After all of the controversey and posturing US Soccer has decided to go with what has been proven to work: Columbus Crew Stadium as site of the US vs Mexico World Cup Qualifier.

The border war between the two nations actually has a fair amount of history at Columbus Crew Stadium. In what some called the "Guerra Fria (Cold War)" because of a 29-degree game-time temperature, the United States defeated Mexico 2-0 on Feb. 28, 2001, on goals by Josh Wolff and Earnie Stewart.

With the weather far warmer, the Americans beat El Tri 2-0 at Columbus on Sept. 3, 2005, as Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley scored, clinching the fifth consecutive World Cup berth for the United States.  

All in all, the USSF got it right.  A USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier isn't about marketing or ticket sales- it's about a crucial home result and a win for the Americans is nothing but expected on friendly turf anymore.  The Red, White and Blue is 8-0-2 at home against Mexico since 2000 outscoring El Tri 17-3.  

ESTADOS UNIDOS! (clap clap clap) ESTADOS UNIDOS! (clap clap clap!)  

I hope head coach Bob Bradley calls up Jose Torres just to make a statment!

Sweden plays the U.S. in Los Angeles on Jan. 24 and will meet Mexico in Oakland on Jan. 28.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: John Alvbage (Orebro), Eddie Gustafsson (Lyn).

Defenders: Patrik Anttonen (Orebro), Rasmus Bengtsson (Trelleborg), Mattias Bjarsmyr (IFK Goteborg), Adam Johansson (IFK Goteborg), Markus Jonsson (AIK), Marcus Lindberg (Kalmar), Max von Schlebrugge (Brondby).

Midfielders: Daniel Andersson (Malmo), Martin Ericsson (Elfsborg), Rasmus Elm (Kalmar), Samuel Holmen (Brondby), Andreas Johansson (Halmstad), Andreas Dahl (Nordsjaelland), Andreas Landgren (Helsingborg).

Forwards: Patrik Ingelsten (Kalmar), Gustav Svensson (IFK Goteborg), Ola Toivonen (Malmo), Pontus Wernbloom (IFK Goteborg), Henrik Larsson (Helsingborg), Mikael Dahlberg (Djurgarden).

I realize that MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis taking over Arsenal FC as the club's new CEO is yesterday's new, but foxsoccer.com's Jaime Trecker wrote an awesome story about the matter.

"Wednesday night, MLS commissioner Don Garber was honored at the annual March of Dimes luncheon.
In introducing him, Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL Patriots and MLS Revolution said that hiring Garber in 1999 was "the best business decision I have ever been involved with."

Gazidis (R) has been Commissioner Don Garber's right-hand man since 1999, including the 2001 All-Star game. (Brian Bahr / Getty Images)
What Kraft didn't mention - and only a handful of folks outside MLS' inner circle know - is how much of Garber and MLS' success is due to the contributions of another man.

"I got a lot of advice when I started this job, and I remember not knowing a lot about the politics behind the scene," said Garber yesterday afternoon by phone from New York. "In fact, I remember being grilled by a reporter at a table outside after the announcement was made and thinking: 'What the heck have I got myself into here?"

To read the rest of the article go here:

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8895382/Gazidis'-Arsenal-appointment-speaks-volumes-for-MLS

So it Gazidis MLS's biggest pond skipper to date??? 

Then there were four. 

The Final Four as they say in college basketball.  The college soccer equivalent to the Big Dance has been narrowed down to four remaining programs after four rounds of single elmination format.  Four programs that all have College Cup experience before. 

Wake Forest, North Carolina, Maryland and St. John's will duke it out to be college soccer's best next weekend at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX- home to MLS side FC Dallas. 

Lets take a look how they got there. 

After a first round bye, Wake Forest squeaked by The Tribe of William & Mary 1-0. However, Dartmouth posed no threat whatsoever as the Demon Deacon's assaulted the Ivy League club 7-0.  Wake Florida handled South Florida in similar fashion routing the Bulls 5-0 making it the Deason's fifth straight trip to the semifinals. 

North Carolina also had a first round bye, but also barely escaped in the opening round with a 1-0 result against Jacksonville.  University of Illinois-Chicago took the Tar Heels to overtime, but ultimately lost 3-2.  In the quarterfinal another 1-0 win for North Carolina over Northwestern sent the Chapel Hill side to its third final four. 

After another first round bye, St. John's University of New York City squeaked by its opening round opponent Boston University 1-0 followed by another narrow 3-2 win margin over UC-Irvine in the next round.  The Indiana Hoosier had a 2-1 score with two minutes remaining in regulation before the Red Storm scored the equalizer sending the game into extra time before scoring the golden goal.  

Maryland also watched first round action with a bye and easily downed George Mason 2-0 in the second round.  Terrapins beat the Golden Bears of California 2-1 beore a 1-0 over the Creighton Jays in the quarterfinal.  

In a battle for Tar Heel state bragging right, Wake Forest (23-1-1) will play North Carolina (14-7-1) in the semifinal on Friday December 12 at 5:30 ET followed by the other semifinal between St. John's (19-2-3) and Maryland (21-3-0).

The national championship will be on Sunday December 14 at 1pm ET.

All matches will be hosted at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX- home of MLS side FC Dallas. 

Who you got winning???

I'm picking Wake Forest to go for a repeat!

A couple of weeks ago while watching the Fox Football Fone-in show on Fox Soccer Channel I learned of a fairly new but totally awesome company called Bumpy Pitch. Nick and Steven hosted the owners and founders on the show and rocked some of their duds on the air. 

An excerpt from their website www.bumpypitch.com is below:

"Bumpy Pitch is a two pronged project encompassing a clothing company and an online magazine (theoriginalwinger.com). Our singular focus is to showcase the culture and lifestyle that soccer inspires. Our roots in Los Angeles, mixed with our collective experiences within the sport creates a unique platform for the only soccer inspired lifestyle company.

Bumpy Pitch apparel is inspired by the history and global influence of soccer as well as our roots and experiences growing up in Los Angeles. The combination inspires a clothing line that pays respect to the sport, while presenting soccer as more than a sport, but as a lifestyle. The line consists of 100% cut and sew pieces ensuring that each item is fabricated specifically for Bumpy Pitch. With each item that we create and design, we are not only presenting a product but telling a story and building a lifestyle. All of our clothes are designed and manufactured in Los Angeles, California.

Theoriginalwinger.com is an extension of the product line and serves as a platform for which we can connect, inform and engage with our culture on a daily basis. In less than a year The Original Winger has become the leading online voice in building and supporting the lifestyle of the world's most popular sport.

There is no bigger subculture consisting of passionate, informed and involved participants. Up to this point our culture has been underserved from a lifestyle perspective. The focus of the sport has always been limited to what takes place on the pitch, and has largely ignored how it influences and inspires people in every facet of their lives. Bumpy Pitch is changing that daily and helping the sport grow and evolve in a way that is much more representative of who we are in the 21st century." 

I went to the website, browsed around and really liked what I saw.  As soon I get some extra cash, that Fall River Marksmen shirt is mine- all mine!  

Cheers!