Photo: Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
PSP’s Tim Jones took a deeper look at what it means for Mark McKenzie to make the MLS Team of the Week.
Dave Zeitlin writes how the Union are not afraid of the the Supporters Shield leaders.
Jonathan Tannenwald, like all of us, is trying to answer if the Union are a good team.
How about some praise for the coach? The Union’s tactical adjustments are paying off.
Cory Burke isn’t just a scorer. He’s a winner.
The Union will face Richmond Kickers in their first U.S. Open Cup match this year. The Richmond Times-Dispatch looked at the Kickers’ most dangerous weapon, Braeden Troyer.
Local
Bethlehem Steel will be on the road taking on North Carolina FC this Saturday.
Penn FC have their own game away from home as they’ll square off with Nashville SC.
U.S. Soccer
Jaelene Hinkle revealed she chose not to represent the U.S. women’s national team last year because her religious beliefs prevented her from wearing a jersey celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month. I’m sure you can form your own beliefs. I definitely have strong ones of my own.
A new stadium project looks set to take place in Louisville — starting with $21.7 million in funding.
MLS
Contracts can be a distraction, even for the best, although Sebastian Giovinco says otherwise.
With the success of recent expansion teams, can FC Cincinnati compete next year?
Around the globe
UEFA’s investigators recommend booting AC Milan.
Speaking of scandals, Jose Hawilla has died at 74.
Scandals come in threes (at least in this news roundup.) Despite doping reports, Peru’s Paolo Guerrero can play in the World Cup.
The International Champions Cup looks set to expand.
bye, jaelene
I don’t have any issues at all with Hinkle’s decision. In fact, while thoroughly disagreeing with her, I admire her personal convictions.
I’m curious if she has a problem playing along side lesbian team mates. The law of averages would seem to dictate that she must have encountered other players that are out by this point in her career.
I wondered that too, to be honest. But I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. I think she can be willing to play alongside somebody while also not be willing to personally wear a uniform that in her opinion supports something that’s immoral.
I celebrate her liberty not to play for the team, just as much as I celebrate players not being held off the team because of who they are. She made a choice and I don’t look at her as a hero or a villain for sticking to her religious beliefs.
Honestly I don’t know how to feel about Hinkle’s decision. She obviously has a right to her own opinions and beliefs. I’m not even sure I have a right to an opinion as her actions have no affect on me personally. Though what I find hard doing is supporting anyone in continuing their ignorance, whether it be for religious reasons or otherwise.
Here’s my take on Jaelene Hinkle… if your level of understanding and awareness continues to have you operating at a tribal/magical thinking level or ego-centric into blue-religiosity, if you are convinced there is ultimate right and wrong as it relates to a person or persons’ need to be loved and how that is manifested by another person of the same sex as though (G)god of 21st century living decrees it wrong as though a text written a thousand years ago could possibly be infallible…. I’m glad for you to sacrifice the honor of wearing and or playing for a National Team to uphold your archaic and limited level of understanding.
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To be honest, there is far more at stake for ‘you’ then soccer.