gay4soccer
Because soccer isn't gay, but once in awhile it kinda is.
Sporting Kansas City: Jersey Week 2013
02/28/13
SportingKC.com
Sporting Kansas City releases a new primary jersey that truly celebrates their region being bi(state) and is the first to feature their new sponsor.
I did not like the early leaked images of this kit. Without the jersey sponsor on the first the front was pretty much a barren wasteland, but now it has the simple and classy Ivy Funds logo. Without it there the negative/positive image looked overly forced, but all put together it works. The diagonal is a nice nod to the Kansas City area straddling both sides of that line, in Kansas and Missouri. The jersey also gets originality points for being the only one to have adidas’ signature three stripes in different colors on each sleeve.
And damn, look how fine Zusi looks in the thing. Although I promise that didn’t factor at all into my opinion of it. Really.
Gay Soccer Player Would be Accepted, MLS Survey Finds
02/27/13
Grant Wahl conducted a preseason survey of MLS players and found that an overwhelming majority said a gay soccer player would be accepted in their locker room.
Wahl, senior writer for Sports Illustrated, spoke with 18 players on the condition of anonymity. He specified on Twitter that while anonymous, these players were veterans and some of the best players in the league, “clubhouse leaders [and] thought influencers.”
The specific question he posed was, “Would a gay player be accepted in your team’s locker room?” 17 players said yes. Only one said no.
I really appreciate the anonymity Wahl allowed the players here. I don’t think we would have gotten the answer of “no” with a fear of wanting to appear politically correct. While Major League Soccer would be a great environment for an out player–and I say the best in the US–it shows we aren’t one hundred percent there yet in all corners of the league and we still have some work to do. That honesty is important to the process and a great reminder of the work ahead.
David Testo and Robbie Rogers, the only two out MLS alumni, take on opponents.
You can check out all the results of Wahl’s survey at si.com.
Toronto FC: Jersey Week 2013
02/27/13
MLSSoccer.com
Well if you think the Canadians are boring, I say to you “humbug*” because last night Toronto FC released a great new primary kit.
If you couldn’t tell from my disappointment in the new Houston jersey, I’m a huge sucker for multi-hue fabric patterns and this new Toronto kit does it very well. The geometric shapes formed by diagonals that emanate from the lines of the trademark Canadian maple leaf are just plain awesome. The new charcoal grey stripes are also really nice new touches. Put all together, it’s incredibly visually interesting without becoming too busy.
After the first few snores from Houston and New York, it’s great to see some nice creative thinking coming from Colorado, Philadelphia, and Toronto.
*Yes this is a Canadian/British candy joke. My mom hunts them down every time we go to Canada. Bravo if you picked up on it before reading this footnote.
Philadelphia Union: Jersey Week 2013
02/27/13
Can a team’s new jersey be so good it brings a tear to your eye? Yes, and for me that was the case with the Philadelphia Union’s new third kit.
PhiladelphiaUnion.com
Maybe I need to provide some background information. I grew up in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania in a town so small and slow its German name roughly translates to Snailtown. My dad grew up in Bethlehem and went to high school next to Steel Field, which had been home to the most successful team in the early decades of American soccer, Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel won the American Cup six times and the competition now called the U.S. Open Cup five times. Their home Steel Field was the first American soccer field to have stadium-style seating. They were so good they toured Europe on several occasions to show off their skills.
The new Philadelphia Union third jersey is a fitting, and moving, homage to Bethlehem Steel and the soccer history and heritage of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Colorado Rapids: Jersey Week 2013
02/26/13
After an early reveal of the new home jersey last fall, the Colorado Rapids brought out their new away kit on last night’s evening news in Denver.
ColoradoRapids.com
In September of last year the Colorado Rapids unveiled their 2013 home kit during a meet the team event for season ticket holders. The home kit has the names of season ticket holders interwoven in parts of the fabric. The two other added features to these kits are the white sleeves and small Colorado flag on the bottom left side. The white sleeves were described as show of solidarity with their partner club Arsenal, while the names on the kit were announced during the preseason as part of the “One Club” initiative for both fans and the Rapids employees.
I was able to see the kit for the first time this past Saturday at the “Centennial 38” preseason supporters’ party. When I first heard about the names of season ticket holders being added to the kit, I was relatively happy. Seeing the kit in person made me even more pleased with the final product. The names are small, but readable and they go in alphabetical order. Overall the kit doesn’t clash and having no corporate sponsor on the front helps. Burgundy is a unique color in MLS, and I am happy the Rapids have fully embraced it.
New York Red Bulls: Jersey Week 2013
02/26/13
The New York Red Bulls revealed their new kits as part of MLS Jersey Week 2013, and hey look, they colored in the armpits red, or something.
This is the kind of jersey change that warrants a big media event? Much like the Houston kit revealed earlier Monday, the New York Red Bulls continue on their step backward from jerseys past that were at least interesting, sporting a unique button-down look.
Confession time: I even own one of those, and I’m a frigging Philadelphia Union fan.
We get it. You’re the New York Red Bulls. It’s in your team name, so how about you do something different with the logo? Put it off center, or even wraparound with one bull on front or one in the back. Or even take a cue from a can of your namesake energy drink and break the front of the jersey up into blue and white or silver quadrants.
Just do something, because all you’re doing now is boring me.
Houston Dynamo: Jersey Week 2013
02/26/13
The Houston Dynamo were the first out of the gate with an official release for MLS Jersey Week 2013, and their offering is a step back from the 2011 design.
-
- 2011 (Dynamo Theory)
-
- 2013 (Houston Dynamo)
The 2011 home kit for the Dynamo was a stunner, with a patterned fabric much like the center of a sunflower. This year it reverts to a simple matte orange which by comparison is nothing short of boring. The jersey also loses the collar of the last edition, although the team explains that was a comfort consideration for players in the Texas heat.
There are a few nice new touches. I like the Texas flag emblem at the bottom and the diagonal white armbands, but the Houston Dynamo had something special going on with their kits the last few years, and this cycle they’ve turned to just plain blah.
Anton Hysén: Out Magazine Eligible Bachelor
02/21/13
They may need to add a number 101 after Robbie Rogers’ coming out last week, but out Swedish soccer pro Anton Hysén has been named to Out Magazine’s 100 Most Eligible Bachelors of 2013.
Hysén, who came out nearly two years ago, is a defender for Utsiktens BK in Sweden’s Division 1, a third-tier league. He is currently the world’s only out professional male soccer player. He was also last year’s champion of “Let’s Dance,” Sweden’s “Dancing with the Stars” franchise.
You can vote for Anton Hysén to be number one here.
Out Magazine / Facebook
LA Galaxy Plays Ball with the Today Show
02/20/13
If you’re anything like me watching the fourth hour of the Today Show is the highlight of any day off from work, and last week the LA Galaxy hung out with hosts Kathie Lee and Hoda.
It was Winesday Wednesday as the ladies call it, so they were challenged to a little competition with the winner owing the loser a bottle. But beyond the soccer, they also had a side mission to get under the guys’ kits. Edmonton keeper Lance Parker experienced this first hand when he and the other Cosmo Magazine eligible bachelors visited the show, although shirt removal was part of that deal.
So just because they amuse me so much, here is the LA Galaxy kicking it with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotbe:
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Robbie Rogers: Major League Soccer Reacts
02/20/13
My retweet finger was working overtime on Friday after Robbie Rogers came out thanks to the outpouring of support from his past teammates and competitors. But beyond the Twitter support on Friday there have also been wide ranging posts of encouragement from the Major League Soccer family.
The Columbus Crew, with whom Rogers spent the entirety of his MLS career, released a statement of support yesterday. Former captain Frankie Hejduk, who also played with now-out David Testo, said, “Robbie is and will always be a great friend, a great teammate and a great player to me. I’m fully supportive of anything he decides to do with his future. I wish him the best in the next chapter.”
Robbie Rogers’ current MLS rights are held by the Chicago Fire through a trade along with Dilly Duka for Dominic Oduro. On the Fire website Head Coach Frank Klopas said, “Yesterday I thought he was a very good player and I still think that today. Should Robbie want to return to the game, we would still be open to him being part of the Fire.”
