This post has certainly created a lot of interest and I will leave it open for a while longer. The MTA will be an interesting option. Please try to stay on topic.
Gregg Thompson is the best player ever to come out of Minnesota (though he grew up in California and moved here in high school). Captain of Indiana's national champion soccer team, scoring the winning goal. Represented the US in the Olympics. One of the first American-born players to play in the NASL, for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Minnesota Strikers. Raising four amazing soccer players in California (the oldest made the ODP national team). Believes in CCs.
Perhaps the best outside back in the world in the years around the 2002 World Cup. Probably the best player on the 2002 US World Cup team which is the best team in US history. So, for a stretch of 2-3 years, Sanneh might be the best American soccer player ever.
Shekki is from MU. The club that wanted the 17 year old 14 year old, but when the player chose Bangu, MU led the charge to get the player banned. Nice.
Shhhhhh - you people are too sensitive and PC. Get over yourselves and your self righteousness.
So using a descriptor of non-white to describe a group of kids of varying skin tones (don't want to use color, less someone misinterprets it) is now considered racist?? What would have been a better term to use to clarify the group of players he was trying to identify if in fact the group was not composed of white kids? I think I just hurt my own race feelings- good thing I'm just a dumb Norwegian and not some stupid Polack. I had some NE Mpls up- bringing so I can use that term from my old hoo.......er community (for the PCers out there)
I bet each one of you allow your kids listen to one of the most racist, sexist, derogatory music on this planet - RAP. I bet you wouldn't let them listen to Skinhead music would you now? But Rap is ok ?
I saw true racism against a player of mine on the field 4 times this year and neither the referees nor MYSA wanted to acknowledge it ever occurred. That's more disgusting than anything that has ever been posted here but we decided to laugh it off because a real racist won't be changed by anything anyone else says. Life experiences has to change that individual.
Anyone else interested in getting back on topic here?
What Shekki said was flat out stupid. Maybe Shekki is racist and maybe just trying to get a rise out of everyone, but that's Shekki's problem (not sure if Shekki is a male or female, so I apologize for using the name so much).
Looking back, someone actually posed some questions at 8:45 this morning (thank you) about the subject of this blog. I'll actually offer some opinions on them.
Ok, Abboud...I think most people in the soccer community know him at some level. One of the nicest guys I've met and one of the most masterful recruiters as well. I've complained about his recruiting tactics as well in Bangu's early days because I didn't like them and still don't like the tactics. But, he is one of the perfect choices for the Juniors and does anyone actually think he wouldn't be involved.
Alberti is a great choice for the West Academy and Rec program. He's been with Wings for quite some time and developed some pretty good quality girls teams such as his U13's he has right now.
Kaasa isn't a bad choice for the East. I'm not sure who else I would put in there, but he's had some pretty good teams under him.
Moore is all about Moore. His ego will be a tough one to deal with. Not excited about that choice.
Zahl is a natural choice for the boys elite. He's been bringing some good talent into the boys side of Bangu even while competing for players with Wings when they had all those premier teams.
I never saw any notice about keeper training. Anyone wondering what they are doing there? Could they get Ebinsteiner from Woodbury? Convince Swallen to come back to train them (that would be cool).
Buzz made the Thunder and he IS the pioneer of MN soccer. He should be involved in some way I think. I never really liked his defensive style, but it worked several times. He would be great choice to work with some of the elite teams, even if just as a trainer.
Long one, I know, but no one else is discussing the academy. I'm trying to make up for it all in one post.
MU is full of tools and knuckle heads. They had the chance to join with others to build elite teams, but the errogance of their board, coaches and some parents was too much for anyone to handle. Having 2 teams in premier for 1 gender and 1 age group does not equal elite development. How many state cup championships did they win this year...1 the same as a bunch of other clubs.
They will loose their top 5 players, between the 2 team, to BTA. After that they will be just a good MN premier team. Several have already let MTA know that they will be at tryouts.
It is funny how they tried to recruit the 18 year old U14 player and then cried foul when he choose another team. Same thing happened with a hispanic kids that plays for Blaine.
They have been able to assemble some decent soccer minds, but the club stops there. It will be funny to watch how sore, the sore loosers at MU will be next year when they struggle without the BTA players.
Ataklia Tadese? The best youth player from MN in the past 5 years...stop smoke'n crack! He was clever on the ball, but could never stay on the field long enough to make a difference. He is another player with a very, very questionable birth date. His teammates hated him, his coaches couldn't stand him, he was a complete train wreck.
And to the person who said the people in other countries talk intellegently at the dinner table about soccer, your a fool too. I have spent many years in/around overseas soccer, parents are parents. The difference is that immigrant parents think they know the game, because the don't know any other. At least most suburb parents don't try to act like they know the game. They just hire an arrogant englishman, pay through the nose, cheer and make up stupid rules when little Tommy doesn't win.
Ok. I quit. It's obvious that this is just the Hatfields and the McCoys going at each other. I'll try back in a couple years and see if the maturity level has risen and actual discussion happens. Somehow I doubt it will have changed much. This is obviously the wrong place to go for intelligent debate and exchange of ideas.
I don't think Shekki is with MU, as I have an idea who he is. He actually likes blue, but not powder blue...a darker blue in the East district.
I see the MU frustration when the 17-year-old 14-year-old who trained with MU all winter left after it became obvious that he couldn't play U14, only to show up magically on Bangu's U14 team soon thereafter. It was poetic justice when the player in question missed his shot in the PKs against SCV, thus ending Bangu's U14B hopes.
Everyone knows that certain immigrant players are coming to this state with birth certificates bearing false birth dates. These birth certificates are false because the families want the kids in younger grades as they begin to learn english. It is thus for educational reasons by and large. The real culprits are the clubs that take these kids and place them on younger teams. It is unethical and sends a terrible message to all the players, even if the false birth certificate supports it.
The idiot's (the idiot is SW) comment about non-white players being older than they say they are. is just as ignorant as the rest of what that person writes. The issue is limited, and it has everything to do with immigration. The hope is that these players, who are some of the best players to ever grace MN fields (at whatever age) do not get mistreated because of the clubs that are taking advantage of the situation.
Shekki's posts have raised a lot of people's blood pressure, but these types of discussions have gone on for YEARS along many touchlines. I've heard them.
Fact is many of these kids arrive in the US with no birth certificate or any public record of their exact date of birth from their country of origin. That's because a written record does not exist and never will. Immigration here gives them a birthdate if it is not self-reported. A lot of these kids have a 1/1 birthday.
Shekki is licking his wounds this morning. Not only did the blogosphere see his true colors yesterday but his kid's team got whacked by the dark side last night. Ouch!
Ataklia Tadese made the National Team. Has anyone else made the national team?
Also, try not to bash the young fellow by name. People used to hate on Christiano by saying he was a baby and only skillful with the ball. Oh well...he's the best player in the world.
Once again, the ignorance of parents is a problem in MN soccer. They don't know what they want a good player to be. They say they don't want robots. But then they also don't want very skilled players with the ball. It's mind-boggling.
Very few players in the history of MN football have made the national pool We can probably count them on 2 hands (I'm not sure of the history, but Manny Lagos, Leo Cullen, Kyle Singer, Ataklia Tadese is all I can think of).
But go ahead and bash any player that has made the pool.
I hope we are discussing the MNT or WNT and not youth national teams. Does it really matter who is on the U14 or U16 or U18 National team? Politics is always involved but less so for the top team and does it really matter who the "top" players are from 14-17? No, what matters is when they are older and everyone is at the same stage of development.
A. We don't like robot players. B. We don't like players who dribble a lot. C. We don't like coaches with accents. D. MN doesn't have any good coaches. E. We want our coaches to have a high level of playing experience. F. Manny Lagos, one of the best MN players ever who played at a high level, doesn't know squat. G. A youth player who made the U15 national team isn't the best youth player from MN. H. It's futbol and not football.
The stances and opinions MN football parents have are just mind-boggling.
- Diego
PS. Politics doesn't play into the MNT? Is that why Jeff Agoos and Claudio Reyna got all that playing time for Arena well past their primes?
Abdus Ibrahim might be mentioned among top kids coming from this state the last couple of years.
Tom Presthus seemed to do OK, also.
sorry to see this thread go so far off course, to the same predictable destination that the haters from various perspectives like to take it.
I have a couple of ideas for a few of you.
1 - try to figure out the best thing for your kid to do in this game, and resist the need to deride those who would be stupid enough to choose something else 2 - make that choice based upon something positive you see, not a dislike or hatred for a person or group of people 3 - if your kid does not get his/her first choice in where to play for next year, find the best option that IS available to him/her. Again, resist the urge to shred that horrible group that was so stupid so as to not see how great your kid is, and just move ahead in a positive direction - for the sake of your kid, and maybe even your own sanity. 4 - educate yourself. this may involve more watching and listening that posting on blogs ;-) 5 - try to be positive in your dealings with your kid and his/her team, coaches, opponents, referees, opposing parents... 6 - if you find that you have lost your way in your quest to be a decent human being at your child's chosen pursuit, be confident enough to admit it to yourself, and to apologize to those you have wronged. 7 - cheer like effing crazy for your kids and their teammates, and even appreciate good play from those rotten little $#!^$ wearing the other color. btw, cheer AFTER they do something. They really do not need your direction on the field, and most of you (us) are just not that helpful to the players when we try to direct them during a match. 8 - do you want your kids to act like you do - on the field, on the blog, or wherever?
go MTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! go all others who also choose to take a positive approach to providing high quality soccer opportunities to MN, regardless of level of play
go AWAY those who cast aspersions on others for their own (personal or organizational) gain, or even if they do it just for sport
anyone care to make early predictions on summer state on the girls side at the c1 level (u12 and up)? I realize many people in particular Bangu folks don't consider this to be the real tournament (versus State Cup) so please only chime in if you are interested and positive on the discussion. The State Cup vs Summer State as true state championship has been beat to a drum so we don't need to rehash it. This is more meant to be a positive discussion for those teams and families that are involved and positive about it.
What about those on the girls' side who have made youth Nat Team rosters. Also, I disagree with whomever said that youth National Teams don't matter. I think they are more relevant to the discussion here than those on the full side.
I can think of atleast 3 players (who play atleast 9 months out of the year in MN) that are either current or less than 1 year removed from the youth National sides.
But, these girls come from SSM and Bangu-- so I guess they won't count somehow?
1. CC People: typically sheltered in their football knowledge, they don't value State Cup, they don't value ODP or National teams, they don't like football elitists (MTA & SSM), they don't like football recruiting, wish things could always stay the same but also criticize the level of play in MN, tend to hate "Bangoons."
2. The Others: typically play at the more "premier" levels, emphasis is on State Cup, place some value on ODP and National teams, will migrate towards MTA and SSM, encourage change stimulated by the dedicated and progressive minds in MN football, tend to be happy being a "Bangoon."
U.S. Under-15 Boy’s National Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (4): Max Kurtzman (FC DELCO), Spencer LaCivita (New Egypt, N.J.), William Whiddon (San Diego Surf), Adam Zepeda (Corona, Calif.) DEFENDERS (9): Michael Ambrose (El Paso, Texas), David Caban (Kenosha, Wis.), Boyd Okuwonu (Edmond, Okla.), Gabriel Rivera (La Miranda, Calif.), Kevin Shafter (Albuquerque, N.M.), Scott Thomsen (PDA), Zachary Wenger (Scott Gallagher), Jacob Weiser (Scott Gallagher), Walker Zimmerman (Lawrenceville, Ga.) MIDFIELDERS (14): Robert Botchway (Concord Fire), Nate Bruccoleri (PDA), Samuel Coleman (Norman, Okla.), Sean Davis (Matchfit Academy), Darvin Ebanks (Macon, Ga.), Nathanael Eggleston (Chevy Chase, Md.), Miguel Lopez (Austin, Texas), Jon-Paul Medina (California Odyssey), Luis Medina (Chicago Fire), Kevin Pahl (Lakeland, Fla.), James Petruccelli (Seacoast United), Keegan Smith (Arsenal SC), William Trapp (Gahanna, Ohio), Lucas Winter (Baltimore Bays) FORWARDS (8): Zachary Deville (San Diego Surf), Oscar Gonzalez (N.Y. Red Bulls Academy), Cole Iverson (Decatur, Ala.), Marcus LaCroix (New Egypt, N.J.), McAmos Paye (Wendell, N.C.), Henry Rios (Norwalk, Calif.), Chris Sommerville (FC DELCO), Jason Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich.),
I don't want to take anything away from the young man mentioned in the above postings but I don't see his name on the roster for the U15 National team which is posted above or the U17 team either which I just reviewed on the official site of US Soccer, so if said individual is on the team I don't see his name. Is there another National team maybe and I just can't find the roster. I was just looking to see where most of the players where coming from and what clubs they are associated with. No disrpect intended. If a Minnesota player is on the National team it would be nice to see posted so other people know that we indeed do have talented individuals.
when a certain club wants to develop the best players so that Minn can be recognized at regionals and other major tournaments, I really don't see this to be the best move for the top players. Take a look at the 93 girls at odp that were kept over, I believe they are not on the same team. If they were not all of them of been selected to stay over. These players developed on their own team thay are on as they may be the go to player and if they were on one team they could not be the go to player. I don't know for sure but I think most these girls play at u15 and this is group that does not a team that is WAY better than the rest. Just a thought.
And Mike Dickey got all of them together at the 93 ODP camp and had at them because the DON'T all play for the same club and should. Google him if you have no idea who I'm talking about. I'd think he'd have some experience/knowledge about elite player development.
3:54 - I believe you have 10 girls playing at 2 different age groups on 4 different teams - good luck. Also, please keep in mind that ODP is based off of calendar year while club teams are Aug-July. Some of these 93's might not even be the best players on their teams if there are backhalf '92's on there current teams as well.
Ataklia Tadese may have made the nation pool for U15. But I know a bunch of MN U18s and U19s that could also make that pool if they were allowed to subtract 4 years from their age. The fact is that he is not on the team because despite his ability to cut the ball, the rest of his game was not very good and he was a cancer on every team he has ever played with. I don't feel bad criticizing him by name because he is an adult somewhere between 19 and 25 years of age.
True. The pro and Anti MTA posts. Parents unabashedly bragging about their kids or their school or club. Pro and con ODP. Parents criticizing coaches because they do not feature their daughters. It never changes. All for what, 50-100 people who read this blog regularly? Some of you people embarrass yourselves and your children.
Your right us CC people are a little slow, we aint to smart and defunantly arant able to undurstand how to be a good socer player. we ar just a litle simple.
Your arrogance is unbelievable. I can't understand why people have a dislike for the Bangu type. You are so welcoming to us simple folks.
What is the difference between the parental politics at Bangu/MTA compared to CC's - It appears that the CC parents try to control everything - is that different at the Bangu/MTA? We are thinking of jumping ship from CC because of this issue and having parent boards it seems to be a headache each year around tryouts, any advice
Dull Player has happened at the CC level and the CC level paid more than Bangu did this year and that was without the extra training to keep skills together
CC's: Hard-working, not elitist, actually try to develop their players (rather than cashiering them for someone a step quicker), reasonably priced (!), tired of being b.s'ed to death by lying jerks who underestimate, write off or otherwise demean their work.
MTA's: Arrogant (often without any kind of justification), simple, silly, over-priced, tear down the work of others and then wonder why they are not liked or respected in community, wear headgear even when they're off the field because they think it makes them smarter.
848, you are going to have parent politics no matter where you go.
The question YOU have to ask yourself is whether or not you want to see part of your kid's fees peeled off so the kid who is a step or two quicker can play on your kids team...or maybe even another team within the club.
If you are ok writing checks blindly and aren't going to challenge the powers that be on how it is spent, you're good to go. Otherwise, shop carefully. The grass isn't always necessarily greener on the other side--it just looks that way.
11:12, another insecure hater with the same old same old drivel based in fear of losing players to a program they might not be able to match. Try to come up with something we haven't heard.
or the hot club of this decade and future decades? look at the results from State Cup over the past 5 years. do you think Thwingu will win fewer State Cups in coming years with additiona of top Wings players and additional coaching help and scholarship funding from the Thunder?????
Jesus, same old stuff from both sides. "MTA coaches are arrogant and keep putting us down!" by the CC directors, "Look at our State Cups!" but the MTA/Bangu supporters.
This blog is fueling the toxic youth soccer environment in this state. Shut it down. It was a great run.
Before any of you yahoos post back and tell me to stop reading if I don't like it, don't. That doesn't make sense. I can read and post as STILL think it should be taken offline. For the kids' sake as all you parents get so worked up it's BOUND to affect your young ones. Is that helping our kids? Get real.
Scholarship funding from the Thunder? Bwaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, that was a good one. The scholarship funding will come from the rich white kids.
It appears our blog owner must have quit monitoring this site. I can't believe he'd allow the racist comments currently on this blog. It is time to shut it down. When we get prejudiced people slamming kids they don't know and have zero facts about it's time to pull the plug.
the EP tournament this weekend was the worst tornament I have ever saw. Every game was short refs game or the refs were late do to scheduling. The Refs did a good job baised on what they had to deal with, including parent line judges!!! Good job refs!!!!. EP get your act together before you hold another tournament.
7:34, why in the world are you posting your request here? I'd suggest copying the entire club board if you're not getting a response from a particular individual. You'd probably stand a better chance of getting a response going that route vs posting on here. Just a guess.
Any updates from USA Cup? Are many of Minnesota's top teams playing this year? The tournament seems to be slipping in stature. Any quality teams from other states worth watching this year?
Does anyone know if USA Cup team entries are up or down vs previous years? This is a very expensive event to begin with then couple that with increased travel costs for out of state teams it makes you wonder if it's worth it given the poor fields etc and in many cases mediocre teams competing. Anyone with a handle on numbers vs last year care to post?
I agree that EP has to compete with the USA Cup weekend. I saw games with 3 refs but they seemed to be overworked and having a hard time feigning interest.
The best club tourney in the state is run by Burnsville (two weekends ago) They always do an excellent job from my past experiences.
I don't have numbers on USA Cup participation being up or down, but at the U16 boys level, I can tell my boy's Tonka Team got its wish. They play two teams from out of state and one team from Mexico in pool play. Exactly what they wanted.
If you are a MN team and you are not doing the USA Cup for the fun and experience of it, you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
It costs each team U13 and older team approximately $1800 in entry fees to play in USA Cup. Given the average at best competition (against primarily other MN teams and on lousy fields) we have advised our clubs teams to avoid this event. For the most part they follow our reco but we have had a handful of teams enter despite our recommendations. They need to see for themselves I guess. You can play in at least 3 other tournaments for the cost of USA Cup and in most cases get similar competition and better quality fields.
In the U 16Boys A flight, Valley United is in the semi finals this morning vs. USA Door County. If they win, they play this afternoon. Good luck to them.
In the U16 B V Elite Flight, SE won their bracket, beating Norway and the Puma Pro Select Team and tying a Carolina team. They lost to a Canadien team last night in the semifinal. The Norway team who they beat made it to the finals vs. Bermuda. Bermuda also made it to the finals last year, losing to SE.
just about the entire U19 Premier Level is in the tournament. NSSA,Woodbury, Valley, Maplebrook, Ramsey, EP, Wings. They are all quality teams. Should be fun to watch our top premier teams take on some out of state/country teams. There all in the U19 cup flight FYI
USA Cup is a Players tournament.There is way more going on there for kids than show up,play 5 games in a weekend and go home.Its often just a game a day{in the week long event}there are events like the two seperate age appropiate dance/disco,clinics,games etc.The level can be mixed but for many its often the right level with the 3 flights. MU Jedi lost to a team from N.Ire.,that game was probably worth their entry alone{they cant buy that experience at Parade Field}Super Eagles were challenged in every game,no travel. Ask the Players and I think USA Cup will be a very fond memory for them,perhaps even bettr than that 0 0 shutout against region 2 rank #4 National rank #21 1/2 from Kentucky!
another reason for us to start complaining and condeming our own event. The MN Thunder is bad for soccer, MYSA is bad for soccer, USA cup is bad for soccer event, wow what is next for us?
I forgoit how terrible ODP is and how cc is the cause of socer demise in the land of 10000 lakes. can somebody explain to me what is really good for soccer in Minnesota? why do people even care for the sport when all we do is criticize and show poor sportsmanship? Can we give the 1000 volunteers some credit. Go to USA cup and learn somehting about soccer, maybe it is cathcing a game betweeen canada and bermuda like today. For me going to USA cup for over ten years has been a thrill and will continue to do despite the "cost". I don't pay for hotels, not far off places to go to, no strange hotel rooms, streets, etc. Come and enjoy some moments with sharing stories and attening a coachs bash.
USA Weekend Cup had a waiting list a mile long 2 months ago and every time slot filled to the hilt. Some age groups had only 1 or 2 MN teams in it. With the weak dollor, teams from across the pond are finding it inviting to come too. Plenty of MN preimer teams as well at a variety of age groups.
The USA Cup week long tournament is a little down on numbers because MYSA can't figure out where or when districts are going to be held or how to work around USA Cup dates even though USA Cup sets their dates more than a year in advance, so MN teams that want to play in the State Tournament are stuck since most district directors won't budge to allow teams to do both. However, even though local particiapation is down, international teams are up a bit.
The field situation is better than in past years. They've rebuilt many of those crappy fields on the north side so that isn't an issue this year. And where else will you find a tournament with the quality of refereeing? Burnsville and EP aren't getting national level refs from England, Italy and other countries reffing even the lower level and younger games.
And sure, it's expensive, but I bet the one's complaining just show up for their game and go home afterward. Check out the activities list and do some of those things. You aren't just getting the team gifts. They are providing a total experience for the players and trying to provide an opportunity for MN players to meet and experience players from other states and around the world. Many locals miss out because they don't like to stick around before or after their games.
BTW...how did you guys get on this topic? Aren't you supposed to be talking about MTA on this string?
My older kids loved USA Cup! It was much better when all that was there were the fields and dirt roads out to the H-M fields. People stayed around all day and ate from the MANY vendors. The activities were always busy. Now, there is Target, Kohl's, restaurants, etc. a stones throw away. People just leave after their games. The whole feeling of an international soccer community is lost. One of my favorite summer events was spending two full days on the NSC campus in the blistering heat. Even better was when the (and they always did) storms came and the roads turned to mud. It really was a great time. My kids befreinded players from England, Ireland and Mexico. They kept in touch for quite awhile afterwards.
In the V Elite First Round Playoffs, SE lost to Oakville (Canada) and Bermuda beat KFUM (Norway). In the Final, Oakville beat Bermuda.
In the Girls' 17 A Flight, I was hoping it would be Wings Nationals (Premier) vs. Bangu Tsunami Select. Alas, Eagan beat Bangu in PK's. That would have been some great parental banter if the former matchup would have taken place.
Watched the Select/Eagan game. Select can not buy a goal. Had about 27 shots on goal compared to Eagan's 2. They definitely need to learn to finish! Their forwards couldn't even hit the net in the SO. One of those games where a team can dominate play and not win. Coach must be pulling his hair out.
10:36 - That's an answer that even this insider can't seem to get. I feel your pain. That's the National Sports Center though which is separate from USA Cup. Your question inspired a great idea though, so thank you.
FYI, I know this isn't related to the regionals , but with the USA Cup talk, and the realization that many of you know Swedish Smurf I thought it may be ok to let you to know that his U-14 girls won the B flight championship at the Dana Cup in Denmark last week.
The girls are now playing in the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
Dana Cup starts on July 21 this year, might be the Dana Cup Extra which is run the week before, but great result for the Minnesota team, I know there are a few teams going over this year so good luck to them.
Why on earth would a U14 team go all the way to Europe to play in a tournament, when you could travel to San Diego and play in the Surf Cup? Cha$Ching$
Maybe because they want to, 1249 and the parents are willing to pay for it. I'm willing to bet that 20 years from now none of the girls will remember the scores of the games they played, but they will remember they went to Denmark and had fun.
anon 1:04, I agree entirely. A trip like that is a great opportunity to travel and see other countries' cultures and lifestyles. It's more than just soccer. It's a life experience some kids never get. I went and ran the London Marathon a few years ago even though I could have run a marathon right here in the Twin Cities. Combining a vacation with an activity you enjoy makes perfect sense.
I know some of the parents on that team that is in Europe and The trip was planned about a year ago. The players had many fundraisers throughout the year to help offset the cost. That is another one of the experiences they got out of this trip. The realities of a budget and how to work towards a financial goal. I Think it is great that their coach took the initiative to even think about such a trip. The soccer is secondary to the lifelong memories that are being created, but it is great to see that they are enjoying some success on the field. Anyone know how they are doing in the Gothia Cup ? Are there any other teams from MN overseas? I know Blackhawks often sends teams to European Tournaments.
I know a boys team that went to England last year to play. The 8 plus years the majority of the team had been together that is still there number one memory of their soccer life
Let's see, life is made up of what?
Life Experiences - good for them and I hope the soccer is just icing on the cake compared to the rest of the experiences of the trip.
usa cup insider - Yep I realize it is the NSC responsible for facility improvements and the idea of netting is well worthwhile exploring
I know my team at the college showcase tourney up there nearly exhausted our team inventory of soccer balls. Yeah I know, put the ball on frame and we wouldn't have that problem.
Puma was very generous in supplying game balls to each team in their sponsorship agreement, but I found it slightly humorous when both Puma game balls went out of play and we could not continue the game until a Puma ball was returned to the field.
1) either have the field tents supplied with a couple extra balls for the referees to have a spare or two
or
2) have Puma put up netting with their logo and colors for advertisement and to keep the balls out of the swamps and ditches. The Puma angled side boards are cute but the netting would have better utility.
Good time today - I don't think we Metro folks appreciate the USA Cup as much as we should. Because, like the others have indicated, we don't make an event out of it. Many of these teams are here for a vacation soccer experience much like Smurf's team is doing in Sweden. We view it as an expensive, inconvenient soccer game in the middle of the day.
My son's team is doing the guest player program and we have NYC kid playing for our team Great thing to do- by half time it was like they were from the same neighborhood. Soccer bridges many things.
final PS - I was expecting a little bit bigger TV for the drawing- You got to get Best Buy on board. I know, now I am just being fussy.
I was told two years ago the City of Blaine would not allow additional netting/fences. If this is true it seems rather silly, in many areas soccer balls are bouncing into traffic. IMO the event (USA Cup) is expensive but still a quality event. My daughter still talks fondly of being able to play and exchange gifts with a team from Brazil. Last year the sidelines were packed with spectators when the girls team from Japan and St. Croix played. Last year I stopped watching my own daughters team play because it was such a joy to watch a boys team from Mexico and their fans celebrate every nice play from both teams. I'm sure the Smurfette's are seeing this type of atmosphere and having an experience they will remeber for a lifetime. You don't see an atmosphere like that in San Diego.
Competition in the above mentioned tournaments (Gothia Cup and Dana Cup) is not quality. From experience, it is a bit like playing South Dakota. The best approach if you are looking to have good, competitive games for a quality team is to enter in an age group higher.
That being said, it is a great experience for the kids. And an experience that most will never have an opportunity to do again.
These are the only Mn teams I could find. Many of the age groups have over 100 teams, so I am not clear how these teams will move forward now that the initial pool play is concluded.
Also saw the Bangu Select/Eagan U17 game - it was not as one sided as stated earlier. QUALITY chances to score were about 6-4. Bangu controlled possession 60/40 - maybe a little more - rolled a bunch of weak balls into the box. Spoke to one Eagan parent who said they were missing a top midfielder and top defender.
Incredible level of whining from Bangu coach and players about every call made or not made that went against them. Players emulate their coaches in sportsmanship. Hope the Select parents aren't paying much.
Wings would beat Select nine times out of ten -they are a much better team.
I would like to invite you to participate in the first Fall season of the Minnesota Premier Soccer League. For more information go to http://www.MinnesotaPremierSoccerLeague.com. If you have questions, please contact me directly.
Some details about our league:
-Sanctioned by US Club Soccer (not MYSA) -6 to 8 team Metro league -26 player roster max -U09 to U14 competitive leagues and State Championships -U09 and U10 8 v 8 Competitive Leagues -Optional end-of-season State Championships in the Metro area -Fully automated online registration, roster and player pass printing online -Open to existing clubs or old teams or new teams -Fall registration must be done by August 8, 2008 -League play starts 9/2 and ends 10/10/08 -Weekend or weekday games, depending on age (gets dark too early!) -Fall State Championship in Metro - 10/18 & 10/19/08
Check it out today!!
Regards,
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Too bad this is being organized by another "great" former MYSA mind. AR's track record as MYSA president was about as informed as our current administration
Shekki, We've seen what you're all about. This blog has no room for your prejudice, bigotry and hatred of people different than you. As others have said several times. JUST GO AWAY AND STAY AWAY.
Who cares if they make money or not? Should everyone just do everything for our kids out of hte goodness of thier heart? All volunteers?
If it somehow betters opportunity for your child, and you choose to participate....who gives a rip how much someone is making? They are trying to put a service out there for consumers. Competition is good for the consumer.....unless you currently have a stake in the current monopoly. And, if so your post is self-serving and dishonest due to your not disclosing your involvement with MYSA.
Tomass, I don't think using the term "non-white" is what people are interpreting as racist. It's the fact that he stated "Most of the non-white boys are at least 2-3 years older than they say they are." To paint "most" of these "non-white" players as liars and cheaters is far from factual. I sincerely doubt he can prove a single instance of this occurring much less "most" of these players. Prove your assetion Shekki. Put up or shut up.
I have to agree with Franklin on this one but not necessarily his tone. Let's put this into perspective. What if Governor Pawlenty stated "most of the non-white" males in Minneapolis and St. Paul are liars and cheaters?" Does anyone think that would be construed as anything but a racist remark? It wasn't what they were called but what a group of people were accused of being. Think about it.
tomass - please provide a factual racist comment for all of us to better understand your logic (racist comment - not racial).
Also, you seem to be wishing to accept something that I do not believe was ever offered up by anyone. If you want to agree with yourself, go ahead, which IMO is what you are doing.
In regards to your last statement, IMO, yes. Just as if Chris Rock/Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton made the same claim that Shekki made. How people react to who made the statement is a different discussion.
Also, playing semantics with what most people (myself included) could construe as comments with racial overtones does not IMO put you in a very favorable light. It's funny how when talking about race many people's true "colors" come out.
Yeah it's a blog so I need to take liberties with all you brave souls who refuse to use a moniker so a discussion can be followed, I can make conclusion in what I presume. Have no idea if you were even part of this discussion prior.
those that know me - know me by my actions, and those actions have no racist biases.
not playing semantics with anything. Asking you or all the other anonymous anons to think a bit more before you bash an individual.
And before you accuse me of semantics - I said racist comment. I had earlier said racial slur which would be correct because of the negative connotation slur represents.
I'm glad you think that the last statement is racist. However, if someone would have written that the white boys on this team are mostly liars or cheats, I seriously doubt you or anyone on this blog would have accused the person of being a bigot or a racist.
Here is your chance, Jesse Jackson last week used the "N" word on Fox News. They chose to edit it from airing. Here is the same person who called that seinfeld guy a racist for using that very same word (which is a racist comment) and asked for people to boycott the buying of the DVDs. Jesse is the same guy that called the NYC jewish community a bunch of Hymies, Yet he and Al Sharpton accused a police force of being racist when it was proven that the "victim" actually had made the story up, but still no one considers him a racist.
1:52 - watched the NSCtv replay of the Eagan/Bangu Select game
1st half - Bangu had only one weak shot 4 mins before half/Eagan had one good chance early - even half.
2nd half - Bangu had 4 quality shots on goal - nice saves by eagan GK, three OK chances sent wide, and put the ball inside the 18 4 or 5 times without getting a shot/Eagan had two quality chances, and sent a few wide. Definitely controlled by Bangu.
OT - Even play - best chance for Eagan.
Total shots 11-4 for Bangu, dangerous chances 5-3 Bangu.
My memory is fine. If you saw 27 shots for Bangu, you must have counted the PKs and any ball played over the goal line.
The netting issue at NSC is an environmentalist law suit threat. A couple of ducks were caught up in the netting over a 2 or 3 year period and some damn tree hugger and a dick-head lawyer made sure the "birds were safe."
I watched mostly the older age group boys and would say I thought the competition is better than last year.
My biggest complaint is the tournament is more a marathon than a soccer tournament. In these final matches it more about what team is more rested. One tough game at this stage generally ends up knocking both teams out.
Right up there with that complaint is the ref's at this stage are horrible. They are probably more exhausted than the players. Which also means some of the more insane calls that I've ever seen are made at this point.
The best calling card for MTA is the 23 State Cup championships their teams have won over the last 3 years. Nobody else comes even remotely close to that and that along with the lineup of coaches is why kids will be lining up to tryout and play for their teams. It's as simple as that.
Anon 2:23... Yes but the Thunder vision is being billed as new and improved and innovative. While accomplished, neither Bangu or Wings fits that bill... It's just more of the same with a new title.
2:23 aka ma or whomever is assigned for watch dog duty today. keep dreamin, the new is already worn off MTA. the line you refer to is people leaving to get away.
Bangu is a bunch of quitters and they teach their kids to quit if they're not winning. The team in question had plenty of subs (1) and the possibility of multiple district games the next day. After a long week and with injuries picked up during the event the coach asked the opposing coach to cut the final game short. The other coach agreed (else the game would have been played). The nerve of the Bangu coach.
The nerve of that Bangu coach? His wife had a baby the previous evening, and yet he still coached a U12 girls team in the championship game. BOTH coaches (Dakota Rev and Bangu) agreed to end the game early, as BOTH teams had possible multiple districts game the next day. Dakota Rev was clearly the stronger team in the Schwans USA Championship game, congratulations to their very talented team in their well-deserved victory.
4:21 we are all feeling highly concentrated hate. Please relax no need to hate us all in such large doses. Let's check back in a few months, we'll see who is correct.
The USA Cup is a very expensive Tournament, seems it should be played to the end. I am not sure how quitting 10 minutes early would have any effect on any 12 year olds ability to play the next day. Also the word was that Dakota Rev had to basically beg Bangu to even play to that point in the game. Seems the girls on both teams got cheated by the Bangu Coach's desire to go home early. The REV coach had little choice but to agree to the early quit by the Bangu coach, what was he going to do, force the players to stay on the field ?
My opinion, the Bangu coach made a very bad decision. What lesson did his girls learn from this decision? If you are behind just quit.
On another note, congrats on your newborn to the Bangu coach I just ripped. Hope all is well with the little one.
I think we can agree to disagree on this one. This particular Bangu team has lost many more games than it has won over the past three years. You may think cutting 10 minutes off the end of game is a big deal, but our 11 and 12 year old girls did not notice, and only did a few parents seem to care. Girls were thrilled to finally play 11 vs 11, win that big shiny trophy and to be competitive against one of the best U12 girls team in the state. (Dakota Rev Rampage)
What happens at U17 age group for next year in MTA? Do kids come over? Who is coaching the team? Will it remain a mess, or will the best players get together and make a run?
What's done is done, GET OVER IT!!! You are so wrapped up in hate over U12 girls soccer. Whether you are hating the decision, coach, other partents or other kids, all this negitive talk only hurts the players. What are you teaching your kid?
On the lighter side, the new Thunder are now in last place in the U League. More money spent on players, a revamped stadium, a funny new club, and last place in the league (they last won on May 24th). This should be very good for recruiting.
You betcha. I WANT MY KID TO ASPIRE TO PLAY FOR THE THUNDER!!!! (and work at Walmart to pay for his uniform and all those poor kids MTA will need to subsidize).
Seems like that Bangu U12 team won their district tourney the next day (2 games) and the Dakota Rev team lost their final game in districts and the chance to go premier. seems like the fools ate crow and their season is over all for the shiny cup. I might agree with the coach in that not many u12's can play 7 games in five days in +85 degree heat and have the gas to go full speed in their seventh game. anyways, ten minutes is 2 OT's. congrats to a smart coach who knew the difference in priorities between health and winning. congrats on baby too!
"seems like the fools ate crow and their season is over all for the shiny cup"
The Bangu girls deserved the chance to close the gap in the last ten minutes, they were working hard and in this sport who knows ? anything can happen. Their coach didn't give them the chance to finish. I find no value in quitting 10 minutes early when involved in a good clean game like this one was.
Good luck girls as you go to state and to the REV girls on a nice season at U-13
I am pro-soccer and pro-kid. I think sports are a great way for kids to stay out of gangs and out of trouble and learn a lot about life. That's why I coach a few different sports. I'm not pro or anti Bangu-Thunder. I don't know any of those people. It is a joke when the administrator allows adults to make racially charged comments about kids who just want to play soccer. If this blog was monitored as it should be those type of comments from the bigots would never see the light of day. Instead this gives low life prejudiced people a forum to slander kids they don't even know. It seems many of these ranters have tried to relive their lives through their kids and are finding they aren't having much success this time around either. I sense their frustration and bitterness. It's sad to see them attack a group of kids they don't even know. These adults should know better than to act like they are.
9:17, I am pro the development of the game in Minnesota and am utterly disgusted by numerous posts on this site. I've read and kept my mouth shut. It's just gone on too long unchecked. Blogs are fine when monitored. This one is a disgrace at the moment.
Stupidity is on a sliding scale here and in all things. I am not as charged up about the goofy allegations, I've seen way more stupid things on here minus the race overtones. If any of that was true someone would have done something already to seek redress. I am more bothered by this blog becoming an endless advertising stream for the merged clubs, I'm not sure there is sufficient oversight from others to get those people focused on soccer rather than being on here too much. There are issues and posting here is not working on them.
It continues to impress me the percentage of non-white boys that MN places in the ODP regional pools. Good for them! As somebody previously mentioned, this proves how little coaches impact the development of young players as most of these boys are likely developing on their own, outside of structured coaching, before they sign on with the premier clubs.
This needs to be understood by all the parents out there who belittle MN coaches for not developing their teenage children. It has nothing to do with coaching. It has everything to do with the commitment of the player to play on their own at a young age.
To say coaching has nothing to do with it is wrong. It does, just not as much as some parents want or need for their kids to take it to the higher levels.
10:34: Amen. 95% of your soccer skill and technique is developed on your own. My kid can make the ball dance and almost all of that came from him taping games and playing them back in slow motion, watching every youtube soccer video made, and endless, endless practice. I have a bunch of broken lamps, mirrors and pictures to prove it.
Does this mean my kid will be pro or even play in college? Of course not, but he's developed a unique skill and talent that he'll have to enrich the rest of his life. And that, everyone, is what it's all about.
If parents did a COST/BENEFIT analysis without getting delusional about the talent of their kids over the number of anticipated years in a club they would realize that it's not such a good deal.Very few kids/parents really get some bang for their buck.
Club soccer in Minnesota is a business( forget the love of the game baloney).
Join a health club and pay for your kids tuition with the money saved at a college of their choice.
I have been around several soccer blogs. They all have their good and bad post. They all have ended up touching on race/sex/money and politics. MN is no different from the other blogs I have seen. Others have even mentioned this before. MN is not any more evil or misguided than any other State or blog. If you’re so upset with the Admin, I do believe he is looking for someone to take over for him. Go for it.
I do think individuals like drawing attention to themselves and an agenda’s with comments like Anon 10:34. From what I have seen MN does a better job than most in recognizing "non-white" (your words not mine) players and getting others to pay for their training/travel and equipment as well. The players I am familiar in this group have all benefited from generosity of others, no one could say they have achieved it on their own. I would even suggest that it has embodied some of these boys with a sense of entitlement, which in the future will be detrimental.
I can't find the Anon 10:34 post seeking attention?
Non-white is not a bad term. And in the above context, it was recognizing the non-white players as being more talented and more dedicated to the sport in their young ages.
Youth soccer is a business. Most soccer businesspeople probably do love the game. But you have to feed your family. If people are willing to pay for the service, why not.
Legitimate Question: Why are people willing to offer their generosity to provide youth soccer scholarships to some players? Particularly if it will be detrimental over the long haul?
Anon 12:17, If you can afford to go to college, why go? Because you can gain even more from college. Just like you can gain more from youth soccer than from the health club.
Shekki your comments have been reported to the blogger.com as "abusive." If your not aware they can (may) track your IP address and get your contact information from your ISP. I am all for free speech, but try to make your point without such abusive language.
Jose Mourinho - your comment is racial profiling. Example - "recognizing the non-white players as being more talented and more dedicated to the sport in their young ages". You are insinuating 1) White players are not dedicated to the sport 2) non-white players are more talented. I am pretty sure the color of there skin has nothing to do with neither their talent nor their dedication.
I believe you are trying to bring attention to the same garbage vomited on this blog repeatedly. “We need all the best non-white players on one team creating a superstar team.” Personnel I say go ahead, good luck. It sound just like something from the 60’s only in reverse and I believe you will be as successful as those who fought against integration.
To your legitimate question, well some people/parents offer their generosity because 1) they want their little angel to win 2) they have disposable income and 3) are generous. However, most clubs do not give parents a choice on whether to be generous or not. It usually goes like this - "your team has three scholarship players each player will now pay an additional $250-$300 to cover their cost. As the economy gets worse, I think you will see a shift in attitudes. Parents will become more vocal and no longer be willing to be as generous as they have been in the past with no accountability.
Yes Amos is out. The guy is class and simply loves the sport, and, contrary to what the anonymous cheap shot artists on this blog suggest for their own selfish purposes, he knows the game and coached well. I wish it would have worked out for him.
If you are "pretty sure the color of there skin [or cultural background] has nothing to do with neither their [soccer] talent nor their [soccer]dedication," what can we credit for the high percentage of non-white boys soccer players succeeding in MN ODP?
Also, in response to your answer to my legitimate question, aren't players free to leave a club and play for a team that doesn't have scholarship players. It doesn't seem as though anyone is forced to pay the additional $250-$300 to cover the scholarship cost.
Many clubs provide scholarships for underprivledged players. That's nothing new. And most clubs are no more expensive than any others. Fact is, we have many war refugees in the Twin Cities and they don't have the means to play, but they certainly have the skill...Getting them into the clubs can have the effect of bringing up the level of play of the others around them since the imigrant/refuge kids grew up with street soccer and our local kids grew up with Nintendo. Doesn't always work, but the club that does the best balancing both worlds should have an advantage...
If only to end this part of the discussion because it is getting so tiring...athletes that are of West African decent have a genetic advantage. It's in the scientific literature, so look it up before anyone goes ballistic on me. It's not really a coincidence that most professional basketball players, football players and elite sprinters are of that ethnic heritage. Their particular genetics includes and enzyme that facilitates better use of lactate, thus delaying the onset of fatigue and making them genetically advantaged to sports that include lots of sprinting, i.e. soccer, basketball etc. It's similar to East Africans being very good at distance running.
Skill and drive are completely separate from race and therefore completely irrelevant to the discussion.
There...can that be the end of this...discuss the merits and downsides to the Thwingu merger and the idea of an academy system in our area and quit boring everyone with useless "my club is better than your club" crap.
the reason more than 10 % of students in ivy league colleges is asians is in their genetic makeup. there is research to show asians have a higher tolerence for long hours of studying. go look it up.
ok, i am ashamed to admit that long ago i started the thread that ultimately turned into 'race' related discussion. i apologize to the blog regulars. i am 'white' and my original post on this subject was only meant to say that when we talk about elite soccer players in MN (or any other state) and we imply that the 'best' soccer players play or should play at one club or another (be it Bangu or otherwise), we need to acknowledge that a significant number of players who cannot afford to play organized soccer are exceptional talents. if you go to any public soccer park in the summer, you see a great number of ethnic 'teams' that gather for the love of the game and demonstrate incredible skill and commitment. i applaud this. i just wish those kids (male and female) had a better avenue to get involved in organized soccer. of course, perhaps they don't want that because they play for the love of the sport not for their parents or others driving them around.
the main point of my original post was simply this. when we talk about how great our competitive teams are, we just need to put it in context. we should be proud of the progress of MN soccer and within our small universe of the soccer world there are great successes to be proud of (whether it be within the state or at a regional level). I was simply trying to quell the grandiose claims about the 'greatness' of any particular team/club/program by giving it a broader perspective. MYSA soccer entities(including CC and for Profits) from what I see do not have an ethnically and economically diverse member base which inherently blocks many great potential players from participating. Many of these groups that do not have the avenue in happen to be 'ethnic (or non white)' but not all. I am not ashamed or guilty that I can afford it for my kids but I am not naive to the folks that can't. When I see a group of mexican americans, somali americans, african americans and others gather and play informally frankly I see more effort, passion and talent than most organized club teams. i am sure the non-american born soccer coaches and administrators on this board would acknowledge that soccer is more prevalent in all economic classes starting from youth. the beauty of soccer is that it can be an incredibly inexpensive sport to pick up and you can become great without a great deal of money. again, in america the odds are stacked against you in youth soccer if you are financially underprivleged and that ultimately was my point.
so sorry for starting this thread inadvertently. i would have rather it went down the path of promoting the things various clubs are doing to promote soccer and make it accessible to underprivileged youth but that was probably naive.
Scientific proof? Are these the scientist that Hitler used? Do they also prove that “non-white” are intellectually inferior? I guess I find such statements offensive to both the "non-white" and the "white". It sends the message why try, you are already hard wire to succeed or fail.
Jose- Stand proudly on your legitimate question platform, you should really have nothing to do with youth sports. Your bitterness is obvious. Glory in feeling of having made your point, maybe it will fill the emptiness of your soul.
Yes, on average, some controversial studies have indicated that some populations of certain heritage have some genetic advantages. However, there are HUGE variations within any genetic pool (that's how natural selection works, and explains why we aren't all identical to one another). In fact, many non-controversial studies indicate that the genetic variation within any one genetic pool is likely to be MUCH GREATER than the average differences between one pool and another.
Therefore, any attempt to say that an INDIVIDUAL of any race has an athletic advantage over another INDIVIDUAL of a different race is B.S. and, in fact, based upon preconceived assumptions about race (ie, prejudice).
The point is that these West African immigrants are good footballers because their cultural upbringing has encouraged them to develop on their own at a young age. Relative to other sports, football is what they do, football is what they know, football is what they live.
It certainly helps if these good footballers can put their talents to greater use by finding a good coach to teach them other aspects of the game in their teenage years.
Meanwhile, we have so many parents out there that complain about Coach X not being good because Coach X cannot turn Teenage Player Y into a good footballer. If Teenage Player Y doesn't have good skills developed, it's too late. And it's too late for most teenage players in MN as most of them aren't very skilled. Football coaches cannot turn teenage straw into gold.
It appears as though the Boys Region Pool selections supports this.
red olaf, sweeper and anyone else that can't just let it go and talk about the topic, here is just one reference from 2007 (researchers were Greek, French and Australian for red's benefit): Temfemo A. Laparadis C. Bishop D. Merzouk A. Ahmaidi S. Are there differences in performance, metabolism, and quadriceps muscle activity in black African and Caucasian athletes during brief intermittent and intense exercise?. [Clinical Trial. Comparative Study. Journal Article] Journal of Physiological Sciences: JPS. 57(4):203-10, 2007 Aug. The results were that there were little difference in overall power output of the quadriceps between races but black athletes showed lower lactate concentrations after intermittent sprinting activities (i.e. soccer).
Sweeper, your point on genetic variation is well founded and I agree with it, but I was trying to keep things as simplistic as possible. Rueben Studdard isn't going to be threatening Joe Mauer in any athletic competition anytime soon. And anything dealing with race will be controversial just because most people don't want to touch it and everyone wants to think that they can do anything if they work hard enough even when they aren't built for it. The science is there, many well structured in credible, peer-reviewed journals and many have been repeated finding similar results. I don't agree that it is very controvercial on the science side of things. I'd be happy to discuss exercise physiology, but this isn't the crowd for that.
The reason in studies such as the one that you mention are controversial are because of the simplistic conclusions drawn regarding genetic factors.
Lactic acid production via glycolysis, recyling via the Cori cycle, and tolerance all have multiple genes involved. Furthermore, all are prone to evironmental manipulation (ie, training).
Because there is no simple one gene/one trait correlation, the most that study can honestly conclude is that they found differences in the averages of those participants, grouped by race. They cannot say that there is a direct genetic relationship.
Sweeper, Point taken and well put. But any study is simplistic in its assertations and can only be considered to support or refute a theory. Proof is never offered and anyone asserting that it is, is sorely mistaken and misinformed. However, the body of evidence as a whole points to certain tendencies that one can have a reasonable level of confidence in suggesting that there are trends in the genetic makeups of various races that pre-dispose them to one characteristic or another. Empirical evidence shows a much higher IQ among Ashkenazi Jews than the over-all population of Europe adjusted for everything they could possible account for. How do we account for that?
It is true that training can account for the manipulation and improvement of many physiological processes, but it is also reasonably suggestable that certain races do have a start point in certain processes(within reasonable variation of course) that are different from other races in general. But your point of geralizability is certainly true for individual studies. As I mentioned earlier, the body of work is where the assumptions should be made from.
Even though we are sorely off topic, thank you for providing some interesting, non-accusatory, discussion. This is refreshing.
I completely agree, experimental data can only support or refute a hypothesis, but cannot provide proof. Of course, there are questions as to whether a experiment is well designed to address the intended question (like if an IQ test is a valid measure of, well, anything , but I digress).
The reason for my initial post was that too often results of certain experiments are latched onto by a readership that over interprets the results as proof of some pet theory. You have convinced me that this doesn't apply to you, but I still fear it might to some others here.
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-Phil
what the?
I think this is all being written by the same person
Probably Shekki
I'm done with Sergio. He treats me like a rag doll.
Who is the best mens player to ever come out of MN? Tony Sanneh?
Who is the best womens player to ever come out of MN? Brianna Scurry?
Who is the best youth player from MN in the last 5 years? Ataklia Tadese?
Who is the 2nd best youth player from MN in the last 5 years? Patrick Donyen?
Shekki's post from 7/10/08 at 2:29 cut and pasted:
"P.S. Most of the non-white boys are at least 2-3 years older than they say they are."
Just run along loser. Not only are you a fool but you're a racist fool.
You can run and hide but we all know what kind of loser you really are. Your racist post said it all.
Gregg Thompson is the best player ever to come out of Minnesota (though he grew up in California and moved here in high school). Captain of Indiana's national champion soccer team, scoring the winning goal. Represented the US in the Olympics. One of the first American-born players to play in the NASL, for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Minnesota Strikers. Raising four amazing soccer players in California (the oldest made the ODP national team). Believes in CCs.
anon 4:19,
Which CC did Gregg Thompson's oldest kid play for just prior to making the ODP national team?
Tony Sanneh: developed in MN.
Perhaps the best outside back in the world in the years around the 2002 World Cup. Probably the best player on the 2002 US World Cup team which is the best team in US history. So, for a stretch of 2-3 years, Sanneh might be the best American soccer player ever.
The local club in Roseville, CA
Shekki is from MU. The club that wanted the 17 year old 14 year old, but when the player chose Bangu, MU led the charge to get the player banned. Nice.
Shekki's post from 7/10/08 at 2:29 cut and pasted:
"P.S. Most of the non-white boys are at least 2-3 years older than they say they are."
Just run along loser. Not only are you a fool but you're a racist fool.
You can run and hide but we all know what kind of loser you really are. Your racist post said it all.
Shhhhhh - you people are too sensitive and PC. Get over yourselves and your self righteousness.
So using a descriptor of non-white to describe a group of kids of varying skin tones (don't want to use color, less someone misinterprets it) is now considered racist?? What would have been a better term to use to clarify the group of players he was trying to identify if in fact the group was not composed of white kids?
I think I just hurt my own race feelings- good thing I'm just a dumb Norwegian and not some stupid Polack. I had some NE Mpls up- bringing so I can use that term from my old hoo.......er community (for the PCers out there)
I bet each one of you allow your kids listen to one of the most racist, sexist, derogatory music on this planet - RAP. I bet you wouldn't let them listen to Skinhead music would you now? But Rap is ok ?
I saw true racism against a player of mine on the field 4 times this year and neither the referees nor MYSA wanted to acknowledge it ever occurred. That's more disgusting than anything that has ever been posted here but we decided to laugh it off because a real racist won't be changed by anything anyone else says. Life experiences has to change that individual.
Anyone else interested in getting back on topic here?
What Shekki said was flat out stupid. Maybe Shekki is racist and maybe just trying to get a rise out of everyone, but that's Shekki's problem (not sure if Shekki is a male or female, so I apologize for using the name so much).
Looking back, someone actually posed some questions at 8:45 this morning (thank you) about the subject of this blog. I'll actually offer some opinions on them.
Ok, Abboud...I think most people in the soccer community know him at some level. One of the nicest guys I've met and one of the most masterful recruiters as well. I've complained about his recruiting tactics as well in Bangu's early days because I didn't like them and still don't like the tactics. But, he is one of the perfect choices for the Juniors and does anyone actually think he wouldn't be involved.
Alberti is a great choice for the West Academy and Rec program. He's been with Wings for quite some time and developed some pretty good quality girls teams such as his U13's he has right now.
Kaasa isn't a bad choice for the East. I'm not sure who else I would put in there, but he's had some pretty good teams under him.
Moore is all about Moore. His ego will be a tough one to deal with. Not excited about that choice.
Zahl is a natural choice for the boys elite. He's been bringing some good talent into the boys side of Bangu even while competing for players with Wings when they had all those premier teams.
I never saw any notice about keeper training. Anyone wondering what they are doing there? Could they get Ebinsteiner from Woodbury? Convince Swallen to come back to train them (that would be cool).
Buzz made the Thunder and he IS the pioneer of MN soccer. He should be involved in some way I think. I never really liked his defensive style, but it worked several times. He would be great choice to work with some of the elite teams, even if just as a trainer.
Long one, I know, but no one else is discussing the academy. I'm trying to make up for it all in one post.
MU is full of tools and knuckle heads. They had the chance to join with others to build elite teams, but the errogance of their board, coaches and some parents was too much for anyone to handle. Having 2 teams in premier for 1 gender and 1 age group does not equal elite development. How many state cup championships did they win this year...1 the same as a bunch of other clubs.
They will loose their top 5 players, between the 2 team, to BTA. After that they will be just a good MN premier team. Several have already let MTA know that they will be at tryouts.
It is funny how they tried to recruit the 18 year old U14 player and then cried foul when he choose another team. Same thing happened with a hispanic kids that plays for Blaine.
They have been able to assemble some decent soccer minds, but the club stops there. It will be funny to watch how sore, the sore loosers at MU will be next year when they struggle without the BTA players.
I don't know if MU is all that bad. Every club has its group of egos and knuckle heads.
But, how ordinary were the (non-Bangu & Shattuck) boys teams that won state cup?
MYSA League Standings:
U14 MUS Jedi 3rd Place 4-3-3
U15 EDI 3rd Place 4-2-3
U16 SCV 4th Place 5-5
They certainly all seemed to over achieved at State Cup.
How about some humble pie for the U16 SCV parents. So much for winning their group at Regionals and running over everyone in the league.
Ataklia Tadese? The best youth player from MN in the past 5 years...stop smoke'n crack! He was clever on the ball, but could never stay on the field long enough to make a difference. He is another player with a very, very questionable birth date. His teammates hated him, his coaches couldn't stand him, he was a complete train wreck.
And to the person who said the people in other countries talk intellegently at the dinner table about soccer, your a fool too. I have spent many years in/around overseas soccer, parents are parents. The difference is that immigrant parents think they know the game, because the don't know any other. At least most suburb parents don't try to act like they know the game. They just hire an arrogant englishman, pay through the nose, cheer and make up stupid rules when little Tommy doesn't win.
Ok. I quit. It's obvious that this is just the Hatfields and the McCoys going at each other. I'll try back in a couple years and see if the maturity level has risen and actual discussion happens. Somehow I doubt it will have changed much. This is obviously the wrong place to go for intelligent debate and exchange of ideas.
9:44, let us know if you find a place with intelligent debate and exchange. I'd love to join you there (away from all these Bangoons and racists).
Shekki
I don't think Shekki is with MU, as I have an idea who he is. He actually likes blue, but not powder blue...a darker blue in the East district.
I see the MU frustration when the 17-year-old 14-year-old who trained with MU all winter left after it became obvious that he couldn't play U14, only to show up magically on Bangu's U14 team soon thereafter. It was poetic justice when the player in question missed his shot in the PKs against SCV, thus ending Bangu's U14B hopes.
Rasheed
U16B SCV = Lots of hot air and a well connected dad.
anon 758 - so what he should have said was the white boys are 2-3 years younger than everybody else ????
Everyone knows that certain immigrant players are coming to this state with birth certificates bearing false birth dates. These birth certificates are false because the families want the kids in younger grades as they begin to learn english. It is thus for educational reasons by and large. The real culprits are the clubs that take these kids and place them on younger teams. It is unethical and sends a terrible message to all the players, even if the false birth certificate supports it.
The idiot's (the idiot is SW) comment about non-white players being older than they say they are. is just as ignorant as the rest of what that person writes. The issue is limited, and it has everything to do with immigration. The hope is that these players, who are some of the best players to ever grace MN fields (at whatever age) do not get mistreated because of the clubs that are taking advantage of the situation.
Shekki's posts have raised a lot of people's blood pressure, but these types of discussions have gone on for YEARS along many touchlines. I've heard them.
Fact is many of these kids arrive in the US with no birth certificate or any public record of their exact date of birth from their country of origin. That's because a written record does not exist and never will. Immigration here gives them a birthdate if it is not self-reported. A lot of these kids have a 1/1 birthday.
Shekki's post from 7/10/08 at 2:29 cut and pasted:
"P.S. Most of the non-white boys are at least 2-3 years older than they say they are."
Just run along loser. Not only are you a fool but you're a racist fool.
You can run and hide but we all know what kind of loser you really are. Your racist post said it all.
I think we get it 728...you can stop the flooding.
Shekki is licking his wounds this morning.
Not only did the blogosphere see his true colors yesterday but his kid's team got whacked by the dark side last night.
Ouch!
Any ODP updates? How are MN boys and girls doing? Is there a spot to follow their progress? The regional web page has nothing.
LOL 745 very creative.
hmm...my kid didn't play last night.
Shekki
just ignore the bigot. maybe he'll go away.
this is the world's game. no place for bigots on this blog or on the pitch.
Ataklia Tadese made the National Team. Has anyone else made the national team?
Also, try not to bash the young fellow by name. People used to hate on Christiano by saying he was a baby and only skillful with the ball. Oh well...he's the best player in the world.
Once again, the ignorance of parents is a problem in MN soccer. They don't know what they want a good player to be. They say they don't want robots. But then they also don't want very skilled players with the ball. It's mind-boggling.
- CC Person
CC person,
Great post. If you show too much flair you're immediately branded a ball hog or worse.
Any kid that made the national team is alright.
shekki
You can repost and add that anon tag all you want.
Folks know it was you who made that racial comment.
You're not fooling anyone.
shekki
You can repost and add that anon tag all you want.
Folks know it was you who made that racial comment.
You're not fooling anyone.
Congrats to Ataklia.
Very few players in the history of MN football have made the national pool We can probably count them on 2 hands (I'm not sure of the history, but Manny Lagos, Leo Cullen, Kyle Singer, Ataklia Tadese is all I can think of).
But go ahead and bash any player that has made the pool.
- CC Person
CC,
Yeah, but Manny Lagos doesn't know anything about soccer anymore since he joined up with the evil empire.
heh heh
Where can I find a list of who is on the national team.
Thanks,
I hope we are discussing the MNT or WNT and not youth national teams. Does it really matter who is on the U14 or U16 or U18 National team? Politics is always involved but less so for the top team and does it really matter who the "top" players are from 14-17? No, what matters is when they are older and everyone is at the same stage of development.
A. We don't like robot players.
B. We don't like players who dribble a lot.
C. We don't like coaches with accents.
D. MN doesn't have any good coaches.
E. We want our coaches to have a high level of playing experience.
F. Manny Lagos, one of the best MN players ever who played at a high level, doesn't know squat.
G. A youth player who made the U15 national team isn't the best youth player from MN.
H. It's futbol and not football.
The stances and opinions MN football parents have are just mind-boggling.
- Diego
PS. Politics doesn't play into the MNT? Is that why Jeff Agoos and Claudio Reyna got all that playing time for Arena well past their primes?
Abdus Ibrahim might be mentioned among top kids coming from this state the last couple of years.
Tom Presthus seemed to do OK, also.
sorry to see this thread go so far off course, to the same predictable destination that the haters from various perspectives like to take it.
I have a couple of ideas for a few of you.
1 - try to figure out the best thing for your kid to do in this game, and resist the need to deride those who would be stupid enough to choose something else
2 - make that choice based upon something positive you see, not a dislike or hatred for a person or group of people
3 - if your kid does not get his/her first choice in where to play for next year, find the best option that IS available to him/her. Again, resist the urge to shred that horrible group that was so stupid so as to not see how great your kid is, and just move ahead in a positive direction - for the sake of your kid, and maybe even your own sanity.
4 - educate yourself. this may involve more watching and listening that posting on blogs ;-)
5 - try to be positive in your dealings with your kid and his/her team, coaches, opponents, referees, opposing parents...
6 - if you find that you have lost your way in your quest to be a decent human being at your child's chosen pursuit, be confident enough to admit it to yourself, and to apologize to those you have wronged.
7 - cheer like effing crazy for your kids and their teammates, and even appreciate good play from those rotten little $#!^$ wearing the other color. btw, cheer AFTER they do something. They really do not need your direction on the field, and most of you (us) are just not that helpful to the players when we try to direct them during a match.
8 - do you want your kids to act like you do - on the field, on the blog, or wherever?
go MTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go all others who also choose to take a positive approach to providing high quality soccer opportunities to MN, regardless of level of play
go AWAY those who cast aspersions on others for their own (personal or organizational) gain, or even if they do it just for sport
maradona I stated that politics is less important on the top level national team than it is at the youth level. Obviously it exists at all levels.
anyone care to make early predictions on summer state on the girls side at the c1 level (u12 and up)? I realize many people in particular Bangu folks don't consider this to be the real tournament (versus State Cup) so please only chime in if you are interested and positive on the discussion. The State Cup vs Summer State as true state championship has been beat to a drum so we don't need to rehash it. This is more meant to be a positive discussion for those teams and families that are involved and positive about it.
Thanks
"Negativism" will not be tolerated from the goonies on a thread that was started on the subject of their own club.
Start that discussion somewhere else.
What about those on the girls' side who have made youth Nat Team rosters. Also, I disagree with whomever said that youth National Teams don't matter. I think they are more relevant to the discussion here than those on the full side.
I can think of atleast 3 players (who play atleast 9 months out of the year in MN) that are either current or less than 1 year removed from the youth National sides.
But, these girls come from SSM and Bangu-- so I guess they won't count somehow?
SSMSouthCampus
There are two camps of people in MN:
1. CC People: typically sheltered in their football knowledge, they don't value State Cup, they don't value ODP or National teams, they don't like football elitists (MTA & SSM), they don't like football recruiting, wish things could always stay the same but also criticize the level of play in MN, tend to hate "Bangoons."
2. The Others: typically play at the more "premier" levels, emphasis is on State Cup, place some value on ODP and National teams, will migrate towards MTA and SSM, encourage change stimulated by the dedicated and progressive minds in MN football, tend to be happy being a "Bangoon."
Go MTA!
- CC Person
U.S. Under-15 Boy’s National Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (4): Max Kurtzman (FC DELCO), Spencer LaCivita (New Egypt, N.J.), William Whiddon (San Diego Surf), Adam Zepeda (Corona, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (9): Michael Ambrose (El Paso, Texas), David Caban (Kenosha, Wis.), Boyd Okuwonu (Edmond, Okla.), Gabriel Rivera (La Miranda, Calif.), Kevin Shafter (Albuquerque, N.M.), Scott Thomsen (PDA), Zachary Wenger (Scott Gallagher), Jacob Weiser (Scott Gallagher), Walker Zimmerman (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
MIDFIELDERS (14): Robert Botchway (Concord Fire), Nate Bruccoleri (PDA), Samuel Coleman (Norman, Okla.), Sean Davis (Matchfit Academy), Darvin Ebanks (Macon, Ga.), Nathanael Eggleston (Chevy Chase, Md.), Miguel Lopez (Austin, Texas), Jon-Paul Medina (California Odyssey), Luis Medina (Chicago Fire), Kevin Pahl (Lakeland, Fla.), James Petruccelli (Seacoast United), Keegan Smith (Arsenal SC), William Trapp (Gahanna, Ohio), Lucas Winter (Baltimore Bays)
FORWARDS (8): Zachary Deville (San Diego Surf), Oscar Gonzalez (N.Y. Red Bulls Academy), Cole Iverson (Decatur, Ala.), Marcus LaCroix (New Egypt, N.J.), McAmos Paye (Wendell, N.C.), Henry Rios (Norwalk, Calif.), Chris Sommerville (FC DELCO), Jason Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich.),
I don't want to take anything away from the young man mentioned in the above postings but I don't see his name on the roster for the U15 National team which is posted above or the U17 team either which I just reviewed on the official site of US Soccer, so if said individual is on the team I don't see his name. Is there another National team maybe and I just can't find the roster. I was just looking to see where most of the players where coming from and what clubs they are associated with. No disrpect intended. If a Minnesota player is on the National team it would be nice to see posted so other people know that we indeed do have talented individuals.
when a certain club wants to develop the best players so that Minn can be recognized at regionals and other major tournaments, I really don't see this to be the best move for the top players.
Take a look at the 93 girls at odp that were kept over, I believe they are not on the same team. If they were not all of them of been selected to stay over.
These players developed on their own team thay are on as they may be the go to player and if they were on one team they could not be the go to player.
I don't know for sure but I think most these girls play at u15 and this is group that does not a team that is WAY better than the rest.
Just a thought.
3:16 - i think he might be referencing the bangu girl.
And Mike Dickey got all of them together at the 93 ODP camp and had at them because the DON'T all play for the same club and should. Google him if you have no idea who I'm talking about. I'd think he'd have some experience/knowledge about elite player development.
If that's true, that is awesome. Mike Dickey would probably belong in Camp #2 (The Others).
- CC Person
should we all know who Mike Dickey is?
3:54 - I believe you have 10 girls playing at 2 different age groups on 4 different teams - good luck. Also, please keep in mind that ODP is based off of calendar year while club teams are Aug-July. Some of these 93's might not even be the best players on their teams if there are backhalf '92's on there current teams as well.
Ataklia Tadese may have made the nation pool for U15. But I know a bunch of MN U18s and U19s that could also make that pool if they were allowed to subtract 4 years from their age. The fact is that he is not on the team because despite his ability to cut the ball, the rest of his game was not very good and he was a cancer on every team he has ever played with. I don't feel bad criticizing him by name because he is an adult somewhere between 19 and 25 years of age.
Here we go again...
U14 Girls National Pool
Reed, Katherine Coatesville, IN.
Shattuck St Mary's
U15 Girls National Pool
Schultz, Olivia Hopkins, Minn. Bangu Tsunami
U18 Girls National Pool
Cline, Chelsea Des Moines, IA.
Shattuck St Mary's
Huser, Emilie Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Shattuck St Mary's
Parkhill, Cat Apple Valley, MN
PSA Panthers
There you have it. There are the players who play atleast 9 months out of the year in Minnesota.
SSMSouthCampus
Coach Dickey is the Region II Natl Scout. he is very well connected to college coaches and programs.
The posts above have created a DOPELER EFFECT in this blog. The tendancy of stupid ideas and comments to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
True. The pro and Anti MTA posts. Parents unabashedly bragging about their kids or their school or club. Pro and con ODP. Parents criticizing coaches because they do not feature their daughters. It never changes. All for what, 50-100 people who read this blog regularly? Some of you people embarrass yourselves and your children.
Way to go 141, I agree with every one of your 8 ideas.
2:57:
Your right us CC people are a little slow, we aint to smart and defunantly arant able to undurstand how to be a good socer player. we ar just a litle simple.
Your arrogance is unbelievable. I can't understand why people have a dislike for the Bangu type. You are so welcoming to us simple folks.
Go away.
What is the difference between the parental politics at Bangu/MTA compared to CC's - It appears that the CC parents try to control everything - is that different at the Bangu/MTA? We are thinking of jumping ship from CC because of this issue and having parent boards it seems to be a headache each year around tryouts, any advice
anom 8 48,have you no shame?That is truly pathetic.
The difference is you'll get over pay some hot shot to dull your player!
Dull Player has happened at the CC level and the CC level paid more than Bangu did this year and that was without the extra training to keep skills together
257,
You missed some things:
CC's: Hard-working, not elitist, actually try to develop their players (rather than cashiering them for someone a step quicker), reasonably priced (!), tired of being b.s'ed to death by lying jerks who underestimate, write off or otherwise demean their work.
MTA's: Arrogant (often without any kind of justification), simple, silly, over-priced, tear down the work of others and then wonder why they are not liked or respected in community, wear headgear even when they're off the field because they think it makes them smarter.
-MTA guy!
848, you are going to have parent politics no matter where you go.
The question YOU have to ask yourself is whether or not you want to see part of your kid's fees peeled off so the kid who is a step or two quicker can play on your kids team...or maybe even another team within the club.
If you are ok writing checks blindly and aren't going to challenge the powers that be on how it is spent, you're good to go. Otherwise, shop carefully. The grass isn't always necessarily greener on the other side--it just looks that way.
11:12, another insecure hater with the same old same old drivel based in fear of losing players to a program they might not be able to match. Try to come up with something we haven't heard.
If other clubs offered the same opportunities as Thwingu offered their players why would players bother to switch clubs?
because parents want their kids on the "hot" club of the year
or the hot club of this decade and future decades?
look at the results from State Cup over the past 5 years.
do you think Thwingu will win fewer State Cups in coming years with additiona of top Wings players and additional coaching help and scholarship funding from the Thunder?????
Jesus, same old stuff from both sides. "MTA coaches are arrogant and keep putting us down!" by the CC directors, "Look at our State Cups!" but the MTA/Bangu supporters.
This blog is fueling the toxic youth soccer environment in this state. Shut it down. It was a great run.
Before any of you yahoos post back and tell me to stop reading if I don't like it, don't. That doesn't make sense. I can read and post as STILL think it should be taken offline. For the kids' sake as all you parents get so worked up it's BOUND to affect your young ones. Is that helping our kids? Get real.
Scholarship funding from the Thunder? Bwaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, that was a good one. The scholarship funding will come from the rich white kids.
It appears our blog owner must have quit monitoring this site.
I can't believe he'd allow the racist comments currently on this blog.
It is time to shut it down.
When we get prejudiced people slamming kids they don't know and have zero facts about it's time to pull the plug.
Still waiting for year end budget vs expense report...It's a club not a cc.
the EP tournament this weekend was the worst tornament I have ever saw. Every game was short refs game or the refs were late do to scheduling. The Refs did a good job baised on what they had to deal with, including parent line judges!!! Good job refs!!!!. EP get your act together before you hold another tournament.
7:34, why in the world are you posting your request here? I'd suggest copying the entire club board if you're not getting a response from a particular individual. You'd probably stand a better chance of getting a response going that route vs posting on here. Just a guess.
Any updates from USA Cup?
Are many of Minnesota's top teams playing this year?
The tournament seems to be slipping in stature.
Any quality teams from other states worth watching this year?
Here's the USA Cup website.
http://www.usacup.org/
Both USA Cup Weekend and USA Cup events are on the site.
Registered teams schedules etc.
Does anyone know if USA Cup team entries are up or down vs previous years?
This is a very expensive event to begin with then couple that with increased travel costs for out of state teams it makes you wonder if it's worth it given the poor fields etc and in many cases mediocre teams competing.
Anyone with a handle on numbers vs last year care to post?
EP Tournament is competing with USA Cup weekend. That has hurt the EP event. It used to be one of the best tournaments in the area.
I agree that EP has to compete with the USA Cup weekend. I saw games with 3 refs but they seemed to be overworked and having a hard time feigning interest.
The best club tourney in the state is run by Burnsville (two weekends ago) They always do an excellent job from my past experiences.
I don't have numbers on USA Cup participation being up or down, but at the U16 boys level, I can tell my boy's Tonka Team got its wish. They play two teams from out of state and one team from Mexico in pool play. Exactly what they wanted.
If you are a MN team and you are not doing the USA Cup for the fun and experience of it, you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
It costs each team U13 and older team approximately $1800 in entry fees to play in USA Cup.
Given the average at best competition (against primarily other MN teams and on lousy fields) we have advised our clubs teams to avoid this event. For the most part they follow our reco but we have had a handful of teams enter despite our recommendations. They need to see for themselves I guess.
You can play in at least 3 other tournaments for the cost of USA Cup and in most cases get similar competition and better quality fields.
Hey! But for your team's $1800 each kid gets a $3 bag and the team get's a $10 game ball!
Such a deal!
In the U 16Boys A flight, Valley United is in the semi finals this morning vs. USA Door County. If they win, they play this afternoon. Good luck to them.
In the U16 B V Elite Flight, SE won their bracket, beating Norway and the Puma Pro Select Team and tying a Carolina team. They lost to a Canadien team last night in the semifinal. The Norway team who they beat made it to the finals vs. Bermuda. Bermuda also made it to the finals last year, losing to SE.
Decent result for the Super Eagles. Sounds like they found solid competition which is a good thing.
Glad to hear it and thanks for the update!
just about the entire U19 Premier Level is in the tournament. NSSA,Woodbury, Valley, Maplebrook, Ramsey, EP, Wings. They are all quality teams. Should be fun to watch our top premier teams take on some out of state/country teams. There all in the U19 cup flight FYI
USA Cup is a Players tournament.There is way more going on there for kids than show up,play 5 games in a weekend and go home.Its often just a game a day{in the week long event}there are events like the two seperate age appropiate dance/disco,clinics,games etc.The level can be mixed but for many its often the right level with the 3 flights.
MU Jedi lost to a team from N.Ire.,that game was probably worth their entry alone{they cant buy that experience at Parade Field}Super Eagles were challenged in every game,no travel.
Ask the Players and I think USA Cup will be a very fond memory for them,perhaps even bettr than that 0 0 shutout against region 2 rank #4 National rank #21 1/2 from Kentucky!
another reason for us to start complaining and condeming our own event. The MN Thunder is bad for soccer, MYSA is bad for soccer, USA cup is bad for soccer event, wow what is next for us?
I forgoit how terrible ODP is and how cc is the cause of socer demise in the land of 10000 lakes. can somebody explain to me what is really good for soccer in Minnesota? why do people even care for the sport when all we do is criticize and show poor sportsmanship? Can we give the 1000 volunteers some credit. Go to USA cup and learn somehting about soccer, maybe it is cathcing a game betweeen canada and bermuda like today. For me going to USA cup for over ten years has been a thrill and will continue to do despite the "cost". I don't pay for hotels, not far off places to go to, no strange hotel rooms, streets, etc. Come and enjoy some moments with sharing stories and attening a coachs bash.
USA Weekend Cup had a waiting list a mile long 2 months ago and every time slot filled to the hilt. Some age groups had only 1 or 2 MN teams in it. With the weak dollor, teams from across the pond are finding it inviting to come too. Plenty of MN preimer teams as well at a variety of age groups.
The USA Cup week long tournament is a little down on numbers because MYSA can't figure out where or when districts are going to be held or how to work around USA Cup dates even though USA Cup sets their dates more than a year in advance, so MN teams that want to play in the State Tournament are stuck since most district directors won't budge to allow teams to do both. However, even though local particiapation is down, international teams are up a bit.
The field situation is better than in past years. They've rebuilt many of those crappy fields on the north side so that isn't an issue this year. And where else will you find a tournament with the quality of refereeing? Burnsville and EP aren't getting national level refs from England, Italy and other countries reffing even the lower level and younger games.
And sure, it's expensive, but I bet the one's complaining just show up for their game and go home afterward. Check out the activities list and do some of those things. You aren't just getting the team gifts. They are providing a total experience for the players and trying to provide an opportunity for MN players to meet and experience players from other states and around the world. Many locals miss out because they don't like to stick around before or after their games.
BTW...how did you guys get on this topic? Aren't you supposed to be talking about MTA on this string?
insider,
When will NSC put up netting to keep the balls out of the streets and scummy water pits behind the goal at so many fields.
My older kids loved USA Cup! It was much better when all that was there were the fields and dirt roads out to the H-M fields. People stayed around all day and ate from the MANY vendors. The activities were always busy. Now, there is Target, Kohl's, restaurants, etc. a stones throw away. People just leave after their games. The whole feeling of an international soccer community is lost. One of my favorite summer events was spending two full days on the NSC campus in the blistering heat. Even better was when the (and they always did) storms came and the roads turned to mud. It really was a great time. My kids befreinded players from England, Ireland and Mexico. They kept in touch for quite awhile afterwards.
anon 12:46.
In the V Elite First Round Playoffs, SE lost to Oakville (Canada) and Bermuda beat KFUM (Norway). In the Final, Oakville beat Bermuda.
In the Girls' 17 A Flight, I was hoping it would be Wings Nationals (Premier) vs. Bangu Tsunami Select. Alas, Eagan beat Bangu in PK's. That would have been some great parental banter if the former matchup would have taken place.
Watched the Select/Eagan game. Select can not buy a goal. Had about 27 shots on goal compared to Eagan's 2. They definitely need to learn to finish! Their forwards couldn't even hit the net in the SO. One of those games where a team can dominate play and not win. Coach must be pulling his hair out.
10:36 - That's an answer that even this insider can't seem to get. I feel your pain. That's the National Sports Center though which is separate from USA Cup. Your question inspired a great idea though, so thank you.
1050 what former matchup?
Here's one of our Minnesota boys scoring his 1st MLS goal at age 17.
http://web.mlsnet.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w=mms%3A//a1503.v115042.c11504.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/11504/v0001/mlbmls.download.akamai.com/11504/2008/open/partner/sierra_mist/nominee/071208_smgotw_w16_ibrahim_350.wmv&w_id=22528&catCode=partner_sponsor&type=v_free&_mp=1
FYI, I know this isn't related to the regionals , but with the USA Cup talk, and the realization that many of you know Swedish Smurf I thought it may be ok to let you to know that his U-14 girls won the B flight championship at the Dana Cup in Denmark last week.
The girls are now playing in the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
Good luck Smurf and Smurfettes
12:42
Wings vs. Bangu Select...
Dana Cup starts on July 21 this year, might be the Dana Cup Extra which is run the week before, but great result for the Minnesota team, I know there are a few teams going over this year so good luck to them.
Why on earth would a U14 team go all the way to Europe to play in a tournament, when you could travel to San Diego and play in the Surf Cup? Cha$Ching$
Maybe because they want to, 1249 and the parents are willing to pay for it. I'm willing to bet that 20 years from now none of the girls will remember the scores of the games they played, but they will remember they went to Denmark and had fun.
If they can afford it, why not?
anon 1:04,
I agree entirely.
A trip like that is a great opportunity to travel and see other countries' cultures and lifestyles.
It's more than just soccer. It's a life experience some kids never get.
I went and ran the London Marathon a few years ago even though I could have run a marathon right here in the Twin Cities.
Combining a vacation with an activity you enjoy makes perfect sense.
I know some of the parents on that team that is in Europe and The trip was planned about a year ago. The players had many fundraisers throughout the year to help offset the cost. That is another one of the experiences they got out of this trip. The realities of a budget and how to work towards a financial goal. I Think it is great that their coach took the initiative to even think about such a trip.
The soccer is secondary to the lifelong memories that are being created, but it is great to see that they are enjoying some success on the field.
Anyone know how they are doing in the Gothia Cup ? Are there any other teams from MN overseas? I know Blackhawks often sends teams to European Tournaments.
I know a boys team that went to England last year to play. The 8 plus years the majority of the team had been together that is still there number one memory of their soccer life
Let's see, life is made up of what?
Life Experiences - good for them and I hope the soccer is just icing on the cake compared to the rest of the experiences of the trip.
usa cup insider - Yep I realize it is the NSC responsible for facility improvements and the idea of netting is well worthwhile exploring
I know my team at the college showcase tourney up there nearly exhausted our team inventory of soccer balls. Yeah I know, put the ball on frame and we wouldn't have that problem.
Puma was very generous in supplying game balls to each team in their sponsorship agreement, but I found it slightly humorous when both Puma game balls went out of play and we could not continue the game until a Puma ball was returned to the field.
1) either have the field tents supplied with a couple extra balls for the referees to have a spare or two
or
2) have Puma put up netting with their logo and colors for advertisement and to keep the balls out of the swamps and ditches. The Puma angled side boards are cute but the netting would have better utility.
Good time today - I don't think we Metro folks appreciate the USA Cup as much as we should. Because, like the others have indicated, we don't make an event out of it. Many of these teams are here for a vacation soccer experience much like Smurf's team is doing in Sweden. We view it as an expensive, inconvenient soccer game in the middle of the day.
My son's team is doing the guest player program and we have NYC kid playing for our team Great thing to do- by half time it was like they were from the same neighborhood. Soccer bridges many things.
final PS - I was expecting a little bit bigger TV for the drawing- You got to get Best Buy on board. I know, now I am just being fussy.
I was told two years ago the City of Blaine would not allow additional netting/fences. If this is true it seems rather silly, in many areas soccer balls are bouncing into traffic. IMO the event (USA Cup) is expensive but still a quality event. My daughter still talks fondly of being able to play and exchange gifts with a team from Brazil. Last year the sidelines were packed with spectators when the girls team from Japan and St. Croix played. Last year I stopped watching my own daughters team play because it was such a joy to watch a boys team from Mexico and their fans celebrate every nice play from both teams. I'm sure the Smurfette's are seeing this type of atmosphere and having an experience they will remeber for a lifetime. You don't see an atmosphere like that in San Diego.
Competition in the above mentioned tournaments (Gothia Cup and Dana Cup) is not quality. From experience, it is a bit like playing South Dakota. The best approach if you are looking to have good, competitive games for a quality team is to enter in an age group higher.
That being said, it is a great experience for the kids. And an experience that most will never have an opportunity to do again.
Good point. Smurf's team is playing U-15 overseas. They are a U-14 team here.
Gothia Cup update :
Blackhawks u-16 Boys 1-0-2
Blackhawks U-17 Girls 3-0-0
Dakota Rev U-15 Girls 1-1-1
These are the only Mn teams I could find. Many of the age groups have over 100 teams, so I am not clear how these teams will move forward now that the initial pool play is concluded.
Also saw the Bangu Select/Eagan U17 game - it was not as one sided as stated earlier. QUALITY chances to score were about 6-4. Bangu controlled possession 60/40 - maybe a little more - rolled a bunch of weak balls into the box. Spoke to one Eagan parent who said they were missing a top midfielder and top defender.
Incredible level of whining from Bangu coach and players about every call made or not made that went against them. Players emulate their coaches in sportsmanship. Hope the Select parents aren't paying much.
Wings would beat Select nine times out of ten -they are a much better team.
Ah, so much hatred, so little time. Can't we all just get along?
Shekki
Anyone else get this? Watch out MYSA!
I would like to invite you to participate in the first Fall season of the Minnesota Premier Soccer League. For more information go to http://www.MinnesotaPremierSoccerLeague.com. If you have questions, please contact me directly.
Some details about our league:
-Sanctioned by US Club Soccer (not MYSA)
-6 to 8 team Metro league
-26 player roster max
-U09 to U14 competitive leagues and State Championships
-U09 and U10 8 v 8 Competitive Leagues
-Optional end-of-season State Championships in the Metro area
-Fully automated online registration, roster and player pass printing online
-Open to existing clubs or old teams or new teams
-Fall registration must be done by August 8, 2008
-League play starts 9/2 and ends 10/10/08
-Weekend or weekday games, depending on age (gets dark too early!)
-Fall State Championship in Metro - 10/18 & 10/19/08
Check it out today!!
Regards,
Adolfo Reginato
President
MPSL
(888) 425-MPSL
info@MinnesotaPremierSoccerLeague.com
www.MinnesotaPremierSoccerLeague.com
Too bad this is being organized by another "great" former MYSA mind. AR's track record as MYSA president was about as informed as our current administration
Shekki,
We've seen what you're all about.
This blog has no room for your prejudice, bigotry and hatred of people different than you.
As others have said several times. JUST GO AWAY AND STAY AWAY.
sounds like a $ maker to me
Who cares if they make money or not? Should everyone just do everything for our kids out of hte goodness of thier heart? All volunteers?
If it somehow betters opportunity for your child, and you choose to participate....who gives a rip how much someone is making? They are trying to put a service out there for consumers. Competition is good for the consumer.....unless you currently have a stake in the current monopoly. And, if so your post is self-serving and dishonest due to your not disclosing your involvement with MYSA.
SSMSouthCampus
11:10 listen to the game replay that is on line. Think you might remember the game differently.
i think it is greatt that bangu is a part of the thunder..now the older girls can gett even better training
Luis, I'll type slowly becuase I'm not sure you understand English.
G-O A-W-A-Y!
Shekki
Yeah, Luis. Go away. Shekki's the only voice of reason here. We need him.
M
Long live shekki! This blog is more interesting because of the shek keep up the good work
Tomass,
I don't think using the term "non-white" is what people are interpreting as racist.
It's the fact that he stated "Most of the non-white boys are at least 2-3 years older than they say they are."
To paint "most" of these "non-white" players as liars and cheaters is far from factual.
I sincerely doubt he can prove a single instance of this occurring much less "most" of these players.
Prove your assetion Shekki.
Put up or shut up.
I have to agree with Franklin on this one but not necessarily his tone.
Let's put this into perspective.
What if Governor Pawlenty stated "most of the non-white" males in Minneapolis and St. Paul are liars and cheaters?"
Does anyone think that would be construed as anything but a racist remark?
It wasn't what they were called but what a group of people were accused of being.
Think about it.
tomass - please provide a factual racist comment for all of us to better understand your logic (racist comment - not racial).
Also, you seem to be wishing to accept something that I do not believe was ever offered up by anyone. If you want to agree with yourself, go ahead, which IMO is what you are doing.
In regards to your last statement, IMO, yes. Just as if Chris Rock/Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton made the same claim that Shekki made. How people react to who made the statement is a different discussion.
Also, playing semantics with what most people (myself included) could construe as comments with racial overtones does not IMO put you in a very favorable light. It's funny how when talking about race many people's true "colors" come out.
Yeah it's a blog so I need to take liberties with all you brave souls who refuse to use a moniker so a discussion can be followed, I can make conclusion in what I presume. Have no idea if you were even part of this discussion prior.
those that know me - know me by my actions, and those actions have no racist biases.
not playing semantics with anything. Asking you or all the other anonymous anons to think a bit more before you bash an individual.
And before you accuse me of semantics - I said racist comment. I had earlier said racial slur which would be correct because of the negative connotation slur represents.
I'm glad you think that the last statement is racist. However, if someone would have written that the white boys on this team are mostly liars or cheats, I seriously doubt you or anyone on this blog would have accused the person of being a bigot or a racist.
Here is your chance, Jesse Jackson last week used the "N" word on Fox News. They chose to edit it from airing. Here is the same person who called that seinfeld guy a racist for using that very same word (which is a racist comment) and asked for people to boycott the buying of the DVDs. Jesse is the same guy that called the NYC jewish community a bunch of Hymies, Yet he and Al Sharpton accused a police force of being racist when it was proven that the "victim" actually had made the story up, but still no one considers him a racist.
This blog is now definitely overdue to be shut down....
Tomass...it wouldn't be racist if Franken said that. But it would be racist if Obama or Jesse Jackson said it....right?
1:52 - watched the NSCtv replay of the Eagan/Bangu Select game
1st half - Bangu had only one weak shot 4 mins before half/Eagan had one good chance early - even half.
2nd half - Bangu had 4 quality shots on goal - nice saves by eagan GK, three OK chances sent wide, and put the ball inside the 18 4 or 5 times without getting a shot/Eagan had two quality chances, and sent a few wide. Definitely controlled by Bangu.
OT - Even play - best chance for Eagan.
Total shots 11-4 for Bangu, dangerous chances 5-3 Bangu.
My memory is fine. If you saw 27 shots for Bangu, you must have counted the PKs and any ball played over the goal line.
Was that game against Eagan the U17 Tsunami Stars or Bangu Select team?
Select
What happen to soccer talk? Lets move on! THe USA Cup is still going on. Enough politics and racists stuff.
amen, 8:00am. Bring back the soccer talk. USA Cup is a blast. My kids are having the time of their lives up there!
Soccer Nut
Any good USA Cup Match ups today ? I think the talent seems down this year, but thge atmosphere is as good as always.
The netting issue at NSC is an environmentalist law suit threat. A couple of ducks were caught up in the netting over a 2 or 3 year period and some damn tree hugger and a dick-head lawyer made sure the "birds were safe."
make so that the netting can be pulled up when play is on and dropped down when play is over.
Amazed that the airport in the area is allowed to fly planes if there is a possibility of ducks being hurt.
Ducks are for eating - I prefer a raspberry pecan glaze but an orange based sauce is also very good
I watched mostly the older age group boys and would say I thought the competition is better than last year.
My biggest complaint is the tournament is more a marathon than a soccer tournament. In these final matches it more about what team is more rested. One tough game at this stage generally ends up knocking both teams out.
Right up there with that complaint is the ref's at this stage are horrible. They are probably more exhausted than the players. Which also means some of the more insane calls that I've ever seen are made at this point.
trust me ducks are smarter than we give them credit. One dead duck or a dead kid trying to chase he ball on a crossroad. hmmmm
As it stands today...
Both the Thunder and the Lightning are sitting lower in the standings than last year.
Not the best calling card for the MTA etc.
The best calling card for MTA is the 23 State Cup championships their teams have won over the last 3 years.
Nobody else comes even remotely close to that and that along with the lineup of coaches is why kids will be lining up to tryout and play for their teams.
It's as simple as that.
Or how 'bou those Bangu U-18's going to NDSU for the paltry sum they are getting after their folks forked over big $'s for years!
Anon 2:23...
Yes but the Thunder vision is being billed as new and improved and innovative.
While accomplished, neither Bangu or Wings fits that bill...
It's just more of the same with a new title.
socmom - I would agree. right or wrong, good or bad, it is still better than just about any other club.
2:23 aka ma or whomever is assigned for watch dog duty today. keep dreamin, the new is already worn off MTA. the line you refer to is people leaving to get away.
3:46, your post displays your cluelessness and envy. Go be bitter somewhere else.
was there some instance of a bangu team quitting a championship game in protest and walking off mid stream at USA Cup? Does anyone know what happened?
Bangu is a bunch of quitters and they teach their kids to quit if they're not winning. The team in question had plenty of subs (1) and the possibility of multiple district games the next day. After a long week and with injuries picked up during the event the coach asked the opposing coach to cut the final game short. The other coach agreed (else the game would have been played). The nerve of the Bangu coach.
What age ? Boys or girls ?
The nerve of that Bangu coach?
His wife had a baby the previous evening, and yet he still coached a U12 girls team in the championship game. BOTH coaches (Dakota Rev and Bangu) agreed to end the game early, as BOTH teams had possible multiple districts game the next day. Dakota Rev was clearly the stronger team in the Schwans USA Championship game, congratulations to their very talented team in their well-deserved victory.
Bangu Manager
4:21 we are all feeling highly concentrated hate. Please relax no need to hate us all in such large doses. Let's check back in a few months, we'll see who is correct.
The USA Cup is a very expensive Tournament, seems it should be played to the end. I am not sure how quitting 10 minutes early would have any effect on any 12 year olds ability to play the next day. Also the word was that Dakota Rev had to basically beg Bangu to even play to that point in the game. Seems the girls on both teams got cheated by the Bangu Coach's desire to go home early. The REV coach had little choice but to agree to the early quit by the Bangu coach, what was he going to do, force the players to stay on the field ?
My opinion, the Bangu coach made a very bad decision. What lesson did his girls learn from this decision? If you are behind just quit.
On another note, congrats on your newborn to the Bangu coach I just ripped. Hope all is well with the little one.
Dakota Rev parent or coach,
I think we can agree to disagree on this one. This particular Bangu team has lost many more games than it has won over the past three years. You may think cutting 10 minutes off the end of game is a big deal, but our 11 and 12 year old girls did not notice, and only did a few parents seem to care. Girls were thrilled to finally play 11 vs 11, win that big shiny trophy and to be competitive against one of the best U12 girls team in the state. (Dakota Rev Rampage)
Bangu Team manager
As I understand it, the MTA luster has not even been polished and it's already wearing off.
From what I hear, most of the U13 team is signing up for tryouts in a certain eastern suburb.
If so, good for the kids and their parents for stopping buying what the MTA boys are selling.
What happens at U17 age group for next year in MTA? Do kids come over? Who is coaching the team? Will it remain a mess, or will the best players get together and make a run?
To Dakota Rev & Bangu Parents
What's done is done, GET OVER IT!!! You are so wrapped up in hate over U12 girls soccer. Whether you are hating the decision, coach, other partents or other kids, all this negitive talk only hurts the players. What are you teaching your kid?
On the lighter side, the new Thunder are now in last place in the U League. More money spent on players, a revamped stadium, a funny new club, and last place in the league (they last won on May 24th). This should be very good for recruiting.
You betcha. I WANT MY KID TO ASPIRE TO PLAY FOR THE THUNDER!!!! (and work at Walmart to pay for his uniform and all those poor kids MTA will need to subsidize).
Seems like that Bangu U12 team won their district tourney the next day (2 games) and the Dakota Rev team lost their final game in districts and the chance to go premier. seems like the fools ate crow and their season is over all for the shiny cup. I might agree with the coach in that not many u12's can play 7 games in five days in +85 degree heat and have the gas to go full speed in their seventh game. anyways, ten minutes is 2 OT's. congrats to a smart coach who knew the difference in priorities between health and winning. congrats on baby too!
12:34 AM Have another beer. You make no sence.
"seems like the fools ate crow and their season is over all for the shiny cup"
The Bangu girls deserved the chance to close the gap in the last ten minutes, they were working hard and in this sport who knows ? anything can happen. Their coach didn't give them the chance to finish. I find no value in quitting 10 minutes early when involved in a good clean game like this one was.
Good luck girls as you go to state and to the REV girls on a nice season at U-13
12:34 - Nit-picky point, but premier doesn't start until U14...U13 is still self-selected placement C1-C3...
6:12...also a nit-picky point...you mis-spelled sense...it does not contain the letter c.
This blog needs a spell check :)
There are plenty of editors.
9:09, ARE YOU PRO OR ANTI MTA?
I am pro-soccer and pro-kid.
I think sports are a great way for kids to stay out of gangs and out of trouble and learn a lot about life. That's why I coach a few different sports.
I'm not pro or anti Bangu-Thunder. I don't know any of those people.
It is a joke when the administrator allows adults to make racially charged comments about kids who just want to play soccer.
If this blog was monitored as it should be those type of comments from the bigots would never see the light of day.
Instead this gives low life prejudiced people a forum to slander kids they don't even know.
It seems many of these ranters have tried to relive their lives through their kids and are finding they aren't having much success this time around either.
I sense their frustration and bitterness. It's sad to see them attack a group of kids they don't even know.
These adults should know better than to act like they are.
9:17, I am pro the development of the game in Minnesota and am utterly disgusted by numerous posts on this site. I've read and kept my mouth shut. It's just gone on too long unchecked. Blogs are fine when monitored. This one is a disgrace at the moment.
Stupidity is on a sliding scale here and in all things. I am not as charged up about the goofy allegations, I've seen way more stupid things on here minus the race overtones. If any of that was true someone would have done something already to seek redress. I am more bothered by this blog becoming an endless advertising stream for the merged clubs, I'm not sure there is sufficient oversight from others to get those people focused on soccer rather than being on here too much. There are issues and posting here is not working on them.
It continues to impress me the percentage of non-white boys that MN places in the ODP regional pools. Good for them! As somebody previously mentioned, this proves how little coaches impact the development of young players as most of these boys are likely developing on their own, outside of structured coaching, before they sign on with the premier clubs.
This needs to be understood by all the parents out there who belittle MN coaches for not developing their teenage children. It has nothing to do with coaching. It has everything to do with the commitment of the player to play on their own at a young age.
To say coaching has nothing to do with it is wrong. It does, just not as much as some parents want or need for their kids to take it to the higher levels.
10:34: Amen. 95% of your soccer skill and technique is developed on your own. My kid can make the ball dance and almost all of that came from him taping games and playing them back in slow motion, watching every youtube soccer video made, and endless, endless practice. I have a bunch of broken lamps, mirrors and pictures to prove it.
Does this mean my kid will be pro or even play in college? Of course not, but he's developed a unique skill and talent that he'll have to enrich the rest of his life. And that, everyone, is what it's all about.
If parents did a COST/BENEFIT analysis without getting delusional about the talent of their kids over the number of anticipated years in a club they would realize that it's not such a good deal.Very few kids/parents really get some bang for their buck.
Club soccer in Minnesota is a business( forget the love of the game baloney).
Join a health club and pay for your kids tuition with the money saved at a college of their choice.
I have been around several soccer blogs. They all have their good and bad post. They all have ended up touching on race/sex/money and politics. MN is no different from the other blogs I have seen. Others have even mentioned this before. MN is not any more evil or misguided than any other State or blog. If you’re so upset with the Admin, I do believe he is looking for someone to take over for him. Go for it.
I do think individuals like drawing attention to themselves and an agenda’s with comments like Anon 10:34. From what I have seen MN does a better job than most in recognizing "non-white" (your words not mine) players and getting others to pay for their training/travel and equipment as well. The players I am familiar in this group have all benefited from generosity of others, no one could say they have achieved it on their own. I would even suggest that it has embodied some of these boys with a sense of entitlement, which in the future will be detrimental.
I can't find the Anon 10:34 post seeking attention?
Non-white is not a bad term. And in the above context, it was recognizing the non-white players as being more talented and more dedicated to the sport in their young ages.
Youth soccer is a business. Most soccer businesspeople probably do love the game. But you have to feed your family. If people are willing to pay for the service, why not.
Legitimate Question: Why are people willing to offer their generosity to provide youth soccer scholarships to some players? Particularly if it will be detrimental over the long haul?
Anon 12:17, If you can afford to go to college, why go? Because you can gain even more from college. Just like you can gain more from youth soccer than from the health club.
909 and 126 and Shekki, Please keep the swearing off the blog it is not needed.
Shekki your comments have been reported to the blogger.com as "abusive." If your not aware they can (may) track your IP address and get your contact information from your ISP. I am all for free speech, but try to make your point without such abusive language.
Amen...
Amen to what?
Jose Mourinho - your comment is racial profiling. Example - "recognizing the non-white players as being more talented and more dedicated to the sport in their young ages". You are insinuating 1) White players are not dedicated to the sport 2) non-white players are more talented. I am pretty sure the color of there skin has nothing to do with neither their talent nor their dedication.
I believe you are trying to bring attention to the same garbage vomited on this blog repeatedly. “We need all the best non-white players on one team creating a superstar team.” Personnel I say go ahead, good luck. It sound just like something from the 60’s only in reverse and I believe you will be as successful as those who fought against integration.
To your legitimate question, well some people/parents offer their generosity because 1) they want their little angel to win 2) they have disposable income and 3) are generous. However, most clubs do not give parents a choice on whether to be generous or not. It usually goes like this - "your team has three scholarship players each player will now pay an additional $250-$300 to cover their cost. As the economy gets worse, I think you will see a shift in attitudes. Parents will become more vocal and no longer be willing to be as generous as they have been in the past with no accountability.
Amos no longer Thunder coach
http://www.startribune.com/sports/25775264.html?location_refer=Homepage:latestNews:4
Yes Amos is out. The guy is class and simply loves the sport, and, contrary to what the anonymous cheap shot artists on this blog suggest for their own selfish purposes, he knows the game and coached well. I wish it would have worked out for him.
it wasn't me. track the thing. i don't swear.
shekki
Anon 5:20,
If you are "pretty sure the color of there skin [or cultural background] has nothing to do with neither their [soccer] talent nor their [soccer]dedication," what can we credit for the high percentage of non-white boys soccer players succeeding in MN ODP?
Also, in response to your answer to my legitimate question, aren't players free to leave a club and play for a team that doesn't have scholarship players. It doesn't seem as though anyone is forced to pay the additional $250-$300 to cover the scholarship cost.
So players should go instead to a club that gouges rec players to provide traveling players' scholarships?
Many clubs provide scholarships for underprivledged players. That's nothing new. And most clubs are no more expensive than any others. Fact is, we have many war refugees in the Twin Cities and they don't have the means to play, but they certainly have the skill...Getting them into the clubs can have the effect of bringing up the level of play of the others around them since the imigrant/refuge kids grew up with street soccer and our local kids grew up with Nintendo. Doesn't always work, but the club that does the best balancing both worlds should have an advantage...
If only to end this part of the discussion because it is getting so tiring...athletes that are of West African decent have a genetic advantage. It's in the scientific literature, so look it up before anyone goes ballistic on me. It's not really a coincidence that most professional basketball players, football players and elite sprinters are of that ethnic heritage. Their particular genetics includes and enzyme that facilitates better use of lactate, thus delaying the onset of fatigue and making them genetically advantaged to sports that include lots of sprinting, i.e. soccer, basketball etc. It's similar to East Africans being very good at distance running.
Skill and drive are completely separate from race and therefore completely irrelevant to the discussion.
There...can that be the end of this...discuss the merits and downsides to the Thwingu merger and the idea of an academy system in our area and quit boring everyone with useless "my club is better than your club" crap.
the reason more than 10 % of students in ivy league colleges is asians is in their genetic makeup. there is research to show asians have a higher tolerence for long hours of studying. go look it up.
i thought jimmy the greek was dead??
ok, i am ashamed to admit that long ago i started the thread that ultimately turned into 'race' related discussion. i apologize to the blog regulars. i am 'white' and my original post on this subject was only meant to say that when we talk about elite soccer players in MN (or any other state) and we imply that the 'best' soccer players play or should play at one club or another (be it Bangu or otherwise), we need to acknowledge that a significant number of players who cannot afford to play organized soccer are exceptional talents. if you go to any public soccer park in the summer, you see a great number of ethnic 'teams' that gather for the love of the game and demonstrate incredible skill and commitment. i applaud this. i just wish those kids (male and female) had a better avenue to get involved in organized soccer. of course, perhaps they don't want that because they play for the love of the sport not for their parents or others driving them around.
the main point of my original post was simply this. when we talk about how great our competitive teams are, we just need to put it in context. we should be proud of the progress of MN soccer and within our small universe of the soccer world there are great successes to be proud of (whether it be within the state or at a regional level). I was simply trying to quell the grandiose claims about the 'greatness' of any particular team/club/program by giving it a broader perspective. MYSA soccer entities(including CC and for Profits) from what I see do not have an ethnically and economically diverse member base which inherently blocks many great potential players from participating. Many of these groups that do not have the avenue in happen to be 'ethnic (or non white)' but not all. I am not ashamed or guilty that I can afford it for my kids but I am not naive to the folks that can't. When I see a group of mexican americans, somali americans, african americans and others gather and play informally frankly I see more effort, passion and talent than most organized club teams. i am sure the non-american born soccer coaches and administrators on this board would acknowledge that soccer is more prevalent in all economic classes starting from youth. the beauty of soccer is that it can be an incredibly inexpensive sport to pick up and you can become great without a great deal of money. again, in america the odds are stacked against you in youth soccer if you are financially underprivleged and that ultimately was my point.
so sorry for starting this thread inadvertently. i would have rather it went down the path of promoting the things various clubs are doing to promote soccer and make it accessible to underprivileged youth but that was probably naive.
Scientific proof? Are these the scientist that Hitler used? Do they also prove that “non-white” are intellectually inferior? I guess I find such statements offensive to both the "non-white" and the "white". It sends the message why try, you are already hard wire to succeed or fail.
Jose- Stand proudly on your legitimate question platform, you should really have nothing to do with youth sports. Your bitterness is obvious. Glory in feeling of having made your point, maybe it will fill the emptiness of your soul.
1:03 - I think you miss the point.
Yes, on average, some controversial studies have indicated that some populations of certain heritage have some genetic advantages. However, there are HUGE variations within any genetic pool (that's how natural selection works, and explains why we aren't all identical to one another). In fact, many non-controversial studies indicate that the genetic variation within any one genetic pool is likely to be MUCH GREATER than the average differences between one pool and another.
Therefore, any attempt to say that an INDIVIDUAL of any race has an athletic advantage over another INDIVIDUAL of a different race is B.S. and, in fact, based upon preconceived assumptions about race (ie, prejudice).
The point is that these West African immigrants are good footballers because their cultural upbringing has encouraged them to develop on their own at a young age. Relative to other sports, football is what they do, football is what they know, football is what they live.
It certainly helps if these good footballers can put their talents to greater use by finding a good coach to teach them other aspects of the game in their teenage years.
Meanwhile, we have so many parents out there that complain about Coach X not being good because Coach X cannot turn Teenage Player Y into a good footballer. If Teenage Player Y doesn't have good skills developed, it's too late. And it's too late for most teenage players in MN as most of them aren't very skilled. Football coaches cannot turn teenage straw into gold.
It appears as though the Boys Region Pool selections supports this.
mama mia
It does not matter if the teams combined as long as Rodrigo is on the team. The kid is god at soccer!!!!!!!!!!!!!
who is rodrigo?
This is 1:03 again...
9:38 - That was pointless...
10:37 - Thank you.
red olaf, sweeper and anyone else that can't just let it go and talk about the topic, here is just one reference from 2007 (researchers were Greek, French and Australian for red's benefit):
Temfemo A. Laparadis C. Bishop D. Merzouk A. Ahmaidi S. Are there differences in performance, metabolism, and quadriceps muscle activity in black African and Caucasian athletes during brief intermittent and intense exercise?. [Clinical Trial. Comparative Study. Journal Article] Journal of Physiological Sciences: JPS. 57(4):203-10, 2007 Aug.
The results were that there were little difference in overall power output of the quadriceps between races but black athletes showed lower lactate concentrations after intermittent sprinting activities (i.e. soccer).
Sweeper, your point on genetic variation is well founded and I agree with it, but I was trying to keep things as simplistic as possible. Rueben Studdard isn't going to be threatening Joe Mauer in any athletic competition anytime soon. And anything dealing with race will be controversial just because most people don't want to touch it and everyone wants to think that they can do anything if they work hard enough even when they aren't built for it. The science is there, many well structured in credible, peer-reviewed journals and many have been repeated finding similar results. I don't agree that it is very controvercial on the science side of things. I'd be happy to discuss exercise physiology, but this isn't the crowd for that.
The reason in studies such as the one that you mention are controversial are because of the simplistic conclusions drawn regarding genetic factors.
Lactic acid production via glycolysis, recyling via the Cori cycle, and tolerance all have multiple genes involved. Furthermore, all are prone to evironmental manipulation (ie, training).
Because there is no simple one gene/one trait correlation, the most that study can honestly conclude is that they found differences in the averages of those participants, grouped by race. They cannot say that there is a direct genetic relationship.
Sweeper,
Point taken and well put. But any study is simplistic in its assertations and can only be considered to support or refute a theory. Proof is never offered and anyone asserting that it is, is sorely mistaken and misinformed. However, the body of evidence as a whole points to certain tendencies that one can have a reasonable level of confidence in suggesting that there are trends in the genetic makeups of various races that pre-dispose them to one characteristic or another. Empirical evidence shows a much higher IQ among Ashkenazi Jews than the over-all population of Europe adjusted for everything they could possible account for. How do we account for that?
It is true that training can account for the manipulation and improvement of many physiological processes, but it is also reasonably suggestable that certain races do have a start point in certain processes(within reasonable variation of course) that are different from other races in general. But your point of geralizability is certainly true for individual studies. As I mentioned earlier, the body of work is where the assumptions should be made from.
Even though we are sorely off topic, thank you for providing some interesting, non-accusatory, discussion. This is refreshing.
i bet MTA will try to recruit anyone with a genetic advantage (just thought i'd try to get us all back on track)...jk
I completely agree, experimental data can only support or refute a hypothesis, but cannot provide proof. Of course, there are questions as to whether a experiment is well designed to address the intended question (like if an IQ test is a valid measure of, well, anything , but I digress).
The reason for my initial post was that too often results of certain experiments are latched onto by a readership that over interprets the results as proof of some pet theory. You have convinced me that this doesn't apply to you, but I still fear it might to some others here.
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