While most World cup fans enjoyed their experience at bars or other locations, the Community Boating Center provided a twist to the sport on the water called kayak soccer.

Looked at those games last Friday. SEA won 2x on road in between, 10 of 11 same starters (Lodeiro replaced Fredy). POR made 2 changes, one being the keeper. Inexplicable. Then again, we're talking about human beings, and sometimes the biggest variable resides between the ears.

#OTD 2025 – Crossfire Premier boys' teams collect 3 ECNL national championships in Richmond, Va., and set a record with 4 altogether for 2025. XF takes U13, U14, U17 and, earlier, U18/19.

#OTD 2018 – Second-half goals from Celia Delgado & Pascale Dumensil deliver WPSL championship to Seattle Sounders Women in 100-degre Norman, Ok. After Georgia Cloepfil finds Celia for 55' go-ahead header. In added time Dumensil makes it 3-1. Seattle goes 10-0-1.

#OTD 2009 – Stephen King scores in 5th minute of overtime to give Sounders 2-1 comeback win over Houston in U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Starfire before 4,895. Nate Jaqua sends match into OT in 89th minute.

Seven in 10 survey respondents in 11 World Cup cities said their dating lives improved during the tournament. Seattle led the pack, with 8 of 10 respondents saying the World Cup made the Emerald City more fun to date in. www.seattletimes.com/life/culture...

I'd settle for a Wilkens, Watts or Haywood Sonics warm-up from a game vs KC-Omaha. Question is: Who in Blazer Nation donated the warm-up to thrift store or was it an estate clear-out? www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...

'Investing in your broadcast becomes considerably easier when you’re buying rights for 33 cents on the dollar and then being gifted hundreds of millions in hydration-break-related revenues.' awfulannouncing.com/fox/excellen...

With attendance on decline, Kitsap Pumas owner Robin Waite ceases club operations after 10 seasons. Bremerton club began as USL Premier Development League franchise, then moved to National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2017. Only 150 attended final home game.

#OTD 2011 – Record PNW soccer crowd, 67,052, sees Sounders-Man United friendly. Premier League champs run rampant on Seattle reserves in 2nd half for 7-0 outcome. Says Ryan Giggs: "We've been told that Seattle fans are the best in the MLS, and I think we witnessed that tonight."

#OTD 2003 – Seattle Hibernian Saints win first women's national championship in resounding fashion in Milwaukee. Gina Brewer puts Saints ahead for good in 45th minute as they go on to defeat New York United 6-2 in U.S. Amateur Soccer Association final.

#OTD 1996 – Kasey Keller backstops U.S. in Olympic Games meeting with Argentina before 83,183 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Al. Keller, one of 3 overage selections, starts all 3 matches. Americans, after losing 3-1 to eventual gold medalists, go 1-1-1. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iERU...

#OTD 1985 – Highline Pepsi Stompers take 3rd place at girls' U19 national consolation final, 4-1 over Busch Select of St. Louis.

While I'd read of Kevin Keegan during his Liverpool days, it was his Hamburg run where I first saw him play, when he buzzed about and scored, on Soccer Made in Germany. So when he came to Seattle with Southampton in 1981, having him sign his book was a big deal. Bless his soul.

Beyond handling his situation with grace, his tenacity is something to model in the face of adversity. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcKW...

What will we remember? England-France. Who won it? Zzzzzzzpain. .

Fifteen minutes to go, 225 played in two World Cup finals played on American soil: No goals.

Luis de la Fuente working over Chalamet to see if it’s ok to turn up the attack a notch

In case you were wondering about cup finals previously played in the Meadowlands on this date…

OTD 2024 – At 16 years, 337 days midfielder Ainsley McCammon signs to become youngest player in Seattle Reign history. She makes her pro debut in same day in the Summer Cup against Utah Royals, a 2-1 win. McCammon, one of three teens signed during 2024, goes on to play in 4 matches.

#OTD 2017 – Cristian Roldan gets go-ahead 78' goal as Sounders wipe-out 3-nil deficit in 2nd half to beat D.C. United,4-3. Seattle plays final 2 minutes of regulation and 4 minutes of stoppage time with 10 men after Nicolas Lodeiro is sent off.

#OTD 2003 – Kasey Keller goes to the top of America's shutout list as USMNT downs Cuba 5-0 in Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals in Foxboro, Ma. Landon Donovan scores 4 goals. Keller surpasses Tony Meola with his 33rd clean sheet and 5th in a row.

#OTD 1981 – Second-half burst of 3 goals erases 2-nil deficit and Sounders hang draw 3-3 draw at NY Cosmos to win Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup. Kevin Bond scores twice and Steve Daley adds final goal, giving Seattle trophy on tournament on goals scored.

Honestly, my naked eyes actually caught a glimpse of the trophy being raised a few sections over, glistening in the the Pasadena sun. But the big screen definitely helped.

Geez, I hope the Khosla family is watching this and envisioning the Hawks, Sounders and Reign playing on grass permanently. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuzJ...

FIFA raised World Cup payouts by 50% over Qatar. Winners get $50M payout, runners-up $33M. Compare that to Gold Cup ($1M/$500k) and MLS Cup (4300k/$150k).

How many cities will now go all-in for future World Cup 3rd-place matches? Standing O for this one.

Highest scoring 3rd place WC game since 1958 (France 6:3 W. Germany)

Bulgaria's Stoichkov was gunning for outright golden boot in '94 3rd-place match; Sweden swamped them 4-0. Mbappe could be on similar storyline. Given France's porous defense, if he comes off bench, Kane may have a chance at GB.

Halftime history tidbit: Fishel's penalty and Mercado's goal both at same end of field where Pelé headed home in his 1975 Cosmos (friendly) debut. Ichan Stadium was built on same footprint of Downing Stadium, which hosted past iterations of Sounders, in '74 and '95.

#OTD 2007 – Sounders send MLS Chivas USA out of U.S. Open Cup 3rd round, 3-1 at Qwest Field. Sebastien Le Toux scores 2 goals and Roger Levesque adds third.

#OTD 1993 – Murphy’s Pub of Seattle claims U.S. Amateur Cup behind 2 goals from Jason Dunn, beating Scott Gallagher (STL) 2-1 at Indianapolis. Dunn, who scored 4x in 7-3 semifinal victory over NY Hota Bavarians, is named finals MVP.

#OTD 1978 – Mountlake Terrace boys hope for Guinness Record Book recognition after 43-hour match that lasted from 10am on Friday to 8:30am Sunday at Evergreen Playfield. Twenty-two players play, without substitution. Guinness Record is 42 hours, 6 minutes. Final score: 214-191.

Maybe this opens floodgates for Fishel scoring.

#OTD 1926 – Sir Thomas Lipton, Scottish entrepreneur, sportsman and tea merchant, donates sterling silver trophy to Washington State FA, to be presented annually to Seattle's youth champions. Trophy valued at $1500 in 1926, slightly more than average American household income.

Sounds like a candidate for center mid in division D of corec.

It seems inevitable, but there's always someone or something that's makes it – permanent grass in NFL (and MLS/NWSL co-tenant) stadia – happen in the end. Will catalyst be a combo of World Cup+NFLPA? www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Stuff happened. Yet before first kick came the Circle of Legends induction, and recognizing those 3 pillars – Gabriel, Schmid, Keller – following the '74 team, was done impeccably. Meant a lot to the families, and Danny's call and response gave goosebumps to fans & recipients.

#OTD 2023 – Crossfire Premier comes from behind to win ECNL boys' U15 championship in Henrico, Va. Just before halftime, Zachariah Hume ties it with California's Slammers FC at 1-1. Justin Chen scores at 60' to grab lead, and Bruno Perversi cinches victory, 3-1, at 80'.

#OTD 2002 – Sounders nearly pull off U.S. Open Cup 3rd round upset of MLS San Jose Earthquakes before 1,275 at Interbay Stadium. Quakes prevail 4-3 as Ronnie Ekelund's penalty forces overtime, where Ariel Graziani finishes rebound after Preston Burpo parries Dwayne DeRosario.

#OTD 1988 – John Hamel scores twice in final 20 minutes at San Jose win to clinch WSA regular season title for FC Seattle (10-2), 3-1. Hamel tallies from short range at 71' and converts a rebound at 89'. Game is played in 105-degree heat.

#OTD 1976 – Sounders establish a new NASL season attendance record with 3 home dates remaining. Nearly 26,000 see 1-0 victory over San Antonio. Seattle has approximately 10,000 season ticket holders and eventually totals 285,941 for season, an average of 23,828.

Vancouver and Seattle are separated by 140 miles, and apparently 60-70% mark-up on World Cup concessions. www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

Yeah, but how about the Joy of Six? Pass it on. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNYp...

True story: STH renewals hit inboxes today, and last time Sounders lost by 4 at home (0-4, LAG, 2010), STHs got their money back.

Those who were here both tonight and July 6, rooting for the home side, are experiencing a house of pain.

Good it’s in large type so visitors from yonder can read it and weep.

Truck hailing this giant bag of chips to the stadium lost its load - and didn’t realize it. These guys gave chase. All that and a bag of chips.

I always love a back story, especially when it involves a critter with whom I once posed before a lens. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

A one-of-a-kind, Class of 2026 Bobblehead Semi-Circle of Sounders Legends. #TBT