NASL Virginia franchise name unvailing set for Feb. 6

Soccer legend Harkes, NBC Sports’ Thaler introduce newest NASL franchise

 

Ashburn, VA – January 23, 2013 – While NASL Virginia’s wildly successful Kick The Vote ’13 campaign continues, and the battle between potential names Cavalry, Dominion and Stallions rages on, the organization has announced the location and star-studded lineup for the Team Name Unveiling on February 6, 2013.

 

The event, to coincide with a viewing party of the U.S. Men’s National Team Qualifier versus Honduras, will be held at Bungalow Lakehouse in Sterling, Virginia, and will feature Russ Thaler of NBC Sports as our emcee and John Harkes as our special guest.

 

Thaler is the Studio Host for MLS on NBC and NBC Sports Network and has covered soccer in America for a dozen years.  Harkes is a legendary name in the soccer world, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and has played in England, the U.S. and on numerous World Cup teams; John also resides in Northern Virginia. 

 

 

WHO:		NASL Virginia Emcee: Russ Thaler Special Guest: John Harkes
WHAT:		Team Name Unveiling U.S. Men's National Team Viewing Party
WHERE:		Bungalow Lakehouse 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling, VA 20165
WHEN:		Wednesday, February 6 Event begins: 3:30 pm Kickoff: 4:00 pm Name Unveiling: Approximately 5:50 pm

 

The Bungalow Lakehouse (for directions click here) is clearly working to become the go-to bar for soccer fans across Northern Virginia.  Bungalow Lake House has 96 tap heads in 3 bars with over 44 state-of-the-art video flat screens and the largest big screen in Northern Virginia at 19 feet! They also offer gourmet food from Chef Jason Maddens.

 

NASL Virginia’s Kick The Vote ’13 contest is presented by Edelman Financial Services, the Buffalo Wing Factory & Pub, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Sonak Family Chiropractic.

 

This unveiling will culminate an amazing campaign as NASL Virginia has fielded thousands of submissions from across Virginia, the D.C. metro area and around the world, made via NASLVirginia.com, Facebook.com/NASLVirginia, through Twitter @NASLVirginia and #KickTheVote13 and our unique iPhone app.

 

“We can’t wait to share our new identity and brand with our growing and rabid fan base,” said VIP Sports & Entertainment founder and CEO Bob Farren. “The event is going to be special as we cheer on the U.S. team and are joined by great soccer names like John Harkes and Russ Thaler. This is just the start of many great nights for our franchise.”

United Release Comcast SportsNet Schedule, John Harkes Returns to Broadcast Booth

Official United Press Release:

D.C. United, Comcast SportsNet announce television schedule

John Harkes returns to Comcast SportsNet booth

Washington, D.C. (March 5, 2012) – In conjunction with Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, the region’s premier source for multiplatform sports coverage, D.C. United today announced an extension of their longstanding partnership with the network, as well as the regional television schedule for the club’s 2012 Major League Soccer campaign. 

As part of the agreement, Comcast SportsNet will provide United supporters unsurpassed coverage of the Black-and-Red, with a schedule of 15 regular-season games this season, beginning with the Opening Night against Sporting Kansas City. United also announced today that the club’s match at Toronto FC on May 5 will kick-off at 4:00 p.m., the result of television considerations for the host club.

“We’re excited to continue working with our long-time partners at Comcast SportsNet,” said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. “They continue to place tremendous effort and resources to bring United games and news coverage into the homes of our supporters.  We appreciate the true partnership that we’ve developed with the Comcast SportsNet team.”

In addition to the season opener, additional highlights of this season’s regional television schedule on Comcast SportsNet include an appearance by the expansion Montreal Impact, as well as matches with Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia Union, the New England Revolution and Chicago Fire.

“This continues to be a great partnership that delivers a wealth of high-quality, exciting D.C. United programming to our viewers,” said Comcast SportsNet Senior Vice President and General Manager Rebecca Schulte. “We are excited to produce comprehensive, multi-platform United coverage for their passionate fans this season.”

A fixture in the broadcast booth since the inaugural season, Dave Johnson enters his 17th year as the television voice of D.C. United. One of the premier soccer announcers in the United States, Johnson has done play-by-play of both outdoor and indoor soccer for nearly 20 years, appearing on Comcast SportsNet, Fox Soccer Channel, Prime Network, ESPN, and Pax Networks.  In the summer of 2006, Johnson served as play-by-play announcer for XM radio’s World Cup coverage and was behind the microphone for 26 games including the final in Berlin. Also on radio, Johnson has called the 2000 MLS Cup, the 2000 Gold Cup, the 2000 Olympic qualifying tournament, and several US Men’s National Team friendlies and World Cup qualifiers. His work as sports director at WTOP Radio was honored with an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2008.

This season’s broadcasts will be highlighted by the return of John Harkes to the Comcast SportsNet broadcast booth.  An iconic midfielder with United and the U.S. Men’s National Team, Harkes previously called United games in 2005 and 2006.  Harkes later worked with ESPN, calling MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team games from 2006 to 2011, including World Cup matches in 2006 and 2010.  As a player for the Black-and-Red, he led United to five major titles in three seasons as team captain from 1996-1998, including back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in 1996 and 1997, the 1996 U.S. Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and the 1998 Inter-American Cup. Harkes was named to MLS All-Star teams all three years.  Harkes was the first player named to a D.C. United roster on October 17, 1995 and was the first player inducted to the Hall of Tradition on May 14, 2003.

Comcast SportsNet’s 2012 coverage of D.C. United will also be prominently featured on the network’s full lineup of daily news and entertainment programs, including SportsTalk Live and Geico SportsNet Central. Comcast SportsNet also provides complete coverage of United online at CSNwashington.com and CSNbaltimore.com.

2012 D.C. United Schedule

Harkes out, Twellman in at ESPN

Monday ESPN announced former U.S. national team member and D.C. United player John Harkes has been replaced in the analyst booth by Taylor Twellman.

The network said Monday "we informed John Harkes that ESPN will not renew his contract." ESPN also said it "is leaving the door open to John working with the company in the future on other soccer properties."

You can follow Taylor Twellman on Twitter - @TaylorTwellman where he is very interactive with the soccer community on the social media site.

OFFICIAL ESPN STATEMENT

John Harkes next U.S. U-20 coach?

Soccer By Ives Creator and Editor Ives Galarcep has mentioned today via his Twitter page @SoccerByIves that Virginia native and ESPN annalyst John Harkes has interviewed for the open postion of Under-20 head coach within U.S. Soccer.

Harkes is a former USMNT captain, D.C. United player, and former University of Virginia player and currently resides in Virginia with his wife Cindi Harkes who herself was an assitant coach on the D.C. United Women staff this past season.

Galarcep wrote on Twitter:

SoccerByIves Ives Galarcep

"I've been told former USMNT captain & current ESPN TV analyst John Harkes has interviewed 4 vacant U.S. Under-20 coaching job #Disclosure"

 

However Galarcep was quick to follow up with tweets saying:

 

"It's no secret Harkes has wanted to get back into coaching 4 some time, but has struggled to score key interviews, let alone a coaching gig"

 

"Doesn't mean Harkes is a favorite 2 be Thomas Rongen's replacement, I'd bet against him getting it actually, but it certainly is interesting"

 

So, will John Harkes be the next U-20 coach for the U.S. program and join former USMNT teamates Thomas Dooley and Tab Ramos on the U.S. staff under Klinsmann or will one of the aforementioned former teamates be the future coach of the U-20's? Stay tuned!