Wednesday Quick Kicks: Hall Honors Hartman & More
Briefly:
*Former Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, a product of UCLA, has donated his game-worn jersey and gloves from the Kansas City Wizards' March 28 game against the Colorado Rapids that saw him set an MLS record mark of 1,137 saves to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
"Every player dreams of being in the Hall of Fame," said Hartman, who attended high school on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. "I don't know if I'll get elected, but a piece of my history is there and that's very special to me."
Hartman played 10 years in L.A. before joining the Wizards in 2007. He has played in 305 MLS regular season games, has an MLS record 77 shutouts and an MLS record 138 wins.
*The U.S. moved up two places in the latest FIFA rankings released today, while Mexico dropped two places to 25th, just behind Scotland. Spain still leads. The complete rankings.
*Chivas USA has unveiled a "Stimulus Plan" (presumably to stimulate the club's anemic attendance) that gets a fan into six games for just $50. The six: Seattle Sounders (April 18 & June 6); Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire (May 28); the Galaxy (July 11); Juan Pablo Angel's New York Red Bulls (Sept. 26), and Fan Appreciation Night on the last day of the regular season against the Houston Dynamo (Oct. 25). Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.
*Finally, the WPS Sol has reportedly already sold more than 4,000 tickets for its next game April 19 against FC Gold Pride at Home Depot Center. The Sol are offering a $49 family four ticket pack for the game. Call 1-877-4-SOLTIX.
Read the full story here about Sol GM Charlie Naimo's East Coast roots.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
The Hartman trade is still one that the gaLAxy has not recovered from. He was a great club goalkeeper and passionate leader we sorely miss. Hats off to him for this achievement.