This probably isn’t going to be news to the diehards, but for the people who are asking “what the heck’s been going on recently?” here’s a quick review.

Wednesday, November 3

• Gayle Bryan contemplated the firmness of the November 15th extended deadline for the escrow payments.

• Martin Rogers of Yahoo! Sports reports that an investment group in Orange County is considering buying a stake in the FC Gold Pride WPS fans are familiar with, or buying the club and moving it to Southern California, specifically Fullerton.

• This is presumably the same Orange County group mentioned in this Nick Green article back on August 19 (thanks to reader Cow Pasture Alum) and in this San Fracisco Chronicle article on September 22. In other words, these potential investors aren’t exactly gate crashers. Along with Western New York, they were the only other new ownership group whose name kept surfacing in future expansion talks. After months of interest, will they see this as the perfect moment to swoop in or will they take their money and run?

• Also on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Independence’s Owner/CEO David Halstead assures folks that everything’s cool in Philly (err, West Chester).

“During this off season we are aggressively expanding our community connections, business partnerships, and fan support. We have a pragmatic, conservative plan in place for success and our bills are paid.”

• Sound familiar? It should. The Independence released a similar statement in the wake of the Jeff Cooper/Saint Louis Athletica fiasco back on May 27th.

“For the Independence, this Saint Louis situation changes nothing…we remain full steam ahead with an excellent road map for 2010 and the future. Our financial standing is solid, our business vision and structures are clear and certain, and our front office, coaches, and players are at the top of their game.”

Now about that new stadium…

Thursday, November 4

• WPS PR Consultant Rob Penner assures The Examiner’s L.E. Eisenmenger that the end is not nigh.

• And then perhaps most interestingly, the Chicago Red Stars’ released a statement admitting the whole FCGP/Washington debacle has complicated some of the teams’ “planned partnerships” and that the team is openly looking for new partners.

“Our owners remain committed to putting the team on the field in 2011, but have been stretched further financially than we ever planned.”

• This is either a “don’t say we didn’t warn you” or a “hey potential new investors, look at us too”. Or both.

• Fake Sigi weighed in late last night after that crazy MLS game.

The Western New York Expansion Draft was supposed to take place yesterday but the league’s attention has been understandably diverted as of late. The team will probably have a draft someday (I mean, they need players, right?). However, if FCGP and Washington really do go to the wall, there will be a heck of a lot more names to choose from.

That doesn’t mean we can’t pretend. Here’s a prospective 2011 WNY Expansion Draft that will never be.

1.) Ji So-Yung – A player with this much promise and potential can’t be hanging out all willy-nilly for long. It would be neat if WNY could go and nab Ji’s U-20 teammate Kim Narae too.

2.) Johanna Rasmussen – Probably the only real eyebrow raiser on the original list. Rasmussen nearly got Denmark to the 2011 WWC before falling a bit short against Italy. Come on WPS, we can’t let her leave these shores.

3.) Heather Mitts – I’m probably snookered by the name here but what’s the harm.

4.) Liz Bogus – A bit part player in Boston last year but she was among the Breakers players who led the charge when the team first started heating up.

5.) Kaley Fountain – Fountain was sold to Atlanta as a pound of flesh, really. Girl’s more than that.

6.) Brittany Cameron – Eek, what in the world is this team going to do about the GKing situation? The 2011 WPS Draft isn’t going to help them much and it looks like all the #1′s are situated. Will the team go with former Flash player Patricia Tojanor (who could be playing against the USWNT tonight)? FCGP seemed to adore Brittany Cameron, despite conceding a goal per her three appearances last year. I don’t know.

View Original Post at allwhitekit.wordpress.com

• Filed Under:  
• Soccer, Sports, SportsPLUS, WPS, Business

There is 1 comment on this post. Join the discussion!

mareaquinn

The USWNT not getting in the 2011 Women's World Cup final in Germany would certainly destroy the WPS if in fact the WPS is still even viable for 2011.

http://famegirlsworldcupblog.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/nightmare-in-cancun/

Friday, November 5, 2010 at 10:15pm PDT