PDL Soccer

[Dave Brull]

Although there this is not expansion related, I thought this would be best placed here. The Sun had an article about the Cleveland Internationals:

http://www.cleveland.com/sun/parmasunpost/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1082047453246340.xml

Is anyone planning on going to the games?

[Joe Stoker]

Hey Dave, thanks for sharing the story. Yes, I'd like to catch a few of those matches. Byers Field actually owns a footnote in Cleveland pro soccer history. In late summer 1969, it was the site of the NASL Stokers' final appearance... actually the exhibition was billed as the NASL All Stars versus "former Stokers". Seem to recall Cleveland winning 2-0 (I didn't attend), but will have to include that on my list of Stoker research must-do's one of these days.

[Dave Brull]

Nice. I'll give you a call in a couple of weeks when it gets closer to the season. They've got to announce the rosters soon. There is some kid, Israel something (Jones?), who committed to SMU. I woulld love to see him. There's also some kid in Hudson who supposedly a talent.

[Dave Brull]

Hey more news!

Again, even though there is a USL board here, I still think it is more aptly placed here since no one ever comes here cause there's no news. Groan. So welcome to the Cleveland PDL expansion site.

Cleveland Internationals sign nine players.

http://www.internationalssoccer.com/club/news/news_content.cfm?rec=38

[Joe Stoker]

Thanks for the update, Dave. I'm currently negotiating with Mrs. Stoker for freedom on a long leash the night of the 14th. Never been to Byers Field. BTW, drove past Foltz Field complex in Strongsville last Saturday. Soccer matches in all sizes as far as the eye could see in all directions. That's what Cleveland area soccer is all about. Noticed a lighted facility with bleachers ("Home of the Mustangs"). I presume this is where the PDL Internationals will play their non-Byers area matches.

We haven't heard a peep from or about 'Stein for quite a while. Probably still all wrapped up in the issue of fortification of the palatial estate. That storyline would make for a great Univision novella. Especially since it may include the requisite underaged illegal aliens daily scrubbing the marble floors. Say, isn't that Jay Hoffman still mowing the lawn?! That's what a long-term Force contract got him. Unfortunately, like a U-boat or an STD, 'Stein will probably surface and bother when we least expect.

Good to read "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" was chosen among the top 10 all-time worst songs. Remember all too well how Iris (Bert's boss) enjoyed forcing it full-blast into our brains on the Richfield Coliseum PA system during every Force game. Again & again & again.

[Dave Brull]

http://www.internationalssoccer.com/club/news/news_content.cfm?rec=42

And more fodder for the cannons. It looks like these are mostly graduates from International ranks, but not all. I suppose some PDL teams have some older players and it appear that Inter is NOT going that route, stiking almost exclusively to college players with a recent graduate or two.

I have not followed Cleveland High school and club soccer being a recent transplant. The only names I know from those ranks are Xavier Balc and Israel Jones (great names). And they are not playing.

Get ready Cleveland. The 14th is only 10 days away. This is level of outdoor soccer you should accustom yourself to!

[Dave Brull]

Is anyone from the Cleveland BS community gonna see these guys? (Those of you who have been going and you know who you are, are excluded) This is a fairly good PDL team and could use support. So who will see one game?

[SoccerPrime]

slightly off-topic: Didn't the Columbus PDL team just fold? How does that reflect on minor league soccer in Ohio?

[Joe Stoker]

I believe it reflects totally on the organization rather than on any generalizations of soccer in Ohio. The same group had a Columbus minor league hockey team go belly up earlier. Minor league basketball & hockey teams have likewise come & gone throughout Ohio over the past 40 years, but in any case, it just confirms the premise of "minor league" amongst the general public. As far as the Shooting Stars go (went), they apparently didn't fool anyone as being anything more than they were, so I'd say very little long-run damage was done. Rude of them to wait until 2 days before the opener to close up shop, though. Accomplishments of better "minor league" organizations, like the Cleveland Internationals & Toledo, will erase the bad marks of others. To begin with, how many walking the streets of Columbus even knew the Shooting Stars existed? Unknown and/or unremembered... and minor league soccer in Ohio is IMO better off for it.

[Bill Archer]

1) Columbus Restauranteur Rick Milano has been kind of a sports wannabe for years. He's also a minor investor in the Crew.

But the guy went hog wild, buying up minor league hockey as well as PDL and W League franchises in 2003. The hockey team did not make it through the entire season, folding in April. Neither of the soccer teams ever hit the field before throwing in the towel. USL is scrambling to jury-rig their schedules.

Apparently no one told him that the financial blueprints these leagues send prospective investors are good mostly for laughs and possibly lining your birdcage. They're money losers. The only question is whether you lose your pants too, or just your shirt.

I'm not sure what the current numbers are, but a couple years ago they wanted $45,000 and a $15,000 performance bond for a PDL franchise and about the same for the W League. So this guy blew a hundred g's on air.

As for having an effect on Cleveland, except for the fact that the Inters were supposed to play CBus in their first game and it had to be changed at the last minute to somebody else, it has no effect whatever. Two different worlds.

2) Dave: if you're interested in some good soccer, your Inters U19's are playing for the State Cup tonight against Summit FC, a club with six or eight all-Ohio players with Div I scholarships in their pockets including All-Everything striker Xavier Balc. I'm going - it should be a barn-burner.

NC Hudson, 6:30 pm. I'll have a yellow Crew cap on.

[kenntomasch]

The woods are littered with the bones of people who thought that it would be easy to own and operate a soccer team.

[Bill Archer]

The woods are littered with the bones of people who thought that it would be easy to own and operate a soccer team.

A very wise man (and also a man who'd lost over a hundred grand in three years) once told me that Frank Marcos doesn't sell franchises, he sells dreams to people who ought to know better.

He also used to say that the only way to make a small fortune in minor league soccer was to start with a large fortune.

As a side note, I never figured out what Milano expected anyway: low-minor league hockey might sell in Toledo or Dayton but Columbus has this NHL thing called the Bluejackets which kind of sucks up the available oxygen with sponsors and the press, not to mention the public.

Ditto the PDL which is a fine thing but not likely to be able to compete against the Crew.

I just never figured out how the numbers could possibly work.

[kenntomasch]

And in that scenario, to whom would you affix the blame? On the seller, or on he who should know better?

[Bill Archer]

And in that scenario, to whom would you affix the blame? On the seller, or on he who should know better?

Oh hell, Kenn, I sure don't blame Frank. These are big boys. They've been around the block a couple times.

If I had the money, I'd bring a PDL team to Akron. But I'd run it as an expensive hobby, an ego trip (if you can imagine humble little me doing that). I's hire some bright young sports marketing kid to work his butt off trying to get as close to revenue neutral as possible but I sure as heck would be surprised if he got there.

[Dave Brull]

2) Dave: if you're interested in some good soccer, your Inters U19's are playing for the State Cup tonight against Summit FC, a club with six or eight all-Ohio players with Div I scholarships in their pockets including All-Everything striker Xavier Balc. I'm going - it should be a barn-burner.

NC Hudson, 6:30 pm. I'll have a yellow Crew cap on.

Bill, arrggh, I need more lead time! I have family plans esta noche. Merde. I'd've loved to catch that game. If Inter U-19's play again let me know (or I could check their website, which is also merde for obtaining info), I'd love to check a game with you. I've wanted to see Balc play for a while. I hear he's a bit of a wild child but a hell of a player. I had been wondering why he isn't playing with the PDL squad, now I wonder more to find that he is in the Inter club. Maybe they want him to vine ripen a little more.

Bill, next time I'll catch a U19 with you, but you come to a PDL. I'll buy.

[Bill Archer]

Bill, arrggh, I need more lead time! I have family plans esta noche. Merde. I'd've loved to catch that game. If Inter U-19's play again let me know (or I could check their website, which is also merde for obtaining info), I'd love to check a game with you. I've wanted to see Balc play for a while. I hear he's a bit of a wild child but a hell of a player. I had been wondering why he isn't playing with the PDL squad, now I wonder more to find that he is in the Inter club. Maybe they want him to vine ripen a little more.

Bill, next time I'll catch a U19 with you, but you come to a PDL. I'll buy.

It's a deal. And it's a best-of-three deal. so they play again June 1 or 2. I'll check and let you know.

Re: Balc, he's on the Summit FC team, not the Inters.

[Dave Brull]

It's a deal. And it's a best-of-three deal. so they play again June 1 or 2. I'll check and let you know.

Re: Balc, he's on the Summit FC team, not the Inters.

Well, I wonder less now. And June 1/2 would be perfect. Just keep posting!

[Bill Archer]

Game 2 is on June 1, same time same place.

[Dave Brull]

Bill, where is NC Hudson? Otherwise, I will see you next Tuesday, June 1.

[Bill Archer]

NC Hudson is in Hudson. :)

http://www.sportsservices.org/hudson1.htm



BTW, game was a killer. Inters hit one early on a 25 yard free by Jeff Tidd, a rocket that caught the keeper going the wrong way.

Balc equalized three minutes later on another 25 yarder, bending it around the wall into the lower right corner.

Summit closed the deal in the second half when Brent Long hit Balc in the box as he separated from his defender.