Thought I'd bring this over here: These are the bathroom signs at SKC park, taken from my trip last year. I always thought they were fun
Not that I suggest bringing back a Caribou kit but this is an awesome idea: Jersey Week: Union pay homage to Bethlehem Steel with retro 3rd shirthttp://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...hiladelphia-union-unveil-new-retro-3rd-jersey
On a different topic, any pro cycling fans in here this year? Just noticed there's a 3 hour block on Sunday on NBC Sports. Tour of Oman and the first stage of Paris-Nice.
I like when they come here and I'll watch the Tour de France, but the whole steroid thing in the last year has really soured my opinion of the sport. The reality is that the UCI is either a woefully incompetent group of people, horrendously crooked, or a combination of the two...and they aren't being held accountable for pretty much destroying the integrity of the sport.
Steve, go ahead and delete the whole conv., probably doing us all a favor, but this "last word" stuff is driving me nuts. Edit: Included Hunt and Telerock so they can be aware that the latest "last word" has been moved.
Here is a rather lengthy analysis which tries to understand why health care costs are so high. My only direct knowledge of behind the scenes health care comes my doctor sister who had a private practice for many years. As retirement approached she sold her practice to a hospital group. While she looked forward to retirement before, now she's counting the seconds.
Tried to stay out of this, but excellent post David, CNN just ran this Time series a few weeks ago. From my experience, the Gorilla in the room is insurance companies which squeeze both sides (Doctors and us joe schmoes) in order to make profits. This concept out of Northwest is growing, have 2 friends using it. There are a few in Colorado now, but just haven't pulled trigger yet. http://health.usnews.com/health-new...h-only-or-direct-pay-medical-practice-for-you
Here's the second half, with the only mention that Colorado got in either article. Tied for best field in the league. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130227/mls-preview-player-survey/
The thing that excites me with this sampling is if we get a top notch owner in, we can easily become a top MLS club. The current cheapness just hits us in marketing, finding/ retaining top FO/ Coaching staff (how about a dedicated scout), and player facilities (anyone ever look at pics of players working out, my Condo in Denver has better facilities).
Well let's not get crazy, this sampling is less than 4% of the league. I'll give you the rest, but the impression I got of the training facilities when the Dick was built was that they were pretty top-notch.
I'm not surprised Grant Wahl "honestly never realized Colorado had a good field" as he often doesn't realize we exist. And I cannot believe Michael Kennedy got more than 1 vote as best referee in MLS. He is atrocious.
Any Avs fans? I don't follow the NHL too closely, but the matching of the O'Reilly offer sheet seems like odd business, huh? If they were willing to pay $10 million over 2 years, why not try to negotiate that soon after the lockout ended? Now they're paying him that and he'll have missed half the season. And the deal is back-loaded ($6.5 million for 2013-14), making the next qualifying offer unpalatably high.
I don't follow the Avs that closely, but reports indicated the Avs previously offered a 5 year, $17M+ deal ($3.4M/year roughly), and a 2 year, $7M deal ($3.5M/year) which he rejected. Based on what I read, he wasn't interested in a short-term deal, but it sounds like that is all the NHL teams were willing to offer. Props to the Avs for not dramatically overpaying. At any rate, I bet the team is thrilled to get him at $5M/year for only two years.
MLS rookie of year Odds: Zardes (LAG) and Bekker (Tor) are favorites with Brown right up there. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/mls-rookie-of-the-year-favorites_aid28508 F Deshorn Brown, Colorado Rapids - 7/1 The former junior college star is now preparing for the big stage, and according to reports from Colorado, the dynamic attacker is faring well during the preseason. A lot of Brown’s success could come down to the health of Edson Buddle. Brought in earlier this offseason, the U.S. striker is battling injuries, which could open the door for Brown to earn more minutes, showcase what he can do, and compete for postseason honors. MF Dillon Powers, Colorado Rapids - 18/1 The bruising center midfielder has done well during the preseason with the Rapids and could be in line for a starting spot on opening day. Powers has the size to deal with the nature of MLS play, and he also has the crisp passing style that Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja enjoys. Powers may not score enough to really get the votes from those who will not watch the Rapids every week.
Maybe, but I think a lot of the NHL is wondering "what are the Avs doing." The team is probably happy about the length of the deal, but there's real bite to that $5M/year. (And apparently a lot of people think $5 million is too high.) One, the Avs were not supposed to want to pay $5 million/year. Hence the offer of a 2-yr "bridge deal" at about the same annual value as the 5 year offer. Supposedly there was very little negotiation after the initial offers. Two, it's backloaded, so he gets $6.5 million next year. The means when he becomes a restricted FA again after next year, the Avs' qualifying offer has to at least match that salary, or else he becomes an unrestricted FA. So the ante for next time just got upped in a big way. Three, he's always been compared to Matt Duchene, who signed for around 2 year $7million. Next time up, Duchene is going to want a big raise. If the two keep playing the way they have, he'll want at least as much as O'Reilly. So the Avs have to be really sure they're ok with paying O'Reilly $5 million/year. Four, if they were willing to pay that much, why didn't they offer it much earlier so O'Reilly wouldn't have missed half the season? No one really knows if O'Reilly would have accepted a 2 yr \ $8, 9 or 10 million deal early in the season, but no one's reported whether the Avs even tried to find out.
Actually this is soccer but not rapid related thread. AVs talk should be in own thread with OT (off topic) in header.
I hate to pick on them while they're down but SoccerAmerica is reporting that the attendence at last night's Chivas v Chicago match was 7,121 ... the smallest crowd ever for an MLS home opener.