USSF Presidential Election - 2018

Who Is Your Vote for USSF President? (Ballot Candidates)

  • Steve Gans - Boston Attorney

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • Kyle Martino - Former Player, TV Analyst NBC

    Votes: 13 38.2%
  • Michael Winograd - USL, Co-Founder

    Votes: 2 5.9%
  • Eric Wynalda - Former Player, TV Analyst Fox Sports

    Votes: 11 32.4%
  • Paul Caligiuri - Former Player

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Carlos Cordeiro - USSF, VP

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • Kathy Carter - SUM, President

    Votes: 3 8.8%
  • Hope Solo - Former Player

    Votes: 3 8.8%

  • Total voters
    34
So far I've listened to Wynalda's lengthy interview with Taylor Rockwell and George Quaraishi's shorter (but more journalistically rigorous) interviews with Paul Lapointe and Steve Ganz.

Of the three, Wynalda seems to have the edge on passion and philosophical vision, and Ganz may have an advantage in clear-eyed practicality. Lapointe's platform is good, but I was a bit less enthused by his self-presentation.

Right now I favor Wynalda because I have an affinity for an idealistic, passionate visionary who also has the soccer-world political connections and clout to persuade various parties toward better solutions. I'm curious about his clear antipathy towards Martino's candidacy, though.

I'm happy to hear that at least those three seem solid, and I'm looking forward to hearing Quarashi's interview with Martino.
 
As for the MLS schedule, I dont think thats an issue. Japan runs on the same schedule as MLS and they dont seem to have troubles in regards to transfers etc.
I disagree with this. I don’t look to Japan as our model when we talk about being participants in the world transfer market.
 
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So far I've listened to Wynalda's lengthy interview with Taylor Rockwell and George Quaraishi's shorter (but more journalistically rigorous) interviews with Paul Lapointe and Steve Ganz.

Of the three, Wynalda seems to have the edge on passion and philosophical vision, and Ganz may have an advantage in clear-eyed practicality. Lapointe's platform is good, but I was a bit less enthused by his self-presentation.

Right now I favor Wynalda because I have an affinity for an idealistic, passionate visionary who also has the soccer-world political connections and clout to persuade various parties toward better solutions. I'm curious about his clear antipathy towards Martino's candidacy, though.

I'm happy to hear that at least those three seem solid, and I'm looking forward to hearing Quarashi's interview with Martino.
Do you have the same love-hate feelings about Quarashi I do?

It’s like, I love what he’s providing, but he’s the epitome of the Brooklyn Arsenal fan and everything that entails. It’s why I’ll never buy a subscription to his magazine. Or at least why I’m still holding off. He annoys me as a person, and his false humility and self-congratulatory self-flagellation is way too much.
 
Waldo gets my Vote... savy indivdual... willing to call a spade a spade..... He loves the game and clearly wants what is best for US Soccer from the national teams to the leagues.... I see all over the INTERNETS that waldo would open up this pro Rel gobbly gook... I can see waldo doing that with in the minor leagues and not forcing MLS to do it,, Waldo is a smart dude he knows MLS business structure is what has kept this league alive and doing well, in no way is he going to fuck around with that....

Waldo has a clear vision and knows what are the smart moves for the federation...

as far as the money and that aspect of the federation I am sure the people working in those areas will continue to do so or he will hire qualified people to do so......

If he also gets rid of the current UGLY ASS federation Logo we have now even more points for old number 11
 
Do you have the same love-hate feelings about Quarashi I do?
He can come across as an over-educated hipster, but then again so can I.

Personally, I really enjoy Howler and it's various outgrowths, and I think the magazine as a whole transcends George's particular "voice", but it does smack more of a literary journal about soccer (or one could say it has a pretense as such) than a sports magazine per se and I can see how that may be obnoxious to some. It isn't to me.

I preferred the Dummy podcast when David Goldblatt was a key contributor, but I still listen from time to time.

Now that I've listened to Kyle Martino's interview and it seems like he believes his selling point to be "I'm a bigger TV star than Eric Wynalda and also I'm a nicer guy", I think I'm still on the Wynalda For Prez train.
 
He can come across as an over-educated hipster, but then again so can I.

Personally, I really enjoy Howler and it's various outgrowths, and I think the magazine as a whole transcends George's particular "voice", but it does smack more of a literary journal about soccer (or one could say it has a pretense as such) than a sports magazine per se and I can see how that may be obnoxious to some. It isn't to me.

I preferred the Dummy podcast when David Goldblatt was a key contributor, but I still listen from time to time.

Now that I've listened to Kyle Martino's interview and it seems like he believes his selling point to be "I'm a bigger TV star than Eric Wynalda and also I'm a nicer guy", I think I'm still on the Wynalda For Prez train.
Quarashi just screams, "I'm smart and if you don't see the world the way I do, you're not."

I have been a dummy subscriber for as long as it's existed. I'm glad it exists. I'd be more glad if George weren't behind it. He's really hard to like. He's tolerable if you're looking for content.

He's also not particularly knowledgeable about soccer, imo.

And not that I'm a genius. But I try to know what I don't. I find there to be a lack of self awareness in what he criticizes as it relates to his Reliance on his own meager player experiences.

I actually have come to determine that good US soccer commentary is practically impossible from anyone raised up within those constructs. There are ways to escape. He hasn't found them. Some people who work alongside him do from time to time.

I appreciate the existence of his media company. I just don't care for him too much on a personal level.
 
Quarashi just screams, "I'm smart and if you don't see the world the way I do, you're not."

I have been a dummy subscriber for as long as it's existed. I'm glad it exists. I'd be more glad if George weren't behind it. He's really hard to like. He's tolerable if you're looking for content.

He's also not particularly knowledgeable about soccer, imo.

And not that I'm a genius. But I try to know what I don't. I find there to be a lack of self awareness in what he criticizes as it relates to his Reliance on his own meager player experiences.

I actually have come to determine that good US soccer commentary is practically impossible from anyone raised up within those constructs. There are ways to escape. He hasn't found them. Some people who work alongside him do from time to time.

I appreciate the existence of his media company. I just don't care for him too much on a personal level.
My main problem with Howler was that it was mostly illustration and layout and not a lot of content. At least at the time.

Any of y'all check out The Blizzard? It was the first thing I thought of when one of you said "literary journal for soccer".

Liked 8x8 recently as sort of a mix of the two.
 
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My main problem with Howler was that it was mostly illustration and layout and not a lot of content.

It's the repurposed wood of magazines, exactly what you would expect a Brooklyn Arsenal fan to produce. Even though el George is from FLA.
 
Taylor Twellman said "we cant run soccer the American way anymore" or words to that effect.

Maybe someone with expertise from outside the USA ?
 
Taylor Twellman said "we cant run soccer the American way anymore" or words to that effect.
Maybe someone with expertise from outside the USA ?
If so, I'm not sure President is where the non-US experience is needed. I'd want that experience and POV working in the technical director role, as Klinsmann arguably achieved much more at that than as coach while here, or maybe as commissioner of MLS, if you want to go to the European calendar or pro/rel like Wynalda seems to want. The President is an unpaid part time job. There is talk of changing that, but if a new President starts working on that it just puts off other big changes.
I was also disappointed in the Wynalda interview. He's a thoughtful guy, and the interviewers didn't push him at all on details. Their only "tough" question on pro/rel was what do you say to owners afraid of losing money by getting relegated and he replied they are losing money now and teams in pro/rel systems make money. And that was it. There was no pushback on that, like
  • but is pro/rel why they make money, or is it just because soccer is the clear #1 sport in those countries?
  • specifically, what is the middle step between start pro/rel in the US, ??????, make money?
also no questions on
  • how do you finance a 26k seat stadium knowing a team might be relegated?
  • or do you give up on SSS and start sharing with college football, etc as a first option?
  • how do you handle the promotion of a team in a low population town with an 8K stadium to the top division?
  • what happens to national TV contracts if large market teams get relegated?
  • if your answer to that is really small town teams would never make top division, or large markets never drop, then what is the point of pro rel?
  • would you regionalize lower divisions to cut travel costs?
  • if so is there enough interest around the country to support multiple lower leagues and that many teams since there seems to be no interest in lower divisions as it is?
  • how do you schedule MLS through the winter?
  • how do you schedule lower divisions through the winter?
  • do we play in deep snow, or at -8º wind chill?
  • how many fans will show up to an MLS game under those conditions?
  • how many fans show up to a lower division game in those conditions?
I'm not picking on Wynalda. I'm frustrated because I'd actually like to hear him be pushed on these things and have to expound about them in more detail, because I think he'd come up with interesting ideas.
 
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You're a moderator and you spammed three different threads with this same post - WTF???

Falastur Falastur , can you yank his credentials for failure to live up to the ideals of a moderator that doesn't clutter the website?

This is major USMNT news that merits cross posts.
 
You're a moderator and you spammed three different threads with this same post - WTF???

Falastur Falastur , can you yank his credentials for failure to live up to the ideals of a moderator that doesn't clutter the website?

I told Dan that it was a bad idea to introduce Spam Post Happy Hours for site staff but would he listen? Of course not...
 
You're a moderator and you spammed three different threads with this same post - WTF???

Falastur Falastur , can you yank his credentials for failure to live up to the ideals of a moderator that doesn't clutter the website?
Def obnoxious. But all things considered, I’ll accept it.