4-1-3-Sam-1: D.C. United & Sundry Soccer Links for 8 July 2016

Ehrmigerd. This is the first Freedom Kicks of the Lloyd Sam era.

D.C. United acquires Lloyd Sam from New York Red Bulls - WaPo: Goff's piece on the acquisition that made the loud ::click:: noise in D.C.

D.C. United website spells welcomes 'Llyod Sam' - ESPN FC: A little too excited over at dcunited.com. They may have been trying to beat B&RU to the punch.

Red Bulls trade midfielder Lloyd Sam to D.C. United | NJ.com: D.C. United's gain is also the gain of one young Alex Muyl, an NYRB homegrown talent.

Reports: Lloyd Sam traded from New York Red Bulls to DC United - Once A Metro: Here's the short take from sister site Once a Metro.

Armchair Analyst: Three questions following the Lloyd Sam trade | MLSsoccer.com: Personally, yes, I think the change of scenery will do Sam good.

Preview: Union vs DC United - The Philly Soccer Page: This Philly writer gives mad props to our team, especially Hamid, with lots of short videos from last week's game vs. RSL.

D.C. United Goalie Bill Hamid is 'unbelievable' in comeback - WaPo: Did Jurgen Klinsmann light a fire under Bill Hamid? How exactly do you light a fire on the surface of the sun?

Parity is failing Major League Soccer - Brotherly Game: Speaking of Philly, Brotherly Game had this piece on parity a few weeks back. It's main point is that the emphasis on parity within MLS comes at the expense of faster growth of quality for some teams within MLS. But really, would we enjoy watching a few teams constantly trounce most of the other teams?

The Godfathers: Bruce Arena & Sigi Schmid | MLS Insider presented by adidas | MLSsoccer.com: Fun little video doc!

MLS Attendance: Analyzing 2016 So Far: Fansided: Average attendance overall is down slightly from last year.

Soccer | Crew: Players critical of youth clubs' lawsuit | The Columbus Dispatch: This lawsuit is crazy. End single entity, and then let's talk.

Washington Spirit Hosts 4th Place Chicago Red Stars on Saturday — Washington Spirit: Tomorrow at 7 pm at the Soccerplex is the Spirit's last home game for a number of weeks. So get your butt there.

U.S. Women's Soccer Players Renew Their Fight for Equal Pay - New York Times: Rapinoe on Gulati: "It's quite frustrating to know that he's making comments that he wants to get a deal done, but he hasn't come to one meeting. I've been to three meetings, flown six hours across the country and interrupted my rehab to come to New York, where he lives. And he can't come to one meeting." It's really time for Gulati to man up for once (pun intended) and do the right thing, or go.

Soccer Star Sydney Leroux Fires Back at Pregnancy-Shaming Trolls - Yahoo Beauty: Yep, Yahoo Beauty, not Sports. File this under "sh*t men don't have to deal with while getting paid more than women."

France vs Portugal: Euro final features Griezmann, Ronaldo: There's a Euro final on Sunday. Vive la France!

Breaking down the best of the best nicknames in international soccer | FOX Sports: The USMNT need a nickname. Commentariat, that's your job.

Russians Call For Disbanding Of National Soccer Team - Radio Free Europe: Now I have an R.E.M. song stuck in my head. Read the source again. And now, so do you.

And your Friday Freedom Kicks treat is this guy's booze cruise story.

Commentariat, be counted!