Let me first start out by saying a thing or two about yesterday's European Champion's League Final, won by Barcelona, 2-0, over Manchester United. As a Liverpool fan, there's nothing better than seeing Man U lose. Barcelona was clearly the better team yesterday and deserved the win. Now, I'm not going to give you a break-down of the match, what I do want to mention is the news this made in America. I was amazed on my way home from my "real job" when I flipped on a National Sports show and they were talking about it! The game had just ended and they gave an instant score. Now the conversation was only for 5 minutes or so, but the fact it was even being discussed was pretty cool. Now, they didn't mention any of the particulars, because, quite frankly, I doubt any of them knew any of the players, but at least they gave a score.
So at the top of the hour I flip over to the local all news channel for the National news and what was their last story? You got it, the score of the Barca/ManU game! Again, wow! They even went to a live update from a reporter in Rome! Now I'm not saying soccer (football) has become mainstream, but at least the big events are now being mentioned. It's a start.
The 95th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Kicks Off June 9th
The oldest single elimination tournament in the United States is set to begin with 16 matches on June 9th. Over 126 teams, from MLS pros to Sunday afternoon amateur "beer leagues" have dwindled down to the field of 40. In that group of 40, 16 are amateur teams, 16 are from the United Soccer Leagues 1st and 2nd divisions and 8 are from Major League Soccer. The first and second rounds field the 32 amatuer and USL sides. MLS joins the tourney in the 3rd round. The 2nd round is set to begin on June 16th. After the 2nd round, the remaining 8 winners will be drawn against the MLS sides which will kick off on June 30th. Quarterfinals are set for July 7th, Semi's on July 21st/22nd and the final will take place on September 2nd. Like the F.A. Cup in England, the U.S. Open Cup allows "regular joes" that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go up against paid professionals in a win or go home tournament with a chance to be crowned U.S. Champions. The winning team gets $100,000 while the runner-up cashes in $50,000. Each team from their respective division who advances the farthest gets a $10,000 bonus. Also, the winning team claims one of the 4 slots alloted to the United States in the 2011 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League. DC United won last season's U.S. Open Cup, 2-1, over the Charleston Battery of USL-1.
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