Ahhhh, Public Relations 101. Start reading at #1, if you haven’t read these already:

1. Read ESPN’s Spiked Story About LeBron
2. Maverick Carter Rules The Universe, And Other LeBron James Vegas Story Conspiracy Theories
3. ESPN’s Statement On The LeBron Story

Seattle took on the World last night. We won. Alright… so maybe we won 1-0 over in the first of two preliminary games against a team that I could have beaten 10-0, playing with one leg tied behind my back. But it’s international soccer in Seattle, and the US team won.

I love this. Really. If Jasper becomes the competitive disc golf center of the universe, nothing would make me happier.

Getoffyourphoneyoureatabaseballgame.

Video from the Seattle Times of fans watching the game at the Atlantic Crossing Pub.

July 13, 2010 is just around the corner.

72 days until football season.

No, this is not the actual cover… just my dream.

When I first started watching soccer the aspect that bothered me (still bothers me) is the fake or overly dramatic falls players love to take, only to bounce back up miraculously once the whistle blows. It’s especially hard for us American football lovers who are accustomed to watching wide receivers making shoestring grabs while two defenders drag him down by the facemask.

Those of you who watched the Brazil-Ivory Coast match saw faking-the-injury on soccer’s biggest stage. If you missed it, catch the clip here.

The soccer world - especially the American soccer crowd - hates crap like this, too. Seattle’s coach has gone so far to ask his players not to pull stunts, which quite frankly has made getting into soccer in Seattle all the easier.

I’ve played an average of 2 indoor and/or outdoor soccer games per week over the last 12 months. I won a game last night for the first time in 9 months.

After struggling to develop a viable electric light-bulb for months and months, Thomas Edison was interviewed by a young reporter who boldly asked Mr. Edison if he felt like a failure and if he thought he should just give up by now. Perplexed, Edison replied, “Young man, why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp.” And shortly after that, and over 10,000 attempts, Edison invented the light bulb. And we’re all the better for it, and thankful he persevered.

In case you missed it, The New York Post wins the award for the best post-match headline from the England-USA World Cup match.

CNN via HBR:

Most of the referees in the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament have day jobs, such as office work, and train on their own time for the grueling games. Though they’re often twice the age of the athletes, refs tend to run 12 miles during a single game, five miles more than players. And there are no substitutions.

A pitch last night from Stephen Strasburg.

Oh boy. And he had six-week ‘corruption’ ban to boot.

If we lose… its all his fault. Right? Right?

“24.5 million Americans play some sort of soccer, and that’s the second highest number in the world behind China.”

- Andrew Swift, of Foreign Policy magazine

European soccer is, in fact, in America… it’s just hidden in Seattle.

When others of you begin to adopt this sport, you’ll know why I’ve fallen in love.