We are back in training as of yesterday.  Well, almost everybody, but that looks to have resolved itself as well.

It is great to see all the guys again.  It is a big difference from last year when a whole group of  guys were all getting to know each other, and trying to impress the coaches for a chance to make the team.  This year, we have all the same faces, minus a couple, and a few new guys hoping to make an impression.  In many ways, the first day felt like training had not stopped at all, almost like it was October 2009 and we had only had a weekend off.

My body on the other hand is telling me that I had more than a weekend off.  You can train, lift weights, run, bike, do whatever you think is going to get you ready for preseason, but nothing can get you ready for a full professional  training camp.

The best part about MLS preseason being so long is that the coaches can take a gradual approach toward fitness.  They don’t have to kill us the first week because we have a lot of time to prepare.  At different times for a couple of my teams in Europe we didn’t even touch a ball in the first week of training camp.  I personally spent more summers with the National Team than having to participate in the first week of solid running.  Unfortunately, one summer I wasn’t so lucky and found myself at an army base in Southwest England being trained by drill instructors. Needless to say that wasn’t a lot of fun.  I’ll take a nice cool January day at Starfire anytime.

As February 1st approaches the CBA is on the thoughts of all soccer people across the Nation.  Negotiations are at a delicate stage.  For this reason, we have been asked to keep all public statements to a minimum.  I can report that the players and the owners both agree that nobody on either side wants a work stoppage.  Lets continue the tremendous success Seattle has proven to the sports world.  Soccer has a huge future in the United States.

Keep keeping it real Seattle

Kasey

Where did all the time go?  Seems like just yesterday we were preparing to play the second leg down in Houston.  Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are all over and the start of preseason is just around the corner.  I found myself on Friday in the indoor facility at VMAC starting to catch a few balls again!  On a wet and nasty Northwest winter day, it sure was nice to be able to use that beautiful indoor field.

It was pretty somber around the facility that day with the firing of Coach Mora that morning.  I had the pleasure to spend some time with Coach on several occasion and was a little surprised that he wasn’t given another season to turn things around.  Sometimes in sports you don’t get the time.   I want to wish Coach Mora all the best and I hope he gets a new Coaching role soon and has a lot of success.

I wish I had some new news on the CBA front.  Some informal meetings have taken place, but nothing significant has happened to bring the sides closer together.  The next round of formal talks are scheduled for Weds. the 13th, and hopefully we can start to reach common ground.  I know the whole soccer community wants to see the season start without delays.

I for one can’t wait to show the new boys from Philly the way the it is supposed to be done, both on the pitch and in the stands.  That process for myself  continues at VMAC again tomorrow for round two of getting back into shape.

Have a great week!

Kasey

http://www.fifpro.org/news/news_details/122

Kasey

My family and I are so excited about the year we have had back in Washington and really excited about the future. It has been one heck of a ride.

Thanks to everyone who has helped make this year what it has been…..Sounders FC, Rezin Marketing, Emerald City Supporters, Gorilla FC, FSN, Eastside Subaru, Budweiser, and the list goes on and on.

Thank you!

Lets also hope we get this collective bargaining agreement worked out! That would be a great start to 2010!

Happy New Year and Be Safe!

Kasey

Hopefully everyone has made it through that nice stretch of cold weather.   I was very glad we didn’t have to train those days.  I don’t mind training when it is cold, but diving around on frozen ground isn’t a lot of fun.  It reminds me of a time when I was playing in Spain.  The end of November one year, we had a UEFA Cup game in Moscow.  The night of the game the temperature got down to -16 degrees Celsius so that’s around 3 degrees, not your warmest night for a match.  The pitch was as hard as concrete and the Spanish players had so many layers on it was amazing they could run at all.  To warm up at half -time they started a fire in a garbage can in the locker room.  It wasn’t quite  that cold here the other day, but it was nice that I wasn’t out diving around.

Before I forget, I want to wish Sebastian all the success in Philly.  He will be missed.  Seba gave everything he had every time he stepped on the field.  Players that have his kind of commitment are always wanted, and it was no surprise to me when The Union took him in the expansion draft.  It is just unfortunate in this league that players can be traded in this way, and that the team can’t protect everyone.  I wish him all the best with his new team and this new chapter in his career.

You will probably start to read more and more about the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)  that is up at the end of the month.  Negotiations have been under way between the players union and MLS for some time now.  I wish I could report that we were close to signing an agreement, but that doesn’t  seem to be the case.  As players we have been told of a probable lockout date of Feb. 1st.  What’s most disappointing to me is, this isn’t a negotiation for a bunch of players wanting 8 million a year instead of 7 million a year.  The main points revolve around us being given the same rights under FIFA as the rest of the players around the world.  As an MLS player you have to sign away your FIFA rights before you are allowed to sign your contract.  We would like a moderate rise in the salary cap, but the major points for the players are:  guaranteed contracts, free agency, and the right to negotiate with other MLS teams.  These are some of the basic rights the players in all the other leagues around the world have that we have to sign away.  With the huge strides MLS has made since the last CBA this seems very reasonable.  I would hate to see anything get in the way of the great success of the Sounders had this year, and the respect we earned in our first year as a franchise. I would think that MLS and US Soccer would be proud to announce that the sport has developed so greatly in the last few years that we are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world.

Kasey

After the great scarf hunt, after the MLS final, and now after my Birthday, things are starting to get normal again with life in the off season.  Not exactly kicking back on the beach.  We finally moved into the house that we have been remodeling for the last several months.  With all the teams I’ve played for, you can imagine that I have done this once or twice.  I have, but it is usually at the beginning of the season and my wife has had to do the majority of the work.  This time though, I was able to put in a full effort.  Not fun, but it sure feels good to finally be in the house.  After moving around so much it’s extra special to think that this will be the one we plan on staying in for a long time.

I want to thank all those crazy Sounders fans in the ECS!   Thanks for voting me your player of the year.  I had a great time at your function.  Now that I am a member as well, I can say I had a great time at our function. Take ‘em All

I need to get to a concert in the near future.  Most of you probably know I am a big metal fan.  What do you guys think is worth going to see in the next couple of weeks?  That Slayer show looks interesting.

Have a great week, it looks like we might stay dry for a couple of days.

Kasey