LA Galaxy in NC? DC United in Richmond?

Here are especially notable May 22 fixtures impacting the next two rounds of the US Open Cup:

MAY 22, 2012

Carolina RailHawks v. PSA Elite
WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina

If RailHawks beat PSA Elite, LA Galaxy will travel to WakeMed. !! May 29th.

Chicago Fire PDL v. Dayton Dutch Lions
Toyota Park Practice Field
Bridgeview, Illinois

Winner will take on the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium, May 29.

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC v. Richmond Kickers
Maryland Soccerplex Stadium
Boyds, Maryland

If Richmond Wins... DC United will play at Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va. May 29th.

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The organizers of the US Open Cup have changed it up a little bit this year by eliminating the silent auction type bid process for home team (Sounders broke that system).

It's a big deal. The US has more than a handful of nice soccer stadiums. Potentially seeing MLS teams in Virginia and North Carolina is really exciting and gives 2 of my 3 favorite states a chance to tell the nation how deep their beautiful rivers run.

I fully support any measures taken that march the sport of Soccer in the United States towards Promotion and Relegation. The sport in this country doesn't necessarly need an "all or nothing" attitude when creating new top level teams. Give the smaller teams a chance to succeed, they might surprise you. I truly believe this. So much so, I've taken a good bit of time writing about it...

Part 1

Part 2

US Open Cup Bracket, Link.

Major League Soccer Needs The Charleston Battery

Throwing my hat in the ring for the 20th MLS team here. Major League Soccer needs to be careful of being too heartless. Too demographics driven. Too Florida has to work right? conclusions.

I heard a giant price tag was put on the 20th MLS team. Something like 100 mil. To the highest bidder? Massive mistake.

The rumors about Columbus leaving need to stop. You want to rip one of the beating hearts of the league out of the league? Go for it. This state has been conditioned for that type of disappointment.

The most passionate fans I've ever met are Browns fans.

I now go to "Browns Backers" games at a bar down the street on Sundays. Not so much because I'm a huge Browns fan, but because their fans are the best I've ever met. The fathers of Crew supporters (if I may).

Cleveland lost their beloved team for years for Christ sake. Yet there they are; the fans, in their work clothes, walking in from the extra weekend 12 hr shift at the foundry, to sit down, take a load off, have a beer and cheer the goddamn Browns.

The Browns make the NFL better. The Crew make MLS better.

Bring on Charleston. Bring on magical sea swept evenings. Humid nights. Bring on a team in the South. Bring on some of that mythology.

Handbags can go to NY and LA. Yield to the educated in Seattle, soccer mad in Portland / Vancouver and hand over the fools gold to the rest of the Great White North.

Let the real work happen in other cities.

More heart, please.