here Scroll to the bottom of the page. About an hour ago he said that an MLS GM had been sacked. About five minutes ago he said it was Dan Counce. Obviously he's been wrong about things before, but it's not like there's a lot of GM rumors that float around. EDIT: He's got a story up now. click
I had been chasing this story for much of the past week myself, but couldn't get any confirmations that Counce was on his way out. What's been interesting is that in the past week there haven't exactly been denials to my confirmation requests. From what I'm hearing, Balboa will be named GM.
oh..my goodness...all you soccer dorks got your wish...counce is gone...big fat charlie wright who has no idea of how to run a mls team. the big fat kid is in charge...long live the fat bastard...rapids are in big trouble...kiss chung...kiss hendo good bye....GO BALBOA...you know what balboa..you should run for congress......that is the only way fat but loves you because you kissed his big fat but.....
oh yeah...lets see rapids fire mooch...lets talk about door closing and another one opening...counce will rise to the top and fat bastard will go to dairy queen and eat himself to death! oh yeah...did i forget to metiion that he got his girlfriend from match.com
wow. simply... wow. As for Counce being sacked, well, hey, the odds of hiring someone better is greater than the odds of hiring someone worse.
For my part, Counce and Timmy were equally bad, and equally needed to be gone. For all the haranguing about Charlie Wright, Kroenke has obviously been successful in previous investments, and I expect him to be successful in this. While I didn't agree with it, the management said they were going to give the Rapids a year to right the ship and for KSE to learn the ropes. They have now, and have made a great first step. I listened to Marcelo tonight on the USA-Jamaica match and enjoyed his commentary. I know that does not make him general manager quality. I don't know and will reserve judgement on him. He seems an obvious choice but that doesn't mean he will be the choice. I could understand KSE wanting a better at least more experienced business person. Whatever the case, I am thrilled to see this regime gone with a real chance for new beginnings. By the way, if you didn't hear yet, the Real have acquired Jason Kreis and are working their way to acquiring Mathis. I hope we see some of those kinds of moves happening here!!!
Do you need a red pill or a blue pill? Now tell us the one about how the fat bastard ate all the pies. I like you, I kill you last.
While there are no guarantees in life, it's good that we finally have a chance to move forward again. I think Counce's time is long past - every company shakes up the upper echelons occasionally. Here's to quick and long lasting success. Up the NegrAzul!
Wow is right. There is an ignore function, I think. But it is really evident from this post that an age limit on who can join bigsoccer should somehow be implemented.
Well, I got my wish. Counce and Hanki gone in the same month. Hopefully this will lead to a good GM apointment and good coach apointment. Next year is going to be a lot different in Rapid land.
Do any of you know why Counce was let go? You all assume he had a hand in these player moves. How do you know it wasn't Charlie Wright (fat bastard) or Tim Hankinson? Lay off the dude.
He was the GM foe eight years, this past was his ninth. As GM he was responsible for the management of the team. The GM is involved in player decisions. The best one he made? Joe Cannon. When KSE bought the team he was demoted to only handling player issues as Charlie Wright took over the operations side of things. I can't find the article saying this was happening but I remember it (I know that is helpful). Counce had his hand in all player moves.
What I want to know is what you thought he did and you're justification(s) for keeping him instead of saying goodbye to him.
I had the chance to work with Dan in '99 and he was a decent guy, but when you have a new owner who is essentially giving everyone a one year audition, you have to expect that changes will be made if the level of success he expects isn't met. Whomever they announce as the next GM has their work cut out for them. If it is Marcelo, I sort of question it...only in that as good a soccer player as he was, what does he possess to make him a GM? I imagine the same was said in SJ with Alexi...who knows, it could work and be a success...I hope it is because Colorado is a great franchise with a great staff that work there... Cheers
Who the hell is complaining about KSE now??? (other than greenie ) We get: -A new stadium deal DONE AND FINISHED -Hanki gone -Counce gone -Altitude sports up and running 100% In order to complete our franchise's turnaround we just need to get a new, much better coach (NOT the guy from KC please), and a much more saavy and competent GM. If KSE can pull this off and pull in the right people to take our franchise to the level we should be at, I will be a happy man.
I think this is fantastic news. No matter what you think about Counce ... you can't argue that in his tenure with the Rapids ... the Rapids have been basically boring and mediocre. Whether he was responsible for player selection or the coach was ... he chose both Mooch and Hankison as coach ... and not too many people think either were sucessful. As far as Balboa being GM ... what GM has had GM experience before being hired???
Counce may have been a nice guy, and he did some good things for the Rapids organization (4th of July game, for example) but overall, the team hasn't won any hardware (ever, although his tenure pretty much encompasses the entire life of the organization) and ultimately, GM's are evaluated by 1) profitability of the team (not until SSS, at least in the MLS) and 2) how the team performs on the field (and gets butts in the seats as a result). #1 was getting there, but until 2007 and the new SSS, is pretty much unattainable. #2, clearly, the team has been struggling, and has bowed out of the playoffs early the last 3 years, hasn't advanced far in the US Open Cup, and hasn't generated a lot of interest in the Denver community because they aren't winning or playing exciting soccer. Something needed to change. I'm not going to dance on Counce's proverbial grave, but this team seems to be taking a new direction, with a new coach, possible increased interest by the ownership group (especially given the NHL strike, what to do with all those staffers??) and getting rid of Counce is just part of the purging process. I would think that some players are next (and not just those exposed to the expansion draft).
Counce: "1997 Western Conference Champs, don't you forget it. Ohh, that was 7 years ago? I guess we need to get something else done in this league." The team does have some "hardware". I saw it in the confernece room of their old offices on 17th street.