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Around SBN: Win or Lose, Boston Celtics' New Big 3 Era A Success

Mere hours after the US Women reaffirm their dominance in the CONCACAF Olympics Qualifying tournament, WPS has announced the cancellation of their 2012 season.

This is not entirely surprising considering the well publicized struggles with the owners of MagicJack reducing the league to only 5 teams (FIFA guidelines specify a minimum of 8 teams to be considered a league). Expected or not, it is a sad confirmation.

Yesterday we watched Alex Morgan run circles around the Canadian defense. We watched Abby Wambach use brilliant positioning to create open goals. We watched Hope Solo stand her ground against a world class Canadian offense.

Today, they are all unemployed.

4 months ago Sounders_tiny SounderJunkie 21 comments 0 recs  | 

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Bummer

I wonder if it would be possible to work something out for USWNT players to play in the W-League and have their salaries subsidized by USSF (since most of the money to be made in women’s soccer seems to be at the national level.) Even if it was just a one-year deal in order for WPS to get back on its feet, it might be a good way to promote the W-League.

by ubelmann on Jan 30, 2012 12:08 PM PST reply actions  

A lot of these women are in a real jam ...

… because the European transfer window closes tomorrow, which means they won’t have enough time to sign new contracts. I hope some of them do choose to play with W-League sides.

I mean, how awesome would it be to have Hope Solo and Honorary Sounder Alex Morgan playing at Starfire? Unbelievably fracking awesome.

by The King of Norway on Jan 30, 2012 12:14 PM PST reply actions  

It wouldn't have to be honorary anymore if she was on the Sounder's women team.

But I’m fairly certain that no w-league players actually make enough to survive without additional income. Hope Solo would almost certainly be fine based off of endorsements alone, but I don’t know about the rest of the team.

Sounders 'til I die

by SounderJunkie on Jan 30, 2012 1:08 PM PST up reply actions  

Thank you magicJackass.

I think we all know where this is heading, so RIP WPS. But I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if FIFA granted teams a brief extension to the window if any European clubs asked for one, due to the level of talent suddenly available due to WPS’ collapse.

by BroadwayJoeFYVM on Jan 30, 2012 3:27 PM PST reply actions  

It wasn't a surprise to anybody that had followed his company's behaviour in the past.

Discussing their competition in such mature terms as:

It’s a piece of shit. It has static. The call quality is pathetic. There’s no phone numbers available, and it’s run by a bunch of fly-by-nights with no assets. They’ll be bankrupt soon. We’re a real company with the best network and best software.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/nettalk-challenges-magicjack-gets-slammed-by-magicjack-founder/

Or, suing anybody who points out that your terms of use are secretive and yet very invasive.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/magicjack-sues-boing-boing-gets-bounced-out-of-court/

Or, skipping out on the 911 fees that every other phone or voip provider has to pay into.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/florida-county-commission-says-magicjack-skipped-out-on-911-fees/

Sounders 'til I die

by SounderJunkie on Jan 30, 2012 3:51 PM PST up reply actions   1 recs

Seriously!

I bought a magicjack before moving overseas, and quite frankly, the thing is the biggest piece of garbage I’ve ever owned. I actually gave up and started using phone cards to call back to the US. Having VOIP where the software does not allow you to make hardly any changes to settings (and an awful voicemail where you can’t control the amount of rings without hacking it), with a splash screen that stays up for what seems like forever when you start up the computer… well, it pretty much makes it aggravating to the point of uselessness. It’s one thing if those issues weren’t there before I left the country, or if the company had even the slightest amount of customer service, but it’s always been awful. Cheap, yeah (although they’ve been spamming a lot lately about their new product that doesn’t fix any of the old product’s issues, really, and is more expensive), but you get what you pay for. I’d be shocked if the company exists for as many as five more years, because I’m sure they aren’t getting an awful lot of repeat business.

You do all the work for us, Honey Badger, and we'll just eat whatever you find.

by mistuhp on Jan 30, 2012 4:40 PM PST up reply actions  

I'd like to think there's a simple fix

Put three teams in Cascadia, one in LA and one in San Francisco to create a five team west division with a total of 10 teams. Teams regularly only play the teams in their division, with perhaps 3-5 trips to the other coast each year. Keeps the costs down while expanding to proven soccer markets.

by Agent_J on Jan 30, 2012 3:58 PM PST reply actions  

I would debate the fact that San Francisco is a "proven soccer market".

The Earthquakes don’t exactly pull in the crowds and that is the closest MLS team.

There is also no guarantee that the success for the MLS men will do anything for a Women’s team in the same area.

Sounders 'til I die

by SounderJunkie on Jan 30, 2012 4:47 PM PST up reply actions  

San Jose plays in a 10k stadium

and averages a sell-out.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
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by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2012 4:59 PM PST up reply actions   1 recs

I'll have to take your word on them averaging a sellout.

I’ve been two 2 games in San Jose and neither of them seemed to have full stands. I guess it must have something to do with how they sell the seats.

Either way, it will almost certainly be better if they can get that new stadium built.

Sounders 'til I die

by SounderJunkie on Jan 30, 2012 9:36 PM PST up reply actions  

Earthquakes fans also got jerked around in the SJ to Houston move

Do you think the NBA in Seattle would be an especially easy sale after the OKC fiasco?

by ubelmann on Jan 31, 2012 9:59 AM PST up reply actions  

Didn't the capacity get capped due to the Santa Clara campus.

Like it was going to be expanded to 12k, but then the school said 10k or something like that? I might have heard that in a bar after several very good dark beers, reliability factor 2 out of 5.

by chrisso on Jan 31, 2012 10:11 AM PST up reply actions  

Even the Oregonian called San Jose the best soccer market in the US, based on some self-determined factors

It is true that there’s no guarantee, but if a women’s league is to thrive, they might as well AT LEAST put teams where soccer is already big. Or are you arguing that Atlanta was a good starting point?

by Agent_J on Jan 30, 2012 5:59 PM PST up reply actions  

On a side note

It would be sweet if there was an MLS team actually located in San Fran

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Jan 31, 2012 9:13 AM PST up reply actions   1 recs

This would be awesome!

Really, any plan that could result in having Alex Morgan in a Sounders uniform for real, and I’m game.

by bago'juice on Jan 30, 2012 7:30 PM PST up reply actions  

As good as Alex Morgan is,

I feel like getting Hope Solo the chance to play at home is an even higher priority.

Sounders 'til I die

by SounderJunkie on Jan 30, 2012 9:37 PM PST up reply actions  

Terrible news

Though not surprising. I hope it works out for the USWNT players.

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Jan 31, 2012 9:14 AM PST reply actions  

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