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On Saturday I wrote how Colorado Rapids rookie Dillon Powers was hoping to get from San Jose to Indiana in time to make it to his graduation ceremony at Notre Dame on Sunday morning. It was a trip that afforded no room for error or delays. Powers was held out of the match at San Jose - which probably helped him the pursuit. He didn't need to clean up and was able to get a ride to San Francisco Airport in time.
From his twitter handle we knew he made it to Chicago on time, but we didn't know if he made it to the Commencement in time
Touchdown in Chicago. The race to South Bend is on. #Graduation
— Dillon Powers (@powerhour5) May 19, 2013
Well, on Monday he tweeted that he had made it. Here's Dillon in cap and gown in front of touchdown Jesus.
Wonderful/surreal graduation weekend @ ND. Such a special place with so many great memories and people. #ND2013 twitter.com/powerhour5/sta…
— Dillon Powers (@powerhour5) May 20, 2013
Take a look at the photo above of a youngster in Haiti and see if you notice anything familiar.
Most see a kid or young man about to kick a soccer ball - looks like a corner kick. What you might not notice is that it's an adidas MLS match ball. And his cleats? They used to be worn by a Colorado Rapids player.
Here's how this came about.
The team's chaplain, Rev. Brad Kenney - who, by the way, used to be part of the Rapids Media Relations department back in the day - is part of the CrossTraining ministry. One of the functions of the ministry is to put organizations in touch with others that may be able to provide assistance through what they call the Timothy Project.
A couple of months ago Brad was contacted by a local church that was going to Haiti to work with children. So Brad casually mentioned it to a few of the Rapids players in their weekly chats. The players got together to donate some well-conditioned gear which included cleats, pinnies, shin guards, and soccer balls from previous seasons. Brad said that Stew Ceus, who has played for the Haiti national team (his parents are Haitian), also donated personal items.
Thought it was neat seeing these items put to use - and positively affecting a group so far from here. Here's more on the Timothy Project - Haiti for those interested.
You might have seen the other article on how Denver's Roger Espinoza helped Wigan Athletic win the FA Cup on Saturday. Here are some additional highlights of the big upset as posted by the FA.
Extended highlights...
Pitchside highlights...
There were a bunch of games on Wednesday (watch all the goals here), but none had as impressive of a highlight as the NYRB vs Montreal match - in which New York's Thierry Henry almost casually scored on a bicycle / over head kick.
Here's what Henry said after NY's 2-1 win: "It was a good goal, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day we had to score a goal," said Henry. "I've had the opportunity to score some good goals in my career but you kind of think about it at the end of you career, not right now."
I don't agree with announcer Shep Messing's call. It was an awesome goal, and he made it look way too easy. It also became the Top Play on ESPN's SportsCenter. But goal of the decade? Really? What do you think?
It was a story that went viral early in the week, and then spread like wildfire through twitter on Wednesday. You'll quickly realize why when you watch the video above (warning, might need tissues), but I wanted to give another shout out to the Portland Timbers and their fans for this amazing show of compassion towards a young fan. If you're hearing/seeing this for the first time, here's how Portland described the day though a press release:
In front of more than 3,000 Portland Timbers faithful – converted for a day to support a special wish made possible by the club, the Timbers Army and Make-A-Wish® Oregon – eight-year-old Atticus Lane-Dupre netted four goals, including the game-winner in the waning moments of the match, to power The Green Machine to a 10-9 victory over the Portland Timbers at JELD-WEN Field Wednesday afternoon in Portland, Ore.
The Timbers teamed up with Make-A-Wish® Oregon to grant the wish to Atticus, who learned he had cancer last fall and missed his last soccer game of the season with his teammates on The Green Machine. Guided to victory by Timbers head coach Caleb Porter, The Green Machine faced a formidable Timbers side that included a Starting IV.
When Atticus had the chance to make a wish, he chose to scrimmage the Timbers at JELD-WEN Field, home of the Timbers. Prior to Wednesday’s game, Atticus was outfitted with his own locker next to Timbers captain Will Johnson, while he and his family were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Timbers locker room and workout facilities.
After the game Atticus exchanged jerseys with Johnson, and then, in keeping with Timber's tradition, he held up a slice off the victory log for his four goals.
Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of the group, Rabbit, nor of their song, "In My Blue Jeans." But now I can't get the song out of my head.
I first heard the song in video called Soccer Walking New York, then in Soccer Walking Philadelphia, and Soccer Walking Chicago, and, you can see where I'm going...all across America!
Former MLS player Jared Montz runs his own soccer drills website called OnlineSoccerAcademy.com. Jared is using his site to promote Soccer Walking America - a 45 day, 15 city video series tour he created to raise awareness of the fight against malaria and encourage soccer players worldwide to juggle to save lives in the OSA World Juggle-a-thon for Nothing But Nets on April 25, 2013; World Malaria Day.
Jared came to Colorado to shoot his video on April 8-9. He was able to get a lot of footage before one of our now weekly snow storms, and then went to the Sports Dome to get Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Tony Cascio, and Edson Buddle to join in. Jared also juggles with Academy midfielder Bryan Windsor and his brother and dad.
You can participate, too. Join the "Juggle to Get Better, Juggle to Save Lives" World Juggle-a-thon for Nothing But Nets on April 25th at 6pm from anywhere in the world.
Click here to become a Juggler and Fundraise
Or Click here to make a One Time Donation
Then go watch the rest of the videos from each of the other MLS markets on the OnlineSoccerAcedmy YouTube page and get that song stuck in your head, too. Hey, oh, oh!
Edson Buddle has only been with the Rapids a few weeks. 
But as a MLS and U.S. national team veteran, he's known some of his new teammates for some time, including Marvell Wynne. That has made the transition to the Rapids that much easier, as evidenced by the fact that Marvell trusted 
Edson to give him a new haircut.
On the right is what Marvell looked like at the start of preseason camp. On the left, a few weeks in when he saved his head before the group went to Vegas.
Apparently, he wasn't done with his new look. Here's the image Edson tweeted on Thursday:
I just gave ummdub aka Marvel that fresh line-up. mikestylezhof what you think? #sharp #1stlineup #rapids… instagr.am/p/WBL9LNF4i9/
— Edson Buddle (@EdsonBuddle) February 22, 2013
Obviously, Colorado is no stranger to snow, although it's been a bit sparce in the Denver metro area the past couple years. On Feb. 20-21, 2013 Commerce City received it's first decent snowfall since last October. So when I got to the stadium on Thursday I couldn't pass up the chance to take new photos of the new adidas Prime match ball on the field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
The past few days have been a little unnverving for Rapids midfielder Martin Rivero. The 23-year Argentinian suffered a broken bone in his right foot just before the end of the first half of the first preseason game on Tuesday. It was the first broken bone that he's suffered as a professional, and the ensuing surgery was also a first for the second-year playmaker.
But one thing that has kept him positive is the connection he's built with fans through his twitter handle. Rivero has chronicled and given fans - in Spanish and English - a unique behind the scenes perspective of his week, starting prior to the match, as he returned to Denver, on the surgery table, and afterwards. See below:
in friendly vs portland awhile! En un rato amistoso vs portland!
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 29, 2013
with a lot of anger and pain. now to get ahead! Con mucha bronca y dolor. Ahora a salir adelante!! twitter.com/tinchorivero10…
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 30, 2013
back to Denver. absolute rest. a shame not to make the preseason with the group.
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 30, 2013
a volver a Denver. reposo absoluto. una lastima no poder hacer la pretemporada con el grupo.
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 30, 2013
to rest! I am happy because now operate! A descansar! Contento porque mañana ya me operan! Good night!
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 31, 2013
to go to the hospital for surgery! God will be with me as always. thanks to those who support me hates
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 31, 2013
Listo para la operacion! Ready for surgery! ;) twitter.com/tinchorivero10…
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 31, 2013
Ya en casa despues de la operacion. Muy contento por que salio todo bien!
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 31, 2013
and then home after the operation. very happy that everything went well!
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) January 31, 2013
Ecarando la recuperación de la mejor manera y con el mejor animo!..Facing the recovery in the best way and with the best spirit!
— martin rivero (@tinchorivero10) February 1, 2013
Well, Colorado fans, if you didn't realize it then, you know now that when you attended the U.S. Women's National Team match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in September, you were in the presence of greatness.
On Monday, FIFA announced that former USWNT coach Pia Sundhage was named the FIFA Women's Coach of the Year, and USWNT forward Abby Wambach became the first U.S. women since 2002 to be named Best Female Soccer player in the world (pictured above celebrating her goal at DSGP in a 6-2 win over Australia). That capped off a tremondous year for the U.S. ladies, who had won the 2012 Olympic gold medal.
Fans of the women's 2012 know already knew that Pia was known to break out in song, as she did before her last game as coach on that night in Colorado. So it was fitting that she thanked her staff, and sang one last time to her players when she accepted the award: