Part 1 of our Q&A can be seen here. In the second part, Arlo talks about replacing Seattle-announcing icon Kevin Calabro, discusses his early career and gives us a lesson on cricket.

S@H: You were hired to essentially replace Kevin Calabro, who was a bit of a Seattle announcing icon. Was that difficult or did you think the audience was just ready to have a soccer guy?

AW: I think people wanted a soccer guy. But I’m aware of Kevin's work. I listen to his show on 710 ESPN. I watched a couple of DVDs from last season. I’m aware of his NBA work.

I was at the Super Bowl in February, and I was doing my research, the night before the Sunday game and he was announcing an NBA game, I think Chicago was involved -- I like Chicago sports for my sins -- and there was a flying dunk by Luol Deng or someone and he went bananas. It was just brilliant. He made it sound so exciting. He has an amazing voice for a broadcaster, you just want that larynx -- where do you buy one of those? He has that gravelly voice, a great turn of phrase, he’s a tremendous sports broadcaster. So filling those shoes was a daunting prospect and I continue to have the utmost respect for him as a sports broadcaster.

Seattle is lucky to have someone like him. I know the Sonics are gone, but we still have his 710 work and I gather he’s doing quite a lot of ESPN work.

Continue reading this post »

When Arlo White was announced as successor to Kevin Calabro as Sounders announcer in February, he was met with some mixed feelings.

On one hand, the Sounders had hired someone with soccer pedigree, having both hosted a studio show and announced matches for the BBC.

On the other, he was replacing a Seattle-announcing legend. Whatever soccer diehards thought of Calabro's work during the inaugural season, his presence provided an undeniable level of legitimacy to the unconverted.  In contrast, White was a relatively unknown commodity to most Seattle-area fans, and the team drew criticisms in some circles for hiring a Brit.

Two-thirds of the way through his first season, I think it's safe to say White has clearly stepped beyond anyone's shadow. He has shown himself to be highly informed, impeccably researched and, in my opinion, a near perfect fit for this soccer community.

In a medium dominated by over-the-top jingoism, his subtlety and honesty are breaths of fresh air. That smooth accent is punctuated with pitch-perfect enunciation, and he even makes a point of getting the pronunciations of names and places correct, all habits that are unfortunately rare in the world of play-by-play announcing. He artfully straddles the line between omnipotent observer and subtle homer, rarely questioning motives and often coming to the defense of referees, but never being ambiguous about which side he supports.

If there's been one complaint about the announcing this season, it is that too many Sounders games have been picked up by national broadcasts. Sitting through ESPN's talking heads is bad enough, but being subjected to the clowns at FSC is downright intolerable when you're used to White's sweet mutterings.

White was amazingly gracious with his time when he sat down with me for about half-an-hour during a Sounders training session at Starfire. Our conversation focused mainly on his impressions of MLS, Seattle and Sounders fans, but touched on bits of his personal history and his desire to be here long enough to see the Sounders win multiple trophies.

Rather than subject you to one long interview, I've split this into two parts. Part 2, where he talks about replacing Calabro, his early career and even gives us a lesson the rules of cricket, is here.  

Continue reading this post »

Two teams are being added to MLS in 2011

Portland got a kit sponsor | I feel like it should be Horizon Air, because aren't they Alaska's little brother?

Vancouver announced their coach | This was a Teitur v. Yallop, and one was available. A great choice for our nothern brethern.

Will the USA, Canada and Mexico all have players counting as domestics next year? Is NAFTA really going to be that big of an influence on the sport? Will MLS use this rule as a way to help the Canadian teams overall, and help the league as well. It would also anger the FMF a bit, and that may be a plus too.

World Cup hosts will be known, and the USA passes 1 Million. If you haven't yet, please register your support for the USA an Seattle.

USSF Division Two will be in major flux as the NASL bid is in with 6 for-certains (minus Edmonton?) and 4 who-knows, and what about Austin, will Rochester stay in D2, or move to D3?

We'll know how good adding two officials actually does, as the Champions League will have tried it.

Will Versus become NBC Sports, and will MLS be on it? [correction made from earlier, thanks to readers who are also editors, because I missed it twice]

Oh, and tickets are on sale for the US Open Cup Final. Oct. 5 is time for Trophy #2 in the Sounders young history. Get your seats and watch the Rave Green win a title.

More photos » Otto Greule Jr - Getty Images

Browse more photos »

I was inspired to write on Montero by Kirsten's post on Seattle regional. Thankfully, we can go into a little more depth on tactics and formations here, so I can build off what she's already written.

It's funny how fast things can change. Barely four months ago, Sounders fans were calling for Fredy Montero's head, and now we're all writing him love notes. So what's changed? It certainly appears that he's playing with more passion, more fire, but those are weak explanations used to deflect questions rather than attempt to answer them. Montero is probably a little fitter, yes, but hard work and improved stamina alone do not explain the amazing transformation we've seen from the 23 year-old Colombian, who has metamorphosed into a leading league MVP candidate despite spending the entire first half doing more or less nothing.

July 11th was the turnaround point for the team's season. In the three games prior to the 1-1 draw against FC Dallas, the Seattle Sounders had managed to lose to DC United at home and then to the Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles Galaxy away. Since, they have secured seventeen out of twenty-one possible points in MLS play, and they did it while playing beautiful, fluid football. Montero was at the centre of it all.

What else happened on July 11th? A certain highly-paid player who had featured prominently for Seattle was dropped from the lineup - for good. In his absence, Montero has taken on the role of creative attacker along with his habit of poaching goals, inserting himself into the very middle of all the Sounders' best moves. It's hard to dispute the evidence here; no sooner was the other player off the field than Fredy was on fire.

Continue reading this post »

More photos » Otto Greule Jr - Getty Images

This was the last time Sounders fans got to see Mike Fucito play. Their next opportunity could come soon.

Browse more photos »

When last we saw Mike Fucito, he was jumping into the arms of teammates while celebrating what would turn out to be a game-winning goal against the Kansas City Wizards.

That was April 17.

Within days of that score, it was learned that Fucito had hurt his knee during the match (but not during the celebration) and would likely miss some time. But his knee refused to heal and he eventually had to undergo surgery in late May.

Fucito ended up spending about four months on the injury list before being activated before the match at Marathon. He made his first appearance on the 18-man gameday roster during the home match against Monterrey and is practicing at full speed. It seems only a matter of time before he returns  to the field.

I had a relatively brief discussion with him today and wanted to share it in a Q&A format:

Q: How are you feeling these days?

A: Good, good.

Continue reading this post »

More photos » Victor Decolongon - Getty Images

Nyassi to Sprint the Touchline in National Colors

Browse more photos »

Just as Steve Zakuani was to return to his starting role, and bump Sanna Nyassi back to a frequent sub, Nyassi's nation has called him for an upcoming qualifer for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Press Release Below the Break

Continue reading this post »

So excited they sent me a press release (I am not normally on this email distro list).

It is important to realize that in a bad economy that has seen sponsorship dollars falling that MLS' teams will basically be getting 50% more per year. The relationship with Generation Adidas will continue as well, and there may be money, or other compensation for the upcoming Reserve League.

MLS did well here, in light of the economy. The release is below the break.

Continue reading this post »

Standard Line v High Line Forcing Offside

View full size photo »

Graham and I have been chatting about this quite a bit lately, and thankfully it came up in the game against the Chicago Fire. You see, the high line is a way to counter a threatening target forward by using the threat of the offside trap to pull someone like a Blaise Nkufo away from the 18.

Maybe we should rewind a bit.

What is a typical Defensive Line?

A typical defensive line probably floats around 18-30 yards away from the goal, getting pulled back forth through the flow of the match, but more often closer to the keeper than not. A coach might use this tactic because they figure that they have slower defenders, or that their keeper is particularly vulnerable to one-on-one play. It provides the most help for the defensive unit because it cuts down the area that the defenders must cover.

So what is the High Line?

Continue reading this post »