Boxing Day Links Roundup

by Dave Clark on Dec 26, 2009 5:01 PM PST

In what I hope I can make a weekly endeavor I'm going to start posting a links round-up. For those that follow me on twitter most of these won't be new, but hopefully I can provide greater context now.

So over the past week these are the stories from around MLS, Cascadia and the world of soccer that have fascinated me.

Dec 21st

Ives finds that MLS added 3 Colombian defenders. Even with all the CBA crap, MLS still is out finding and adding talent. Last year 50% of international slots were unfilled.

Dec 22nd

The Union of Philly announces an exclusive minor league affiliation with a PDL club in Reading. The announcement contains no details as to what that means for either club.

Portland gives us stadium renovation drawings. There will be Turf (NextTurf), and oddly no fans in their drawings, in fact no texture whatsoever.

Fox Soccer goes to HD "Early in 2010." You can request Comcast to add them, or just wait for them to do it anyway.

Dec 23rd/24th

Thanks to Kartik I start reading Johnathon Wilson. Starting on the 4-2-3-1, and moving on to his speculation that the libero may make a return due to more teams playing with a single forward.

US MNT member Charlie Davies mentions his thanks to all who gave him support, and let's us know that he's walking again.

Dec 26th - Boxing Day

Kartik shares the ignorance that exists amongst some MLS fans and their disregard for the lower levels of the pro game here in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

Scottish, English, and Italian Leagues all continue to have matches canceled due to weather conditions. This includes their top leagues. Scotland's Football League (not the SPL) has even had managers request to move to a Summer schedule to avoid frozen pitch syndrome.

Stuart Holden got a new offer from MLS and the Dynamo on Christmas Eve and they wait for him to decide if being a star in Houston is better than being a rotational guy for Blackburn.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Fox in HD

That’s great news. The regular FSC channel broadcasts on my TV are very difficult to watch. Thanks for the update.

Also, I wanted to test my new log in capabilities.

Wig

by Angus Podgorny on Dec 27, 2009 6:03 PM PST reply actions

Soccer might be the 2nd best sport to convert to HD

Hockey, which I don’t like, and rarely watch, is the best. The larger screen format is ideal for it.

Football, nor baseball, nor basketball, have changed their camera techniques for the wider ratio.

Soccer benefits in that you can see more of the pitch, gaining greater awareness of off-ball movements and formation shifts.

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Dec 27, 2009 6:09 PM PST up reply actions

Move to HD

This is a huge move for FSC, but it will be interesting to see how it pans out in local markets. Don Garber made the announcement in Seattle that ALL MLS matches would be broadcast in HD in 2010 and the FSC announcement (long overdue) fits in perfectly.

I still wonder what will happen with direct kick and coverage in local markets, consider that FSC and ESPN cover two matches a week of MLS action, that will leave 6 matches each weekend that have to rely on local coverage in HD and in some markets I just worry about that reality. Dallas, KC, San Jose, Denver had the worst of the broadcasts last year from a quality of picture perspective and I worry if they will find someone local to broadcast in HD for them and has MLS inked deals to have them as part of Direct Kick? What about Telefutura, worse picture quality offered for MLS, will they be broadcasting in 2010? Will it be HD?

Love the news, just waiting to see it actually fulfilled correctly.

by denz on Dec 28, 2009 1:39 PM PST reply actions

Maybe back to HDNet?

Also, Seattle always has an HD crew at the games, as does Houston.

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Dec 28, 2009 2:53 PM PST up reply actions

But where does it go?

Direct Kick had no HD options in 2009, so no matter what the match was shot in, outside of the local market it was broadcast in crapavision. Heck nothing was worse than the one camera views from KC, most of their matches were so painful to watch because of the broadcast quality that few noticed the poor onfield performance.

by denz on Dec 30, 2009 3:55 PM PST up reply actions