Milwaukee Wave - Marcelo Fontana : 2016

Milwaukee Wave - Major Arena Soccer League

 

Johann Cruyff

"Quality without results is pointless. Results without quality is boring"

Johan Cruyff (1947-2016), made a name for himself as one of the most respected footballers in the world, with his concept of Total Football, in which any player can take over the role of any other player, thereby leaving no vacant openings on the field of play. The Netherlands National team demonstrated this concept during the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Cruyff played in the Eredivise for Ajax (1964-1973) and Feyenoord (1983-1984). He played in La Liga for FC Barcelona (1973-1978) and played in the North American Soccer League for the Los Angeles Aztecs (1979) and the Washington Diplomats (1980-1981).

Cruyff played for the Netherlands National team from 1966-1977.

During his career he won 8 Eredivisie titles, 3 European titles, 1 International Cup, 1 La Liga title.
He was named European Footballer of the Year 1973. He was voted European Player of the Century in 1999 and placed 2nd behind Pele in the World Player of the Century poll..  In 2004 he was named to the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

His managerial career included stints at Ajax, FC Barcelona and Catalonia.

I obtain the above sketch of Cruyff from comic book artist and Geordie, Mike McKone. instead of his providing a sketch of Batman, which we determined was not original, we moved our discussion to football, his native Newcastle United and the challenge for himself to step outside of the traditional comic book sketch.  Thanks Mike, very much appreciated!!!
2016.11.19 NJ Comic Expo, Edison, NJ

2016 - Kellogg's Corn Flakes - Julie Johnston

A regular promotion of the Olympics are cereal boxes with the athletes attending the games. This year Kellogg's features 5 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls: Julie Johnston (soccer), Simone Biles (gymnastics), Tom Shields (swimming), Natalie Bieule (Discus) and Ajee' Wilson (track)

Julie Johnston appears on the Special Edition Corn Flakes and Special K with Red Berries boxes..

Image from Business Insider.. Johnston and the other Olympic hopefuls along with retired Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres showcased their skills and promoted the Kellogg's Olympic promotion in Union Square, New York City (April 2016) 

Johnston plays for the Chicago Red Stars NWSL and has been on the US National Team since 2013, appearing in the 2104 International Tournament of Brasilia, 2015 Algarve Cup, 2015 FIFA World Cup...

2016 MLS - Topps Now

At the start of the 2016 baseball season, Topps produced it's Now series, which featured a card produced for an event that happened that day. Each card was priced at $9.99 and would only be available for purchase until the next afternoon.  Each card would have a print run that was dictated by the number of cards purchased.

Topps followed this series with cards for the AMC television series Preacher.

NOW! Topps has produced it's first MLS Now card celebrating Fabian Castillo for his goal scored on July 16, with a print run of 132 cards.  additional cards followed for Diego Valeri (#2 - 88 cards printed), Jack Harrison (#3 - 100 cards printed), MLS All-Star game (#4 - 90 cards, #5 - 81 cards, #6 - 84 cards)

MLS Topps Now

2015 New York Cosmos bobbleheads

Besides the Pele bobblehead offered by the New York Cosmos during the 2015 season, they also honored several other players:

Sept 12, 2015 - Giorgio Chinaglia

Marcos Senna

Raul

Danny Szetela

2016 - Cosmos Star Wars Night

2016.04 Match Poster - From Tatooine to Hoth, everyone in galaxies near and far is talking about this Sunday's Star Wars Night matchup with Jacksonville Armada FC at Shuart Stadium..

I wish it wasn't such in pain to get to Hofstra from New jersey, or I would be at every Cosmos game...

Poster by Paul Simundich (Twitter: @paulsimundich | Instagram: @dontweaken).

2016 Philadelphia Union - April Fool

email announcement:

Join us July 9th when we don the colors of the Union and #StandForBlue as we defend our home versus visiting D.C. United. The Union partnered with Adidas to bring a piece of history to the pitch with these special edition kits that will be worn for one match only to celebrate our country in the nations first capitol.

Click Here for more information!

revealed the following message:

Los Angeles Galaxy - Star Wars : 2016

 

1999 - Fantastic Four - Mia Hamm

From the pages of Marvel Comics - Fantastic Four vol3 #24 December 1999

Valeria Richards (the younger sister of Franklin who traveled through time and is now older than her older brother and Franklin - comicbook logic) and Franklin relaxing by playing soccer.

I like the text "I learned these moves from Mia Hamm herself....before she coached the Gold-Medal winning U.S. Olympic Soccer Team!

- written by Chris Claremont art by Salvador Larroca -

2016 - NYCFC

2016.03.13 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Home Opener, 30,315 attendance

NYCFC and Toronto drew 2-2 in a good game that almost got away from NYCFC, when MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco fired a shot in the final minutes of the game that Josh Saunders pounced on to keep the game tied at 2-2.

David Villa earned Man of the Match honors for his 2-goal effort, scoring on a penalty kick in the 24 min and again at 28 mins.

Toronto put on pressure with a goal from Damien Perquis at 45+2. Giovinco netted the game tying goal at 76 mins

We got a break on the tickets, since Mike knows someone who works for NYCFC, however my options were a mobile ticket or to print my own...some days I hate technology... the above generic paper printed ticket was what we used to enter the game..

The bottom ticket is someone's discard..which I will keep with my collection..

For a home opener the event offered nothing more than a good game, good crowd and a great atmosphere. I am not  totally happy watching a match in the spacious Yankee Stadium, but the crowd backing the NYCFC is passionate, which helps... 

St louis Ambush - Slobo Ilijevski : 2016

 

St louis Ambush - Major Arena Soccer League