This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS - Tackling the subject of Soccer in the US, and worldwide.

Los Angeles illustrator and artist Noe Valladolid begins his illustrated soccer biography

The TIAS Diary Project returns with the first part of a series put together by a young man in Southern California. This is his life’s story, his soccer story in words and pictures. Consider it a stab at a TIAS comic book.

Speaking of life stories, maybe you’ve heard that journalism is in a tough spot, facing obstacles both financial and technological. It hit me hard last year when I was laid off from my fulltime editor job at a magazine. Since then I’ve been searching for my next chapter, piling on the freelance work where I can get it.

In an effort to be fully transparent, this month I added NIke to my list of freelance clients by writing some projects directly for the company. TIAS will remain as the place for my independent journalism stories, essays, and deeper discussions, and I hope you will continue to follow along (and maybe submit your own Diary Project).

Now back to Noe’s life. Following is the first in a number of serial guest posts that I have been working on in the last month in an effort to expand upon and deepen the discussion of my single biggest editorial question: What is American Soccer? Click HERE for the full story…

“Springtime Portland weather is grumpy, almost schizophrenic. It loathes changing from rain to sunshine, instead lurching through contemptuously cranky storm fits in every shade of gray. Every now and then, however, bright lights and rainbows find their way to Oregon.”

Brian Costello was a witness. This is his account of history… Click HERE for the full story…

So you think you can be a professional soccer player?

Keyvan Heydari thought he could too. Almost did. Now some 20 years after he first tried, after he covered six World Cups (starting with Mexico 1986) as a journalist and broadcaster, after he contributed to outlets such as NPR, The Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald, The Washington Post, L’Equipe, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Paris Match, Univision, ESPN, Gol TV and Telemundo, not to mention a couple of soccer books published in Italy… he wants another shot.

After the jump, Heydari delivers the second part of his exclusive dispatches from a place where, yes, even a 45-year-old has a chance to live the dream. Click HERE for the full story…

So you think you can be a professional soccer player?

Keyvan Heydari thought he could too. Almost did. Now some 20 years after he first tried, after he covered six World Cups (starting with Mexico 1986) as a journalist and broadcaster, after he contributed to outlets such as NPR, The Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald, The Washington Post, L’Equipe, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Paris Match, Univision, ESPN, Gol TV and Telemundo, not to mention a couple of soccer books published in Italy… he wants another shot.

After the jump, Heydari delivers his first of several exclusive dispatches from a place where, yes, even a 45-year-old has a chance to live the dream.

Click HERE for the full story…

A DIARY PROJECT FROM JEFF FRENZEL

I’ll start off by saying that the real estate market here in Atlanta right now is abysmal, which, on any given day is a bad thing for me and my wallet, but today turned out to be a good thing because I could skip out of work at 2:30 to get to the local soccer bar by the 3:05 kickoff of the USA vs. England game. I’m only interested in one piece of real estate right now: that 115 yards by 75 yards located in the middle of London.

I’m really excited. I usually watch English Premier League games, sometimes toss in the big games of Spain and Italy too. But watching my national team battle against the big boys of Europe and South America (yeah, Spain and Argentina are next) makes my stomach tighten up and my nerves cringe. And today there will be no exception… Click HERE for the full story…

After the jump, an American girl and her English bloke relive last night’s episode…
Click HERE for the full story…

no matter how you look at it or think of it / it’s life and you just got to play the game
-Tony Joe White, Rainy Night in Georgia

March 28, 2008—It’s a mad jumble of American soccer. An MLS expansion team that replaced an existing MLS team that took off for Houston is playing against one of the best fan-supported USL teams and their newly acquired Japanese World Cup veteran on a collegiate soccer field that produced several U.S. and Canadian national team stars. 1,200 people showed up in rain, hail, and snow. This is American soccer.

Brian Costello’s addition to the Diary Project is after the jump. Click HERE for the full story…

THE DIARY PROJECT RETURNS

Typically in soccer circles the term ‘Yanks Abroad’ conjures European images, but surprise!, Americans are living in other countries…

Typically in MLS circles the league’s competition (or lack thereof) is viewed in a European context, but surprise!, soccer is being played in other countries…

Typically only European super clubs like Real Madrid or Manchester United go on World Tours, but surprise!, MLS is getting into the act…

Like in Australia, where the country’s top league holds a similar footing as MLS in the United States and where the Los Angeles Galaxy were welcomed last week on the first leg of their South Pacific roadshow. Fortunately for TIAS, Travis Clark was there when the two leagues collided. His impressions are after the jump.

Send in your Diary Project entries now! Click HERE for the full story…

In light of yesterday’s storm - women walloped by Brazil, emotional breakdowns in the media - today is all about getting back to basics, because I don’t want to think that THAT is American soccer. So instead of the increasingly hard to muster Barometer, how about a little reflection courtesy of the Diary Project?

Armin Aliefendic from Austin, Texas, checks in after the jump.

Send in your stories and photos today!!
Click HERE for the full story…

One Guy. One Game. One Press Pass. Once in a lifetime.

Wanting for more US MNT? Yared wrote in about his experience at the recent U.S. – Brazil Friendly, and I’m happy to share his story as part of the Diary Project. Ya know, it could be you. Send in your stories and photos for the digital time capsule.

Yared with his first ever press pass is after the jump…
Click HERE for the full story…