Soccer Club Logos: Symbols With Meaning
Posted by kkirkland | Filed under Uncategorized
A good soccer club logo should define a team. It should define players and coaches. It should say what they are. It is the team banner, displays their colors and is the team symbol. Everything a member of that organization does (including fans), whether positive or negative, adds to the symbolism of the club logo. There are a few factors that play part in a great logo.
Those of you who are artistic minded may say that a logos greatness is primarily determined by it’s aesthetic characteristics. It certainly is a factor. If you are a soccer enthusiast and familiar at all with a team it makes it difficult for you to be an impartial judge of the logo. When you know anything about a team you start to build an opinion of that team. Team colors like a logo also produce feelings for people familiar with the team. For example: I still to this day rarely wear the colors of my rival high school. I am not sure if they are just ugly colors or if my emotions ran so thick that I made no separation between my opponents, their territory and their colors and logo. This is why I think while artistic appearance may effect first impressions, the ongoing impact of a logo depends on the performance of the members of the club.
We are all familiar with opponents who have engaged in unfair, cheap, or belligerent behavior. Acts like these do a disservice to the team, it’s coaches, it’s fans, former team members and it’s name or logo. We all know teams that are known for their poor sportsmanship and lack of character. Their behavior surely impacts what we feel when we see their logo.
Lastly, I say it is team tradition, character, integrity and sportsmanship that make a logo it’s greatest. Although a timeless design for a logo is a must, it is up to the teams actions and character on and off the field whether or not they keep that logo timeless and a symbol of sportsmanship, integrity and greatness for the long-term. As you become familiar with a team, their tradition and their behavior it will define what their logo and it’s colors stand for.
Let’s now look at and enjoy some of the worlds greatest soccer club logos. If you have a favorite that we’ve missed let us know. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: soccer club, soccer club logo, Soccer Logos, Soccer Team, team website
What a Goal!
Posted by Zane | Filed under Uncategorized
While MLS Cup 2008 wasn’t the most exciting game I’ve ever seen, I’m glad I kept watching just to see this goal from Frankie Hejduk in the 82nd minute.
Admittedly, this goal was the most exciting part of the match for me. The Columbus crew largely dominated the New York Red Bulls for the majority of the game and showed why they were the best team in the regular season this year.
The Crew beat the Red Bulls 3-1 in regulation in a game that featured a number of milestones for Major League Soccer.
- Neither the Columbus Crew nor the New York Red Bulls had previously won an MLS Cup.
- Columbus Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid posted his second MLS Cup Title and became the first coach to earn MLS Cup Championships with different teams.
- League and MLS Cup MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto recorded an MLS Cup record three assists
Tags: Columbus Crew, Frankie Hejduk, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, MLS Cup 2008, New York Red Bulls, Sigi Schmid
Funny Soccer Clip
Posted by kkirkland | Filed under Uncategorized
I’m sure you have all seen this soccer clip before but it never gets old. Watch it close and try not to laugh.
Tags: AYSO, futbol blooper, soccer blooper, soccer clip, youth soccer
United States Beats Guatemala 2-0
Posted by Zane | Filed under Uncategorized
In their final match of World Cup 2010, the United States Mens National Team took care of business versus Guatemala, beating them 2-0. The victory places the United States at the top of Group 1 with 15 points and secures a spot in the CONCACAF final round of World Cup Qualifying.
Other teams making up the final round of qualifying include Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Commenting on his team’s performance, U.S. Head Coach Bob Bradley commented: Ã’It’s a good way for us to finish up this round,Ó said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. Ã’It caps a successful run, and now we focus on the challenge ahead. There was an opportunity tonight to see some different players and, as always, there were some things that were positive and some things that need work. Al in all it was a good night for us.Ó
Goals came in the 54th and 69th minutes from Kenny Cooper and Freddy Adu, respectively. The United States statistically outplayed the Guatemalan side with 16 shots, 11 on goal.
The final round of World Cup qualifying will begin February 11, 2009 for the United States.
Tags: Bob Bradley, Freddy Adu, Kenny Cooper, U.S. vs Guatemala, United States Mens National Team, US Soccer, USA vs Guatemala
A Soccer Legend May be Calling it Quits
Posted by kkirkland | Filed under Uncategorized
Martin Rogers, a yahoo sports writer reported, “One of the greatest, yet most frustrating, careers we have seen in world soccer looks set to come to an end after Ronaldo admitted he is close to retirement.”
It seems his chronic soccer related injuries have finally gotten the best of him. Ronaldo has been and still is more than just an incredible soccer player he is an icon. Ronaldo has done for the sport of soccer what few others have done, he has become an immortal symbol of soccer greatness.
Few names in the history of soccer are as familiar to both soccer fans and non soccer fans, as the name of Ronaldo. I would say the only other players that even compete in terms of being soccer icons are Pele, Maradona, and maybe Beckham. Ronaldo is a 3 time FIFA Player of the Year Winner, 2 time Balon D’Or Winner, 2 time World Cup Winner, 2 Time Copa America Winner, and the World Cup All-Time Leading Scorer. He has won with every club he played for in fact the only major cup he is missing is the Champion’s League. He is easily one of the greatest footballers of all time and one of the most successful winners. If not for injuries, he could very well be the greatest. Don’t believe me? Watch this video!
Loading ...Tags: legendary soccer player, pickup games, Pickup soccer game, Ronaldo, Soccer Player
McBride Header Goal
Posted by kkirkland | Filed under Uncategorized
I wanted to add to our last post by adding a video clip of last nights Brian McBride goal. It was one of the most unreal finesse goals I’ve seen in a long time. It takes some serious skill to be able to not only redirect a crossed ball in traffic, but to have the presence of mind to use his head to slow the ball down. Typically a keeper is expecting the ball to accelerate off of a player’s head. However, with this goal, McBride has the ability to absorb some of the ball’s velocity, which causes the keeper to react too soon. This leaves him descending as the ball floats into the far corner of the goal. Just watch the first 1 minute of this video.
Tags: Brian McBride, Header Goal, MLS Cup, MLS tournament, Soccer Player, Soccer Tournament
Major League Soccer Fans
Posted by Zane | Filed under Uncategorized
As mentioned in our last post, the MLS fans present at the ReAL Salt Lake vs. New York Red Bulls game last Saturday were incredible. Defining their behavior as rabid may be an understatement.
By “incredible” I mean both incredibly good and incredibly bad.
The ReAL Salt Lake faithful were incredibly supportive of their team Saturday night. Of all the Major League Soccer games I have attended, Saturday night’s match was the most intense, enjoyable atmosphere that I have been a part of as an MLS fan. That said, I couldn’t have been more disappointed of the way the fans behaved as the intensity of the game rose. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Major League Soccer, MLS, MLS fans, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, soccer fans
UnReAL Finish In Salt Lake
Posted by Zane | Filed under Uncategorized
What a finish!
In front of one of Major League Soccer’s greatest crowds, ReAL Salt Lake lost a heartbreaker to the New York Red Bulls 1-0 in Salt Lake Saturday night.
Rio Tinto Stadium was packed with a sell-out crowd of ReAL fans cheering on their team in the Western Conference Final in a game that was clearly dominated by the home team. Streamers, debris, and even smoke bombs were thrown on the field repeatedly by the rabid ReAL Salt Lake fans in one of the greatest, high-energy MLS playoff atmospheres in the league.
But ReAL Salt Lake just couldn’t find the back of the net. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Major League Soccer, MLS, MLS Cup 2008, MLS Playoffs, MLS Western Conference Finals, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake
Crew Secure a Spot in MLS Cup 2008
Posted by Zane | Filed under Uncategorized
After losing in five straight conference championships, the Columbus Crew finally prevailed as the Eastern Conference Champions Thursday night as they beat the second-seeded Chicago Fire 2-1 in Colombus.
The Fire opened the game aggresively with an early goal from Brian McBride, who scored his 10th MLS playoff goal. McBride, a former player for the Crew was booed every time he touched the ball.
“The fans can react however they want,” McBride said. “It doesn’t change the fact I enjoyed my time here with the city and the organization.”
The Crew wasted no time in the second half as they scored two quick goals to take the lead in the 55th minute and thanks to a pair of stellar saves from goalkeeper Will Hesmer. The Crew’s win was timely as the Chicago Fire was the only team the Columbus Crew had not defeated this season. Thursday’s loss marks the second consecutive loss for the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Next up for the Columbus is the MLS Cup versus either the fourth-seeded New York Red Bulls or third-seeded Real Salt Lake. The early favorite to win the Western Conference Championship is Real Salt Lake, who is in its first ever MLS playoff this year.
The game will be at 7:30 pm MST at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT.
Tags: Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, Major League Soccer, MLS, MLS Cup, MLS Eastern Conference Finals, MLS Playoffs, MLS Western Conference Finals, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake
The Quickest Reflexes In Sports
Posted by Zane | Filed under Uncategorized
Although some may argue…well, probably most will argue, but if you ask me, no athlete in any sport has reflexes that match the world’s greatest goalkeepers. Bold statement? Consider the competition:
- Basketball Players: quick reflexes come into play on blocks, steals, bad passes…what else? I’m not too convinced that there is much of an argument for basketball players.
- Football Players: quick reflexes come from wide receivers, running backs, defensive linemen…well, just about anyone on the football field. I’ve yet to see a football player that could come close to cutting it as a goalkeeper, though.
- Baseball Players: making a split second decision whether or not to swing a bat, dive at a ball, or stop a pitch in the dirt, is impressive. That said, I’ve still seen better.
- Volleyball Players: digging a hard spike and keeping it in play is noteworthy. I can’t really think of anything else, though.
- Hockey Players: now I would like to give the goalkeepers of hockey some credit. I couldn’t be more impressed with their reflexes; especially given the fact that they spend the entire game on ice skates!
Still, a soccer ball gets moving quite a bit faster than a hockey puck - AND - a soccer goalkeeper is required to cover a goal that is double the height and quadruple the width. Big difference.
If you disagree, prove it. Send me a link or an email or something showing me an athlete with reflexes even close to as quick as a soccer goalkeeper. Few things in all of sports are as impressive as a save made by a goalkeeper.
In fact, take a look at this video: Goalkeeper Video
Tags: best goalkeepers, goalkeeper, soccer, soccer goalkeeper, world's greatest goalkeepers
