MLS Focused USMNT Struggling

Over the year or so we've seen the return of high profile USMNT players to the North America's major domestic league > MLS! In that time the team has hit a rough patch. In fact, it's as bad as the team has performed since sometime back in 2007 - one win in the last nine for the best in the USA.

For an excellent recap of the USMNT last outing, head on over to Graham Parker's Guardian piece: "Five things for the USA to take from Chile defeat."

After the US takes on Panama in a friendly environment, February 2nd - she goes on to face Denmark, Switzerland, Mexico, Netherlands and Germany later on this year. Tough Schedule. But, if ever there was a time to prove it, perfect time for this group to do it.

Matt Lampson is not from this world...

Columbus Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson is not from a world that you would know. It is a world full of vivid color and a rich palette that makes yours' pale in comparison. We could only hope to experience life at the speed of Lampson, for it would truly be a sight to behold..

He posted this to social media and it deserves to be shared with all of you. The following is Matt Lampson in his own words, at his finest outside of the goal. Embrace the ride that he is taking us on...

Lords of the League: The Two Trophies

Chapter 1:

Dark and evil times have befallen the world. A great, mysterious power has gained control of one of the most powerful relics in all the realms, The One Cup. The Galackseean empire sits patiently amidst the looming Mount Hollee-wood, vehemently defending what they have stolen. Their reign of terror, fear and fascism is one that must come to an end. The closest allies of Galacksee came from the north. Comprised of hideous green monsters, orcs, Sea-at-al had taken control of The Shield. With both The Shield and The One Cup held in the hands of evil, it was clear what must happen. It is for this overwhelming necessity of peace and safety, that a small faction of wise beings in the far off realm of Columbor came together, to unite a world.

A tall slender man wearing tight black pants and a form-fitting white button-up shirt strode into a tavern. He sat down amongst the various peasants, seemingly waiting. The man's eyes shone with experience and zeal, his vision was clear. It was Grogg the green, an aging, stoic and wise wizard, that sensed the need to overthrow the ruthless Galacksee and all of their power. He sat calmly, brooding over everything it would take to return the throne to the rightful place. As he looked up from his pint, two men had swiftly entered the tavern. Grogg expected them, as it was by his request that they were there. The first was a massive figure. He moved with ease despite his size, taking large, strong strides over to the table. His beaver-skin jacket and snow shoes werethe tell-tale sign of his origin. The last of his kind, On-Stand, the last remaining Giant from the realm of Canador stood with patience next to the table. The second man was shifty, almost as if he hid something. His hint of quick, agile movement displayed his once prominent speed. Half the size of On-Stand the Giant, he still carried with him a sense of poise that was vastly respectable. His feathered hair bounced in the slight breeze, a physical trait which was not surprising for those with his powers. Being a Necromancer, Wulff had many powers that kept his physical appearance in perfect condition, despite his age. Grogg was elated to see that his plan may yet have a chance. Regardless of the hardship, effort, and talent required for the ultimate goal, it was with these men that they would choose an army to bring back peace.

The three men sat down, exchanged pleasantries, and began discussing what was needed to achieve their goal. They all had seen the disaster and heartache that the Galacksee had wrought and knew that the realm of Columbor was the only way to bring peace. After hours of deliberation, it was decided that due to their age and failing bodies, the three could not bring back the throne by themselves. Grogg knew that they must unite men from all over the world, from every realm, and they must come together to end the evil reign of Galacksee. They needed an army, but something more unified. They needed a brotherhood, a family, a fellowship...a Crew.

In the blistering cold of Columbor, the wizard, giant, and necromancer began to assemble their Crew. Five warriors from the home realm of Columbor, with four others from the nearby villages of both The Cleve, and Mishigahn were eager to assist in the common goal. The call for peace had reached across the entire world, as men were chosen to fight for the cause of greater good.

The Blondes of Cahlifornyah, dynamic champions of A-Frique, Elves from the land-of-Ice, Austreeyah, and Sweetdon. One very important inclusion was a small, wiry hobbit from a small cheese making shire in the north. And perhaps most surprisingly, the dwarves. The dwarves were essential to the success of the coup. Their level of skill and technique was unrivaled. Although diminutive in size, two dwarves in particular were clear choices to lead such a deserving Crew. A hairy, uncharacteristicly thin dwarf by the name of Parkhurt-Trollslayer was a born leader. His calming demeanor, positive attitude, and potent ambition made him an easy one to follow. The other dwarf is one, it seemed, from legend. It has been said that he had smited the mighty dragon of Port Land with one blow of his foot. His journey to Columbor had taken him from the distant South, from the exotic forests of Good Airs. The most unusual aspect of the man that would most assuredly help regain the Shield and One Cup is that he would feast on chips. Chip, after chip, after chip, no chip would fill the dwarf with satiation.

Grogg, On-Stand the Giant, and Wulff had appointed their Crew. It was time that they assembled them together, in the warm, far-off realm of Lake-Wood, to prepare for battle. They would be tested, pushed, and perhaps even maimed, but it is through a two month crucible, that a Crew will emerge as one to start their journey. And so it began, a season before a season, to prepare a Crew of Warriors alike, to achieve a common goal, and bring glory, peace, and happiness back to Columbor.

…..

…..

Seventh Annual Helltown Beer Game of the Year, This War of Mine

2014 marked a different kind of year for console focused game players as we saw all three of the major players - Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony - release new consoles to as little fanfare in the history of video gaming.

That's not to say it's a bad thing. It's actually good. Have we finally reached a day that gaming progress isn't marked by better graphics on bigger and badder TVs? The macro market says "no, we have not." But, while it might not show at the executive summary level, there has been a shift away from that to something more simple.

[I see PC folks nodding their head].

I've been through enough new console events to know that the first year is basically a dud. All the new hardware requires studios that have the money time, and more time, to adjust, learn and expand upon. One of the best things about the last generation was that it lasted so long. Longest in the relatively short history of gaming, actually. So what ended up happening is that developers had the tools and comfort level with the hardware. With that, we got some of the best games in a generation. It's something that this new generation had to teach me, I guess.

With that, my Game of the Year is This War of Mine. A comparatively simple game with a deeply moving and intense narrative. By intense - I mean downbeat. Solemn. Thoughtful. Terrible. Depressing.



Those words remind me of a story I once heard about an art exhibit. It was in a hallway and focused on typography. On one side was words like FAST, RUN, INTENSE, and the like. Active words. On the other side was the opposite. SLOW, WALK, and so on. What the exhibitors were looking for was if the words had any impact on the visitors. Indeed they did. People that were reading one side moved through faster than the other. The impact of simple language at work in a simple setting.

This War of Mine takes a look at war from a civilians perspective. Not a in the hero or godlike warrior form we normally see these days. Just in the for of normal people figuring out how to survive in a war torn city. The gameplay is resource driven. Go out and scavenge for supplies and risk healthy character to help sick ones? Or leave him home to stand guard through the night. This game tells you that there is no correct answer.

This game impacted me in another way, in that I had a employee on my one of my teams from an area, let's say, close to Bosnia. He didn't talk much about the war, nor what it was like. But I do know that he had to leave the US to go back to try and prove that, in fact, he did exist. Reason being, generations of records had been destroyed by a recent war in the region. There was nothing. He felt he was nothing and had to go back to prove he was a person that existed. The day he left I told him I should come out and visit... "visit what," he replied.

This War of Mine is unrelenting and. for anyone that tries it, has you questioning what exactly makes a game. To me, it taps into the incredible storytelling power of games that can hit you like a load of bricks. Not the made of foam type that movies have. The real kind. And each minute of this game has to working that out.

The game is about decisions and not skill / reaction time or big cut screens. This past year has seen games, game writers, artists and developers realizing that you don't need those things.

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MORE GAMES I ENJOYED



First up is one I'm still enjoying. It's NBA 2K15. Visual Concepts, Take 2 and 2K have outdone themselves with this series. EA's FIFA might be the glamour title in the world of sports right now but this game... this game. I don't know how many hundreds of hours I have on FIFA over the years but nothing is as jaw dropping as 2K15. It's an amazing technical achievement. I've put a good bit in to the "My Player" function of the game recently and while the story drifts after a bit the gameplay picks it up. It's the summit of sports role playing. And it's beautiful. The vine you see here is of my first NBA start. It took me a couple 10 day deals to make it work but I made it happen. Well worth pulling out the phone to record the vine.

Something else worth mentioning is The Wolf Among Us. It's an episodic game, storytelling based with quicktime elements. Technically, it started back in 2013 but most of the episodes showed up in 2014.Telltale games is the publisher and with "Wolf" has become the sort of go to place for episodic games (currently working with the Game of Thrones property, which is about the top of the top). I picked up "Wolf" because the time (1980s) period and the familiar stories (fairy tales). Expanding upon stories is nothing new (Into the Woods type stuff, the 80s Broadway type) but it's a game with choose your own adventure type elements. It works. Really well. A downbeat game that captures a 200 Cigarettes New York about as good as any piece of modern entertainment has. I'm back and forth on the art/animation but an early scene with a chain smoking member of the three little pigs in a shitty apartment will have you hooked.

THE DUD, THE ALMOST NOT A DUD

Assassin's Creed is a series that I like and had irrational high hopes for with Unity. It is a labored mess but I won't let it tarnish a series that consider to be entertaining (on the major platforms). Unity is the quintessential year one release on a new console. A beautiful mess. I found myself taking loads of screenshots and videos but as you progresses through the game it became a godawful mess. So much pretty and so little meaningfulness.

Right behind that I have Far Cry 4. A game coming on the heels of a game I fell in love with in 3. This year's version fine tuned the story while trying to meet the demands of a media that dumped on the "mighty whitey" narrative of the third game.

Four has it's moments. Well, moment. I guess. The famous Rochan "Advanced Chemistry" brick factory comes to mind. Far Cry has a special place with me but it's one that I keep at arms length. So much filler (that I enjoy immensely) with little else as far as story. As I was playing it, I was constantly thinking of what to write about it. Ubisoft fine tuned the story and offered up a playgound of fun. Maybe that should be a testament to the game. Part of me believes that. But the other part of me thinks that the story was just an expansion upon what was just a bit part in the Uncharted series (albeit a beautiful part).

Far Cry 4, for me, is the game that bridges a lot of gaming gaps in a new console year. It's pretty. Stable. And fun as hell. Just not a lot to sink my teeth into on the story side. The idea and foundation is there, just not the execution. Difficult to explain after spending most of my holiday with this game. It's great, but more needed (?).

Did I mention pretty? Also, it's Far Cry. Ultimately, the previous two editions of this game are superior in many regards but Four has enough to satisfy the old school adventure gamer in all of us.

With that, a good place to stop. Lots of good games out there these days and I play them all year only to dump it all here in a game of the year post. It's unfair really.

Anywho. So much to cover, but I'll leave it. I found a great list over at Kill Screen that I like for year end things. Happy gaming.

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Previous Helltown Game of the Year Winners:

2014: This War of Mine
2013: Last of Us
2012: Sleeping Dogs
2011: Skyrim
2010: Red Dead Redemption / Heavy Rain
2009: Uncharted 2
2008: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Anfield, Nighttime Game (1981)

Anfield, 1981 - Ian Berry

This picture is credited to Ian Berry, of whom you should run over HERE to learn and see more about. It crosseth my path via "Beyond the Last Man," a good follow on twitter. If I knew who you all were, I'd print this out in large format and frame it for you. Triple mat.

CBA: MLS Players Digging in on the Impossible

This past week we saw the unofficial kickoff of labor negotiations between MLS and the Players Union with the players taking the lead in broadcasting their demands via social media and interviews with local and national media.

There are a couple articles to check out if you are wanting to get up to speed quickly: Here in Columbus, Ethan Finlay opened up with Adam Jardy over at the Dispatch and in national News, ESPN FC "No free agency in MLS' proposal for CBA, players' union says."

It really only takes two bullet points to sum up what the MLSPU wants.

• Free Agency (ability for teams to bid, player freedom to move)
• Increased minimum player wage

Free Agency is a tricky one for MLS and the single entity structure. League leadership considers it to be one of the cornerstones in the league's foundation and has defended it in court already (which creates more hurdles). The lack of player choice was made in the early days primary as to prevent what is considered to be the demise of the original NASL --> overspending on players.

While important to the players, the increased minimum player wage seems somewhat secondary to the free agency issue. In a recent interview with the Orlando City Sentinel, Tally Hall (veteran MLS goalkeeper) opened up:

“Disappointing to not have the league recognize when we say that unrestricted free agency is something that needs to be in the new deal. It is something that is hugely important to us. As players we are unified behind this idea that what basically every other soccer league has rights to, we think that we also deserve those rights. We’re very passionate about it. We met in Vegas, the player reps came together, had a meeting and we met all day. And I think we've never been more unified as a group, we've never had a more clear kind of mission. So unrestricted free agency being in the deal is one half, and the other is fair compensation for all players, which is not a surprise to anyone."

Along with Hall, Todd Dunivant and Michael Bradley have recently stated that players are more than ready to bunker for a couple months. Unfortunately, that's probably all they have in them and the operator / investors a very aware of this.

The reason the recent meeting between the two sides was short was because MLS essentially walked into the room, dropped off their proposal and left. Leaving the (inexperienced) union to sort out a response.

In order for players to have more freedom of movement it would take over a year to untangle what exists now. The reality is that it's cute that the players want that but they don't have the resources (both in attorney fees and saved salaries) to make that happen.

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So, armed with an interesting week of CBA discussion, here is what might happen:

80% LIKELY: Players hold out from regular season games 6-8 weeks for free agency, get a convoluted, bastardized MLS version of it. Likely involving allocation and only two or three teams being allowed to bid for players. Players would still practice and likely hold a few in stadium events, scrimmages.

50% LIKELY: Players loosen up - aren't unified as season approaches. Rosters remain incomplete, a couple stars transfer out and MLS teams get stomped in CCL matches, training camps uneven because of uncertainty, coaches leave - and they agree to increased wages (something like $50k rookie and increased vet wages). League starts on time

5% LIKELY: The nuclear option. Don't budge on demands, willing to fight in court over freedom of player moment and hold out the entire year. Result would destroy the 'middle class' of MLS players but better players could move to other leagues (regionally or overseas) and the bottom half could head over to NASL or USL Pro. NASL might spring for a couple Wil Trapp type players but only room for a handful. It's also possible that players would take a less sum while negotiations are happening and join in with USL Pro or NPSL affiliates

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The players should attack the last %5 option there with everything they have. Soccer has made it in this country. It's made it for sometime and still exists in the US even if MLS isn't operating. Something better would arise in it's place. Only good could come from the players standing together to get more rights. Not just for current players for future guys looking to jump in to MLS.

Soccer in the US would be more appealing to good players currently not in the league and of high value in the prime of their career. For that to happen, MLS's stranglehold on the players and, indeed, the sport, has to be loosened. Even if it requires a few (or even unwinding 20 years of) steps back. One league of 24 or 32 teams is not enough to fill the appetite for the sport in this country.

There are many soccer options out there for every citizen in this country, MLS city or not. Restricting the pro game will just leave more fans, and their money, looking elsewhere.

Wahl, Tyson - 2015 Crew SC (Starman)

Doesn't matter the league, there is something about a player that connects the past to the present. Tyson Wahl has become one of those players here in the US. Is that good or bad? I'm not sure. I guess that's for sites like Helltown to figure out, not you. For the time being, you have to live with it either way. Same as me.

Youth Career:
1998–2002... Irvine Strikers
2001... IMG Soccer Academy
2002–2005... California Golden Bears
2004–2005... Orange County Blue Star (21 apps)

Pro Career:
2006–2008... Kansas City Wizards (32 apps)
2009–2011... Seattle Sounders FC (39 apps)
2012... Montreal Impact (11 apps)
2012.. Colorado Rapids (4 apps)
2013– Columbus Crew (43 apps, man...)

MLS Top Heavy Without the Glamour, Soul or Fun

Looking at the Top 5% vs Bottom 5% tells us that MLS is remarkably top heavy in comparison to other domestic leagues.

The addition of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Sebastian Giovinco to the MLS wage book got me wondering just how far out of whack the top guys in the league are getting verse the guys at the bottom.

You may have heard, maybe not (entirely possible), that the next MLS collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated right now. You probably haven’t heard much, I guess. Nobody has. With players reporting this week to get preseason exams and start training, it seems as if it’s business as normal.

Well, almost normal.

Harry Shipp’s recent comment about Giovinco’s salary is very telling and refreshingly candid “I wonder if Giovinco knows that he will literally make more money in 2 days than some of his teammates will the entire year,” he said. And he’s not wrong. MLS is close to going full “old NASL” (albeit without the glamour, soul or… fun) on us the past couple years after preaching slow and sustainable growth in the previous 16 or so.

I don’t understand why the league is ramping up investment on a handful of players at the top when it doesn’t raise the overall quality of the league, nor give more chances to US and Canadian players (which was part of the founding mission of the league). In fact, sprinkling in international talent tends to only raise the profile of the leagues from wince they came - something I’ve looked at, and still monitor.

Here’s a look at how many times the top 5% of MLS wage earners make over the bottom 5% as of the latest release from the MLS Players Union. To keep things level, I used Sportrac.com base salaries as my primary source. Housekeeping on the MLS side - I added only Giovinco and replaced Henry with Altidore (Lampard and Gerrard are not added and only makes it look worse for MLS players).

Reports had Giovinco’s Serie A salary at around $2-3 million per year. His $7 million dollar MLS wage makes him not on the highest paid player in the league but also the highest paid Italian in the world. It’s nuts. And it also highlights what MLS has to pay over market value to bring in a “top” foreign talent. Not sustainable. Not smart. And sort of erratic.

Last up is what if MLS paid the bottom 5% proportionally to the top 5% - the same as these other leagues - what would minimum wage look like...

$52,000 -- MLB
$53,000 -- NBA
$117,000 -- NHL
$140,000 -- NFL

The People You Meet

(The man, the myth, the legend...Ronald McDonald, and some old dude)

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are sometimes like running past "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun."

Learned long ago (after thirty years of planning my running, jumping, lifting, kicking and concussions), if you want to stay fit into your second fifty years, don't think about exercising. Simply place an old t-shirt, favorite sweatshirt, ten-year-old shoes, fraying socks and loose fitting shorts (Underwear not required. Did I just say that?) near the front door.

When you find yourself walking between the TV and kitchen for the third time in ten minutes, turn off the TV. Without even thinking, slip the pile of raggedy exercise gear on your slower-than-molasses-on-a-late-Maine-winter-day body. Walk out the front portal of your domicile. Weather doesn't matter.

Start shuffling. Wave your arms around like a windmill on a Dutch tulip farm. Skip six or seven times, while making believe you and your fourth grade sweetheart are hand-in-hand. Stop. Bend over and touch your toes. Grab your ankle and pull it up behind you until it touches your butt. Start running.

If that pile of crappy clothing sits menacingly near the front door, you are bound to keep your fifty-something body in passable shape.

Been following the above advice for a few years now. It works.

Only minutes ago, I arrived home after such a jaunt. South on Kenny Road to Ackerman. Left onto Ackerman Road. Ackerman Road east to High Street. North on High Street.

Normally I would continue unburdened by anything but my own wheezing and screaming joints to North Broadway. Today I saw a sign.

I'm half-way from Ackerman to North Broadway. I'm passing the McDonalds on the west side of High Street just south of Longview. The sign reads...

"Come in and meet Ron at 5pm"

Ronald McDonald, the real deal, was only fifty feet from my struggling bones. I had to stop in. I had to get a picture with the giant red shoe wearing man who knows the Hamburglar better than anyone on planet earth.

I step inside the home of billions and billions served. Nice people all around. Kids talking to Ron. Moms taking pictures. An attractive young lady named Laurel is overseeing the red haired man's visit.

Laurel eyes me with amused suspicion. I'm clearly not seven-years-old.

"Hi. Was out for a run and saw the sign. Could I get my picture taken with Ron?"

"Uh, sure."

The world is a small place at times. If you float in and out of the soccer world, you quickly realize soccer's universe is a place where seven degrees of separation is two or three too many.

As I wait my turn with the great red-haired man, Laurel and I talk for close to twenty minutes. I'm happy to be in the warm McDonalds, instead of outside running in thirty-eight degree Clintonville, Ohio. Laurel played college soccer at Mt. Vernon Nazarene. Despite the age difference (it's significant) there are common soccer ties, the kind which rise to the surface anytime soccer people in the United States bump into each other.

After a great chat with the kind and wonderful Laurel, it's my turn to meet Ronald. We shake hands and he asks me...

"What's your name?"

"My name's David." I smile. This is great.

"Nice to meet you, David. I'm Ronald."

Pictures are snapped. Laurel is going to email them to me. I have to go back into the cold Columbus, now, night. But, I'm all warm inside. I got to meet Ronald McDonald.

Maybe the Columbus Crew SC and their new owner, Anthony Precourt, could get re-aquainted with Mr. McDonald. The Crew SC has beer, wings, pizza, subs, pacers, trotters and shaving cream locked down. How about some McDoubles and the expanding menu of healthy kid's fare being offered by Ronald and his nemesis, the Hamburglar?

Uh Oh

I wonder if Giovinco knows that he will literally make more money in 2 days than some of his teammates will the entire year @MLS

— Harry Shipp (@championShipp11) January 20, 2015