Lion Links: 3/4/19

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! The season is underway, and if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that PRO gonna PRO. Still, it’s hard to be too upset after the team came back from the 2-0 deficit at the half. Make sure you go check out the coverage from the match, if you missed anything. As I write this article, I’m keeping an eye on the tornado warning that has decided to descend upon Tallahassee. So much fun. Now, let’s get to the links!

The Lions Who Shined Brightest

There were plenty of Lions that performed well in Saturday’s comeback draw with New York City FC. Designated Players Dom Dwyer and Nani both gave a glimpse into what this team is capable of and Chris Mueller provided hope that the team can rely on a player on offense other than one of the bigger names. But rookie Kamal Miller quietly stepped up to the plate and did well in his MLS debut as one of the team’s center back. It wasn’t a flawless game by any stretch for the Lions, but there flashes of brilliance that we will hopefully see more of this season.

McCaffrey Retires Amid Illness

Stephanie McCaffrey has decided not to return to the Chicago Red Stars due to an ongoing neurological illness. Despite battling the illness for a year, she, her family, and her doctors have decided that it is in the best interest of her health to not play soccer professionally. McCaffrey was originally the fifth overall selection in the NWSL draft, by Chicago. She was then traded to the Boston Breakers before returning to the Red Stars in 2016. Our best wishes go out to McCaffrey as she moves into the next phase of her life.

Making Money

If you listen to the Mane Land PawedCast, you know that I correctly predicted the 2-2 draw for the Orlando City match. It’s not so impressive since I was bound to get one right after a few seasons of predictions. There is, however, a man who did something much more impressive (and lucrative) down in New Zealand. He took a $20 bet and turned it into $210,000 by successfully predicting the correct number of first half goals in eight football matches over the last three weeks. His predictions included two English Premier League games, four UEFA Champions League matches and a Spanish Cup match. I was so very proud of my prediction until I saw this guy.

English Premier League Results

This weekend, Manchester City jumped to the top of the league by defeating Bournemouth, while Liverpool only managed a point against Everton in the Merseyside Derby. There’s still plenty of time for either Liverpool or Manchester City to win the whole thing, though they’re both also playing Champions League matches as well. Manchester United kept its hot streak going with a 3-2 win over Southampton, and Wolverhampton blanked Cardiff City 2-0.

Free Kicks

• It was cold for the Colorado Rapids home opener against the Portland Timbers. Actually, it was a snow-covered field, and Benny Feilhaber was thinking about when he was a kid playing football. It is hard to blame him given that it was 18 degrees, the lowest temperature for an MLS game.
• A Brazilian women’s soccer player is poised to make history this summer at the Women’s World Cup, and no, it’s not Marta.

• You may noticed something different about the U.S. Women’s National Team jerseys in the last SheBelieves Cup match, as the names were those of inspirational women, in honor of Women’s History Month. Here is a full list of the women being honored, including Sally Ride, J.K. Rowling, and Maya Angelou. In case you were wondering, the U.S. does still have a chance to win the Cup.

You’ve made it to the end of the article. Just so you know, no tornado hit my house and I never lost power. We’ll see who asks, and we’ll know who read all the way to the end. Well done, Mane Landers! Go City!