Rob Kleifield
As seen in:
Minnesota Vikings,
AZCentral | The Arizona Republic,
The Daily Wildcat,
FOX Sports,
Arizona Daily Star,
Florida Today,
Cronkite News,
Tucson Weekly,
Big News Network,
The Anniston Star,
Casa Grande Dispatch
and
Covers:
NFL, CFB, NBA, MLB, NHL
team writer @vikings • from the desert
Rob Kleifield’s Journalist Portfolio
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Shifting landscape of developmental soccer positions Phoenix Rising FC to be Arizona leader
AZCentral.com
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Soccer in America, particularly in the desert, has never been so fruitful.
Puppy power: How two Phoenix Rising FC players are combating the coronavirus pandemic
AZCentral.com
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If he's not stacking cards and racking up scores in solitaire, strumming his acoustic guitar or teaching himself to play the piano, then first-year Phoenix Rising FC right-back Darnell King is most likely running in circles, trying his hardest to entertain the newest member of his family.
U.S. Soccer Federation closes youth development program because of coronavirus
AZCentral.com
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Arizona high school soccer (Photo: Getty Images) The U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which includes thousands of players and hundreds of boys and girls teams ranging from the under-13 to under-19 age groups, has been terminated by the U.S. Soccer Federation, effective immediately. The Academy had several locations in Arizona.
Phoenix Rising FC players hopeful for return of soccer and roaring crowds
AZCentral.com
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Soccer and its supporters generally go hand in hand, except now Phoenix Rising FC players must consider the possibility of picking up where they left off, before COVID-19 unraveled the professional sports stratosphere, without devoted fans in the South End.
Arizona Game and Fish Department adapts to protect its customers
AZCentral.com
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All Rifle and pistol ranges, and the clay target center at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, which is just north of the I-17 and West Carefree Highway, have been closed to the public indefinitely in order to ensure customer safety and help limit the rising number of coronavirus cases in Arizona.
Phoenix Rising FC players lean on each other to find comfort in hardship far from home
AZCentral.com
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Together but separate are words that describe the current state of Phoenix Rising FC and, more critically, select players who are combating thousands of miles worth of worries between their temporary homes and birth countries.
Phoenix Rising spots the silver lining amid uncertainty
AZCentral.com
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Sports have been pushed to the back-burner because of the coronavirus pandemic, and members of Phoenix Rising FC are feeling the impact. "The worst part about it is you have unbelievable weather in Phoenix this time of year. Our fields have never looked so nice," said Rick Schantz, the third-year head coach of the Valley's premier professional soccer club.
Phoenix-area bowling centers shut down amid coronavirus concerns
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Bowling alleys across the Phoenix metro area are temporarily closing their doors in response to rapidly growing concerns over the novel coronavirus. The decision impacts recreational bowlers and leagues throughout the Valley. Professional sports leagues, and college and high school athletics began suspending competition last week after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
Phoenix Rising players and supporters react on social media to temporary league suspension
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Early morning Thursday, news surfaced that the USL Championship was the next professional sports league in line to put its season on hold, amid growing concerns of the COVID-19, or coronavirus pandemic, and suspend match play for a minimum of 30 days.
Phoenix Rising FC season on hold after USL Championship soccer suspends matches over coronavirus ...
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Phoenix Rising Football Club's 2020 campaign is on hold after the USL Championship announced it is suspending matches for at least the next 30 days. The decision comes amid growing concerns over the COVID-19, or coronavirus, which has rapidly impacted other sports leagues, including the NBA and NCAA basketball tournaments.
Newcomers pave the way in Phoenix Rising FC's first win of 2020 campaign
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Phoenix Rising Football Club's 23rd consecutive sellout crowd jumpstarted the franchise's pursuit of its first USL Championship Final trophy, Saturday night at Casino Arizona Field, in a resounding 6-1 win over Portland Timbers 2. Newcomer Rufat Dadashov wasn't scared making his club debut in front of 6,585 fans, bolstered by the enchanting Los Bandidos supporter group in the South End.
5 Things to know ahead of Phoenix Rising FC's regular season opener
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Phoenix Rising's Asante Solomon (20) runs past San Antonio's Ebenezer Ackon (15) during the second half of their game at Casino Arizona Field in Scottsdale Sept 7, 2019. (Darryl Webb/For the Republic) (Photo: Darryl Webb/For the Republic, Darryl Webb) Phoenix Rising FC, the Valley's highest-level professional soccer club, begins its 2020 season Saturday, March 7, in pursuit of its first USL Championship Final trophy.
Phoenix Rising FC takes aim at USL Championship Final in 2020
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Phoenix Rising's Asante Solomon (20) gets a shot off against San Antonio's defense during the first half of their game at Casino Arizona Field in Scottsdale Sept 7, 2019. (Darryl Webb/For the Republic) (Photo: Darryl Webb/For the Republic, Darryl Webb) Phoenix Rising Football Club launches into the 2020 regular season, locked-in and reloaded, with a clear goal in mind: Capture its first USL Championship Final trophy.
Veterans Memorial Coliseum proves it's still 'Madhouse on McDowell'
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE The Phoenix Suns stopped calling it their home-court more than two decades ago, but Veterans Memorial Coliseum is still "The Madhouse on McDowell" as it was once affectionately known. Six state championships were played at the Coliseum, located on the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Saturday, including both boys and girls basketball games in divisions 2A, 3A and 4A.
Brophy Prep's attack leads Broncos to back-to-back 6A state soccer championships
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE All season long, Francesco Montanile was the engine of Brophy Prep's boys soccer team. Montanile's role wasn't any different on Wednesday night in the highly-anticipated clash of titans between the No. 1-ranked Broncos and the No. 2-ranked Chaparral Firebirds.
Flagstaff girls soccer wins first state championship since 2011
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Neither team scored a goal during regulation, but it didn't matter. Flagstaff High rushed the field after prevailing, 4-2, in a penalty kick shootout versus Tucson Catalina Foothills on Tuesday night at Gilbert Williams Field High School in the 4A girls soccer state championship game. The No.
Diamondbacks Fan Fest: Houston Astros cheating, Arizona's offseason among hot topics
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Legendary Diamondbacks players Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez and Mark Grace, and 2001 World Series manager Bob Brenly welcomed thousands of Diamondbacks fans to Chase Field Saturday, exactly 40 days before Opening Day, for the franchise's 2020 Fan Fest.
Mesa downs Perry in boys high school soccer tournament play-in contest
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Mesa High paid no mind to its underdog status Thursday night against Perry High School in an AIA boys soccer state tournament play-in game. The No. 18-ranked Jackrabbits (9-4) pulled off an upset win over the No.
Phoenix Rising FC looks to take last year's success a step further in 2020
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE A.J. Cochran of Phoenix Rising FC, works out with the team at their Scottsdale field, Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Cochran is a key returner as the team prepares for the 2020 season. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic) Phoenix Rising Football Club, Arizona's highest-level professional soccer team, kicks off its 2020 USL Championship regular season on March 7 at Casino Arizona Field.
Eagles win region title for first time in school history
azpreps365.com
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February 5, 2020 by Rob Kleifield, Arizona State University Rob Kleifield is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chaparral High School for AZPreps365.com Jeyson Aguirre had plenty of reason to celebrate on Tuesday night.
Ken Roczen dominates Monster Energy's supercross showdown at State Farm Stadium
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Ken Roczen was dominant during Saturday night's Monster Energy supercross event at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. (Photo: Courtesy of Feld Motor Sports) Fans and future racers descended on State Farm Stadium Saturday, partaking in mini-games and cash-prize contests, along with other fan-fest activities leading up to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross races.
Stars align for Monster Energy Supercross event at State Farm Stadium
AZCentral.com
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CLOSE Monster Energy AMA Supercross at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 12, 2019. (Photo: Rich Shepherd) Supercross superstars Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac will headline Monster Energy's Triple-Crown race Saturday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Webb and Tomac finished first and second, respectively, in the 2019 Monster Energy AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) Supercross Championship, competing in the 450SX Premiere Class.