Americans Rally For Win In Cup Tuneup
by Bill Ward (Result | Tampa Bay Tribune - February 25)
Considering the majority of the players used for the match probably won't make his final World Cup roster, it's debatable precisely what, if anything, U.S. men's national team coach Bob Bradley can glean from Wednesday night's affair against El Salvador. more details | go to article

Cunningham Shooting For One Last Chance At World Cup
by Bill Ward (Profile/Interview | Tampa Bay Tribune - February 24)
Jeff Cunningham says he is "living the dream." At home, the former University of South Florida soccer All-American says he has a "beautiful wife," Jocelyn. They are parents to a healthy 15-month-old daughter, Mikayla. And career-wise, Cunningham is coming off a season in which he was Major League Soccer's scoring champion for FC Dallas. more details | go to article

Ray-Jay To Host U.S. Friendly
by Bill Ward (Preview | Tampa Bay Tribune - January 15)
Two days after Tampa learned it has a shot at hosting future World Cup soccer matches, the city was named Thursday to host an exhibition game between the U.S. men's national team and El Salvador on Feb. 24 at Raymond James Stadium. more details | go to article

CONCACAF Fun Facts
by Bill Ward (Preview | Tampa Bay Tribune - March 9)
For the first time, the U.S. Under-23 team will be composed solely of professional players. In previous tournaments, there has been at least one college player. more details | go to article

U.S. Men Closing In On World Cup Berth
by Bill Ward (Preview | Tampa Bay Tribune - June 8)
Following Saturday's 3-0 victory against Costa Rica, the U.S. men's soccer team finds itself with a little breathing room as it takes on host Panama today in its second World Cup qualifying match in five days. more details | go to article

Soccer Tourney Heads To Tampa
by Bill Ward (Article | Tampa Bay Tribune - April 19)
ver since Major League Soccer folded the Tampa Bay Mutiny three years ago, there's been constant rumors of another team returning to the area. Although the wait for pro soccer here continues, United Soccer Leagues president Francisco Marcos plans to bring more than 140 youth soccer teams and the USL's annual general meeting to Tampa this fall. more details | go to article

Ex-Plant High Star Earns Starts With D.C. United
by Bill Ward (Profile/Interview | Tampa Bay Tribune - April 12)
Former Plant High star Bobby Boswell describes his omission from last January's Major League Soccer player combine as "kind of a shocker." And when February's MLS supplemental draft came and went without a phone call, Boswell says he "definitely wasn't happy." more details | go to article

Americans Brace For Mexican Challenge
by Bill Ward (Result | Tampa Bay Tribune - March 27)
In terms of great soccer rivalries, the United States vs. Mexico may not be in the same league as England-Germany or Brazil-Argentina. After all, a rivalry entails a certain amount of parity and the Americans' all-time record of 0-21-1 against Mexico south of the border certainly does not meet that standard. more details | go to article

Chivas USA Challenge Draws In Rongen
by Bill Ward (Profile/Interview | Tampa Bay Tribune - February 27)
He already owns what he calls "passable" skills in Spanish and has two assistants who are native speakers of the language. But as coach of the first club in Major League Soccer to establish formal ties to a Latin American club, Thomas Rongen says he feels an obligation to master Spanish. more details | go to article

Coach Hopes Festival Can Be Annual Event
by Bill Ward and Chris Carlson (Article | Tampa Bay Tribune - February 14)
With only seven weeks of preparation time, the Tom Fitzgerald Memorial Soccer Festival almost didn't happen. But after seeing the results of his 15-hour workdays, University of Tampa coach Adrian Bush wants to make sure it happens every year. Also: Welcome home to former Tampa-area players; chasing Adu; hunting former Buc's kicker Gramatica; Fotops back in town; Rowdies/Mutiny alums a-plenty. more details | go to article

Fitzgerald's Love Of Soccer Lives
by Bill Ward (Commentary | Tampa Bay Tribune - February 14)
Fittingly, Sunday's inaugural Tom Fitzgerald Memorial Soccer Festival at the University of Tampa began with teaching youths some of the game's finer points and finished with professionals showing what they have learned from years of playing the sport. more details | go to article

`Legends Are Never Forgotten'
by Bill Ward (Profile/Interview | Tampa Bay Tribune - December 8)
From the looks of the crowd gathered Tuesday night at Pepin/Rood Stadium for his memorial service, Tom Fitzgerald did a lot more than just coach soccer. You could see it in the eyes of everyone there. From the people he met only briefly to his longtime friends and family, Fitzgerald touched lives. more details | go to article

UT's Fitzgerald Dies After Motorcycle Accident
by Bill Ward (Profile/Interview | Tampa Bay Tribune - December 5)
When Tom Fitzgerald and Keith Fulk met at a soccer tournament Friday, they embraced and told one another how great the other looked. Fitzgerald, who guided the University of Tampa to the 1994 NCAA Division II men's soccer championship, had suffered a mild heart attack last spring and had undergone successful bypass surgery. more details | go to article

Hated With A Passion
by Bill Ward (Profile/Interview | Tampa Bay Tribune - November 14)
On the north side of the field at Manchester United's Old Trafford, a solemn occasion took place earlier this week. With the backdrop of a typically cold, overcast and gloomy day in northern England, a lifelong supporter of this storied soccer club was having their ashes spread on the perfectly manicured grass just outside the lines of play. more details | go to article

U.S. Squad Should Earn Spot In World Cup
by Bill Ward (Analysis | Tampa Bay Tribune - October 17)
U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena likely won't admit it and neither will any of his players. But after the Americans' 6-0 thrashing of Panama this week, they're all but assured of a spot in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. more details | go to article