LA Galaxians

2012 LA Galaxy wallpaper from their website. Several of the teams offer wallpapers, either with just the team logo, schedules and players. I love this from the Galaxy, it's not the expected. Brilliant!

Meet the 2012 Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls sent out a e-mail blast to "fans" - the first 200 people to purchase $50 worth of Red Bull soccer gear at the Adidas NY store will give you a chance to meet the team!

What a poor excuse for a marketing scheme...spend money on us the NY Red Bulls and maybe you can meet the team. Definitely a corporate decision, one more based on making a few bucks off the fans rather than truly garnering fan support for the team...

2012 - Thierry Henry

April 14, 2012 - NY Red Bull, in honor of Thierry Henry's 3-goal, 1-assist performance against the Montreal Impact, combined with his 2-goal, 1-assist game against the Colorado Rapid gave away a special Henry poster to the first 10,000 fans prior to the April 14 game against the San Jose Earthquakes.

10 of the posters handed out were personally signed by Henry...

2012 - Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew

2012.04.14 Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew - PPL Park, Chester, Pa

It only took 3 seasons, but we made it to PPL Park, Chester, Pa...a 2 hour drive, one way... It is rare to have a weekend without a game for Mike so we took advantage of the afternoon game. Fortunately we ordered the tickets on Thursday, because by game time the match was sold out with 18,526 fans in attendance as the Union collected their first win of the season...

The Union would score the only goal of the game on a penalty kick by Gabriel Gomez, beating Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum. Feddy Adu, starting for the Union, sent a cross into the box, which hit the arm of Columbus defender Eric Gehrig, setting up the penalty kick...

Union keeper Zac MacMath saw little action in the first half, but in the second he made a spectacular flying kick save on a close range shot, which had the crowd on their feet cheering on the play...

The stadium was beautiful. The field conditions looked great. I was surprised that we were not supplied with a game program. I found out you had to go to customer services to obtain one. When I got there with 20 minutes left to the start of the game, that there were no more left! 

The Union through a Turkey Hill promotion have the Turkey Hill Field Pass. At 15 minutes into the game a message is posted on the board with a code to text. The code was PHILLY. If selected you had a chance to meet the Union players on the field after the game. Unfortunately we did not get selected. Even though few get to go I like the idea. Since we are from the Red Bull area and go to their games often, there is little to no chance of meeting players unless you are a season ticket holder ($). At least the Union offer all their fans a chance...

Toyota

Verizon magnet

DOOP!

While we were looking over the t-shirts and scarfs (lots of scarfs) everything had Doop! written on it. Found out that Doop is the team gaol song. Created by the Union  to be played after a goal is scored, it has caught on with the fans big time. After Gomez scored we experienced Doop!  After a goal is scored the loudspeakers and the Sons of Ben start in, it was awesome. A great experience, lots of fun...

2012 - Canadian MLS Automobiles

Kia Canada has developed partnerships with all three Canadian Major League Soccer teams. This allows Kia to whole-heartedly support the MLS in Canada as the exclusive automotive sponsor of all three Canadian teams.

The 2012 Kia Optima SX Toronto Special Edition, a one-of-a kind vehicle which the Toronto FC will have at select home games at BMO Field and will be used in special events and promotions around the greater Toronto area. The Toronto Optima was unvieled at the 2012 Canadian International Auto Show, Montreal...

2012 Kia Sorento Vancouver Whitecaps FC Special Edition, which will be present at select 2012 Whitecaps matches and at a variety of promotional events and venues throughout the Lower Mainland. The Whitecaps special edition was unveiled at the 2012 Vancouver International Auto Show...

Kia debuted a special edition 2012 Kia Rio 5-Door embellished with Montreal Impact design. Unveiled at the Montreal International Auto Show...

2012 - DC United - T-shirt promo

DC United promotion - T-shirt courtesy of LivingSocial is being distributed to the first 7,500 fans when DC United face the Seattle Sounders on April 7, 2012. Excellent design...

Giorgio Chinaglia

Giorgio Chinaglia (Jan 24, 1947 - April 1, 2012)

Chinaglia was born in Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. His family moved to Cardiff, Wales in 1955. By 1962 his football skills earned him an apprenticeship with Swansea Town in the Football League Third Division, making his senior debut in 1964. Chinaglia would stay with Swansea until moving to Massese, in 1966, in the Italian Serie C. From 1967-1969 Chinaglia would play for Internapoli, Serie C.
Chinaglia would move to Lazio, Serie B, in 1969 staying with them until 1976. He would score 98 goals in 209 appearances for Lazio.

Chingalia's play with Lazio earned him a spot on the Italian National Team, 1972-1974. In 1973 Chinaglia helped Italy to its first win over England at Wembley Stadium, in a friendly. Chingalia would play for Italy in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, West Germany. When he was substituted for in a match against Haiti, his actions caused his teammates to ostracize him, effectively ending his National Team career at 14 caps, 4 goals.

1976 Chinaglia would move to the United States and the NASL Cosmos, until 1983, playing in 254 games, scoring 242 goals (including regular  season and playoff games).

Chinaglia would also play two stints with the Cosmos indoor team, 1981-82 and 1984-85, playing in 21 games, scoring 38 goals.

Chinaglia was inducted into the US National Soccer Hall of Fame, 2000.

Phil Mushnick, NY Post April 2, 2012

In his article Mushnick talks about how Chinaglia "told the truth...as far as he was concerned, his version. He knew what he was, how he did it and never ran from the tough questions, only straight into them."

In a comment about the Sirius Radio Show "The Football Show" Chinaglia hosted with Charlie Stillitano, Mushnick remarked how Chinaglia scolded Stillitano "Charlie, don't compare Lionel Messi with Diego Maradonna, please."

"Everyone else has, Giorgio"

Everyone else is an idiot" replied Chinaglia

Offside Coin - London 2012

The Royal Mint has issued a 50p coin as part of a series of coins commemorating the 2012 London Olympics, that explains the offsides rule. The obverse of the coin features the Queen's profile, while the reverse  shows half the soccer pitch and offense players (triangles) in the on-side and off-side position as compared to the defender (square). Actually a great idea, this coin should be in the pocket of every parent whose child plays soccer!