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Major Link Soccer: Estrada's Backstory, Beach Soccer, Friendlies Not Trophies

David Estrada climbs from draft afterthought to leading goalscorer. He's the lead of this week's Major Link Soccer. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
David Estrada climbs from draft afterthought to leading goalscorer. He's the lead of this week's Major Link Soccer. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
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This week's addition of Major Link Soccer should help you get caught up on some of the Seattle Sounders stories we haven't covered here yet. Somehow, despite writing at least three stories a day, multiple FanShots and occasional FanPosts there is still other amazing Sounders related content out there.

Joshua Mayers over at the Seattle Times took a deep look into David Estrada the man, with a particular focus on how he got to the point where he is now the forward partner to Fredy Montero. It is also a reminder that Estrada is beyond humble.

Days later, Schmid asked Estrada if he understood why he had been subbed out of the game.

"Well, I thought it was because I had a yellow card or something," the player answered.

"No," Schmid said. "I wanted you to hear the crowd."

"Oh ... " came the realization.

If you take a look at today's physical paper you'll see just how large a story this is. On a night when the Seattle Mariners hold their home opener a massive amount of column inches is still dedicated to soccer.

National media continues to dive into the retro-active suspensions. MLS executive Nelson Rodriguez talks to Brian Straus of The Sporting News about re-refereeing and efforts to create a safer and more fair version of the game. The League knows that they will not catch every incident. They also know that the referee has the best view of most incidents, but they are willing to use video to help.

Remember when the Sounders Beach Soccer team won the CONCACAF Champions League for that niche sport? No? Didn't think so. The sport is still growing, so that's not how teams are selected. Instead the Club World Cup for Beach Soccer is a group of teams assembled primarily for that tournament only. Seattle seems likely to be participating again, at least according to this report out of El Salvador where one of their greats has signed up to play soccer on the sands of Brazil wearing the Rave Green.

The Top Drawer Soccer 2014 top 150 boys players list is out. If you are looking for a Sounder it's going to take you a while. This collection of U16 players does have several Crossfire Premier players, but only one Sounder.

The eventual expansion to the SouthEast continues to be explored. This time to a place that understands fan passion, away support and with a long history within the lower divisions as league officials went to chat with Carolina Railhawks supporters, leaders and media. Orlando and Raleigh-Durham seemed to have moved ahead of larger TV markets like Miami, Tampa and Atlanta.
Former Sounders draft pick Abdul Aman is one of four players to re-sign with the NorthSound SeaWolves of the PDL. The SeaWolves are another amateur team in the greater Puget Sound that will face the Sounders U23s, as will Crossfire. The Kitsap Pumas are still a pro team in this top amateur league.
While we've been all about Democracy in Sports and Trophies Not Friendlies, there's a different twist down south. Portland Timbers season ticket holders were asked if they wanted their 3rd non-league match ticket to count towards a US Open Cup match or to face Aston Villa. The answer was for the friendly - a third friendly. While this may save Timbers fans money, it also means that they are clearly on the side of Friendlies Not Trophies. Three Friendlies.

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