Daily Breeze Staff Writer Donna Littlejohn has more on the story here.
We will have a further update later today.
The eight-team tournament, which various sources began to report earlier this week, will also include Italian clubs Inter Milan and Juventus, as well as Real Madrid, while the other four participants will be named May 7.
The tournament opens July 27 in Europe. Los Angeles is scheduled to host a semifinal the weekend of Aug. 3-4.
Los Angeles-based Fox Soccer will televise 11 of the tournament’s 12 games live, including the Aug. 7 final, in one of its final events before folding after losing EPL and MLS broadcast rights in recent months.
“It is an honor for the Galaxy to be able to represent Major League Soccer against some of the world’s top clubs in the inaugural Guinness International Champions Cup,” Galaxy President Chris Klein said, “Our fans are accustomed to seeing their team take on the world’s elite club teams in summer friendlies and we are excited to be able to continue that tradition here in the Southern California as well as in other cities throughout the United States.”
Former Galaxy striker Alan Gordon, right, has become the latest MLS player suspended for a gay slur (Daily Breeze file photo).
The Torrance father-in-law of New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis s fighting for his life after being critically injured in the wake of Monday’s twin Boston bomb blasts (AP File Photo).
Every now and again the brutal realities of terrorism intrude upon sports. This time it’s affected a Torrance family related via marriage to former Galaxy goalkeeper Matt Reis.
I have on occasion casually chatted with Reis’ mother-in-law, who is very proud of the accomplishments of her daughter’s husband. Now Reis’ father-in-law has become swept up in Monday’s terrorist attack, as Staff Writer Donna Littlejohn reports in this story.
Sending well-wishes to family of alums Nicole (Odom) Reis (@uclasoftball) & Matt Reis (@uclamsoccer). Nicole’s father was injured in Boston.
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) April 16, 2013
Now I’m extra pissed “@nerevolution: #NERevs‘ Matt Reis’ father-in-law was injured in today’s explosion & family has requested privacy.”
— Rob Stone (@RobStoneONFOX) April 16, 2013
Updated:
The Kraft Family, which owns the Revs and the NFL Patriots, announced today they will match $100,000 in donations for victims of the bombing:
The New England Patriots and New England Revolution Charitable Foundations will collect donations online, with funds earmarked to assist with victim recovery. Donations can be made at Patriots.com/donate or RevolutionSoccer.net/donate (please note “Boston Marathon” in field provided).
A slightly different column format debuts today intended to touch on a few more local soccer-related items each week rather than featuring a longer essay on a single topic.
Read it here and let me know what you think.
By the way, is it just me or aside from the Galaxy’s two entertaining CONCACAF Champions League games have we seen some poor games so far this year at Home Depot Center (and I blame the two local clubs’ quality of MLS opponents rather than them for the most part)?
In other Galaxy news, it appears a new international tournament will debut this summer that reportedly will include MLS’ flagship franchise, although whether this is any different from the usual procession of summer friendlies featuring out of shape stars and young prospects remains to be seen.
Before the explosions in Boston today, both ABC (on Nightline) and CNN were scheduled to air the first U.S. television interviews with Robbie Rogers of Rolling Hills Estates.
After today’s events I’m unsure whether the interviews will still air as scheduled, but above is an excerpt from the ABC interview with correspondent Amy Robach.
In Dallas, the conclusion of the game flattered to deceive and a terse Galaxy coach Bruce Arena had little to say about it.
Watch:
The Chivas USA-Colorado Rapids contest, in contrast, got worse as it progressed.
“@grantwahl: Starting to wonder why I’m up at 12:20 am watching Chivas-Colorado.”Us too and it’s only 9:22 p.m. in the press box.
— Nick Green (@LAsoccerblog) April 14, 2013
Staff Writer Phil Collin had the game story.
Quotable: “It was a well-deserved loss,” said Chivas USA coach Chelis via an interpreter. “We did not put a fight. We did not have enough strength and believe me, I’m very happy with the loss because this is a sport, and in sports, the one who’s more decisive is the one who takes the win. Today, my team wasn’t decisive, we didn’t have ideas and we presented a poor performance.”
I’ll spare you the lowlights. Here is the game’s pivotal moment: