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Spring is here with a vengeance. and I hope we don’t have to repeat the cold or the results of last Saturday this weekend. I don’t have any fun stories or anything to open this week’s Freedom Kicks, so let’s get straight to the soccer:
#DCU has agreed to a contract extension with center back Steve Birnbaum, per multiple sources with knowledge of the deal. New contract will keep Birnbaum among the higher-paid American CBs in MLS.
— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) March 4, 2020
Steven Birnbaum has been part of the bedrock of this team for years now, and at this rate he may be a D.C. United lifer. I would feel pretty good about that.
D.C. United's @RussellCanouse has signed a 3-year contract extension and received a "significant raise," two people close to the talks said. Earned $247,000 last year. #dcu #mls
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) March 4, 2020
Good to see that Canouse will get a big raise, stick around DC for awhile, and that the team will hopefully get a nice payday should they sell him in the next few years.
Jordan DiBiasi on her first USWNT call-up — Just Women’s Sports
The Washington Spirit’s Jordan DiBiasi talks about her first time with the US women’s national team.
Major League Soccer examining ways to shorten lengthy offseason | Pro Soccer USA
Please yes. This offseason felt like a thousand years long.
This is wild.
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 4, 2020
A woman in Guadalajara is accusing ex DC United playmaker (and current Atlas player) Luciano Acosta of arranging an assault against her, to keep their alleged affair quiet.
She’s gone to the authorities & he’s being sought out for questioning. https://t.co/S2f75S7lqU
This is a wild story out of Mexico, where a woman is accusing Luciano Acosta of arranging an assault to try and destroy her phone and intimidate her, all so that they can keep their alleged affair quiet. With it all so up in the air, we will let you know if there are any updates.
Ronaldinho had his passport confiscated by the Brazilian government in November 2018 for building a sugar mill with a fishing platform and a pier on Lake Guaíba without permission.
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) March 5, 2020
After failing to pay the $2.3m ordered by the government, he had his passport confiscated.
Speaking of wild stories, Ronaldinho has been arrested for having a fake passport, andit has come out that he only has $6.59 in the bank.
TURN UP THE VOLUME @TimHowardGK is ready to #DefendMemphis
— Memphis 901 FC (@Memphis901FC) March 4, 2020
Memphis 901 FC part-owner and sporting director Tim Howard is now part-owner, sporting-director, and player Tim Howard.
That’s all I have today. What’s up?