January 8, 2007
In a move that has been in the works for a long time, AEG has sold DC United to a group that includes former Duke basketball star Brian Davis, Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks, and Victor MacFarlane, who heads the largest minority-owned real estate management firm in the country, who will lead the group.
The interesting thing to watch will be the fact that the new owners seem more interested in the pending stadium deal at Poplar Point in Southeast DC and less interested in the soccer club itself. Hopefully they will just let DC United president Kevin Payne run the soccer operation as the team has been highly successful on the field during his tenure with the club.
MLS Combine updates
MLSNet.com - Combine notes: Jitters on first day
MLSNet.com - Jones' comeback could lead to MLS
MLSNet.com - Weather test players at Combine
MLSNet.com - Soumare takes long road to Combine
With weather that would drain anyone, this year's MLS combine should give an edge to those players that showed up in peak fitness.
With no real locks at the top of the draft and Toronto FC owning the first pick, it will be interesting to see how lively the usually red hot trade market is around draft time on Friday. My guess is that they won't disappoint, especially with new ownership blood around the league (NY, KC, DC, and Toronto will all have ownership groups that are taking part in their first MLS Superdraft), along with the new people in charge around the league (NY, KC, LA, DC, Chivas USA, FC Dallas, and Toronto have all seen changes either with the head coach or the front office in the last 12 months).
Reyna to MLS talk heating up
Apparently Claudio has some "family issues" he's discussed with Manchester City brass and he might be headed stateside after all.
With the NY Red Bulls owning two Designated Player slots and plenty of cap space, you would have to expect that Reyna would be looking to reunite with Bruce Arena. Add in that Reyna is a New Jersey boy and you have to think that this move has to happen if Claudio does come to play in MLS.
Steele to get some competition on the left side of the Carolina midfield
Apparently the Carolina RailHawks are on the verge of adding Norwegian midfielder Rune Bjørnstad Hagen who plays on the left side of midfield. It will be interesting to see how former Rhino Jonny Steele takes to the competition for playing time.
US Soccer.com is all over the USMNT camp
US Soccer.com USMNT Camp Photo Gallery
US Soccer.com USMNT Camp Videos
US Soccer.com - 1/4/07 podcast w/ Bradley, Mastroeni, Bornstein, and Califf
US Soccer.com is all over the first camp in the Bradley era of the US Men's National Team.
Hopefully they will get a little more behind the scenes stuff as the camp goes on. But, I loved the video clips of the morning and evening training sessions from last Thursday.
Who's college pad was this clean?
SI.com - Campus Cribs - University of Washington Soccer House
Seriously, how many college students are that neat and tidy?
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
