This weekend they are home for the holidays. But where will the 10 newest members of Sounders FC be for the next holiday, and those thereafter?
This weekend they are home for the holidays. But where will the 10 newest members of Sounders FC be for the next holiday, and those thereafter?
Initially, we envision them all in green next spring, yet you never know. After all, this is pro sports and anything can happen.
Early indications from Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauer are that most, if not all, of his picks on Nov. 26 were made for the long haul. That is, they are expected to help form the fabric of the first Sounders FC squad.
However, if history is any indication, often the players taken in the MLS Expansion Draft are redirected to a third team via trade. In other words, you never know who will wind-up wearing your crest and colors come that inaugural match.
Two years ago, only one of the 10 Toronto FC picks ever pulled on the Reds’ shirt. The rest were traded away.
Juxtaposed to that is the second coming of San Jose. Last year, the Earthquakes essentially held onto their selections. Seven appeared in league matches, including four who became regular starters.
Every move has a story. Back in 2006 there was interesting the U-turn of Jason Kreis.
Toronto called the bluff of Salt Lake by taking the one-time scoring king. Real was forced to retrieve Kreis via a trade a few days later. Good thing, because he was elevated to RSL coach four games into 2007, and in his first full year at the helm Kreis got them to the playoffs.
There certainly can be impact players amongst the 10. Witness holding midfielder Brian Carroll. Following the 2007 season, D.C. United left Carroll exposed. San Jose pounced, then swapped him immediately to Columbus.
Carroll’s presence was critical to Crew teammate Guillermo Barros Schelotto becoming the MVP and Columbus winning both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.
Way, way back, Zach Thornton experienced near-instant gratification way back in the first MLS expansion go-round. An understudy to Tony Meola in New York’s first two campaigns, in 1997 Thornton was chosen by Chicago where he was voted as the keeper on the Best XI and the Fire won the MLS Cup in their first season.
There’s no crystal ball to see what lies ahead for Seattle’s expansion draft class. But whoever stays, clearly they will look good in green. And the more, the merrier.
Details on Kit-On Sale
What will you be wearing on next Friday, the Fifth? If you’re in Rave,
you may make a lot of friends and co-workers a bit green with envy.
The first opportunity to see and purchase the new Seattle Sounders FC adidas apparel comes at the Kit Fashion Show, Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the WaMu Theater. The Sounders FC Fashion Show benefits the Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the Quest for the Cure Guild.
On sale following that evening’s runway show will be best selection of the Sounders FC home and away kit, the on-field team adidas team apparel as well as fleece hoodies and pants.
If you can’t make it to the Kit Fashion Show, the next best option is to awake on Friday the Fifth and either pay a visit to the Qwest Field Pro Shop or SoundersFC.com.
Recently Sounders FC players Sebastien Le Toux and Sanna Nyassi donned all of the new Seattle adidas gear for a promotional photo shoot. Polos, jackets, training gear and hoodies. You name it, they wore it. Mixing and matching, posing.
“I like the new jersey; I like the color. It’s good to see the uniform on yourself, how it will look next season,” says Le Toux. “The fans are going to like it too. I look forward to seeing a green stadium as soon as possible.”
A Marching They Did Go
Taking to the streets for the first time, the yet-to-be-named Sounders
FC marching band was right on key in Friday’s Macy’s Holiday Parade.
Although it may have been difficult to detect their identity by sight,
the sound was unmistakable.
“When we played the Sounders theme song, people put it together,” says band director Keith Rousu. “They know the song. Then people saw our scarves and hats and yelled, ‘Hey you’re the soccer team! Yeah, yeah, yeah!’”
Some spectators also recognized the band’s alternate tune, Low a hip-hop groove by Flo Rida. “It’s kind of a modern rap, people know the tune and we do a pretty good arrangement of it,” says Rousu.
The parade is the first of three big bashes to close-out the year. They’ll play at the Fashion Show Dec. 4 and join Blue Thunder for a halftime performance at the Seahawks game Dec. 7.
Rousu, who’s been with Blue Thunder in holiday parades the past three years, is pleased with the progress of the 53-member band in its first season.
“People say we sounded great and seemed impressed. There was some of that connection we plan to have with fans at the games,” he says. “There’s a lot of fire and desire in this city for what this team can bring.”
Turn On, Tune In
Saturday, Nov. 29
8:30 a.m. (PT), GolTV, Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich
Why Watch: Two are tied for No. 2 in Bundesliga; Klinsmann’s Munich is unbeaten in 12
1 p.m. (PT), GolTV, Sevilla v Barcelona
Why Watch: Conceivably, Sevilla could vault into 2nd with home win over leaders
Sunday, Nov. 30
5:25 a.m. (PT), Setanta, Manchester City v Manchester United
Why Watch: Due for some goals, the rich (United) visit their suddenly richer neighbors (City)
6 a.m. (PT), FSC, Inter Milan v Napoli
Why Watch: A top-four match-up, but after a promising start, Napoli limps into the San Siro
8 a.m. (PT), FSC, Chelsea v Arsenal
Why Watch: Can the grumbling Gunners get it together for this, the most high-powered of the London derbies?
11:55 a.m. (PT), Setanta, Rennes v PSG
Why Watch: Get a feel for where Le Toux watched matches as a lad, plus these two are tied for fourth
1:30 p.m. (PT), FSC, Tottenham v Everton
Why Watch: Spurs have got their swerve on as the Toffees come to town
Monday, Dec. 1
11 a.m. (PT), Setanta, Liverpool v West Ham
Why Watch: If the Blues win, the Reds will need this to stay even at the top
Throw-Ins
Congratulations to Greg Mockos, the second person voted to the Members
Association council. Mockos, one of the organizers of the Emerald City
Supporters, joins Iain Starr on the council…The deadline is fast
approaching for voting on the name of the marching band and Members
Association. Members must cast their votes for both at SoundersFC.com
before midnight Monday, Dec. 1…Seattle Pacific resumes the hunt for an
NCAA Division II women’s championship next Thursday, Dec. 4, in Tampa.
The Falcons (20-1-2), undefeated in their last 15, are through to the
semifinals for the third year in a row and face Denver’s Metro
State…For those who missed it, Hope Solo raised the 12th Man flag at
last Sunday’s Seahawks game. You can watch it LINK. By the way, Solo
and Tina Frimpong Ellertson’s new WPS club has a name: St. Louis
Athletica…Congratulations all-around to the state’s various high school
champions. Here’s the girls roll call: Skyline (4A), Everett (3A), Fife
(2A), Seattle Academy (1A) and LaSalle (1B/2B). The boys 1/2B winner is
Tacoma Baptist...The CONCACAF Gold Cup, which toured through Seattle in
2005 but proved difficult to find on the telly, will be aired on Fox
Soccer Channel next July and again in 2011…Finally, if seeking some
6-a-side entertainment this winter, the new Wenatchee Fire of the
PASL-Pro is now playing in Chelan County.
