Made of Awesome: Megan Rapinoe

She is the queen of women's soccer.  She had the most perfect pass in I have EVER seen to Abby Wambach in the 2011 goal vs Brazil (you soccer lovers know what I am talking about).  She is a member of the USWNT and the women's Seattle Sounders team.  She is always laughing and being a nut on and off the field.  She has a t-shirt made just because of her hair.  In fact, she has a twitter page dedicated just to her hair.  She is my FAVORITE soccer player in the world, and she is the queen of all that is awesome.  She is the one and only, Megan Rapinoe.

I mean for real, check out this hair.

The excess celebration in the 2012 Olympics was so great.

Oh Yeah!  And She has a twin sister :)

She may not seem so intimidating off the soccer filed, but get this girl some boots and toss her a ball and you don't stand a chance.  Her speed and skill with the ball make her a HUGE asset to the USWNT and she is a dominant key player.  She has been nominated for the Fifa Women's Player of the Year and is well worthy of it!  Watching her play soccer gives me chills and I can only hope someday I would even be a fraction as good as she is as a player.  Oh, and I wish I had as good of hops and celebration skills as she has.

The 27 year old from California played soccer at the University of Oregon and led the team to NCAA NAtional Championships.  In 2006 she became a member of the US Women's National Senior team and helped lead the team to several Gold Medals and a solid World Cup appearance.  She is an amazing midfielder and can place the ball anywhere in the net she wants to put it.  Also, if I had the balls to pull of a hairdo like hers I would, but that is why it is called the Pinoe cut.  No one can have hair cool enough to have a t-shirt made after it I mean really

Unfortunately they do not make this t-shirt anymore.  Sad, sad day.

There is so much I can say about this crazy woman.  I love her so much because of her passion for the sport and her outgoing attitude that reminds me so much of myself.  Her tattoo on her bicep says "Nature Ran My Coarse" and then the tattoo on her wrist says "Trust Yourself".  My tattoo on my side says "I am Who I am".  All relative to being yourself and living life to the fullest.  When teammate Hope Solo was asked to describe Pinoe, she laughed and simply replied "Her own person." YES!  That is exactly why I love Rapinoe so much, she is such a hoot off the field and so fun to watch on the field.  Trust me the soccer world knows Megan Rapinoe and you can easily find more information about her, but I am going to leave you with a few pictures and a video and stop rambling because I could talk Pinoe all day.  I will leave the rest of you to dig more into her story if you so desire, or if you are obsessed like me, then keep being a rock star and following the queen of awesomeness :).

This video is about Pinoe in her hometown :)  Enjoy!!!!!

Until next week Friends, followers, and footballers alike.

Love the business.  Love the game.

<3 Jule

Growth of the Beautiful Game

Exciting news soccer lovers and friends!

Several years ago a professional women's soccer league was born, and announced dead in early 2011.  Well step back haters, a new professional women's soccer league is about to be kicked off in 2013! (I apologize in advance if there are a lot of exclamation points in this post, it is just so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

The yet to be named new soccer league would consist of at least 8 teams including 3 former WPS teams (Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, and New Jersey Blue Sky). It is important to note that this is not a competitor to the existing leagues, but rather this is a large step up on the competitive level and professional standards.  It is a chance for a fresh start for WPS and for lady footballers all across the nation!

This has been something that professional players have craved for so long.  Our beloved USWNT has captured the heart of so many soccer lovers across the globe and they have taken the sport of women's soccer to the next level.  For so long players like Christie Rampone, Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, and the rest of the team have spent their own money traveling the nation promoting the sport.  They don't want to beautiful sport to die out in this nation, and they are doing everything in their power to keep it alive.  The lady footballers have seen 6 seasons of WPS start and fail right before their eyes.  Rampone explains that they have looked into what went wrong, and now it is just time to improve and go to work. There is still a lot of work to be done to be able to get up to the level like the mens national team is, but the ladies are willing to work their butts of to get there!  Young, talented players like Alex Morgan want more then ever to stay in the US and play the sport they love, but if it comes down to it she said she will look to study abroad if that is the only option. We don't want this to happen!!!

This new league coming to a stadium near you in 2013 is a sign of hope.  The women's national team winning a gold medal in London this past summer was a huge part of what grabbed the attention of soccer lovers around the globe. Listen up ladies and gentleman, because this is something I am truly passionate about: Every day I talk about these women to someone.  I express my love of soccer, I go out and kick a ball around, and I cheer for every game my ladies play.  If you truly love futball, you will go out and spread the word and support this new professional league!  The women's Seattle Sounders team is my favorite team and I would love more then anything to go to a game someday. I am a huge supporter of this dream, I believe women's soccer can be bigger then any other US sport. I say BRINT IT ON!  Get out and support your teams when the league starts!  Help make the beautiful game known to others!  It is up to us to support our ladies. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Peace. Love. Soccer. Lady Footballers <3 

Have a great day!

~Jule

Replacing A Legend

Hello soccer lovers and friends alike.

Because I am still trying to cope with the loss of our dear coach Pia Sundhage(not dead, just gone), this blog is both a peek in the past and a flash into the future.

Let us start with an AMAZING video of some of Pia's accomplichements.  Every moment on this video gives me goosepimples-and if nothing else, watch Pia's celebratory dance at the end. Enjoy.
Actually I am just kidding...the video I really want to show you will not connect with blogger.
So here is the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ZmpM2Fu8o
If you enjoy Pia and would like to see the highlights of her career (including that sexy goal by Rapinoe to Wambach when the women beat Brazil in the World Cup) then this is a must watch. 
Or if you just want to see her rock out at the end of the video that is awesome too!

Now that you are all hyped up on Pia vibes, I shall share with you updates on the search for a new coach.  U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati addressed several media personel on the progress and process of the search for a new coach earlier this month.  Jill Ellis, Pia's assistant coach and a key player as the Youth Development Director for the women, will be filling in for the month of October or at least until they find a new coach.  She has a ton of experience working with all of the players and will do a great job.

Interviews have been held in Chiicago, and the process is in full swing.  International coaches, domestic coaches, US college-based coaches, and some coaches already in the US team mix are all on the table to be interviewed.  The hope is that a new coach is found by the end of November.  There are 10 markets and 11 investor operators who are involved in the process to make sure that the coach hired is up to the level needed.  They will play a large role in this process.  It is going to be a process and some of the coaches being interviewed are under contracts that won't be up until the end of the year.  Either way we can expect a new coach for the USWNT by the end of the year 2012.

Pia will never be able to be replaced, and her legacy will live on in the hearts and souls of the fans and players of the women's national team.

More to come on other changes in the women's professional soccer league to come in up coming blogs! 

Stay tuned!

Love the Business.  Love the Game.

~Jule



A Kick To Support Breast Cancer

As most of you know, October is breast cancer awareness month. (On a side note I can;t believe it is October already!) It is the time of year where a lot of pink will be flocking the streets.  But what about the soccer fields?  You bet!  Usually the only professional sport that is known to support the tatas is the NFL, well not anymore!  Step back buff footballers, it is time for the TRUE footballers to show their support as well!  As a part of Soccer Kicks Cancer, Major LEague Soccer and several other clubs are sporting pink in order to help spread awareness and support for breast cancer.  Limited breast cancer merchandise will be available for purchase including scarfs, hats, t-shirts, soccer balls and even cleats customized by MLS players themselves!  Several players including Fredy Montero, Chris Montius, Darlington Magbe, Kenny Cooper, and Teal Bunburry all had the opportunity to work with Addidas to add some of their own pink swag to a pair of kicks.  Not only will the players be sporting their cleats at every game this month, but the cleats will also be for sale!  LA Galaxy sported their entire team in pink tonight at their game. Breast cancer is near and dear to my heart because my grandmother suffered stage 4 breast cancer and beat it.  I have a close friend that has a mother that has just completed treatment for breast cancer, and she is fighting strong.  These women are the strongest women I know and I walk for them tomorrow. Tomorrow I am doing the Cedar Rapids, IA breast cancer walk with thousands of people to raise money for the cause.   So we have all of the best players in American sporting the color of champions, are you wearing pink today?

Love the Business.  Love the Game.  Livin' Life Crazy.  

Support the cause.  Breast Cancer Awareness Month <3

Have a great week!

~Jule