The Philadlephia Union announced today that head coach and team manager, Peter Nowak has stepped down. Nowak has coached the Union to a 21-30-24 record in three seasons. Coach John Havkworth will take over as head coach on an interim basis.
"Over a period of time, we determined that we were no longer on the same page between ownership and Peter's philosophy of managing the team," Operating officer Nick Sakiewicz said.
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This is the second article in a series on the Philadelphia Union, the MLS, and soccer. More importantly it is my views on them as an average Philadelphia sports fan. Enjoy this view on the sport from the outside but remember this series is not an authoritative look at tactics or front office moves.
Make it Ours
One of the great things about soccer is that it has a fine tradition that dates back thousands of years.
But that tradition isn’t ours.
I’m not saying we should do away with the entirety of it and start from scratch. There are many fine, beautiful traditions that are both uniquely “soccer” and perfectly at home in any stadium or home in the United States. And as I wrote about in the first part of this series, some of these very traditions are what make the game such a fantastic and rich experience
But we need to incorporate them into our own tradition, or the average sports fan will never look at soccer as anything more than a curiosity. While we are on the topic, a fan is a fan. A fan is not a supporter. For the sake of argument, I suppose you could call yourself a supporter. I know a lot of the established fan base does, and I have nothing but respect for the Sons of Ben and their work helping to bring an MLS franchise to the city. For them it works, but nobody should be corrected for calling themselves a Union fan. Really, I won’t be calling myself a supporter anytime soon.
Another thing that has to go is calling the uniforms kits. I know having this unique jargon makes people feel special and maybe a little worldly but in the end it’s bad for the sport. It’s cliquish and it keeps the general public at arms length from the game. The unfamiliar lexicon makes the whole thing unfriendly to newcomers.
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This is the first in a series on the Philadelphia Union, the MLS in general, and how it fits into the framework of Philadelphia sports while simultaneously exploring the concept of becoming a fan of a relatively new (to me) sport. This series is NOT intended to be in-depth analysis of the sport’s strategy and will not use an authoritative voice when talking about roster moves or similarly heady topics.
The Spectacle
There are a lot of reasons to fall in love with sports. One reason is the stars who, like other celebrities, are exciting to follow and entertaining to watch. Another reason is for the strategy--we all love to play armchair coach or see a well executed game. There is also the stats, which provide us with a way to quantify and analyze what we love about the games we watch.
But there is another reason, one perhaps more important the rest:
The Spectacle.
It’s tough to get a feel for the spectacle from your couch, where you’re well insulated from the excitement on the field. The spectacle exists in a beautiful stadium filled to the brim with spectators, the explosion of the crowd when a goal (run, touchdown, etc.) is scored, or in the first bite of a ballpark frank. It’s in the bright lights on a cool night and in the magic that exists in finding your way to your seat and taking your first long look at your surroundings.
Above: Spectacle
Of course, this brings me to the point of this article: GO SEE A UNION GAME.
There is nothing (and I mean absolutely nothing) quite like going to a Union game. From the parade into the stadium the Sons of Ben (the Union’s core support group, essentially the mega fans) perform each game, to the massive roar of the crowd when the Union score a goal (which is never, cause this is soccer. Kidding!), to the greatest goal song ever (you know, the one the Flyers stole)--the excitement level is utterly shocking.
Continue reading "The Spectacle: A Unique Perspective of the Philadelphia Union" »
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Buzz On Broad has quickly grown into one of the best sources for everything and anything Philadelphia sports. You come here for breaking news on your favorite teams, interesting reads, and engaging content that you really don't find anywhere else.
Drew Cohen, the founder of Buzz On Broad and a very good friend of mine, did a fantastic job of building a brand that people are familiar with throughout the city of Philadelphia and the surrounding area. It's a brand that has come a long way in such a short period of time, and one you all have come to know, love, and trust.
The best part about it? Buzz On Broad is here to stay.
So I'm sure you guys read Drew's parting post; his farewell piece on the next chapter of this great site. And you guys have got to be wondering who exactly will be taking over, what they'll be offering, and why you should keep coming back to Buzz On Broad.
So I'd like to take this chance to formally introduce ourselves. My name is Rob Giannone, and along with my business partner Danny Ricciardi, will be taking the reigns to Buzz On Broad with the excitement of bringing our passion for the sports in this city to some of the most dedicated and educated of fans out there.
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via a CSN press release:
Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network continue to be the home of the Philadelphia Union with 19 high definition broadcasts, a weekly magazine show, and exclusive Union content on CSNPhilly.com.
JP Dellacamera and Philadelphia soccer legend Bob Rigby return to call the action for all 19 high definition Philadelphia Union games on Comcast SportsNet and the Comcast Network. The first broadcast will be on Saturday, March 24 at 8:30 p.m. against Chicago.
State of the Union
In addition to the live game broadcasts, the networks will also air “State of the Union,” a weekly magazine show hosted byAmy Fadool, Rigby and Philadelphia Daily News’ Union writer Kerith Gabriel. “State of the Union” provides viewers an in-depth look at the team on and off the pitch with player features, game highlights and analysis, and the top goals from around the MLS. “State of the Union” premieres every Friday at 7 p.m. on The Comcast Network and 11:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet beginning on Friday, March 23.
Digital Doop
CSNPhilly.com will have extensive online coverage of the Philadelphia Union, including game coverage and weekly features.
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Photo via MLS
Great news soccer fans! Philadelphia will be the host for the 2012 MLS All-Star Game.
[MLS]
Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday that Philadelphia will be the stage for the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 25 at 8 p.m. ET, bringing the summer’s showcase event to PPL Park, where the Sons of Ben will welcome a yet unnamed opponent to take on the best MLS has to offer. In the most recent edition held in 2011, Manchester United took on the MLS All-Stars at Red Bull Arena.
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This week saw a flurry of moves from the Philadelphia Union, which has their training camp roster looking much more clear. After adding three players in the 2012 SuperDraft, space had to be mad, and unfortunately four players from the 2011 roster had to be cut. Youngsters Morgan Langley, Ryan Richter, Joe Tait, and Levi Houapeu all had their options declined by the club on Wednesday.
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Martin Luther King Day is about taking the message that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to pass on to our society, and putting it to work.
Can our local Philadelphia sports teams take his message and put it to work?
Here are some messages Martin Luther King could have for our local teams.
1) We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. - Martin Luther King Jr. to the Philadelphia Eagles
No question that the Eagles had the talent to be a playoff team this year, but their inability to get it together in time made them look foolish for most of the season. When the Eagles dropped to 2-4, players started to talk about individuals worrying more about their own stats than the team. If the Eagles are going to turn things around next season, they must learn to live together. Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie need to do a better job in their new roles. DeSean Jackson and Asante Samuel need to learn to put the team before their own individual needs, because this Eagles team needs them both back next season in order to compete. Juan Castillo and Jim Washburn must learn how to put a defense together that still utilizes the Wide 9, but does not collapse against the run. Finally, the Eagles need to come together as a team for their head coach Andy Reid - because if they don't, they will be out of the playoffs again. Then, they would really perish together as fools.
2) Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness. - Martin Luther King Jr. to Ilya Bryzgalov
The signs of an ugly divorce are already starting to appear between Ilya Bryzgalov and the Flyers. Less playing time for Bryz, sitting him in big games, Bryzgalov getting testy with the media, and a feeling from the fans that Bryz might not be cut out for this big of a market. With all of this going on, it would be easy for Bryz to take his big contract and succumb to the pressure - give up, make the situation ugly, and ultimately force his way out of town. Will he pull it together? It really is up to Bryz. If he can fight the temptation to completely collapse, and turn his game around, he could be a fan favorite. And not the bitter, confused, disappointed player he is now.
Continue reading "Martin Luther King Jr. Speaks On Philadelphia Sports" »
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The MLS SuperDraft took place today in Kansas City, Missouri. While the format change saw the draft go from three rounds to two, Philadelphia was able to walk away with three quality players. Chandler Hoffman of UCLA, Greg Jordan of Creighton, and Raymon Gaddis of West Virginia were selected, in order, by Philadelphia today. Check out info on all the draft picks after the jump!
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Earlier today, MLS released the 2012 schedule. Each club will play 34 matches, 17 home and 17 away. The Union will start their season on Monday March 12th at Portland Timers. (ESPN2 9:30 PM EST). The home opener will be played on Sunday, March 18th against Colorado Rapids (NBC Sports 4:00 PPM EST). More schedule details after the jump!
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