With Combine Wrapped, RSL Technical Staff Preparing for Friday's MLS SuperDraft
The work for the 60 players taking part in the 2008 MLS/adidas Player Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. ended yesterday, but the combine marked just the beginning of a hectic week for the Real Salt Lake Technical Staff. RSL GM Garth Lagerwey; Head Coach Jason Kreis; and assistant coaches Jeff Cassar, Brian Johnson, and Robin Fraser will pour over their notes from the four-day combine in South Florida before deciding who to select in this Friday's 2008 MLS SuperDraft, taking place in Baltimore in conjunction with the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention. Real Salt Lake owns some prime real estate in this year's draft, as the Utah side holds three of the draft's first 17 picks and four selections overall (3rd, 14th, 17th, and 37th). Fans not part of the festivities in Baltimore this Friday can follow the action live beginning with ESPN2's live coverage of the draft's first round from 12:00-1:00 p.m. MT, to be followed by live online coverage of the final three rounds on www.MLSnet.com.
RSL to Host 2008 MLS SuperDraft Watch Party on Friday
While the Real Salt Lake Technical Staff will be busy at the SuperDraft in Baltimore on Friday, the rest of the team's front office staff will stay behind in Utah to welcome fans to the team's official 2008 MLS SuperDraft Watch Party, taking place at the RSL main offices in the Trolley Corners building (515 South 700 East, Suite #2R). The festivities kick off at 11:00 a.m. MT, with live draft coverage beginning at 12:00 p.m. MT. RSL fans can watch live ESPN2 and mlsnet.com coverage of the SuperDraft on televisions set up throughout the office to see who the next generation of RSL stars will be while also enjoying complementary food and drinks, contests, and giveaways, as well as a 60% off sale on all RSL merchandise during the SuperDraft. All fans are welcome to attend, but those who can RSVP in advance are asked to contact RSL Community Relations Manager Morgan Bramble at mbramble@realsaltlake.com or 801-924-8574.
U.S. Camps Still in Session for Beckerman, Findley, and Seitz
While Real Salt Lake is ramping up to the beginning of its preseason, three current members of the squad - MF Kyle Beckerman, FW Robbie Findley, and GK Chris Seitz - have already been hard at work with the U.S. National Team program over the last two weeks. Beckerman is the lone RSL representative at the U.S. Men's National Team's 26-man camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., which is where the camp will wrap up this Saturday, Jan. 19, when the USA takes on Sweden in an international friendly (6:30 p.m. MT; live on Fox Soccer Channel). The 25-year-old Beckerman will be looking to build upon his three "caps" for the Stars-and-Stripes, all of which came during last summer's Copa America tournament in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, across the country at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team began their second camp in as many months under the direction of Peter Nowak on Jan. 6, and U.S. U-23 regulars Findley and Seitz are among the 24 players taking part in the two-week session. The camp is part of the team's preparation for the final round of the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Under-23 Championship to be held from March 11-23, 2008, in Los Angeles, Tampa and Nashville. The U.S. will play their three games of the group stage in Tampa against Cuba on March 11, Panama on March 13 and Honduras on March 15. The eight-team tournament will send its two finalists to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Robin Fraser and Brian Kamler among Soccer Hall of Fame Nominees
The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum released the 2008 Player's Ballot to voters on Monday, and two men with Real Salt Lake ties - current assistant coach Robin Fraser and former midfielder Brian Kamler - are among the 35 players eligible for selection, which includes 22 holdovers from the 2007 election and 13 newcomers. Players who receive votes on 75% of the ballots cast will be elected to the Hall of Fame, with Induction 2008 ceremonies planned for the weekend of August 22 - 24 at the Hall of Fame and Museum in Oneonta, NY. A list of the 35 eligible players and their biographies can be found on the Hall of Fame website, www.soccerhall.org.
Among the voters are over 100 media personnel from the print, broadcast, and on-line communities, National Team and qualified MLS Coaches, national soccer administrators, and Hall of Famers. In total over 200 individuals are eligible to vote in the 2008 election. Only 128 Players have been elected to the Hall of Fame in its 58-year history.
RSL GM Garth Lagerwey Makes Sundance Film Festival Debut in Kicking It
A veteran of television broadcasting, RSL GM Garth Lagerwey has now expanded his talents to the big screen. Lagerwey recently lent his voiceover talents to Kicking It, a film chronicling the Homeless World Cup, which will make its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival here in Utah across the next two weeks. The Homeless World Cup is an annual street soccer event that addresses the global pandemic of homelessness through the international language of soccer. Filmmaker Susan Koch's Kicking It profiles seven of the athletes who took part in and had their lives changed by this incredible event. Movie and soccer fans alike can catch Kicking It during one of the film's five Sundance screenings, with dates, times, and locations listed below. For more information on the festival and how to catch one of the screenings of Kicking It, please visit www.sundance.org.
Saturday, Jan. 19 at 8:30 p.m. - Library Center Theatre in Park City
Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3:00 p.m. - Broadway Centre Cinemas IV in Salt Lake City
Monday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. - Redstone Cinemas in Kimball Junction
Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 11:45 p.m. - Holiday Village Cinema III in Park City
Sunday, Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. - Holiday Village Cinema IV in Park City
