Dilbert

The Baltimore Orioles have become the first team to beat all 29 opponents in a season

Its one thing for something like this to happen when a team is at the bottom and not playing well, and people will be like "oh its just the team continuing to implode, like they have all season". But this is a team who is having a really good season, and is in a fight for the top of the table in the East and for the Supporters Shield, yet crickets.

So teams still play four preseason games right?..........Today was the fourth preseason game for the Bengals right?........ Todays game doesnt count toward the regular season, right?..........Right? ...... Of all the teams Burrow faces,its the Browns he has trouble with the most? Ugh

15 hours ago, 4_tattoos said:

Now that UNLV's hopes of joining the PAC 12 are all but dead now, do they get kicked out of the Raider's stadium at some point? How long are they required to stay there? What benefit do the Raiders get in letting them occupy their stadium a couple Saturdays each fall now that UNLV is seemingly Mountain West for life? UNLV home games at Allegiant can't be a significant cash cow. I've caught a couple of their games on TV, they weren't exactly selling out the house.

No. The move had absolutely nothing  to do with a potential move to the PAC. UNLV's contract with Allegiant Stadium effectively prohibits the university from holding events at Sam Boyd Stadium in what is essentially a no-compete clause. In exchange for shutting down the stadium, UNLV receives annual compensation of up to $3.5 million over a 10-year period from the Raiders.  Basically the Raiders are paying UNLV (who owns Sam Boyd Stadium) to not use the stadium. Outside of the 2021 UNLV commencement (normally at the Thomas & Mack Center but moved for social distancing), the stadium has pretty much sat empty, as any events that would have normally gone to Sam Boyd have moved to Allegiant.  With the stadium being over 50 years old, and being an outdoor venue in the hot Las Vegas climate, id imagine its days will be numbered soon.

FC Cincinnati suffer their first loss (the Leagues and Open Cup were technically draws, eliminated in penalties) in 11 months at TQL Stadium (October 1, 2022 loss 3-2 to Chicago). They fall to Orlando 1-0 in a game that saw a lot of time with Orlando participating in a diving competition. (7 minutes first half stoppage, 8 that turned into 11 for the second half). The good news for FCC is New England drew against Austin and St Louis is trailing as of this typing to keep a 10 point lead in the supporters shield over NE, STL and ORL

So now 3 of the now 4 power conferences are bi-coastal, with the SEC as the only holdout.  Oregon State prior to yesterday seemed pretty strong on rebuilding a new PAC conference, while Washington State is more than likely Mtn West bound. Hopefully Oregon State comes to their senses and follows.

8 hours ago, Digby said:

 

In fairness I think you're going to get this Messi-chaser ratio at every away game the guy plays...

So far he has been booed in Nashville and Cincinnati. I think both teams supporters did what they could to keep Messistans out of their stadiums.

Edit: Nope nevermind

FC Cincinnati came back down 1-0 with goals from Acosta in the 75th and Vazquez in the 80th to steal their first ever victory in Atlanta 2-1, and become the first team to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs this season.

So basically they killed off Buffalo and Connecticut from the PHF and added Ottawa.

This is certainly a look. Due to construction at Vanderbilt, they have a temporary videoboard hanging from a couple cranes.

Also, Hawaiis visiting locker room at Vanderbilt was in a tent.  The game also had a lightning delay.

FC Cincinnati now 17-0-3 across all competitions at The Tickle this season (although two of the draws were being eliminated from tournaments on penalties, so on a technicality they are draws). A huge 3-0 victory over NYCFC tonight keeps them atop the Supporters Shield table. Its their 3rd game in 7 days and their 3rd of 5 in 14 days. On to Atlanta

As for Messi, im just laughing at anyone who is unhappy that he didnt start tonight and only played 30 minutes. You spend all this money to see him play in New Jersey and he doesnt even start. Hah. Dude is human. He's tired from carrying Miami through the Leagues Cup and US Open Cup. He needs rest too. At the same time its sad that more than likely 2/3 of Red Bull Arena was there to see Messi and not the Red Bulls. NYRB is such a pathetic organization.

2 hours ago, Digby said:

 

Were they given the option to join? I don't know either way. Seems on par for current MLS to say thanks for laying the groundwork while they shove you aside. But also on par for USL to be naive and stubborn and precious about it. So I dunno who's more to blame.

 

Best color scheme, worst name. RIP Loyal.

I dont think the Loyal themselves were invited to join but I believe they were given the option to partner with the expansion club but they declined.

But take a look at some of the other USL cities MLS moved into

Atlanta Silverbacks folded a nearly a year after the United were announced.

Austin Bold played for one season alongside Austin FC, but then went on hiatus attempting to move to Fort Worth. The team has not resurfaced and presumed dead.

Charlotte Independence dropped down to USL League 1 and moved into a renovated American Legion Stadium. They average under 2,000 a game.

Miami FC (who unlike Inter Miami actually play in Miami) continue to play infront of less than 1,500 a game

Saint Louis FC folded a season before St Louis City began play ceding the market to MLS

Cincinnati, Minnesota, Montreal, Nashville, Orlando, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver all moved their lower league teams up to MLS.

So basically, Atlanta and St Louis didnt even want to try to compete against the MLS. Austin tried and failed. Charlotte and Miami play to near empty stadiums.  Honestly it wouldnt be feasible for the Loyal to continue in San Diego.

Saw this coming. As soon as we learned the Loyal weren't going to be involved in the MLS bid, I knew they would likely be leaving. Where they'll be headed remains unknown but hopefully they will actually be reborn unlike the Austin Bold.

I think FCC held Messi off for much of the game but like clockwork the scriptwriters swoop in and give Miami the win in PKs. And yes Daddy Garber was in the house tonight.

Then there is this national treasure

I get that the Sox have a history in Chicago and on the South Side, but no matter how bad the Cubs have been , the Sox have always played second fiddle to the Cubs in Chicago. From a business standpoint, I could understand Jerry and the Sox wanting a market for themselves. From a historic and nostalgic standpoint the Sox belong in Chicago and belong on the South Side.  I could honestly go either way here.

12 hours ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

I wasn't home to watch the game live, but caught highlights. What a finish!

 

Miami might never lose again.

I hope they do on Wednesday. Let Miami have the Leagues Cup. The US Open Cup belongs to FCC!

I saw earlier this week someone mention that an American Atheltic- PAC merger could be an option, with the merged conference becoming the PAC 18. I cant see that being a power 5 conference though.

MLS season resumes tomorrow, and for me with "Hell is Real" FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew. Today their 2 teams face off in MLS Next Pro action and I just learned their derby name is known as "Heck is Plausible"

Something very rare today. The Dodgers, Angels and Padres are all hosting doubleheaders today, moving tomorrows games to today with Hurricane Hillary getting ready to hit Baja California and Southern California.

Knowing MiLB they'll probably go with something goofy like the Rome Gnoman Emperors with like a garden gnome as an emperor

1 hour ago, SeaTac said:

Oregon State & San Diego State to the Big 12 could be the next shoe to drop. Keep an eye on it. 

I believe Big 12 said they were done. What Im hearing now however is Cal and Stanford to the ACC but now emerging for the ACC is SMU, who was rumored to be one of the replacement teams in the PAC 12

40 minutes ago, Germanshepherd said:

Pacific Coast teams are about to be in the Atlantic Coast Conference because why not 

Because, Louisville and Notre Dame are located on the Atlantic Coast so why not?

So NCFC returning to the USL Championship is kinda like pro/rel....right?