New Look United:

Figuring that the blank jerseys were just plain unlucky, United went out and got themselves a uniform sponsor: Herndon based (well in the US at least) Volkswagen. The Nest Liner has been sitting on this info for quite some time, but to prevent it’s sources from getting waterboarded, or worse, force fed greenish-gray RFK hot dogs, discretion was exercised. The blank ‘This Space for Rent’ jerseys, are likely the worst performing jersey since the old white with red horizontal stripes look from the Chris Albright era.

Courtesy of behindthebadge.com, here’s a look at Fred, Peralta, and Simms (all of whom, according to Fox Soccer Channel, are not related) in the new look uniform:

As you can see, Fred and Clyde have spiffy new shoes, but Gonzalo doesn’t.

With this deal, United secures the first real worldwide recognized uniform sponsor. The only two other ‘real’ companies that sponsor uniforms are pretty much Best Buy (Chicago) and Glidden (Columbus). A Mexican paint company is too obscure, ‘energy’ drinks don’t count, nobody really knows what ‘Herbalife’ really is, and who really trusts a Houston based energy company?

VW will also replace Honda as the league’s ‘official’ auto company, and will do more than just slap their iconic logo on the chest of all United players, through sponsoring a showcase area in the gaping hole in the north end (der Norden?), free parking on Thursday, and free parking for the first few VW’s in Lot 4. In addition to that, VW has first dibs on naming rights to the mythical new United stadium.

It also gives United access to VW owned VFL Wolfsberg, which has got to be a more fruitful endeavor than the ‘agreement’ with Levekusen several years ago.

DC United, this is your life:

Notice anyone familiar over the past couple of weeks? Various members of various MLS Cup Winning United teams were present in matches since the Columbus (Brian Carroll) match. Real Salt Lake brought in, Nick Rimando, and Dema Kovalenko, in addition to old favorites Carey Talley (one of the first victims of the Elliot in the Morning Curse), and color announcer (and all time MLS Best XI Nice Guys) Brian Kamler. Then of course, United visited old ‘friends’ Christian Gomez, and Facundo Erpen on the field in Colorado, while old fan favorite Mike Petke was unfortunately out of the match due to injury. Next up is the Chicago Fire, featuring yet another member of the last United team to win the MLS Cup, Brandon Prideaux, as well as Justin Mapp, whose best contribution to United is that he was part of the trade to bring Dema to DC. But that’s not the end of it, on the 17th, when United travels to lovely Carson, CA to take on Chivas USA, they’ll be facing Alecko Eskandarian (if he’s healthy) and Jesse Marsch.

After that, it’s a pair of home and home games (What is this, the NHL?) against Toronto, but they don’t have any ex-United players on their train-wreck of a roster.

Not feeling the scheduling love:

Thought the first segment of the season offered little to no schedule relief? Well look ahead a little bit. After Thursday’s Chicago game United has a whopping 9 days off (well, without a game, as Tommy Soehn surely has some ideas to fill the time), then what follows is another stretch where United plays FOUR games in TWELVE days…..three of them on the road.

Road to recovery:

Best wishes to Ben Olsen in his ordeal with his ankles. Also, a speedy recovery to DC United broadcaster Dave Johnson’s father who recently underwent a procedure, and as with many folks in the DC soccer community, our thoughts are with Gordon Bradley’s family.