Player
Dan Gargan usually paints to find an escape from his day job, but the Chicago Fire defender mixed his two passions in a piece he painted for Wednesday’s “Art of Futbol” Gallery showing in Chicago, which takes place on Wednesday and benefits the Chicago Fire Foundation.
Gargan’s piece is called “The Beautiful Game,” and is an abstract vision of what Gargan believes soccer embodies.
“It’s pretty simple,” Gargan told MLSsoccer.com. “It’s got a bunch of flowers in it. When I think of the game, there’s just a bunch of different ways you can express yourself through the game.
"I feel like no one person’s expression or interpretation of the game is the same, and that’s reminiscent of how flowers are. They’re all unique, and they’re all beautiful in their own way.”
Gargan has loved painting since he was a kid, and he minored in studio art at Georgetown University.
Most of his painting nowadays comes in the offseason. His paintings usually end up somewhere in his apartment or in a family member’s home, but a few players around MLS have asked him to paint for them.
This offseason, Colorado forward Conor Casey, Gargan’s former teammate, gave him a wall in his home to use as his canvas.
“He’s always been a big fan of my art,” Gargan said. “He gave me a wall and said, ‘Go for it.’”
Gargan is working on a web site to promote his art work, which he said should be up in the next few weeks.
The Fire defender is hoping people will be interested in his work, and is excited about Wednesday’s showing, which takes place from 7 to 9 pm CT at Society Art Gallery in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood.
But he’s perfectly fine if painting remains just a hobby.
“What I’m getting out of it right now is exactly what I’m looking for,” Gargan said. “That’s the ability to step away from soccer and just have fun with it. It gives me a lot of joy and a lot of happiness to me and my friends and my family. If it was to get bigger, or people were interested in it, that’s great. But it’s more of just an outlet for me.”
Earlier this week, MLSsoccer.com profiled Earthquakes right back Steven Beitashour as a player that could be on US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann's radar.
Turns out, Klinsmann and US Soccer may have to move sooner rather than later if that's the case.
Beitashour, who led the Quakes last year with seven assists and already has four to his name in 2012, holds dual US-Iranian citizenship. According to Centerline Soccer's Robert Jonas, the San Jose native has been contacted by the Iranian national team, but not yet by the United States:
Steven Beitashour after #SJEarthquakes training: "It's been a goal of mine, since I was a little kid, to play in the World Cup."
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
Beitashour said he hasn't been contacted by #USSoccer, but with USA/Iran dual citizenship, says he has another option, play for Iran.
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
#SJEarthquakes defender Steven Beitashour on playing for Iran "They've contacted me a couple of times about getting into some of the camps."
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
Beitashour, born in the US, still favors playing for the #USMNT "Hopefully the US will come calling. If I get a chance, I'll impress them."
— Robert Jonas (@robertjonas) May 11, 2012
So it appears for the time being, Beitashour will hold out for a call from Klinsmann. But if the coach dawdles in calling up the third-year defender, Beitashour could easily be added to US Soccer's list of ones that got away.
Power 5: Steven Beitashour on Klinsmann's radar?
En la edición de esta semana del podcast Tiro Libre tuvimos como invitados a dos jugadores colombianos de experiencia que tienen algo en común: ambos han vestido los colores de su selección nacional… pero hace tiempo.
Tressor Moreno y Nelson Rivas ahora le ofrecen su talento a la MLS y ambos jugadores no pierden la esperanza de que el seleccionador de Colombia José Pekerman le de una miradita a lo que pasa en la MLS.
ESCUCHA: MORENO Y RIVAS EN TIRO LIBRE
Moreno es una de las razones por las cuales su equipo está en los primeros lugares de la liga, por encima del Galaxy de Beckham, Donovan y Keane, entre otros. Por su parte, Rivas jugó su primer partido para Montreal el fin de semana anterior, en un juego donde el club de expansión sorprendió a los líderes del Este, Sporting Kansas City, con un contundente 2-0 como visitantes. El defensa colombiano fue señalado por la prensa como uno de los mejores de su equipo.
Aun así, si ambos colombianos llegarán a mantener su ritmo y a ser los mejores en la MLS, ¿les llegaría el llamado?
Colombia es un país particularmente conocido por no reconocer el nivel de la MLS, lo cual es gracioso cuando se toma en cuenta que es el país que más ofrece jugadores internacionales a esta liga. Países como Honduras, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Irlanda y por supuesto Estados Unidos, entre otros, miran al talento de sus países en la MLS y lo convocan. ¿Por qué no Colombia?
Este tema se puede ir para largo, entonces paro ahí, pero los dejo con la encuesta: ¿Crees que Tressor Moreno y Nelson Rivas tengan chances de regresar a su selección?
Muchos mexicoamericanos tienen un conflicto a la hora de mostrar su orgullo patrio, ya que este esta dividido en dos países. Pero no David Estrada.
En los últimos dos años, el delantero de los Seattle Sounders ha asistido a la celebración de Cinco de Mayo en Kent, Washington y en este 2012, ante más de 12.000 espectadores, el atacante fue presentado con un distinguido regalo: la Estatua de Morelos, la cual representa un honor ya que lo deja considerado como un ejemplo para los Morelianos.
Este fue el discurso que dio Estrada tras recibir el significativo obsequio:
[For the article in English, click here]
Take a few minutes of your time to watch New York Red Bulls and US national team star Juan Agudelo talk about his childhood memories playing the game he loves – badminton.
Just kidding.
No offense to badminton, but Agudelo has grown up with soccer on the brain since, apparently, birth.
His first word was one you'd expect from a soccer obsessed child, instead of uttering "Mom" or "Dad" Agudelo screamed "Goooooaaal!"
As a youngster, the lightning-quick winger also scribbled a note on the back wall of his closet, a reminder to help make his dream become a reality:
"John pro soccer player. If God lets me or if he wants me to. Or maybe a pro basketball player. It's all up to me and God."
The video is part of Team Kellogg's new series "Start Stories," which looks at how young US athletes got started in the sport they now get paid to play.
We haven't heard much about Bobby Burling in recent months, not since the onetime San Jose Earthquakes defender was selected by the Montreal Impact in last fall's expansion draft and declined to join the new club.
The 27-year-old obviously has plenty of playing years left, but for now he's been doing some traveling, including stopping in to visit his friend Sacha Kljestan.
With my American boys!! @bobbyburling @AndrewTheGhosttwitpic.com/9iugyz
— Sacha Kljestan (@SachaKljestan) May 8, 2012
So is Kljestan -- or should we call him Superman? -- going to help Burling get a gig somewhere in Belgium?
As you can see above, Clint Dempsey is a company man, even if there is significant doubt as to his long-term future with Fulham.
Dempsey scored his 17th goal of the EPL campaign on Sunday – a total that trails only Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Agüero – by curling a free kick into the top corner in the London club's 2-1 victory against Sunderland.
And with the silly season rapidly approaching, media on the other side of the pond are already rounding into mid-summer form, linking the American striker with a move to Arsenal – potentially as a replacement for van Persie should the lure of Manchester City or another big-money suitor draw the Dutchman away.
Should that come off, it's safe to say the Gunners are going to have a serious uptick in interest in the US. Then again, Arsenal's Champions League credentials aren't yet secured either, leaving some doubt about their summer strategy and their ability to attract the big names needed to return to the highest rung on the European ladder.
Personally, I'd love to see an American ply their trade in La Liga, and this article makes a pretty convincing argument that Malaga wouldn't be a bad destination for Deuce.
Where would you do if you were Dempsey? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Feliz Cinco de Mayo a todos!
There haven't been too many Mexicans to grace the fields of MLS, but there have been some very good ones.
KickTV's Jimmy Conrad counts down the Top 5 Mexicans alltime in MLS.
Sporting Kansas City's Bobby Convey is neck deep in bath water and surrounded by quite the ambiance (lit candles included) for another edition of #FollowFriday.
How on earth the fine folks at Sporting KC managed to convince the club's new winger to push the envelope even further from a few weeks ago is beyond me. That said, the results are incredible.
Convey clearly doesn't care about Twitter, which obviously makes him a minority in the KC locker room. It seems lap dogs, bathrobes and bubble baths are more his style. I can't begrudge that, even if I can't remember the last time I took an honest-to-goodness bath.
Showers for the win. As Chance Myers would say, #raaaaaaa.
This week, US internationals playing in Scotland pine for US shores, a New York Red Bull encounters strange things in Manhattan, and an American pundit defends the honor of the Wigan manager's nomenclature.
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Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty has a slightly bizarre experience when hunting for an apartment in Manhattan.
Looked at an apartment n the city and what do I see a dude doin n the communal garden? Yea...knife throwing. #onlyinNYC http://twitpic.com/9g5yfr
— Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11) May 1, 2012
Is this a hint that US national team midfielder Maurice Edu would like to return from Scotland to America? Better question: Can Mo do the Carlton Banks dance?
Fresh Prince of Bel Air is one of the greatest shows ever! Lol
— Maurice Edu (@MauricEdu) May 3, 2012
One of Edu's Glasgow Rangers Yankee teammates also gets nostalgic about the USA -- video-game style!
Anyone remember playing this when they were younger!?? #OldSchool http://instagr.am/p/KFaQbsmX7P/
— Alejandro Bedoya (@AleBedoya17) May 1, 2012
ESPN's Alexi Lalas begs English wordsmiths to give Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez some credit for his managerial prowess, oh, and to get his name right too.
Dear England: After what Roberto Martínez has given you I think he deserves to get his accented second syllable back. Gracias.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) April 28, 2012
Fox Socer pundit Costigan takes a tour around Boston for the first time, on route to met Red Sox and Liverpool FC chairman Tom Werner. Safe to say he is impressed.
Entering Fenway to interview Tom Werner for @FOXSoccer What an incredible stadium http://yfrog.com/oe8gngxj
— Keith Costigan (@KeithCostigan) April 30, 2012
If you see a soccer tweet that should be included in our top five, be sure to send it to the @MLS_Insider!
