Guillermo Rivera has an outstanding piece up on Julian Posada - Posada Has A Full Plate Going Into 2011 Season. Rivera breaks out a list of things that should be implemented like a team store at Toyota Park, honoring the team's history, jersey sponsor and much more. I'd call this a 'must-read'.
Soccer by Ives had a couple of must read Tweets today - first one:
Chicago Fire finally announces Nery Castillo loan to Aris (MLS paperwork slowed announcement). Shakhtar Donetsk OK'd loan yesterday
The bolding is my emphasis. Can't be repeated enough. Some Chicago fans had the impression that it was the Chicago Fire that were holding things up. It was 100% on MLS for the delay. His second must read:
Fire fans wondering where goals will come from should take heart. Sources tell me Chicago is lining up an international striker this window
We'll keep you posted. Last via Ives, I give you a good read from Adam Serrano on Sean Johnson at USMNT camp.
After the break, a plethora of multimedia via everyone's favorite team writer Jeff Crandall - @JefeCrandall
Sean Checks In From USNMT Camp from Chicago Fire Soccer on Vimeo.
Other recent videos on the Vimeo page are Jeff Crandall going 'All-In' with Jalil Anibaba, Carlos de los Cobos giving his thoughts on Jalil, Daniel Paladini highlight video and more.
Crandall also wrote a nice piece on Davis Paul surprisingly titled 'Meet Davis Paul'. If you haven't seen the music video cover that Davis Paul made with his teammates, you should take a look at the link. Again, I like what Davis Paul can bring to the team as someone who keeps things loose during the long season.
It has also garnered many response and copy cat videos in the interim, including one from the University of Michigan men’s soccer team to "Over" by Drake, aka Aubrey Graham, the wheelchair-bound basketball player from Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Trendsetting too? I like it. Looking forward to seeing what Paul and all the new players can bring to the field.
Last but not least Crandall also highlighted the player who won the Fire's tryout, Pareskevas 'Pari' Pantazopoulos
Born in Athens, Greece in 1988, Pantazopoulos played in the Academy for local club Vrilissia before moving with his family to the United States 10 years later. Settling in the Chicago suburbs, Pari started following the Fire in the club’s first season in 1998. He counts his favorite Fire memory as the club’s double-winning campaign that year.
Great stuff Jeff, keep up the good work. We'll be reading/listening/watching.