TDIF Band Of The Week-Have Nots

This week I am very happy to put my good friends Have Nots as our band of the week, on top of taking the Boston punk scene by storm they are also nominated for a Boston Music award for best video this year. Their live show is not to be missed, and they are leaving for tour this month with more good friends of ours the Street Dogs. So if this tour is swinging through your town you best check it out. If you are in Boston they will be in town at The Paradise on December 17th.


http://www.myspace.com/havenotsboston
http://www.facebook.com/havenotsboston

Revolution DP Threat Level System

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentleman,

   There has long been threats of Designated Players in the Revolution organization but up until this point there has not been a system to accurately warn and inform people of the impending threat of a Designated Player actually being signed.  Today The Drug Is Football blog has solved the DP information dissemination problem with our new color coded threat level system. We are rolling out this new system at Level-GUARDED.

Here is how the level system works:

• LOW-DP=Draft Pick
• Have no fear there are no Designated Players on the horizon, will continue to build our team through inexperienced draft picks who can make little impact in the top flight league.
• GUARDED-Season Ticket Renewal Crunch
• The Revolution Organization has launched an attack aimed at renewing season tickets, they may state intent to sign a DP or that they are looking for the right player.
• ELEVATED-Legitimate Media has names of possible DPs
• This means someone other than MLS Rumors is reporting that the Revolution Organization may be close to signing a DP.
• HIGH-Mike Burns has found the "right player"
• The Revolution Organization has announced a target and their intent to sign that target.
• SEVERE-Holy shit they actually did it.
• This means that a DP has actually been signed.  People should not feel the need to be prepared for this level, however if it happens please familiarize yourself with the signs of shock, respiratory distress and heart attack.  You should know the number of your local emergency service provider and call them, but do not under any circumstances tell them that the Revolution signed a DP.  They will not know what you are talking about, they will not know that New England possess a professional soccer team and you will most likely be institutionalized.

Adidas and Hanon Kegler Super

Well ladies and gents, I have decided to chip in my two cents in the DIF effort.

I would like to thank the originator for the invite to contribute.

Seeing as we are over the thanksgiving hump (and hangover) we can now talk holiday shopping.

The only thing that should ever be on any self respecting persons feet are three stripes and our friends at Adidas, along with the folks at Hanon, have just released the Kegler Super.

This limited release is one of the best we have seen in a long time. A combination of classic styles styles from times gone by this release will top the wish lists of many out there.

If you do not mind the price tag that is.

For one, with the correct combination of a tad more alcohol and a slightly fatter wallet, a pair of these would already be making their way to my humble abode.

What Larentowicz's Comments Mean for Revolution Fans...

Jeff Larentowicz (Jack Dempsey/AP)

First and foremost hats off to Frank Dell'Apa from the Boston Globe for writing this article, it's seems that none of the Revolution writers have been willing to take shots at the organization but this article really sends a message to the Revolution FO.  Read it before reading on here... Jeff makes interesting comments on the morale of the team, treatment of players and how the organization operates.


“Teams have decisions to make on players and players have decisions to make for themselves they have to feel comfortable with,’’ Larentowicz said. “Over time, [the Revolution] weren’t doing right by their players. I watched a lot of talented players and friends go and a lot seemed unhappy who were still there. I was talking with Taylor Twellman the other day and we were wondering what would have happened if we had won one of those, would they have had the incentive to keep those teams together?"

“I was as close to signing as you can be but I just had a moment of clarity and decided not to at the last minute,’’ Larentowicz said. “I angered a few people by doing that. But it’s my right. The offer seemed good at first, in comparison to what I was making, but I knew I could be worth more. Then, the last months I was there it was clear they weren’t interested in finding my true value, they wanted a bargain or a price they were comfortable with.

“That’s the thing, they didn’t feel the need to re-sign players. In the end, contracts are controlled by the league and circumstances are controlled by the team. You have no freedom to move or negotiate. There was a lot of unhappiness on the team, but we had a core group and we could put that behind us.’’ (FDA/Boston Globe)

Jeff's candor confirms what many supporters have thought all along, the Revolution organization and Krafts are cheap and not willing to put in the money to make this team a true competitor.  The team has come up with many reasons why money was not spent or could not be but it is now painfully obvious that they have been feeding the fans the same lines over and over to try to appease us.  Well you have finally been caught Revs FO and Kraft family.   You apparently are too cheap to run this team properly and to hold on to good talent.

There has been an air of dissatisfaction from the players for a few years now, Shalrie Joseph made some interesting comments at the All-Star game alluding to not being happy with the Revolution organization. There is also this video from the Revs locker room a few years ago that alludes to both the fans and some of the players being unhappy with the Revolution. Shalrie states "We are going to be really disappointed if you guys don't come support me and the Revs, but I don't blame you guys anyway.   I know a lot of fans say they aren't coming back next year because of what the Revs are doing and I'm not surprised... it's a shame." Watch the full video below




Jeff goes onto speak about how it feels to be a Revs player in the shadow of the Patriots..

“It makes a ton of difference. You walk into a stadium every day and know it’s your place and you take precedence over everything else,’’ said Larentowicz.

“[In New England] we had a great practice field and locker room, but we were, rightfully so, second fiddle to [the Patriots]. Here, we have 25 practice fields and one which they keep absolutely pristine only for us. It’s all about us.’’ (FDA/Boston Globe) 

Well the evidence string is starting to come together and it become more obvious as time goes on that this organization is never going to rival what they have done out in Seattle, or what they have done up in Toronto or most importantly to us... what they have done in New York.  It's a shame to have gone from what was once one of the flagship teams of MLS to one of its biggest jokes.  FC Dallas was the biggest joke, but they even made it to the Cup final this year and had a record breaking 19 game unbeaten streak.

The Revolution and Krafts tell us all the time they care about the team and soccer and want us to do well, but actions speak louder than words and there have not been many actions.  Great you tell us all the time that you are looking to build us our own facility, great... believe it when we see it.  You tell us all the time that you are looking for the "right player" to be our DP, and now that you plan on signing a DP soon, great... we'll believe it when we see it.

Stop feeding us the same party lines around season ticket renewal pushes, we see through it and it's lame.  Tell us the truth, you may lose fans because of it, but at least for once you will not be feeding us the same old story and will actually show us some transparency and respect.  Revolution fans, it's time to demand more from this organization, the players deserve better and we deserve better.

Happy Thanksgiving

Enjoy an American classic and Thanksgiving tradition, at least in my house... Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant

TDIF Band Of The Week-Volxstrum

Ok so I was recently turned on to Volxstrum from Germany but well that song and video are just so damn good... I have no idea what they are saying (sorry Mrs. Delosh (my high school German teacher)but the tunes are good. You can get some more info on them here.

New England Expansion Draft Player Lists

PROTECTED:

Alston, Barnes, Joseph, Mansally, Nyassi, Osei, Perovic, Reis, Schilawski, Shuttleworth, Tierney + Fagundez (HG) 

NOT PROTECTED:

Boggs, Burpo, Colaluca, Dube, Gibbs, Griffiths, Linck, Murray, Phelan, Sinovic, Smith, Stolica

Revs can lose up to 2 unprotected players in the expansion draft.