gay4soccer
Because soccer isn't gay, but once in awhile it kinda is.
Soccer Ally May: Real Salt Lake
05/15/12
This morning you saw the exciting news that Major League Soccer is working with the You Can Play Project. And all month long we’ve been working to add to our list of players whose attitudes embody the spirit of that campaign.
This preseason, Real Salt Lake defender Chris Wingert participated in the NOH8 Campaign’s first Utah photo shoot. Thank you Chris!
But he’s our only RSL player on the list and we’d like to change that. Help us contact the players on Twitter below and ask them to join our list as a #soccerally. Who knows? Maybe a new addition to our list will be one of the first to do You Can Play.
Major League Soccer Partners with You Can Play
05/15/12
NOTE: Since this report from the SBJ, it was discovered that there is no partnership between MLS and YCP.
Yesterday Major League Soccer told the Sports Business Journal that they will be working with the You Can Play Project, who has been making public service announcements with straight hockey players showing support for gay players:
“We have enjoyed speaking with Patrick and learning about You Can Play,” said JoAnn Neale, executive vice president for Major League Soccer. “MLS W.O.R.K.S. [the league’s charitable arm] is committed to working alongside groups that support LGBT causes and equality. We look forward to working with You Can Play in a variety of capacities.”
Gay in Soccer
05/14/12
Win, lose, or draw, we are supporters! Last year when Vancouver sucked, New England sucked, who cared? Their fans Maybe. Who were the ones that were there through thick and thin chanting, singing, and showing their team colors and spirit? The supporters! In the supporters section you have the dedicated, die hard, and sometimes rabid fans. You also have a family.
We are your non-traditional yet dysfunctional family. Your doting, over protective mother. Your sexy incestuous cousin (whom you wish you weren’t related to). The siblings you love, and in-laws you wish you could do without. The crazy, loud, obnoxious uncle to whom you’re not sure how you’re related. And your pushy well-meaning father.
Now for my supporters group we’ve got all of that and then some! We have the people that fight over “their gays.” They want to protect us, include us, and sometime unintentionally tokenize us.
Soccer Ally May: Montreal Impact
05/14/12
It was great to be on the road late Friday afternoon and see two more Chicago Fire players join the Allies List. Today we hit the halfway mark of the month with nearly 30 new Major League Soccer players signing on.
This week we wrap up the teams that, like the Fire before Friday, start the month with only one ally. The Montreal Impact are the next team and their lone player on the list is Justin Braun, who participated in the NOH8 Campaign as part of last year’s Equality Night put on by Chivas USA. Thank you Justin!
So please help us get more players from Major League Soccer’s newest team to join the list. Tweet at the guys below and ask them to become a #soccerally and include that tag or our handle (@gay4soccer) in the Tweets. Let’s keep the ball rolling!
Houston Rolls Out the Orange Carpet to Celebrate BBVA Compass Stadium
05/14/12
(Out) Houston Mayor Annise Parker is honored by the Houston Dynamo
Saturday was a banner day for Houston, the Dynamo, and Major League Soccer with the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium.
The pre-game ceremonies were a beautifully emotional dedication to everyone who made the new home of the Dynamo a possibility, the club’s history, and players past and present.
Big Win Brings Third Seattle Shutout in a Row
05/11/12
Seattle Sounders FC fans were on the edge of their seats for 68 minutes Wednesday night until a pair of fired-up goals in three minutes from Fredy Montero locked up a win for the Sounders over FC Dallas.
Starting the game off a little slower than normal and sweating hard, Seattle seemed to struggle in the heat allowing FC Dallas a strong showing the in the first half, with Dallas making more shots on goal saved by the young and handsome Bryan Meredith. FC Dallas was giving it their all as they kept possession and only allowed one shot on goal from the Sounders in the whole first half.
Soccer Ally May: Chicago Fire
05/11/12
So far this month we’re averaging just about three new allies a day from Major League Soccer clubs. It’s an amazing growth and a great lead up to June when we’ll give everyone an opportunity to recruit allies in an all new way.
Will the Chicago Fire help us keep up the pace? Goalkeeper Jay Nolly became a list member last week when he volunteered a pretty awesome Tweet:
Soccer does not discriminate. More people should become allies for @gay4soccer. #soccerally
— Jay Nolly (@JayNolly) May 1, 2012
Thank you Jay!
So help us light a fire under some of Jay’s teammates and get them to join him on the #soccerally list. We’ll keep an eye out for that hash tag and tweets to us all day.
Here At Last! Houston Dynamo Prepare to Finally Go Home
05/11/12
The inaugural match at Houston’s long awaited BBVA Compass stadium is right around the corner. The stadium will officially open to Dynamo fans on May 12th when the men in orange take on D.C. United. Dynamo President Chris Canetti must have realized that fans couldn’t possibly wait that long, and the organization hosted back to back events over the past weekend that gave fans a sneak peek inside of the venue.
Colin Rolfe and Calen Carr sign autographs at the Dynamo Team Store Grand Opening
The events were kicked off by the grand opening of the official Adidas Team Store at the stadium on Thursday evening. Fans had the opportunity to shop around, and there was an autograph session with the entire 2012 roster. Reception was amazing and Canetti reported that there were a few fans who even camped out over night in order to be the first through the doors. The store itself is breathtaking. Like everything else in BBVA Compass Stadium, it is orange all over. The store features jerseys and scarfs and all of the obligatory merchandise that a soccer fanatic needs, but also features some amazing extras that could only be found in a team store. Dynamo fans can now purchase everything from shot glasses to tank tops to office supplies.
A Whole Lot of Question Marks for Chivas USA
05/10/12
If you’ve been trying to follow my posts about Chivas USA on here this season, and are disappointed by the lack of updates, well, two things: 1) I apologize and 2) Looking at the results, can you blame me?
While Chivas USA got off to a decent start, their current form seems to have brought fans to an all too familiar place. Three straight losses has put the team in second to last place in the Western Conference with 9 points in 9 games played. They still have not won at home.
Small silver lining: they finally scored their first goal at home this season last weekend in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire. Another interesting stat: the goal was off a penalty, the first one given to the team since August 2010. However, with a last-minute goal by Marco Pappa, many Chivas USA fans left the match with the “different game, same story” attitude. To be quite honest, it’s the same attitude that has been plaguing my mind for the past month.
What exactly is wrong? It is difficult to pinpoint. The team tends to be strong in defense. Relatively of course, considering the losses they’ve undergone. Most goals scored against them have not been until the waning moments of the game. So would that lead to lack of focus? Sure. The two paired together brings about the horrid defensive lapses that have led to all of the losses, a majority of which were games that ended 1-0. We could also discuss play at the other end. The team builds up well, yet continuously struggles in finishing. The play seems to tighten in the finishing third and the team loses their creativity that built up to the scoring opportunities.
Soccer Ally May: FC Dallas
05/10/12
Yesterday five New York Red Bulls joined teammate Dax McCarty as members of our Allies List.
Today we look at Dax’s old stomping grounds of FC Dallas, also starting out the campaign with only one ally. Goalkeeper Chris Seitz joined the list back in February via Twitter, and has been immensely supportive ever since. Thank you Chris!
Let’s work today to get more Dallas players on the list with Chris. Help us tweet at his teammates below and ask them to join the list as a #soccerally, or to send us a tweet @gay4soccer.
