See who's on the list, more importantly see who's not on the list
The Maloof Money Cup released the first set of 24 skaters invited to compete at the New York and DC stops with some skateboarding legends headlining, but also some very notable names left off the list. ??Since Rob Dyrdek announced last month they were having skaters sign an exclusive compete contract to only skate in Street League and X Games, the questioned remained which skaters were going to choose which contest.
The first invite list from MMC includes legends like Geoff..
A great way to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd
Words & Photos: Jaime Owens
What a great weekend to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd. It all started Saturday morning in Lake Forest at the Etnies skatepark where Etnies was hosting an Autism Speaks/ A.Skate Foundation clinic which allows children with autism to be a part of our social world through skateboarding. With the help of many dedicated volunteers including many Etnies team riders and Sole Technology employees, the clinic went off without a hitch and..
A great way to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd
Words & Photos: Jaime Owens
What a great weekend to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd. It all started Saturday morning in Lake Forest at the Etnies skatepark where Etnies was hosting an Autism Speaks/ A.Skate Foundation clinic which allows children with autism to be a part of our social world through skateboarding. With the help of many dedicated volunteers including many Etnies team riders and Sole Technology employees, the clinic went off without a hitch and..
See who's on the list, more importantly see who's not on the list
The Maloof Money Cup released the first set of 24 skaters invited to compete at the New York and DC stops with some skateboarding legends headlining, but also some very notable names left off the list. ??Since Rob Dyrdek announced last month they were having skaters sign an exclusive compete contract to only skate in Street League and X Games, the questioned remained which skaters were going to choose which contest.
The first invite list from MMC includes legends like Geoff..
D.C. United | Latest AllThe Throw-In: The mystique of the aging 'keeperHamid pushes back into net for D.C. UnitedUS U-20s' Rongen: Early mistakes cost usNo WCup for US, who fall to Guatemala in quartersPost-match quotes: D.C. United 2 - Philadelphia Union 2DC down Union on PKs in USOC play-in roundClimbing the Ladder: Dixon and The Name GameTight US U-20s fight with "all for one" mentalityUnited Drives to collect food during AprilMLS celebrates 15th anniversary of inaugural gameInjuries major factor for DC ahead of USOC tilt vs. PhiladelphiaNajar decides to represent HondurasD.C. United Academy finishes 3-1-4 in weekend actionAndy Najar's Honduras statementD.C. United look to bounce back in busy week
http://www.dcunited.com <p>Goalkeepers are a different breed. We all know that. No one else in soccer gets away with wearing head-to-toe DayGlo green.</p><p>We joke ? a bit. It?s a given that ?keepers generally ooze more personality than the average soccer player. They?re often the go-to quotes for media members, and they?re the first guys to be alternately beloved and heckled by fans.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:33:31 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? Decked from head-to-toe in a bright, neon-green goalie kit, 20-year-old Bill Hamid made his first competitive appearance for D.C. United in last night?s penalty-kick triumph over the Philadelphia Union in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game.</p><p>Hamid made his first start for DC since Sept. 4 of last year, a 1-0 loss against Columbus that preceded season-ending shoulder surgery. His only appearances prior to Wednesday evening this year came in the team?s two reserve matches.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:04:09 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? Though a dejected Thomas Rongen credited Guatemala with a gutsy, inspired performance during Wednesday night's upset of the US U-20 team in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Championship, he pointed to the opening quarter-hour as the USA's ultimate downfall. </p><p> "I think we lost the game early on, with two or three very good chances in the first 10 minutes," Rongen said after a 2-1 defeat sent the host Guatemalans to the World Cup and the US home early. "That sometimes, or a lot of times, comes back to haunt you." </p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:03:32 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? It took 92 years, but on Wednesday night at Estadio Mateo Flores, 30,000 fans stopped chanting <em>"S� se puede"</em> and started singing <em>"S� se pudo.?</em></p><p>Guatemala, who have never sent a team to the World Cup on any level, shocked the United States U-20 squad in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Championship with a 2-1 victory to qualify for the main event this summer in Colombia.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:03:24 -0400 <div class="add-twenty-on-top add-twenty-on-bottom"> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lP0h2ZEe5Qc?hd=1" width="620" height="379" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> <p><strong>USOC 2011 QUOTESHEET</strong></p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011 ? D.C. UNITED 2, PHILADELPHIA UNION 2 (United advances on PKs 4-2)</strong></p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:59:20 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? D.C. United advanced in US Open Cup qualification rounds with a 4-2 win on penalty kicks over the Philadelphia Union after a 2-2 draw Wednesday evening at the Maryland SoccerPlex.</p><p>The two sides exchanged first half goals, and then went scoreless until extra time when DC defender Daniel Woolard gave his side the lead, smashing home off a goalmouth scramble. Not to be outdone, Philadephia?s Brian Carroll equalized from a corner kick in the 118th minute to force penalty kicks.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:45:55 -0400 <p><strong>Houston?s Alex Dixon: What?s in a name?</strong></p><p>Houston Dynamo Academy product Alex Dixon (above), a University of North Carolina alum, made his senior debut for the Dynamo last Saturday. The name may sound familiar to long time MLS fans, as a different player named Alex Dixon saw action for New York nearly a decade ago. The first Alex Dixon, a Panamanian forward, made three appearances for the then-Metrostars in the 2001 Copa Merconorte but didn?t see any regular-season action.</p><p>This is the fourth time in league history that two players have shared the same name.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:03:26 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? The United States national team is developing an impressive team unity at all age levels. The 11 Musketeers attitude ? "All for one and one for all" ? exists on the field, at the training ground and on Twitter feeds, where players are constantly conversing and gently ripping each other.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:03:24 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. - D.C. United announced today plans to collect non-perishable food during the month of April to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank and Children of Mine. Each month during the 2011 Major League Soccer season, D.C. United will collect items at every home game to benefit pre-determined non-profit organizations within the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:48:54 -0400 <p>It is only fitting that on the day after Real Salt Lake?s historic victory in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, Major League Soccer celebrates a milestone anniversary. Fifteen years ago today, the very first MLS game took place.</p><p>Just as fans across the US and Canada are celebrating RSL?s win and advancement to the CCL final, back on April 6, 1996, soccer fans across the continent tuned in to watch the San Jose Clash-D.C. United match. More than 31,000 fans packed Spartan Stadium for the event.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:33:41 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? United have a long, shiny history in the US Open Cup. They've won the competition twice, in 1996 and 2008, plus reached the 2009 final and the semifinals in 2010.</p><p>The chance to add to that history continues on Wednesday, when they welcome the Philadelphia Union to the Maryland Soccerplex for a play-in game. With some player injuries to manage, coach Ben Olsen indicated that he?ll likely field a blend of starters and reserves.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:33:42 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? D.C. United midfielder and reigning MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar ended months of speculation surrounding his international on Tuesday: He will be a Catracho.</p><p>Reading from a prepared statement, 18-year-old Najar spoke in his native Spanish and announced his intention to represent Honduras at a press conference at RFK Stadium, explaining that he would represent the Central American country if and when selected.</p><p>?It was a decision that my heart told me,? he said through a translator. ?It came strictly from my heart."</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:06:17 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2011) - D.C. United?s Youth Academy faced two opponents over the past weekend, with the Black-and-Red compiling a 3-1-4 record against FC Westchester and Albertson in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. The U-14 and U-15 clubs played in New York, while both the U-16 and U-18 sides played at the Maryland SoccerPlex and the University of Maryland?s Ludwig Field.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:55:18 -0400 <p><em>The following is an English translation of Andy Najar's statement:</em></p> <p>Good afternoon all. Thank you for your attendance today. The purpose of this press conference is to announce my desire to represent my birth country, Honduras, at an international level with the national soccer selections.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:18:29 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? There?s little time for D.C. United to dwell on the weekend loss to Colorado as the team prepares for a busy week that began Tuesday.</p><p>The club trained in windy and rainy conditions, and with two games in four days ? a U.S. Open Cup play-in game against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, before Supporters? Shield holders LA Galaxy come to town this weekend ? DC are looking to bounce back from two straight losses in league play.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:03:50 -0400
D.C. United | Latest AllThe Throw-In: The mystique of the aging 'keeperHamid pushes back into net for D.C. UnitedUS U-20s' Rongen: Early mistakes cost usNo WCup for US, who fall to Guatemala in quartersPost-match quotes: D.C. United 2 - Philadelphia Union 2DC down Union on PKs in USOC play-in roundClimbing the Ladder: Dixon and The Name GameTight US U-20s fight with "all for one" mentalityUnited Drives to collect food during AprilMLS celebrates 15th anniversary of inaugural gameInjuries major factor for DC ahead of USOC tilt vs. PhiladelphiaNajar decides to represent HondurasD.C. United Academy finishes 3-1-4 in weekend actionAndy Najar's Honduras statementD.C. United look to bounce back in busy week
http://www.dcunited.com <p>Goalkeepers are a different breed. We all know that. No one else in soccer gets away with wearing head-to-toe DayGlo green.</p><p>We joke ? a bit. It?s a given that ?keepers generally ooze more personality than the average soccer player. They?re often the go-to quotes for media members, and they?re the first guys to be alternately beloved and heckled by fans.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:33:31 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? Decked from head-to-toe in a bright, neon-green goalie kit, 20-year-old Bill Hamid made his first competitive appearance for D.C. United in last night?s penalty-kick triumph over the Philadelphia Union in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game.</p><p>Hamid made his first start for DC since Sept. 4 of last year, a 1-0 loss against Columbus that preceded season-ending shoulder surgery. His only appearances prior to Wednesday evening this year came in the team?s two reserve matches.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:04:09 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? Though a dejected Thomas Rongen credited Guatemala with a gutsy, inspired performance during Wednesday night's upset of the US U-20 team in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Championship, he pointed to the opening quarter-hour as the USA's ultimate downfall. </p><p> "I think we lost the game early on, with two or three very good chances in the first 10 minutes," Rongen said after a 2-1 defeat sent the host Guatemalans to the World Cup and the US home early. "That sometimes, or a lot of times, comes back to haunt you." </p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:03:32 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? It took 92 years, but on Wednesday night at Estadio Mateo Flores, 30,000 fans stopped chanting <em>"S� se puede"</em> and started singing <em>"S� se pudo.?</em></p><p>Guatemala, who have never sent a team to the World Cup on any level, shocked the United States U-20 squad in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Championship with a 2-1 victory to qualify for the main event this summer in Colombia.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:03:24 -0400 <div class="add-twenty-on-top add-twenty-on-bottom"> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lP0h2ZEe5Qc?hd=1" width="620" height="379" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> <p><strong>USOC 2011 QUOTESHEET</strong></p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011 ? D.C. UNITED 2, PHILADELPHIA UNION 2 (United advances on PKs 4-2)</strong></p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:59:20 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? D.C. United advanced in US Open Cup qualification rounds with a 4-2 win on penalty kicks over the Philadelphia Union after a 2-2 draw Wednesday evening at the Maryland SoccerPlex.</p><p>The two sides exchanged first half goals, and then went scoreless until extra time when DC defender Daniel Woolard gave his side the lead, smashing home off a goalmouth scramble. Not to be outdone, Philadephia?s Brian Carroll equalized from a corner kick in the 118th minute to force penalty kicks.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:45:55 -0400 <p><strong>Houston?s Alex Dixon: What?s in a name?</strong></p><p>Houston Dynamo Academy product Alex Dixon (above), a University of North Carolina alum, made his senior debut for the Dynamo last Saturday. The name may sound familiar to long time MLS fans, as a different player named Alex Dixon saw action for New York nearly a decade ago. The first Alex Dixon, a Panamanian forward, made three appearances for the then-Metrostars in the 2001 Copa Merconorte but didn?t see any regular-season action.</p><p>This is the fourth time in league history that two players have shared the same name.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:03:26 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? The United States national team is developing an impressive team unity at all age levels. The 11 Musketeers attitude ? "All for one and one for all" ? exists on the field, at the training ground and on Twitter feeds, where players are constantly conversing and gently ripping each other.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:03:24 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. - D.C. United announced today plans to collect non-perishable food during the month of April to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank and Children of Mine. Each month during the 2011 Major League Soccer season, D.C. United will collect items at every home game to benefit pre-determined non-profit organizations within the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:48:54 -0400 <p>It is only fitting that on the day after Real Salt Lake?s historic victory in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, Major League Soccer celebrates a milestone anniversary. Fifteen years ago today, the very first MLS game took place.</p><p>Just as fans across the US and Canada are celebrating RSL?s win and advancement to the CCL final, back on April 6, 1996, soccer fans across the continent tuned in to watch the San Jose Clash-D.C. United match. More than 31,000 fans packed Spartan Stadium for the event.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:33:41 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? United have a long, shiny history in the US Open Cup. They've won the competition twice, in 1996 and 2008, plus reached the 2009 final and the semifinals in 2010.</p><p>The chance to add to that history continues on Wednesday, when they welcome the Philadelphia Union to the Maryland Soccerplex for a play-in game. With some player injuries to manage, coach Ben Olsen indicated that he?ll likely field a blend of starters and reserves.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:33:42 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? D.C. United midfielder and reigning MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar ended months of speculation surrounding his international on Tuesday: He will be a Catracho.</p><p>Reading from a prepared statement, 18-year-old Najar spoke in his native Spanish and announced his intention to represent Honduras at a press conference at RFK Stadium, explaining that he would represent the Central American country if and when selected.</p><p>?It was a decision that my heart told me,? he said through a translator. ?It came strictly from my heart."</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:06:17 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2011) - D.C. United?s Youth Academy faced two opponents over the past weekend, with the Black-and-Red compiling a 3-1-4 record against FC Westchester and Albertson in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. The U-14 and U-15 clubs played in New York, while both the U-16 and U-18 sides played at the Maryland SoccerPlex and the University of Maryland?s Ludwig Field.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:55:18 -0400 <p><em>The following is an English translation of Andy Najar's statement:</em></p> <p>Good afternoon all. Thank you for your attendance today. The purpose of this press conference is to announce my desire to represent my birth country, Honduras, at an international level with the national soccer selections.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:18:29 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? There?s little time for D.C. United to dwell on the weekend loss to Colorado as the team prepares for a busy week that began Tuesday.</p><p>The club trained in windy and rainy conditions, and with two games in four days ? a U.S. Open Cup play-in game against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, before Supporters? Shield holders LA Galaxy come to town this weekend ? DC are looking to bounce back from two straight losses in league play.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:03:50 -0400
Gilbert Melendez thinks he's the best lightweight in mixed martial arts. Is he right? I don't think so, not yet. But I sure would love to find out.
The best thing about the UFC buying Strikeforce is that it means we'll eventually see the champions of the respective promotions fighting each other. For now the mantra is "business as usual," but we all know it's just a matter of time before we see the best of Strikeforce inside the Octagon. And there might not be a better fight out there than Melendez taking on the top of the UFC lightweight division.
It will probably be 2012 before we get to see that: UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has to fight Gray Maynard in May, and the winner of that fight is expected to fight the winner of the June Anthony Pettis-Clay Guida bout after that. But it sure would be fun to see Melendez retiring the Strikeforce belt to his trophy case and fighting for the UFC gold.
Find out where I think Melendez stacks up in the lightweight division below.
1. Frankie Edgar (1): The UFC champion remains at the top of the heap at least until he fights Gray Maynard at UFC 130. The third meeting between the two will, I hope, tell us once and for all which one of them is really the superior fighter.
2. Gray Maynard (2): Maynard could certainly make the argument that he actually deserves to be ranked ahead of Edgar, since Maynard beat Edgar the first time these two fought. I'll stick with Edgar for now because Edgar's overall lightweight resume is more impressive, but these two are basically equals.
3. Gilbert Melendez (4): Now that Melendez has destroyed Tatsuya Kawajiri, I think he's behind only the UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 contender. I love watching Melendez because he's so active and tenacious: He took the fight to Kawajiri and showed off a great killer instinct in finishing him with the recently legalized elbows to the head on the ground. The question now is whether any lightweights on the Strikeforce roster can even be viewed as credible threats to Melendez, or if he's going to have to start fighting guys in the UFC.
4. Kenny Florian (3): For now, I'd pick Florian to beat just about any lightweight in the sport. But Florian has lost two lightweight title fights and doesn't appear close to getting a third chance, so he plans to drop down to featherweight and pursue the belt there. When he does move down to featherweight, I'll take him down the lightweight list -- and I expect him to quickly rise up the featherweight ranks.
5. Shinya Aoki (5): There really wasn't any question that Aoki would make quick work of Lyle Beerbohm, but there are a lot of questions about Aoki's future: Will he stay with Strikeforce and keep fighting second-rate opponents? Will he go back to Japan and try to be a part of revitalizing the MMA scene in his homeland? Will he finally step into the Octagon?
6. Jim Miller (8): It's time for Miller to take a major step up in competition: His 20-2 record consists of wins against a bunch of guys who aren't even close to the Top 10, and losses to the two best in the world, Edgar and Maynard. Ideally I'd love to see Miller against Melendez or Aoki, but if we're not going to get UFC-Strikeforce crossover fights yet, Miller probably will continue fighting overmatched opponents outside the Top 10.
7. Eddie Alvarez (7): The Bellator champ is a lot of fun to watch, but it's going to be awfully tough for him to move up in the rankings as long as he remains in Bellator, which just doesn't have any elite opposition for him to face. Alvarez may have the talent to beat anyone at 155 pounds, but he's probably going to have to sign with the UFC if he wants to prove it.
8. Anthony Pettis (10): The thing that's so exciting about Pettis is that he's doing so many new things at such a young age. It's not just the "Showtime Kick," although that's obviously what he's best known for: It's a combination of creative striking and an aggressive ground game, especially off his back, that makes Pettis different from any other fighter in the lightweight division. The 24-year-old Pettis is the youngest fighter on this list and is only getting better.
9. Clay Guida (NR): Guida has always been a fan favorite because of his brawling style, but it's been somewhat overlooked that his technique, especially on the ground, has noticeably improved in the last year. Guida is now on a three-fight winning streak, and if he makes it four in a row against Pettis, a title shot could be next.
10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): Kawajiri has had some great wins in his MMA career, but he was simply no match for Melendez. At age 32, he appears to be on the down side of his career, but there are still some fun fights for him: I'd still love to see a rematch of the classic 2005 Pride fight between Kawajiri and Takanori Gomi.
A great way to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd
Words & Photos: Jaime Owens
What a great weekend to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd. It all started Saturday morning in Lake Forest at the Etnies skatepark where Etnies was hosting an Autism Speaks/ A.Skate Foundation clinic which allows children with autism to be a part of our social world through skateboarding. With the help of many dedicated volunteers including many Etnies team riders and Sole Technology employees, the clinic went off without a hitch and..
See who's on the list, more importantly see who's not on the list
The Maloof Money Cup released the first set of 24 skaters invited to compete at the New York and DC stops with some skateboarding legends headlining, but also some very notable names left off the list. ??Since Rob Dyrdek announced last month they were having skaters sign an exclusive compete contract to only skate in Street League and X Games, the questioned remained which skaters were going to choose which contest.
The first invite list from MMC includes legends like Geoff..
The Maloof Money Cup released the first set of 24 skaters invited to compete at the New York and DC stops with some skateboarding legends headlining, but also some very notable names left off the list. ??Since Rob Dyrdek announced last month they were having skaters sign an exclusive compete contract to only skate in Street League and X Games, the questioned remained which skaters were going to choose which contest.
The first invite list from MMC includes legends like Geoff Rowley, Andrew Reynolds, Dennis Busenitz accompanied by a rich pool of young talent. No shortage of talented skaters will be on display in New York and DC.
But what will be missing from the Maloof Money Cup are mainstream names like Ryan Sheckler, Paul Rodriquez, Chas Ortiz, Sean Malto, and Eric Koston who all appear to be competing in Street League. The biggest surprise to this list has to be the absence of Chris Cole, a defending three-time winner of the MMC 100,000 prize purse. One would assume his loyalties would be with the Maloofs, after all, the contest has definitely been good to him.
Last year as the rumors about the exclusive contract began to make news; Joe Maloof offered a $1 million bonus to any skater who won four straight Maloof Money Cup contests. That was an obvious statement toward Cole who has won the past three contests.
Dyrdek the founder of Street League as since come out and said, Cole will be the exception, he'll be allowed to compete in NYC at the Maloof Money cup for a shot at four in a row and the million dollar bonus. "We're not going to stop Chris Cole from getting a million dollars, and then he's right back in Street League, and all the other skaters are for it," Dyrdek said.
After glancing over the initial list of riders for both contests, the real winners are the fans. The sport continues to grow and we are all benefiting from it. We now have the chance to watch two different contests with different skaters with different formats all push their skateboarding for huge prize purses.
Sounds like a step in the right direction.
Here's a list of the first 24 invited skaters:
Alex Olson Andrew Reynolds Anthony Van Engelen Arto Saari Austyn Gillette Bastien Salabanzi Brandon Westgate Brian Anderson Bryan Herman Chris Haslam Chris Pfanner David Gravette Dennis Busenitz Garrett Hill Geoff Rowley Grant Taylor Greg Lutzka Justin Brock Leo Romero Lizard King Sierra Fellers Tom Asta Tony Trujillo Vincent Alvarez
Gilbert Melendez thinks he's the best lightweight in mixed martial arts. Is he right? I don't think so, not yet. But I sure would love to find out.
The best thing about the UFC buying Strikeforce is that it means we'll eventually see the champions of the respective promotions fighting each other. For now the mantra is "business as usual," but we all know it's just a matter of time before we see the best of Strikeforce inside the Octagon. And there might not be a better fight out there than Melendez taking on the top of the UFC lightweight division.
It will probably be 2012 before we get to see that: UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has to fight Gray Maynard in May, and the winner of that fight is expected to fight the winner of the June Anthony Pettis-Clay Guida bout after that. But it sure would be fun to see Melendez retiring the Strikeforce belt to his trophy case and fighting for the UFC gold.
Find out where I think Melendez stacks up in the lightweight division below.
1. Frankie Edgar (1): The UFC champion remains at the top of the heap at least until he fights Gray Maynard at UFC 130. The third meeting between the two will, I hope, tell us once and for all which one of them is really the superior fighter.
2. Gray Maynard (2): Maynard could certainly make the argument that he actually deserves to be ranked ahead of Edgar, since Maynard beat Edgar the first time these two fought. I'll stick with Edgar for now because Edgar's overall lightweight resume is more impressive, but these two are basically equals.
3. Gilbert Melendez (4): Now that Melendez has destroyed Tatsuya Kawajiri, I think he's behind only the UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 contender. I love watching Melendez because he's so active and tenacious: He took the fight to Kawajiri and showed off a great killer instinct in finishing him with the recently legalized elbows to the head on the ground. The question now is whether any lightweights on the Strikeforce roster can even be viewed as credible threats to Melendez, or if he's going to have to start fighting guys in the UFC.
4. Kenny Florian (3): For now, I'd pick Florian to beat just about any lightweight in the sport. But Florian has lost two lightweight title fights and doesn't appear close to getting a third chance, so he plans to drop down to featherweight and pursue the belt there. When he does move down to featherweight, I'll take him down the lightweight list -- and I expect him to quickly rise up the featherweight ranks.
5. Shinya Aoki (5): There really wasn't any question that Aoki would make quick work of Lyle Beerbohm, but there are a lot of questions about Aoki's future: Will he stay with Strikeforce and keep fighting second-rate opponents? Will he go back to Japan and try to be a part of revitalizing the MMA scene in his homeland? Will he finally step into the Octagon?
6. Jim Miller (8): It's time for Miller to take a major step up in competition: His 20-2 record consists of wins against a bunch of guys who aren't even close to the Top 10, and losses to the two best in the world, Edgar and Maynard. Ideally I'd love to see Miller against Melendez or Aoki, but if we're not going to get UFC-Strikeforce crossover fights yet, Miller probably will continue fighting overmatched opponents outside the Top 10.
7. Eddie Alvarez (7): The Bellator champ is a lot of fun to watch, but it's going to be awfully tough for him to move up in the rankings as long as he remains in Bellator, which just doesn't have any elite opposition for him to face. Alvarez may have the talent to beat anyone at 155 pounds, but he's probably going to have to sign with the UFC if he wants to prove it.
8. Anthony Pettis (10): The thing that's so exciting about Pettis is that he's doing so many new things at such a young age. It's not just the "Showtime Kick," although that's obviously what he's best known for: It's a combination of creative striking and an aggressive ground game, especially off his back, that makes Pettis different from any other fighter in the lightweight division. The 24-year-old Pettis is the youngest fighter on this list and is only getting better.
9. Clay Guida (NR): Guida has always been a fan favorite because of his brawling style, but it's been somewhat overlooked that his technique, especially on the ground, has noticeably improved in the last year. Guida is now on a three-fight winning streak, and if he makes it four in a row against Pettis, a title shot could be next.
10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): Kawajiri has had some great wins in his MMA career, but he was simply no match for Melendez. At age 32, he appears to be on the down side of his career, but there are still some fun fights for him: I'd still love to see a rematch of the classic 2005 Pride fight between Kawajiri and Takanori Gomi.
See who's on the list, more importantly see who's not on the list
The Maloof Money Cup released the first set of 24 skaters invited to compete at the New York and DC stops with some skateboarding legends headlining, but also some very notable names left off the list. ??Since Rob Dyrdek announced last month they were having skaters sign an exclusive compete contract to only skate in Street League and X Games, the questioned remained which skaters were going to choose which contest.
The first invite list from MMC includes legends like Geoff..
Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren won a controversial unanimous decision over Marcos Galvao on Saturday night in Yuma, Arizona, with all three judges seeing the fight differently than nearly every member of the MMA media saw it.
Particularly surprising about the decision was that judge Chuck Wolfe scored the bout 30-27 for Warren: Not only did Wolfe score the first and third rounds for Warren, as did his fellow judges, but Wolfe also gave Warren the second round, even though almost everyone else watching thought that round was decidedly Galvao's.
Although Wolfe declined to go into a detailed blow-by-blow account of the second round, he defended his scorecard and his decision, saying on Tuesday morning that he thought all three rounds in the fight were close, and that in close rounds, something relatively minor can be the difference in a 10-9 score.
"It could be one takedown different, it could be one punch different, it could be one kick different, it could be one attempted submission different," Wolfe said.
Wolfe said he wasn't aware that his scoring of the fight had caused a controversy in the MMA community, and he said that as a judge he can't be concerned about how fans or the media view his decisions. He also said that his background as a professional kickboxer and his knowledge of MMA gives him insight that surpasses that of the average fan watching at home.
"I've judged and refereed since the beginning of the sport, I've been head official for over 600 different bouts," Wolfe said. "If you want to question my credentials, I think I have way more than anyone out there to be qualified to judge. I know fans get disappointed, but I don't think you're going to have Joe Warren fans complain about how the decision went."
Wolfe acknowledged that Galvao landed some significant strikes in the fight, but he said nothing Galvao did was enough to justify giving him any of the three rounds.
"Did he damage Warren in that fight? Yeah, he did, for a short period of time," Wolfe said. "I remember the bout very clearly. When they are close rounds there's one thing or maybe two things that might put someone ahead. ... You can grade it 10-10 but you might as well not be there if you're not going to score someone to win the round."
Bellator promoter Bjorn Rebney said after the fight that he found Wolfe's 30-27 score for Warren hard to understand, but the judges work independently of the promoters. Bellator 41 took place at a resort owned by the Cocopah Indian Tribe, and Wolfe and the other judges were hired by the Potawatomi Athletic Commission. Wolfe noted that the tribal commission follows the standard procedures employed by state athletic commissions, including telling the judges to watch the fights with their naked eyes. Judges are not provided with TV monitors, which means they're seeing the fight from a different vantage point than the fans at home.
"There are a lot of things that a fan will cheer about outside the cage, but each judge has a different viewpoint and a different angle," Wolfe said. "Unfortunately, judges don't have a replay, don't have a rewind, they just have to judge by what they see."
Ultimately, Wolfe said, if Galvao isn't happy with the decision he should look in the mirror, not at the judges.
"He had three rounds to take Warren out if he really wanted to beat him -- he had three rounds to dominate Warren, as well as Warren had three rounds to dominate him," Wolfe said. "It's up to the fighter. ... Don't leave it in the hands of the judges, especially when it's a close fight."
It was deja vu all over again for Gata Kamsky as he carved through the field of his opponents with relative ease and defended his title at the 2011 U.S. Chess Championship in St. Louis. Miss, this week.
For all of the talking that has gone on before, little matters now as we enter the tensest of periods that the league can muster. Style of play matters little and results matter all.
Emmy Award winning sportscaster and New York Times Bestselling Author
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the first pick in last night's NFL draft by Carolina. The Giants, keeping with the royal theme, drafted a Prince, cornerback Prince Amukamara from Nebraska.
I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the Reyes sequence -- and the unlikely come-from-behind victory -- will be seen as one of the key moments in the entire season for the Mets.
As an NFL player going into my 11th year in the league, one of my goals is to make discussion of childhood sexual abuse a common conversation, and Child Abuse Awareness Month is a good time to do it.
The NHL playoffs are well underway and the quality of play throughout Round 1 has been almost universally high. Here are some insights and observations from each of the eight first round series.
Former chairman, Pitney Bowes and National Urban League
Golf is finding ways to expand into communities in which it has not been played, such as the three-hole course in an industrial section of Cleveland, where the First Tee Foundation has created an oasis of natural beauty.
As we approach UFC 129, here are 10 reasons why the 65,000 fans packed inside the Rogers Centre should be looking forward to seeing Aldo just as much as GSP.
Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs, Carroll School of Management at Boston College
Traditionally, as soon as the name of Mr. Irrelevant is called, the phone lines begin heating up between teams and the agents of those representing priority free agents. However, due to the lockout, this will not be happening in 2011.
The billionaires and wannabees are already hovering over the Dodgers. Why must we in Los Angeles be relegated to taking a chance on another soap opera, too much debt service, and hidden agendas.
Public Communications Major at American University
After the 2011 playoffs, the NBA will see new faces raise the trophy in April and they will witness new franchises dominating their respective conferences. Every dynasty falls and in its wake, new dynasties arise.
Psychoanalyst; author, "Athletes Who Indulge Their Dark Side"
What are the implications of the jury decision that Barry Bonds had obstructed justice but was not found guilty of perjuring himself before a grand jury?
With the high rates of athletes who enter military service, sports have the potential to prepare straight recruits with positive attitudes toward gay and lesbian teammates.
The Knicks always lose. Sure, for the last 10 years, it was a different kind of losing. Low-level, high-volume losing. Now they're back to their true historical calling: legitimately heartbreaking losing.
In the business of prediction, hindsight is as greatly feared as it is yearned for. Here's a look at a few preseason predictions made by some full salaried basketball experts.
Chief Medical Expert and VP, Health and Medical Education at Discovery Channel
All over the country, teenagers are looking for the best way to bulk up for a competitive advantage on the playing field, push some extra weight in the gym, or simply just to look "buff."
Ultimately, all the legal wrangling and courtroom football of this lockout may defer to the core reality of a good number of players needing to start receiving their checks.
The UFC's August 27 fight card in Rio de Janeiro is continuing to fill up with fights featuring a Brazilian fighting on his home turf against an opponent from another country.
Pearson has gone 3-1 inside the Octagon since winning The Ultimate Fighter, and those wins include one-sided unanimous decisions over a couple of very good opponents in Dennis Siver and Spencer Fisher. At age 26 and with his background on the UFC's reality show, Pearson is one of the prospects the UFC really wants to push.
But the 25-year-old Barboza may be an even better prospect: He's a perfect 8-0 in his MMA career and is coming off a Fight of the Night-winning performance against Anthony Njokuani last month. Barboza is one of the best lightweight strikers in the UFC and will be a tough match-up for Pearson.
So far, every fight slated for UFC: Rio features a Brazilian taking on a foreigner. In addition to Pearson-Barboza, the card looks like this:
On this week's episode of The Ultimate Fighter, Junior dos Santos had some trouble in the ranks of his coaching staff, and he had to reprimand his assistant, Lew Polley, for pushing his fighters too hard in practice.
Ramsey Nijem, a member of Team Dos Santos, said in his weekly interview with MMAFighting.com that he was glad dos Santos said something, because Polley had been taking his intense coaching style to extreme lengths.
Nijem also discussed the new member of Team Dos Santos and this week's fight between Len Bentley and Ryan McGillivray, and he offered an interesting preview of his own (not quite) nude scene in next week's episode. The full interview is below.
Michael David Smith: On last week's show Keon Caldwell left, and this week Justin Edwards replaced him on Team Dos Santos. What did you think of your new teammate? Ramsey Nijem: At first I thought he was Little Randy Couture, because he looks just like Randy. But Justin got there the first day, jumped right in and was in shape and ready to work. We were excited to have him on our team because Keon wasn't in great shape and it was good to have a teammate who could push us in practice.
We saw some tension between Junior and Lew Polley, and you were shown saying you thought Lew had crossed the line into pushing you guys too hard. Yeah, Lew is a real emotional guy, and sometimes he acts like he has something to prove to everybody. I think he wanted to show us how much he could push us. I didn't feel like I needed to prove anything, but he was yelling at us a lot and not real positive. That was kind of frustrating, and we all talked to Junior and told him we didn't really like it.
Brock Lesnar chose Len Bentley from his team to fight Ryan McGillivray from your team. What did you think of the matchup? I really thought Len was overrated from the beginning. I thought Ryan was going to beat him, and he did. I thought it would be a scrap because they're both scrappy guys, but Ryan I thought had great jiu jitsu, and I had trained with Len and all he does is shoot in and throw wild punches. There's nothing about Len that would make you scared to fight him, whereas Ryan has good boxing and that good counter-hook you saw him rock Len with.
Ryan had to sweat off 10 pounds before the weigh-in. Was making weight a big concern with the guys in the house? Ryan was the biggest dude in the house, and I don't think he knew a lot about good nutrition, and he also hadn't wrestled and didn't have much experience cutting weight. That made it hard on him and he struggled getting down.
Is making weight an issue for you? Not really. I walk around at 180, 179 when I'm training hard and I thought it was kind of an advantage that I could make weight without really trying too hard. I've usually fought at 155, which is a huge cut for me.
Do you think you'll ever move back down to lightweight? I don't think so -- 155 is a real tough weight class. I actually think 170 is probably where I'll be.
The commercial for next week's show makes it look like you're a big part of it. Anything you want to give away? Well, let's just say that when it looks on TV like I'm naked, I wasn't really naked.
(Editor's note: Ramsey Nijem will join us each week during Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter to share his thoughts on that week's episode. Follow Ramsey on Twitter @RamseyNijem.)
Emmy Award winning sportscaster and New York Times Bestselling Author
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the first pick in last night's NFL draft by Carolina. The Giants, keeping with the royal theme, drafted a Prince, cornerback Prince Amukamara from Nebraska.
It was deja vu all over again for Gata Kamsky as he carved through the field of his opponents with relative ease and defended his title at the 2011 U.S. Chess Championship in St. Louis. Miss, this week.
I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the Reyes sequence -- and the unlikely come-from-behind victory -- will be seen as one of the key moments in the entire season for the Mets.
As an NFL player going into my 11th year in the league, one of my goals is to make discussion of childhood sexual abuse a common conversation, and Child Abuse Awareness Month is a good time to do it.
The NHL playoffs are well underway and the quality of play throughout Round 1 has been almost universally high. Here are some insights and observations from each of the eight first round series.
Former chairman, Pitney Bowes and National Urban League
Golf is finding ways to expand into communities in which it has not been played, such as the three-hole course in an industrial section of Cleveland, where the First Tee Foundation has created an oasis of natural beauty.
As we approach UFC 129, here are 10 reasons why the 65,000 fans packed inside the Rogers Centre should be looking forward to seeing Aldo just as much as GSP.
Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs, Carroll School of Management at Boston College
Traditionally, as soon as the name of Mr. Irrelevant is called, the phone lines begin heating up between teams and the agents of those representing priority free agents. However, due to the lockout, this will not be happening in 2011.
The billionaires and wannabees are already hovering over the Dodgers. Why must we in Los Angeles be relegated to taking a chance on another soap opera, too much debt service, and hidden agendas.
Public Communications Major at American University
After the 2011 playoffs, the NBA will see new faces raise the trophy in April and they will witness new franchises dominating their respective conferences. Every dynasty falls and in its wake, new dynasties arise.
Psychoanalyst; author, "Athletes Who Indulge Their Dark Side"
What are the implications of the jury decision that Barry Bonds had obstructed justice but was not found guilty of perjuring himself before a grand jury?
With the high rates of athletes who enter military service, sports have the potential to prepare straight recruits with positive attitudes toward gay and lesbian teammates.
The Knicks always lose. Sure, for the last 10 years, it was a different kind of losing. Low-level, high-volume losing. Now they're back to their true historical calling: legitimately heartbreaking losing.
In the business of prediction, hindsight is as greatly feared as it is yearned for. Here's a look at a few preseason predictions made by some full salaried basketball experts.
Chief Medical Expert and VP, Health and Medical Education at Discovery Channel
All over the country, teenagers are looking for the best way to bulk up for a competitive advantage on the playing field, push some extra weight in the gym, or simply just to look "buff."
Ultimately, all the legal wrangling and courtroom football of this lockout may defer to the core reality of a good number of players needing to start receiving their checks.
Grete, in her own quiet and unassuming way, grabbed the hearts of marathon fans and inspired so many people all over the world with her will to win and her down-to-earth style.
Our friends over at Harley-Davidson invited us to test ride their new Blackline motorcycle this past January and we brought along Ben Gilley, Slash and Jamie Thomas to get their thoughts on this new bike before it was made available to the public. Check this behind the scenes video from our Rolling Thunder article in the latest issue. Photos are below it.
A great way to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd
Words & Photos: Jaime Owens
What a great weekend to celebrate World Autism Awareness day on April 2nd. It all started Saturday morning in Lake Forest at the Etnies skatepark where Etnies was hosting an Autism Speaks/ A.Skate Foundation clinic which allows children with autism to be a part of our social world through skateboarding. With the help of many dedicated volunteers including many Etnies team riders and Sole Technology employees, the clinic went off without a hitch and..
D.C. United | Latest AllThe Throw-In: The mystique of the aging 'keeperHamid pushes back into net for D.C. UnitedUS U-20s' Rongen: Early mistakes cost usNo WCup for US, who fall to Guatemala in quartersPost-match quotes: D.C. United 2 - Philadelphia Union 2DC down Union on PKs in USOC play-in roundClimbing the Ladder: Dixon and The Name GameTight US U-20s fight with "all for one" mentalityUnited Drives to collect food during AprilMLS celebrates 15th anniversary of inaugural gameInjuries major factor for DC ahead of USOC tilt vs. PhiladelphiaNajar decides to represent HondurasD.C. United Academy finishes 3-1-4 in weekend actionAndy Najar's Honduras statementD.C. United look to bounce back in busy week
http://www.dcunited.com <p>Goalkeepers are a different breed. We all know that. No one else in soccer gets away with wearing head-to-toe DayGlo green.</p><p>We joke ? a bit. It?s a given that ?keepers generally ooze more personality than the average soccer player. They?re often the go-to quotes for media members, and they?re the first guys to be alternately beloved and heckled by fans.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:33:31 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? Decked from head-to-toe in a bright, neon-green goalie kit, 20-year-old Bill Hamid made his first competitive appearance for D.C. United in last night?s penalty-kick triumph over the Philadelphia Union in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game.</p><p>Hamid made his first start for DC since Sept. 4 of last year, a 1-0 loss against Columbus that preceded season-ending shoulder surgery. His only appearances prior to Wednesday evening this year came in the team?s two reserve matches.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:04:09 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? Though a dejected Thomas Rongen credited Guatemala with a gutsy, inspired performance during Wednesday night's upset of the US U-20 team in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Championship, he pointed to the opening quarter-hour as the USA's ultimate downfall. </p><p> "I think we lost the game early on, with two or three very good chances in the first 10 minutes," Rongen said after a 2-1 defeat sent the host Guatemalans to the World Cup and the US home early. "That sometimes, or a lot of times, comes back to haunt you." </p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:03:32 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? It took 92 years, but on Wednesday night at Estadio Mateo Flores, 30,000 fans stopped chanting <em>"S� se puede"</em> and started singing <em>"S� se pudo.?</em></p><p>Guatemala, who have never sent a team to the World Cup on any level, shocked the United States U-20 squad in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Championship with a 2-1 victory to qualify for the main event this summer in Colombia.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:03:24 -0400 <div class="add-twenty-on-top add-twenty-on-bottom"> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lP0h2ZEe5Qc?hd=1" width="620" height="379" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> <p><strong>USOC 2011 QUOTESHEET</strong></p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011 ? D.C. UNITED 2, PHILADELPHIA UNION 2 (United advances on PKs 4-2)</strong></p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:59:20 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? D.C. United advanced in US Open Cup qualification rounds with a 4-2 win on penalty kicks over the Philadelphia Union after a 2-2 draw Wednesday evening at the Maryland SoccerPlex.</p><p>The two sides exchanged first half goals, and then went scoreless until extra time when DC defender Daniel Woolard gave his side the lead, smashing home off a goalmouth scramble. Not to be outdone, Philadephia?s Brian Carroll equalized from a corner kick in the 118th minute to force penalty kicks.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:45:55 -0400 <p><strong>Houston?s Alex Dixon: What?s in a name?</strong></p><p>Houston Dynamo Academy product Alex Dixon (above), a University of North Carolina alum, made his senior debut for the Dynamo last Saturday. The name may sound familiar to long time MLS fans, as a different player named Alex Dixon saw action for New York nearly a decade ago. The first Alex Dixon, a Panamanian forward, made three appearances for the then-Metrostars in the 2001 Copa Merconorte but didn?t see any regular-season action.</p><p>This is the fourth time in league history that two players have shared the same name.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:03:26 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? The United States national team is developing an impressive team unity at all age levels. The 11 Musketeers attitude ? "All for one and one for all" ? exists on the field, at the training ground and on Twitter feeds, where players are constantly conversing and gently ripping each other.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:03:24 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. - D.C. United announced today plans to collect non-perishable food during the month of April to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank and Children of Mine. Each month during the 2011 Major League Soccer season, D.C. United will collect items at every home game to benefit pre-determined non-profit organizations within the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:48:54 -0400 <p>It is only fitting that on the day after Real Salt Lake?s historic victory in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, Major League Soccer celebrates a milestone anniversary. Fifteen years ago today, the very first MLS game took place.</p><p>Just as fans across the US and Canada are celebrating RSL?s win and advancement to the CCL final, back on April 6, 1996, soccer fans across the continent tuned in to watch the San Jose Clash-D.C. United match. More than 31,000 fans packed Spartan Stadium for the event.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:33:41 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? United have a long, shiny history in the US Open Cup. They've won the competition twice, in 1996 and 2008, plus reached the 2009 final and the semifinals in 2010.</p><p>The chance to add to that history continues on Wednesday, when they welcome the Philadelphia Union to the Maryland Soccerplex for a play-in game. With some player injuries to manage, coach Ben Olsen indicated that he?ll likely field a blend of starters and reserves.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:33:42 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? D.C. United midfielder and reigning MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar ended months of speculation surrounding his international on Tuesday: He will be a Catracho.</p><p>Reading from a prepared statement, 18-year-old Najar spoke in his native Spanish and announced his intention to represent Honduras at a press conference at RFK Stadium, explaining that he would represent the Central American country if and when selected.</p><p>?It was a decision that my heart told me,? he said through a translator. ?It came strictly from my heart."</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:06:17 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2011) - D.C. United?s Youth Academy faced two opponents over the past weekend, with the Black-and-Red compiling a 3-1-4 record against FC Westchester and Albertson in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. The U-14 and U-15 clubs played in New York, while both the U-16 and U-18 sides played at the Maryland SoccerPlex and the University of Maryland?s Ludwig Field.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:55:18 -0400 <p><em>The following is an English translation of Andy Najar's statement:</em></p> <p>Good afternoon all. Thank you for your attendance today. The purpose of this press conference is to announce my desire to represent my birth country, Honduras, at an international level with the national soccer selections.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:18:29 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? There?s little time for D.C. United to dwell on the weekend loss to Colorado as the team prepares for a busy week that began Tuesday.</p><p>The club trained in windy and rainy conditions, and with two games in four days ? a U.S. Open Cup play-in game against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, before Supporters? Shield holders LA Galaxy come to town this weekend ? DC are looking to bounce back from two straight losses in league play.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:03:50 -0400
D.C. United | Latest AllThe Throw-In: The mystique of the aging 'keeperHamid pushes back into net for D.C. UnitedUS U-20s' Rongen: Early mistakes cost usNo WCup for US, who fall to Guatemala in quartersPost-match quotes: D.C. United 2 - Philadelphia Union 2DC down Union on PKs in USOC play-in roundClimbing the Ladder: Dixon and The Name GameTight US U-20s fight with "all for one" mentalityUnited Drives to collect food during AprilMLS celebrates 15th anniversary of inaugural gameInjuries major factor for DC ahead of USOC tilt vs. PhiladelphiaNajar decides to represent HondurasD.C. United Academy finishes 3-1-4 in weekend actionAndy Najar's Honduras statementD.C. United look to bounce back in busy week
http://www.dcunited.com <p>Goalkeepers are a different breed. We all know that. No one else in soccer gets away with wearing head-to-toe DayGlo green.</p><p>We joke ? a bit. It?s a given that ?keepers generally ooze more personality than the average soccer player. They?re often the go-to quotes for media members, and they?re the first guys to be alternately beloved and heckled by fans.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/the-throw-in-the-mystique-of-the-aging-keeper Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:33:31 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? Decked from head-to-toe in a bright, neon-green goalie kit, 20-year-old Bill Hamid made his first competitive appearance for D.C. United in last night?s penalty-kick triumph over the Philadelphia Union in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game.</p><p>Hamid made his first start for DC since Sept. 4 of last year, a 1-0 loss against Columbus that preceded season-ending shoulder surgery. His only appearances prior to Wednesday evening this year came in the team?s two reserve matches.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/hamid-pushes-back-into-net-for-dc-united Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:04:09 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? Though a dejected Thomas Rongen credited Guatemala with a gutsy, inspired performance during Wednesday night's upset of the US U-20 team in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Championship, he pointed to the opening quarter-hour as the USA's ultimate downfall. </p><p> "I think we lost the game early on, with two or three very good chances in the first 10 minutes," Rongen said after a 2-1 defeat sent the host Guatemalans to the World Cup and the US home early. "That sometimes, or a lot of times, comes back to haunt you." </p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/us-u-20s-rongen-early-mistakes-cost-us Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:03:32 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? It took 92 years, but on Wednesday night at Estadio Mateo Flores, 30,000 fans stopped chanting <em>"S� se puede"</em> and started singing <em>"S� se pudo.?</em></p><p>Guatemala, who have never sent a team to the World Cup on any level, shocked the United States U-20 squad in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Championship with a 2-1 victory to qualify for the main event this summer in Colombia.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/no-wcup-for-us-who-fall-to-guatemala-in-quarters Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:03:24 -0400 <div class="add-twenty-on-top add-twenty-on-bottom"> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lP0h2ZEe5Qc?hd=1" width="620" height="379" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> <p><strong>USOC 2011 QUOTESHEET</strong></p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011 ? D.C. UNITED 2, PHILADELPHIA UNION 2 (United advances on PKs 4-2)</strong></p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/post-match-quotes-dc-united-2-philadelphia-union-2 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:59:20 -0400 <p>BOYDS, Md. ? D.C. United advanced in US Open Cup qualification rounds with a 4-2 win on penalty kicks over the Philadelphia Union after a 2-2 draw Wednesday evening at the Maryland SoccerPlex.</p><p>The two sides exchanged first half goals, and then went scoreless until extra time when DC defender Daniel Woolard gave his side the lead, smashing home off a goalmouth scramble. Not to be outdone, Philadephia?s Brian Carroll equalized from a corner kick in the 118th minute to force penalty kicks.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-down-union-on-pks-in-usoc-play-in-round Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:45:55 -0400 <p><strong>Houston?s Alex Dixon: What?s in a name?</strong></p><p>Houston Dynamo Academy product Alex Dixon (above), a University of North Carolina alum, made his senior debut for the Dynamo last Saturday. The name may sound familiar to long time MLS fans, as a different player named Alex Dixon saw action for New York nearly a decade ago. The first Alex Dixon, a Panamanian forward, made three appearances for the then-Metrostars in the 2001 Copa Merconorte but didn?t see any regular-season action.</p><p>This is the fourth time in league history that two players have shared the same name.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/climbing-the-ladder-dixon-and-the-name-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:03:26 -0400 <p>GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala ? The United States national team is developing an impressive team unity at all age levels. The 11 Musketeers attitude ? "All for one and one for all" ? exists on the field, at the training ground and on Twitter feeds, where players are constantly conversing and gently ripping each other.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/tight-us-u-20s-fight-with-all-for-one-mentality Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:03:24 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. - D.C. United announced today plans to collect non-perishable food during the month of April to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank and Children of Mine. Each month during the 2011 Major League Soccer season, D.C. United will collect items at every home game to benefit pre-determined non-profit organizations within the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/united-drives-to-collect-food-during-april Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:48:54 -0400 <p>It is only fitting that on the day after Real Salt Lake?s historic victory in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, Major League Soccer celebrates a milestone anniversary. Fifteen years ago today, the very first MLS game took place.</p><p>Just as fans across the US and Canada are celebrating RSL?s win and advancement to the CCL final, back on April 6, 1996, soccer fans across the continent tuned in to watch the San Jose Clash-D.C. United match. More than 31,000 fans packed Spartan Stadium for the event.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/mls-celebrates-15th-anniversary-of-inaugural-game Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:33:41 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? United have a long, shiny history in the US Open Cup. They've won the competition twice, in 1996 and 2008, plus reached the 2009 final and the semifinals in 2010.</p><p>The chance to add to that history continues on Wednesday, when they welcome the Philadelphia Union to the Maryland Soccerplex for a play-in game. With some player injuries to manage, coach Ben Olsen indicated that he?ll likely field a blend of starters and reserves.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/injuries-major-factor-for-dc-ahead-of-usoc-tilt-vs-philadelphia Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:33:42 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? D.C. United midfielder and reigning MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar ended months of speculation surrounding his international on Tuesday: He will be a Catracho.</p><p>Reading from a prepared statement, 18-year-old Najar spoke in his native Spanish and announced his intention to represent Honduras at a press conference at RFK Stadium, explaining that he would represent the Central American country if and when selected.</p><p>?It was a decision that my heart told me,? he said through a translator. ?It came strictly from my heart."</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/najar-decides-to-represent-honduras Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:06:17 -0400 <p>Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2011) - D.C. United?s Youth Academy faced two opponents over the past weekend, with the Black-and-Red compiling a 3-1-4 record against FC Westchester and Albertson in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. The U-14 and U-15 clubs played in New York, while both the U-16 and U-18 sides played at the Maryland SoccerPlex and the University of Maryland?s Ludwig Field.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/dc-united-academy-finishes-3-1-4-in-weekend-action Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:55:18 -0400 <p><em>The following is an English translation of Andy Najar's statement:</em></p> <p>Good afternoon all. Thank you for your attendance today. The purpose of this press conference is to announce my desire to represent my birth country, Honduras, at an international level with the national soccer selections.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/04/andy-najars-honduras-statement Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:18:29 -0400 <p>WASHINGTON ? There?s little time for D.C. United to dwell on the weekend loss to Colorado as the team prepares for a busy week that began Tuesday.</p><p>The club trained in windy and rainy conditions, and with two games in four days ? a U.S. Open Cup play-in game against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, before Supporters? Shield holders LA Galaxy come to town this weekend ? DC are looking to bounce back from two straight losses in league play.</p> http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/04/dc-united-look-to-bounce-back-in-busy-week Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:03:50 -0400
Bellator featherweight champion 
The UFC's August 27 fight card in Rio de Janeiro is continuing to fill up with fights featuring a Brazilian fighting on his home turf against an opponent from another country.
On this week's episode of The Ultimate Fighter, Junior dos Santos had some trouble in the ranks of his coaching staff, and he had to reprimand his assistant, Lew Polley, for pushing his fighters too hard in practice.
