Mayers: Sounders FC has announced a partnership with the Tacoma Tide to have the local PDL team re-branded as the Sounders FC U-23s.

Discuss!

Awaiting MLS owners vote result. Word was playoffs may move to 2-leg conference semis AND finals, MLS Cup to home of higher-seeded finalist.

Cameron Weaver posted toYou know you grew up in Kent when...
‎1. your first car was a tricked out Honda 2. you think QFC is an acceptable pre-funk spot 3. you say you will never again live in Kent, but then live your entire life in Kent 4. you claim to be from a "rough" city, but you grew up on a farm or in a 5000 sqft house 5. when notable alumni include George Clooney's Vegas fling 6. climbing fences is an average day's event 7. you still wouldn't want to be from anywhere else K-TOWN!

But regardless of where Seattle end up at the end of the season — if they win a third straight US Open Cup, if they qualify for the knockout rounds of the CONCACAF Champions League, even if they finally get past that first round of the MLS Cup playoffs — it’s remarkable to consider how quickly the Sounders have become a force in this league.

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado "I may not have the opportunity in my country, in Colombia. If the opportunity arises in this country, I’m more than willing to take that opportunity."

Sigi Schmid Born in Germany 58 years ago, Schmid moved to California with his family when he was 4 years old. After leading U.C.L.A. to several N.C.A.A. titles, Schmid took the job as an assistant to Bora Milutinovic for the 1994 World Cup. He had success as coach of the Galaxy and later Columbus, taking the Crew to the 2008 title before jumping to expansion Seattle. His teams may not play the most attractive brand of soccer, but you have to have the horses first.

"I’d say we were ok. There’s nothing to jump up and down about but there’s also nothing to panic about. We’re in a decent spot. We’d like to be a little bit better. We’d love to have scored a few more goals and conceded a few less goals. At the same time, you look at someone like Salt Like who’s only conceded five/six goals, they’re thinking ‘ok’.

Obviously LA seem to have been over the last three/four years just consistently the best team. It’s frustrating but at the same time when you look at losing Steve (Zakuani), losing OB (O’Brian White), having Flaco (Alvaro Fernandez) not fit, Mauro missing games … You’re starting Fucito. You’re starting Lamar Neagle and we’re getting results.

We get some guys fit. We make a couple of moves maybe in the window. We’ll see what happens but right now, I’m fairly satisfied with where we are at."

During Wednesday’s demoralizing pinball of a game at Qwest Field, the main reason for the Sounders’ failure to score seemed obvious to we season ticket holders in Section 119. Schmid’s choice at forward, Mike Fucito, couldn’t finish. Schmid’s second-half subs Nate Jaqua and Roger Levesque didn’t have the skill or speed to penetrate Dallas’ defense.

Meanwhile, star Fredy Montero was bracketed by Dallas defenders and, though he ranged from sideline to sideline, didn’t have room to get the ball.

But then I woke up Thursday to read Schmid praising Fucito and scolding Montero. Were we even in the same stadium?

Coca-Cola claims to be the first food-and-beverage company to have signed the World Economic Forum Partnering Against Corruption Initiative, whose "mission is to develop multi-industry principles and practices that will result in a competitive, level playing field, based on integrity, fairness and ethical conduct."

Visa said it recognizes "our responsibility to maintain the highest possible ethical and professional standards" and that it is "committed to working with partners who share our principles and values."

Except when it comes to soccer, apparently.

"Couple Open Cups, playoffs every year, comfortably the best attended team basically ever in MLS, I think we kind of speak for ourselves."