Bring the World Cup Back to the States

On Thursday FIFA will announce the homes of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The United States is the front runner to host 2022 while Russia looks like the favorite to win the bid for 2018. Having the World Cup back in the US will be huge for the sport. The US soccer federation will have 11 years to prepare for the event and young players will have dreams of playing for the National team on home soil. I plan on visiting Brazil in 4 years for the 2014 cup, and to have a second opportunity to watch World Cup games in Seattle 8 years later would be another great life experience. Be sure to check the news on Thursday for the announcements!

Official Preseason SPL Rankings

After a series of preseason rankings matches over the past week, the commissioner of the SPL (Soccer Pong League) has prepared the rankings for the upcoming season. Players needed to play a minimum of 3 rankings matches to be considered. Regular season matches will commence in the coming weeks leading up to the inaugural knock-out tournament. These rankings are fact, and therefore non-negotiable.

1. Bryan: A fierce competitor with impeccable shooting form. He holds an unblemished record, but he has been known to extend his elbows past the 18 yard box. In the regular season the officials will need to clamp down on this tactic. Bryan was also the inventor of the 4-4-2, using the diamond midfield. This formation has revolutionized the way teams play in the SPL.
2. Joe: Often playing as Bryan's teammate, Joe has only lost a single match. He sits at #2 due to playing fewer rankings games. It may prove difficult for Joe to retain his high ranking in the coming weeks. Joe has been known to show the Situation in hopes of distracting his opponents.
3. Drew: Came into the weekend as an unknown. Served as a key contributor for every team he played for. His behind the back trick shots could use work.
4. Ross: Had a few solid performances over the weekend. Tallest player in the field allows for an unparalleled arching shot.
5. Fogg: An unconventional player. Perhaps one of the deadliest shooters in the field, but is known for tipping over his defenders during play. He also takes naps against the back wall demonstrating a lack of desire. Fogg is the only player in SPL history to hit a behind the back shot in regulation, and he played Bryan to a double OT thriller.
6. Juan: Shows plenty of heart on the pitch, but he has yet to find his stroke. Often relies on the bounce shot to get his points. This usually requires bush league tactics to distract the other team.

Bryan's 4-4-2. Has become the formation of choice.

Standard 4-4-2

3-5-2

3-4-3. With 2 withdrawn forwards.

New Timbers Billboard in Downtown

I hope the Front Office got the approval from the Timbers Army before running with this billboard. Definitely a piece of advertising aimed at the hardcore crowd that have probably already bought tickets. Most new ticket buyers won't understand this is related to the Timbers unless they have seen one of the No Pity scarves designed by the Army.

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid = MESSI x RONALDO

Most anticipated match of the year is tomorrow. Who puts on a better display? I'll put my money on Messi and Barcelona.

2010 Colorado Rapids Signed Jersey

My roommates are close friends with Ross Schunk who played for the Colorado Rapids this season during their championship run. He brought home a signed jersey by all the players after winning the cup. We are hoping to get it framed and hung in the trophy room of our house. I love watching the Conor Casey-Omar Cummings striker tandem, and it's pretty cool to have a jersey signed by both guys sitting on our table. Looking forward to March 2011, when we can start watching MLS games here in Portland. I will look forward to the first Timbers - Rapids match-up!

Dempsey Scores for Fulham

Watch as Dempsey rises above the crowd to nod home the equalizer. He has now poured in 5 goals in league play this season. Anyone want to take a guess at how many he will have at the end of the year? I'll go with 9 goals in league play.

March 26: USA vs. Argentina in Seattle?

Rumor has it ESPN Deportes is confirming an upcoming friendly between the United States and Argentina to be played at Qwest Field in Seattle on March 26th.

Who is up for a road trip?

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Nike Brazil CBF Black Pack N98 Jacket

Only $21. Normally $150. Thank You Nike.

Nathan Sturgis Traded to Toronto FC

The trading madness continues. Vancouver has just dealt Nathan Sturgis to Toronto FC in exchange for their 8th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Now Vancouver has the number 1 and 8 picks overall. They must have another player they are eyeing in the first round that they deem more valuable. I thought Nathan was one of the better expansion draft picks yesterday, but it seems even he is not safe from being used as bait. This leaves the Whitecaps with 5 players left from yesterday. At this point none of these players should feel secure.

Expansion Draft Becomes Trading Frenzy

Following the 2010 expansion draft a flurry of trades took place as Portland and Vancouver attempted to offload their new players for college draft picks, allocation dollars, and international roster spots. It has become evident that neither team really had that many players they absolutely needed from this draft. It was simply a way to steal players from other squads and see how much they would be willing to pay to get them back. Here is a rundown of all the trades that have taken place so far.

1. Portland deals Dax McCarty and allocation money to DC United for Rodney Wallace and a 4th round draft pick.
2. Portland trades Anthony Wallace back to Colorado for allocation money.
3. Portland trades Arturo Alvarez to Real Salt Lake for a 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft.
4. Vancouver sends Sanna Nyassi to Colorado for an international roster slot.
5. Vancouver trades O'brian White to Seattle for allocation money.
6. Vancouver deals Alejandro Moreno and Alan Gordon to Chivas USA for allocation money.

It was an exciting yet worrisome day to be a fan of the Timbers. Very disappointed to see Dax only spend a couple hours as a Timber. Apparently they Timbers staff has an ace up their sleeve in a center midfielder overseas that "is perfect for the job." Hopefully we will get some confirmation soon.

Pitch Black: Rule the Court

Visit any pick-up game out there whether it's soccer or any other sport and the reward for winning is generally the same. Winner Stays on the Court. Owning the court can be difficult. With every game you grow weary and your opponents remain fresh. Their ultimate goal is knock your squad off the pedestal and claim the court for themselves. That extra incentive to beat the champions fuels competition and builds rivalries.

At Pitch Black I want to make sure everyone remembers the past champion. I have already explained my idea for the Mural of Champions. My Rule the Court idea further rewards the squad that reigns supreme after each season. I want to brand the court in the winning team's logo for the duration of the following season. This way teams playing at Pitch Black have that added incentive to take out the champs. Below is an example of a signpost that could be hung at the court showcasing the the club badge/crest. Other possibilities could be flags, wall banners, or the center circle being marked. I want the reigning champion to feel like they are playing on their home court every week until they are beaten. Every match will be competitive for them with each team looking to stamp their name on the court.

As always please let me know what you think of this idea. Of course it is a challenge, and it will cost a little more money, but it adds to the environment I want to feature at Pitch Black.

Steven Gerrard Mini

On our way home from Best Buy and we spot this car cruising through LO. Mini cooper features the Liverpool red with Gerrard's number 8 on the side doors. STVIE G license plate along with photos of the Liverpool captain featured along the back bumper. They even showed the Timbers some love with a decal on the back. I need to meet these people!

Portland Timbers Beer Pong Table

I got further proof yesterday that I have some awesome roommates. I get home last night right in time for our MLS Cup viewing party and they have this little gift waiting for me. The guys spent all night on Saturday getting this table ready. Pretty sweet addition to the soccer house! Let me know if you want to come have a game. House rules say your cup formation has to line up in your favorite soccer formation (3-4-3 didn't work so well for me in the inaugural match).

Arsene Wenger Backs Colorado Rapids

I am definitely pulling for Colorado. When you live with a couple friends that grew up with one of the Rapids players you have to root for him. I have always believed in the two headed monster up top with Casey and Cummings. I think the FC Dallas back line will have a hard time handling these two players.

FINAL PREDICTION

Colorado 2 - FC Dallas 0

Foggy Freestyle Volume IV

Swung by Tursi's Soccer in Lake Oswego yesterday and picked up a Futsal ball made by Calle. Obviously the first thing we did was film a couple freestyle sessions. Footy Guru nearly gets run down by some passing cars while I put on a demo for the shoppers at Albertsons.

Pitch Black Mural of Champions

Teams want to be remembered for their achievements. Players want to be able to show their friends and family that they were the best squad on the field. It's the reason why after every championship game the winning team typically lines up in front of the goal and a photo is taken with the trophy. Sometimes photos are even taken by the indoor complex for publishing on the website or for posting on the walls. The winning team is able to take pride in themselves while opposing teams view the photo as a challenge to knock the previous champion out.

With Pitch Black I want to take this idea to the next level. The teams who play at Pitch Black will help create the history of my court. For now I will call this idea the Mural of Champions. When a team wins the premier division their team name, badge, or slogan will be illustrated on the wall. The art will be done in a graffiti style and clubs will have to receive approval for the message or team crest that is displayed. Having a permanent display of past champions wrapping around the pitch will add to the facility's atmosphere. The art will tell a detailed story of past champions, ongoing dynasties, and miraculous upsets. It will give teams a chance to express their creativity and become a part of Pitch Black history. The mural pictured above is from the Montalban Theatre, painted for a Nike event prior to the World Cup. I have also taken inspiration from other mural designs pictured here.

Please let me know what you think of this idea. It may be a daunting endeavor, but I feel that it could become a key landmark for Portland area footballers. Earning a mark on the wall could become every young players ultimate goal.

Portland Timbers Reach 9,000 Season Tickets Sold

As you probably already know the Portland Timbers launched their new MLS website yesterday. The new site has received a very positive reception from fans for its polished look. After doing some digging around on the page I found this interesting statement from the ticket sales section.

"The season is just months away, and 75% of the season seat inventory is already sold out, including 20 sections. Plus, invest before December 31,2010 and gain access to the ultra-exclusive Axe Society."

The Timbers FO have stated they plan on capping season tickets at 12,000. So if they have sold 75% of that inventory we are standing at 9,000 tickets with a little over 4 months left. Some people might look at that number and be disappointed, but I feel like there are plenty of soccer enthusiasts in the area that are simply playing the waiting game. The deadline to join the Axe Society should be an incentive to pay up for tickets as Christmas gifts, because some of the benefits sound pretty nice. The expansion draft next week and the jersey launch on December 9th should both keep the Timbers in the media.

If you want to buy tickets in the Timbers Army I suggest you click over to their website and order up. You don't want to miss out on this opportunity to be a season ticket holder in the inaugural season!

Vancouver Whitecaps Set to Sign Jay Demerit

The Vancouver Whitecaps have called for a 10 AM press conference Thursday morning to unveil their first player signing. From the looks of it Jay Demerit will be joining the expansion side. Signing a national team star with their first announcement is a solid move and will certainly catch every teams attention. Most clubs in MLS can only dream of having a star center back as experienced as Jay.

It will be interesting to see what Jay's pay will be this season. I doubt he has been signed as a designated player for the Whitecaps, but I can't imagine he would have signed for anything less than $300 thousand.

Hopefully the Portland Timbers will make some big announcements in the next couple months. The coaching staff has been traveling the globe extensively looking for raw talent. We will definitely need some strong attacking players to deal with Demerit and the rest of Vancouver's back line.

MLS Portland Timbers Website Launching Soon

-UPDATE-

Site is now live!!

If you try to visit the old Portland Timbers website you will find yourself starring at this message. We may get to see the new page launch sometime today. It should be unveiled no later than the end of the week. Hopefully it's a vast improvement. Keep on checking and expect a press release to accompany the launch.

Nike: Make the Difference

I don't remember seeing these ads before, during, or after the World Cup this summer. The slogan "Make the Difference" must have been the precursor to the "Write the Future" campaign that was used heavily to promote the Nike elite series boots and the 2010 national team kits. A video for Rooney, Ribery, and Arshavin can be found here. Mad props to Nike and Wieden & Kennedy. Pure Class.

Inspiration: Montalban Theatre

The Montalban Theatre is located in Hollywood, CA. The concert hall is host to all sorts of events including viewing parties for boxing fights and soccer matches. Nike has often used the venue to showcase upcoming product including their Sportswear line and the 2010 World Cup collections.

On the top of the building is a dual purpose court featuring soccer goals and basketball hoops. The coolest feature is the Nike Soccer mural that was created this summer prior to the cup. The mural idea is something I have been tossing around in my head for Pitch Black. Stay tuned for a future post detailing my vision for a Wall of Champions taking inspiration from soccer murals and graffiti art.

Death From Above - Nike5

MLS State of the League Address

Don Garber is set to give his state of the league address today at 10:30 Pacific Time. The speech will be streamed live on the MLS website.

Garber is expected to announce rule changes that will go into effect starting next season. Could we see the end of conferences and the introduction of a single table format? Or new rules for signing players?

Interested to see what happens as it will directly effect the Portland Timbers.

MLS Rap Song Collection Vol. 1

Seattle Sounders

Houston Dynamo

FC Dallas

Leaked Sporting KC Logo

Rumor is the Kansas City Wizards will now be called Sporting KC, modeling their name after existing European clubs. Supposedly there will be a big announcement on Wednesday. Not a big fan of the name change. I'm glad they want to get rid of the Wizards name, but trying to sound official by copying European clubs is not the way to go (ex. Real Salt Lake).

What do you think of this leaked image of the crest? It looks decent, but it also looks identical to the logo used by the league to represent the Eastern Conference. The similarities are striking. Let me know what you think about the name change and re branding of the club. Any other clubs in the league you wish would re-brand?

Foggy Freestyle Volume III

Fogg Storm

Joe putting on a clinic

Trophy Room Contest

As you all know I moved back to LO this past week with some buddies and we have a special room dedicated for our trophy collections. It just so happens we have 4 quadrants in the trophy case, so each roommate will have their own section for display. Right now its a tight race between myself and Joe for top honors. You be the judge. For a full list of medals, achievements, and souvenirs featured in each case you will have to schedule a house tour.

Footy Guru

Fogg Machine

Inspiration: Brickell Roof Top Soccer

I made a great discovery tonight. I was watching the Celtics lay down another beating on the Miami Heat when I noticed something on the television broadcast. During the segment where they thank their sponsors against a backdrop of the city, I noticed what looked to be a soccer field on a rooftop. I looked at my roommate who was watching the game with me and said "Dude, that was a soccer field on the roof." He didn't believe me obviously, so after he left they showed the same backdrop and I snapped a photo of the TV.

With a simple google search I quickly found the website for Brickell Roof Top Soccer. This facility features 2 fenced-in pitches on the mid-level roof of the Rivergate Plaza in Brickell. Both are standard indoor soccer sized fields with FieldTurf meeting the highest FIFA rating. The fields feature lights for evening and late night leagues running as late as 2 AM. Walls are padded for protection and nets keep balls from nailing innocent bystanders below. Men's and women's locker rooms with saunas are a nice feature that most indoor fields never have. Lastly, there is a lounge area with plenty of seating, HD televisions, and free wi-fi. All of this makes for the most unique facility I have seen so far in the states.

I hope that I can visit this facility someday and have the pleasure of playing a few games. For $100-120 you can rent one of the fields for one hour. Not a bad price considering if you have 12-15 guys your looking at paying less than $10. The experience itself of playing under the lights on a roof top overlooking the city of Miami is worth the price. This is exactly the kind of unique atmosphere I hope to create with Pitch Black. A spot that players from all across the country wish they could play at someday.

Fulham vs. Chelsea: 11:30 PST FSC

So I'm pretty sure you all know I'm a huge Clint Dempsey fan. Well today Fulham are matching up with Chelsea in a midweek match. I recently moved into a new place and treated myself with the Comcast package containing Fox Soccer Channel, so you know I'll be dialed into this game.

Hopefully Deuce plays well and the Cottagers get all three points. Just for good luck I've posted the two goals Dempsey laid on them in a previous match.

PK for the Ages

Inspiration: Scorpion Tournament

The secret scorpion tournament was a Nike advertising campaign that ran during the 2002 World Cup costing around $100 million dollars. It included a series of ads featuring 8 fantasy teams made up with 24 of the top footballers at the time.

I have always considered the possibility of trying to work with Nike in the creation of Pitch Black. By constructing a street court for Portland players to visit they would be able to promote the brand through the unique experience and atmosphere. Having a boot room featuring the latest Nike5 shoes would be a bonus. Nike ads have always been more about telling product stories rather than showcasing product features, and Pitch Black would be no different. Maintaining that "cool" factor is what Nike does best and it keeps consumers brand loyal. Who wouldn't want to play on a court that was sponsored and promoted by Nike? Let me know what you think about this idea and any other features you would like to see at Pitch Black.

Waiting To Buy Timbers Season Tickets???

Stop what you are doing. Stop reading this blog and get over to the Timbers Army page and buy your tickets now! You don't want to miss out on the inaugural season. I've already got two tickets purchased so you have the extra incentive of going to games with me!

Tickets in the Timbers Army start at only $360. With 20 games on the package your looking at only $18 per game. And when you consider the possibility of friendly matches against big clubs from Europe, your getting a bargain. So stop waiting and buy now!

Sepak Takraw AKA Ninja Volleyball

The best way I can describe the sport of Sepak Takraw is if 6 ninjas high on red bull brought a mini soccer ball to a volleyball court. The sheer acrobatic skill involved is out of this world and it's sad that the sport isn't more widely known.

When I was younger my dad took a trip to Thailand and brought home one of the balls they use. Juggling this ball made of rattan is extremely difficult, so it's hard to see these guys getting the amount of control and precision with each strike. This might be a game we could include at Pitch Black, although I don't imagine we would get too many squads. For this reason we will have to stick with competitive soccer tennis leagues.

Bazooka Goal

We have considered starting some street soccer games using the Calle Underground site, and these goals would be perfect to carry around. Can't find any information on price right now, so hopefully they aren't too expensive.

Sunday Night Lights

Who doesn't like playing under the lights? Here I am playing with my GPSD team Joe Public in a wild 4-3 match. We got the win and it was a fun experience playing in the rainy Oregon weather under the lights at Gladstone HS.

One of the key ideas around Pitch Black is the open nature of the court with views of the surrounding city. Meanwhile you have lights illuminating the court making it a spectacle for anyone passing by.

Introducing the LO Soccer House

Today I started moving some of my possessions back to Lake Oswego. I'll be living with three of the coolest people I know (holding tryouts for a fourth in the coming months) and the house is all about the sport of soccer. We all play, we all support different clubs, and some of us even work around the sport. The backyard is sure to have some intense small sided footy games go down. We may need to invest in some small goals to set-up on each side of the lawn. Freestyle sessions are sure to go down in the courtyard as well. Check the video out for a look at the space we have available for activities.

Courtyard features an outdoor fireplace and awning to cover a pong table.

Trophy room will feature all our youth medals from the olden days. Indoor tourney trophies are sure to start piling up once we can all practice daily in the backyard.

I'll leave you with a quote from my mom when she told me we could move into the house. Every time I tell my future roommates they start cracking up, but what she says is true. We should all be moved in by early next week. Looking forward to it.

"You are going to have a good life there Mikey"

- Mrs. Fogg

My Future Bartenders (Minus the Rapids Jerseys)

One main requirements of all my bartenders will involve dress code. You must wear soccer kits. Preferably Portland Timbers or US National Team jerseys.

Flashback 8/7/10: Timbers U-23s Champions

Official match highlights from FSC broadcast

Skip ahead to the 55 second and 1 min 20 second marks

to see some freeloader trying to join in on the festivities.

Dempsey Scores Another in T90 Lasers

Yesterday I posted the video of Dempsey's two strikes against Wigan. With the second making fine use of Nike's swerve fin technology on the Elite T90 Lasers. Footy Guru spotted the switch from the Superflys a few weeks back when Dempsey scored his first goal with the boots.

I have always been interested in trying out the swerve fins. Wondering if its anything more than a marketing gimmick. After a few weeks of play I feel like the fins would just wear down and lose some of their functionality. The boots look isn't very appealing either with the instep pods dominating the upper. Either way Dempsey now has 5 goals this season with 4 coming in League play. I'm glad the boots are working out for him.

Inspiration: Court Types

Inflatable courts, rooftop fields, and urban cages. There are so many options when it comes to building a small sided pitch. My vision for Pitch Black may be different than all these photos, but these courts still inspire me to step outside the box and create a special venue for Portland area soccer players.