BigShinyBall

Someone in Gastown who spent years trying to sell the "Whitecaps will be like Philadelphia" pitch is punching air right now.

How Vancouver Fans ‘Watched’ the World Series a Century Ago | The Tyee Before games on TV and even live radio, the Playograph drew a downtown crowd.

One hundred years ago this month, unseen operators would move a ball and markers around a contraption known as a Playograph and let thousands of baseball fans “watch” the World Series. ⚾️

As someone with a very canadian interest in Afrifa. Why did he get so few minutes this year?

... has anyone played for all three canadian teams?

Whitecaps free agents as usual mostly on options, but the GK situation is interesting. Takaoka is out of contract in December (not an MLS free agent for reasons) but basically the whole thing is wide open.

Elloumi starts with Rios and White available.

Neither Ocampo nor Tate Johnson? Like people question Tate's age, but usually in the other direction

Union fans thought they had it bad at 7-0, but now they're losing the bike lane comparisons too.

I went to a birthday party at the MoV when I was a kid that had a ventriloquist. I guess if you had 10-20 kids at your wedding they could provide entertainment.

I think there's a very good chance the new CPL team in Quebec will be called Supra. A new trademark application for the name and the old CSL logo was approved in July. The applicant is Angelo Pasto, who is widely rumoured to be in the ownership group. ised-isde.canada.ca/cipo/tradema...

Finally free of the whitecaps orwellian discovery list

SMH no Isambard Kingdom Brunel relation

"We are going through a process with a new ownership group." One group? That would be progress on the ownership front if it's not just an ESL imprecision

NSL Transfer Window Opens July 20 — wsoccer.ca The first summer transfer window in the Northern Super League matters—teams have clear gaps, and a lot of top players weren’t available until now. It’s the first real chance to build out their rosters...

@wsoccerca.bsky.social isn't posting here much, but check out their NSL transfer window article, it's a good primer. www.wsoccer.ca/nsl/nsl-tran...

Can the Whitecaps keep the CPL from the Cup? Talking about some probabilities based on some largely meaningless stats

Since the Canadian Championship Semis got set Wednesday night there's been an obvious narrative building about the CPL's guaranteed final. So I took a statistical look back at the history of CPL vs MLS matches for some almost entirely un-predictive probabilities.
open.substack.com/pub/bigshiny...

OneSoccer just chatin'

On one hand the playoff race will be less exciting if this lasts, but the playoffs themselves (and standings amongst the top 4 going in) should be more interesting. So long as this doesn't all end up in the "38 games and then Forge wins" trope there will be a good narrative

Whitecaps make offer for Canada, Fulham rising talent Luc De Fougerolles Luc De Fougerolles is eyeing first-team minutes to improve his World Cup stock. Might they come in MLS?

Luc De Fougerolles has emerged as one of Canada's up-and-coming talents. And with his contract expiring, interest in the centre-back is increasing.

The Vancouver Whitecaps have made an initial offer to De Fougerolles, @theathleticfc.bsky.social has learned. #CANMNT
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Remember when Richie Laryea played for the Whitecaps, that was crazy

Did you see who was warming up when the game ended without debuts?

Taqueria orinoco got recommended to me enough I thought it was suspicious, but legitimately it was good there's a handful of locations

That was torture, i'm across false creek with the windows open and I heard the goal call a clear 30 seconds before broadcast caught up

OMG THE GOAT's PLAYING

A rough injury blow for #AFCToronto just a week and half into the season as the club confirm that Amanda West has suffered an ACL injury.

West missed out of the club's inaugural match last weekend, and was one of three NWSL loanees signed by the #NSL club.

#CanWNT/#CanXNT

If LAFC want a coach who significantly altered the whitecaps fortunes, they should hire internally; MDS is right there!

Tonight's been a great advertisement for my blog where I make educated guesses that pan out occasionally. bigshinyball.substack.com/p/vancouver-...

Montreal Roses 2025 Season Preview Bilbault! Boychuk! Abdu! Sauvé!

Mintreal has a very difficult roster to talk about in sum, but i e done my best: open.substack.com/pub/bigshiny...

Calgary Wild 2025 Season Preview Moore! Sawicki! Dougherty Howard!

The Calgary Wild start the season on the road next wednesday. Check out the season preview for a review of their roster options and season outlook: bigshinyball.substack.com/p/calgary-wi...

Vancouver Rise 2025 Season Preview Quinn! Di Filipo! Stanton! Spencer!

Season preview's starting out a little over a week from the inaugural game, here's the Vancouver Rise who I expect will be a major force throughout the year: bigshinyball.substack.com/p/vancouver-...

"Three division, 175 teams", more of a mound than a pyramid.