Pablo Maurer

@jodyavirgan.com my favorite historical marker (re: most recent pod episode) is this deeply petty one for… stew… that I spotted in VA. I love the pride/pettiness… “other states have made the claim… but virginia’s is the first.”

Dying at this text from my ex-gf, who witnessed me cover DC for a decade

Even when I came to DC in 2006, the club had a special place in this community and felt very much rooted in the present - and still played attractive soccer every now and then. Here’s to hoping the club can truly reconnect with THAT aspect of its past.

Good to see DC United reconnecting more with its history on its socials, etc. I mean that. Thing is - if you’re largely irrelevant in the present, and consistently bad on the field, that stuff rings hollow or can even come across as a smokescreen, or desperate.

Recent addition: match-worn Peter Roe @tampabayrowdies.bsky.social kit from 1986. This is from their post-NASL, American Indoor Soccer Association days but it is still absolutely gorgeous. Among the most iconic brands in American soccer history.

DC set to announce this move officially later this AM. Stay tuned.

Can confirm Tom’s (as always) excellent reporting - Swiss manager René Weiler will take the helm at DC United.

The Lesesne move has been on the table for months, as DC have had convos with a number of candidates all summer.

An update on Clover. I reached out to Karen today. He's either returning to her barn every night for a snack or just rambling around happily on her property! This made me cry today, honestly. Ha.

It’s my 45th birthday today! 44 was ok, by and large. Learned to love myself better and loved others better too. My goal for 45 is to learn how to smile. Don’t hold your breath.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS BEEN POISONED BY A LIGAMX SQUAD, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION

The Vancouver stuff is preposterous and plays right into stupid stereotypes that many folks in the States have about folks in Mexico. They made a huge deal out of bringing their own chefs, etc - they get sick days after the final? Then go public? Cmon. You got trounced.

Final day for me on @golazoamerica.bsky.social's Morning Footy!

Tune in to hear more "analysis" from me and more importantly to see what I pull out of my chest of American soccer history...

Today on @golazoamerica.bsky.social, I was please to be able to teach the next generation (USMNT/Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards) about the beauty of the Landon Donovan water fountain photo (with an assist from @alytrostmartin.bsky.social).

The kids are alright!

Forgot to tell y'all yesterday but I'm on Morning Footy, on
@golazoamerica.bsky.social all week! 8-10ET.

Brought some treats along as well from my collection of dumb American soccer shit. Tune in if you'd like!

TIL: The Detroit Express hold the record for the largest margin of victory, ever, in a modern, top-flight American soccer league.

They destroyed the San Jose Earthquakes 10-0 in 1978, with British phenom Trevor Francis scoring five goals.

Sometimes I get depressed about the state of 🇺🇸 soccer but then I learn that there’s a 4th div team named the Twin City Toucans (they play in Bryan, TX obviously) that plays their games at a stadium named EDIBLE FIELD and whose mascot is (for now) “nameless toucan with 6 pack”

Was thrilled to participate in Paramount+'s Christian Pulisic docuseries - the latest two episodes just dropped today.

As always, terrifying to see myself on camera - but I'm always thrilled to talk about American soccer.

Watch the series here: paramountplus.com/shows/pulisic/

Having done a dozen or more of these Miami games in person, I feel entirely comfortable saying that Philly treats Messi with less reverence than any other MLS crowd. Legendary sports fans, obviously, and some of the only who actively boo him at almost all times.

Watching the Galaxy this year is giving me 2013 DC United flashbacks. The Galaxy are nowhere near that bad, though. *shivers*

I’m off today but decided I’d throw my F5 and Mamiya 7 in a bag and shoot a game on film for for first time in a few years. Let’s see how it goes. Holler if you see me! 😆

A panoramic view of Subaru Park, outside of Philadelphia, ahead of tonight’s match between the Union and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

👋👋👋👋

Listen, anybody who cares about soccer - football, whatever you want to call it - does not give a shit about Gianni Infantino being interviewed by “iShowspeed.” Even typing that was painful.

True story: I pitched an oral history of this multiple times at The Athletic. When they finally bit, I couldn’t convince the involved parties to participate 😂. One described it as the worst day of their professional career - I can imagine, for sure.

Wait, NFL players eat how many Uncrustables?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/585...

Strong stuff from Felipe (and I agree with him wholeheartedly.) 👀

honestly like what even is reality anymore

Posted this same thread on X. 277k likes, 32mil views, 17,000 RTs. It was quickly swarmed by cryptobros who set up a "memecoin" based on it - then my DMs got slammed w/people trying to scam me, and (really) two dudes asking for pics of my feet (they are visible in my profile photo.) Please kill me.

Think my thought process here was fairly simple - I assumed they’d have to euthanize him. I also thought that if the last thing he experienced was an act of love and kindness from a stranger, that was much better than dying alone on the road. ❤️

The happy end: Karen cut him loose recently. He has the run of her property in the woods now.

I only ever named him the day before he was released - a friend suggested “Clover,” because we were both so lucky to have found each other. ☘️ A few weeks later, I stuck him on my leg.

Over the next month or so, Karen kept our little guy in an enclosure in her barn, with several other raccoons. Miraculously, he made a near full recovery. I had assumed his back was broken - I was wrong. I returned a couple of times to see him. I am so grateful to Karen, truly.