New York Trade Up During a Busy Week

The New York RedBulls have had a busy week. After trading Jamaican international, Dane Richards, to the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for Sebastian LeToux, they shocked fans everywhere. Richard’s numbers weren’t too impressive as he only had a goal and two assists after the first seventeen games, but he still brought a lot to the field. He plays on the right side, usually as a right winger on the final third or a right mid, running up and down the field, helping both the offense and defense. He now joins a team in Vancouver who have two designated players in Robson and Hassli. Richards will add yet another attacking option on the right hand side and perhaps play here for a year or so before heading to Europe to try his luck out there to up his game. Now, for the player the RedBulls received in return for Richards, Sebastian LeToux. He was first a Seattle Sounder when the Washington side first joined Major League Soccer. After scoring only one goal in his first season there, he was transferred over to the East Coast to play for NYRB division rival, the Philadelphia Union. Here, he scored 25 goals in 62 appearances. Even with those numbers, he was traded to the Whitecaps at the beginning of this season, scoring only four times in 19 appearances. However, during his first game for the RedBulls, he did manage to impress. After going down 1-0 at home to the Seattle Sounders, Sebastian LeToux followed up a Kenny Cooper shot and placed the ball into the bottom far corner to tie it up in the first half. He scored against his first MLS club in his very first appearance for his new one. The game would end at 2 apiece from Harrison, NJ. The other acquisition from NY was number 3 keeper for the Los Angeles Galaxy, Bill Gaudette, who made a few important saves for his new club during his first appearance. Gaudette started the game due to the absence of Ryan Meara, who was injured for the very first time this season. The RedBulls continue their home stand as they face the Chicago Fire on Wednesday at 1:0 P.M. EDT. The Fire will be without key defender, Arne Friedrich, who was ejected during his side’s 1-0 home victory over Vancouver at the weekend. LeToux will make his second start for his new club and look to continue his impressive start in the RedBull jersey. Follow @AReySportsNews Tweet #TwitterStories

Burak Yilmaz ponders a move to Russia

Turkish international striker Burak Yilmaz could finally leave home soil for a move to Russia’s Lokomotiv Moscow. Yilmaz netted 33 league goals this past season for Trabzonspor and scored the decisive goal in Turkey’s 1-0 home victory over Azerbaijan. He is a clinical finisher in front of net and has the ability to dribble around defenders to clear space for himself. His name was linked with clubs in Italy, England, and Spain. Lazio, Fulham, and Atletico Madrid all showed interest in the 26 year old forward. However, the most serious offer arrived from the top division in Russia. He even received an offer from 2011-2012 Turkish Super League champions Galatasaray. One of his closest friends off the field and former Trabzonspor team mate, Selcuk Inan, attempted to persuade him to join the Istanbul based club. The two connected for the Turkish international team in the game against Azerbaijan where Inan sent Yilmaz through who slotted home the winner. However, Yilmaz’s next step is to join a club that is outside of his country. Lokomotiv Moscow finished in fifth place behind the likes of Spartak Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, CSKA Moscow, and the champions, Zenit St. Petersburg. There was only an eight point gap between Lokomotiv and Zenit. The addition of Burak Yilmaz can give the Moscow based club a true finisher in front of net. Yilmaz doesn’t run back to help the defense too often which gives him more time to play where he is needed most, up top. He proved that this past season by netting 33 times in the regular season. Lokomotiv does have talent, and a fifth place finish proves that. By signing Yilmaz, they will have the chance to finish in the top four. Yilmaz should score at least 15 goals in his first season in Russia. Follow @AReySportsNews Tweet #TwitterStories

Brooklyn Keeps Heart and Soul

After officially moving from New Jersey to Brooklyn, the Nets are finally moving towards the right direction of a successful franchise. New logo, new city, and a squad that is full of hunger for a championship within the coming years. After acquiring all-star point guard Deron Williams from Utah a year and a half ago, the Nets were worried that keeping him would be an issue, especially due to the poor record they had for the past two seasons. However, the 2012-2013 season is a brand new beginning in a brand new arena, Barclay’s Center, which is located on the busy Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. The improved arena in the more well-known city was just a taste of things to come for Mr. Williams. Being the only true superstar on the Nets last season, general manager Billy King had his work cut out for him. While the world was expecting only Dwight Howard to be traded to the new franchise, he made a slightly less bold move before that one. He decided to take over the remaining 4 years, and $90 million of Atlanta’s Joe Johnson. The six time all-star is switching loyalties to Brooklyn as the Nets look to add another star to D-Will’s team. He is a shooting guard who can score from almost anywhere on the court and knows where to be on the court at the right time. Now, the final piece of the big three puzzle is missing. The first choice is of course none other than Orlando’s big man, Dwight Howard. He wants out of Orlando, and according to sources, he is demanding a trade to Brooklyn. That’s right, demanding. With Deron Williams, and Joe Johnson, Dwight can finally have the help he needs to win the title. His Magic lost to the Lakers in 2009, mainly due to the fact he was the only true star on the team. Now, he is one of three guys that play their part in getting many victories and forcing a deep post-season push. The Nets have a new city, arena, and if they play their cards right, a new big three that can bring them the success back from their glory days in 2002 and 2003 when they made two straight NBA finals. Follow @AReySportsNews Tweet #TwitterStories

Trabzonspor's slow start haunts them in the end

Turkish side Trabzonspor went down early in the first 12 minutes against PSV Eindhoven due to strikes by Tim Matavs and Ola Toivonen. Olcan Adin struck a consolation after the half hour mark but couldn't find the equalizer for the rest of the game.

Burak Yilmaz missed a golden chance watching his blast slice past the far post midway through the second half.

Trabzon controlled possession throughout the second half but PSV's defense held firm for the 2-1 away victory.

The Black Sea based side travel to Holland for the second leg in one week's time needing two goals in order to advance to the round of 16.


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Champions League Returns

After two months of much anticipated top European soccer, the UEFA Champions League has finally returned.

The first of two games on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 will be Bayer Leverkusen of Germany hosting the currently reigning champions, FC Barcelona of Spain.

The Germans finished second behind Chelsea FC of England by one point at 10. Barcelona finished top of their group with 16.

The European and Spanish champions will enter the match heavily favored but the Germans will have home field advantage. Barcelona just lost 3-2 over the weekend at Osasuna and now trail league leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid by 10 points with 16 weeks left.

The league race seems out of reach at the moment but the Champions League is still there for the taking. Barcelona will look to win the game tomorrow in Germany to not risk anything for the return leg in two weeks time.

Tune in tomorrow to Fox Soccer Channel at 2:45 p.m. to watch the game live.

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Real Madrid Fall Short Again at Brilliance of Arch-Rivals Barcelona

The first leg of the Copa Del Rey Quarter-final came and went in similar fashion with the visiting side, Barcelona, winning yet again on Real Madrid’s historic ground, the Santiago Bernabeu.
The home side started out quickly with an 11th minute bullet from Ronaldo sliding through Barca keeper Pinto’s legs to take the lead.
Barca almost immediately respond when Cesc Fabregas sent a cross to the running Alexis Sanchez whose glancing header hits the post.
The Blaugrana would create two more quality chances in the first half with Iniesta and Messi both sending darts towards the near post only to be parried away by Spain and Real’s number 1, Iker Casillas.
In the 49th minute, Carles Puyol dives past Pepe with his head to send the ball into the bottom left corner past a helpless Casillas to grab the equalizer.
Barca would continue to pressure the hosts with a flurry of chances until finally Messi sent a lob inside the box to a wide open Eric Abidal who calmly slotted home the winner 18 minutes from time.
Real Madrid almost responded a few minutes later through Cristiano Ronaldo but his shot was blocked by the brick wall in Barca’s defense.
The visitors capped their performance with a 2-1 advantage heading into next Wednesday’s rematch which is the second leg of this quarter-final clash.

Journalist

Aydin Reyhan
Intro to Journalism
Journalist

Journalism is not what Grant Wahl majored for in college. When he graduated Princeton University, he left with a B.A. in Politics. During the same year, 1996, he decided to intern with the Miami Herald as an intern. This was a stepping stone in a journey that led Mr. Wahl to who he has become today.
Born in Mission, Kansas in 1974, Wahl now resides with his wife Celine at an apartment in Baltimore. He is best known for his writing in Sports Illustrated and his book regarding David Beckham, The Beckham Experiment: How the World’s Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America. His only book is published and a NY Times Best Seller.
He was appointed by Sports Illustrated to write about Beckham’s journey from Real Madrid of Spain to the Los Angeles Galaxy of the US’s very own Major League Soccer. However, when Beckham was out due to injury, Wahl had to use his sources at the Galaxy to interview him over a period of two years to discuss his journey. Sports Illustrated wouldn’t fund the money, so he used his connections.
At Sports Illustrated, he began in November 1996 as a reporter only to become senior writer in October 2000. He does investigative reporting on different topics, covers college basketball, and of course soccer. Out of all of his work, he chose to write a book about soccer. Soccer is more than just a part of his job.
“Tough in 140 characters, but I’ll try…,” Wahl began saying via Twitter. “It’s the world’s greatest sport: two hours of movement, full of surprises, with billions of fans hanging in the balance.”
Wahl covered 12 NCAA tournaments, three Olympics, and five world cups for Sports Illustrated. He won his first praise as a writer for a story he co-wrote with John Wertheim, Where’s Daddy? This was the cover story for the 1998 issue. The high amount of children that were born out of wedlock to professional athletes is the plot of the piece. This jump started his career and led him to win four Magazine Story of the Year awards given by the US Basketball Writers Association.
During his thirteen years at Sports Illustrated, Wahl has written 31 cover stories and over 200 articles. These stories led him to travel to 40 states and 26 countries. Due to all of the traveling, he is barely ever home at his Baltimore apartment.
He recently covered the FIFA Women’s World Cup which took place this past summer in Germany. He interviewed US keeper Hope Solo before the big match-up between the US and Brazil. She is just one of the many people he has interviewed throughout his career thus far.
Getting his facts straight during and after every game is not all he does. Being the senior writer for SI (Sports Illustrated), he expresses his views on different subject matters in the sporting world. According to Wahl, there is a lot of corruption and fraud in professional soccer. Whether its team owners paying opposing teams, referees, or coaches, he believes the game should be played as is without any bribery. He even mentioned that he would like to run for president of FIFA one day to hopefully end the unethical occurrences.