Argentine International Star Signs With DC United January 29, 2008
Posted by Reginald Johnson in Celebrity, Culture, International, Soccer, Sports.add a comment
Major League Soccer’s most successful club team, D.C. United, announced today the signing of a Designated Player – Argentine midfielder Marcelo “Muñeco” Gallardo. The Argentine superstar was introduced at the National Press Club during a noon press conference. Later in the week Gallardo will join the team for pre-season training in Bradenton, FL . He will be available for official selection upon receipt of his P-1 work visa. “Throughout his career, Gallardo has been a dynamic attacking midfielder known for remarkable technique, impressive speed and quickness and an uncanny knack for providing service to his teammates,” said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. “He has led teams to major championships in Argentina and France, and has been a star at every level for the National Team of Argentina, including playing in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. We are thrilled to have a player of his caliber joining D.C. United.”
Marcelo Gallardo most recently played with Paris-Saint Germain., a top-flight team based in Paris. The 32-year-old midfielder made his debut for the club on January 7, 2007 – a 3-0 cup win over Nimes. He began his career with powerhouse River Plate in Argentina in 1992. During his seven year stint with the team, Gallardo helped River Plate win three Apertura championships (1993, 1994 and 1996), a Clausura titles (1997) and one Copa Libertadores cup (1996).
In 1999, Gallardo moved overseas to play with French power, Monaco, spending four years (1999-2003) with the club. In 2000, Gallardo’s second season with Monaco, he helped the team win the French Ligue 1 championship and the Trophee Des Champions (Champions Trophy). For his efforts that year, Gallardo was named French League Footballer of the Year. He was again the driving force in 2003 when Monaco captured French League Cup. After five years with Monaco, Gallardo made 102 total appearances and tallied 18 goals.
In 2003, after a successful five years with Monaco in France, Gallardo returned to his native country to play with the same club with which he began his professional career, River Plate. From 2003-2006 with River Plate, Gallardo appeared in 62 games and scored 25 goals, and helped the team once again win the Clausura in 2004.
Throughout his career, Gallardo has seen great success with the Argentine National Team, playing in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. Gallardo made his international debut with Argentina in 1994, against Chile. He has made 44 appearances and scored 14 goals with the senior national team. He was also a member of the 1996 Argentine Olympic team that won the silver medal in the Summer Games in Atlanta. During the group stage of the ‘96 Olympics, Gallardo was a member of the Argentine team that earned a 1-1 draw versus Portugal on July 22 – at RFK Stadium.
Marcelo Gallardo Championships
Club
1993 – Apertura Championship (River Plate)
1994 – Apertura Championship (River Plate)
1996 – Apertura Championship (River Plate)
1996 – Copa Libertadores (River Plate)
1997 – Clausura Championship (River Plate)
2000 – French Ligue 1 Championship and Champions Trophy (Monaco)
2003 – French League Cup Championship (Monaco)
2004 – Clausura Championship (River Plate)
National Team
1996 – Silver Medal Atlanta Olympics (Argentina)
1998 – FIFA World Cup (Argentina)
2002 – FIFA World Cup (Argentina)
DC United hopes that with the changes that has best the team, with the loss of core players, Marcelo will help in continuing the success the tam has had in recent years.
Since the end of the 2007 season, many members of that core have left the Black-and-Red. Brian Carroll was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes in the expansion draft before being traded to Columbus Crew. A month later, fan favorite and 2006 MLS Defender Of The Year Bobby Boswell was dealt to Houston for goalkeeper Zach Wells. Then, Troy Perkins was transferred to Valerenga of the Norwegian first division. Josh Gros is taking a year off due to the effects of multiple head injuries. Christian Gomez and Greg Vanney are currently out of contract and are not likely to be re-signed.
The United began their 2008 preseason on the RFK auxiliary fields yesterday. Those familiar faces were replaced by draft picks, trialists, and a quintet of South American signings: Peruvian goalkeeper José Carvallo, Colombian Gonzalo Martinez, and along with Gallardo, there are two other Argentines acquired: Gonzalo Peralta and Franco Niell.
Only three players remain from the side that lifted the MLS Cup in 2004 for DC United: Jaime Moreno, Ben Olsen and Bryan Namoff.
Is Free Speech On Hate Heading To DC Metro Area? January 29, 2008
Posted by Reginald Johnson in Culture, Life, News.add a comment
A large group of neo-nazis and racist bigots will be planning more racist terror at the American Renaissance Conference set to take place Feb 22-24, 2008. Prominent white supremacists from the United States and across the globe will gather at the Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel to vent their hatred and spew their racist venom towards communities of color.The conference organizers call for a white supremacist society and political order. American Renaissance (AmRen) editor Jared Taylor (2705 Green Holly Springs, Oakton, VA 22124 (703) 716-0930) even states: “If whites permit themselves to be displaced, it is not just the high culture of the West that could disappear but such things as representative government, rule of law and freedom of speech, which whites usually get right and everyone else usually gets wrong.”
American Renaissance is a monthly magazine promoting an agenda of white supremacy through eugenics, faux science, and what they call “race realism.” In attempts to appeal to the middle and educated classes of white America, AmRen seeks to establish scientific “truths”, such as eugenics by creating non-existent links between race and IQ, and race and the predisposition to “negative social behaviors”. AmRen advances the racist beliefs of ” Racial differences in IQ, the costs of “diversity,” the challenges of non-white immigration.” One quick glance at their website reveals articles with titles like: “A Defense of White Racial Consciousness”; “The Biological Realities of Race”; “Multiculturalism and the War Against White America”; and “The Color of Crime.”
However, it is not just the racist cosmopolitan that AmRen appeals to. Editor Jared Taylor and his cohorts have been known to schmooze with current, and former, members of the Klan (David Duke); Don Black, the operator of a “prominent” white supremacist website stormfront.org; Michael Regan, NY state prosecutor fired after attending the 2006 AmRen conference; and members of the neo-fascist British National Party. We can expect all of them and more to attend their gathering in February.
Resistance and Solidarity, a DC-based collective opposing racism, fascism and the cruelties perpetrated by the capitalist system, is calling on Mid-Atlantic anti-fascists to join them, Saturday February 23 at 9am for a day full of actions (in many forms) to protest the racist hate spouted by the AmRen National Conference. They say, “In the spirit of the anti-fascists that came before us, let’s shut these racists down by any means necessary.”
Resistance and Solidarity is looking to organise!
Those who are interested in supporting Resistance, they meet weekly at the Petworth Library here in Washington, DC (Kansas Avenue NW and Georgia Avenue NW). They claim to already have several organisations from across the mid-Atlantic to counter the racist bigots coming to the DC Metro area. Resistance and Solidarity respects diversity of tactics and recognizes the need for all types of actions, will not engage in philosophical or ideological discussions at the planning meeting. All who share this view, and a commitment to anti-racism are welcome, and encouraged, to attend.