MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

[EPJr]

Less than 18 months after a car wreck nearly claimed his life and ended his career, US international Charlie Davies is trying to get back on track with a week-long training stint with D.C. United. Should things work out for the Sochaux striker, a 12-month loan agreement has already been negotiated and agreed to.

On a Friday afternoon conference call, the 24-year-old expressed his expectations and thrill at playing for United coach Ben Olsen.

“I’d say that it’s a wonderful opportunity for me,” Davies said. “For me to have a coach I had a chance to play with ... he knows what I need to do to get back to that. He’s been there and he’s done it.”

Olsen himself had numerous severe injuries, and had to make a mid-career comeback. The intangibles involved in a long-term rehabiliation seem to be playing a part in Olsen's determination of whether Davies will be a part of the United squad.

“I’ve had the fortune of already knowing [Davies] and knowing some of his intangibles that I love,” Olsen explained. “I don’t have to check those boxes. They’re already checked as far the competitiveness and mentality. His intangibles are good which is why he was so successful and has got him back to where he is now. That side is there. We need to evaluate him as a soccer player now and where he is.”

Davies said a strenuous workout regimen in the months since his injuries—which included a broken tibia and femur as well as bleeding on the brain—has put him in shape close to what he was before the accident.

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[EPJr]

PART ONE
http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=112&id=11390

PART TWO
http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=112&id=11417

PART THREE
http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=112&id=11472

[EPJr]

Mark Your Calendars!

Check out the full 2011 regular-season schedule


NEW YORK – Major League Soccer fans, put in your vacation time now.

The league released its official schedule for the 2011 regular season on Thursday, including all the details for national broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks and Spanish-language broadcasts on Galavisión and TeleFutura.

League officials stressed that certain matches are subject to change, due to other national television implications. MLS remains in discussions with other potential national broadcast partners in the United States and Canada and will release details soon which could affect certain dates on the schedule.

CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE
http://www.mlssoccer.com/schedule/2011-mar

All 18 clubs will play their season openers during the week of First Kick, with eight games on Saturday, March 19, and one on Sunday, March 20, when the LA Galaxy host the New England Revolution.

ESPN will continue its coverage of MLS with a total of 21 regular-season games – 17 on ESPN2, four on ESPN and all 21 on ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com and ESPN Deportes Radio. Among those is the first-ever MLS showdown between the Seattle Sounders and expansion Portland Timbers at Qwest Field in Seattle on May 14 on ESPN2 (11 pm ET). ESPN2 will also broadcast the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game from Red Bull Arena on July 27.

READ: COMPLETE ESPN SCHEDULE
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/e ... tches-2011

ESPN’s coverage will also include key matches like the Timbers’ home opener at PGE Park against Chicago (April 19), the LA Galaxy hosting the New York Red Bulls (May 7), Sporting Kansas City’s first match in their new stadium (June 9), Portland hosting Seattle (July 10) and Colorado hosting Real Salt Lake in a late-season Rocky Mountain Cup matchup at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Oct. 14.

ESPN2 will also broadcast a July 4 doubleheader, when Real Salt Lake host the New England Revolution and the LA Galaxy host Seattle Sounders FC.

READ: COMPLETE GALAVISION AND TELEFUTURA SCHEDULE
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/g ... tches-2011

The Univisión family of networks will broadcast 30 MLS regular-season games live: 20 on Galavisión and 10 on TeleFutura. Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls, respectively featuring Mexican stars Omar Bravo and Rafael Marquez, will appear multiple times on Galavisión/TeleFutura broadcasts, as will Chivas USA and the Houston Dynamo – two clubs with strong Hispanic fan bases.

READ: COMPLETE TSN FAMILY OF NETWORKS SCHEDULE
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Major League Soccer announced Monday that it has signed a six-year multimedia rights agreement with TSN, Canada’s most-watched specialty network, and that the TSN family of networks will broadcast 24 regular season games live in 2011, all involving at least one of the two Canadian-based MLS clubs. All MLS games on TSN and TSN2 will be broadcast in High Definition. French-language broadcasting rights in Canada belong to TSN’s sister networks RDS and RDS2 as part of the deal in anticipation of next year, when the Impact join MLS.

READ: COMPLETE FSC SCHEDULE
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/m ... -agreement

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer and FOX Soccer announced on Friday that they have extended the network’s national broadcast rights agreement for one year. The premier soccer-only channel in North America will broadcast up to 31 regular-season games, plus three exclusive MLS Cup Playoff matches including a Conference Final – all in high definition. The package includes 15 matches on Saturday nights and 14 on Friday nights; 20 of those 31 broadcast windows are exclusive to FOX Soccer. “FOX Soccer has been a tremendous partner for MLS for many years and we are very happy that we have been able to extend the relationship,” said MLS President Mark Abbott. “Through both its news coverage and its extensive schedule of MLS games, Fox Soccer allows MLS fans across the country to follow their club as well as their rivals.”

The dates for the biggest rivalry games of 2011


http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/r ... 1-matchups

[EPJr]

D.C. United acquires forward Charlie Davies

24-year-old U.S. National Team striker joins Black-and-Red for 12-month loan deal

Washington, D.C. – D.C. United announced today that the club has acquired forward Charlie Davies. The Black-and-Red have signed the striker to a loan deal from French side FC Sochaux for the 2011 season. The club used its position in the MLS allocation ranking to acquire the forward. United will hold a press conference in the Volkswagen Lounge at RFK Stadium today at 2:00 p.m. to introduce Davies alongside President and CEO Kevin Payne, General Manager Dave Kasper, and Head Coach Ben Olsen. The press conference will be streamed live on dcunited.com.

http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2 ... lie-davies

[EPJr]

The MLS Reserve Division allows teams to provide meaningful, competitive matches to players outside of the main lineup, giving them important, game experience.

Each MLS team fields a reserve squad to play 10 official games, two against each opponent in a six-team region. The top eight teams will qualify for the Reserve Division playoffs.



New York
New England
Philadelphia
DCU
Toronto
Columbus


Colorado
RSL
Dallas
Houston
Chicago
Kansas City


Vancouver
Portland
Seattle
San Jose
Los Angeles
Chivas USA

MLS Reserve Division Format:
•Each team will play 10 games (5 home and 5 away), two against each region opponent.

•Reserve teams may only use players from one of three sources:
(1) First team;
(2) Academy protected-player list;
(3) Trialists.

•Suspensions attributable to yellow and red cards issued in Reserve Division games shall only be imposed for future Reserve Division matches and not for games during the MLS regular season. Conversely, suspensions attributable to yellow and red cards issued during MLS regular season games shall not apply to Reserve Division matches.

•Any player who receives four yellow cards during the Reserve Division season shall be suspended from the next Reserve Division game in which he may appear.

[EPJr]

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer unveiled its long-awaited revamped postseason structure for the 2011 season on Wednesday, giving 10 teams the chance to vie for MLS Cup in a unique twist on the league’s format from the last two seasons.

The league’s new structure will include the top three seeds from each conference and four wild card berths – regardless of conference affiliation – but the postseason will now include two play-in games for those wild card teams.

video tutorial: http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=112&id=11700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The expanded system now allows for more teams to be included in the postseason chase, driving more interest throughout the league as two additional teams vie for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

“While there will be some who say that expanding the playoff field dilutes the regular season, we believe that in a certain way, it actually enhances it,” said Nelson Rodriguez, MLS executive vice president of competition and game operations.

“It will mean that the battle and the race for the playoffs will have added intensity and last longer through the regular season. And that, on balance, should be a good thing for the play on the field, and for the fans in the stands and at home

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[EPJr]

Vision also includes largest player combine in the world


ORLANDO, Fla. – Dreaming big is what Disney is all about.

Organizers of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, which kicks off here on Thursday, have a grand vision of transforming the tournament into one of the most important soccer events of the calendar year.

Early discussions will take place this weekend between MLS league officials and representatives from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex about future preseason plans and how more – if not all MLS teams – could potentially participate.

Also among the topics of conversation will be the idea of organizing the largest international combine anywhere in the world in which youth players under 23 can showcase themselves for MLS coaches and scouts.

“I’d love to see us build a property in conjunction with MLS and this preseason opportunity,” said Patrick Dicks, senior sports manager for Disney Sports. “It would be a way to find those 18- to 23-year-old players from the US and around the world who want to be seen by MLS clubs.”

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LIVE: FCD-Orlando City
Watch as Disney Classic gets underway in Orlando

[EPJr]

FC Dallas Academy to host weekend tournament

KC, Rapids teams also set to battle against Mexican sides

FC Dallas have announced that the club's Academy will host a series of friendlies between three MLS Academy teams and three Mexican Academy teams on Saturday and Sunday at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

The Sporting Kansas City and Colorado Rapids Academies will head to Frisco, and along with the FC Dallas Academy, play against Tigres, Monterrey and Santos teams from the same age group.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/f ... tournament

[EPJr]

FCD see off spirited Orlando 1-0 in Disney opener

Rodríguez nets as Dallas hold off challenge from 3rd-div. side

ORLANDO, Fla. – FC Dallas overcame stiff opposition from USL-Pro side Orlando City to take a 1-0 victory in the opener of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic on Thursday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Colombian forward Milton Rodriguez scored the only goal of the game in the 30th minute and FC Dallas made it hold up and will face the winner of the Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC match on Saturday at 8 pm ET (live stream on ESPN3.com).

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Dynamo top TFC at Disney, set up all-Texas final

Houston rally to beat Toronto 3-2, to face FC Dallas on Saturday

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Houston Dynamo registered yet another preseason victory on Thursday with a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC to close out the first day of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The Dynamo’s victory sets up an all-Texas MLS final on Saturday night as Houston will meet FC Dallas, 1-0 winners over Orlando City in the opening matchup of the night. Toronto FC will take on Orlando City in Saturday’s third-place match.

After a four-goal first half in which Toronto FC twice took the lead only to see Houston equalize on both occasions, second-half substitute Cam Weaver broke the tie on a header to give Houston the lead for good.

It was Toronto winger Jacob Peterson who got the scoring underway when he ran onto a through-ball into the box and deposited the ball under the crossbar after only seven minutes of play.

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[EPJr]

MONTREAL – With a year to go before joining Major League Soccer (MLS), the Montreal Impact unveiled Wednesday the detailed plans for the expansion of the Saputo Stadium, with the stadium increasing from 13,034 to 20,341 seats.

More than 7,000 seats will be added to the current stadium: 3,500 seats in a new West grandstand, 1,250 additional seats in the Southeast and Southwest grandstands (corners), as well as 1,000 additional seats in the East grandstand.

Among the most notable changes, a roof will hang over the upper rows of each grandstand, for a total of 6,948 covered seats. The roof will therefore cover a third of all seats, making the new Saputo Stadium a covered, open-air stadium.

“Today, we are presenting you a major league stadium for a major league city,” declared Joey Saputo president of the Montreal Impact and the Saputo Stadium. “This is a major step forward for soccer in Montreal and Quebec. This stadium will remain the main rallying point for soccer in the province. In 2012, all our season ticket holders will be able to find their place at Saputo Stadium in 2012. I would like to thank my family and the Quebec government for their involvement and continued support in this project.”

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the blue area is new seating

[EPJr]

Follow your team with MLS Matchday 2011

It took a little while, but it's here: the MLS Matchday 2011 app for Android.

Now you can follow your club everywhere you go. Just the touch of a button on your Android-powered phone, and all of MLS is at your fingertips.

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[EPJr]

MLSsoccer.com launches new fantasy game: Salary Cap Challenge

"Salary Cap Challenge" first of two new fantasy games in ‘11


Do you live in a fantasy world? Yeah, so do we.

Which is why we are so excited to introduce two new fantasy games this year.

Salary Cap Challenge is set to kick off this Friday. It’s a “salary cap” game, so you get to have any player you want on your team, as long as you can manage your budget. You will be able to pick your roster starting on Friday, and the first of three seasons this year will begin with MLS First Kick, on March 15, when the Seattle Sounders welcome the LA Galaxy (ESPN2, 9:30 pm ET).

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/m ... -challenge

[EPJr]

Garber: Expansion conversation goes beyond NY

MLS Commissioner admits numerous markets have shown interest


NEW YORK – MLS Commissioner Don Garber has not ruled out the possibility that another expansion market could leap ahead of New York in the race to become the league’s 20th club.

“It’s possible that another market could jump in there,” Garber said in Friday's annual media teleconference call leading up to First Kick. “If that happens, we’ll just move our efforts and our plans in New York to a later time period.”

The MLS Commissioner proceeded to cite several markets that are involved in discussions with the league office: San Diego, Arizona, Las Vegas, Detroit, San Antonio, South Florida and Atlanta, where a potential ownership group is led by Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL's Falcons.

The talks with San Diego and Arizona were described as happening “very recently.”

Garber made clear his position on the South Florida market when asked to comment on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the NASL club’s recent hiring of Tim Robbie as team president.

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[EPJr]

2011 MLS Direct Kick package unveiled
More games, plus a free preview for fans on March 19

NEW YORK – In 2011, Major League Soccer’s Direct Kick television package will feature additional games and additional MLS Clubs for the same price as last year, $79.

This year’s television package will provide fans the opportunity to watch up to 221 MLS regular season matches and select playoff games — that is 61 more games than last year, an increase of 38 percent — during the 2011 season. MLS has collaborated with all four providers to offer a FREE PREVIEW on Saturday, March 19, during the opening weekend of the season known as MLS First Kick presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Direct Kick returns for the League’s 16th season and is available on four separate outlets. Starting March 19, satellite TV providers DIRECTV and DISH Network®, along with most major U.S. cable systems via digital cable provider iN DEMAND L.L.C. and digital media services provider, Avail-TVN, will once again each present regional telecasts of MLS action.

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[EPJr]

MLS to be part of new 4-team tourney in Hawaii

ESPN Regional Television, Inc. (ERT), in cooperation with the Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA) and Major League Soccer (MLS), announce the creation of the Hawaiian Islands Invitational, an international soccer event beginning Feb. 23 & 25, 2012, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The annual event will feature four games over a two-day period and will host squads from around the globe.

The Hawaiian Islands Invitational will be carried on ESPN3.com and on a number of ESPN International networks. The inaugural event will include an MLS squad and three additional international teams to be announced at a later date.

"ESPN is excited and pleased to be working with the Hawai’i Tourism Authority on bringing a new event to Honolulu,” said Clint Overby, ESPN Senior Director of Events. “Along with Major League Soccer, it will be a team effort in making this event a reality and we look forward to the collaboration.”

Hawaii Airlines has also stepped up as the official worldwide airline carrier of the Hawaiian Islands Invitational

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[GSUhooligan]

Garber: Expansion conversation goes beyond NY

MLS Commissioner admits numerous markets have shown interest


NEW YORK – MLS Commissioner Don Garber has not ruled out the possibility that another expansion market could leap ahead of New York in the race to become the league’s 20th club.

“It’s possible that another market could jump in there,” Garber said in Friday's annual media teleconference call leading up to First Kick. “If that happens, we’ll just move our efforts and our plans in New York to a later time period.”

The MLS Commissioner proceeded to cite several markets that are involved in discussions with the league office: San Diego, Arizona, Las Vegas, Detroit, San Antonio, South Florida and Atlanta, where a potential ownership group is led by Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL's Falcons.

The talks with San Diego and Arizona were described as happening “very recently.”

Garber made clear his position on the South Florida market when asked to comment on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the NASL club’s recent hiring of Tim Robbie as team president.

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Atlanta! Atlanta! Atlanta! Atlanta! Atlanta!

[EPJr]

MLS Reserve League Returns

Kicks Off Sunday
League divided into three divisions; each team to play 10 games

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer is re-launching its Reserve League this year, with games beginning this weekend.

The MLS Reserve League will provide essential developmental opportunities to players and is made possible by the growth of first team rosters from 24 in 2010 to 30 players in 2011.

MLS clubs previously fielded reserve sides from 2005 through 2008, benefiting players such as 2010 Budweiser Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Omar Cummings, Jeff Larentowicz, and Kosuke Kimura of the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids, and many others.

The new MLS Reserve League will be split into East, Central, and West divisions with teams facing each divisional opponent twice for a total of 10 games per team. Clubs may schedule additional games for their reserve squads against non-MLS opponents. The games featuring two MLS reserve teams begin March 20 and conclude Oct. 16.


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[slycat]

Ready for the 2011 season. Go Dynamo!

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Portland and Denver (Timbers first MLS match) tonight on FSC

[EPJr]

Budweiser beverage family is sponsor of SUM's biggest properties


NEW YORK – Anheuser-Busch and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) announced on Monday a multi-year renewal of:

• Budweiser and Budweiser Chelada’s official beer co-sponsorship of Major League Soccer
• Budweiser’s sponsorship of the U.S. Men’s National Team
• Bud Light’s sponsorship of the U.S. Women’s National Team
• Bud Light’s sponsorship of the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF)
• Bud Light’s sponsorship of the Mexican National Team in the United States.

Per the multi-year MLS agreement, Budweiser and Budweiser Chelada will continue to have logo rights for advertising and promotions, and co-branded promotional merchandise. Both brands will also retain on-field signage placements during all nationally televised games, the AT&T MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup. Budweiser will receive entitlement of MLS’ Golden Boot Award – given annually to the league’s top scorer – and Budweiser Chelada will continue leveraging MLS games as sampling opportunities.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/a ... -agreement

[EPJr]

An annual study of the birthplace of its athletes has found that Major League Soccer is once again the most diverse major professional sports league in the United States.

MLS opened the 2011 season last week with players born in 57 different countries, including the United States and Canada. Roughly 38 percent of the players on MLS rosters are born outside of the US and Canada, compared to 26 percent for Major League Baseball and 25 percent for the NHL.

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[EPJr]

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[89Hen]

An annual study of the birthplace of its athletes has found that Major League Soccer is once again the most diverse major professional sports league in the United States.

Is this supposed to be surprising?

[EPJr]

Manchester United to return for 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game

Red Devils to take on MLS' best in rematch of 2010 event


Major League Soccer announced on Monday that storied English club Manchester United will return to the United States this summer to again face the best of MLS in the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.

The Red Devils took on the MLS All-Stars in 2010, coming away with a 5-2 win in front of more than 70,000 fans at sold-out Reliant Stadium in Houston.

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[EPJr]

Barça, Man U In WFC

European powers joined by New England, Chicago

NEW YORK — One big name deserves another. A day after Major League Soccer announced that Manchester United will take on the MLS All-Stars, the league and CAA Sports jointly announced that United and fellow European giants FC Barcelona will participate in this summer's World Football Challenge.

Manchester United and Barcelona are only the first of the big-name clubs expected to confirm their participation in the multi-team tournament taking place in stadiums across the US and Canada this summer.

This year, the WFC also includes, for the first time, MLS teams. The New England Revolution will host EPL table-toppers Manchester United at Gillette Stadium on July 13. The Red Devils will then take on the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on July 23.
Manchester United and Barcelona—who locked horns in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final (right)—will then meet each other at FedExField outside Washington, D.C., on July 30.

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