FOOTY FAIR

When "Soccer" is Hilariously Portrayed in Cartoons (With Videos)

2015-04-02T20:00:00.000-04:00

When American animated movies and cartoon series writers have an opportunity to poke a bit of fun at "soccer" they tend to do so quite well. Today we take a look at 5 animations that have incorporated the beautiful game into their domain, and using witty or clever humor gave their characters a chance to take a stab at the most popular sport in the world.

Despicable Me 2

Perhaps this was more of a promo than anything else, but the creators of DM2 decided to poke a little fun at the diving that sometimes occurs during a match. That with the Italian connotation makes this video hilarious.

The Simpsons

Infamous cartoon series The Simpsons had football featured various times throughout the years. But this past summer as a part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup festivities the creators decided to use the game to their advantage. Here are just two of many funny Simpsons soccer moments.

Family Guy

One of my favorite all time animated shows, Family Guy had this short clip in which Stewie simply and effectively makes fun of the game of football with the short phrase "huh, that was easy". The second clip is an epic 7 second clip featuring French football star Zinedine Zidane

King of the Hill

Being a show that's based in southern United States there was never any doubt that if soccer was to ever be featured in the show it would not portray the sport as the most exciting. Here are two clips of the game being featured in this show.

Cleveland Show

A spin-off of Family Guy the Cleveland Show was never one of my favorites but this soccer clip is perhaps one of the funniest around.

FFN: MLS Will Introduce Promotion/Relegation in 2018

2015-03-20T16:00:00.000-04:00

MLS commissionaire, Don Garber, has been talking to the owners of some of MLS most successful franchises in order to obtain support for what he sees as the next logic step in evolving their brand, promotion and relegation.

Part of the proposal would see MLS buying an ownership stake in the USL and merging both entities under one umbrella. USL would work as MLS second division and allow for teams to be promoted or demoted without having to create a new league.

As it stands right now, two teams would be demoted and two teams from USL would be promoted. The demoted teams would come as the last place in the East and West, while promotion would be given automatically to the team on top of the league by the end of the season and also to the playoff winner. If playoff winner and first overall team happened to be the same, then the team that lost the final of the playoffs would get the spot.

The main hurdle is the financial compensation for MLS teams being demoted and league fees to charge the teams being promoted. This seems to be the stumbling block that is preventing this deal from being finalized in time for the start of the 2016 season.

A source close to MLS has revealed that also two MLS franchises are opposed to this idea, one being Toronto FC. Finding a way to get them on board will be a tall order for the commissionaire, but not impossible. It is believed that allocation, adding Canadians as domestic players and other rule changes are being discusses as a way to minimize the blow to the once growing and vibrant Canadian franchise.

Don Garber is expected to present a full plan of action to all clubs by the end of 2016 season and it is believed that it will take one year to ensure all the infrastructure and accommodations have been put in place in order to make it a successful venture.

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Thank you for reading FootyFair's Friday Fake News. Please note that none of the above is true.

Top 10 Pepsi Football TV Ads

2015-03-19T20:00:00.001-04:00

Here at FootyFair we don't really care if you drink Coke, Pepsi or olive oil. Nonetheless, over the years, the "suits" and "creatives" in Pepsi's marketing department and their ad agencies have come up with some great ways to incorporate huge football stars into their sometimes funny, sometimes cheesy, but never dull Pepsi football ads. We take a look at the top 10 "classic" Pepsi Football ads.

#10 - Korea vs. Roberto Carlos (Banned)

That's right, apparently this one was banned but we still include it in our list. We are guessing that it was banned because of "racial insensitivity", or maybe because the creators realized that nobody would believe that Roberto Carlos flew all the way to Asia so he could play against a whole squad by himself.

#9 - Oktoberfest

This is one of the "play for Pepsi" themed ads, where David Beckham and his group of superstars have to play a crew of Lederhosen wearing gentlemen in order to win their drink. Take note, they actually lose not because of the crazy CGI moves of the Germans, but because Roberto Carlos is trying to pick up the waitress.

#8 - Improvised Football

Kids at a metro station turn themselves into alter egos and play for the remaining 3 Pepsi cans. And there's also the part where Thiery Henry is really into Cesc Fàbregas.

#7 - Africa

Henry, Drogba and others play against kids in Africa, on a pitch where the lines are made out of a crowd of spectators. Was Jorge Campos the shirt designer for this one?

#6 - Surf Football

Beckham, Raúl, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos play some beach footy, when a crew of surfers comes up to them and show them a sign that says "só para surfistas" which translates from Portuguese as "just for surfers" and then take their ball and kick it to the water. Instead of kicking their ass however, Beckham and his buddies take their surfboards and play the first ever known to mankind match of surf-football.

#5 - Manchester United vs. Real Madrid Cowboys

David Beckham as a cowboy is a bit of a stretch, but the "Wanted" sign for Rivaldo is a great little detail.

#4 - Medieval

In this one we see a group knights who take over a village because obviously the villagers have cans of Pepsi stashed everywhere. But Beckham and his crew Totti, Ronaldhino, Roberto Carlos and Alexander the Great...sorry Fernando Torres, would have none of it. So like any dispute during the Medieval times, this one would be settled with a football match.

#3 - Sumo

Who doesn't love to see a Sumo wrestler pull of a bicycle-kick. What makes this one even greater is the montage of celebrations at the end.

#2 - Little Players

There is something odd about seeing world football stars having no arms and being attached to a rod. This ad however, is clever and funny.

#1 - Can I have your shirt?

This is a classic, and a favorite all over the world. If you haven't seen it you are either very young, live in a cave or haven't heard of this phenomenon called Internet (which means you're probably not reading this either), but in any case we don't want to spoil the amazing twist, so just watch and enjoy.

Football Fanatic: Valentine’s Day Survival Guide

2015-02-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and considering that this year it falls on a Saturday there are certain things that the football fanatic should keep in mind if he doesn’t want to have his better half take a kick at the balls.

Here are some ideas on how to enjoy your Valentine’s Day and not miss any of the action in your favorite league.

PVR

Every guy should own a PVR, if you don’t and you are in a relationship, get one immediately. Watching a match live is better than recording it, but in moments of crisis, it is better to watch it on the PVR than not watch it at all.

Record the game or games of your choice, turn off social media for the day and enjoy it with your significant other. After a day of wine and dine and if you are lucky some adult wrestling, you can easily slip away from the comfort of your bed and into the living room to enjoy your games.

Picking the Right Restaurant

If you don’t have a PVR and are deadest on watching the game, then picking the right restaurant is your best alternative.

Find a restaurant that while romantic and overpriced also has a bar area that shows the games on their big screens. When making reservations, and don’t be a fool and make reservations, ask for a both that directly faces the TV’s. When you arrive at the restaurant make sure she sits with her back to the TV’s while you are facing them.

Order appetizers, the key is to ensure there is always something at the table. Every time she is eating you can discreetly watch the game. Every time she starts to talk to you, grab some food and look interested.

Gift

If you do get caught watching the match on TV while having dinner it is important to have a full proof plan B. That plan B is a gift that will make her forget about what a horrible douche bag you are and take her attention away from being mad at you.

Nothing does the trick better than jewelry. It is the show stopper that will turn her frown into a smile that goes ear to ear.

Go All The Way

If you bought tickets for the game, and forgot that it was Valentine’s Day, than you have just hit the mother load of all screw ups. Don’t despair; there is one thing you can do to avoid having your relationship end on that same day. Buy a ring and propose to her at halftime. Let’s face it, you don’t have to get married right away, you can push that engagement for a few years before you run out of time and excuses. The only thing is that the ring won’t be cheap, but more jewelry stores have payment options.

Famous Footballers by Jon Rodgers (Gallery)

2014-10-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Jon Rodgers a graphic artist from Vancouver, Canada has created a collection of posters of famous footballers.

This collection includes players of the present and past, but all of them are without a doubt famous footballer. For more of his work you can check him out at http://jrhomework.squarespace.com/

Soccer Designs by Cristina Martinez (Gallery)

2014-10-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Cristina Martinez has been working on some posters of some of the world’s best players.

She calls her collection, Soccer Designs and you can follow her on Twitter at @hincha_fc

12 Red Cards in Argentinian 3rd Division Match

2014-10-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

This week we have seen a bit of everything in football, even drone’s flying over stadiums, Euro qualification match being stopped due to a brawl, Balotelli being critical of his formal national team coach, well maybe that one was not as surprising as the others.

But continuing in the spirit of the Serbia vs Albania match, where the game had to be suspended due to a drone flying over the stadium and the ensued brawl between the players and fans, this video comes to you from Argentina. A game between Deportivo Roca and Cipolletti of the third division had to be suspended due to a massive brawl between players of both teams that ended with 12 players seeing a red card.

This time no flags or drones were involved but a huge lack of common sense and chivalry took over and the result was the game being abandoned in the 2nd half and 12 players being ejected.

It all started with a harmless foul but it soon broke out to a full on brawl that included players of both benches. The referee could barely contain the players and had no choice but to red card 12 of them which forced the game to be suspended, like the fight itself wasn’t enough for any person with common sense to call it a day and send everyone home.

As you can see from the video below, everything goes with the exception of the kitchen sink.

Mid-Week Rants: Sportscentre and Sportscenter Suck at Soccer

2014-10-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

I've always been a bit dubious of people who live in Europe or Latin America that aren't into football, but rather are into other sports such as Formula One auto racing.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Formula One. It's a fine sport that I enjoy checking in on once in a while myself, and if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend checking out the film Rush about F1's Niki Lauda and James Hunt. It's a terrific piece of cinema ultimately centered around the 1977 Formula One Drivers Championship. Even if racing isn't your bag, you'll still enjoy the story of the rivalry and grudging friendship between the two main characters. Plus, I've been led to believe that the ladies consider Chris Hemsworth, who plays James Hunt, to be rather dreamy.

Anyhow, why I'm dubious of people from these two large regions not being into football is that the the sport is everywhere over there. It is thoroughly covered in the sports pages, is all over the TV, and dominates conversations in coffee shops and bars. If you aren't into it you're either a hipster or else you think you're better than everyone around you. In either case you sound like an asshole to me and we'd struggle to become friends.

In North America though it's a different story. The advent of live soccer on television is a fairly recent occurrence and if you add that on top of the fact that the professional game has had it's ups and downs in the United States, you can understand why it isn't ingrained in the culture here.

With other sports such as hockey, American football, baseball, and basketball vying for our attention, and hard earned dollars, in North America it's been difficult in the past for soccer to gain a solid foothold.

Since the 1980's participation in youth soccer has surged in both Canada and the United States though, and along with access to matches from overseas now being shown on the sports networks, football is starting to boom in North America.

Most kids in this continent from eight years old and up, regardless of their background or where they live, can now tell you who Cristiano Ronaldo is thanks to the coverage the game gets over here now. If you were to ask a kid in Nebraska, back in 1985 though who Michel Platini was you would have surely gotten a glazed look. So things have certainly changed in the last 25 to 30 years.

So the exposure to people have to football is growing and perhaps I'm being impatient on this one, but I want more and by that I mean better coverage on our zenith of sports highlights shows, 'Sportscenter'.

Both ESPN in the United States and their Canadian cousin TSN, have a nightly highlight show called Sportscenter if you weren't aware. Well, it's called Sportscentre in Canada, but let's not split hairs.

Considering how live football is fairly well represented on our cable networks now and more people are taking an interest in the beautiful game, the coverage of football on Sportscenter is frankly horseshit.

In Canada, our Sportscentre is rammed full of enough hockey to bore Wayne Gretzky to sleep. Even when the NHL is in it's off-season, we get trade rumours, season previews, along with wall to wall draft updates, Bob Mackenzie's hair, and Pierre McGuire's valiant attempts to be labeled the 'most irritating man on the planet.'

If you cast your eyes on America's version of Sportscenter you'll find a glut of baseball and basketball coverage during the weekdays, whereas the NFL coverage dominates the weekends as you get the joy of watching Chris Berman try to string a coherent sentence together.

Football or Soccer, to lessen the confusion, is barely mentioned in passing on Sportscenter on either side of the border. It's relegated to the same grim status of other fringe sports like curling and rhythmic gymnastics.

The fact that ESPN has paid out mountains of filthy lucre for the right to air live Premier League and Champions League matches matters little as they barely provide highlights of the goals on a good day, and contribute absolutely no analysis.

The thing that really drives me crackers though is when they'll show highlights of a match that ended 2-1, but they'll only show you the first goal, without showing any of the buildup of course, and then cut to, "with the score later tied at one, United won it with this goal from Van Persie."

Wait a goddamn minute. What happened to the equalizing goal, you bastards?
The match had three goals and you can only find the time to show me two of them?
Was the equalizing goal lost in transmission or was the thirty seconds required to show us that second goal too taxing on your busy broadcast schedule?

Sportscenter can show us every damn touch down and field goal in the Packers 47-38 win over Tampa Bay, but they can't show three damn goals from the Manchester derby?

Is it any wonder that soccer hasn't fully been embraced by North Americans when it's shown so little respect on the major highlights shows.

Before anyone says anything about Sportscentre focusing more on domestic sports, well that's nonsense as well, because the very North American MLS is whizzed on even more than the European leagues and is shown to be on par with the National Spelling Bee.

Get it together Sportscenter and Sportscentre, as us soccer fans deserve better.

Kaka Tops MLS Salary Pyramid

2014-10-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Move over David Beckham, there is a new record holder in town, and his name is Kaka.

When the 2015 MLS season gets underway in January, Kaka will be the highest paid player to have ever played in the MLS, surpassing the former LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham.

According to the numbers released by the players union, the 32 year old Brazilian midfielder will earn $7.2 million playing for the new MLS franchise, Orlando City. The team has invested in their new designated player to be not only the marketing face of the team but to also help them as they make the move into MLS from USL. A risk but a calculated risk that could see huge dividends off the field, but that won’t be enough to offset the investment made in the player.

The previous record holder was David Beckham that played for the LA Galaxy and was the main reason the designated payer rule was introduced. He was earning in Los Angeles a reported $6.5 million a year, a bit less than what Kaka will be making.

For a league that currently has Thierry Henry as one of the stars and will see Frank Lampard and David Villa play for the new MLS team in New York, the NY City FC, this is an incredible salary, and an even bigger statement, considering it surpasses the Beckham numbers, which most didn’t think would ever happen.

I always figured that it would take a very large sum to bring Kaka to MLS but I didn’t think it would surpass Beckham. At some point in time someone would surpass Beckham, that is something I always realized, but I didn’t think it would be Kaka, specially playing for Orlando City.

Goalkeeper Threatens Fans that Pissed in His Water Bottle with Lawsuit

2014-09-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

This sounds like something that would happen during a Sunday league between guys that just wanted to get a laugh out of the situation. Instead this happened in the Swiss first division to the goalkeeper of FC Muri.

The 34 year old goalkeeper, Reto Felder, claims that he is still feeling sick from drinking the warm urine by accident when he thought he was drinking water from his water bottle. Not only the opposing fans urinated inside his water bottle they chanted “now you will get AIDS” when he took a drink from it. If the drinking of someone’s urine is not enough to make this story one of the most sick and disturbed stories you will ever read, now you have the perpetrators verbally abusing the keeper as well.

“I have never experienced anything like it. That is just primitive filth,” he said. “I took one sip and realized that it was warm but thought that it was because of the sun. But my second sip I realized that something was wrong.” I am not sure if I should be more shocked at the fact that these fans were able to urinate inside his bottle or that it took him two sips to realize that it wasn’t water. I have never indulged in urine tasting but I would like to believe that it wouldn’t take me two sips to realize it wasn’t water.

The president of the opposing team, FC Baden, is looking into CCTV footage to try to identify the culprits. This is starting to sound like the movie Porkies, if you haven’t seen it, get to it; it has a very similar aspect to this story. Instead of looking at CCTV video of the incident the movie story has a teacher requesting a penis lineup so she can point out the culprit.

But I am digressing from the main focus of this story. The situation is without a doubt unusual and the Swiss FA wants to react to it but is unsure how. Currently they are waiting for FC Baden to conclude their investigation and to see if any civil action is taken by Reto Felder.

If anything comes out of this investigation I hope is the facts on how the fans got a hold of the water bottle so they could urinate in it. To me that is one piece of the story that I can’t wrap my head around.

A Love Affair with...Football Manager

2014-09-12T21:00:00.000-04:00

It’s about 1 am on a Tuesday night – err, Wednesday morning. I’m sitting in bed next to my wife, who is snoring rather loudly and getting irritated with the dim light emanating from the laptop that I still have on which is disturbing her sleep.

It’s a work day however my mind is hardly on what my day-to-day responsibilities entail during my 9 to 5 in real life. Rather, my mind is strictly on an opportunity to buy the next potentially great Brazilian striker, a youngster who may be on my reserve squad for perhaps half a season before he moves up to the senior squad. I’m solely concentrating on the ever-consuming, yet highly addictive, football simulation game known globally as Football Manager.

I was first introduced to Football Manager in 2011 by a friend of mine who lives in England. The game was originally referred to as Championship Manager until a split between the games’ creators and the publishers in 2005 led to the creation of what we know now as Football Manager or FM for short. I was given the copy of the game and really didn't know what to expect from it. I've always been a fan of the General Manager portion of the various Electronic Arts sports games that are popular in North America, namely the NHL series, so I was under the assumption that I’d be getting into something similar to that – a decent glimpse into the life of an executive with trades, signings, and the like however nothing too deep or complex. I was completely blown away when I had downloaded FM11 on my laptop, and found a new love in my life.

I’m a massive fan of the Portuguese club Sporting Clube de Portugal. I’ve always dreamt of what it could feel like watching the club win not only the league and cup double, but perhaps a European trophy here and there. With Football Manager, I was able to do just that however it’s not as easy as one would think, and that’s the beauty of it all. The game has so many complexities to it that you need to ensure that every nook and cranny is dealt with. Not only do you buy and sell players, but you need to set formations for game day matches. Training sessions need to be designed and implemented, with certain players focusing on specific training regiments such as penalty taking, tackling, man marking, etc. The press also come into the equation and can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on what you tell them – or sometimes what you don’t tell them. If you have an issue with a player, well, you can tell them how you feel – and also in what type of tone. That can set the players mood into a happy one, which leads to a productive output on the pitch, or it can lead to a miserable mood and have drastic effects not only on the field but also in the dressing room and the players’ value. Speaking of transfer values, teams will take advantage of your situation if they learn that you are in dire need of a player in a specific position. That striker that at one point may have cost you £1.5 million - well, now he’s yours for £2.5 million! Don’t forget to add in a sell-on fee, or perhaps decide to play a friendly the following season to bring the selling club some additional funds to smooth a transfer over.

You need to toe the line with club executives who are always clamouring for the best bang for the club’s buck to fans who continuously want the biggest players to play for their beloved squads. Get a transfer target wrong and the fans will tell you how they feel. Beat your teams’ fiercest rivals and you’ll be the toast of the town. Go unexpectedly deep in a cup competition and you’ll be revered as a club icon. The clubs’ stadium, training centres, and various amenities continuously need to be maintained and that’s your responsibility. Need a scout to go to Eastern Europe or South America to mine for the next great young talents, or perhaps to find a cheap veteran to add some depth to the senior squad? You need to make various assignments and review various reports and build that trust component with your scouting department. That could make or break your youth squads. Signing players to contracts can be akin to pulling teeth because you’ll be dealing with that players’ agent. No stone is left unturned – you barter over term length, bonuses, the importance of the player to the team, and of course no contract would complete with the obligatory player agent fee!

I’ve spent so many hours contemplating a transfer, or setting a formation for a league match and completely revamping it for a European club match later in that week. I’ve purchased players for £500k and sold them on to massive European powerhouses for well over £10 million. I’ve been fired by clubs before Christmastime and I’ve taken a national team minnow to a final of a regional competition. I always make sure to keep up to date with when the next edition is slated to be released (according to Sports Interactive, the creator of the series, FM15 will be out in November 2014) so that I could pre-order it. Heck, the game is so popular that a sports data company is utilizing the scouting information from Football Manager to assist clubs from around the world with scouting players, including a small biography along with contractual data. That is absolutely incredible! It’s no wonder that football fanatics around the world, including yours truly, are losing sleep because of the constant all nighters playing what I consider to be the most realistic simulation game of all time, Football Manager.

HOPDAYS: Local Beers in MLS Cities - Western Conference

2014-09-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

Last week on HOPDAYS we featured local brews from around the MLS cities of all Eastern Conference clubs. So as promised, this week we cover all the clubs from the West (which means two from Loas Angeles).

Chivas USA - Angel City Brewery

Address: 216 South Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA

Distance to Stadium: 9 miles

Since Los Angeles has two teams in the MLS, it just makes sense that we would feature two local brews to try. Just 9 miles to the south of StubHub Center is the Angel City Brewery. In their pub (same location) you will find 10 varieties of beer, many of which you can purchase to take with. Want to try something different? why not the Avocado Ale, brewed with "fresh California Avocados". And if you're not in an adventurous mood there are the Angeleno IPA for the hop loving crowd, or the Berliner Weisse if in the mood for a wheat beer.

Colorado Rapids - Strange Brewing Company

Address: 1330 Zuni Street, Unit M, Denver, CO

Distance to Stadium: 10 miles

It's strange and it's just 10 miles from Dick's. As the name suggests, the brews in this place are in fact a bit on the strange side, but that's a good thing, right? Like their Breakfast Grapefruit IPA for example; the fact that it has the word "breakfast" in it alone is strange enough, but when taking into account that this brew features 7% ABV and 60 IBUs it would surely make for an interesting morning if enjoyed over breakfast. With a 21 beer line-up there is something strange for everyone's palette in this joint.

FC Dallas - Cobra Brewing Company

Address: 146 Whatley AveLewisville, TX 75057

Distance to Stadium: 16 miles

There is not a single brew in this place with less than a 5.8% ABV and this automatically makes this brewery my favorite. Hoppy beers is these guys' game, so if you enjoy a few "hop-bombs" before the match this place is one to check out.

LA Galaxy - Eagle Rock Brewery

Address: 3056 Roswell Street, Los Angeles, CA

Distance to Stadium: 21 miles

The second of our two Los Angeles area breweries and for this one we take you to the north with Eagle Rock Brewery located 21 miles from StubHub Center near Pasadena. With four year-round brews to chose from, Eagle Rock provides a great variety within this small sample size of choices. For the lighter palette they have the Solidarity Black Mild Ale, yes it's dark, but the 3.8% ABV and with just 16 IBU this brew is a refreshing dark brew. If you like your beer with some kick the Populist IPA is sure to provide that with 71 IBUs and 7% alcohol.

Portland Timbers - Hopworks BikePub

Address: 3947 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR

Distance to Stadium: 3 miles

With two pub locations and 6 year-round brews Hopworks is a great stop for pre-game festivities. The "BikePub" is located just 3 miles from Providence Park, and the beers don't disappoint either. The Organic Velvet ESB is a nice one to try; with a nice caramel malt and floral hop aromas this one is likely to fit most palettes.

Real Salt Lake - The Annex by Epic Brewing

Address: 1048 East 2100 South, Suite 110, Salt Lake City, Utah

Distance to Stadium: 12.5 miles

The Annex is a gastro-pub created by Epic Brewing, and is a place where you can enjoy some good food, paired with the 36 different Epic Brewing beers. As you can imagine, with so much variety there is definitely something for everyone, even something like the Sour Apple Saison a Belgian style ale. At just 12.5 miles from Rio Tinto, this place is very well worth the short hike.

San Jose Earthquakes - Hermitage Brewing Company

Address: 1627 S 7th Street, San Jose, CA

Distance to Stadium: 8 miles

The Hermitage Brewing Company offers a tasting room with operation hours that would fit the schedule of most MLS matches. But if a tasting room is not your thing, their beers can be found in many places around California, and the closest to Buck Shaw Stadium would be the Wicked Chicken Bar, just a short walking distance. As for their beers, Hermitage currently offers 9 brews in 3 different projects. Their Topia series is a higher alcohol content and "bigger" taste, the Single Hop series obviously experiments with the hoppier style beers and the Ale of the... series which experiments with all kinds of curious mixes, such as the Ale of the Hermit which is brewed "based on ancient recipe".

Seattle Sounders - Epic Ales

Address: 3201 1st Ave South; Suite 104 Seattle, WA

Distance to Stadium: 2 miles

This small micro-brew is a great place to enjoy fantastic beer. With 10 brews and just 2 miles from the stadium, how can you not visit this place before the match. But it's not just the distance from the stadium that makes this place great. Their beer variety is very intriguing also, with brews such as the Huckleberry Sour and the Rooibos Red, there is almost no chance that you can come out of this brewery without having tried something unique for the very first time.

Vancouver Whitecaps - Yaletown Brewing Co.

Address: 1111 Mainland St,Vancouver, BC

Distance to Stadium: 0.5 miles

The Yaletown Brewing Co. is one place in the series of the MJG Brewery Restaurants and the reason we picked this one (aside from the awesome beers of course) is because the distance from the stadium in not a typo, it is actually less than a single mile. As for the brews, they carry 7 varieties of their own creations with anything from wheat, to stout, to lager and even a black & tan.

Mandate to Reduce Number of Foreigners Playing in Russian Clubs

2014-09-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Russian Government by the voice of Vitaly Mutko, the Minister of Sports, has announced their intention to reduce the number of foreigners playing in Russian clubs to six.

“We want Russian athletes to have a predominant role in the clubs of our country” he said to the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS. Once this law goes into effect, it will have a drastic impact on current Russian clubs, and an even bigger impact on some of the high spending clubs like Zenit.

The new law could go into effect as early as the start of the next season, and has as its main objective to promote local talent so the Russian national team can be more competitive by the time the country hosts the 2018 World Cup.

As I mentioned above clubs like Zenit will be the most affected by this change. Currently Zenit, who is coached by André Villas Boas, has 12 foreigners in their roster. The change to six will force most clubs to offload some of their expensive foreign players in replacement of much cheaper and local talent.

I believe more leagues should adopt a similar stand, and force clubs to look at their internal players before spending millions in foreigners. This has nothing to do with racism but rather in the development of young kids and giving them an opportunity to succeed. In the end this will help the country, league and ultimately the national team.

People are surprised when countries like Russia, Portugal and England failed at the group stages of a World Cup, but when their domestic leagues are filled with foreign players, some of less quality than perhaps local players, you can’t expect the national program not to be affected by it.

Not many good news come out of Russia these days, this is one of the few good ones that made it out.

Vitaly Mutko

Fabio Capello Owed Three Months’ Salary by Russian Federation

2014-09-04T18:00:00.000-04:00

Fabio Capello hasn't received one single dime for the last three months and the Russian FA doesn’t seem inclined to rectify this situation.

The bomb dropped this week and it was dropped by no other than the Russian Minister of Sports, Vitaly Mutko. The Minister told reporters that he found out about this situation when he had a meeting with Capello. According to Vitaly Mutko, the payment is to be made by the Russian Federation, and since this is their problem the government won’t be getting involved. He went further by saying if the Russian Federation doesn’t pay him nobody else will.

I can’t believe the Minister would come out and be so blunt about it and if Capello approached him to perhaps help him with his unpaid salary, it looks like he went barking at the wrong tree.

Capello is believed to be receiving 9 million euros per year to be the head coach of the Russian national team, taking home 750 thousand euros per month. He is currently owed 2,250 million euros by the Russian Federation.

Russia first Euro 2016 qualifying match is on Monday September 8th in Russia against Liechtenstein. Nothing has been released or confirmed by the Russian Federation in regards to Capello receiving the owed salary before the first qualifying game. All they have said is that they will make an effort to pay him as soon as they can.

I don’t think Capello will be feeding his family on food stamps, but he is owed money and he should be paid, but considering the silence from the federation and the public response the Minister of Sports gave, I can see him going a few more months without seeing one single dime. He needs a new stimulus plan.

Russian Minister of Sports, Vitaly Mutko

HOPDAYS: Local Beers in MLS Cities - Eastern Conference

2014-09-03T12:24:00.003-04:00

So, let's assume you love a certain Major League Soccer club and you follow them on the road. Now let's assume that you also love beer and are always ready to try new local flavors when on a road-trip with the boys (or girls of course). At FootyFair we love local craft brews so we decided to introduce you to some good local beers you can try while following your favorite team on the road.

This week we cover one place in each of the ten club cities in the Eastern Conference, with the West to follow in our Hopdays series next Wednesday. For a beer enthusiast, these are a must try.

And please remember, these are merely suggestions, and if you rather enjoy a cold pint of water like Dasani or Coors Light, we're OK with that also.

Chicago Fire - Solemn Oath Brewery

Address:1661 Quincy Ave #179, Naperville IL

Distance to Stadium: 27 miles

That's right, how could we not have a brewery on this list who's initials are SOB. Solemn Oath may be a bit far from Toyota Park, but the drive is worth it. Their tap room features 10 beers fitted for anyone's taste. Their Extreme Intensage, an American Imperial IPA style brew packs a punch with 10% alcohol and according to the brewery contains "many" IBU. And if the Intensage is a bit too strong for your palette perhaps the Punk Rock For Rich Kids Belgo-American Blonde Ale would be a better choice. Whatever your desire, these guys will likely have a good fit.

Columbus Crew - Four String Brewing Co.

Address: 985 W. 6th Avenue, Columbus, OH
Distance to Stadium: 3.5 miles

A cool place with good beer, a very short distance to the stadium and a very enticing 4-7pm happy hour when you can stuff your face with some great brew for just $3 a pint. The brewery features four varieties of beer: the Brass Knuckle American Pale Ale, the Backstage Blonde, Big Star White IPA and the Suncaster American Wheat brew.

DC United - Capitol City Brewing Co

Address: 1100 New York Avenue Northwest Washington, DC
Distance to Stadium: 3.6 miles

Another place that is just too close to the stadium to not try. The Capitol City Brewing Company features four signature brews: A Pale Ale, a German-style Blonde, an Amber Ale and a traditional English style porter.

Houston Dynamo - Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co

Address: 5301 Nolda Street, Houston, TX
Distance to Stadium: 5 miles

With just under twenty beers brewed at Buffalo Bayou the selection of beers is vast. With names like More Cowbell and Great White Buffalo it's likely you will enjoy a brewery tour offered on Saturdays from noon to 3pm.

Montreal Impact - Brutopia

Address: 1219 Crescent Street, Montreal, QC
Distance to Stadium: 6.5 miles

The craft brew scene in Montreal is huge. With many places to chose from, we suggest Brutopia Brew Pub because the selection is good and the place itself is a good hangout before the match. With five steady beers on tap and three seasonal rotating taps, there is something for pretty much every palette and it's a very short distance away from Impact's home, Stade Saputo.

New England Revolution - Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project

Address: 9 Olive Square, Somerville, MA
Distance to Stadium: 30 miles

The brewery itself is a lengthy 30 miles away from the stadium in Foxborough, but Pretty Things Beers are so popular that there are plenty of places much closer to the stadium where you can try their beers. (List of places that serve Pretty Things). As for the beers, the brewery produces over a dozen different styles of brew. The ¡Magnifico! for example, a "Rustic Session Pale Ale" offers only a 3.4% ABV but the taste definitely compensate for what some may suggest is a lack of alcohol level.

New York Red Bulls - Heartland Brewery

Address: 127 W 43rd St, New York, NY
Distance to Stadium: 12 miles

Sure they have other locations, but you're on road-trip to New York City. Who cares that the team doesn't play anywhere near this Time Square locations, and so what that this place is perhaps not so much for the rowdy football fanatic, you want good beer and you want to have it in style! The Heartland Brewery offers six awesome brews and the choices are tough. The Indiana Pale Ale is a popular choice, but so is their Harvest Wheat Beer.

Philadelphia Union - Dock Street Brewing Co.

Address: 701 S 50th St, Philadelphia, PA
Distance to Stadium: 17 miles

Six brews on tap in this one and no offense to the planning committee for the stadium in Philadelphia or its residents, but perhaps the 17 mile hike to or from the match is a welcomed idea. The Dock Street Brewing Company offers a nice hoppy American IPA called the Rye IPA, and easier drinking beers also for those hot summer days like the Kolsch.

Sporting Kansas City - Ninja Moose Brewery

Address: 105 W Bird St, Hamilton, MO
Distance to Stadium: 78 miles

A bit further than one would like to travel perhaps, but with a name like Ninja Moose Brewery how could you not want to try their beer. With 9 different beers served in their "TapRoom", this brewery offers everything from Lager to Wheat Beer to Stout. And if you don't feel like driving over an hour from Sporting Park, you can try and find their wholesale distributed Ninja Moose Heffe, Pantyless Pale Ale and Ninja Moose Seasonal somewhere closer to the stadium.

Toronto FC - Great Lakes Brewery

Address: 30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd, Etobicoke, ON

Distance to Stadium: 6 miles

Like many of the cities mentioned above, Toronto also has so many good local breweries to chose from. The GLB is a popular selection for this list because, A: It's popular enough around the city that you won't have to travel to Etobicoke (believe me, there's nothing to do in Etobicoke) and B: they produce some very good brews and the varieties are many. I would personally suggest the My Bitter Wife IPA for example, a nice crisp India Pale Ale. The GLB beers can be enjoyed in most establishments around the city which offer Canadian craft beers.

Bayern Munich 5 Most Incredible Bundesliga Records

2014-08-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

Bayern Munich is without a doubt the giant of German football, and if you look at the Bundesliga records you will see that I am not overstating the obvious.

They hold most of Bundesliga records and some of those records have been held for a very long time, showing their incredible dominance over everyone else. If I was to list all of their achievements I would need a very long day and a much bigger coffee mug. Instead I have decided to focus on the five records that I find most amazing and the ones that I believe will be the hardest to break.

Here are the five most incredible Bundesliga records held by Bayern Munich.

Highest Number of Matchdays being League Leaders in a Season - 34

Bayern Munich holds this record with 34 matchdays. They have achieved this incredible mark during the 1968-69, 1984-85, 2007-08 and 2012-13 seasons. They lead the Bundesliga from matchday 1 to matchday 34 in five seasons. It would have been incredible to do it once, but to have achieved this five times makes it even more incredible.

Highest Number of Goals Scored in a Season - 101

During the 1971-72 season, Bayern Munich would win the Bundesliga title and score 101 goals. That is a record that has stood until today, and I believe that no other team will even come close of breaking. That season saw Gerd Müller score 40 goals to lead the league by almost double the goals of the player in second place. That is incredible, and an incredible record that Bayern has held for many years and will continue to hold for many more.

Highest Number of Wins in a Season Closing Half - 16

Bayern Munich won 16 games out of a possible 17 games during the second half of the 2012-13 season. That is a Bundesliga record that I don’t think many teams will be able to surpass in the coming years. One game away from perfection in a league that has a lot of quality sides is something that I believe Bayern Munich doesn’t get enough credit for. During that same season they also managed to win 15 out 17 away games, which is also a Bundesliga record. Dominant performance by Bayern Munich during the 2012-13 season, that allow them to make history and add their name to a few more slots in the record books.

Highest Percentage of Total Possible Points in a Calendar Year – 93.94%

This to me is perhaps the most impressive Bundesliga record held by Bayern Munich. During the calendar year of 2013, Bayern Munich earned 93 points out of a possible 99 points. That is remarkable, more so when it is done in a league as competitive and packed with great sides as the Bundesliga is. This will undoubtedly be one of the records that Bayern Munich will never have to worry about losing to anyone else.

Highest Number of Wins in a Calendar Year – 30

Another record set by Bayern Munich in the 2013 calendar year was the number of wins, with 30 wins out of a possible 33. One record is interconnected with the other since you can’t achieve the highest percentage of points without winning your fair share of games. The incredible thing is that they won 33 games, and the other three were ties. They didn’t lose a single game in 2013, while setting three Bundesliga records. I am not sure if even Bayern Munich can break these records set by their 2013 squad.

7 Most Incredible SPL Records Held by Celtic

2014-08-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Scottish Premier League for many years has been a league of two clubs, Celtic and Rangers, but if you look at the record and history books you will see that the dominance of the league has really only been achieved by one team, Celtic.

Celtic holds most of the records that have been set in the SPL over the years and that more than anything is a bar that no other club in Scotland has been able to achieve or even come close. Keeping that in mind I have decided to look at those records, and share with you the most impressive ones, that perhaps will stand the test of time and will never be broken.

Here is the list of the 7 most incredible SPL records held by Celtic.

Biggest Home Win

During the 2010-11 season Celtic defeated Aberdeen 9-0. It is the biggest home win by any SPL club in league history. It came on the heels of a 3-1 defeat to Rangers. The win against Aberdeen was an indication that the defeat to their biggest rivals was in the pass and what better way to put it behind them but to set a record and demolish Aberdeen. Stokes scored 2 goals, Hooper had an hat-trick, Ledley and McCourt scored 1 apiece and Magennis scored in his own net.

Most Consecutive Wins

During the 2003-04 season Celtic achieved another incredible SPL record, by winning 25 games straight. That is an incredible achievement, and something you don’t see a club doing on any regularity.

Most Consecutive Games Unbeaten

Another record was set by Celtic during the 2003-04 season, and that was the most consecutive games without losing a game. They set a new SPL record with 32 games. So it is no surprise that in a season where they set a record for most consecutive wins and most consecutive games unbeaten they would go on to win the title. They also won the Scottish Cup that season.

Most Goals Scored in a Season

The third and perhaps most impressive of the three records Celtic set during their 2003-04 season was the one for most goals scored in a season. They finished the season with 105 goals. It was an incredible number of goals, in what perhaps could be considered one of their greatest seasons ever.

Most Points in a Season

You would almost think that they would have set this record during their incredible 2003-04 season, but no. They set the record for most points in a season during their 2001-02 campaign with 103 points. They would be crown champions for the second year in a row.

Most Wins in a Season

Another magical season for Celtic was 2001-02. During that season they set three incredible SPL records, one was the most points, which I spoke about already and another one of those records was the most wins in a season with 33. In 38 games played Celtic won 33 of them, a more difficult to achieve record is hard to find, but they weren’t done yet.

Fewest Defeats in a Season

The third SPL record set by Celtic during the 2001-02 season, was the record for fewest defeats in a season, with 1. They came as close to a perfect season as you can and in 38 games they had 33 wins, 1 loss and 4 ties. This was another incredible season for Celtic that saw them add three amazing records to the SPL history books.

5 Most Impressive Ligue 1 Records

2014-08-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

The French Ligue 1 has founded in 1932 and since then the league has been keeping team and player statistics. When you look at the league statistics over the years, you can see some of the records that teams and players have set. Some of the records have stood the test of time and some have been set very recently.

All records are impressive and all of them have their very own set of circumstances and difficulty, but I have decided to look at the five records that I believe will be the hardest ones to break in the near future.

Here are my five most impressive Ligue 1 records.

Most Consecutive Titles – Lyon (7)

In today’s modern era of football the complete dominance of a team is likely to happen during a season, or even in a span of two to three seasons, but what Lyon achieved between 2002 and 2008 is a something that I can’t foresee any French team achieving in the not so distant future. It is very difficult to win titles in sequence, but to go seven seasons straight, of winning title after title is an incredible achievement.

Most Player Appearances - Mickaël Landreau (618)

Mickaël Landreau played in Ligue 1 from 1997 to 2014. During that time he represented Nantes, PSG, Lille and Bastia. To achieve this record a player not only has to play almost his entire career in one league but also stay as injury free as possible so he doesn’t miss any matches. These two components are fundamental to achieve this kind of longevity in any league.

Longest Unbeaten Record in a Single Season – Nantes (32)

During the 1994-95 season, Nantes achieved a record that perhaps will never be broken. They went unbeaten in 32 consecutive league matches. In that same season they set another record by going a complete season with only 1 loss. They are also the record holders of the team with the lowest amount of losses in a single season with 1. Those are two records that may be hard to achieve, in a league that currently has some real strong teams and in any given day a team that is considered favorite can lose to a so call minnow.

Youngest Player to Score a Hat Trick - Jérémy Menez (17 years and 260 days)

Jérémy Menez was playing for Sochaux, when on January 22nd 2005 he scored a hat trick against Bordeaux. On that day he set a Ligue 1 record by being the youngest player in league history to score a hat trick. We may have to wait for a young phenomenon to come along and break this record, but I think it will be a while before we see someone doing it.

Biggest Win – Sochaux (12-1)

This record has been around almost since the start of the league in 1932. During the 1935-36 season, in a match between Sochaux and Valenciennes, a record would be set that has stood until today unharmed. Sochaux defeated Valenciennes 12-1 setting the record for the biggest victory in league history. This is a record that I don’t see being broken; it is very difficult to defeat another Ligue 1 side by a score of 12-1. In today’s game a lopsided score line like that won’t be something that will happen with any ease, if it happens at all.

Nike Magista Opus Hyper Turquoise Boot

2014-08-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

The new Nike Magista Opus is the second option when chosing a Nike Magista boot. The first one released was the Nike Magista Obra Turquoise, and now Nike is releasing the Opus.

Some footballers prefer the Opus; players like Sergio Busquets, Sami Khedira and Javier Mascherano all have decided to use the Opus during this season. The red and yellow honeycomb design of the upper part of the boot gives it a distinct design and style. The boot is very soft to allow the players to feel like they are almost bare foot.

The outsole of the Opus boot is exactly the same material and design of the Obra version. Nike decided not to change that aspect of the boot from one version to another.

The boot is expected to hit retail stores in early September and the expected price is $200 USD.

10 Brands That Should Hire Ray Hudson to Promote Them

2014-08-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

For those of us in North America, the voice of Ray Hudson is synonymous with football. Who hasn’t watched a game where the witty analyst just holds your attention to the screen with some of the most incredible verbal poetry?

He is a poet that loves football, and when art meets art you are left with some masterpieces. I am a huge fan of his, and to be honest I would watch pain dry if he was color commentating on it. When I first saw the new Dairy Queen Blizzard commercial with Ray Hudson in a both calling it like if it was a football game I was floored.

Seeing Ray Hudson doing a commercial for Dairy Queen inspired me to put together a list of 10 products that would have an increase in sales, if they were endorsed by Ray Hudson.

Vitamin Water

When he is in the studio commentating on the games I am sure his mouth gets dry and he needs something to wet his vocal chords. What better product than Vitamin Water. One could argue that perhaps all that Ray needs is water, but considering how much energy he is burning when calling a Barcelona vs Real Madrid match he needs something more than just water. Vitamin Water would be the perfect brand to give Ray a call and get him on the payroll.

Halls

Ray is a man who depends on his voice to be who he is, and Halls is in the business of helping people with their throat problems. This is a match made in vocal heaven. Halls needs to get on the phone ASAP and call Ray’s agent, he would be the perfect person to lead their campaign. Plus I am sure Ray has had one or two Halls in his day, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to have the voice he currently has.

Best Buy

A huge organization like Best Buy need someone who can resonate with the young, internet surfing crowed, and that person is Ray Hudson. Most sports fan have streamed live events before and if you are looking at a laptop to help you with your sporting needs who better person to influence your decision on where to buy it than Ray Hudson. The commercials could be legendary and I am sure the sale of electronics would increase with Ray Hudson as the face of their new marketing campaign.

Voltaren

He spends countless hours sitting down and watching football, this could have damaging effects not only on Ray Hudson’s back but also on the backs of many of us who spend more hours sitting watching games than doing outdoor activities. Voltaren would be a product that would resonate well to fans and also to him. We have all had that nagging pain that just doesn’t seem to go away, and I am not talking about the wife. Voltaren can help, and Ray Hudson could help them relieve many from that kind of pain by being their product spokesman.

Miller Genuine Draft

Not the most popular beer among football fans in North America, but MGD is without a doubt one of the best beers in the market, as far as I am concerned. They don’t have the reach of a Stella, Carlsberg or even Heineken in the football fan market, but that could change with the addition of Ray Hudson as their front man. Ray Hudson has an incredible appeal to the viewer, he could probably endorse Kool Aid in Guyana and it would be successful. He could really help MGD reach a new audience and become of the beer of choices for footy fans in North America.

Volkswagen

There are two things in this world that you can be sure that are 100% guarantees of success, German engineering and Ray Hudson calling a football game. Why not combine both and have Ray Hudson endorse the new car being released by VW. It would be way better and more fun to watch that those stupid Das Auto commercials that they currently have. It is like they signed a cousin of Goldmember to do that thing. That doesn’t make me want to buy a VW makes me want to drive away.

Adidas

Every public figure needs a clothing endorsement. Ray Hudson is a man of the masses and reaches out to millions on a weekly basis. I know Adidas has Messi, but Ray is the Messi of the airwaves and a perfect person to be covered in Adidas head to toe. This move would push their brand to the next level. Ladies love a men in some cool threads, and if he has a Blizzard in his hand even better.

Ray Ban

This could be an opportunity for Ray Ban to release a Ray Hudson Ray Ban special edition sun glasses. They could call it RAY RAY. Perfect for that sunny day, when you have to take your kid to a football game and you need not only to look cool but responsible. Ray Hudson Ray Ban’s would give you immediate football credibility and it would make you look like you have played this game all your life, even if the truth is that you don’t even like it.

T.G.I. Friday’s

Everybody loves to eat, and footy fans are no different. Ray Hudson looks like a man who also enjoys a good meal, so what needs to happen is to bring these two forces together. T.G.I. Friday’s would be the perfect choice, since it appeals to all age groups as well as to sports fan. Classy, but not overpriced, they would be the perfect establishment to use Ray Hudson to promote their franchises. They could even name a dish after him, the Ray Hudson Orgasmic Nacho Platter. Who could refuse ordering that dish? Not me, I would be getting myself one of those at every chance I got.

MLS

I know he is currently working with beIN Sports, but if there was a way for him to call MLS games I believe the league would grow beyond belief. MLS is not a bad league to watch, but the commentators are nearly comatose and are some of the most uninspiring, self-righteous and uninformed people I have ever seen. If you want to torture me, make me listen to some of those guys and I will confess to any crime you want me to. I am forced some of the times to just mute the TV, because my ears are bleeding from the nonsense I have to listen to. You bring Ray Hudson into this picture and people in Asia would be getting up at 3am to watch Toronto FC play the SJ Earthquakes. That is the kind of impact he can have on the viewer. He is like audio crack, you can just try it and walk away, and once you do you are hooked.

10 Questions with a Pro - Hunter Freeman

2014-08-15T15:00:00.000-04:00

After taking a week off, Footyfair is back this week with another 10 Questions with a Pro series episode.

This week we had the pleasure of getting to know Hunter Freeman better and ask him 10 questions about his professional career as a footballer. Hunter has been playing for just over a decade now which has seen him represent some of MLS most popular teams, like NY Red Bulls, Toronto FC, Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo. He has also played in Norway for IK Start and is currently representing New York Cosmos in the NASL, one of the most iconic North American soccer teams.

FootyFair: Growing up in Texas, American football must have been one of preferred games of most of the kids in on your neighborhood, how did you get into soccer as a youngster?
Hunter Freeman:I got into soccer because my older brother was playing & my father was playing (recreationally) as well. So it was just natural that I tried it as well.

FF: Growing up who was your favorite footballer? Why?
HF: I always enjoyed watching Paulo Maldini play. For me he is one of the best defenders to ever play & the success he achieved both on a club & national team level, speaks for itself.

FF: You were a player with Generation Adidas drafted by Colorado Rapids in the Superdraft, how was that day for you and your family?
HF: I was actually in camp with the U-20 national team on that day, so I wasn't even with any family and obviously didn't attend the draft. We were in Los Angeles and that draft was on the east coast that year. There were probably five or six guys on our U-20 team who were in that draft, so pretty much our whole team was watching from the hotel bar to see who was going where. Obviously it was a great feeling to be selected, but I didn't think I was going to Colorado. The night before my agent said that New York was very interested in me and they were trying to trade up to take me (as they had one of the late 1st round picks), but Colorado it was.

FF You have played for several MLS teams, which one holds a special place in your heart?
HF: I think all of them do, to be very honest with you, and all for different reasons. Colorado because they gave me my first chance, I was able to start and play a lot games my first two years in the league. I obviously went back there later for a year and got to play in their stadium that I had seen built but never got to play in before. New York was a great experience for me as well. First, I got to play for one of the best coaches in our country, Bruce Arena. Secondly, I was able to play alongside many great players as well, like Juan Pablo Angel, Claudio Reyna, Clint Mathis, Dave VanDenBergh, Mike Magee, and many others and besides that, on a personal note, I met my wife during this time as well. I still keep in touch with a lot of the players and staff that were involved in and around the club. Toronto was an interesting one. I got traded there on the trade deadline with 8 games to go. I had already signed a contract for the next season in Norway, so I knew my stay would be brief. They were in last place and I didn't have many expectations to be honest. However, the atmosphere in their locker room compared to the one in NY (a team that made the MLS Cup Final) was so much better. I really enjoyed playing for John Carver and I ended up starting the last 8 games for them. Lastly, Houston was great because I finally got to play for a team in my home state of Texas, as well as make it to MLS Cup Final. As well, my wife gave birth to our first child. So I have many fond memories at all the clubs.

FF: You are currently playing for one of the most iconic and historic teams in the North American footballing landscape, the NY Cosmos. Having won the NASL 2013 Championship on your debut season with them, how important was that title for you personally?
HF: Playing for the Cosmos has been one of the best experiences of my career. The way the club is run both on and off the field, as well as the "family" type feeling we have in our locker room has been a huge reason for our success right out of the gate. Winning a title was huge because it was something I had never done professionally. To be able to win with a team that started from scratch in literally just 3-4 months is something I don't think people fully understand just how hard that was.

FF: Having played for NY Red Bulls and playing now for the Cosmos, how do you see the rivalry between these two giants of soccer in North America?
HF: I think rivalries in sports are fantastic. That is what players live for and what fans live for. To be able to have a rivalry and a team in such close proximity is something new here in the US, and if there is any place in the US that can handle have 3 teams, it's without a doubt NY/NJ. The atmosphere at our game vs Red Bull was unlike any other we had played, and that credit goes not only to our own fans but as well as Red Bull's fans.

FF: You have played not only in North America but also in Norway, how would you rate your experience abroad?
HF: Playing in Norway was a wonderful experience. It was something I had always dreamed of and fortunately I started every game in the 2 years I was there, that I was healthy to play in. At the same time, you realize that some things are much better and some are much worse, but to be able to experience a different culture and play in a country where soccer is in the front page of the news every day was amazing.

FF: From the players you have played against, who was the toughest opponent you have faced?
HF: Individually playing against Messi in the U-20 World Cup, which was a tough task to say the least. Thankfully he only played the 2nd half! We ended up winning that game 1-0, but in the end he won the Golden Ball and that tournament was his coming out of sorts to the world. As for a team, when I was with Red Bull we played Barcelona and they were simply amazing.

FF: What do you do during the off season to stay in shape and ready for the upcoming season?
HF: Right after the season I just try to let me body rest. I don't really do much of anything to be honest for the first 10 days or so. Then I usually begin to do some light workouts. I'm in the gym a lot more and running a lot less. As the season begins to get closer then I begin to concentrate more on the fitness side of things rather than the strength side. Of course, any kind of pickup game or training session I can get involved in as well to get some touches on the ball and some soccer specific fitness always helps.

FF: How important is for the soccer growth in America for the national team to have success at the international level?
HF: It's huge and now that you see some of our best players coming back to play in the US shows you how much things have changed and how they will continue to change in the future. I mean when I look at where soccer and its popularity in America was 10 years ago when I signed my 1st contract to where it is today, it's almost night and day. I think in another 10 years we will be able to say the same compared to where the game is today. It's definitely an exciting time for the sport in our country and one that I'm happy to be along for the journey and see where it ends up.

FootyFair would like to take this opportunity to thank Hunter Freeman, and which him all the best for the rest of the season and continued success in his career.

What Commentators Say and What They Really Mean

2014-08-12T18:00:00.000-04:00

Football commentators seem to have a list of cliches and catch phrases they can pull from at a moments notice.

But what would happen if these commentators said what was actually on their minds?

Well the truth is that they would likely be fired, but just for interest, and amusement's sake I put together a helpful list of commentator catchphrases and what they actually mean.

"This historic ground."

This crumbling shithole that should be condemned.

"That's a heavy challenge!"

That's a criminal assault and number eight should be locked up.

"This club is too good to go down."

The overpaid wankers in this side have turned on the manager and will be out the door this summer regardless of what happens.

"He's fluffed his lines..."

The big dummy looked as graceful as Bambi on ice for that one.

"He keeps the play ticking over."

He only passes sideways.

"Both sides are still looking for a breakthrough."

Both sides are boring the crowd to sleep.

"The crowd are now really behind their side and are urging them forward."

The disinterested corporates, in the good seats, have finally started watching the match in the 82nd minute.

"The manager is questioning the referee on that one."

The manager is screaming threats at the referee after another shocking decision.

"He'll be asking questions of his defence at halftime..."

He'll be throwing a tray of sandwiches at his defence at halftime.

"He's a player with some flair..."

He's incredibly lazy and does nothing for 89 minutes, but has occasional flashes of genius.

"Mark of true champions."

The reigning champions have played like crap for 92 minutes against West Ham, but have grabbed a late winner.

"You can't question his commitment."

He runs around like a headless chicken, disrupting his own team's shape and often picks up needless bookings.

"Park the bus."

They've put ten men behind the ball and there's more chance of Totti playing for Lazio than them showing any attacking intent.

"He was virtually unmarked."

He was literally unmarked by this useless back four.

"It was a good cross, but no one was in the box."

Another cross hoofed into the box without looking to see if anyone on his side was actually there.

"A real seasoned professional..."

Their ancient midfielder, who is clearly past it, lumbers over to take a free kick.

"He'll be disappointed with that."

He should be ashamed of himself and forfeit half his salary this week.

"That's his wife up in the crowd..."

The former glamour model and softcore pornstar he's currently shacked up with is here to show off her new fur coat.

"There was a slight bit of contact in the box."

The filthy bastard fucking dove!

NBA Team Logos Redesigned as Football Crests (Gallery)

2014-08-11T21:00:00.001-04:00

Designer Milan Vučković from Kraljevo, Serbia redesigned classic NBA logos with a more traditional football club crest look. He did this as a tribute to the two sports he loves.

Below are all the 30 team logos that he did.

Detroit Pistons

Dallas Mavericks

Utah Jazz

Washington Wizards

Boston Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers

Milwaukee Bucks

Miami Heat

Brooklyn Nets

Cleveland Cavaliers

Minnesota Timberwolves

Houston Rockets

Chicago Bulls

Charlotte Bobcats

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The Monday Meltdown - Following a Team Like TFC on the Road

2014-08-04T15:00:00.000-04:00

For football supporters everywhere there's nothing quite like an away trip.

An away trip can mean cramming into a packed bus with a broken Air Conditioner and no bathroom with a bunch of drunken supporters. Even if there is a Costco sized box of Glade Air Spray cans on the bus the level of stink on these vehicles can be fierce.

If you opt to skip the bus and take your own vehicle, it could mean breaking down in the middle of a small town in the middle of nowhere. This thought crossed my mind as I once went off the beaten track in Pennsylvania, because as the old saying goes down there, "it's Pittsburgh on one side, Philadelphia on the other, and Alabama in the middle". If I had even just stopped for gas and a local had told me that I had "purdy mouth" I certainly would have wished I hadn't been such a cheap ass and had actually flown to DC. Perhaps I shouldn't throw the word ass around when describing this scenario though.

There's also the small matter of the distance that's required for you to travel. In England, and in other geographically smaller nations, with teams fairly close together a road trip could simply mean a couple of hours drive. However, if you follow a league like the MLS in North America, virtually every roadtrip requires an overnight stay and that's where the real problems can come in.

First of all, you'll need the authorization of your spouse or partner if they aren't a fan themselves. This can be a potential minefield and I've even heard of relationships coming to an abrupt end because of this one. You could of course do what an acquaintance of mine did and tell his spouse he had a conference for work in Chicago, fly in simply to watch Toronto FC take on the home town Fire, and fly home after the match with his wife none the wiser. To me that sounds riskier than having an affair, but to each their own I guess.

The cost involved in going on roadtrips is another thing that you can't sniff at. This past weekend I was in Montreal for the TFC away match and because there was a concert going on in the city all of the decent hotels were fully booked. The remaining hotels all jacked up their prices and as a result I ended up in a complete flea pit for almost $300 for the night. I'm looking in your direction Quality Inn, you shower of bastards. After having to change rooms twice, due to the sweet smell of bug spray in my first two rooms, I finally found a room that was livable and then ventured out to grab a bite to eat. As I walked down the street from the hotel, through the slightly sketchy midtown section of Montreal, I came across a middle aged women in a pink dress squatting down in a parking lot. Why was she squatting you might ask, and why did she have her pink dress pulled up? Well, as I passed her and saw her rather rotund white ass, I couldn't help but notice she was squeezing out a stink pickle. That is, she was hanging a shit in public in layman's terms. So this should give you a clear picture of the area I stayed in for the purpose of watching TFC on the road.

At least TFC won though. I was talking to a friend recently that has been on 18 Toronto FC roadtrips and she has still never seen them win. Another friend has been on 37 aways trips, including matches in the MLS, CONCACAF Champions League, Canadian Championship, and friendlies and has only seen 4 wins. Neither of which have attended an away match this season up until this point, which is understandable, but the team is slowly starting to show signs of improvement in their travels so it might be worth staying in dumpy hotel for an extortionate price.

The opposing fans are another thing that can be interesting on away trips. You'll run into some that are fantastic, or you may come across some that are a bit hostile and looking to cause some trouble. Yesterday in Montreal the fans were pretty decent, although they did moon us on the way out. It's ironic that Montreal is well known for it's strip clubs, but I got to see ass twice yesterday for free.

Despite all of the pitfalls, the cost and the hassle of roadtrips though you can't match them for fun. The support is nearly always better on the road than it is at home if you have a large contingent of away fans that have made the trip. Everyone is committed to singing and chanting for the most part and friendships are made or strengthened on the road. You'll always bring back tales to tell to those that didn't make the trip and if your team comes back with 3 points all of the hassles you had on the trip will be worth it.

More Wonderful Football Art (Gallery)

2014-08-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Like the terrific piece above by Gonza Rodriguez (@_GonzaRodriguez) there is some amazing football related art work being done by a range of talented artists these days.
Following up on last months series on Wonderful Football Portraits, these are a few more pieces that caught my eye recently.

Although the style of these artists differ, each of these pieces are equally impressive. I encourage you to follow these individuals on Twitter and perhaps even purchase some of their incredible work.

Zoran Lucic

Stan Chow

Aki Enu

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Pennarello

Steve Welsh