Naked Truth
Why Promotion and Relegation is Overrated and a Closed System is Far Superior
The sentimental idea behind promotion and relegation seems fair, good-natured, and based upon a system of meritocracy. In practice, this is a complete fallacy and the stark reality is...
Naked Truth
I Quit Corporate America to Pursue My Passion (This is What I Discovered)
In 2015, I made a life-altering decision to quit my job and leave corporate America for good. I went from a secure career that came affixed with a corporate...
Naked Truth
How Freddy Adu, America’s Greatest Soccer Prospect, Was Tragically Set Up to Fail
A naturalized American citizen from Ghana, Freddy Adu's skill on the pitch was recognized early on. Growing up in Maryland, he was offered a lucrative deal from Italian club...
Editorial
Addressing the Toxic Wasteland That Is Women’s Sports Social Media
Go to any women's sports-centric posts online and you'll find a shocking amount of ignorance even by social media standards. And whether these comments are from edgelords fishing for...
Naked Truth
Major League Soccer Should Learn From the NBA’s Documented History of Great Moves and Horrible Mistakes
I have a desire to see Major League Soccer grow and become a popular, entertaining league where the players are millionaires along with its games being displayed in abundance...
Fashion
The Year in Review: The Best Kits of 2020
As 2020 comes to a merciful close, we once again take a look back at the best the year had to offer. We conclude with the 10 best kits...
Fashion
The Year In Review: The Best Boots of 2020
As 2020 comes to a merciful close, we once again take a look back at the best the year had to offer. We continue with the 10 best boots...
Music
The Year in Review: The Best Football-Adjacent Music of 2020
As 2020 comes to a merciful close, we once again take a look back at the best the year had to offer. We begin with music, as we count...
Naked Truth
The Hidden, Ugly Side of Youth Soccer, Part 2: Nightmare Parents, Feeble Leadership, and Dirty Politics
The fast-paced world of club soccer isn’t just about shuttling kids to practices, cheering them on at games, and traveling to high profile tournaments on weekends. Spurred on by...
Naked Truth
The Ugly, Hidden Side of Youth Soccer, Part 1: Bad Coaching, Wanton Poaching, and Jaw-Dropping Embezzlement
The fast-paced world of club soccer isn’t just about shuttling kids to practices, cheering them on at games, and traveling to high profile tournaments on weekends. Spurred on by...
Naked Truth
Pay-to-Play is Good for Soccer and the Harshest Critics are Hypocrites
I'll begin by saying that I am not arguing that there aren't certain issues, unscrupulous practices, or problematic cracks within the pay-to-play model — there are. However, I am...
Naked Truth
The True Reason Why American Soccer is Lagging Behind and Why Almost Everyone Gets It Wrong
There is an ongoing debate as to why U.S. men's soccer isn’t competitive with the top football countries in the world. Of all the various reasons and criticisms that...
Urban Hype
An Ode to Marta, An Icon Who’s Finally Getting the Roses She Deserves
Perhaps the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots, Marta Viera da Silva is also one of the most influential players of her generation. Reportedly getting a...
Editorial
‘The Keeper’ Proves to Be More Than Your Average Football Film
Making its U.S. debut earlier this month, The Keeper will leave a lasting impression on any viewers expecting just another run-of-the-mill sports film.
One mark of a good film is...
Editorial
Stop Hiring Legendary Players With No Coaching Experience
Hired by Juventus just ahead of the 2020-21 season, Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo has every quality you'd like out of a manager — except for experience. We examine...
Editorial
Do Fans Need to Be Held In Check For Their Heckling?
Last week, Hamburg defender Toni Leistner made headlines after he confronted fans who allegedly hurled insults towards his wife and daughter. In the wake of the brouhaha, we debate...
Art
‘The Match’ Shows Flashes of Promise, But Ultimately Fails to Score
Arriving on Netflix last month, The Match has a few fun moments, including a well-executed time jump twist, but a feature film might not have been the best package...
Urban Hype
NISA’s Last Stand: Why The Independent Cup Needs to Be On Your Radar
Though it may be similar to the MLS Is Back and NWSL Challenge Cup in the fact that it's a tournament, the NISA Independent Cup is truly one of...
Urban Hype
Breaking Down the Playground Cliques at the MLS Is Back Tournament
LAFC? Theater kids. Portland Timbers? Hipsters. Chicago Fire? Class clowns. We separate each MLS club into their playground cliques for the MLS Is Back Tournament.
In preparation for next week's...
Urban Hype
Re-Imagining the MLS Skills Challenge
The MLS All-Star Game was recently canceled — but that doesn't mean that all the fun should go with it. We re-imagine the MLS Skills Challenge to make it...
