All Your Dreams Can Come True in Norway

So I have a few more players I need to mention that happen to be in pro training camps this week.
In my last post I hinted at a certain goalkeeper being abroad. That would of course be the Rat Tail, the Stonewall, none other than Mr. Steve Clark, who is currently on trial in Norway with Nybergsund IL. Additionally, Real Salt Lake has filed a Discovery claim on Steve so if he comes back stateside, he could potentially join Bucks teammate Dave Hertel in RSL training camp.

A little closer to home, attacking midfielder Nate Jafta is currently in training camp with the Chicago Fire. We figured that the Fire PDL team is sick of having to face Nate during our season. The Bucks are after all 5-2-1 against Chicago the last three years and haven't lost to the Boys from Bridgeview since 2006... Who could blame them?

Finally, Lake Orion native Billy Weaver is set to trial with the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division in a couple weeks. The Bucks staff were able to hang out a bit with the Thunder front office while at the USL Annual General Meeting this past November and they couldn't have been a cooler bunch. Some might remember that Minnesota is the home to former Bucks defender Kevin Taylor who anchored the backline here from 2002-2005.

With the three players above, the Bucks now have 9 alumni trialing with professional teams this week or in the near future. We hope the best for all of them as they look to take the next step in their careers.

Now I guess I need to give a score for the Big Game, but to be honest I don't follow the NFL at all and Kyle will tell you I'm poor at picking results of any game. With that said, I like Cinderella stories, so I'll say:

Arizona 27, Pittsburgh 21.

Enjoy your weekend.

Why Can't Soccer Have "Friday Night Lights"

So I recently started getting into this show called Friday Night Lights. I am sure it has nothing to do with Minka Kelly (see below) who is one of the lead roles, but more because it is a good show and of course it ties sports into it. Usually that is enough to draw me in.

The show is about a high school football team in Texas. As most of you are probably aware of, football is the lifeblood of most young men in Texas. We have seen movies that showcase the idea of nothing else exists except football in Texas. We all remember those Wes Canaan Coyotes and James VanderBeek as the heartthrob quarterback. And in all actuality Texas does love their football, they take the game very seriously have produces a lot of talented football players over the years. And the idea that the town would shut down on Friday night, so everyone could go to a football game. That's not so far from reality in Texas. So what am I getting at?

Well, the other night when I was watching the show, I just couldn't help but wonder if we would ever reach a time where soccer becomes the thing to do. Sure in other places, such as England, Spain, and Italy, everything does stop when its time to watch a game. But does anyone truly think that soccer could reach a level like Texas football. Just imagine the idea of a community rallying around a soccer team, and the soccer players on the high school team with the big signs in the front yard. Personally, I don't know if soccer could ever be the new "Friday Night" activity. Can't hurt to dream right.

Streak Meter
Well once again it is time for me to give my update on where I stand on my 27 consecutive correct picks to win a million dollars. Unfortunately I am sitting at 0 once again. I know, I know, I was at 0 the last time I wrote, and yes, I did make some picks in between there. However I have hit a bit of a rough patch.
Kyle's Streak - 0

Super Bowl
As we head into the weekend everyone is preparing for the big game. I will be watching the game with some friends and hoping that the score lands on my squares. So because of the game this weekend, for my clip of the day, I thought I would leave you with a commercial from last years game.
Click for commercial
Enjoy the weekend everyone.

Kyle Karns
President of Operations

DAVID BECKHAM DAVID BECKHAM DAVID BECKHAM

Ok, now that I have gotten all of your attention.....let's chat shall we? Today I think I'll list a few topics on my mind and I'd like to know what you all think.

First off, all this David Beckham talk. Blah blah blah, who cares!!! I am sick of hearing about this guy. He seems to always be in the headlines -- which is cool if you like that sort of thing -- but never for the right reasons. It's always contract talks, changing clubs, and making appearances. Just once I want to hear about him going out and scoring two goals or making a great defensive play. I'll tell you right now; I'm a stud and I'm not making headlines. Maybe I should start making appearances around town and someone will give me a lot of money. I'll tell you what right now. I would have made a better show at the Australian Open than Novak Djokovic. I'm not saying I would have beaten Roddick, but I would have put on a better show.

Secondly, if any of you out there could tell me what it takes to finally get some good packing snow around here... I mean why is it that all I want to do is make a snowman with my girlfriend and Mother Nature has become one jealous lady? If anyone, and I mean anyone out there could clue me in on what it takes. Whether it is the weather conditions, the snow, or a miracle please let me know. The original plan was to build a 10 foot igloo but so far it has been a no go.

Lastly, if you didn't get Jeff's amazing Insider earlier, the 2009 Bucks schedule was released today at 12 noon. A very big deal for us around here. It looks like we had a good draw this year. The excitement in the office is at its peak thus far this year. Not that the Steve Clark appearance wasn't great. Looking forward we feel we have a great chance to do some very good things again in 2009.

I hope to see you all out there this year.

Brad Jakubiec

Alumni in Preseason

As MLS training camps opened over the last week, we've realized there are a number of Bucks alums currently in camp with MLS teams.


The two all Bucks fanaticos should know about are Doug DeMartin and Mike Holody who were taken in the MLS SuperDraft almost two weeks ago by Kansas City and Colorado respectively. The Bucks have maybe the most rooted ties to these two MLS teams seeing as the Wizards have drafted more Bucks then any other MLS side with 6, one in each of the last 6 years. Currently DeMartin is in camp with former college and Bucks teammate Rauwshan McKenzie (2005-2006) as well as Aaron Hohlbein (2004). In addition, Bret Jacobs, currently the youth director with the Colorado Rapids was the assistant to Dan Fitzgerald from 2006-2007.

Lets check out the other Bucks in camp:

Dave Hertel is in Utah, training with Real Salt Lake, who filed an MLS Discovery claim on the defender. After having an excellent combine, Hertel was surprisingly not selected in the draft, but RSL Manager Jason Kreis was impressed enough to bring him out west to compete for a spot. Addtionally Ty Shipalane was invited to Columbus, after obviously having impressed the Crew coaching staff in the three matches the Bucks played with their sister team in 2006 and 2007.


Bucks 2007 backliner, Eric Brunner, who was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in 2008 after having a stellar senior season with Ohio State is back in camp this year after spending the last season with Miami FC of the USL First Division. You may remember Brunner was initially signed by Red Bull, but was asked to take a significant pay cut after the team acquired Andrew Boyens from Toronto FC just before the season began. Before joining the Blues, Brunner was able to play for the US U-23's at the Toulon Tournament in France, where he scored a goal, in preparation for the Olympic games.

Two-year Bucks veteran, Kyle Veris (2001, 2005) is back stateside after spending last season with IL Hodd of the Norwegian Second Division. Veris, another Bucks and Buckeyes defender, played for the LA Galaxy from 2006-2007 and is currently in camp with DC United.

Additionally a number of other Bucks are looking at possible trials with MLS and USL teams, including a certain outspoken goalkeeper who is not currently in the country... We may hear from him soon, so keep watching the 14 Point Blog. Also, watch tomorrow as the Michigan Bucks 2009 Regular Season Schedule will be released.

First Day!!

It is always exciting getting started on the first day at a new job and today is no exception. For most of you who don’t know who I am, my name is Brad DeLange and I am the new Director of Business Development for the Michigan Bucks Organization. My past is one of many experiences, but for the most part I have been in real estate sales and marketing for the past 5 years. I specialized in new homes and land development. The last company that I was with was a great company based out of Houston,TX called LGI Development. While at LGI part of my duties were to market and sell 1-2 acre custom homesites on a 2,000 acre piece of property in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This was an incredible experience for me and while economically things didn’t work out, I feel that I was able to learn a great deal from this experience and hope to expand on my experiences here with the Bucks.

Outside of my business career soccer has always had a big part of my life. I have been playing soccer ever since I was 4 or 5 and have had some great experiences winning 3 State Championships in high school, traveling all over the country with my club team, and playing 2 years on the ODP team here in MI. Since high school I have been playing on men’s leagues and more have gotten more than one black eye (for those who have played on a men’s league you know what it’s like). J/K!!

While sports and business have been a lot of fun for me my real pride and joy is my family! I have been married to my beautiful wife, Kellie, for almost 8 years and we have two incredible children. Halle(7) and Parker(18mo.). Halle is in first grade and she loves to read and do cheerleading and gymnastics.

Parker is all about sports! Any type of ball is his favorite toy and he will sit down and watch football for hours. Both of them are great Kids and I love them very much!!!

Hopefully this gives you a brief look at me and my family; I am extremely excited about this opportunity here with the Bucks and can’t wait to meet all who are involved. Let’s make this one of the most successful seasons ever!!!

Brad DeLange
Director of Business Development