Lion Links: 2/9/18

Happy Friday, everyone! The long off-season is getting closer to coming to an end with the Lions playing another preseason game tomorrow and the first game of the season just 22 days away. Let us help kick off your weekend with some fresh Lion Links.

The Good and the Really, Really Bad

As the season gets closer, more and more teams are revealing their jerseys for 2018. Yesterday, the Colorado Rapids produced a new video featuring their new jersey. It’s actually quite nice, staying away from anything over the top, and prominently featuring their primary colors.

While the Rapids appear to have a classy jersey in 2018, the new Las Vegas Lights went in the opposite direction. Apparently, they’re trying to scare everybody to get their attention. A couple of days ago, players came out for a player incentive announcement in bathrobes. Today, they came out with something possibly more disturbing; their 2018 jersey. When the neon jersey is lifted over their head, a smiley face with confetti appears. I guess that says Vegas somehow?

Orlando City Stadium Nominated

Orlando City announced yesterday morning that Orlando City Stadium has been nominated for Stadium of the Year by Stadium.DB.com. The stadiums nominated represent several sports and are from all around the world. According to the club, it’s the largest competition of its kind in the world. Fans can vote to choose five of their favorite stadiums, with the voting ending on March 5 at 6 p.m. The decision will also include a jury vote. In addition to Orlando City Stadium, two other American stadiums were nominated; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, and Sonny Lubick Field at Colorado State Stadium in Fort Collins, CO.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Schedule Announced

FIFA announced the dates for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in France. The opening match will be held in Paris and the semifinals and final held in Lyon. The U.S. women’s team is expected to qualify (unlike the men) and be a favorite to retain its title.

Your U.S. Soccer Election Guide

Jeff Carlisle, a veteran soccer writer who covers the national program for ESPN, has produced an updated version of his U.S. Soccer election guide. This article provides some good info on each candidate, as well as their chances of winning. If you want to keep up with all the news regarding the next president of U.S. Soccer, this is a good place to start.

Alex Morgan Fan in Texas

While not a big story, this cute article is about a 10-year-old soccer player in McKinney, TX, named Sophie Beracochea. She dreams of one day wearing the national team jersey of Venezuela, the birth country of her father. The article states that she has two idols, Alex Morgan and Venezuelan star, and current Florida State Seminole, Deyna Castellanos.

Standing Up Against AntiSemitism

We all know racism is a big problem in European soccer, and a fourth-tier club in Germany is fighting back. Babelsberg is refusing to pay a fine from their local league after a chant aimed at Energie Cottbus fans last April. The story is worth the read.

Well, that’s all we have for you today. We hope this soccer-related reading material helps get you into the weekend. Keep with The Mane Land for all the news and opinions about the Lions and Pride as the 2018 season approaches.