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2007 News Archive

Dec 31 - From MLSinSeattle.com: Ten (more) questions with Joe Roth.

Dec 27 - From MLSinSeattle.com: Ten questions with Joe Roth.

Dec 26 - From MLSinSeattle.com: Ten questions with Tod Leiweke.

Dec 23 - From MLSinSeattle.com, an interview with Michelle Akers, Shoreline's best ever female player (actually, USA's best ever female player): Ten questions with Michelle Akers.

Dec 20 - From MLSinSeattle.com, Adrian Hanauer looks ahead to 2008 and 2009: One month down, 15 to go.

Dec 19 - MLSinSeattle.com sings praises of Qwest Field: XIIth man.

Dec 13 - From MLSinSeattle.com, Adrian Hanauer reports on his trip to MLS Cup weekend: Weekend in Washington. Also, 2009 season ticket deposits have now passed 10 k: MLS Seattle reaches 10,000 season ticket memberships.

Dec 12 - The Sounders finally have started taking orders for 2008 season tickets. Details: Sounders to play 2008 season at Starfire Sports Complex – season tickets on sale now.

Dec 11 - Two good new reads from MLSinSeattle.com. First, an interview with Kasey Keller: Ten questions with Kasey Keller. Next, a look back at some of the people involved with bringing MLS to Seattle: Always pressing on, soccer backers prevail.

Dec 6 - The P-I reports that MLS season ticket deposits have reached 9,500: Seattle's MLS team going through its paces.

Dec 5 - From MLSinSeattle.com, a new installment on Adrian Hanauer/s travels to China: Football diplomacy 101.

Nov 30 - Seattle MLS owner/GM Adrian Hanauer has a nice writeup on his recent scouting trip to China: Our first road trip. MLSinSeattle.com promises another report from the trip next week.

Sounders captain Danny Jackson has started up a web log and shares his thoughts on the news about a MLS franchise: Sounders.

Nov 29 - The P-I reports on the tumultuous aftermath of the Cliff McCrath firing at SPU: Support growing for ousted SPU men's soccer coach.

Nov 28 - The USL announced some details for the 2008 season: USL-1 announces 2008 season details: Alignment and competition structure set for next season. As expected, 11 teams will play each opponent 3 times, making this the first season with 30 matches. The season will run from Apr 11 to Sep 21, 2 weeks longer than last season. 7 teams will qualify for the playoffs, with a first-round bye for the team at the top of the table.

Want to hear Adrian Hanauer talk to the Northwest Entrepeneur Network about the MLS franchise for Seattle? On Dec 14: December venture breakfast, Valuing the opportunity & building the team: Bringing Major League Soccer to Seattle.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Times reports that 2009 MLS season tickets have passed the 8,000 mark: Tickets for Seattle's MLS team top 8,000.

On the player front, Sounders left mid Josh Gardner had a favorable tryout with Swedish club IK Sirius and is in contract negotiations with them, reports The Soccer Hour: Ngwenya in Germany/Gardner to Sweden.

Nov 26 - Ex-Sounder Preston Burpo was traded from Chivas USA to the expansion San Jose Earthquakes: San Jose Earthquakes acquire forward Kei Kamara and goalkeeper Preston Burpo.

Nov 21 - New from mlsinseattle.com, a very nice interview with Roger Levesque: Ten questions with Roger Levesque.

The Vancouver Sun reports that the California Victory have folded: Whitecaps soccer league loses team. No surprise, as the team half folded in the middle of last season.

Nov 20 - From mlsinseattle.com: MLS Seattle reaches 6,500 ticket memberships in first week. At $50 each, that is $325,000 of revenue without fielding a team. Who says you cannot make money on pro soccer in this country? The article also reports that 3,100 name suggestions have been received. We're guessing that most of those suggestions are "Seattle Sounders."

Longtime SPU soccer coach Cliff McCrath has been forced out against his wishes. From the Seattle Times: McCrath out as coach at SPU. From the Seattle P-I: Cliff McCrath forced out as Seattle Pacific coach. A less honest version of the story from the university: Legendary soccer coach Cliff McCrath retires from SPU.

Nov 19 - An Emerald City Supporters fan who talked to the front office reported on their discussion board an update on what to expect for 2008:

From Soccer365.com: Name Change A Sound(ers) Decision?. Also, an interview with Drew Carey: Carey Wants Fans Making Decisions.

Nov 18 - Houston Dynamo claimed the MLS Cup with a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. Craig Waibel assisted the winning goal. Brian Ching sat out the match with an injury.

The USL annual general meeting took place over the past 3 days. The Sounders should have come out of that meeting with a preliminary schedule. The schedule isn't expected to be announced until every team has finalized their schedule, which may not happen until January or so. Sounders general manager Bart Wiley was honored by the league as First Division Executive of the Year: Teams, executives honored at USL AGM.

Nov 17 - From the Seattle P-I, with quotes from ex-Sounder Craig Waibel: MLS in Seattle has local product buzzing: Dynamo's Waibel puts title game on back burner to show his support.

Nov 16 - The Seattle P-I reports on the address by MLS commissioner Don Garber: Garber addresses many topics in state-of-the-league address. As of Friday, more than 5,000 deposits have been made for Seattle MLS season tickets.

Nov 15 - From the Seattle P-I: Seattle's MLS team spurs ticket rush.

From the Seattle Times: MLS tickets surpass 3,000.

Nov 14 - From the Seattle Times: Stakeholders project first-class image. From Times columnist Steve Kelley: Best foot forward: MLS arrives with burst of optimism. Kelley calls for the MLS team to retain the Sounders name (the great majority of fans would agree). From the Times: A primer on MLS in Seattle, and MLS primer.

From P-I columnist Art Thiel: Big-time soccer arrives in Seattle -- or has it? Oh Art, why always the pessimist?

From the Everett Herald: Seattle's newest team gets warm welcome.

From Soccer America: Drew does Seattle.

From News Tribune columnist John McGrath: A time for fan input and a marching band.

From the Kitsap Sun: Movie mogul envisions Seattle as soccer mecca.

From ProstAmerica.com: MLS Seattle press conference.

From www.MLSinSeattle.com: A head start, and MLS Seattle sells 3,000 tickets since announcement.

Nov 13 - The formal announcement about the Seattle MLS franchise happened today at the Columbia Center. The major bullet points:

From the Seattle P-I: MLS officially adds Seattle, and Comedian Drew Carey will own part of Seattle MLS.

From the Seattle Times: It's official: Seattle to get MLS team in 2009, and MLS | Comedian Carey has stake in new Seattle franchise.

From the News Tribune: What a kick! Seattle gets soccer team: Seattle franchise to join MLS for 2009 season.

From MLS: MLS announces expansion in Seattle.

From the Sounders: Sounders to return to USL in 2008, MLS expansion team to arrive in 2009, and Everything you need to know about MLS in Seattle - 2009.

From USL: Seattle to stay in USL for 2008: Sounders to play 15th season in USL-1 before MLS expansion.

From GOALSeattle.com: MLS press conference makes it official.

From the Kitsap Sun: Sounders in West Sound still a possibility.

From www.MLSinSeattle.com: A Tuesday to celebrate, and MLS awards club to Seattle.

Nov 12 - A Seattle MLS event was held at the George and Dragon Pub, and up front was Drew Carey, confirming rumors that he is a minority owner of the franchise. From the Sounders: Drew Carey at George and Dragon in advance of Tuesday's MLS press conference.

From ESPN: Carey signs on to invest in Seattle expansion team.

The www.mlsinseattle.com web site was launched and is now taking deposits for season tickets for the MLS side in 2009.

Nov 11 - Sebastien Le Toux scored for the Minnesota Thunder as they played to a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy in a friendly. Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar gave Jeremiah Bass a chance at a match winner, but the shot hit the crossbar.

Nov 10 - From the Seattle Times: Big-time soccer coming in 2009.

From the P-I: Seattle to get MLS in 2009: Paul Allen in ownership group.

MLS confirms: MLS to announce expansion to Seattle.

Nov 9 - The Seattle Times confirms the rumors: Seattle gets Major League Soccer franchise. Press conference on Tuesday. The paper is inviting people to post their comments on the news, so add your comments!

Now from the Seattle P-I: MLS expanding to Seattle. ESPN has picked up the story: Seattle to get expansion MLS franchise in 2009 or later. From the Tacoma News Tribune: Seattle officially lands MLS franchise.

Nov 7 - 48,000 turned out to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps host the LA Galaxy play to a nil-nil draw. Roger Levesque and Taylor Graham started as guest players for the Whitecaps, and David Beckham played most of the match for LA. Best scoring chance came when Levesque passed straight ahead to Eduardo Sebrango for a touch past goalkeeper Joe Cannon, and Cannon took Sebrango down for a PK, but Sebrango's PK was not well taken and was easily saved.

Oct 28 - Roger Levesque and Kenji Treschuk started for the Portland Timbers as they trounced MLS expansion side Toronto FC 4-1 in PGE Park. Timbers Army fans must have been pleased to see Levesque assist on the first and last goals.

Oct 24 - Today's report from the P-I is consistent with current rumors, which have the Hanauer/Roth/Allen troika still working out the details with MLS: MLS elaborates on expansion plans: San Jose is in, but league stays mum on a Seattle team.

Oct 11 - New details on the ownership group for the MLS bid can be found in today's Seattle Times: MLS | Gooooal? City may soon have franchise.

Oct 10 - The Sounders posted a notice that the Sounders players will be honored at halftime of Sunday's Seahawks - Saints match, with the 2007 championship banner hanging from the rafters.

Oct 6 - Expanding on the news he broke on KJR yesterday, P-I reporter Matt Gaschk has more on Paul Allen joining the Seattle MLS bid with Adrian Hanauer and Joe Roth: Allen signs on with MLS effort. The article also reports that a 2007 championship banner will be raised at Qwest Field on Oct 14 when the Seahawks host the New Orleans Saints.

Oct 5 - KJR 950-AM reported today that First and Goal has confirmed that Paul Allen is part of the ownership group, along with Joe Roth and Adrian Hanauer, for the Seattle MLS franchise.

Oct 2 - Rather than report last week on all the rumors about a Seattle MLS franchise beginning in 2009, we elected to wait until after the championship match. The rumors have been building in credibility throughout the 2007 season, reaching a new high with the Sep 27 column in the widely read weblog Soccer By Ives: Seattle to MLS in 2009.

The next day Sports Illustrated ran with the story: MLS to expand to Seattle; league's 15th franchise will begin play in '09 season. MLS are not yet confirming, as reported last Friday by Puget Sound Business Journal: MLS hasn't picked Seattle, yet. Strangely, MLS ran with the rumor on Saturday on their website: Seattle said to be MLS expansion city. Sounders co-owner Adrian Hanauer professes his desire for an MLS team in Seattle in Friday's Seattle Times: Hanauer lays bet on Seattle soccer. But he will not yet confirm the rumors, as reported in Saturday's Tacoma News Tribune: MLS to find home in Seattle?, Monday's Seattle P-I: After slow start, Sounders win title, ponder future, and yesterday's Seattle Times: Sounders may have played last game.

It seems all but certain that Seattle will enter MLS in 2009, but you won't hear the league or the Sounders confirm that until an announcement at a time determined by the MLS. What is not yet known is whether the MLS side will retain the Sounders name and whether the Sounders will defend their championship in the USL 1st Div in 2008.

Sep 29 - USL First Division Championship Match: Seattle Sounders 4 - 0 Atlanta Silverbacks (Howes 45, Alcaraz-Cuellar 61, Howes 82, Tomlinson 90). The Sounders are league Champions for the fourth time! The win completes the triple, adding this trophy to the local Cascadia Cup and the Commissioner's Cup (first place in the regular season).

A big THANK YOU to the Sounders players, coaches, staff, and owners for a great season. This one set a new high-water mark for the club.

Sep 28 - The last of the league individual awards were announced, and Sebastien Le Toux was named Most Valuable Player. The league announcement: Final USL-1 Awards announced.

Sep 24 - The league announced finalists for the remaining four individual awards, and they include three Sounders: Sebastien Le Toux for Most Valuable Player, Kenji Treschuk for Rookie of the Year, and Brian Schmetzer for Coach of the Year.

Sep 20 - The league announced the annual First Division All-League Teams today. Sebastien Le Toux was named to the First Team. Roger Levesque and Taylor Graham were named to the Second Team. More from the Sounders: Le Toux, Levesque and Graham honored.

Sep 18 -

Only from Vegas -- the Las Vegas Sun handicaps verious cities' odds of gaining an MLS franchise: Vegas runs hard as soccer town. Seattle's odds? Tops at 3-2.

Sep 17 - The Emerald City Supporters have launched a new web site focusing on the supporters group, which focuses on supporting the Sounders during matches: WeAreECS.com.

Sep 13 - The league's statistical leaders were announced, with Sebastien Le Toux honored for a tie for Goal Scoring Champion: USL-1 Statistical Honors announced.

Sep 10 - Today's news release from the Sounders reviews notable individual achievements from the regular season: 2007 regular season is in the books.

Sep 9 - Minnesota Thunder 0 - 1 Seattle Sounders (O'Brien 14). The road win clinches the Commissioner's Cup, awarded for the team with the best record in the regular season. The Sounders finish with 54 points, 3 ahead of the second place Portland Timbers, who made an impressive rebound from being tied for last place last season. For individual honors, Sebastien Le Toux finished tied with Montreal's Charles Gbeke for first in league goals with 10. Roger Levesque was close in goals and scoring, and Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was close to the league lead in assists. Chris Eylander should be a finalist for goalkeeper of the year, and Le Toux, Levesque, and Eylander all deserve consideration for league most valuable player.

Sep 4 - US Open Cup, Semifinal: Seattle Sounders 1 - 2 FC Dallas (AET: O'Brien 120; Ruiz 91, Thompson 119). Both defenses withstood 90 minutes of attacking soccer without yielding a goal, but in extra time Dallas were the better side. Dallas will host the New England Revolution in the US Open Cup final.

Aug 22 -

From Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley on prospects for a Seattle MLS franchise: Seattle worthy of another shot at quality soccer.

Aug 10 - Now online is an article from the Puget Sound Business Journal naming Joe Roth as a partner with Adrian Hanauer aiming to bring an MLS franchise to Seattle: Studio exec in soccer venture. It looks like finally we have an MLS initiative that has a good chance of bearing fruit.

Aug 7 - US Open Cup, Quarterfinal: Seattle Sounders 5 - 0 Colorado Rapids (Graham 23, Scott 25, Colorado own goal 41, Gardner 56, LeToux 68). Sounders make their first trip to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals since 1995!

An AP article has fresh discussion of a possible Seattle MLS franchise: Groups contending for MLS expansion team in Seattle.

Aug 5 - The Crossfire Sounders Women finished third in the playoffs, losing 4-1 to the Atlanta Silverbacks Women in the semifinal and then beating the host Rochester Raging Rhinos Women 2-1.

Aug 1 - Seattle Sounders 2 - 0 Portland Timbers (Gardner 31, Le Toux 68). With the win, the Sounders locked up the 2007 Cascadia Cup, winning it two years in a row.

Jul 30 - The USL's PDL All-League Team was announced and it includes Tacoma Tide's Ciaran O'Brien.

The Crossfire Sounders Women won their playoff match with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the host San Diego Sunwaves. The women are 2007 Western Conference Champions and advance to the Final Four in Rochester next weekend.

Good grief. From the Puget Sound Business Journal, yet another group, Atletico Seattle Management Co. LLC, has professed interest in bringing an MLS franchise to Seattle: Group joins field eager to own soccer expansion club. The PSBJ link gets you a teaser for a subscribers-only article, but the printed article has been scanned: Page 1, 2.

Jul 16 - Today's Sounders news features players who have moved on to higher divisions: Former Sounders in MLS and beyond - 2007 update.

Jul 11 - Two Washington natives and ex-Huskies have been named to the USA roster for this fall's 2007 Women's World Cup, goalkeeper Hope Solo and defender Tina Frimpong Ellertson. Both have played in the past for the Sounders Women.

From the TNT: Kestons, Seattle still in MLS picture.

Jul 6 - From the Puget Sound Business Journal: Private pro soccer talks stall: Keston loses exclusive rights to new team, door now open for others. Will this egg ever hatch? We'll be happy if and when it does, but until then the Sounders are the top side to see in the area.

Jul 2 - Surprise news from the Sounders! From the P-I: Graham coming back to Sounders. More from the Sounders. Taylor Graham was USL 1st Div Defender of the Year with the Sounders in 2005 and played all of last season and part of 2007 with the New York Red Bulls. Graham was recently waived by the Red Bulls.

Jun 25 - The Cambridge United web site reports on the visit of manager Jimmy Quinn to Seattle to meet with United investors Paul Barry and Adrian Hanauer. Quinn said he would welcome Sebastien Le Toux for a tryout after the Sounders season is over. There are plans for Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer to visit United to learn about their training methods.

Jun 8 - The Puget Sound Business Journal had an article about a possibility to build an MLS-quality stadium at Starfire Sports Complex: Soccer stadium, team may net Tukwila goal.

May 31 - The Tacoma News Tribune has a pair of article about the possible MLS Seattle bid (MLS for the Northwest? League considers expansion in either Seattle or Portland) and the impact on the current Sounders, with some good quotes from Adrian Hanauer and James Keston: Sounders could move or fold.

May 29 - US Open Cup first round matchups were announced. The Sounders have drawn Banat Arsenal, an amateur team from Phoenix.

May 11 - More on Michael Keston's MLS bid, from the Puget Sound Business Journal: Seattle has challenges for an MLS soccer team.

Jamaican Craig Tomlinson has finally obtained his work visa.

May 9 - From US Soccer Players, an analysis of prospects for MLS expansion in our neighborhood: Where's Best in the Northwest for MLS?.

May 4 - Welcome back Greg Howes! From the Seattle Times: Howes returns to former team with 1 goal — goals. A Sounders update says that Sebastien Le Toux has received his work visa and is en route from France.

A good read from the Seattlest, with a tip of the hat to loyal Sounders fan Eric Gilbertson: A Guide to Hating the Portland Timbers.

From the Seattle Times: MLS expansion targets Portland or Seattle.

May 2 - MLS talk has sprung up again, this time with a new name, Michael Keston. He is reportedly considering Seattle or Portland. From the Seattle PI: Seattle back on MLS burner. From the Puget Sound Business Journal: Major League Soccer in Seattle? From the Oregonian: Californian eyes MLS here.

Apr 21 - Season opener: Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 0 Seattle Sounders (Sebrango 55).

On the day of the season opener, the Sounders announced five new players: forward Colin Rigby, midfielder Josh Gardner, defenders Kenji Treschuk and Adam West, and goalkeeper Ben Dragavon.

Apr 18 - A Sounders 2007 season preview gives a few more clues as to how the roster will be filled out.

Apr 11 - Media Day: The Sounders held their annual Media Day today. We can confirm that Ben Dragavon will return as the backup goalkeeper. Now on the "gone" list are Ben Somoza and Jamal Sutton.

In comments to the media, co-owner Adrian Hanauer said that they had "scoured the globe" in search of talented players, determined to avoid repeating last year's painful failure to qualify for the playoffs. Hanauer mentioned his investment in the English side Cambridge United, and said that there will be no near-term interaction between that side and the Sounders, but future matches and player exchanges are a possibility.

Head coach Brian Schmetzer said that 6'3" newcomer Andre Schmid will be a good replacement for the 6'4" striker Cam Weaver, with a similar playing style and speed. Schmetzer believes that French newcomer Sebastien Le Toux is destined to jump to the next level after proving himself for a year or two with the Sounders, so enjoy watching him play this year. Returnee Greg Howes is not in camp yet, still indoors after almost single-handedly pulling the Milwaukee Wave into the CISL playoffs. Tom Dutra, who played for the Sounders in 1996, was announced as the new goalkeeper coach, and Leighton O'Brien was added to the staff as a player/assistant coach. Schmetzer said this was done so that O'Brien could provide input based on what he observed on the pitch, but we suspect that Schmetzer was already getting plenty of input from O'Brien for free.

The 2007 shirts were introduced, modeled by two young ladies. Note the three stars above the Sounders logo, one for each Sounders APSL/A-League/USL 1st Div championship. Very cool.

Apr 4 - Hablar Español? Sounders home matches plus away matches in Portland and California will be broadcast in Spanish on 1680-AM, La Jefa.

Mar 29 - New player announced: Andre Schmid, a young, big (6'4") forward who spent last year with the New York Red Bulls Reserves. In league news, the USL announced that the Virginia Beach Mariners have folded. The 28-match regular season will be filled with extra matches against league opponents, in the Sounders' case home vs. Vancouver and away vs. Rochester.

Mar 10 - Greg Howes reportedly has agreed to terms for a return to the Sounders. Howes was league Rookie of the Year with the Sounders in 2000 and tied for the league lead in goals that year.

Mar 2 - Retiring from the coaching staff are Jason Farrell (replaced by Darren Sawatzky) and goalkeeper coach Chuck Granade.

Feb 27 - The Sounders announced their first new players for 2007, USL 1st Div veterans Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar (midfielder, Portland Timbers) and Nathan Knox (forward, Minnesota Thunder). From SounderCentral: Sounders start reloading, add Hugo & Knox.

The Portland Timbers announced the signing of Andrew Gregor, who has played there before. While not structured as a trade, for all practical purposes Gregor and Alcaraz-Cuellar traded positions as playmakers.

Feb 21 - Ex-Sounder Darren Sawatzky has been added as an assistant coach. Sawatzky was near the all-time Sounders record for goals scored when he retired. SounderCentral: Sawatzky back as coach.

Feb 20 - Kevin Sakuda and Noah Merl were the first two announced for the 2007 roster. The news release also confirms that Andrew Gregor has been released so that he can complete his college degree in Portland. From SounderCentral: Sakuda and Merl back for '07.

Feb 19 - The transfer of Maykel Galindo to Chivas USA was announced by the Sounders today. SounderCentral has coverage, and the Seattle Times has an article: Sounder takes step up in competition. The latter article mentions the rumored departure of Andrew Gregor and CJ Klaas.

The Sounders held their first of two open tryout weekends. 49 players tried out, and SounderCentral coverage has a player list and photos. The second round of tryouts will be Mar 17-18, followed by college week Mar 19-23.

Jan 29 - The Jan 25 - The USL schedules were announced today.

Jan 24 - In today's USL 1st Div draft, Seattle's picks were defender Matt Fischer (U of Washington, from Sammamish, 6'1") and forward Andy Willis (Seattle Pacific U, from Gig Harbor, 6'0"). Another player with local ties was taken by the Portland Timbers, forward Colin Rigby (also Seattle Pacific U, from Mercer Island, 6'2"). More coverage from SounderCentral.

Jan 19 - From the Puget Sound Business Journal: Profit eludes the Sounders. The most in-depth article we've seen on the makeup of the Sounders ownership group.

Jan 12 - In the MLS draft, the only taken players with local ties were defender Ty Harden (U of Washington, from Junction City, OR, drafted by the LA Galaxy in the 2nd round) and goalkeeper Tally Hall (San Diego State, from Gig Harbor, WA, taken by the Galaxy in the 4th round).

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