RFK stadium demolition approved, O’Hara announces retirement, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! It’s been a busy week for me, and now my parents are in town for the weekend. I’m hoping to enjoy some time outside this afternoon before the weather takes a turn for the cool and rainy.
National Park Service approves DC’s RFK Memorial Stadium demolition plans (WJLA)
The long, slow death of RFK Stadium continues. It’s not clear when the stadium will be demolished, but as the article points out, this is a necessary step in preparing the site to be used for something new.
Exclusive: Kelley O’Hara announces retirement at end of 2024 NWSL season (Just Women’s Sports)
Two-time World Cup and NWSL champion announced her retirement via a Kelley On the Street video yesterday. O’Hara’s leadership and skill on the field were essential to keeping the Washington Spirit together as a team during a turbulent 2021 and helped propel them to the Championship win. (Plus, obviously, she scored the cup-winning header.) Congratulations to her and good luck on her next steps!
Loudoun United signs Senegalese forward Pape Amadou Wane (Loudoun United)
The 18-year-old Wane will be available to play for Loudoun this weekend.
Women’s World Cup: Why U.S.-Mexico pivoted from 2027 to “record-breaking” bid for 2031 (The Athletic)
Sounds like it was a combination of a lot of factors, including thinking they’d have a better chance in 2031 and wanting to extend the “golden period for international soccer in the U.S.” for a full six years from the Club World Cup.
D.C. United loan goalkeeper Luis Zamudio to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (D.C. United)
The loan lasts just through July 17. A sign he’s hoping for a last look before the Olympics?
Major League Soccer unveils club roster profiles (MLS)
A very handy PDF!
As authentic NASL kit values rise, the fakes are getting better and better (The Athletic)
A feature on the booming collectors’ market in NASL kits and some tips for spotting fakes.
Finally, your schedule for the weekend. It’s another busy Saturday, and most of our local teams are at home this weekend.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loudoun United FC vs. Detroit City FC | Sat., May 4 at 6:45 p.m. ET | Leesburg, VA | ESPN+ |
| D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union | Sat., May 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Apple TV |
| Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns | Sat., May 4 at 10 p.m. ET | Portland, OR | ION |
| Old Glory DC vs. Miami Sharks | Sat., May 4 at 6 p.m. ET | Boyds, MD | TRN |
| D.C. Defenders vs. San Antonio Brahmas | Sun., May 5 at 4 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Fox |
Have a good one!
Gotta take the kids by RFK soon. The one has been to the playgrounds there a couple times and the other has never been. Neither have been very close to the stadium.
Sad to see RFK go, first went the in 1984 for a football game and it was electric. And then many, many DC games. Good times.
I’d like it to be demolished at this point. I hope to never lose the memories of bouncing stands and wild victories from my memory with age or disease, but the stadium doesn’t deserve this endless, largely bureaucratic goodbye. Time to make it something new.
she doesn’t deserve it at all…..
I remember going in the 60s with my dad, both senators and Skins game. I distinctly remember the spear helmets and a game vs Detroit Lions. Santa went around the stadium in a convertible whale of a car. Unlike Philadelphia children, I neither booed Santa, nor did I throw snowballs at him.
Between baseball (x2 teams!), Football, and Soccer (x too numerous to count, USA, Dips, DCU, etc etc), it was a massive pile of memories. I cried when Magneto dumped RFK on the White House lawn, forever changing my Lot 8 experience…..
I will miss the old girl, but it is time…
I moved to Colorado a few weeks after the RFK send off and yeah that was 7 years ago, yeah its time
Hmmm….interesting that the Spirit aren’t on NWSL+/Amazon Prime.
And it will be interesting to see what other info from O’Hara comes out in the next week or so. My assumption anytime an athlete decides to retire once a season is already started, is it’s due to one of 3 things: (1) they no longer want to put in the hours (2) they’ve got an injury that says “no more” or (3) they’re not in the organization’s plans anymore and aren’t willing to move/relocate.
Shout to the wonderful Kelley O’Hara. I have always liked her. I think the article touches on the drudgery of multiple repetitive injuries just adding up to a “no mas” sense of resignation. Been there, done that, and the memories are capable of utterly sustaining me.
The soccer world would be foolish to pass up on her next venture. Expect a microphone to be in play….
All of this. She’s a remarkable woman, just ran out of reasons to fight back through countless injury issues.
The good news for her is, the media around women’s sports is experiencing a boom. Opportunities, whether it’s starting out on her own or lending her strong presence to a larger organization, they will be there for her.
I’m delighted to learn, Annie, that the Spirit match at 10 pm Saturday will be on ION TV, which I can begin recording and can watch after attending the DC United match at Buzzard Point. I’ve never been able to watch NWSL+
Sorry you’re having trouble with NWSL+. I’ve been able to watch it on laptop and smart tv, but I’ve heard people are having problems on smartphones and other devices. Not sure if that’s your issue or not
I’ve been trying on my IPhone. I’ll try my laptop in the future.
It’s Ben Olsen’s birthday, apparently. Happy Birthday, Benny, thanks for the commitment you made when no one else would.
My Facebook memories came up the other day of me chatting with Benny at Ben Olsen’s Chili Bowl. It was one of my earliest dates with my future wife. And at other points, I saw Ben biking or walking through the city, and once I was walking down the street and he was hanging out in his yard with some guests. He was perhaps more closely associated with DC than any other United player of all time.
You could tell that those last years as a coach were really wearing him down. He never looked like he was having fun, especially when you contrasted his demeanor during the Farewell to RFK Legends Game, when he got to be on the field playing with his friends again. His sense of fun was so palpable. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for him. It sounds like he’s kind of rediscovered that in Houston, which makes me happy.
Me too. His Houston venture makes me smile.
Have to wonder what the ultimate company guy could have done with reasonable backing (like the arrival of Senor Wayne)….
In watching Troy Lesesne’s pregame press conference, there were a couple interesting notes. He said that Ted Ku-DiPietro was at the same stage of his recovery as Steve Birnbaum was last week. He’s hopeful that he can be available tomorrow. As we know, Birnbaum made the bench but didn’t play against Seattle. Conner Antley is still another week behind that.
The other cool thing was that they were looking around, and Christian Benteke was winning aerial duels at a rate that wasn’t just the highest in MLS, but in the whole WORLD!
Wait Santos isn’t on a TAM deal…?
BTW, all MLS games on Apple TV are free this weekend. Just saying…