Sounders are the Champs! ... well kind of, and other assorted football news

With a 2-1 win over D.C. United yesterday, the Sounders won the US Open Cup which is given to the top soccer club in the country (PDL and USL division teams also compete in this tournament) - mid MLS season - and I'm not sure exactly if this really means anything in the long run.

Think of it like the World Baseball Classic, but for American soccer.

WOOO! Go Sounders! Look at that trophy though, it's big and shiny, that's got to count for something. And I think Keller just saw somebody punch a baby or something.

Now in other news, college football starts today meaning that...

1. When I watch SportsCenter tonight I'll be treated to a bunch of highlights from that Coastal Carolina game.

2. Lou Holtz is back!

3. Pretty soon, actually very soon, I'll be drunk in the parking lot of Woodward Field, telling a 80-year old Montana State fan to go jump of a cliff.

Who's ready for some football?

Kasey Keller to fly with Blue Angels

I came across this story on soundersfc.com. It was so awesome, I knew I had to share.

Sounder’s Kasey Keller Celebrates U.S. Navy and Seafair with the Ride of a Lifetime

SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders F.C. goalkeeper Kasey Keller will get some serious air while showing his support of the U.S. Navy on Monday, July 27 as he rides in the No. 7, two-seater jet of the Blue Angels with a top pilot who will perform precision maneuvers as part of the 60th Seafair.

“I have an ongoing admiration for the U.S. Navy, so to fly along with a Blue Angels pilot and be a part of the Seafair is amazing,” says the popular player who will attend an official briefing at 11:30 a.m. before being strapped into the jet at 1:00 p.m. local time.

Keller, the goalie with the lowest scoring percentage against in the MLS, and the USA’s all-time leader in wins, World Cup qualifying shutouts and appearances, is amazing in his own right. After playing at the University of Portland, he reigned as a top goalie during 1990 to 2007 on competitive European teams including some in the English Premiere League, Spain’s Liga Primera and the German Bundesliga Squad. But the man who grew up on an egg farm in Olympia, Washington is glad to be back home.

After signing with the Seattle Sounders F.C. in 2008, he is still winning games and fans with his quick skills. In fact he received the most 2009 MLS All-Star votes, but Keller insists his role in the net is nothing compared to that of the U.S. Navy.

“The commitment the Navy put in to serve our country is unparalleled. I know what it takes to make a winning team for a season, but what they do is truly a tradition of excellence.”

Keller has his own tradition of breaking records, and is the only player to ever clinch the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year an unprecedented three tim¬¬¬es (1997, 1999 and 2005). To add to his accomplishments, he will play in the 2009 MLS All-Star game on Thursday, July 30 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Keller’s sports management company, Rezin Marketing and their close relationship with the U.S. Navy created this opportunity.

The high-flying goalie has seen the world playing soccer and gathered plenty of fans along the way, but it’s clear he feels the home field advantage.

“It’s great to be back in the U.S. and playing with the Sounders, there’s just something about being home,” says Keller. “Now flying with a Blue Angel, well that’s just the icing on the cake.”

Read the original article here.

Kasey Keller is a god

Once Casey gets back from PGE Park (which hopefully he does, considering all the rowdy Portland fans down there), I'm sure he'll have plenty to say.

But until then, I'd just like to say a few things about the 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers tonight.

- Fredy Montero kind of looks like Rufio from "Hook." Thanks to Brad Moon of the Spokane Chiefs for pointing this out. Now every time he scores or comes into the game I'm going to go "ROOOOF-FEEEE-OOOOOO!"

- Portland fans are punks for throwing a water bottle out on the field to a injured Sounders FC player Sanna Nyassi. And he wasn't stalling for time. He was injured!! Get it right. Punks.

- One really annoying thing about Portland Timbers games: the chainsaw guy. Not so much that he's actually cutting a log during the match, but because FSN decided to put a mic right next to the chainsaw guy so the announcers have to scream to be heard.

- Soldout game. 16,000 fans for this US Open Cup match. Wow. When Portland gets an MLS team in 2011 - this is going to be the fiercest rivalry in the MLS.

Epic Photo: Keller's orange jersey take 2

Ok, seriously. This is the coolest jersey. But I can not find one online anywhere. Fans had them in the stands. I know they must exist.

Epic Photo: Keller's orange jersey

Tonight Kasey Keller was wearing an orange jersey during the Sounders FC 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. It was awesome.

The best part was that the camera was showing fans in the stands that were wearing replicas of his orange jersey. Authentic ones. I want to know how they got one.

JustSON the Numbers: Dwight Howard

Here at Just South of North we have noticed a recent trend. That trend has been whatever person or team that has been featured on JustSON the Numbers has struggled after we have featured them.

Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, 1.65 ERA before being featured, he now sits at 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA and his cat died. Then Kasey Keller, 0.19 goals against average before, it's now gone up to 0.60 goals against average.

Even more recently the San Diego Padres had a 10 game winning streak snapped by JustSON because we had to mention it, and Joe Mauer of the Twins was featured sporting a .429 batting average, well he is 1 for his last 7 since.

With all that being said I figured I'd help out the NBA to prolong the Orlando Magic versus Cleveland Cavalier series and focus this edition on Dwight Howard. Since Howard has been such a big factor in this series, as he goes so goes the Magic, which isn't strange since he is the star of the team.

In breaking down Howard's numbers one thing is apparent, if he doesn't score they don't win, at least in the Cleveland series. The only game the Magic have lost in this series is the game that Cleveland managed to control him and that was in game 2. Howard managed only 8 shots in that game converting on just 3 of them and he went 4 of 8 from the foul line, far and away his worst shooting game. The Cavaliers should consider themselves lucky because even though they held Howard to just 10 points (about 10 below his playoff average) in the game, it took a miracle three pointer by LeBron James at the buzzer to finish off Orlando.

If you throw out Howard's dismal game 2 scoring performance he would be averaging 27 points a game in this series as well as an average of 14.7 shots per game and his free throw percentage would be at about 77%.

It appears that if Howard can stay out of foul trouble the Magic should be able to hold off Cleveland tonight at 7:45 pm eastern time on ESPN to advance to their 2nd NBA Finals in the teams history.

Well good luck beating Cleveland tonight Orlando, if the JustSON Jinx holds up it's going to be tough.

If anyone has any requests for this column let us know. I don't discriminate, no matter the sport or the stat.

Sounders tie again

The Seattle Sounders FC earned their fourth straight tie of the season and now have a 4-2-4 record.

It did not take long for Sounders FC's injury situation to go from bad to worse. But one able body remains, goalkeeper Kasey Keller, and his sharp skills and veteran savvy are the primary reason why the depleted team was once again able to salvage a point Saturday.

Seattle posted its fourth consecutive draw, getting a goal from Nate Jaqua in the 76th minute to escape Colorado with a 2-2 tie. Keller recorded four saves, including an impressive pair against Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca that allowed Seattle to extend its unbeaten streak to five matches.

Sounders FC (4-2-4) had barely turned in its initial possession before starting midfielder Osvaldo Alonso was forced to the sideline with a strained right quadriceps he initially aggravated during warm-ups on a pitch drenched by pregame showers. He was replaced by Stephen King.

Hey, would much rather get a tie than a loss, and considering all the injuries, fans should be happy. Here's hoping though that they can break this winless streak and get back on track.

JustSON the Numbers: Sounders FC vs. Chivas USA

This edition of JustSON the Numbers is brought to you by Mike McGillicutty's Body Shop and Russ Dilks who was curious about how Major League Soccer's (MLS) Seattle Sounders FC stacks up against Chivas USA in shots on goal, saves and possession time.

Well I'll start with shots on goal where Chivas USA holds a slight lead at 15-14, that is with Chivas playing 1 more game than Seattle. Taking that into account Seattle is averaging 2 shots on goal a game while Chivas is a little behind at 1.88 shots on goal per game.

In the saves category Chivas leads the Sounders 27-21, broken down by game it averages out to Chivas saving about 3.38 shots a game and Seattle saving exactly 3 shots a game. The conclusion to draw from this stat is that opponents are getting more shots on goal against Chivas USA than they are against Seattle, even taking into account that Chivas has allowed 3 goals and the Sounders have allowed 4.

Lastly possession time. This one I had some trouble with since it appears that either amazingly every game the time of possession is split 50-50 or MLS score keepers don't keep very accurate stats, at least in this category. From what I was able to find Chivas has been even with their opponents in this category at 50-50. The Sounders however come out on top of this category with an average of 50.6% better possession time per game, compared to 49.4% to their opponent.

This last stat may not be accurate, as I stated before that I was unable to locate any official MLS scorecards that had anything other than 50-50 possession times for both teams, with the exception of two Sounders games. The first was in the 3-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls when the Sounders won time of possession 57% to 43%. The second was the Sounders 2-0 victory of Real Salt Lake when they lost the time of possession 53% to 47%.

It would appear that the three stats Russ was interested in finding out about all point to the Sounders being superior to Chivas USA. It is a little misleading that Chivas holds the edge in Saves and Shots on Goal because the more saves the goalie makes points to the defense letting the opposing team take more shots on goal. And the Sounders have a higher shots on goal average than Chivas, but less total shots on goal (because of playing 1 game less).

Granted the Sounders did lose to Chivas 2-0 earlier this season but that was without the Sounders starting goalie, Kasey Keller (who contrary to some peoples belief, actually did have hair according to the picture) who is sporting a 0.19 goals against average this year.

I hope this answers your questions Russ.

If anyone has any requests for this column let us know. I don't discriminate, no matter the sport or the stat.

Is Kasey Keller actually Matt Hasselbeck?

Along with Boston, Seattle has to have one of the highest "famous bald sports people" ratings in the country. After the Sounders FC victory last night, a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquake, goalie Kasey Keller set a MLS record with 389 scoreless minutes to start the season.

You may have remembered that Keller was out for the two games the Sounders lost. The first one he was ejected with a red card, when in turn made him ineligible for the second game against Chivas USA.

He's a pretty important part to the Sounders which reminds me of another bald fellow who looks like he should be teaching community college classes or managing an Applebee's...

Here's Kasey Keller. Goalie extraordinaire. And Here's the king of baldness himself...

I wish the Sonics were still in town and then they could draft Blake Griffin's brother,

(Left) yeah... somebody needs to give up on the whole "having hair thing."

How to get the Sounders FC on the winning track again

It's been a bit of a difficult run for the Sounders these past two weeks. First, they lost their first game of the season 1-0 to Kansas City at Qwest Field with Casey and I in attendance. In that game goalie Kasey Keller was given a red card, meaning that not only did the team have to play the rest (and majority) of the game one-man down, but he would also miss the next game.

Then yesterday without Keller they dropped their second match of the season to division-leading Chivas USA. Sounders FC star Fredy Montero missed an empty net shot at the beginning of the game, a miss that he admits changed the entire complexion of the match.

Now at 3-2, the Sounders have nine points and second place in the Western Conference. Not a bad spot, especially for an expansion team, but here's how they could get back to their winning ways...

1. Get Casey and I to play for the opposing team -
Casey played football, and I was scratched from one of my sixth-grade matches because I got my Velcro shoes all tangled up in the goal net. They had to cut me out.

2. Sign Youppi, the former mascot of the Montreal Expos - Not only is he an awesome mascot, but he also could add to the sex appeal to the team. What girl would not be taken aback by his rugged Canadian good looks.

3. Play against the Yankees - We're pretty sure they'd give up 22 goals in a soccer game too.

4. Get Sasquatch to play for the Sounders - Because what soccer player is going to say "You know what, I'll cover the hulking hairy mammoth that's known for eating livestock. Yep, that's me. No I'm not intimidated at all."

5. Employ the "Brandon Hansen playing FIFA 93 on the SNES" strategy - And slide tackle the hell out of everyone until they have to bring out the SNES Madden ambulance that runs over players standing out in the middle of the field.

So there you have it. Next up will the the San Jose Earthquakes at Qwest Field on April 25.

Sounders FC still undefeated

I thought this was an interesting statistic:

The Seattle Sounders FC and Kasey Keller have not allowed a goal in their first 270 minutes in the MLS.

Yes, the Sounders played today and yes, they won again. A 2-0 victory over Toronto FC. Seattle improves to 3-0-0.

The next game for the Sounders is next Saturday, April 11 when they take on the Kansas City Wizards at 7:30 PM.

The Northern Rangers will be back out at this game and Brandon will make his first video appearance (despite this, please still watch). Oh, and we'll be wearing some "Easter inspired" outfits to the game. So make sure you check back in to Just South of North.