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Articles by John Lenard
Understanding The Pyramid 2024
Well, hello there, SocTakes crowd. Remember me? It’s been a while. Even longer than before. Sorry about that, the pandemic, and life, and the universe, and everything, it all happened. You know the drill by now, it’s January February March April, which means the start of #HipsterManifesto season, and a perfect time for another installment of Understanding The Pyramid, the inconsistently-published series wherein yours truly runs the gamut of what’s what in the North American soccer system.
John Lenard, Author at Soc Takes
Well, hello there, SocTakes crowd. Remember me? It’s been a while. Even longer than before. Sorry about that, the pandemic, and life, and the universe, and everything, it all happened. You know the drill by now, it’s January February March April, which means the start of #HipsterManifesto season, and... Hello, Soc Takes crowd. It’s been a while, I know. The pandemic hit, sports got cancelled and my day job suddenly kicked into overtime.
The PWHL is a Historic Moment for Women’s Hockey and Women’s Sports In General, and it’s been a long time coming
On New Year’s Day, 2024, in the historic Maple Leaf Gardens in downtown Toronto, the puck dropped to start a landmark game between teams from Toronto and New York City. After decades of instability and years of infighting, womens’ professional ice hockey had achieved a new milestone: one league to unite them, one league to rule them all.
A Rant: Sony didn’t need to ruin the PlayStation Classic, and it could have been great
Ah, the PlayStation. Sony’s debut in the world of video game hardware thanks in no small part to a colossal fumble by the once and future kings Nintendo. It sounds like apocrypha, but the old legend is true and we have the proof, thanks to Ben Heck getting his hands on some prototype hardware.
The Techronomicon: Adventures in Nuggeteering Part I
Well hello there, oft-neglected personal site I’m still paying for. It’s been, what, two years and change since the ThinkPad T530 project post? Yep, that’s long enough. More accurately, it was long enough long enough ago that I’m wasting time with this “bit” for an “introduction”. Time to finally shake the rust off and get back on my bullshit.
New-look Denton Diablos start season five in full force
The Denton Diablos are back for their 5th season of play, and their 4th in the NPSL, with a new look inside and out. Taking the reigns from the touchline is Armando Pelaez, a veteran coach and former Venezuelan youth international who served as an assistant coach for the then-Dallas Burn from 2001 through 2003. Pelaez has spent years coaching in high-level youth soccer and lower-division pro and semi-pro soccer in the region.
MASL Weekend Recap - December 12
Both local Major Arena Soccer League teams took to the floor last weekend, with the Dallas Sidekicks hosting the Chihuahua Savage, and the Mesquite Outlaws hosting the Kansas City Comets. Dallas Sidekicks vs Chihuahua Savage Dallas opened their season against a tough Savage side which made the semifinals last season, working with a depleted roster thanks to untimely injuries and last-minute reinforcement signings.
The Outlaws are back in Mesquite for MASL 22-23
After two and a half years away, the Mesquite Outlaws have returned from hiatus and are back in action in the Major Arena Soccer League. Despite their inaugural season being shortened by the pandemic – and then losing two subsequent seasons – the Outlaws have survived and are back with a very different look.
NPSL Champions Denton Diablos reload for another run
The Denton Diablos, the 2021 NPSL national champions, are looking for another strong season with the possibility of repeating last year’s title triumph. The team saw 10 members of their championship squad appear earlier this year in their first US Open Cup match, which saw the Diablos fall to DKSC 2-3.
Sidekicks beat St. Louis twice in 24 hours
After starting the season 0-3, firing their head coach, and bringing in four new signings, the Dallas Sidekicks have finally found the win column with a pair of victories against St. Louis. Entering Friday’s matchup, St. Louis held a 2-2 record, compared to Dallas’ 0-3. On Thursday night, Dallas hosted the St. Louis Ambush for the second time this season.
Sidekicks pick up where they left off
On Saturday, the Dallas Sidekicks began their new era: new coach, new faces, new attitude. A new season with a new strategy. A time for change. And yet. The Sidekicks opened strong against the St. Louis Ambush, taking a quick 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Luiz Morales put Dallas on the board in just 94 seconds, and Brenden Lee added a brace 6 minutes in, putting Dallas in a strong position for the first half. And yet.
Austin Bold Rumoured to Relocate to Fort Worth
Austin Bold FC, playing in the USL Championship, are currently rumoured to be relocating to Fort Worth, possibly for the 2022 season. This team hopes to play in the proposed Fort Worth soccer stadium, to be constructed at the intersection of 35W and Basswood, currently known as the Fort Worth Star Development. The proposed stadium, as reported by the Fort Worth Star Telegram, will seat 10,000 in a design similar to that recently built by Louisville City FC.
New year, new project: ThinkPad T530
I’ve always been a fan of ThinkPads, dating back to growing up and seeing some of the late-90s/early-00s models around my Dad’s IT colleagues. They’re utilitarian in a way that reminds me of 1980s consumer electronics, like hi-fi components, and I’ve always been nostalgic for that Sony/Kenwood sort of look.
Dallas Sidekicks part ways with Simon Bozas, name Jesse Llamas President
The Dallas Sidekicks have announced two major changes this week: General Manager and Director of Operations Jesse Llamas has been promoted to team President, and Simon Bozas has stepped down as Head Coach. Jesse Llamas, Dallas Sidekicks President. Jesse Llamas joined the Sidekicks, replacing Simon Bozas as General Manager when the team returned from their year-long hiatus, during the 2017-2018 season.
An Analytical Look at FC Dallas in 2021
I’ve seen lots of discourse online about the current state of FC Dallas. Seven games into the 2021 regular season fans are wondering why the team is underperforming, just how bad are things, and who ultimately is to blame. To answer some of these questions, let’s dive into some analytic data and unpack what’s happening with the team this year. A portion of this post previously appeared on /r/FCDallas on Reddit.com. Thanks to American Soccer Analysis for the analytical data.
Illustrated history of MLS crests: Part II
Hello, Soc Takes crowd. It’s been a while, I know. The pandemic hit, sports got cancelled and my day job suddenly kicked into overtime. But now, the world is looking a bit more normal, and my soapbox needed a good dusting. You may remember that last January, I wrote a post that was supposed to be the first post in a series on the history of MLS branding. Well, it was, and I guess now still is. But I digress.
Denton Diablos are looking for more silverware in NPSL 2021
Denton’s NPSL team is ready to return to the NPSL for the 2021 season, with the Diablos boasting two Roja League titles since the 2019 NPSL playoffs.
USSF Cancels US Open Cup 1st Round - Tournament Reduced to 16 Teams
After canceling the 2020 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the 2021 edition has already gone through several changes and revisions. The latest announcement from the Open Cup Committee has officially canceled the first round and further reduced the number of participants to just 16. Additionally, a second go/no-go point has been set for April 19. If the conditions for the new opening round cannot be met, the tournament will be canceled.
Sidekicks' playoff primer - Analyzing the 'Kicks tactics - 3rd Degree
The Sidekicks, despite finishing with a 1-10 record, are heading to the playoffs for the first time since the 14/15 season, and the first time since Simon Bozas took over as head coach. They’re set to face the Ontario Fury, a team they have literally never beaten. With the regular season over, I took a deeper dive into their results to look further into an observation made by my girlfriend: when the Sidekicks seem to go for a 6th attacker, it never seems to work.
Dallas Draft History - 1996 Part 5
Welcome back to Dallas Draft History. We’re now 4 installments deep into the inaugural season’s player selections, and today, it’s time to bring it home. This installment focuses on the last two of the four 1996 drafts: the College Draft and Supplemental Draft. In this series, I’m taking a look at literally every single player Dallas has ever drafted since 1996. I’ll be going over who each player was, what they did before joining Dallas, and what (if anything) they did after leaving.
Dallas Draft History - 1996 Part 2
Welcome back to the Dallas Draft History. In Part 1, we took a look at the four marquee players allocated by MLS to Dallas. This time, we’ll be picking up with the first actual draft. In this series, I’m taking a look at literally every single player Dallas has ever drafted since 1996. I’ll be going over who each player was, what they did before joining Dallas, and what (if anything) they did after leaving. And for a handful of players, we’ll talk about what they did instead of playing in MLS.
FC Dallas Draft History - 1996 Part 1
With the SuperDraft taking place Thursday and Buzz’s recent deep dives into the history of various jersey numbers on the team, I’ve been thinking a lot about all of the players Dallas has drafted since 1996. Quite a few became MLS regulars, with some emerging as faces of the team. For a lot of them, though, things didn’t pan out. In this series, I’ll be taking a look at literally every single player Dallas has ever drafted since 1996.
The Struggling Sidekicks - Bozas vs Tatu
It’s November, so it’s time for me to wake up and talk about the Sidekicks again. Tatu‘s signing as the inaugural head coach for the Mesquite Outlaws last summer was hardly a surprise but it signaled a change in the local indoor soccer weather. The man is easily the most legendary name in Indoor/Arena Soccer history in the state of Texas – and possibly the entire US – and brought with him, not just a wealth of experience, but also deep connections with the Metroplex.
Lone Star Republic eliminated from NISA Independent Cup
Lone Star Republic’s journey in this Summer’s NISA Independent Cup has come to an end following a 1-0 loss at home to Gaffa FC. Gaffa FC, hailing from Jackson, Miss. and playing in the Gulf Coast Premier League, had advanced to the Central Plains region finals following a penalty shootout against Louisiana Krewe FC. Lone Star Republic faces Gaffa FC for the Central Plains Region of the NISA Independent Cup.
Lone Star Republic advances to Central Plains Championship in NISA Independent Cup
Lone Star Republic completed the sweep of Mansfield Revolution SC on Sunday, topping the group’s table and advancing to face Gaffa FC of Jackson, Miss, in the NISA Independent Cup. Lone Star Republic, coached by former FC Dallas defender Zach Loyd, demolished their local opponents 6-0 in the first leg last Friday, scoring twice in the first half and exploding late in the game, with Fuad Faki scoring twice in the final fifteen minutes.
Roja League Playoffs Begin Saturday
The Roja League begins its 4-team playoffs tournament tomorrow, with the top 4 teams competing for a spot in the championship game next Wednesday. Playoff action begins with 2nd seed Diablos Estudiantes – the best defensive team in the league – up against 3rd seeded NTX Rayados. The two sides previously met on matchday 2, back on July 8th, with the Estudiantes coming away victorious, shutting out Rayados in the process.
Roja League Announces Playoff Format and Schedule
The Roja League has announced the schedule and format for league playoffs, taking place on July 25 and July 29. Following the final matchday on Wednesday, which will determine the final standings, the league will begin a 4-team playoff on Saturday, July 25. 1st place will host 4th place, while 2nd place will host 3rd place, with venues decided between Denton, Fort Worth, and Mansfield based on Wednesday’s results.
Wild Night Shakes Up the Roja League
What a night it has been for the Roja League, with three big upsets, massive shakeups in the table, and a new top dog entering Matchday 6! In Mansfield, Irving FC finally found their footing and scored their first win in Roja League action, defeating NTX Rayados firmly 2-0. For Irving, this might just be their highest-profile win in the team’s history, given the long list of accolades the Rayados have earned.
North Texas SC opening two matches revealed
Today, USL League One announced the home opener matches for every participating team, including the first two matches for North Texas Soccer Club for the 2020 season: the team’s home opener, and first road game. North Texas SC will begin its title defense at home, at Globe Life Park, on Saturday, July 25, hosting Forward Madison FC in the first installment of El Plastico 2020.
Chisholm Trail Clásico returns Saturday in Roja League
Despite the cancellation of the NPSL season, the Chisholm Trail Clásico between the Fort Worth Vaqueros and Denton Diablos lives on this year in the new Roja League. For the Vaqueros, it’s another opportunity to continue their dominance in the rivalry, but for the Diablos, it’s a chance to finally beat Fort Worth. Since their first encounter in May of 2019, Fort Worth has won all three matches between the two sides, including a dramatic penalty shootout in the 2019 NPSL Playoffs.
A wild night in the Roja League sees NTX Rayados on top
Another day, another wild night of Roja League Action. 13 goals across three games, a new leader on top, and a three-way tie on points ends Day 2 and sets up another full slate on Saturday. In the first match of the night, Diablos Estudiantes got on the board in just the 2nd minute thanks to young Matt Heffernan, doubling their lead fifteen minutes later with a goal from Julian Barajas.
Diablos Estudiantes on top as Roja League kicks off
Following the first three matches in the brand-new Roja League, Denton Diablos Estudiantes holds the top spot with a massive win over Fort Worth Vaqueros. NTX Rayados take the 2nd spot with a win over Irving FC, and Denton Diablos and Inocentes FC hold the middle of the table following a draw.
Local Soccer Returns Tonight in new Roja League
Following the cancellation of the 2020 NPSL season, Michael Hitchcock, co-owner of the Denton Diablos, Fort Worth Vaqueros, and Dallas Sidekicks, has worked together with other local teams to create a new summer league for teams across the Metroplex. This new league, the Roja League, kicks off tonight with a triple-header featuring all six participating teams at Martin Field at Texas Wesleyan. First up, at 4 p.m., we’ll have Irving FC vs NTX Rayados.
USL Announces Updates for Championship and League One
On Thursday, the USL made two major announcements concerning the return to play in League One and the Championship. First up, USL League One has an agreement in place between the players and the teams, along with the official policies regarding COVID-19 mitigation efforts. While no schedule has been announced yet, the league has a set date of July 18 to return to play, barring any potential returns to lockdown stemming from the recent spike in cases.
The most expensive goals in FCD history - part 1: 2007
Over the past decade, through many different designated players, I’ve always been interested in how efficiently, or inefficiently, FC Dallas has been at paying players to score goals. I know I’m not the only one, considering just how many Tweets and Reddit comments I’ve seen bemoaning the lack of a “true DP number-9”, and complaining about some high-profile ‘busts’.
K League explained
Since the United States and Canada are still under lockdown for the foreseeable future (and no, these soft reopenings in a few states aren’t a sign of things getting better, and are likely to cause even more problems), it’s been quiet around here. Even my in-progress “updating the pyramid for 2020” post has been shelved until we figure out what the hell soccer will look like come August.
2019-2020 Dallas Sidekicks season in review
With the Major Arena Soccer League electing to simply end its season early and, for now, forgo playoffs, that means it’s time to unpack just what all went down with the Dallas Sidekicks this past season. The year began with the announcement that the Mesquite Outlaws, the Sidekicks’ new cross-town rivals, had signed Sidekicks legend Tatu as head coach and general manager, Kevin Smith, Nick Stavrou, and Sagu Xavier as assistants, and a handful of stars from the Sidekicks 2018-2019 team.
Analyzing the 2020 North Texas SC Schedule
North Texas SC is wrapping up its preseason preparations in advance of its sophomore season. Here’s how the schedule looks for the team’s title defense. Just like last year, the 2020 USL League One season will comprise 28 games for each of the 12 clubs. All but one of the 10 clubs from 2019 are back (RIP Lansing), joined by two new MLS affiliates for New England and Miami, as well as an independent expansion side, Union Omaha.
Sidekicks eliminated from playoff contention after loss to San Diego
We all knew it was coming, but on Sunday, the Dallas Sidekicks were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the 2019-2020 MASL. In a season where few things, if any, have gone right, there was little expectation of Simon Bozas’ first playoff run, although the team underperforming to such an extreme is, to put it lightly, historically significant. This just might be the worst-performing Sidekicks team ever. The Dallas Sidekicks applaud their fans early in the 2020 season.
Big year ahead for NPSL
The NPSL is set for one of its biggest, longest and most exciting years yet, with a number of changes coming as discussed in a call with NPSL treasurer and Virginia Beach City FC owner Steven Wagoner. For starters, the league’s grand fall-spring extended season originally announced last November is coming, with announcements expected as the NPSL’s summer season grows closer.
Illustrated History of Dallas Soccer: Part 1
With FC Dallas entering its 25th season, I’ve been thinking a lot about the history of soccer in the Metroplex, and during my research for a piece on crest design over at SocTakes, I dove down the rabbit hole of DFW teams of the past. United Soccer Association Logo for the original United Soccer Association, 1967 (SportsLogos.net) Professional soccer first came to Texas in 1967, with the creation of the United Soccer Association the year prior.
Sidekicks host Florida Tropics in Week 11
Tonight, the Dallas Sidekicks reach the halfway point in their season, playing their 12th game of the season in Week 11. As it’s been a bit since the last Sidekicks article (with not much to write about), here’s a brief update of how the season has progressed. To put it lightly, it’s all gone horribly wrong. (If perhaps predictably.) The Sidekicks sit dead last in the Western Conference, still, and sit at or near the bottom in nearly every category.
Illustrated history of MLS crests: Part I
With Chicago’s recent rebrand announcement receiving a, shall we say, openly hostile reception, we’ve gotten to talking about soccer logos in the Soc Takes group chat. It’s a common pastime for us, much like any other members of #SoccerTwitter, and this got me thinking about the various brands and rebrands we’ve seen in MLS since its inception in the mid-’90s. MLS itself has gone through a handful of different logos in its history, before settling on the current design in 2014.
Sidekicks stumble through opening weekend
The Dallas Sidekicks’ 2019-2020 campaign is officially underway, though not how the team would have liked. To begin with, a packed December calendar for the Allen Event Center has forced the team on a 3-game road trip to begin the season, delaying their home opener until December 14. Compounding their travel woes, the Sidekicks had their first three games scheduled with just one day off in between. And that’s just the story off the floor. RJ Luevano prepares a pass against the Monterrey Flash.
2019-20 Dallas Sidekicks Season Preview
It’s once again time to head indoors for the winter, with the Dallas Sidekicks set to return for their fifth season in the Major Arena Soccer League. This time they’ll have a new local rival in the Mesquite Outlaws, and will play in a consolidated and expanded 8-team Western Conference. Here’s a rundown of everything you’ll need to know before the Sidekicks season kicks off later this month.
North Texas Soccer Club triumphs over Greenville, wins inaugural USL-1 Final
North Texas SC’s season ended much the same way it began, in winning ways at home. With a lineup consisting of many familiar faces, Eric Quill went with one of the strongest lineups he could in the absence of the bulk of the MLS loanees as Ricardo Pepi was off with the U-17 national team and Johnny Nelson, Jimmy Maurer, and Edwin Cerrillo with FC Dallas in Seattle.
North Texas Soccer Club hosts Forward Madison in USL League One Playoffs Saturday
At long last, the inaugural USL League One playoffs are upon us, with regular-season champions North Texas SC hosting Forward Madison FC in the fifth installment of El Plastico. North Texas SC dominated the USL League One regular season, finishing 10 points clear of 2nd place Lansing, and managed wins against all nine USL-1 teams. Forward Madison, meanwhile, finished on an identical record to 3rd place Greenville and received the bottom slot based on goal differential.
Playoff bound North Texas SC wins home finale 4-0 over Richmond
North Texas SC wrapped up its regular-season home finale with a bang, silencing Richmond Kickers with a 4-0 win. Golden Boot leader Ronaldo Damus padded his lead with a hat trick on the night, with his first goal coming just seconds into the match. North Texas entered the night comfortably in first place, needed just one win in their final four games to secure a top-2 finish.
North Texas SC completes sweep of USL League One teams with 2-0 win over Toronto FC II
After two prior attempts, North Texas Soccer Club has finally vanquished the last club they had yet to defeat, Toronto FC II. In the first encounter between the two sides, back on May 29, Toronto rallied in the second half to break a 2-2 draw and secure a 3-2 win at home, while an early 3-0 lead by North Texas SC in the second encounter, on June 12, saw Toronto score three unanswered from the 44th minute on, securing a 3-3 draw.
Open Cup format rethought
Things get testy between the Indy Eleven and Lansing Ignite FC in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. Photo credit: Robbie Mehling/Soc Takes Well hello there, Soc Takes. It’s been a while. You may have noticed my as-of-yet unexplained absence the past few months. To make a long story short, I got dumped, took some vacations, got a promotion at work, met a new girl and went to a lot of soccer games.
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