Aside from the WPS, nothing stateside...

http://www.pumafootball.com/teams/

I was thinking about the future of Nessy Star as our Mascot and wondered why does it have to be a dino? Why can't Nessy be a Beaver?

I see. I've learned something today!

Besides, we all know that Puma hates beer...

Huh, I did the Sunshine as well. As was mentioned in one meeting a few weeks ago, just make sure you don't have white with Yellow/Gold names or numbers. They are near impossible to read from the stands, let alone from a press box.

I did a lengthy interview with Kris Bjerkness sort of late last night. I'm hoping to get to the transcription tonight, but I asked him about sponsorships and Puma is definitely not a done deal by any means. I assumed it would be a given the Schawns being sponsored by Puma.

That is something I could get behind. Nessy Star the Beaver...Nessy the Beaver Star...Nessy's Beaver

"Starting a new team" checklist:

1. Put superrookie in a cheerleader outfit and get him to say nothing but good things about the proposed team
2. Appoint front office staff
3. Choose a logo
4. Select jersey from adidas catalog
5. Oops, time is running out. Appoint director of soccer operations as head coach
6. Begin season, play first three matches
7. Begin season ticket sales
8. Hire players

Cynical I am, but no one can deny that it is ridiculously close to the start of the season and there isn't even a rumor of a player signing.

Ladies and gentlemen: meet Nessie, your new NSC Minnesota mascot!

Allow me to put a somewhat less cynical spin on it. I believe different folks are handling the soccer operations from the marketing/branding. Marketing/branding is a little bit easier and slightly less important meaning that the team isn't going to be made/broken if only 50% of the target audience approves of the name/colors/logo as opposed to a more optimal 65%. Plus it's a lot easier to redress these things at a later date.

Meanwhile, the other folks handling the hiring of a coach need to be more thorough because replacing coaches and to a lesser extent players is not nearly as easy. Also, on the field performance the first year is a little more important that the other items. E.G. you need to be at least competitive and not embarrass yourselves to keep people coming back. I think this is a little tougher anyway than the marketing side.

So, given this, I don't think it's surprising that some items of lesser importance have raced ahead of others. From the interview with Manny it sounds like even before he was hired as Director of Soccer Operations the NSC was talking to at least some players. So, I don't think the team is completely flat footed there. Now, if there isn't a bulk signing like St. Louis' in the next week or so I'll be a little more worried.

Of course, they could always be holding out for a somewhat bigger name to be announced as the first player (e.g. Steve Ralston, thinking Tony Sanneh is a possibility to be a player/assistant coach) to make a big splash before announcing some of the guys who are signed for all intents and purposes. Though I don't think many of **US** would be underwhelmed if the first batch of signings were Friedland, Platter, Bass, Arrango, Greenfield, etc.

I am as cynical as the next fellow, but I have to agree with JJE here. The new coach was announced about ten minutes after someone on this board was derisively pointing out that they had not even named a coach yet. Then others checked in to complain that Someone Else should have been named as coach.

Mr. Superrookie is taking heat for being Super Cheerleader Guy, but I personally find this preferable to: 1) Complain that nothing is happening. 2) Something happens. 3) Complain that was has happened sucks.

Given the time frame and the ownership that preceded them, I am using benefit of the doubt as my default at this point.

I am happily a cheerleader for an organization I have worked with for over the past six years. Especially when they have proven time and time again that they know what they are doing from a business/marketing standpoint.

Admittedly there are soccer decisions that are new to them(not having any players is pretty ridiculous), but being a cheerleader is much better than being a cynical pessimist or stuck in a mythical world of roses and bluejays of the previous organization. (zing)

So, maybe I should visit Utah.

#1 Cheerleader! (I like the sound of that)