MLS Is Back B*iches Tournament!

"So far, so good."

.@rachel_vigil_ caught up the man in charge following the first training session of #MLSisBack. pic.twitter.com/PpVOZOO3gr

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 8, 2020

 

Just a quick follow up: The aerial (drone) feed works if you subscribe to ESPN+. It is a bit like watching someone play Fifa, but it isn't terrible.

 

The members of the #Rapids96 that participated in the pregame demonstration were Kei Kamara, Lalas Abubakar, Kellyn Acosta, Collen Warner, Austin Trusty, Andre Rawls, and HC Robin Fraser (cc: @LWOSMattPollard & @DoubleOhNegatve) pic.twitter.com/yi7zT8oCBC

— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) July 9, 2020

 

To be completely fair, games that air on ESPN (the TV channel) are usually not on ESPN+, for any sport (I'm sure there have been exceptions). And games on FOX and Univision haven't shown up on ESPN+ live either

The difference here is that every game on the tournament is on one of those three channels, not just 1-3 games from the league each week.

 

I really like hearing the players on the pitch vs. canned crowd noise like the Bundesliga and EPL broadcasts are using.

 

I was going to post that FIFA should probably sanction MLS for the big ADIDAS logo in the center circle and then I noticed in 'flatter' camera angles it isn't really there -- just CGI. I guess a soccer pitch might be the ultimate 'green screen' so probably isn't that difficult to generate.

 

The #Rapids96 made it to Orlando. Here’s what to expect next: https://t.co/zEXLqsDVda pic.twitter.com/jTyjEUHC3h

— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) July 9, 2020

 

#Rapids96 kit numbers:@collenwarner will wear 32
Braian Galván will wear 52

— Emilio E. Gonzalez (@_EmilioGonzalez) July 9, 2020

 

Want to see where the @ColoradoRapids are staying for the duration of the #MLSIsBack tournament? @rachel_vigil_ has you covered.#Rapids96 https://t.co/E1v18uypZi

— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) July 9, 2020

 

Nashville SC is the second team to be withdrawn from the #MLSisBack tournament due to COVID-19 positives.@PaulTenorio, @jeffrueter, @MLSist and @samstejskal reporting: https://t.co/RBUHN9MLMp

— The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) July 9, 2020

 

MLS also made every group now= 4 teams

 

Two numbers I haven't gotten to yet

 

Yup, it's that ratio that's my complaint. Makes no sense to me from a "butts in couches" standpoint. Perhaps it's more of a revenue thing.

As I said in my follow up, they did provide a stream that was available so it's moot aside form the camera angle/talking heads portion. I'm always happy to have no talking heads (apologies to David Byrne) and the camera angle was not as bad as I expected since you could see a fair amount of the pitch at any time. Also, no annoying cutaways to a player right in the middle of a corner. I was happy with it.

I'm wondering which keeper will be the first to get a "kill" if they continue to use the drone.

 

Don’t see the visual evidence of Lewis, but Rosenberry shows up clearly in this image.

1281302610931146752 is not a valid tweet id

 

I've been told Lewis arrived last night/this morning and was also part of this training.

 

I am assuming that if they’re training, they’re good to go for the first match?

 

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— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 9, 2020

 

Updated groups below. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fBGPecEWhO

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 9, 2020

 

Would 52 pretty much be a list of one?

 

Yep, and 32 is only a list of 4 now.

 

2/3 of the teams will make the knockout rounds, six 4th place teams and two 3rd place teams from the group rounds will not advance (unless there are more Covid -19 withdrawals).

 

I’m surprised I’m really looking forward to the game. I even enjoyed Miami v Orlando. It will be good to get back to somewhat normal again.

Have to agree, I like field talk over canned crowd noise. I’d hate to hear canned booing of the opponent’s fullback.

 

We just got a live look-in at Rapids training at halftime of Seattle-SJ, since they're training on the field next to the game. Shocking no one, they were working on set pieces.

 

It's been a roller-coaster week but the group is closer because of it.

Take a look back at our first few days in Orlando.

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 11, 2020

 

Meanwhile, re the Nuggets, an Athletic article said yesterday they had their first practice together since shutting down in March...since they shut down practices in the Pepsi Center before they even got started.

20 days or whatever is not a lot of run up time...hope they are careful and avoid injuries.