Has anyone noticed the steadily increasing number of fans in attendance for our games?
Many of you may know my wife Kira. She makes it to games a couple of times a year, usually with our daughter Sofia, although sometimes I get to just bring Sofia on her own. What you may not know is that she's an accomplished runner (much like some of the players on this team) and has completed 5 marathons over the last couple of years. Well, this year, she's going for the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday.
Oddly enough, the Marine Corps Marathon has been an especially difficult hurdle to clear. The first time she registered for it, she got pregnant (well, I guess that was my fault). The second time, she had a freak accident at work and broke her kneecap a couple of months before the race. Well, the third time is the charm and it looks like she is ready to run and complete her 6th marathon.
Since she has run more than a few marathons, she decided that this year, it would be a great idea to run for a charity. We are close friends with a family (one of Sofia's best friends) who has a autistic child named JP. As we've gotten to know them, we've seen how autism has impacted their family and how complex and complicated this disease
really is. JP is a cute little kid (I've enclosed his picture) and so Kira decided that it would
be best to run for an autism charity, in this case, the Organization
for Autism Research.
She's got a web page here: http://www.firstgiving.com/kiravanderlan where you can make a donation. This is the last week before the race,
so consider making a donation of $100, $50, or $26.2 to support this
cause.
Thanks for taking the time to consider Kira's race.
She's amazing. In her training, she had to do a 20 mile run. To make
it more interesting for herself, she entered another marathon in
Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, with the plan of cutting out around the
18-20 mile mark. Well, she missed the cut-off point and because it was
an out-and-back type course ended up running the entire marathon. So
any donation you make is a 2-for-1 deal, since Kira will have polished
off two marathon distances in less than a month!!! Yes, she's amazing, and I am one lucky dude.
See you all this weekend and thanks for taking the time to consider this great charity.
- Jeremy
Oct 18 Sunday
Showers.
Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the low 40s.
In order to secure a first-place finish the six-team CONCACAF hexagonal:
The U.S. has to equal or exceed the number of points that Mexico earns at Trinidad & Tobago, which can be accomplished the following ways:
Note: If the U.S. loses and Mexico ties, the teams will be even with 19 points, but the U.S. would fall behind on the goal differential tiebreaker and would finish in second-place in the hexagonal.
After reviewing reports from officials and players involved in the 09/27/09 hooligans-benchwarmers game, the CCSL DC has suggested the following:
The DC recommends that Stephanie Hulke (Benchwarmers) be suspended for a total of two games and be placed on probation for the remainder of the Fall 2009 season. Additionally, the DC recommends that Mike Kropko (#23 from hooligans) be placed on probation for the remainder of the Fall 2009 season.
It is clear that the incident leading to the red card was instigated by verbal abuse on the part of Mike. This was confirmed by his teammates and by Mike himself. His words were out of line, abusive, offensive and led to the escalation of a fairly minor on field confrontation, thus warranting the ruling of probation.
Stephanie's actions in response to Mike's comments violate the spirit of what the CCSL is all about. Rather than attempting to defuse the situation, she took her own action in seeking retribution. By singling out Mike, issuing a verbal threat, and then acting on that threat, Stephanie appears to have lost sight of the purpose of the CCSL. Her violent conduct towards another player, outside of the scope of play cannot be tolerated. By reviewing the circumstances of the on field incident, referee reports, and player statements, the DC has reached their recomendation of a two game suspension and probation for the remainder of the Fall 2009 season for Stephanie Hulke.
Both of these recomendations are in line with previous decisions made by the DC under similar circumstances.
The legendary and lovable Carlos, a.k.a., the Silver Fox, is going to be featured on TV tomorrow morning, along with Luly and the girls.
Your captain got a lesson in determination today following our 4-4 tie versus top-seeded Gang Green.- Pete ran onto Elyse's slot pass at the 20 and beat the goalie from the 10' to the right post (30').- Percy received Elyse's distribution to the wing and dribbled in from the corner of the box, and made a great finish. Cat set the play up with a heads-up throw-in (70').- Chip was there to collect and bury the deflection off of Suzie's shot, which hit the post (80').- Ermy took a creative touch and shot deep in the box after Chris' clever direct kick from the 18'. The set piece was well earned by Nate, who ran full steam onto a through ball and forced the defense - both the goalie and the center back - to obstruct in order to stop the shot. I didn't see the ensuing deflection. Someone put it in the back of the net. I called for the whistle before the play was over - there's a lesson there too. Play until the whistle, we'll argue it later. Thankfully, we had a great set piece to re-earn the goal (88').
Please distribute this message.
As always, keep in mind that the decision to play WC qualifiers, and World Cup matches in our area should the US be the host, will in large part be based upon turnout from the local areas at games like this one.
Thanks for your continuing support of our national teams.
Jim
From the U.S. Soccer Events Department:
TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE FINAL WORLD CUP QUALIFIER THAT COULD DECIDE IT ALL–
USA vs. COSTA RICA AT RFK STADIUM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
BUT FIRST, THE AMERICANS VISIT HONDURAS IN THEIR NEXT QUALIFIER
ONE WEEK FROM SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE ON ussoccer.com's MATCH TRACKER
The countdown is on as the U.S. Men's National Team continues its efforts to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa with two crucial qualifying games in October. First, the USA travels to take on Honduras at Estadio Olimpico Saturday, October 10, live on ussoccer.com's Match Tracker at 10 p.m. ET. Four days later in the last game of the final round, venerable RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., could host the most important home qualifier in U.S. National Team history when the Americans face Costa Rica.
With two games remaining, the U.S. sits in first place in the CONCACAF qualifying standings with 16 points and has clinched a top-four position. This guarantees at least a playoff with the fifth-place team from South America for the final slot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. will have a chance to clinch one of the top three places and earn an automatic World Cup berth when it faces Honduras on October 10 in San Pedro Sula. Currently four points ahead of fourth-place Costa Rica, if the U.S. earns at least as many points against Honduras as Costa Rica does when hosting last-place Trinidad & Tobago (also on October 10), the U.S. will clinch at least third place at that time and one of the three automatic spots in South Africa.
If the previous scenario doesn't play out, however, then the USA vs. Costa Rica match at RFK Stadium on Wednesday, October 14, at 8 p.m. WILL decide it all.
Your support in the stadium will be key to pushing the team forward. Make sure you are there to do your part. A trip to the FIFA World Cup could be on the line.
To order tickets and for more information, please click the link below. U.S. Soccer welcomes you to pay with your Visa® card.
http://www.ussoccer.com/Schedule-Tickets/2009/091014-US-Men-vs-Costa-Rica.aspx
We look forward to seeing you in the Nation's Capital. Be sure to WEAR RED in support of the USA. If you can't experience the game in person, see it live on ESPN2 and Galavision.
2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Standings (Final Round)
CONCACAF (North/Central America and Caribbean) Region*
| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| United States | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 16 |
| Mexico | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 15 |
| Honduras | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 13 |
| Costa Rica | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 12 |
| El Salvador | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 8 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 5 |
