November 18, 2009 by f4denz.

Folks this is huge breaking news for RSL fans wanting to see the MLS Cup:

JetBlue Airways, the official airline of Real Salt Lake and Rio Tinto Stadium is offering a special $99 fare (one-way) from Salt Lake City to Seattle to cheer on Real Salt Lake!

The seats are EXTREMELY limited so fans will have to act fast to secure this great rate.

Important Details:
-      $99 one way fare
-      Flights will connect over Long Beach, CA
-      Customers must call 1-800-JETBLUE (these fares are not available on jetblue.com)
-      Mention promo code REAL
-      Travel out of Salt Lake is on Thursday, Friday or Saturday
-      Travel out of Seattle is Monday and Tuesday

-      Seats are extremely limited so act fast!

It is getting harder and harder for people to make excuses on why they can’t go, the price is right, the dates are right, so will I see you there?

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November 18, 2009 by f4denz.

Well before we get to pictures from practice, I thought I would share this one I was sent today:

Yes that is our logo and yes that is the space needle in Seattle. Way freaking cool

A good intense practice

I wonder if Nick closed his eyes when making those PK saves on Saturday

Kyle looked good

Clint looked good

Jean has some incredible ups

Will showed some fancy footwork

Yura was working hard

The players were faced with a whole lot of balls to sign after practice

It was a long practice with a lot of drills and work on particular situations. I was impressed with the focus and the work rate of the practice, I did notice one thing about the intensity, Jason expects that the players will listen and react to instructions and when they don’t it is clear that he gets a little frustrated. I know for Jason, Kyle and others this is their first shot at a MLS Cup and they are going about their business but you can see they really want this.

A little history lesson

For Real Salt Lake facing the LA Galaxy can be a history making moment at this weekend’s MLS Cup, but history has been made when these teams have met in the past as well:

2005- As RSL entered the league the second team they faced was the LA Galaxy (who would win MLS Cup that year) and it was the first loss in team history, the first road loss in team history but it would also be the first time RSL would find the back of the net as Jason Kreis scored in the 29^th minute but it was the only RSL goal in what was a 3-1 loss. When LA came to RES it again was a night that would make history, after going down an early goal a little RSL history was made as Eddie Pope scored his first goal since joining RSL to even the match up at 1 each and then in the second half Jason would score his 4^th goal of the season and RSL would take a lead and the match would end 2-1 marking the first time RSL had ever come from behind to win a match.

RSL would head back down to the HDC and it would be an ugly match as a beaten and battered RSL would try to play a bunker mentality but they could not withstand the 16 shots, and one of the 7 found the back of the net but RSL couldn’t score and lost the match 1-0. The final matchup between the two teams would be back at RES and again a couple first for RSL as Jamie Watson scored his first RSL goal and both Andy Williams and Jason got their first assists in the Claret and Colbat as RSL earned a 1-1 draw. So LA clearly was the better team in 2005 and won the season matchup 2-1-1 but considering it was the year that RSL was just starting and that the Galaxy would win the MLS Cup, not bad for an expansion side to get a result in two of their four matchups.

2006-So a bit more history was made in 2006 as LA got their first every win at RES 3-2 over RSL, but just two weeks later RSL would make history as they headed down to the HDC and a couple goals by Jeff Cunningham and one by Atiba Harris would give RSL a 3-0 victory, their first ever on the road and their first of the 2006 season. The 3^rd matchup of the season would see RSL drop a 2-0 loss at the HDC, but when LA came back to RES it would be RSL getting a 1-0 victory. The season series ended up with a 2-2-0 record, not too bad for a second year team against the defending MLS Champions.

2007- RSL and LA would only face off 3 times in 2007 as the league dropped to a 30 game schedule. The first matchup was in LA and RSL was able to come back from a 3^rd minute goal to even the match up in the 6^th minute on a goal by Chris Brown, but in the end it was LA who would score one more time and RSL could only get one more and drop the match 3-2. RSL wouldn’t face the Galaxy again until September 1^st and again that match would be in LA and history would be made in a way, RSL went behind early but was able to come back and get two goals to win the match 2-1 and secure their first road win of the season, it took 10 matches to get a road win but we did finally get one. A couple of weeks later LA would make their only appearance at RES and it was a large crowd who had hoped to see LA’s latest superstar but Beckham wasn’t on the pitch but was up in a suite, on the pitch it ended in a 1-1 draw as RSL ended the season series even with a 1-1-1 record.

2008- Once again some history was made between the two teams and again not all of it was good, the first matchup of the year was in early May at RES and it marked the first time David Beckham played against RSL in a Galaxy Jersey, the crowd was over 25,000 people on that day and RSL got out to a early 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes on goals from Fabi and from Kenny Deuchar. Then all the Beckham fans got what they wanted as he scored a brilliant goal from about 30 yards out, it really was a thing of beauty, but then a few very strange things happened. First was a mystery call by head official Kevin Stott (remember that name) which gave LA a free kick from just outside the area, the signal was for an indirect free kick (meaning another LA player would have to touch the ball before it a shot could be taken) but instead Beckham went for goal and beat Rimando and the goal was allowed. This left many fans, and the official review team at US Soccer, confused about the call and decision but the scoreboard showed 2-2. As the half drew near RSL’s Kenny Deuchar sent a ball delivered by Kyle Beckerman into the back of the net to give RSL the lead back, but in another call that US Soccer would say was wrong a very late offside flag was raised and the goal disallowed. The rest of the match would go scoreless and it would end in a 2-2 draw that left a very bitter taste in the mouth of most RSL fans.

The second matchup between the two sides would come on labor day weekend at the Home Depot Center and again controversy would mar the match in the 6^th minute of play Espindola would put a ball into the back of the net, head official Michael Kennedy ruled a goal but then after almost a minute changed his mind and disallowed the goal (I had never seen this before in a MLS match and again the Referee review program at US Soccer would say it was goal). As Fabi celebrated his goal with what had become a traditional back flip he landed wrong and hurt his ankle, this would limit his playing time for the rest of the 2008 season. Fresh off their victory in getting the RSL goal removed and while RSL was still in a state of shock LA would find the back of the net in the 9^th minute to take the lead, but RSL would find the answer as Yura Movsisyan who came on for the injured Espindola evened the match up in the 21^st minute. The second half saw RSL take a lead in the 52^nd minute on Will Johnson’s first RSL goal, but LA would get even in the 69^th minute as Buddle would score his 13^th goal of the season and the match would end 2-2. While RSL and LA ended their shortened series at 0-0-2, it was RSL that would make the playoff for the first time, while LA would miss the playoffs for the third straight year.

2009- As has become a bit of a regular thing with these two teams the story would be some history and some controversy, RSL faced LA in early May at Rio Tinto Stadium and RSL would strike first on Robbie Findley’s 5^th goal of the season in the 34^th minute to give RSL a 1-0 lead and when the clock hit 90 that is the score that would still be up on the board. But with 4 minutes of stoppage time indicated thing would get very interesting, first up was a incidental handball by Will Johnson that gave LA a PK in the 91^st minute and Landycakes stepped up did his 2 minute ritual and eventually took the shot and converted to tie the match up. RSL would respond by attacking as soon as the ball was back in play and in what many would call a “payback” call Espindola was down in the area and the official Michael Kennedy (remember him?) would again point to the spot for a PK. Will Johnson stepped up and buried it into the back of the net to give RSL a lead back in the 92^nd minute, but then the RSL defense let down their guard for a few seconds and failed to clear the ball out of their own final third and Mick Magee hit a sneaky shot that caught defenders and Chris Seitz off guard in the 94^th minute to give LA a goal and the match ended 2-2. It marked the first time in MLS history that 3 goals were scored in stoppage time.

The return leg would again be a bit of history as RSL headed into the match with a 7 match winless streak and again winless on the road, this match would be free of major controversy, which is a good thing. RSL found the back of the net early again as Yura continued his recent good form and in the 13^th minute gave RSL the 1-0 lead as RSL dominated the first half of the match. LA would play much better in the second half but in the 51^st minute Nat Borchers scored his first ever goal in a RSL kit to give us the 2-0 lead in the match and while LA would battle back and force some saves by Nick Rimando the score would end 2-0 as RSL broke their winless streak and got their first road win of 2009. The loss was just LA’s 3^rd of the season as their record after the match was 2-3-9 with 15 points, while RSL improved to 5-6-3 with 18 points and RSL secured the regular season series 1-0-1.

Who would have thought that at almost the midpoint of the MLS season that either of those teams would make it into the MLS Cup? Yet that is where we find ourselves, for LA they can point to the fact that Beckham didn’t play in either of those matches as a point that they should be able to better compete with RSL in the Cup match. For RSL it is hard to argue with their form over the last two months 5-1-0 with two huge road wins against the best of the Eastern Conference.

Later today I will post a little more history as we look at the MLS Cup, and of course any breaking news.

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November 18, 2009 by f4denz.

Well I stopped out at the media lunch today and talked to a couple of the players a few of these clips have a lot of background noise, sorry about that it was a crowded room:

Nick Rimando

Will Johnson

Ned Grabavoy

Kyle Beckerman

More Kyle Beckerman

Here is the Audio of the statements by:

Bill Manning

Jason Kreis

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November 17, 2009 by f4denz.

Hey here is another perk for Real Salt Lake season ticket holders:

Season Ticket Holders,

Real Salt Lake has been able to secure a limited number of seats for Season Ticket Holders to travel on a JetBlue Airlines charter flight this Saturday, November 21st to Seattle, Washington.  This flight is based on first-come-first-served basis and is strictly available to current Season Ticket holders and 2010 Season Ticket Holders.  Here are the details:

Roundtrip Airfare to Seattle Washington
Leaving Salt Lake City at 12:15 PM on Saturday, November 21
Arriving Seattle at 1:15 PM on Saturday, November 21

Leaving Seattle at 5:30 PM on Monday, November 23
Arriving Salt Lake City at 8:30 PM on Monday, November 23

Total cost for air travel - $300  Game ticket - $25  Total package $325 per person. 

Please call 801.727.2702 right now to secure your seats.  

Remember you must be a Season Ticket Holder to secure a seat on this charter flight.

Saturday, November 21^st

SLC International              12:15 pm (MST)

SEA International             1:15 pm (PST)

*Guests will meet at the JetBlue ticket counter (Terminal #1).  We will have a separate counter and representative to assist us.

Monday, November 23^rd

SEA International             5:30 pm (PST)

SLC International              8:30 pm (MST)

*Guests will meet at the JetBlue ticket counter.  We will have a separate counter and representative to assist us.

RSL HQ in Seattle

This comes from RSL HQ here in Salt Lake about a place for RSL fans to call their own in Seattle:

Great news. 

We have secured a headquarters for RSL in Seattle.  We will be meeting at the bar named FX McRory’s, it is directly across the street from the stadium. 

I have reserved half of the bar area for us on Saturday night starting at 7:00PM, this area should be able to hold about 150 people, if more folks show up that is fine, I have just set aside an area for us to call home.  Families and children are all welcome, but children are not allowed to belly up to the bar.  Everyone will be able to order off the full menu, and get their own checks. 

They have agreed to allow us to decorate to our hearts content, and we can even set up RSL gear out front.  I have the contact information for the maintenance guy who will allow us to come into the bar prior to opening to get things set up.  They have 18 foot tall ceilings, so we should be able to get a lot of cool stuff up. 

Sunday, the bar opens at 10:00 AM, we could not reserve any area, because it is sports day, so it is just a first come first serve basis, but we will still have all our gear up. 

PLEASE let all the fans know to get there early. The whole bar area can hold about 250 people, so we should all be able to get there and own it!!!!!Please get this information out to all our fans, and let them know that we officially have a home away from home.
I will post more news as I get it

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November 17, 2009 by f4denz.

So I was supposed to work on my history lesson blog post but the day got the better of me so instead I have a couple things for you:

Thoughts from “The Don’s” State of the League Speech

So The done held his annual update on the state of MLS today and here are some of the high points from the call. Don started by announcing some of his key points, first up was that he believes that the launch of the Sounders will go down as a landmark moment in the history of the league. He is right if you have a billionare owner, an existing team to upgrade, and a NFL franchise as your launching point for organization and ticket sales you will be ahead of teams without that, I get it, the slobbering love affair is nowhere near over but Don as long as you let them play on that crappy turf, they will never be the template of a successful franchise.

Next up was the importance of supporter groups to the growth of the league, and he believes it has a lot to do with better TV and media coverage as well as the DP’s and the improving level of play. The league will be doing all they can to reach out and help groups grow. He spoke about the Summer of Soccer that saw over 2 million people attend 100 plus live soccer matches over a 51 day period. He believes the level of competition is improving and pointed to rookies like Frei, Gonzalez, Pontius, and others as a signal to younger players that they can join our league and get a chance to play and develop.

He announced the 2009 MLS Bext XI:
GOALKEEPER (1): Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
DEFENDERS (3): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)
FORWARDS (2): Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)

Not sure how RSL gets skipped over and not sure how fans vote on that, would love to know what the process is in selecting the 11, but funny that a team in the MLS Cup has nobody and teams that missed the playoffs have players on the list. Conor Casey over Robbie Findley? Conde over Olave? Whatever.

He mentioned that LA’s worst to best turnaround and RSL’s stylish play (sorry Mr. Payne) make for good drama and that TV ratings are up on FSC and ESPN but down a bit on Telefutura. Attendance was down 2% due to the economy but should bounce back. Both Portland and Vancouver are making good progress and that Philly is ready to start moving forward in building their team. The MLS board will meet on Friday and then hold an executive conference at Microsoft.

He went on to take some questions, When asked about the DP’s and if LA making the Cup match was validation of that program. Don said he isn’t sure about the DP rules after the CBA but that it has been a success both on and off the field but teams need to look at DP’s within their economic needs. He was also asked why there are so few DP’s in the league, he said it is taking time for people to get used to the new format where owners are responsible for a majority of the costs vs. the old method where the league paid those costs.

A lot of talk about the CBA, but it boils down to that the current contract is in effect until Jan 31^st and that things like strike talk is very premature. Some talk about the USL and the breakaway group, nothing too exciting. Then came questions from Kurt”what’s his name” from the Salt Lake Tribune, and like typical non soccer reporters he went negative on the hometown team by asking if it was good to have a team with a losing record in the Championship match, and does the current playoff format favor the lower seed. So Don said it was actually a good thing as it shows the parity of the league which is good for fans and that the league always looks at the playoff format to see if there can be improvements. My thought is simple first if you look at a 11-12-7 record RSL got results in 18 of 30 matches (or 60% for the slow local media), then RSL faced the defending Champions of the league and the best team this season and beat them twice including a win on the road, and then they had to go to Chicago and win again. Yup it really favors and is too forgiving to the lower seed, maybe Kurt should stick with the Jazz from now on.

Some talk about how if there is no USL that the league will likely need some type of developmental league to develop players and provide jobs for players, he hope the groups will work something out and is willing to work with them. He mentioned that the league will likely max out at 20 teams which would cover 300 million fans, the will be no relegation and no single table next year but not ruling it out for the future. He talked a bit about stadiums, New York is coming, Philly is coming, KC should break ground by the end of the year, not a lot of progress in San Jose or DC. He also mentioned that 2 of the 3 people running for mayor in Houston support a stadium for the Dynamo, which is good.

He spoke of wanting to make the Champions League a higher priority for the league as it is a global contest and we have to find a way to not only beat the Mexican teams but those from smaller countries with fewer resources than us.

That was the meat of the speech and press conference.

Nick Rimando to host Chat on RSL’s Official Facebook page Tuesday at 10:00 am

Real Salt Lake’s Official Facebook Page is gaining momentum along with the team, and the site will feature perhaps RSL’s hottest player on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. MT, when GK Nick Rimando will hop online to answer questions for the more than 7,700 people that have become official Facebook fans of Utah’s MLS side. RSL faithful that want to have their questions answered by Rimando – and find out details on how to purchase a limited edition “Nick Is My Homeboy” t-shirt in advance of Sunday’s MLS Cup – can click here to join the growing list of official friends of RSL.

 Ironically, Real Salt Lake’s number of fans leapfrogged both the Chicago Fire and the Los Angeles Galaxy late last week to become the third most populous official Facebook site for MLS teams. After Andy Williams’ successful fan chat last Friday prior to the win against Chicago, Real Salt Lake’s Facebook page will again feature an on-site player chat from Seattle this Saturday on the eve of MLS Cup … player information and date/time details will be blasted out to RSL’s fans by Thursday afternoon.

RSL Supporter groups arranging Bus trip for the MLS Cup

Fans interested in seeing Real Salt Lake participate in its first MLS Cup in person now have a cost-effective option, as the club’s supporters groups are arranging a round-trip bus and ticket package for Sunday’s big showdown against the Galaxy. For $120, fans will receive an upper level ticket in the RSL Supporters Section at Qwest Field and round-trip charter bus transportation (lodging accommodations for Saturday night will not be included). Participating fans will gather at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. to prepare for a 6:00 a.m.-sharp departure for downtown Seattle, while Sunday’s night’s return trip to Utah will take off from Qwest Field at midnight following the match.

 As of now, only two buses of 56 riders each will be taking off for Seattle, and reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to register for this weekend’s Supporters bus trip is Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. MT, and payment will be accepted at the RSL Front Office at Rio Tinto Stadium from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday – cash and check will be the only accepted forms of payment. Fans with any questions regarding the bus trip are encouraged to call  801-727-2727 for further details.

Rumors of a special flight

So I heard so rumors tonight that RSL might be on the verge of announcing a charter flight on “Real Blue” for RSL fans that would leave Salt Lake City on Saturday and return Monday, not sure of the details but check their blog, my blog and facebook often tomorrow. I heard that the flight should be around $300 round trip, that isn’t a bad price.

OK that is it for tonight

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