clients
The Guardian • FourFourTwo • ESPN
Bleacher Report • SoccerWire • OZY • USA TODAY
Fox Soccer • Huffington Post • Popdose • Bloody Elbow

topics
general soccer • women’s soccer • youth soccer
Olympics • MMA • entertainment / social issues

books

lrg

Long-Range Goals

 spirit

Enduring Spirit

 sds

Single-Digit Soccer

history
B.A.: Duke (philosophy, music) • The Chronicle
M.A.: Duke (liberal studies) • thesis
Work: USA TODAY • KRT • News & Record • Star-News
resume • work history • portfolio

contact
duresport at gmail

Ranting Soccer Dad blog and podcast

  • Coaching education through the years
    This post goes with a short presentation I’m doing at the NSCAA — I mean, United Soccer Coaches (snappy short title to come, but I’m going to say UniSoc here) — convention for the Society for American Soccer History, an organization that has caught fire in the past three years or so. 1941: National Soccer… Read More
  • That time MLS (and many others) was sued for $50 million
    A bit of hilarity from the California court system … In 2014, one James C. Maxey sued Major League Soccer, alleging a conspiracy that involved “John Does 1-1999.” It’s hard to say exactly what Maxey claimed MLS did. He says he was injured on Sept. 11, 2001, and that the injuries were caused by “George… Read More
  • The top 100 women’s soccer players, by the numbers
    The Guardian has released its annual list of the top 100 women’s soccer players in the world, drawing votes from an outstanding panel. It’s a diverse group of voters. The only U.S.-based journalists on the panel are Jennifer Gordon and Jen Cooper, both terrific choices. (You might also include Jordan Angeli, a former player now… Read More
  • The Berhalter hire and why I don’t really care
    As the press conference announcing Gregg Berhalter as the U.S. men’s soccer head coach started, I was at The Fresh Market pondering ways to introduce farro into my diet.  After listening to a bit of the press conference on delay on Jason Davis’ show, I went downstairs to play the following songs on drums:  The… Read More
  • How to save the World Chess Championship
    Imagine you’re watching a two-legged championship soccer final. The games have been interesting but scoreless.  Suddenly, in the 75th minute of the second game, United FC switch formation. FC City freeze, not sure what to do. The City defense responds out of reflex, but United gain the advantage. Finally, the 89th minute, United slice through… Read More
  • RSD short: A meditation on losing and coaching
    It’s safe to say the last weekend of the season was familiar and yet unexpected. But I’m not just going to mope about it. I’m wondering if we can find any larger takeaways in all this. In other words — it’s not my fault, it’s U.S. Soccer’s. Sort of. (Really, it’s mostly luck.)
  • The official Athletes(‘) Council arrivals and departures list, and more
    I got clarification on one thing from the past post on the Athletes Council (or Athletes’ or Athlete’s, though the last seems incorrect unless you’re talking about one athlete). Elected/re-elected in 2016 to 2017-21 term (not up for election this time) Gavin Sibayan (Paralympic) Brian Ching (MNT) Brad Guzan (MNT, playing for team as I… Read More
  • Should the Athletes(‘) Council include non-national teamers?
    Start with the Ted Stevens Act, the law (Congressional — Sunil Gulati did not write this) that gives organizations such as U.S. Soccer their authority. From that Act (U.S. Code › Title 36 › Subtitle II › Part B › Chapter 2205 › Subchapter I › § 220501): (1) “amateur athlete” means an athlete who meets the… Read More
  • Re-organizing Northern Virginia leagues
    First, a quick announcement — because I’m writing for Soccer America now and have a book in the works, I won’t have many posts and podcasts over the winter. But I wanted to take care of something I’ve been trying to do for a while, and it’s a case study of what can be done with a… Read More
  • My rebuttal to the dudes claiming Katie Nolan used “alternative facts” about WNBA
    ESPN’s Katie Nolan recently argued that WNBA players are underpaid. Now, you could argue that they aren’t, given the WNBA’s inability to bring in a lot of revenue. That’s a discussion worth having. This rebuttal video claiming Nolan used “alternative facts,” on the other hand, is full of ad hominem arguments and alternative facts of… Read More
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