Wanted to drop everyone a line and say “Happy New Year”

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

Just wanted to take a quick second to say Merry Christmas to everyone. What a great year it has been!
Happy Holidays and be safe!
Kasey

When: 12/19 from 12:30 – 3:30
    12:30-2:00 at Olympia Nissan
    2:00-3:30 Olympia Chrysler Jeep Mitsubishi
Where: located in Olympia Auto Mall at 2220 Carriage Drive SW, Olympia WA 98502

Hey everybody,

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

Hey Everybody,

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

Secret Log In behind Kasey’s back. Kasey Keller is celebrating his birthday today. Drop him a birthday note!

Getting ready to goto a Emerald City Supporters event. I wanted to post one more hint for another scarf. We will be finishing up the scarf hunt tomorrow. 2 more hints…..so for the last Bud Light Sounders FC scarf today. The hint is, this is a great place by the stadium, great seafood, and I am doing a signing there tomorrow before the MLS Cup.

Off to Fuel for Emerald City Supporters event. What a season!

Kasey

So I have placed another scarf, great sports bar, this one is in Pioneer square, and also home of the Emerald City Supporters event this evening.

Stay tuned and see you at the MLS Cup tomorrow.

Kasey

When in Belltown, this place has great food, plays great soccer, and always has a cold Bud Light. They are known for a quality Sunday brunch and Ive heard have a great bloody mary bar………….could be Irish…….keep the comments coming and stay tuned for more updates

So, you know I am a big fan of Irish Bars that play soccer. Well if I am on the east side this is my favorite place to watch a game. Always leave with a few extra coins in my pocket. Thanks again to Bud Light, I am having a blast with the scarf hunt!

Hello again!
Here is the hint for the 2nd location, remember first one to ask for the scarf gets to keep it!

Where in Belltown can you grab a Bud Light, a burger with sweet potato french fries and watch a ton of sports?

Hey Everybody,

Here is my hint for the first location: When in Post Alley at Pike Place, where do you go to watch futbol, drink some Bud Light and eat Irish fare? First one to ask for the scarf gets it!