100 Percent Soccer column: Real stars on show at MLS All-Star game and the return of Sigi Scmid to the LA Galaxy

(Photos courtesy LA Galaxy).

Given today’s news, this week’s 100 Percent Soccer column that was filed Wednesday afternoon before word broke of Sigi Schmid’s Galaxy return, was rather prescient.

Also: Continue reading “100 Percent Soccer column: Real stars on show at MLS All-Star game and the return of Sigi Scmid to the LA Galaxy” »

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100 Percent Soccer Column: Everything you wanted to know about the American soccer fan (if only you had asked)

WChermosaBWorld Cup fans gather for a viewing party in Hermosa Beach; one-third of all American soccer fans only pay attention to big events like the tournament, a marketing study found. (Daily Breeze file photo).

One in three American soccer fans say Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United is their favorite team.

The Galaxy? They came in sixth in the top 10 teams cited, while the Seattle Sounders were 10th.

For more insights into the interests of American soccer fans, read today’s 100 Percent Soccer column here.

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100 Percent Soccer Column: FIFA is parasite rather than promoter of world soccer

blatter Criminal mastermind? Sepp Blatter and his cronies have subverted the world’s game propelled by greed (AP Photo).

The American media — this columnist included — hasn’t weighed in much on the slowly unfolding FIFA bribery scandal. It is complex, the story is still unfolding, many Americans don’t care about soccer anyway and even those that do find their eyes glazing over at the mere sight of acronyms like CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.

But the events of the last week — again largely out of domestic sight, especially locally with the horrific shooting in Southern California dominating headlines — have the scandal visiting new appalling lows that make the governance structure of soccer a putrid mess.

Read more in this week’s 100 Percent Soccer column.

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Senate Report: LA Galaxy among sports franchises that benefited from “Paid Patriotism”

paid

The Galaxy is one of several sports franchises that shared almost $7 million in what was called “Tackling Paid Patriotism” in a Senate Armed Forces Committee report released Thursday.

The Galaxy received $20,000 in 2012 from the Air Force for four programs.

Galaxy spokesman Brendan Hannan dismissed the criticism in a brief email:

“It was a one-off ticket sales partnership with the Air Force,” he wrote. “Similar to any partnership with any business. … The Air Force is a business. They are in the business of recruiting talent and they pay for advertisements for that exposure.”

It was unclear why Hannan didn’t appear to see the distinction between a private business and a taxpayer-funded government agency. He said the club would not be donating the money to veteran’s groups as McCain suggested.

He declined to add more in an off the record telephone conversation, but did go out of his way to note that:

“We invite a member of the military to attend each home game and provide them with four (4) tickets, a jersey, dinner, goodie bag, and on field recognition for their service. We have never received funds from any outside source for this recognition program.”

For more, here are stories written by sister newspaper The Salt Lake Tribune and USA Today.

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LAFC stadium plans at Exposition Park approved today

lafc(Image courtesy of LAFC)

The California Science Center and Exposition Park Commission approved revised stadium plans today for the proposed LAFC stadium at Exposition Park.

The stadium plans will next head to the Los Angeles Planning Commission in December 2015 and then go before the City Council.

From the LAFC press release:

This new home for the team would be the first open air stadium in LA since 1962. The project is expected to bring $250 million in private investments to South Los Angeles. Total economic impact over 30 years is projected to be nearly $3 billion and the stadium and soccer club will create 3,000 full time jobs. Many of those jobs will be created in one of the most disadvantaged parts of Los Angeles. There are also plans for job training, youth and educational outreach and a Los Angeles Football Club Foundation that will be active in the community.

Part owner Mia Hamm Garciaparra gushed:

“This site, with its history of sports, is the perfect location to bring the world’s game to the world’s city,” she said. “It’s truly in the center of this city, part of the LA sports corridor, is among some of the best institutions and museums, and in a beautiful Park.”

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