Random musings on the state of Soccer in america

The US soccer season is up and running, so here's some musings from the Woodchuck Hole about the World's Game:

America has five soccer leagues. Only one is crying "fixture congestion," only one is scheduling stand-alone U.S. Open Cup Qualifiers (outside the league schedule). Inexplicably, it's the same league.

Am I the only person who finds it odd that Cleveland State and Cleveland City play at the same ground?

Is Sallieu Bundu 2008's Adam Moffatt?

CONCACAF is based in New York. CONCACAF has just announced a Champions League tournament that could see games played in New York (or worse, Toronto) in the dead of winter. Apparently, CONCACAF decision makers don't go outside much.

On a Non-Soccer-Related note, the Indy 500 entry list is out. As any fan of Indy knows, however, this entry list is not the complete story. At the very least, it's not May without AJ Foyt bringing out a backup car on Bump Day (May 18th this year) to bump a driver or team he doesn't like from the fabled eleven rows of three. Seriously, it isn't, April just keeps counting up to the 61st otherwise.

It's a great weekend in Cleveland and Akron sports. There's something for virtually any sports fan in town this week. Here's a list:

Tonight
7:00 Colorado Crush (owned by Elway) @ Gladiators (partailly owned by Kosar) - arena football
7:05 Oakland Athletics @ Indians - season's first fireworks show
7:05 Bowie Baysox @ Akron Aeros - Indians-affiliated AA baseball - first fireworks of 2008

Tomorrow
2:05 Baysox @ Aeros - magnet schedules to the first 2,000
7:00 Rochester Raging Rhinos @ City - exhibition minor league soccer @ Byers Field - preceded by introductory press conference @11:30 AM and youth tournament
7:05 Athletics @ Indians - stocking caps to all fans
7:30 Hamilton Bulldogs @ Lake Erie Monsters - AAA hockey, fan appreciation night, final 2008 home game

Sunday
1:05 Athletics @ Indians - coin bank to all kids
2:05 Baysox @ Aeros
5:00 Columbus Crew @ City - MLS team visits Byers Field (City regular season matches are @ CSU) - preceded by Christian worship @ noon and youth tournament

Have a good weekend, y'all! (I'm quarter-southern, I can get away with saying "y'all")