendances so much as the plugging, and red cards, and absences, and injuries, and small roster size.

The Sounders bravely held on for a 0-0 draw at Miami FC Blues on Sunday June 1st before an announced crowd of just over 1,000. It was Seattle's third match in five days and came without three starters and eventually a fourth.

Danny Jackson was in England all week for his sister's wedding. Roger Levesque and Leighton O'Brien are hurt. Kenji Treschuk was red-carded in the 69th minute. He'll miss the Sounders' home match this Saturday night at Starfire against Minnesota.

Seattle played with 10 men, minus four starters for the last 25 minutes of the match. At one point two players were down inured for the Sounders. One got back up, but the other was off and Seattle played with eight men.

In stoppage time Miami had several good scoring chances but could not convert.

Seattle is now 3-2-5 on the season with 14 points and sits 4th in the table.

Seattle management seems determined to run a low-budget operation that does not interfere with the growing momentum of Sounders FC and MLS in 2009. Adrian Hanauer has stated that no players will be added to the current team unless they somehow fit in plans for 2009.

So the club soldiers on, hoping to survive the fixture congestion of last week and the coming week ( matches on the 7th, 10th and 12th.)

Club website report
Current USL-1 Table

Samba had a close call, eh?

See our GOALSeattle.com match gallery here.

In the 5th minute it was 1-0 to Brazil and thoughts of a rout must have passed through the minds of some of the crowd of over 47,000 at Qwest Field on May 31st.

The Canadians had other ideas, and instead they drew level a few minutes later and played the better first half with the better chances. The guys in red were down 2-1 at the break, but leveled the score early in the second half. After Brazil took a 3-2 lead in the 64th the match lost a bit of momentum, but still ended up being a grand spectacle.

Qwest Field was alive with samba music, Canadian support chants and lots of air horns. Fans painted their faces, draped flags around their backs, sang, hugged and made merry.

The Canadians can hold their heads very high after this showing. Meanwhile I would imagine Brazil will go back to work on their porous back line.

Seattle Sounders FC were on hand with screen time, flyers and merchandise available in the Qwest club store.

I completed my soccer 'double-header' day in fine style. Thanks to Mike Jennings, owner of the Tacoma Tide, for giving me a ride up to Seattle after the Tide's 5-0 win over Spokane. Thanks to Ruffneck Scarves for hosting us at the Brazil match. Dan of the ECS completed my journey with a ride home from the Bremerton ferry dock. Cheers, guys!

Local Media cover the match & more:
Seattle Times
Steve Kelley
Seattle P-I
Tacoma News Tribune
Shotgun Prose Blog
Another Blog
Vancouver Sun
Sun #2
Inter Fans
Qwest Sunset
Another blog #2
Another blog #3

Tide squash Spiders 5-0

Chase Tangney's goal sequence. (David Falk)

It was over after the first goal, a nice strike by Chase Tangney.

More followed, though, and Tacoma Tide FC ran their home unbeaten streak to 13 matches over two years with a 5-0 pounding of the Spokane Spiders Saturday afternoon, May 31st. TFC have now outscored their opponents 15-1 at Curtis High School in 4 home games this season.

See an exclusive GOALTacoma.com gallery from the match.

Spencer Schomaker (45th minute), Rory Agu (63rd), Steve Mohn (84th) and Cam Vickers (90th) were the other Tide goal scorers.

Raphael Cox assisted on the last two scores.

The Spiders had played to a 1:1 draw the night before in Salem. TFC had moved this match to a 2:05 start time so that players, coaches and fans could head north to Seattle to watch the Brazil-Canada match later that night.

The Tide are now 3-2-1 on the season with 10 standings points. They sit in second place behind Yakima (16 points) and one point ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps PDL squad. The Whitecaps are a perfect 3-0 and have nine points.

The Tide host the Whitecaps next Saturday night at 7:00 PM. The night before that Tacoma hosts Abottsford Mariners at 7:00 PM (June 6).

Match stats
League standings

Match Video Highlights now online: