I watched Raleigh CASL ELite (PDL) defeat DS united from Jacksonville Fla. 4-1 on Saturday. Absolutely horrible game. No offense...but DS United had one or two good players, and the rest of these dudes should be playing on Wednesday night's in some rec league where the highlight of the match is going out for a few brews after the game. Raleigh didn't play particularly well either, but it was a total mis-match. This was maybe the slowest paced match (other than my daughter's U-10 rec team) that I've seen, EVER! How can anyone take the US Open Cup seriously, when teams like DS United get in? Don't we have higher standards? From what I saw, the US Open Cup should be limited to MLS, A-League, and D3 teams only.
Well, take the US Open golf tournament, for example. Not just any Joe Schmo can enter. You have to have a USGA handicap of 2 or less, I believe...so already, they've weeded out the hackers. Why can't they do that for the Open Cup?
Well. That's a pretty hilarious clueless statement. Being as DS United IS a rec league team! That's what the USASA teams are! There WAS elimination done. DS United was the winner over teams from Texas and a few other southeastern states. One or two of the USASA teams are always a little iffy. But then there's the team out of Milwaukee... which I've forgotten the name of (for shame). They beat Des Moines away. They're no slouches. As someone else said, if they didn't let the USASA teams in, then it wouldn't be Open. As far as I'm concerned, I WANT these teams in the tournament. Teams like them were the core of this tournament for 80 years. I want them in there just for the history, and to give them respect for carrying the sport through all the lean decades.
Re: Re: US Open cup The four USASA teams had to win their regionals to get into the Open Cup, just like all the other teams had to qualify (except for the MLS sides). Two of the USASA teams have advanced to the second round ... Bavarians SC defeated the Des Moines PDL team, and the Bridgeport Italians defeated the Chesapeake PDL team. So maybe these two USASA sides had legitimate handicaps ... maybe close to scratch!
I agree with Violet Crown. I like having the USASA in there. If the FA can have a scholastic team, than the USASA is no stretch for us. The only thing I don't like is that so many of them have such unprofessional sounding names. I like "DS United" and "Milwaukee Bavarians" and "Bridgeport Italians". Those teams just have a sound to them like they could be in any country's professional league (disregarding that Milwaukee is obviously in the US). But some teams (I forget concrete examples) have monikers like "Beerbellies United" and "Redneck FC". I realize that that's essentially what some of these teams are, but if one of them were for some reason to go really far in the USOC, I'd cringe at reading or hearing about it. In short, keep the USASA, but increase their aura of professionalism, even though they are mainly just your average joe.
That's why MLS and A-League enter the tourney in later rounds. PDL and Am teams are in for the same reason that the NCAA basketball tourney has 64 teams. It's exciting when the lower division teams pull upsets. PDL's Mid-Michigan Bucks beat the Revs in '00 and took the Fusion to PKs in '01.
That's because many of those teams have been around for decades. Literally. Some, like Milwaukee Bavarians, have won the Open Cup. I also find that a little funny as well. Not to give you too hard a time, but these teams are weekend teams. In some cases they're sponsored by local businesses (hence, Hen's Bar or Jerry D's out of Maryland), others are names that some guys came up with. Like FC Beserkers out of DC/Virginia. Seems a little silly to ask guys playing on the weekends (as a break from being professionals of any sort) to be professional about their team name. But if you look through the names on http://lhusoc.tripod.com/usoc/usasaq.htm, actually, all in all they're not bad. Also, keep in mind the cultural nature of how names sound. Look at the names in the South African league. Those of us that pay attention to the game all over the world have gotten used to how the names sound. And names like 'Spliffs' (I really knew a team named that here in Austin) sound really stupid in comparison. But in the right environment -- rec league soccer -- they're perfectly reasonable. Oh, and I wouldn't worry. The odds are almost astronomical at this point that any USASA team will go far. And if they did, all I could say is 'All Hail the Mightly Spliffs!'
http://lhusoc.tripod.com/usoc/usasaq.htm is the page with the most complete qualifying results you will find. There are no teams named like that, although there are some teams named after businesses, bars included. You might cringe at some of those team names if the impossible would happen, but do you think the media would turn their back on a story like that? Lastly, increase their professionalism when they are amateurs? How about we celebrate the fact that anyone willing to pay the registration fee and meet the guidelines can enter this tournament? People shouldn't be picking on the names of the team, but calling out the teams who don't give it a shot because of reasons like money and paperwork.
just another view Luv, I see where you are coming from, but I hope you see the other guy's points. My bet your comment was one of frustration of hopefully seeing a good match. Our Dynamo started as an amateur team years ago. I'd catch a game every now and then, and they usually could end up letting their girlfriends play the games were so lopsided. But these guys are grassroots soccer in the US. These are the guys that might actually go and pay to see a good college or pro game for the sake of the game itself. I know your frustration, but what's the harm in letting these guys have there day in the sun? FYI, 2 handicaps. They are everywhere. But there are also "Volkswagons." Good around town, but not much on the road (ok, I'm dating myself, VW's are pretty solid now). But that's the fun of it, how good am I/are we? Only one way to find out, ya gotta take your show on the road.
Ha! A tournament with MLS teams can't really start policing team names, or they'd have to kick out the MetroStars, Burn, Fire, Rapids, Earthquakes (or Clash), etc.
Re: Re: US Open cup And I think it was that '00 Mid-Michigan team that knocked off a pub team (a bunch of guys in their 30s, IIRC) that over-acheived to get as far as they did, one round away from the Revs. Think the Bucks beat them 6-0, though. It's another great story, and American soccer needs as many of those as it can get.
Yeah, England does the same thing (and with 700 teams it's probably even worse), and no one takes the FA cup seriously.
I can't find a link that will work, but the pub team's name was Jerry D's, and they were from Maryland. Hope no one objects too strenuously to their name. Good point, Matt. I like how deeply our purists who object to the USOC really know their soccer. EDIT: Here's the bracket from the year I was talking about. You have to go all the way to the left to find them, and realize that Jerry D's boys played some games to even get that far. http://www.frii.com/~persing/usoc_00.html
And, while they are a "pub team," they include guys like Timmy Witman and Nick Mangione, who were my generation's Santino Quarantas from baltimore. Witman is an assistant coach for the Blast. Witman's not on the team now, but I count about three ex-pros on their team now. The Open Cup needs more Jerry D's, not fewer.
Agreed with that last point. Thanks for the info, too. FWIW, here's a list of all the champs and runner's up in the history of the competition. If you like soccer and you're American, give a nod to these guys for keeping the sport alive for you to enjoy today. http://www.soccertimes.com/facts/usa/usopencup.htm Brings back memories to me, as I used to play with a former member of the Philadelphia German-Hungarians, and on a few occasions we ran into teams representing Busch S.C. and Kutis S.C. from St. Louis.
Third Round Draw will be posted by US Soccer sometime today, along with the Second Round finalised schedule.
LuvDaBears - shame on you! You omitted one little detail about the game - it was raining throughout -sometimes VERY hard. A wet field, wet uniforms, wet boots and monsoons don't typically make for entertaining fast paced soccer.
PB04, you're right...some heavy rain in that one...but, I would venture to say that even if it was 70 degrees and sunny, it wouldn't have been much of a game. Then the score would have been 7-1.
I agree the score probably could have been worse on a fast track. I only meant to imply the pace of the game was somewhat dictated by the downpours and field conditions. First round of US Open Cup is kind of like the first round of many tournaments, such as the NCAA basketball tournament. Typically there are mismatchs, but occasionally a Cinderella team rises up and surprises teams. That's what makes sports interesting.
You have to win to get into the Open Cup, they don't give you a free pass. No one expects them to be able to beat an MLS team, but that day might be coming, and that will be a great story. That's what it's all about. Crazy team names and all. I'd rather see that than another Rapids/Crew semifinal when they already play a few times during the year.
USOC Second Round, Third Round Draw 2003 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup First Round - COMPLETE Gm 1: Bridgeport Italians (USASA) 1 :: 0 Chesapeake Dragons (PDL) Gm 2: D.S. United (USASA) 1 :: 4 Raleigh CASL Elite (PDL) Gm 3: Milwaukee Bavarians (USASA) 2 :: 1 Des Moines Menace (PDL) Gm 4: Chico Rooks (USASA) 0 :: 1 Fresno Fuego (PDL) Second Round Gm 5: Bradenton Academics (PDL) at Wilmington Hammerheads (PSL) Wednesday 25 June, 7:30PM ET at the Legion Sports Complex, Wilmington, NC Gm 6: Long Island Rough Riders (PSL) at Mid-Michigan Bucks (PDL) Wednesday 25 June, 7:30PM ET at Hurley Stadium, Berkley, MI Gm 7: Bridgeport Italians (USASA) at New Hampshire Phantoms (PSL) Wednesday 25 June, 7:30PM ET at Singer Park, Manchester, NH Gm 8: Carolina Dynamo (PSL) at Raleigh CASL Elite (PDL) Wednesday 25 June, 7:30PM ET at MacPherson Stadium, Browns Summitt, NC Gm 9: Reading Rage (PSL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (USASA) Tuesday 24 June, 7:30PM CT at Bavarian Soccer Park, Milwaukee, WI Gm 10: Utah Blitzz (PSL) at Fresno Fuego (PDL) Wednesday 25 June, 5:30PM PT at Fresno Pacific University/Steinert Field, Fresno, CA Third Round Gm 11: Seattle Sounders (A-League) at Minnesota Thunder (A-League) Wednesday 16 July, 7:30PM CT at the National Sports Center, Blaine, MN Gm 12: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (A-League) at D.C. United (MLS) Wednesday 16 July, 7:30PM ET at the Maryland Soccerplex, Boyd, MD Gm 13: Game 10 Winner vs. El Paso Patriots (A-League) Wednesday 16 July - TBA Gm 14: Atlanta Silverbacks (A-League) at Game 5 Winner Wednesday 16 July - TBA Gm 15: Virginia Beach Mariners (A-League) vs Game 8 Winner Wednesday 16 July - TBA Gm 16: Game 9 Winner at Milwaukee Wave United (A-League) Wednesday 16 July - TBA at Milwaukee, WI Gm 17: Game 6 Winner vs. MetroStars (MLS) Wednesday 16 July - TBA Gm 18: Game 7 Winner vs. Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) Wednesday 16 July - TBA Fourth Round (will be drawn at conclusion of Third) 16 teams Chicago Fire Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew Dallas Burn Kansas City Wizards LA Galaxy New England Revolution San Jose Earthquakes + 8 Third Round winners
Do the Bavarians have any recognizable names? They have, in the past, I think, had some guys like Peter Gansler and Nicky Igel. Don't know what they look like now. The Cup is good stuff. I wish more people cared about it. But, we have enough trouble getting people to care about the actual league we have going here. USOC - that's when you're hardcore.
Isn't this the team that had Dan Stebbins last year or two years org, or was that Bavarain Luckebillcrockercroger, or something like that