MLS Expansion And Development

VIDEO - Beckham scores match-winner for LA

from MLSNet,

Goals from David Beckham and Edson Buddle led the Galaxy to a 2-0 victory against Toronto FC on Saturday at The Home Depot Center. Beckham provided the spark for LA all evening, putting his side ahead in the ninth minute before assisting Buddle on the second goal...

Match Report

Related articles,

"LA's team effort slams door on TFC"

"Settled squads rise toward top of table"

VIDEO - Beckham's goal (Fox Sports Net)

from The Official LA Galaxy Blog,

Post-match quotes from both teams' players and coaches

VIDEO - Vote for MLS Goal of the Week

VIDEO - 

All 5 finalists for round 24; in order shown here:

RSL's Fabian Espindola - DC's Bryan Namoff - LA's David Beckham -

Revs' Wells Thompson - RBNY's Dane Richards.

Voting page

VIDEOS - Beckham scores SuperClásico winner

A chip off the turf by David Beckham from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 80th minute Saturday gave the LA Galaxy a 1-0 win over Chivas USA and a SuperClásico trophy...

features from MLSNet and ESPN,

Match Report 

VIDEOS -

Official highlights from ESPN, (5:24 min.)

Beckham's One Touch "Quick Kicks" highlights from the match 

Beckham's goal as seen live on ESPN...

...and as seen live on ESPN Deportes...

DYNAMO's Brian Ching, USWNT's Natasha Kai included in Hawai'ian athletes Top 10

from Most Valuable Network,

The USA's 50th state Hawai'i marks 50 years of statehood...

Currently, two of the top Hawai'ian-born athletes excel in pro soccer: Brian Ching of the USA Men's national team is also a three-time MLS Cup champion, and Natasha Kai of the USA Women's National Team is a 2008 Olympic champion and 2009 WPS champion...

As you might imagine, surfing is the primary sport in which Hawai'ians dominate professionally.  However, because of the fact that the 'father of modern baseball' settled in Hawai'i, that sport is also one in which Hawai'i has a proud heritage; numerous MLB World Series champions were Hawai'i-born and bred (including, most recently, Shane Victorino of the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies).

The U.S. Postal Service even chose sports as the theme for their new stamp honoring the state's 50 years of statehood.

Here are great links celebrating the athletes and sporting culture of Hawai'i...

ENJOY =)

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"50/50: Fifty Hawaiian-born athletes (current and former)"

"Through the Ages: The history of female surfers"

"50/50: USPS honors Hawaiian sporting legacy"

"Through the Ages: Ancient Hawai'ian (surf)board building" 

"...Hawaii's influence on our national pasttime"

Major League Baseball players born in Hawai'i

Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame Official Website

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Main Story Source Link

UPDATES - Donovan's bout with Swine Flu

By request, some of the best links on Donovan's H1N1 status since the original SI.com article. These updates follow the progression from Friday to Sunday...

Donovan's status is unclear (MLSNet.com)

US Soccer takes precuationary steps (US Soccer)

USMNT teammate Steve Cherundolo quarantined by Hannover 96 (Inside World Soccer)

Read the original SI.com article, more at the main Story Source Link

( UPDATE: Those who read the previous post know that Landon Donovan played for the Galaxy last night - the entire half of the match versus Seattle Sounders FC - at The Home Depot Center.  Just two days earlier, Donovan had been diagnosed with Swine Flu caused by the H1N1 virus, which he contracted prior to departure to Mexico for the USMNT's World Cup qualifier there.  Previous post on Saturday night's match includes Donovan's post-match video comments on his condition and playing time... )

VIDEOS - GALAXY's unbeaten streak ends

from MLSNet,

Seattle Sounders FC took advantage of a shorthanded LA Galaxy side on Saturday night, as Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero tallied goals in a 2-0 win at The Home Depot Center...

Match Report

Article, "Beckham's red card puts Donovan into fray"

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VIDEOS -

Beckham's red card in the 17th minute ...

With David Beckham gone and his team facing a disadvantage, LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena resorted to putting Landon Donovan into the game at the start of the second half, substituting him for Stefani Migliorzani. Donovan has been recovering this week from a Swine Flu infection...

Official highlights from Fox Sports Net, (5:21 min) ...

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"This Week Inside the Galaxy"

Official TV promo for the match 

Team USA's Donovan has Swine Flu

excerpt from Sports Illustrated,

Donovan learned of the H1N1 diagnosis on Thursday afternoon, the day after he played 90 minutes in the U.S.'s 2-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Mexico in Mexico City. Even though Mexico has been the epicenter of the global H1N1 outbreak, Donovan said that he contracted the virus in the United States.

Donovan assisted on Charlie Davies' ninth-minute goal that gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead, but Donovan had little impact on the game after that. Usually the U.S.'s fittest and fastest player, Donovan appeared tired midway through the first half and trailed behind Mexico's Efraín Juarez on the run that resulted in Mexico's decisive 82nd-minute goal.

"I haven't felt that way in a game in a long time," Donovan said from Los Angeles. "During the game and even after the game I thought maybe it was the altitude, the heat, whatever. But even so I've never felt that bad. The last time I was there [at Estadio Azteca] I didn't feel that bad. I just felt lethargic, slow. I didn't feel normal."

More... ( http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/grant_wahl/08/13/donovan.flu.ap/ ) 

SPECIAL - Team USA countdown to MEXICO

MEXICO v USA,

Wednesday, August 12 | ESTADIO AZTECA 

3 pm CT

U.S. TV: mun2 (English) / Telemundo (both English and Spanish available).

ESPN will provide unprecedented studio coverage, highlighted by a 30-minute SportsCenter 2010 FIFA WCQ Special, beginning at 2:30 pm CT.

 

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from US Soccer,

"Qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup returns to focus for the U.S. Men’s National Team ahead of the sixth of 10 qualifying matches for South Africa on Wednesday, Aug. 12, against Mexico. The match, which will be broadcast live on mun2, Telemundo, and the Futbol de Primera Radio Networks, kicks off at 3 p.m. CT from the famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City."

Official USMNT Match Preview

Article, "Estadio Azteca: The ultimate homefield advantage"

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VIDEOS -

A Football Report - AFR met with Landon Donovan after he was named Man of the Match in a 2-1 win over New England at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, August 9. Landon also talked about the upcoming challenge of facing USA's bitter rivals, Mexico, on Wednesday, August 12, in WCQ...

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ESPN Deportes - "Rivalidad" is a preview of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday, August 12, in Mexico City. Mexico sit in fourth place, on the bubble for WCQ, and feel this is a must-win on their home soil, with over 100,000 on hand to watch in Azteca Stadium...

(Spanish-language)

Expansion News - Latest photos of Philly stadium

from MLSNet,

Major League Soccer's newest team, Philadelphia Union, begins play in 2010.

Their new home, a state-of-the-art soccer stadium in Chester, PA, is beginning to take shape.

Here, the latest official MLS/Philadelphia Union images from the construction site...

Photo Gallery

( http://footballblips.dailyradar.com/story/pics_mls_philadelphia_union_home/ )

VIDEOS - GALAXY extend unbeaten streak

from MLSNet.com, "The Galaxy extended their unbeaten streak to six matches after a 2-1 win against New England at Gillette Stadium. LA forward Landon Donovan opened the scoring at 21' with a sumptuous far-post volley.  Jovan Kirovski doubled the advantage six minutes after the break." 

Match Report

VIDEOS -

Landon Donovan's goal

Jovan Kirovski's goal

Official highlights from Fox Soccer Channel, (4:58 min.) ...