Goff's article on the press conference that old thread was too long and totally off topic at this point
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United Happy now? Anyway, I closed the other thread and directed discussion here.
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United oh, oops. if I post video of the announcement maybe that will make up for it. i've been waiting for goff's take all day and figured the article the post finally had would be it.
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United It certainly isn't a Goff article. "It has taken 261/27 years to sell United's rights.." Damn! That's like Dr. Who time. "The soccer stadium will cost $150 million to $200 million, and the goal is to complete it by the 2009 season on land now owned by the National Park Service." Umm....didn't the land transfer, like, get the passage and signatures it needed already?
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United haha, yeah, just clarifying. AP in a rush to get this article to print?
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United The AP: We don't get it right, we get it written.
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United Well, 261/27 = 9.66667 Almost the age of DCU... Maybe the AP guy is just smarter than the rest of us.
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United I was stunned at the $150 million to $200 million new price tag. That has to include part of the costs for the development... right? There is still stuff there that is the Federal Gov't's. The Park Service's offices, a helipad, etc.
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United I don't know? If DC is going for some big time players with the DP money, the may want to keep the helipad.
I'd just like to welcome the new owners. If they don't screw up the on-field product and can get us the stadium we so richly deserve, they'll always be number one in my book.
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United Bulldozer + landscaping will take care of that.
Patricia, what you describe is the ideal world. One that unfortunately doesn't exist any more than the idea that the Statue of Liberty was placed there to welcome Black and Asian people. What follows below is a post and my response to it which explains a lot. It was originally posted in a thread about what MLS needs to do to increase its status among African-Americans: That's really what this is about. Personally I don't care what color the owners of DC united are, they could be green and from mars so long as they "bleed the black 'n red". However america IS a diverse place which historically has *not* seen that diversity represented on all socio-economic levels. Applauding success stories such as this one doesn't mean a person is 'caught up' on race but rather that they recognize that the nation still has a lot of work to do before it really reflects the ideals of democracy, equality and the american dream. It's just that some of us like to believe it already IS there when clearly it is not in certain parts of the country so i guess for some of us its always a bit of a shock when someone actually (gasp) mentions race or ethnicity. Usually these people have no real first hand experience with racism directed towards them. For me, a half black half thai woman, i have had little but I do have a vivid memory going to school and being called an 'oreo fortune cookie'. And that was only 10 years ago. So yes. Racism still exist. Prejudice still exist and often class divides often fall along historic racial lines in the USA. Welcome to reality.
Well, I've got plenty of real first-hand experience of racism being directed at me. Showed up to work as a white woman in an almost all-black office and was hated and villified from the beginning from several of the females there. I was seen as "a threat" (their words) from Day One just by being me, so no need to welcome me to reality. Been there, done that. And yes, to whomever that was from the other thread, I'm college-educated, but it was sure a hell of a lot later than the 60s and 70s. Yes, DC is a mostly "chocolate" city. As is Baltimore. I get that. But if you're trying to tie yourself to a city or a team because your of your skin color, then you're doing it for the wrong reasons. Tie yourself to a team because of your belief in the team and the city itself. Don't alienate the vanilla, strawberry, or mint chocolate chip flavors in the meantime. You can call attention to anyone any way you want, but when you mention marketing to children of color, then it sounds to me like the white ones (oh, and I always thought white was a color) are gonna get excluded. My reality is this: I found the whole mention of race to be offensive. I'm not living in a plastic bubble--I'm a part of the real world. The team has new owners, period. The new owners are gonna do what they can to work on the new stadium. They're also gonna make sure that more children get to learn about and play soccer because it's the world biggest sport and not all children here take part in it as they do in other countries around the world. That's all they needed to say instead of throwing the race issue around. Racism works in more directions than one. I honestly just want DC United to have a great season and to earn another Cup, Supporter's Shield, Open Cup, and any other damn trophy they can win. Can the new owners, whatever their race, sexual orientation, zodiac sign or favorite brand of running shoe just keep that in mind, and work for the good of the team and the fans. -Patricia
Not really sure where you see racism, seems you are quite sensitive and are over reacting to this statements made by the new owners. It seems you are living in your own little bubble that looks at the real world and is easily offended by ones statements or actions that don't reflect your own. You might look into the youth soccer system in the US because diversity is not represented on many different levels.
Patricia, I understand your feelings and also wish that our world was not always broken down into issues of race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Can't we just be people first? However, as previous posters have said, without being rude, this "milestone" is many years overdue, and should be applauded proudly by all.
Re: Goff: Ex-Duke Players Join in Purchase of D.C. United No, it's a coding thing that got messed up on the wires. It's not uncommon to see things like that in wire stories.
Goff was interviewed on Washington Post radio this evening about the new ownership. He mentioned there were still several hurdles to getting the land for the stadium and that in spite of the 2009 goal, he thought it would probably be 2010... So WTF is going on with the land? Can all of you who said this was already done please clarify? They also had a sound bite from Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton saying she was working hard on getting the land transfer approved. Huh? Oh, and they had some totally effed up comment about some pro lacrosse team possibly sharing the Poplar Point stadium. Good grief. Can't they just play at the Nats stadium?
On channel 7 tonight she said a parcel of it still belongs to the National Park Service that houses a helipad there. She seemed confident she could get the transfer although like everything else in this town, it's going to take some time.
Been hearing about the lacrosse team for several weeks now. What I don't really understand is why a team from a league (DC/MLS) who basically competes with the team from another sport over the same basic season would even want to rent it to them? At any rate, woudln't the soccerplex be a better um... fit, for the lacrosse team?
Great news....glad we have a new ownership group and I'm glad payne is involved. With all of that said, and having been a Tarheel all of my life: Fukc Duke!!!!!
The emphasis on the local TV news is all about Brad Davis as the new owner - And all about him being a local guy from DC who was successful in college (at someplace but - uh - not Georgetown or Maryland so not any place worthwhile) then did well in real estate is now the owner of the team - And then some about he's the first black owner in MLS - Little mention of any one else, so I guess they're all minor players compared to Davis So this is what the local news media will be touting - Nothing really racial and barely a mention of which college he went to - And certainly nothing about anyone else So what did you expect? - The thorough ind-depth reporting we're used to here at Big Soccer And - Yes - The constant drone of "children of color" thing is a bit annoying - But then that's why God invented IPods