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A worker digs up the field at RFK, as construction crews turn the surface into a full time soccer stadium. — Andrew Harnik/Examiner
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - After nearly three seasons of enduring the seams of a baseball diamond in the middle of D.C. United’s soccer field, Ben Olsen is treating his first game on this week’s newly installed playing surface like Christmas.
“I’m assuming it looks sharp and looks great,” said Olsen. “But I’m going to wait until game time to check it out.”
With an entirely new grass field — “It’s a thick-cut sod with a synthetic backing, so you can play right away,” said United general manager Dave Kasper — RFK Stadium’s transition back to only hosting soccer is almost complete. The baseball foul poles are nearly all that remain of the Washington Nationals’ former home.
“It’s nice to have our own place,” said United president Kevin Payne. “We’re pretty excited about having a field back that’s a soccer field. We’re a team that likes to play with the ball on the ground so it’s better for us. The better the field is, the better it is. It’ll be nice to not have the baseball inlay, real nice.”
Moreno to miss Chicago match
Jaime Moreno said two weeks ago he wasn’t concerned about maintaining his all-time scoring lead over Chivas USA forward Ante Razov. However, having been called up to the Bolivian national team for World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Colombia, Moreno will miss United’s match against Chicago this weekend and will be able to do little but monitor the scoreboard.
“He’s got to score three more goals to catch me,” said Moreno after scoring his 112th Major League Soccer goal two weeks ago against Toronto. “I just go game by game. Look at the table. Look at where we are [in first place in the Eastern Conference]. That’s all I care about.”
Ravoz, who didn’t play last weekend, is three goals behind Moreno at 109. Chivas plays Thursday at Dallas.
Comments from Examiner Readers
4:00 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008 re: "Many cops on brutality watch list work in most violent D.C. districts"
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8:41 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008
re: "Many cops on brutality watch list work in most violent D.C. districts"
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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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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
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5:28 PM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
Thank You for explaining how that PPMS system works. The Examiner failed to explain the system. I have some good cops in my neighborhood who are afriad to say anything to the drug dealers on my corner because they can not afford any more complaints. One MPD captain told me that their system of reporting police complaints is flawed with problems. The cops that I mentioned already been hire by another police department, when I mentioned it to the same captain because they left, he said yea they are all leaving, like it was nothing.
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Today I'm disappointed with the Examiners reporting. This is very lazy reporting, the writer fails to explain how the system really works, I blame the editors for this. The system you are reporting on cannot be explained in a paragraph. The system is called Personnel Performance Management System (PPMS) it automatically assign a pre-disposition point value to all complaints against officers & some job related activity including (missing court 10 pts, use of force hand strike 25 pts, vehicle pursuit 25 pts, civil law suit filed against an officer 25 pts, and tardiness 15 pts). 100 points trigger the automatic review that is being discussed in the article. In most cases that officer is forced to participate in some type of re-training/corrective action before these allegations are investigated and a determination made that the alleged misconduct acutally happened. This system protects the officers who do nothing and punish the workers. As constituted the system discourages work.
7 agree | 4 disagree
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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.
9 agree | 10 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.
14 agree | 10 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.
12 agree | 17 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!
13 agree | 12 disagree
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Nancy McBeth said:
The city this contest takes place in is named Cibolo not Cebolo. Please correct. Thank you.
14 agree | 12 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.
73 agree | 81 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.
76 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!
75 agree | 78 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 ...
73 agree | 73 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.
250 agree | 250 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Yes let's have DC United in Northern Virginia where they will be treated better.
244 agree | 237 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.
407 agree | 271 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.
749 agree | 394 disagree
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