Monday Kicks: Galaxy close to signing OC 16-year-old to pro contract & more
*Just a month after turning 16, Newport Beach Galaxy Youth Academy product Jack McBean, currently in his first semester at the U.S. U-17 academy in Bradenton, Fl., is reportedly
poised to sign a professional contract with the Galaxy.
McBean scored nine goals in 10 games for the Galaxy's U-15/U-16 team last season, which is coached by Kenny Arena, son of Galaxy coach and GM Bruce Arena.
Signing a pro contract with the Galaxy would put McBean in the same company as Van Nuys striker Tristan Bowen (now with Chivas USA, of course), who became the first academy product to sign a pro contract with the team in November 2008 and midfielder Memo Gonzalez, who became one of the youngest players in MLS history when the Galaxy drafted him in 2003 at age 16 to a lucrative contract. Gonzalez is now out of the pro game at age 25, a cautionary tale if there ever was one.
*Chivas USA, meanwhile, will soon find out how much former player Panchito Mendoza has left in the tank after a couple of years in Mexico.
*Lastly, the U.S. women have everything to play for Tuesday against China at the Four Nations Tournament after beating Canada 1-0 Sunday. Coach Pia Sundhage swung the axe after the opening U.S. loss to Sweden Friday with Torrance's Shannon Boxx, virtually an ever-present at defensive midfielder since 2003, one of the victims. In contrast, Diamond Bar's Alex Morgan was a beneficiary, getting her first international start.
The U.S. lineup: Nicole Barnhart, Brittany Taylor, Becky Sauerbrunn, Christie Rampone (capt.), (Rachel Buehler, 46), Stephanie Cox; Kelley O'Hara (Meghan Klingenberg, 78) Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd (Yael Averbuch, 66), Megan Rapinoe (Lindsay Tarpley, 31); Amy Rodriguez (Lauren Cheney, 46), Alex Morgan
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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.
I dunno. With a name like Jack McBean, he's got to be a star.