Miami FC Blues 2010 Season Preview

Brian Quarstad over at Inside Minnesota Soccer came up with an idea to create a 2010 USSF Division-2 Pro League Season Preview.
It consists of:

* 12 Teams
* 12 Stadiums
* 12 Coaches
* 12 Previews
* 12 Authors

Best of all is a preview of each team. The previews are written by a representative in each team’s area who, in most cases, writes for an online publication that covers the team.

Here is the portion I wrote (with some help by Brian) about Miami FC:

MIAMI FC BLUES

Founded 2006
Stadium: Lockhart Stadium: Multi-use – Grass (capacity: 18,500)
Conference: NASL
Last season’s record: 8W-12L-10D (9th Place)
Head coach: Victor Pastora (1st Year-former asst. coach)
Key players: Christian Gómez, Zach Kirby, Abe Thompson
Team Website
Roster

by Uncle Ed - Football in Miami and Beyond

After a few years of fielding mediocre teams, 2010 seems to be the year of the Blues. Miami FC General Manager Luiz Muzzi and Fernando Clavijo have brought together an almost new team from last year. It started with the hiring of new coach Victor Pastora, who South Florida fans hope will put this team together with a little magic.

Returning to the team is fan favorite Zach “Beowulf” Kirby, Zach’s MLS career came to a halt as he was released to free up a roster spot for David Beckham on the L.A. Galaxy. Nonetheless, Kirby’s tenacity will be tested on the pitch. Zach is a solid central defender with great vision and a touch of genius that reminisces the great Franz Beckenbauer.

The midfield will be lead by the star signing of 2010, Christian Gómez. Christian will be a true general on the pitch for the Blues, something they lacked in past seasons. The former DC United play-maker was not offered a new contract with MLS this season and their loss is Miami FC’s gain! This veteran of many battles will no doubt infuse his experience to the many young players on the Blues roster this year including former U-20 Guatemalan forward Edward Santilez. But we can’t forget forward Abe Thompson, who spent the last four years in the MLS and recently with the Houston Dynamo. Both Edward and Abe have been in top form this pre-season and Blue’s fans hope to celebrate many of their goals. Vamos Miami!

In the last two months of the 2009 season, Miami FC could conjure up only 1-win with 9-losses and 2-draws. With an improved roster, look for the Blues to be a more competitive team in 2010 which will help this team down the stretch.

To read about the other teams in the league click on the 2010 USSF Division-2 Pro League logo to the top right or go HERE

Vonda Ward

Vonda Ward (born March 16, 1973 in Macedonia, Ohio) is a female boxer who was also a well known NCAA basketball player.

After a broken leg cut her professional basketball career short, Ward turned her attention to boxing.

Ward's boxing debut occurred on January 15, 2000, when she knocked out Faye Steffen in round one at LaPorte, Indiana. Her first four fights all ended in first round knockout wins for Ward.

On April 27, 2000, she met Genevia Buckwalter in New York. Buckwalter became the first fighter to make it out of the first round against Ward, but Ward still won on a second round knockout.

Ward's next five rivals did not make it past the second round, with two first round knockouts and three second round wins. At this point of her career, she had a streak of twelve knockout wins in a row.

On February 2, 2001, she met prospect Kisha Snow as part of the state fair celebrations in Columbus, Ohio. Snow came into the fight undefeated after six bouts, and she and Ward engaged in a four round war, but Ward made Snow her thirteenth straight knockout victim. Then came Carley Pesente, on June 16, at Kansas City, Missouri. Pesente lasted two rounds.

After one more win, Ward challenged for the IBA's world's Heavyweight title on August 16, 2002. Ward became the champion, but saw her knockout win streak gone when she outpointed Monica McGowan in ten rounds at Canton, Ohio.

Ward defended her title successfully with an eighth round knockout over Kathy Rivers on December 6 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland. On March 1, 2003, she and Martha Salazar made their Las Vegas debut, with Ward taking a four round split decision win in a non-title bout.

After one more win, Ward unified her IBA world Heavyweight title with the WIBA's by defeating Salazar in a rematch, held on July 11 in Canton. Ward won by decision.

On May 8, 2004, Ward fought a nationally televised championship bout with Ann Wolfe in Biloxi, Mississippi. At one minute and eight seconds of the first round, Wolfe hit Ward with a right to the chin, leaving Ward motionless on the floor for a few minutes. This first round knockout defeat caused her to lose her title and her undefeated status. Ward had a neck concussion because she hit the canvas with her neck when she fell, and she was hospitalized after this bout.

On December 12, 2004, Ward returned to the boxing ring, knocking out Marsha Valley in four rounds in Cleveland.

Ward's boxing record stands at 22 wins and 1 loss, with 17 wins by knockout.



Statistics
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Nationality United States American
Birth date March 16, 1973 (1973-03-16) (age 37)

Boxing record
Total fights 23
Wins 22
Wins by KO 17
Losses 1
Draws 0
No contests 0

Holly Holm

Holly Holm (born October 17, 1981 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) is a female boxer fighting in the welterweight division.

She currently holds several welterweight titles and is highly regarded as the best female welterweight in the world. She also has been named Ring Magazine female Fighter of the Year, twice in consecutive years in 2005 and 2006. She is a big draw in her home town of Albuquerque having all but 3 of her fights there and one of her fights outside her home state of New Mexico.

In June she became the undisputed welterweight champion and holder of belts from 140 to 154 by defeating former champ Mary Jo Sanders by decision. They fought a rematch on October 17 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, which ended in a draw.



Statistics
Rated at Welterweight
Height 5'8
Nationality United States American
Birth date October 17, 1981 (1981-10-17) (age 28)

Boxing record
Total fights 30
Wins 26
Wins by KO 7
Losses 1
Draws 3
No contests 0

Mary Jo Sanders

Mary Jo Sanders (born January 13, 1974, in Auburn Hills, Michigan) is a female professional boxer. She is also daughter of NFL Hall of Famer, Charlie Sanders.

In a highly anticipated bout with Holly Holm, Sanders hyped for title fight | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press, Sanders lost a dominating decision.

Her record is currently 25 wins, 8 by knockout, with 1 defeat.


Statistics

Rated at Middleweight
Height 5'7
Nationality United States American
Birth date January 13, 1974 (1974-01-13) (age 36)

Boxing record
Total fights 26
Wins 25
Wins by KO 8
Losses 1
Draws 0
No contests 0

Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter and actress.

In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In November 2008, Swift released her second album, Fearless. Fearless and Taylor Swift finished 2008 at number-three and number-six respectively, with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million. Fearless has topped the Billboard 200 in 11 non-consecutive weeks; no album has spent more time at No. 1 since 2000. Swift was named Artist of the Year by Billboard Magazine in 2009. Fearless won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2010.

In 2008, her albums sold a combined four million copies, making her the best-selling musician of the year in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Forbes ranked Swift 2009's 69th-most powerful celebrity with earnings of $18 million. In January 2010 Nielsen SoundScan lists Swift as the top-selling digital artist in music history with over 24.3 million digital tracks sold. To date, she has sold over ten million albums worldwide.


Albums
* Taylor Swift (2006)
* Fearless (2008)

EPs
* Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (2007)
* Beautiful Eyes (2008)

Video albums
* CMT Crossroads: Taylor Swift & Def Leppard (2008)

Jessica Chobot

Jessica Chobot (née Jessica Lynn Horn) is an American on-camera host and staff writer for the website IGN.com.

Jessica Chobot became an overnight internet sensation when a tongue-in-cheek modeling photo of her licking the Sony PSP appeared online in 2005. The photo has been widely parodied since, even appearing on Sony-branded advertising.
Supplementing her love of videogames is an obsession with Japanese culture, specifically anime and manga. In 2006 Chobot was hired full-time by IGN.com to take over hosting responsibilities for the network's IGN Weekly show which is no longer running. Her segments included stand-up introductions as well as "woman-on-the-street" pieces. She now[when?] hosts a daily show entitled , "IGN Daily Fix", the first episode aired March 23, 2009. While Chobot is the main host of the show Fran Mirabella and more commonly Daemon Hatfield have been known to host as well. The show does a weekly Friday giveaway asking questions about random fun video facts, the winner receiving a video game. In addition, she contributes columns, features and reviews and her IGN blog is one of the most visited on the site. Chobot is also a former contributor to FHM UK, Mania.com and has made multiple appearances on G4's "Filter" and "Attack of the Show." She has also hosted a videogame preview segment for Fuel TV’s, “The Daily Habit,” and co-hosts on Lifeskool TV’s, “Gamer’s Dojo.” She also contributes as a weekly guest on Maxim Radio, where she answers caller questions for an hour each Monday.[citation needed]

Chobot has appeared on commercials for ADV’s Anime Network On Demand cable station, lent her likeness to Symbiote Studios Toy Company for two limited-edition anime-style sculptures. In addition, she has modeled for the J!NX female gamers clothing line. In 2006-2007, she co-wrote a sci-fi script with writer/director/creator of Tron, Steven Lisberger, for Soul Code. Current collaborations include an anime-style collectible figurine in development with Symbiote Studios, a representative of JiNX.com women's apparel line. Chobot is also writing the "Ask Jess, Dammit!" blog for Maxim.She was named the 88th most desirable woman of 2008 by AskMen magazine and 14th hottest woman of business 2009 by Business Pundit.

Chevelle Hallback

Chevelle Hallback is a female boxer from Tampa, Florida. Hallback, nicknamed "Fist of Steel", has been featured on television many times, usually fighting the biggest names in the sport. Hallback is among the most recognized female boxers in the world.

Hallback began her professional boxing career on February 21, 1997, beating Connie Plosser by a first round knockout in Miami. In just her second fight, Hallback faced Lucia Rijker, who many considered the best pound-for-pound female boxer in the world at the time. Hallback was defeated by Rijker on March 22, losing by a fifth round technical knockout. Although she lost the fight, Hallback gave Rijker some trouble before Rijker's experience and conditioning edge took over.

After two consecutive wins, she fought for her first world title, and, on February 6, 1998, she became the WIBF's world Featherweight champion by knocking out Bonnie Canino in seven rounds.

In 1999, she only had one fight, which resulted in a non-title defense win. She challenged for her second world title, the IFBA world Jr. Lightweight title, when she faced Doris Hackl on April 26, 2000 in Kenner, Louisiana. Hallback failed to win the title by dropping a ten round majority decision to Hackl. Many people who saw that fight, including the TV commentators, thought Hallback did enough to win the fight. Her next fight was also very important, as she faced Laura Serrano on July 8, 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite having been out of the ring for fifteen months before this fight, Hallback lost a six round majority decision to the Mexican fighter.

Four months later, on November 16, she fought for the WIBA world Jr. Lightweight title, in Austin, Texas, against Snodene Blakeney but had to settle for a 2nd round technical draw when Blakeney was accidentally cut by a headbutt. This was followed by two back to back wins over Brenda Drexel.

After two more wins, including a fourth round knockout of Drexel in their third bout, she challenged Alicia Ashley for the IBA world Jr. Lightweight title, on August 27, 2002, at Savannah, Georgia. Hallback outpointed Ashley over ten rounds.

Her next three bouts were non title affairs, and Hallback won each of them in two rounds or less.

She would have defended her IBA world Jr. Lightweight title for the first time on December 28, 2002, against Layla McCarter in Savannah. McCarter, however, suffered an injury during training one week prior to the fight. The promoters could not find an opponent, and McCarter decided to go on with the fight as scheduled, but the IBA decided it would be another non-title fight. Hallback won by a ten round unanimous decision.

Next, Hallback faced the ex-welterweight champ Mitzi Jeter twice in a row, beating her each time by six round unanimous decisions. On May 31, 2003, she met Britt Van Buskirk, winning by a six round decision, and Brenda Drexel for a fourth time, defeating Drexel by a six round decision.

Her next fight, against Melissa Del Valle, was a long-awaited match-up. Hallback retained the IBA Jr. Lightweight title with a ten round unanimous decision on August 30, and she followed that victory with a first round knockout win over Michelle Ewing.

Her luck ran out, however, when she moved up 10 pounds and 2 weight classes to meet Mary Jo Sanders on May 20, 2004, for the IBA continental Jr. Welterweight title, when she lost a ten round decision to the much bigger Sanders.

Hallback returned to 130 pounds, and back to her winning ways June 4, when she was rematched with Canino, in Oregon. Hallback won by a fourth round knockout.

Her next fight was another rematch, as she was finally able to defend her IBA Jr. Lightweight title against McCarter, on July 2, at San Diego, California. Hallback retained the title by a ten round unanimous decision.

Hallback then travelled to Tokyo Japan, and on March 13, 2005, she beat Emiko Raika by 10 round unanimous decision to win the WIBA Super Featherweight World Title.

On November 18, 2005, in Edmonton Alberta Canada, Hallback won a 10-round unanimous decision over Belinda Laracuente, defending her WIBA title.

Hallback has a record of 25 wins and 4 losses, with 1 draw, and 11 knockout wins.


Data
Nationality United States United States
Date of birth September 3, 1971
Height 1.69 m (5 '7 ")
Featherweight to lightweight

Professional Fighting 36
27 Wins
Wins by KO 11
Loses 6
Draws 2
No decision 1
Designations World champion featherweight WIBF (1998)
World champion WIBA super featherweight (2004-2005)
World champion lightweight IFBA (2008)

Lucia Rijker

Lucia Rijker (born December 6, 1967) is a Dutch professional female boxer, kickboxer, and actress.

Rijker has been dubbed by the press and opponents "The Most Dangerous Woman in the World".[1] She can speak four languages and is a Buddhist, dedicating time daily to meditation and chanting. Her mother was born in the Netherlands and her father is from Suriname.

As of February 2007, she was undefeated in the ring; her boxing record is 17-0 (14 K.O.'s), and her kickboxing record is 37-0 (25 K.O.'s), conquering five world titles in the process. She met her only defeat in October 1994 at an exhibition Muay Thai kickboxing match against male opponent, World Champion Somchai Jaidee of New Zealand (a 2nd-round K.O.).

Rijker has been on the cover of numerous magazines including Inside Kung Fu. As a professional boxer, she has won the WIBF Welterweight Title, and has beaten name fighters such as Marcela Acuña (5th-round K.O.; Acuña was 0-1 going into the fight, and 19-4 as of June 2005), and Deborah "Sunshine" Fettkether (10th-round decision; Fettkether was 8-4-3 going in).

After winning her first 14 fights, but failing to secure a match with Martin, Rijker stepped away from boxing in 1999 to pursue a career in Hollywood. She co-starred as Billie 'The Blue Bear' in 2004's Oscar-winning, female boxer-based film Million Dollar Baby. She was also featured in the documentary film Shadow Boxers. She played a minor role in Rollerball (2002 film) and had a brief cameo in the season 2 finale of The L Word as Dana's trainer. She returned to The L Word in Season 5 as Dusty, Helena's cellmate in prison. Rijker also played a Romulan communications officer in the film Star Trek. Rijker also auditioned for the role of the female terminator in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and was one of three finalists.

She returned to the ring in February 2002, beating Jane Couch (20-4 going in; 25-6 as of December 2004) by decision (8 rounds) on June 21, 2003 for her 16th win. Win number 17 was a 10-round decision over "Sunshine" Fettkether on May 20, 2004.

Rijker and Christy Martin were scheduled to fight on July 30, 2005 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Major U.S. promoter Bob Arum (Top Rank Boxing's head) had made their match the main event of a card (with otherwise male boxing matches) called "Million Dollar Lady". Each woman was guaranteed $250,000 (U.S.), with the winner receiving an extra $750,000. Unfortunately, Rijker would not realize this million-dollar dream. On July 20, 2005, it was announced that she had ruptured an Achilles tendon while training for the fight; recovery time was estimated to be 4–7 months. The match was ultimately cancelled.



Rijker stated that although not retired as a professional boxer, she would only consider one more fight - about with Laila Ali.
She remains busy giving lectures and seminars to athletes and people from all walks of life to perform their best, while still maintaining her top physical form and a strict diet.

Jeannine Garside

Jeannine Garside (born April 14, 1978) is a rising star in the sport of women's boxing. After a long and distinguished amateur career, Garside has made her presence felt as a professional, winning the WIBA Super Bantamweight World Title in just her 4th pro bout.

Garside began boxing as an amateur in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada after seeing Christy Martin fight Deirdre Gogarty on a Mike Tyson undercard in March 1996. Jeannine was the British Columbia champion in 1998 and 1999 and was named British Columbia Boxer of the Year in 1998.

On January 24, 1999, in the 57 kg final of the 1999 Canadian National Championships held in Sudbury, Ontario Jeannine defeated Danielle Bouchard of Quebec by a 5-3 score to win her first national title and earn a place on the Canadian National Women's Boxing team that would soon pit her against some of the best female fighters in the world at her weight.

On December 4, 1999 in the 57 kg final of the 2000 Canadian National Championships at the Sportsplex in Campbell River, British Columbia, Jeannine defeated Michelle Collins of Alberta by an 11-1 score.

Jeannine tore an ACL in her knee during a touch football game in 2000 and this injury required reconstructive surgery. Undeterred, Jeannine returned to the ring and on January 27, 2001 in the 57 kg final of the 2001 Canadian National Championships in Cap-de-la-Madelaine, Quebec, she defeated Wendy Broad of Quebec by an 11-4 score and was voted the tournament's Best Boxer.

Jeannine began boxing at the Border City Boxing Club where Margaret Sidoroff and Josh Canty have trained her since 2001.

At the Canadian National Senior Championships in St. Catharines, Ontario in January 2002, Jeannine won her fourth straight 57 kg national title with an RSC-2 win over Angie Collins of Ontario.

On August 29, 2002 in Kansas City, Missouri Jeannine won a unanimous decision over USA Champion Jennifer Han of El Paso, Texas in the Women's 126 lb division.

On September 2, 2002 in the 126-lb final of the Ringside National Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri, Jeannine knocked out Sharon Gaines of Belleville, Washington, USA in the third round.

Jeannine finished her amateur boxing career with an impressive 40-5 record.

Data
age 31
division featherweight
height 5′ 5½″ / 166cm
nationality Canada

won 8 (KO 3) + lost 3 (KO 0) + drawn 1 = 12
rounds boxed 90 KO% 25

Åsa Maria Sandell

Åsa Maria Sandell (born January 24, 1967) is a Swedish journalist and professional super middleweight boxer.

Sandell was born in Hovsta in Örebro County, and has a university degree in journalism and literature. As of 2004, she lives in Malmö and works as editor at the Culture section at the newspaper Helsingborgs Dagblad, based in nearby Helsingborg. She was European champion in 2000 and has been Swedish champion a few times. She met Laila Ali on December 17, 2005 in the Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, but the judges controversially decided that she had lost on points after five rounds.


data
division middleweight
height 6′ 1″ / 185cm
nationality Sweden

won 6 (KO 3) + lost 3 (KO 2) + drawn 2 = 11
rounds boxed 50 KO% 27.27

Ann Wolfe

Ann Wolfe is a female boxer who held world titles in four different weight classes simultaneously. Wolfe is regarded by many within the sport as the hardest puncher in the history of women's boxing.

Wolfe made her professional debut by beating Brenda Lee Bell by a four round decision. Her first loss came four fights later, when she was knocked out in three rounds by veteran and future world champion Valerie Mahfood.

Wolfe beat Vienna Williams by a ten round decision to win her first world title, the IFBA Jr. Middleweight title. She beat Gina Nicholas by knockout in three to win the vacant WIBA Light Middleweight title. She then proceeded to beat Shirvelle Williams by knockout in one round on a non title bout.

Next was the vacant IFBA world Super Middleweight title, which she picked up by knocking out Marsha Valley in six rounds. She and Valley fought again, this time with the vacant WIBC's version of the title, and Wolfe won by knockout in round ten.

She avenged her defeat against Mahfood by taking the NABA world Super Middleweight title from her with a ten round decision.

On May 8, 2004, she surpassed Henry Armstrong's record of three world titles at the same time in different weight classes, by gaining the IBA world Light Heavyweight championship, knocking out the defending champion, former NCAA basketball star Vonda Ward, at one minute and eight seconds of round one. Ward was taken to the hospital in serious condition due to damage to her neck and head. She recuperated. Television commentators called it "the greatest knockout in women boxing's history".

Wolfe retained her title in a rematch with Valley, by a sixth round knockout.

On July 19, 2005, Wolfe defeated Monica Nunez by a seventh round knockout in Lula, Mississippi.

On August 20, 2005, she defeated Valerie Mahfood by a ten round decision.
Wolfe Knocks Out Vonda Ward

A highly anticipated match took place when Ward defended her title on May 8, 2004, in a nationally televised bout with Ann Wolfe, in Biloxi, Mississippi. At one minute and eight seconds of the first round, Ward was the recipient of a right hand to the chin, which left her motionless on the floor for a few minutes. This first round knockout defeat represented not only losing her title, but also her record as being an undefeated fighter. Ward had a neck concussion because she hit the canvas with her neck when she fell. Having been put on a neck protecting collar and given oxygen with a mask, Ward required hospitalization after this bout, and many that saw it on television called for her retirement.

Wolfe last fought in 2006, knocking out Cassandra Giger and decisioning Lisa Ested. Since then, she has indicated that she is finished with her own boxing, preferring to work as a trainer. For the past several years, Wolfe has been training boxers, including unbeaten rising Middleweight prospect James Kirkland.

Data
birth date 1971-01-17
division super middleweight
height 5′ 9″ / 175cm
nationality United States

won 24 (KO 16) + lost 1 (KO 1) + drawn 0 = 26
Height 1.75 m (5 '9 ")
rounds boxed 115 KO% 61.54

Natascha Ragosina (Natalia Yurievna Ragozina)

Natalya Yuryevna Ragosina is a Russian boxer.

Ragosina won the 1996 and 1998 European Championship in kickboxing. In 1999 she switched to boxing in 2001 and was world champion at middleweight in 2002 and 2003 European champion.

It was in Germany in 2004 with Sport Events Steinforth professional at super middleweight and will be trained by Torsten Schmitz. In July 2005 they defeated the famous American woman Valerie Mahfood on points. Laila Ali, her dream target respondent was able to defeat Mahfood twice prematurely.

29 October 2005 Ragosina won the vacant world title and defended it the WIBF been four times now she is in possession of the title of the WBA and GBU. Ragosina is geführt.Stand in the independent computer ranking as the number one Professional boxing record of their weight class in March 2008

On 25 May 2007 Ragosina met her former opponent Dakota Stone, against which they had already won. Ragosina Dakota Stone suggested by points, and defended her title for the fifth time a fight against Laila Ali was sought. The management of Ali has rejected the offer of 1.2 million dollars. The reason is that boxing is not currently fit into their career and family planning. On 15 December 2007 in Dessau Fountain defeated Ragosina Akondaye unanimously on points and is now reigning world champion in the five associations WIBF, WBA, WIBA, WBC and GBU.


On 15 March 2008 Natasha Ragosina won by a unanimous points verdict to your five belts have 2 new belts (IWBF and WIBC added) and has set a new record. She is now 7-times world champion at super middleweight. 28 March 2009, she fought against Iva Weston of Trinidad & Tobago and won the battle for abortion in the sixth round.


Last Ragosina fought on 3 July 2009 against the US-American Laura Ramsey and clearly won on points. It was Ramsey's first defeat in a professional fight.

Data
Weight Class Super Heavyweight
Nationality Russian
Size 1.81 m

Fight
21 fights
Victory 21
Knock-out victory 12
Losses 0