I was rereading an old New York Sun article about the need for “sexy soccer” in Major League Soccer. Paul Gardner described “sexy soccer” as:

“Sexy soccer is emotional soccer, for sure, soccer that excites. It’s attacking soccer, goal-scoring soccer. It’s soccer that quickens the pulse and heats the blood, it’s cheerful soccer, it’s the sport played with a smile.”

That is my style of futbol! If a NYC FC is going to take the Big Apple by storm, we need to make this our brand of soccer. Sexy soccer would be an extension of the New York attitude on the pitch. Maybe a sneak preview is in order…

Two more things:
1. I have a huge man-crush on Ronaldinho… not that there is anything wrong with that.
2. Hip hop, samba, and other musical genres with good beats are the soul of soccer. Stop making YouTube videos with crappy songs.

I have already started discussing how the Bloomberg’s plan to redevelop Willets Point’s Iron Triangle by Shea Stadium is facing opposition even with the benefits to the Flushing area. Any redevelopment will likely have an impact on a soccer-specific stadium for a NYC FC. The Queens Chronicle continues to report on the process of garnering support from the community and the City Council.

Even with the opposition, some positive steps are being made. The city has met with all of the land owners and offered relocation to city-owned properties in other boroughs. City officials have also offered to look into “suitable locations in the private real estate market”. From the beginning, the city has offered to pay land owners a “competitive” price for their properties. LaGuardia Community College has been selected to offer a workforce assistance program for any displaced workers.

The project still calls for the construction of space for retail businesses, a convention center, a school, a hotel, office space, and thousands of apartments. The city predicts that 20,000 temporary construction jobs and 5,000-6,000 permanent positions will be added.

A new tidbit is that the city stands to make over $4 billion in property taxes over the next thirty years. Compare that to the $1.1 million a year that is currently raised in taxes.

A quick reminder of the area we are talking about:

On a side note, I also read a letter to the editor opposing the redevelopment plans. The writer said that eliminating the auto shops will be a hit for the middle class when they need to replace their cracked windshields. The problem that any “savings” made by the middle class is likely due to unsavory business practices, like selling stolen car parts, illegal dumping, and possible mob activity.

Besides, there are already other cheap auto shops in Queens. Come to Jamaica or Ozone Park and I will find you a good deal on some hubcaps.

Attention whoring has become America’s new favorite pasttime. If it is good enough for Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, why not soccer supporters? Here are the Best XI suggestions for those that are willing to go crotchless for New York City FC:

XI: Shave “NYC FC” into your next haircut or use a Sharpie on your chest (females only please). Really committed? Get a tattoo.

X: Make a “We Need a NYC FC” sign and head over to the Today Show taping at Rockefeller Center. Get a TV interview with Al Roker by offering a Doritos bribe.

IX: Go to Nevada Smith’s and start singing with/at the other soccer fans. After you earned their respect with your musical stylings, talk about how great it would be to see football live in the city.

VIII: Offer yourself up for interviews and write letters to the media. Why not? You as much of an expert on NYC FC as anyone else.

VII: Go to a Mets/Red Bulls game and start soccer-style cheering with a group of drunk friends. New York City FC dotNet promotes responsible drinking while singing.

VI: Bring up the NYC FC movement in different forums and websites that discuss the combination of New York, sports/soccer, and Shea Stadium. Save the Apple!

V: If the media will not come to us, let’s become the media. Post NYC FC/soccer videos on YouTube or start a weekly public access soccer show and webcast it live on Mogulus or Ustream.

IV: Yell “NEW YORK FC!” behind news reporters doing live street interviews. Bare bottom optional.

III: Make a big deal to anyone who will listen on why you no longer drink Red Bull and Vodka.

II: It is never too early to design a NYC FC flag for home, workplace, or your car’s hood.

I: For the true attention whores, start blogging…

Found this post on my wife’s favorite gossip site, I’m Not Obsessed. I think the picture says it all. Someone call Jay-Z. We need to bring back the East Coast!

I have been keeping a close eye on the “Name the NYC FC” poll on the sidebar and the New York Cosmos are making a comeback after a slow start. Even though I am anti-Cosmos for personal reasons (they abused the 1982 Peruvian National Team by a score of 5-1 in my first live soccer match), I feel that the Cosmos are worth discussing because their legacy will likely be linked to any NYC FC.

So why should we keep the Cosmos memories alive? Mainly because the team history is a storied one. They had some all-time soccer greats on the roster (Pele, Beckenbaur, Chinaglia) and they won. They won a lot. They were four-time North American Soccer League (NASL) champions and had an impressive international record.

At a time when the Major League Soccer is trying to make the leap internationally with the Super Liga and other tournaments, the Cosmos legacy can give a NYC club instant credibility. I read somewhere that worldwide the Cosmos have remained the most famous team from New York… I believe it.

Of course these positives can hurt a new New York franchise by placing undo hardship on the club. Any MLS team cannot spend the type of unregulated money that the Cosmos did to obtain their star players. Also many blame this out of control spending for killing the NASL. Without the NASL, soccer’s popularity in America decreased dramatically. No one wants to see that happen again.

A New York City FC should have its own identity that hopefully will be as prestigious as the Cosmos. This identity should be tied to the current state of NYC/American soccer and be formed by the ownership group, players and club supporters.

I would like to see a compromise. Do not name the New York City franchise after the Cosmos, but show respect for what the Cosmos meant to the city by honoring its accomplishments. I think that is what will happen if Wilpon owns the team. He has already shown a desire to link the current Mets with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

With all of that said, if the Cosmos do make a real-life comeback I will be wearing the Green & White… but can Peru get an apology for 1982?

I just wanted to take a few seconds to thank all the people that have checked out this blog. The feedback and support has been phenomenal! The NYC FC posters at Big Soccer and the Borough Boys have backed this endeavor from the start and I appreciate that.

Also incredibly helpful has been my family with helping spreading the word. I knew I could count on them to spam their internet friends. I hope this makes holidays dinners less awkward… just kidding!

Finally, I would like to thank Chris, my brother-in-law, for offering to provide some free web hosting (and I am sure IT assistance). What that means is that this blog will be moving over to WordPress soon. I have already started working on the template and it is look amazing.

WOW… I just woke up… how did I get home? Ed, where did the White Castle burgers come from?

Ed, my brother, and I went out last night with no expectations outside of meeting other rabid supporters of a NYC FC. Ed likes the idea of a soccer team in Queens, but has not participated in any way outside of listening to me yammer about this blog.

After the Borough Boys meet-up at Nevada Smith’s, my old college hang-out and NYC’s premiere soccer bar, he told me the supporter group had one more devoted member. Talk about first impressions…

Nevada’s was packed with British ex-pat’s cheering for their own Ricky Hatton, who lost to “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. in last night’s PPV. Due to the $20 cover charge, some Borough Boys were not able to make the get-together. I am sure I’ll see you at the next meet-up in January.

I have to say Borough Boys architects, QueensNick (Nick) and Southpaw (Paul) are two crazy New Yorkers. As if spearheading the charge for a New York City FC was not lunacy enough, they also led the pro-American chants for Mayweather while surrounded by over a hundred Englishmen.

Emotions ran high, but it was all in good fun. The Borough Boys presence was definitely felt throughout Nevada’s.

It was not all fun and games. The Borough Boys did spread the word about a NYC FC and the response was positive. It seems that Big Apple soccer fans of all stripes and colors want to see professional soccer in New York City. Hear that Mr. Wilpon?

As the alcohol flowed, so did the ideas. Borough Boys are looking to take their operation to the next level after the holidays. I particularly liked the suggestion of forming a Borough Boys FC to participate in casual co-ed leagues, such as the ones found at ZogSports.

As for the big announcement of the night, QueensNick did not let me down. I can not give out specifics because it is still early, but let’s just say that the Borough Boys has caught the attention of the New York media and soccer elite. Do not be surprised if you start seeing NYC FC coverage in major news outlets.

I did not forget my camera and took some pictures. It was too packed to take a group photo, but I think you get a feel for the night’s atmosphere. Click on READ MORE to see the photos.

Ed and I will see the B-Boys in the new year!

Read more

I should have named this post “A Few Words About Fans”, but I liked the quote from uber futbol god and NYC FC dotNet reader Pele (I can dream, can’t I?) too much. It puts into words the type of zeal that soccer fans have for their sport. This type of fervor is rarely seen in US sports outside of college campuses and some NFL stadiums.

Personally, what I love about the beautiful game is the smooth flow of creativity when a footballer is played at a high level and the unadulterated passion showed by the club supporters.

How can you NOT like the singing, flags, and flares at a soccer match? (WARNING: links open to loud videos) Obviously, due to security concerns I do not expect too many flare displays in New York, but that does not mean that our supporters will be silent.

We will develop our own identify that will be on display whenever and wherever a NYC FC plays. I just pray that we keep the streaking to a minimum. (WARNING: link opens to humorous male nudity)

Come back tomorrow to see how the Borough Boys’ big night out went (with pictures… if I remember to bring a camera).

My brother just emailed me this story from Mets Blog. Ebbsfleet United, a team in England’s Blue Square Premier League, was bought by 20,000 supporters back in November.

Each supporter pays about $75 for a yearly membership on the website MyFootballClub to have a vote in all club moves, including transfers and player selections. Read the article for the fine print, but that basically sums it up.

Anyone want to donate to bring an established MLS team to NYC? Better yet, did I not hear a rumor that Arsenal is up for sale/takeover?

UPDATE: Thanks for everyone show dropped by today. I have recieved a lot of feedback, great support and even some offers to help!

Thank you for coming! I have been working on this blog for over a week and finally feel good about promoting it. My goal for New York City FC dotNet is that you enjoy reading the posts and that they spark passion for a New York City Foot Club (NYC FC).

Please browse previous posts to find out more about what is the current state of a possible Major League Soccer franchise in New York and what needs to happen to bring the beautiful game to the Big Apple. If you like what you see, sign up for the feed.

I hope you come back to find out more about New York City, soccer and how the two merge. I would like New York City FC dotNet to grow into the premiere source of all things NYC FC. I need your help to make that happen.

Feel free to leave a comment or email me with feedback, requests, contributions, etc. Also if you are interested in being on the ground floor of a NYC FC let me, so I can put you in contact with the Borough Boys, NYC FC first supporter club!

REMINDER! Let me know if you would like to participate in the Borough Boy Supporter Group meet-up this weekend… my email is kubah@newyorkcityfc.net.