We are going to crush the competition

[MeridianFC]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61754-2003Feb24.html

Look at that schedule on the right. There's no way we don't go undefeated.

;)

[dadman]

I don't know... Carolina could catch us before we gel, and what with the boys away for U20 competition... :)

So, Meridian, does the City Paper have anything up their collective sleeves for the home opener this year?

dadman

[K]

This was my favorite part:

The second doubleheader will take place July 19 and will kick off with United's game against the San Jose Earthquakes, a nationally televised contest starting at 4 p.m. The Freedom shifted its game against the New York Power to the evening to accommodate ESPN2's Major League Soccer telecast.

"We're kind of excited to see how it works," Freedom General Manager Katy Button said of the Freedom's later kickoff.

Excited would not be the word I'd use. I'm either seeing a mass exodus of the United faithful or we all stand there and show these Mia screaming teenbos how it's done. In any case, I don't think it's going to be pretty.

K

[GoDC]

Actually K I think it will still be one of their best chances to have a decent sized crowd. WUSA has cut rosters to 16 active palyers for this season so I sense that ticket sales are not going well.

[Sundevil9]

It's gonna be really disheartening for the WUSA players to see the backs of United fans as a majority will head for the exits.

[Bill-DC]

I'll be nice here. I'm all for their league but the WUSA and Freedom do not interest me much. I wish them and their fans success though.

I got in early one doubleheader, caught the second half of a Freedom game and ended up doing a crossword puzzle, reading City Paper and making phone calls while waiting for United's game to start. If the Freedom are the second half of the doubleheader, maybe I stay for the first half. More than likely I head home.

Bill

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by Bill-DC
I got in early one doubleheader, caught the second half of a Freedom game and ended up doing a crossword puzzle, reading City Paper and making phone calls while waiting for United's game to start.
I'll let somebody else make the joke that this is what most adults do at Freedom games...

[Colonel Angus]

Be nice everyone, or I'll subject you to Julie Foudy's lectures about how much more important the women's game is to the U.S. than the men's. :)

[DigitalTron]

I think the doubleheaders are great, and the selection of teams is a nice combo. Also, it should show a decent crowd for ESPN2. But, it makes far more sense to play the Freedom game first, as many of those Freedom fans would stay to see Landon while many of the United fans will not stay to see a Mia-less Freedom. In a way, it's a little disappointing that this is a televised game, because switching the order of games might make a significant difference in crowd size for each game.

-Tron

[GoDC]

Originally posted by Lanky134
I'll let somebody else make the joke that this is what most adults do at Freedom games...

I'm not sure about you but a bunch of decent looking women running around and sweating just a few feet away from me is enough to keep my attention. ;)

[dsheon]

Originally posted by GoDC
I'm not sure about you but a bunch of decent looking women running around and sweating just a few feet away from me is enough to keep my attention. ;)

You must love watching the Metrostars games.

;)

[dsheon]

And with that I've reached my 1,000th post.

[GoDC]

Originally posted by ds39heon
You must love watching the Metrostars games.

;)

That # 10 Tabitha character was pretty cute!!!

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by GoDC
I'm not sure about you but a bunch of decent looking women running around and sweating just a few feet away from me is enough to keep my attention. ;)
Camelot's

[morrissey]

Those who attend the match should try to stay and support professional soccer in all forms in the US. Try to lead by example, because women's soccer doesn't have nearly the depth and fervor from the fans as male soccer.

If you think of it as a free game of pretty good soccer, you should be alright. Also, go see "Bend it Like Beckham" - made me want to watch WUSA.

You might also be able to invite some women back to an aftergame tailgate - wouldn't that be wild.

james

[GoDC]

Originally posted by CHICO13
Camelot's

Oh yeah, I forgot to add, places my wife will allow me to be. :D

[JoeW]

My heart and my dollars belong to United. But hey, if I'm going to get a Freedom game anyway, what's not to like (well, some shreiking pre-teens is a bit painful but...)? Seriously now, I used to think that MLS and WUSA compete. We now know that isn't the case. If WUSA succeeds, it will be very, very good for MLS. It results in:
--more media coverage of soccer;
--more possible tennants for SSS;
--possible cross-over fans for MLS and 'big games' for USSF (WC, Olympic qualifiers, etc.);
--a more soccer savvy country.

Those aren't bad things. While we all wish the general media would stop comparing Mia Hamm to Pele or wondering why Arena gets paid more than Heinrich, those are (for the most part), not problems caused by WUSA but just general ignorance of soccer. The more of our beloved sport there is out there, the better it is for all of us (and certainly MLS).

[Cweedchop]

Usually I would stay and watch the Freedom play, but with me coughing up $49 for the Shootout package, I'm going home and watching MLS matches....

In all likelyhood the Freedom game will be on CSN and I can simply tape the game..

For the record though, every time there has been a United/Freedom double dipper, I've been there to watch the Freedom every time..