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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen has ruled out retirement although he continues to be troubled by lingering ankle problems and may need reconstructive surgery.
“People kind of got the assumption that I was tanking it, was just going to say it’s not worth it doing the surgery,” said Olsen. “I think everybody that knows me knows that I’m a glutton for punishment, and I’ll go through what it takes to get back on the field because I’m not ready. I’m not ready mentally, and I’m not ready physically to hang it up.”
Olsen, who turned 31 last week and hasn’t trained or played this season, his tenth in Major League Soccer, said the signs are pointing toward surgery, and he expects to make a decision sometime in the next couple of weeks to a month.
“We’re going to do it,” said Olsen, “and we’ll do as many as we have to.”
Gallardo a no-go?
There are strong hints that Marcelo Gallardo (groin) will not play Thursday against Chicago. He’s currently listed as questionable along with Fred (hamstring), Devon McTavish (foot-ankle), and Domenic Mediate (hamstring), none of whom practiced fully on Tuesday.
United works on Argentina pipeline
D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper said he has identified possible summer signings after last week’s trip to Argentina with United president and CEO Kevin Payne.
Should Olsen be shut down for the season, United could fill his spot on the team’s 28-man roster, his salary ($177,500) will still count toward the team’s cap.
Informal CBA talks underway
MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league has begun informal discussions regarding a new collective bargaining agreement with the MLS players union. The current CBA expires at the end of the 2009 season, but a long and tense negotiation is expected.
“We’ve begun discussions,” said Garber. “We’ve met once or twice. I formulated a committee with our ownership group. We’ve been getting together casually within that group to discuss the status of our negotiations. This is going to be a long process, and we’ve opened it up early.”
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Comments from Examiner Readers
11:04 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 25, 2008 re: "Economists blast plans for public subsidy to help fund new D.C. United stadium"
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9:57 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008
re: "Economists blast plans for public subsidy to help fund new D.C. United stadium"
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9:17 AM MST on Wed., May. 21, 2008
re: "Bordering on new territory"
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6:31 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 27, 2008
re: "Immigration refined"
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6:58 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
re: "United deep in the heart of Texas"
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12:43 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
re: "Taxpayers to foot $150M of D.C. United stadium costs"
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11:46 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
re: "Taxpayers to foot $150M of D.C. United stadium costs"
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11:32 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
re: "Taxpayers to foot $150M of D.C. United stadium costs"
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10:15 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
re: "United gets the ultimate Valentine’s gift"
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9:27 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
re: "Taxpayers to foot $150M of D.C. United stadium costs"
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10:52 AM MST on Fri., Oct. 12, 2007
re: "United considers stadium site outside D.C."
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10:35 AM MST on Fri., Oct. 12, 2007
re: "United considers stadium site outside D.C."
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6:26 AM MST on Thu., Oct. 11, 2007
re: "United considering stadium site outside D.C."
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5:28 PM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
re: "Red Bulls resurgence not a Cosmos revival"
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10:16 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
re: "United: Time for some action"
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8:30 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 19, 2007
re: "A United market"
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TTT said:
As a fan I am sick of DC Govt and other anti United and its stadium plans. Although I wish there is a way to remain the team in the District, but with their devil spirit, I urge the team to move out of this place. Let hem sit on the empty rotten feild and be miserable forever.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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RSS said:
It is amazing that such irresponsible journalism is tolerated and that reports by agenda-driven groups are presented as fact and without critical analysis or contrary opinions solicited. For starters, any analysis that is worth presenting is based on facts which are utterly lacking and wrong in this case. This facility will be used many more times than the "fewer than 30" used in the analysis. In fact, the number is likely to be more than double the figure provided in the "analysis". So-called analysis that is based on assumptions that are demonstrably off by a factor of nearly 2 is irresponsible. Reporting irresponsible data without analysis is irresponsible reporting. This could have been determined by cursory evaluation of any number of readily-available sources. If the lack of real journalism in this article is representative of the quality of the Examiner, you are in a sorry state, indeed.
11 agree | 6 disagree
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dee said:
TFC is a much better team then D.C united. The only player D.C has that is close to real football material is Emilio. He has had flashes of world class striking, but with D.C shallow depth, he is not receiving the proper service. If D.C has any hopes for this season, they need to keep Moreno on the bench, and play the young guns like Quaranta and Emilio. And focus around Gallardo because he is the root of most of D.C`s goals. Regardless, D.C, can not compare to a revamped Toronto FC. Toronto outskills them by a long shot. But D.C can still hope.
8 agree | 13 disagree
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Cohen said:
The South Americans are bringing class to the league. I can't wait for the new season to start this Saturday!
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Nancy McBeth said:
The city this contest takes place in is named Cibolo not Cebolo. Please correct. Thank you.
9 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Absolutely, totally, completely and inexcusably obscene. Especially in the current economic climate, no municipality, or state for that matter, should be spending public money on sports stadiums owned by people who can afford to build their own facilities. Fix the schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, etc., first.
68 agree | 77 disagree
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Bob in Manassas said:
"If DC United wanted a soccer stadium, it should have done what business people do: ask for a loan from private industry to be repaid with interest." D.C. United did come with a plan and even did the leg work to get the Polar Point land. The catch was the infrastructure support (about $200 mil) for mixed use development similar to what Clark has proposed ... except the Clark project will need $500 million kicked in from the city. I do not know about your math mine says that Fenty is a dope.
72 agree | 69 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Fenty should have told DC United to pay for its own stadium, but that would have required courage and principles. Fenty is not spending his own money nor is Fenty asking that DC residents pitch in; this is the taxpayers money that should be going towards the necessary functions of the city. Essentially we are being coerced into financing this stadium. If you think otherwise, deduct your share for the stadium from your taxes and tell DC you aren't paying for it. You can write to me detailing the success of your defiance from your holding cell. If DC United wanted a soccer stadium, it should have done what business people do: ask for a loan from private industry to be repaid with interest.
89 agree | 73 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
To be honest, the Nats and United belonged in VA. They are the real ones that are floating both teams. Just being honest!
71 agree | 73 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I am glad to see that the Mayor is doing the right thing after screwing United and the groups that did all the work in promoting ACTUAL development in Anacostia. Hell, United won the support of Marion Barry … I do not see how this is a better deal for the city. The city will be putting up twice as much money as McFarlane / AEG initially requested for the Poplar Point site improvements. Not only is the city is to pay more for site improvements but will also plus kick in money for the stadium; sounds like the over pay approach that the city specializes in. Way to go Mayor Fenty ...
69 agree | 69 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Fairfax United? Gimme a break. They're not going anywhere. They're trying to force the issue. What sucks for DC United is that soccer isn't baseball, I'd love if they stayed in DC but nobody is going to the mat to give them a sweetheart deal like the Nats got.
246 agree | 246 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Yes let's have DC United in Northern Virginia where they will be treated better.
240 agree | 233 disagree
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Developersagent.com said:
Its about time someone took a stand in support of Poplar Point & the DC United Stadium besides Marion Barry (whose track record is not the cleanest to say the least). Poplar Point should go to DC United.
403 agree | 267 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Red Bull NY is not tied for MLS's best record, they in fact top the table with 10 points and a plus 5 goal differential, as oppossed to Chicago Fire FC, who sit second with 10 points and a +3 GD.
745 agree | 390 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Carroll should have been yanked last season. “Everybody needs to be held accountable,” Maybe Soehn should take a good look at himself, the past 2 games is about as bad as you can coach a team.
558 agree | 451 disagree
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PJohnson said:
Hey Craig, It is not proper to refer to DC United as "the United". It's not a nickname. It's the club name. Call them DC United, or simply United. Learn it, Live it, LOVE IT!
465 agree | 451 disagree
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