PERSONAL REASONS
Published July 5, 2006
Former French International and current NY Red Bull Youri Djorkaeff missed last night's game between the Red Bulls and the LA Galaxy for what is being called "personal reasons" . What personal reasons you might ask? Well, according to this AP story, Djorkaeff headed to Germany to take in the Fran...
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
Published July 4, 2006
The first place Vancouver Whitecaps came to town last night as the Rhinos were on their fourth attempt to get a win in PAETEC Park. With a record of 0-1-6 in their last seven and three ties in the first three matches at PAETEC Park, my hopes weren't overly high heading into last night's match u...
THE REVS COULD BE COMING! THE REVS COULD BE COMING!
Published July 1, 2006
US Open Cup 4th Round Pairings Announced If the Rhinos can advance past the New Hampshite Phantoms on July 12th at PAETEC Park, they will earn the right to host US Men's National Team star Clint Dempsey and the rest of the New England Revolution on Wednesday August 2nd at PAETEC Park. Vallow, Sanfil...
COMING UP EMPTY IN MONTREAL, AGAIN
Published June 29, 2006
Heading into last evening's game in Montreal, the Rhinos hadn't scored a goal in their last 10 games at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. Rochester scored its last goal in Montreal on July, 23, 2000 in a 3-1 win. Given it's recent struggles to produce consistent offense and the fact that Greg Howes (...
SOME MORE ONE TOUCH STARTING IN NY
Published June 28, 2006
No Mo in New York The Red Bulls finally let head coach Mo Johnston go and assistant Richie Williams will serve as interim head coach until a permanent replacement is found. Cue the Bruce Arena to the Red Bulls rumors. Bruce is a New Jersey guy, so there is that angle. As a DC United fan, I don'...
ONE GAME CHANGES EVERYTHING
Published June 26, 2006
Heading into Saturday's game versus the rival Montreal Impact, I was in a pretty bitter mood. I had very high expectations about what the opening of PAETEC Park would be like and what the response within the community would be. I also had expectations on what this team would do entering the seaso...
IN A DAZE
Published June 23, 2006
Is Montreal really coming to town tomorrow evening? Honestly, my head has been swimming since the US bowed out versus Ghana yesterday. Usually, I look at the glass as half full. But, in the wake of the disappointing attendance at PAETEC Park for the Portland game last Saturday and the less than stel...
THE BIGGEST GAME IN US HISTORY
Published June 22, 2006
A lot of people are saying that today's game versus Ghana, with a berth in the round of 16 on the line, is the biggest game in the history of US soccer. But that got me thinking about all the big games throughout US soccer history and where this game might end up ranking. 1950 World Cup in Brazil -...
FANNIES IN THE SEATS - ROCHESTER VS MLS
Published June 19, 2006
With the opening of PAETEC Park, the Rochester Rhinos control their venue for the first time in their history. And the hope was that with a seating capacity of 13,768 and beautiful views of the large playing surface, that the Rhinos attendance numbers would improve over recent years, especially last...
A TALE OF TWO GAMES
Published June 18, 2006
Yesterday was a very full day for soccer fans everywhere, but especially here in Rochester. While both games that I cared about had similar results, those results left me with very different feelings afterward. Still Alive The US entered yesterday feeling like they needed a win versus Italy to...
PLAY BEAUTIFUL
Published June 17, 2006
In Nike Soccer's Joga Bonito campaign ad about the US Men's National Team, Eric Cantona says that what makes a great team is eleven players believing in each other. Against the Czech Republic, the US didn't have eleven players that believed in themselves, let alone in their other ten teammates....
MARK JULY 12TH ON YOUR CALENDAR
Published June 16, 2006
Round 3 pairings announced The Rochester Rhinos will host either the New Hampshire Phantoms from the USL 2nd Division or Milford International of the USASA on July 12th at 7:30pnm at PAETEC Park in the 3rd round of the 2006 US Open Cup. 2006 US Open Cup Bracket New Hampshire and Milford will pla...
US SOCCER - UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Published June 15, 2006
In light of the massive disappointment versus the Czech Republic on Monday afternoon some people are pointing fingers, some people are starting to give soccer in the US it's last rites, and other's are wondering if the US will ever be a power in world soccer. Personally, I believe that looking...
THAT'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK
Published June 13, 2006
Yesterday was supposed to be a day where the US took on a top European team on European soil and announced that they had arrived as a world soccer power. Unfortunately, things don't always work out as you had hoped. It only took five minutes for the Czechs to take over the match. Zdenek Grygera...
US SOCCER ATTACKS TODAY!
Published June 12, 2006
The road to Germany for the US National Team started in Columbus Crew Stadium on June 13, 2004. The US defeated Grenada 3-0 that day with DeMarcus Beasley scoring twice and Kasey Keller earning the shutout to become the All-Time US leader with 38 wins. The US then went to Grenada and earned a 3-2 wi...
ONE TOUCH FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
Published June 11, 2006
I've been sitting in from of my nine inch black and white TV watching the World Cup (and even Chivas USA at FC Dallas) all weekend. So here are some quick one touch takes from around the soccer world. - So the Rhinos tied Virginia Beach for the third match in a row. And it was the third straight...
FORGET THE AVIAN FLU, THE WORLD CUP COLD IS COMING!
Published June 8, 2006
I've already requested vacation time for the US versus the Czech Republic and Ghana. But, around the world 24 hour flus will be on the rise for the next month as the World Cup kicks off in Germany tomorrow starting at noon. Germany will take on Costa Rica from Munich and the entire world will b...
WE'RE GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER
Published June 7, 2006
Frank Yallop named the new coach in LA Star player is Landon Donovan? Check Head coach is Frank Yallop? Check A day after Alexi Lalas fired the coach that everyone expected him to fire sooner rather than later due to their past history together, Alexi Lalas hired a new coach that has a strong his...
YOU GET OUT OF LINE, YOU GET WHACKED
Published June 6, 2006
Lalas fires Steve Sampson Well, that only took slightly longer than I expected. Honestly, I was mildly surprised that Sampson didn't get fired after the Galaxy lost all five of their matches in May. Especially since the reigning US Open Cup and MLS Cup champs went scoreless in all five matches....
THE PAETEC PARK EXPERIENCE
Published June 6, 2006
I have been struggling with what to write about my experience at PAETEC Park on Saturday night. I've been struggling because I want to say nothing but great things about the stadium and my experience. But then I strolled over the webboards on the Rhinos site and I read all these people having...
IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES. IT WAS THE WETTEST OF TIMES.
Published June 4, 2006
So maybe having it rain so much that the Red Wings took their balls and bats home last night wasn't a matter of the soccer gods wanting the Rhinos to have the spotlight all to themselves last night. But it was going to take a heck of a lot more than a little rain and some power outages to ruin...
2006 US OPEN CUP FINAL - LIVE FROM PAETEC PARK?
Published June 2, 2006
Last evening, Rhinos President Frank DuRoss was on with Bob Matthews. At the end of the segment, Frank was asked about whether the 2006 US Open Cup Final could be played at PAETEC Park. Frank's answer was that the organization plans on submitting a bid to host the final to the US Soccer Federat...
KILLING THE SI COVER JINX - 2006 EDITION
Published June 1, 2006
If being placed into some people's choice for the "Group of Death" in this year's World Cup with the Czech Republic, Italy, and Ghana wasn't bad enough, the US Men's National Team now needs to overcome the Sports Illustrated cover jinx for the second world up in a row. Clint Mathis was the SI cov...
DON GARBER IS TALKING EXPANSION
Published May 31, 2006
Kansas City Star MLS Commissioner Don Garber recently talked about what he feels the San Jose area needs to do to make an MLS team thrive the second time around. Garber talked about needing more than just passionate fans. He talked about needing an ownership group that can take a passionate fan...
FOUR DAYS UNTIL THE OPENER
Published May 30, 2006
I went down to watch the Rhinos practice today. Partly to see how the team looks and partly to see how PAETEC Park looks less than a week before it's big unveiling. What I saw was both breathtaking and scary. First off, the field looks great. It's huge, it's green, and it just pops. The only unu...
NOW THAT THE ROAD TRIP IS OUT OF THE WAY
Published May 29, 2006
Saturday evening the Rhinos didn't score, but for the sixth time on their seven game road trip, they didn't give up a goal either. So, the Rhinos were more than happy to kiss their sisters and return home to open PaeTec Park with a 5-0-2 record, tops in the USL 1st Division. The Rhinos opened the ma...
THE NIGHTMARE IN NASHVILLE
Published May 25, 2006
The US Men's National Team started their three game Send Off Series Tuesday evening in Nashville versus Morocco. Not only was the 1-0 loss not the result the US squad was looking for, but team captain Claudio Reyna limped off the field in the first half with a hamstring injury. Thankfully, Reyna re...
A TICKET SUITABLE FOR FRAMING
Published May 24, 2006
Once a dream, now a reality I like that slogan a lot. Especially since June 3rd is getting closer and closer every day. Yesterday, I went down to pick up my family's season tickets. First, I was blown away at how awesome the stadium is looking. From the goalposts being in place to the bench bub...
A SCORELESS DRAW NEVER FELT SO GOOD
Published May 23, 2006
The Rhinos have completed the first 6 games of their 7 game road trip prior to opening up PaeTec Park with a 5-0-1 record and having only allowed one goal against after playing the Bob Lilley coached Vancouver Whitecaps to a scoreless draw late last evening out in Vancouver. Once again, I was unable...
THE RHINOS KEEP ROLLING ON THE ROAD
Published May 20, 2006
With a showdown against a fellow undefeated team looming on Monday evening, Rhinos head coach Laurie Calloway opted to start a mostly younger lineup last evening in Portland. But, that didn't stop the Rhinos from winning their 5th straight road game to start the 2006 season as they topped the Timber...