Public Shaming

I know I haven’t written in a long time but I didn’t think it was since APRIL!?!!?? I smell a 2012 resolution…But who am I kidding, whatever happens will happen. Publicly shaming myself will only go so far.

While waiting for the 2012 MLS season to start, I’ve been occupying myself with watching the lovely Newcastle shake their tailfeathers by doing better than average (that is to say that they’ve been living in the top half of the EPL table.) including a stunningly beautiful 3-0 victory over Manchester Utd.

I’ve also been entertaining myself by follow former Magpie Joey Barton on Twitter. While I have mixed feelings about his sometimes aggressive style of play, you gotta love the man for being outspoken.

So all of this…not news, technically an update saying I’m not dead, and a calling myself out on it, perhaps more writings will come forth during this calendar year.

Lucky Girl

Dawwww….I’m a lucky girl with great friends! Earlier this week, Fredy Montero and Osvaldo Alonso were doing an Autograph session that happen to be at a store my friend works/manages. While I didn’t want to intrude and ask her to get a bunch of things signed for me (let alone not knowing what I would want to have signed), she went ahead and did the following knowing if put a big ole freakin’ smile on my face:

Fredy Montero and Osvaldo Alonso

Autograph from Midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, #6

There’s only an autograph from Ozzie because Fredy just had surgery on his wrist; apparently he did try to sign with his other hand but…well, it didn’t work out too well.

The Ichiro Show!

As promised, a few photos from my Sunday M’s outing. Please note that the multiple Ichiro shots are not because I’m a fan girl but because our seats provided a perfect view of him.

Pics Still To Come and Reality Shows

While I had a chance to look at my M’s/Indians pictures last night, didn’t have a chance to re-size and upload. They’re ok, not great. I’ll be honest; its hard to get really excited because I’ve not become emotionally invested in the players. (If it were pictures from the Sounders match, I’d most likely be oohing ahhing and scrutinizing every pixel.*)

To keep this post semi-blog related, I’ve caught part of interesting reality/competition show on FSC – Football’s Next Star. Hate to admit it, but I’m a sucker for these shows. (I’ve also started watching WWE’s Tough Enough. Doh! Don’t judge me, please.) General premise is a bunch of young lads competing for a contract at a established well known club. (I’ve caught bits of an Australia version last year.) In this case its a bunch of lads wanting to fulfill their dream at Inter Milan. And by dream, maybe a playing for the reserves if they’re lucky but let’s not kill the dream too early, eh?

Glancing over at the Wikipedia article on the show, I started in on the second episode.  There was one comment during a scrimmage towards the end of the episode that clearly reflects why Serie A tends to bother me – Inter Milan Academy coach, Marco Monti, encourages one of the players to stay down, to try to draw the foul. *sigh*  Yup, nonchalantly encouraging diving.  Why, Italy? Why? Anyway, the DVR has been set to record the new episodes as they show up; should be a good bit of mindless fun.

* Yes, I’m aware I have yet to take any pictures of the Sounders this year.

First Mariners 2011 Outing

It was a busy sporting weekend for me. While Saturday left me with a natural high with a Sounders win, Sunday provided me with a bit of a bummer, watching the Mariners suffer another loss at the hands of the Cleveland Indians.

Regardless, I still had fun.  I purposely wanted to see the Indians play, mainly due to having a good chunk of family residing in that area. And I had mustard. Oh yes, that’s right. I.Had.Mustard. Having family in the Cleveland area means I have also been well acquainted Stadium Mustard.   I also got to introduce Megan with Stadium Mustard as well.  It was a hit! (No pun intended).

I don’t have much commentary on the game itself (other than the previously mentioned ‘bummer’) but our seats were in over in right field.  Great views of Ichiro and Cleveland’s Shin-Soo Choo squatting and stretching…and throngs of giggling youngsters rotating through the empty row in front of us to take pictures of Ichiro and Choo.  Who knew that right field was a hot bed of hotties? My favorite was a girl that yelled something out in Korean to Choo and quickly covered her face in embarrassment. Not knowing any Korean, I’m just going to assume she shouted ‘I love you’.

Took a few photos; will try to get them up this evening. My temporary partner in crime, Megan at Section331.com, has her write up here.

Finally!

On a crisp Saturday in April, Seattle Sounders finally got their got a league win for 2011!  Even though it was only the 5th match, I was starting to feel like ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’.  Perhaps we’re just finally getting our momentum going and soon will be akin to an unstoppable freight train.  My thoughts of a couple of the players on and off the pitch:

O’Brian White seems to finally found his legs (and head) on the pitch. No longer did he seem like an odd lumbering fellow (sadly, like Nkufo). The connections with his teammates is starting to occur more frequently.

Kasey Keller pulled out all the stops and punches and leaps and grabs to make him the Man of the Match.  No complaints here. Well deserved. It’ll be sad to see Keller retire after this year; who knows whom will fill the net. Keller is one of the reasons we haven’t had our asses handed to us repeatedly over the past couple of years.  I’m gonna miss that man. BUT we still have a whole season ahead for me to enjoy the fruits of his labor!

Mauro Rosales…Mauro Rosales….wow, you’re a beast. I mean that in a good way.  Not yet playing a full 90 but those 60-70 minutes…HOLY (pardon my language) SHIT! I’m starting to love you!

But what are these mumblings I’m hearing regarding Morales? Sigi doesn’t want him and Montero on the field at the same time?  Personal conflict, Sigi with his head up his ass or just a bunch of hooey and none of it true? Also since Morales has burst on the scene…anyone else notice the lack of Alvaro Fernandez?

We’ve got a deep talented team. I wonder if there’s such a thing as too deep? I’ve got a feeling in the back of my head that lack of play and jealousy may rise.  But these guys are professionals right? That’s wouldn’t happen….right? Right?

Pre-Opening Kick 2011

Its March 15th 2011 and the MLS 2011 Season will be official off and running in a few hours.  My boys, the Seattle Sounders FC will take on the LA Galaxy at Qwest Field.  Current weather…wet.  (Was that thunder I just heard??)

Sadly there will be no photos as I’ve left my camera at home, not wanting to get it wet.  Not sure what to expect tonight, we need this win. No really.While we took care of them during the US Open Cup, we’ve never really thoroughly kicked their ass during the MLS season.

And the starting 11? Well…I was going to post my picks but just found out that Blaise Nkufo may not be starting after an incident during training.  Screw it…my wish list for starting 11: Keller, Ianni, Hurtado, Parke, Riley, Alonso, Freiberg, Fernandez, Tettah, White, Montero with subs of Boss, Levesque, Neagle, Gonzalez.   We’ll see how close I am to reading Sigi’s mind.

Anyway, SCARVES UP, SEATTLE!

I See What You Did There….

A friend semi-called me out in their blog by linking my name.  While I hope people are ready her awesomeness, I hope they don’t follow my linked name to see this sad blog!!

I’ll write! I promise! It’ll be mostly yesterday’s news though. 😉

Writing? What’s that?

If I were to measure my success by how much I write…I’m failing and failing big time. We’ll see how it progresses in 2011.

As it stands today:
– 15 days until the Cascadia Summit, 3 days of SEA/PDX/VAN at the Starfire complex. It sold out the day tickets went on sale. I’m fortunate to be attending the Sunday match vs Vancouver Whitecaps, courtsesy of a firend with an extra ticket

– 20 days until Community Shield match against the 2010 MLS Cup winners, Colorado Rapid. It’ll feel good to get back inside of Qwest Field. Plus there’s the charity angle to make me feel warm and fuzzy. Lastly, all tickets are $10 and apparently all the seating is GENERAL ADMISSION. Woot! I think I might float around the stadium.

– 26 days until First Kick, the official start of the 2011 MLS Season against the LA Galaxy. BRING IT ON!

2011 – A New Year

Ha! I guess I know what one of my New Year’s Resolutions is going to be….keeping up on this blog.  Its been a slow start and I’m never sure what to write; need to get over the hangups and just let it flow….Of course it doesn’t help that I get ideas and start formulating possible entries when I’m nowhere near a computer.

Then again, nobody is really following me (expect maybe that *one* person). I’m sure the more I write, the more I’ll develop a style and things be more regular. Plus its now less than 60 days for the MLS season starts back up. (First Kick is Sounders v Galaxy on 3/15/11).

As more of a to-do list for myself, this weekend:

• add links to blogs that are pertinent to my interests
• re-org my Twitter lists
• explore my feelings on new Sounders jerseys, Don Garber’s proposed PNW ‘Rivalry Week’
• Find a online feed or go to the George & Dragon for Round 2 of the Tyne-Wear Derby
• *gasp* maybe write about the Tyne-Wear Derby and ‘Why I Came To Love the Magpies’