World Soccer Wrap - New Episodes

This past week World Soccer Wrap (c) released four different shows. If you obtain the show through iTunes, please hit the subscribe button, if you haven't done so already, and make sure you download the various programs.

In addition to iTunes, you can find the four latest shows as follows:

World Soccer Wrap (c) Episode 62

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/9615F989-1116-4F2B-888A-D96127D64FA1.html

World Soccer Wrap (c) MLS 2008 Pre-Season Special

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/40F328C0-225B-4B12-AF03-C2BC014C663C.html

World Soccer Wrap (c): Serie A

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/E537B38E-1185-4F3D-A1F6-9AD191598DA2.html

World Soccer Wrap (c) - Interview with Scott French from MLS Magazine

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/FBBE1CC6-BFE6-435A-9B61-F444A721B746.html

Houston Dynamo Round-Up

I apologize for the dely in posting here, been a busy week or so.

The good news is that since I last posted, the Houston Dynamo managed to defeat CSD Municipal last Wednesday in the home leg of the first round of the CONCAF Champions Cup, with a 3-1 score line. The first two goals were scored by Dwayne DeRosario, second off a of a penalty kick, with Chris Wondolowski scoring the third Dynamo goal.

You can hear my report and the post game news conference with Coach Dominic Kinnear and World Soccer Wrap (c) Man of the Match, Dwayne DeRosario, on the latest episode of World Soccer Wrap (c), available for download on iTunes or at:

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/9615F989-1116-4F2B-888A-D96127D64FA1.html

The Houston Dynamo begin their 2008 season this Saturday in New England in a rematch of the last two MLS Cups. World Soccer Wrap (c) has released an MLS Season Preview Special, inclunding my preview of the Houston Dynamo's 2008 season, which is available on iTunes or at:

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/40F328C0-225B-4B12-AF03-C2BC014C663C.html

On the television front, the Houston Dynamo have a deal with Channel 55, KTBU, which will carry 17 games this season. Play-by-play will be handled by Charlie Pallilo from 790 A.M., The Sports Animal, while Glenn Davis will provide the color commentary.

Channel 55's show The Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis has been moved to primetime, airing at 9:30 pm on Friday nights this season.

In my opinion, I really appreciat the fact that the Dynamo's deal is with Channel 55 and not FSN (and this is no knock against FSN), because Channel 55 is available to folks without cable or who just have the basic level of cable - making Dynamo games that much more available.

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3606690

The Dynamo will be holding trials on Saturday April 19. So if you think you have what it takes to make the 2008 Dynamo squad, sign up at http://www.houstondynamo.com/

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3605178

Along those lines, forward Louis Briscoe, a 20 year old from England, who has played with Leek Town and Port Vale is currently practicing with the Dynamo, as well as Columbian forward Oscar Villarreal, 27.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/5648841.html

World Soccer Wrap: Serie A

The first episode of the first World Soccer Wrap spinoff, World Soccer Wrap: Serie A, is now available under the World Soccer Wrap subscription on iTunes, and at:

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/BC9C84CD-D63C-4F87-BA8E-0FBA715E1B6D.html

Please feel free to contact me with suggestions, comments, criticisms, and questions.

brian.zygo@gmail.com

New Episode of World Soccer Wrap

Is now available for download on iTunes and at:

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/1D5AC1E0-0A56-42B0-AD5C-F7A00805C43B.html

Thursday: A Million Little Fibers

First off, the Houston Dynamo made their 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup debut last night, taking on CSD Municipal in Guatemala City. The game resulted in a 0 -0 draw, and while the Dynamo would have liked a win and the away goal it would bring, this is the first time that the Dynamo have not lost an away leg in the CCC. The Dynamo looked good, but not great, and between luck and the steller goal tending of Pat Onstad, Municipal could have easily had a win. On the whole the defense looked much improved since the Osaka Gamba game in the PPC, much of that was due to the presence of Craig Waibel and Eddie Robinson. Once again the midfield had a good game, but it was up front that the Dynamo were soft. The second leg of the tie will be held at Robertson Stadium in Houston on Wednesday night.

More news about the Dynamo's international play was released today. The Dynamo have been grouped with Atlante, Chivas Guadalajara, and DC United in the 2008 SuperLiga. Houston will host Atlante on July 12 and Chivas on July 15, then play at D.C. on July 19.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/5617193.html

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20080313&content_id=143146&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp

http://superliga2007.com/

The Dynamo at FC Dallas drama continues, due to accomodating a concert (so much for the Slice being a soccer specific stadium), that leg of the Texas Derby will be held on Wednesday May 28, 2008. Yet another blow to the concept of fostering a great atmosphere within the stands, its a school night and the Houston SGs will be represented, but not in the numbers that would have been there on a Saturday or Sunday.

http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/schedule/index.jsp?year=2008&month=05

http://blogs.chron.com/soccer/archives/2008/03/dynamo_escape_g.html

On to Italy and Serie A: the Gazzetta dello Sport reports that A.S. Roma's Francesco Totti is very postive about Roma's prospects in the Champions League and Serie A:

http://english.gazzetta.it/Football/Primo_Piano/2008/03_Marzo/13/totti.shtml

In the will he or won't he bin, Inter President Massimo Moratti has indicated that Roberto Mancini will not be leaving at the end of the season. I suspect that Mancini will be gone, but Moratti is trying to stop the disintigration in the locker room, disintigration that could give Roma a leg up in closing the 6 point gap with Inter.

http://english.gazzetta.it/Football/Primo_Piano/2008/03_Marzo/12/english_moratti.shtml

And speaking of Mourinho (you know what I mean), gotta share this clip and the laughs it brings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbu59aDtbo

Jose Mourinho Watch 2008

After Tuesday's loss to Liverpool in the European Champions League, Inter Milan Coach Roberto Mancini aknowledged that he would be leaving Inter at the end of this season. While Mancini indicated this was a planned move on his part, it's hard not to suspect that Inter's inability to make much progress on the European stage is causing costernation in its front office and in the lockerroom.

So, with both Barcelona and Inter Milan looking for a new coach, where do you think the Special One will be next season?

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/03/12/inter.mancini/

http://goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=618344

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL1155723120080311

Dynamo Schedule Corrected

Not sure what happened, probably just a glitch, but the Dynamo schedule has been corrected to reflect that the Dynamo are playing at FC Dallas in August:

http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/schedule/index.jsp?year=2008&month=08

Houston Dynamo Win Texas Pro Soccer Festival

This past week of MLS preseason included the inaugural Texas Pros Soccer Festival in San Antonio, Texas, featuring the Houston Dynamo, D.C. United, Chivas USA, and Toronto FC. The Houston Dynamo managed to win the tournament with a 4-3 win over Toronto FC, a 1-0 win over Chivas, and a 1-1 draw with D.C. United.

There was little time for the Houston Dynamo to savor these results, because they are headed to Guatemala City to tak on CSD Municipal this Wednesday in the CONCAF Champions Cup. During at least the first leg of the CCC, the Dynamo will be missing Stuart Holden and Patrick Ianni who have been called up for the USMNT U-23 team, which begins Olympic qualifying tomorrow night against Cuba.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/5605267.html

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20080310&content_id=142544&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5603224.html

New Episode of World Soccer Wrap Available

The latest episode of World Soccer Wrap is available on iTunes and at:

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/A7050C60-3BDE-4686-9F76-A15B8334BDE0.html

Dynamo at FC Dallas game moved?

The original schedule issued by the MLS showed the Houston Dynamo playing at FC Dallas on August 9, 2008, a Saturday, today as single game tickets go on sale, it appears that the Houston at Dallas game has been moved to Wednesday, May 28, 2008. Is this another example of the MLS allowing teams to take actions that limit or put a hardship on away fans?

http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/schedule/index.jsp?year=2008&month=05

http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/03/05/away-supporters-restricted-in-mls/

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=514368&root=mls&cc=5901

[NSR] The Judy's at SXSW

It's been over ten years since I enjoyed SXSW, back in the day before the suits tookover, I think it cost me only $50 for an armband that gave me access to all shows. I could be off on the number, but it was cheap.

Anyway, if you are heading to SXSW this year, may I recommend the return of the classic late 70s early 80s Houston group, The Judy's

http://www.austinchronicle.com:80/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A591648

The Judy's are reuniting for the 2007-08 Austin Music Awards, Wednesday, March 12, at the Austin Music Hall. "I don't know if we look at it as a reunion," clarifies bassist/keyboardist Jeff Walton. "It's more so just something we're doing." For those too young to remember, the Pearland-based trio was a pivotal part of Austin's original punk scene, forging its own genre between minimal New Wave and post-punk Dadaism. "That's where it all started for me," recalls frontman David Bean. "I was in a high school summer program [in Austin] in 1979, put on by the National Science Foundation, and I snuck into Raul's. That was the first time I realized I could play in clubs and be part of a scene." Outside of a private benefit in 2004, the last time the Judy's performed was at the Raul's reunion, one decade prior at Liberty Lunch. The band recently recorded a new song together, a commissioned theme for Japanese animé series Sgt. Frog, while Wasted Talent Records reissued expanded editions of the trio's first two albums, Washarama ('81) and Moo ('85). "The songs weren't meant to last through the ages," Bean says. "People don't know what snow on the TV is anymore. The information is being lost through the generations." Tickets for the Austin Music Awards are $15 advance, $20 at theatre and go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 19. Warren Hood, meanwhile, joins David Ball of Uncle Walt's Band, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and the Belleville Outfit for South Carolina by Birth, Texas by Choice: The Songs of Walter Hyatt, adding to an already stacked lineup that includes Rokkervil, a collaboration between Okkervil River and Roky Erickson, and a showcase by Honeydripper Gary Clark Jr.

City of Houston Approves Purchase of Land for Stadium

The Houston City Council met yesterday and approved the purchase of five downtown blocks located on the eastside of downtown. Although the City of Houston and the Houston Dynamo have not come to terms a stadium deal, this land is expected to be the location for a soccer specific stadium.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/5596697.html

Dynamo Draft Kyle Brown

In that current effort to create depth up front, the Houston Dynamo have picked forward Kyle Brown in the 2008 MLS Waiver Draft. Brown, 24, was waived by Real Salt Lake. Brown actually scored a goal in the RSL 4-3 win over the Dynamo last September.

http://houston.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080304&content_id=141735&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&team=t200

Odds & Ends

Fox Soccer Channel continues to expand its coverage of the American game, it will be airing the U-23 Olympic Qualifiers:

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_5406747.html

Among the articles concerning the new MLS franchise in Philadelphia, may I recommend this one, which features the great Walter Bahr - Captain of the 1950 USMNT at the World Cup:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/other_sports/20080228_Walter_Bahr_welcomes_soccer_back_to_Philadelphia.html

Kyle McCarthy's take on the new MLS franchise, plus his view that Montreal, St. Louis, and Atlanta are the top contenders for the next franchise:

http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=607683

Latest Episode of World Soccer Wrap Now Available

You can download it from iTunes, or listen to it here:

http://web.mac.com/rayharatian/iWeb/Site/Podcast/3073CF3C-F67A-45D7-88FC-8CC542B75D9E.html