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Good morning! I am subbing today for your regularly scheduled Ryan as we kick of what looks like will be a very rainy week. I tried to get as much grilling done as possible this weekend before the rain, with the classic hamburgers and hot dogs on Saturday and then marinated shrimp yesterday. I love cooking barbecue, which can take all day, but the efficiency of something that takes 15 minutes to become delicious is also great.
There have been Americans playing actual soccer games this week, so let’s dive into it:
Bundesliga: How MLS, United States national team exports fared as games returned | MLSsoccer.com
The Bundesliga resumed play over the weekend, and there were a bunch of USMNT players and MLS graduates involved. The most disappointing part was that Gio Reyna, set to make his first start for Borussia Dortmund, got injured in warmups and was a late scratch.
DaMarcus Beasley’s post-playing career plan? USL franchise owner in Fort Wayne | ESPN
If DaMarcus Beasley can get soccer to work in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a mid-sized city in northeast Indiana, then I think we can finally stop worrying about whether or nor soccer can succeed in this country.
Two sources tell me NWSL is considering tournament format for one month this summer in controlled environment in greater Salt Lake City for all 9 teams. Unclear whether every owner is on board. Sponsors would help defray expenses. Few if any fans allowed. Live streams/TV.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) May 16, 2020
It looks like both of the United States’ top-level professional leagues are looking towards a controlled environment for their restart of play, with MLS possibly in Orlando and the NWSL possibly in Salt Lake City. It makes a ton of sense, limiting travel and reducing costs.
The CPL is also looking into this possibility, which looks like it is becoming a model across US sports.
I had forgotten that RapidMan was back from retirement, and I love it. He’s such a delightful throwback to MLS 1.0, and should never retire again.
That’s all I have this morning, what’s up?