I don’t have much of an intro for you today, so I’ll fall back on an old stand-by: complaining about the weather. For the second year in a row, we didn’t get a graceful transition into late fall, which is another way of saying we didn’t really get our region’s traditional best month of weather for the second straight year. It’s 37 degrees this morning as I type this, which is Thanksgiving weather. It’s too early for frost warnings.
D.C. United’s 2019 kit sponsorship could be one of the league’s most lucrative | The Athletic
D.C. United could garner a $5 million/year shirt sponsor, and along with the rest of MLS may also be selling ad space on their sleeve. While the list includes some companies that aren’t exactly admired for their actions, there aren’t any pyramid schemes in there.
Evaluating Audi Field’s Impact on D.C. United, Three Months In | Washington City Paper
Jason Levien seems pretty pleased with how everything is going right now.
Reflections on the weird, the wild & the Wayne of 2018 DC United | MLSsoccer.com
We’re probably going to be talking about these past three months for a long, long time.
Four thoughts on D.C. United’s vital 1-0 win over Toronto FC | Black and Red United
Chris Durkin, Nick DeLeon, and (obviously) Wayne Rooney get some praise here, and I also had time to look back over United’s history for other runs of form like the Black-and-Red are currently on.
ExtraTime Radio: Gianluca Busio leads the way as playoffs come into focus | MLSsoccer.com
If you need a podcast first thing this morning, there’s plenty of United discussion on ETR. If you need one in a few hours, we should have a new episode of Filibuster coming soon.
Oniel Fisher went under the knife yesterday:
Though routine is unavoidable, the USWNT wins without superstitions | The Athletic
I go with something similar to Alex Morgan, putting my shinguards, socks, and shoes on one leg before the other. But maybe Megan Rapinoe’s red gummy bears are a good idea...
Speaking of USWNT-related good ideas, you can get a shirt stating a Rose Lavelle fact while supporting a good cause:
Support a great foundation while wearing a very factual shirt.
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) October 18, 2018
All profits from the 'Rose Lavelle is good at soccer' shirt go to the Maddie Potts Foundation
Learn more about the foundation: https://t.co/xqX3PRKE8O
Buy your shirt: https://t.co/iY7VC68VyL
(via @iammattcote)
Everyone likes good goals, right? Check out this goal from two towns over by Spirit Academy player Brenda Aleman:
Everyone does not like bad news about former United players. Chris Pontius is done for the year due to a groin injury:
Winger Chris Pontius will miss the rest of the season with @LAGalaxy. His groin injury likely will require surgery, head coach Dominic Kinnear says. Giovani Dos Santos has been out training the last few days, could play vs. Houston in regular-season finale.
— Scott French (@ScottJFrench) October 18, 2018
The United States won Concacaf qualifying but Panama GK Yenith Bailey stole the show (and our hearts) | Stars and Stripes FC
Pulling the curtain back a bit, Yenith Bailey was the talk of the press box before United’s win over TFC. It’s not clear what’s next for her beyond Panama’s playoff against Argentina, but Bailey has the raw talent to be a truly special player if she ends up in the right environment.
Kristi Toliver makes historic debut as Washington Wizards assistant coach | Washington Post
The Wizards didn’t win their season opener last night, but they produced some good news anyway.
That’s all I’ve got for you. Have fun out there.