Unfortunately, We Will Not Have This Kit

So, I just ran across this video on the frontpage of OleOle.com. It's from back in 2005, but it's new to me.



The SpiderMan in question was Jérémie Janot of AS Saint-Étienne. Not Jonás Gutiérrez of recent Newcastle fame (see video after jump). It appears as though, on top of the obvious mask, the kit was specially made for Janot (if not only for this match).

Swerve, Power and Control: The Meaning of a Predator - Part II

The the adidas Predator Power TRX FG Cleats (Running White Metallic/Metallic Silver/Black) is here.

What’s the only thing better than power?

Yeah, more power. And so the Ninth Predator® generation range is the most accurate, lightest and most powerful ever made. The Low-profile engineered Predator® elements have been integrated into the Power Zone on top of the forefoot for even more power behind every shot, while enhanced Predator® technology in the Swerve Zone at the side continues to give shots and passes the power, swerve and accuracy that have made this the world’s most elite football boot for over a decade.

If some of the following sounds familiar it is because the Predator Swerve has similar features. That’s okay, read it again.


SmartFoam

The introduction of SmartFoam technology (adapts to offer increased power and/or shock absorption on ball strike as your needs change throughout the match) and a re-designed PowerPulse system gives this boot increased ball spin for accuracy and masses of power when you need it. The world’s top boot gives you cushioned power and control behind every shot. How? An extra 10 grams of tungsten have been added to the PowerPulse sole to increase the power of your shots.

Predator PowerPulse

You already know about the super soft K-leather which offers added durability, lightness and a glove like fit.
But, did you know this boot provides a reengineered dynamic PREDATOR featuring POWERPULSE technology for more power, swerve and control?

You also get a 2nd density asymmetrical external heel counter for optimal comfort, fit and stability with asymmetrical loop lacing added to increase better ball contact.

Dynamic

The inlay of the boot has a new exchangeable Dynamic Power System for more flexibility and increased shooting power.

The Dynamic PowerPulse technology in the sole of the boot and the special hi-tech foam in the forefoot upper material make these improvements possible. The PowerPulse element filled with tungsten powder, which shifts weight toward the point of impact, enables players to put more power behind every shot. The hi-tech foam in the Predator® element ensures added power, more swerve and better ball control.

Lastly, the split outsole for the Predator Power optimizes the weight and flexibilty of the boot, while the X-Traxion fixed stud system will give you adaptable grip on any terrain.

Now that you’ve got Swerve and Power – all you need is Control to have the supreme footballing triumvirate. Stay tuned.

Let’s Play New Soccer Boot Jeopardy

Comet, Obsidian and Sapphire.

What are 3 New T90 Laser Colors which just arrived?

The Nike Total90 Laser II Firm Ground Soccer Shoes (Obsidian/White/Metallic Silver) for $189.99







The Nike Total90 Laser II Firm Ground Soccer Shoes (White/Black/Blue Sapphire) also for $189.99







And yes, the Nike Total90 Laser II Firm Ground Soccer Shoes (Black/White/Comet Red) for, you guessed it, $189.99.








If you frequently watch Alex Trebek and Jeopardy and answer all the questions – or is it question all the answers? Then you may know the rest of this. For those who don’t, here goes:

England & Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, as well as Spain & Liverpool's Fernando Torres.

Who are top soccer players who play in the The Nike Total 90 Laser?

ShotShield

What is an innovative piece of technology which offers superior boot-to-ball contact by applying the learning from other sports?

SweetSpot

What has been expanded on the Nike Total 90 Laser to allow the athlete to maximize shooting and passing accuracy through better boot-to-ball alignment and targeting?

Lord of the Rings

What is an epic fantasy by JRR Tolkien?

WRONG!

What are unique precision rings that create optimum trajectory, spin and distance control, with twisted medial rings for more aggressive contact - enhancing ball spin and swerve chances?

eVent

What is a waterproof fabric that lets sweat escape, maintaining a constant temperature inside the boot while playing?

Thanks for playing New Soccer Boot Jeopardy - Goodnight.

Why do Soccer Players Keep Changing Numbers?

It was early June of ’08 and the world was ready for some major soccer. International soccer. The European Championship was ready to roll. As the field in soccer gear sales is as competitive as the game on the field itself, we merchandisers thought it’d be quite clever indeed if we got a kick-start (notice the clever word-play there) on the competition and the subsequent demand for player jerseys by creating some customized jerseys of some of the top players to take part in the very prestigious tournament. It was sad that we didn’t get to make a slew of Beckham jerseys at that time, but there were other notable players to fill that blonde void. Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo are a couple that come to mind. Yet, it’s not randomly that I think of these two young aces of the English Premier League and the Iberian Peninsula. No, it is because of the headaches those two mercurial lads caused us during that summer of great soccer spectacle.

For as long as those two bright stars of the soccer galaxy have played the game, they’d worn the number 17 and 18 respectively. Yet, for some strange reason, be it prestige or be it boredom, they opted to throw their fans a curveball (pardon the baseball metaphor) and switch their numbers—and their names for that matter. Spain’s Cesc Fabregas had gone by CESC with the #18 when he played for La Furia Roja, but was apparently promoted to the #10 and this new post seemingly required use of his surname: FABREGAS. Then, the most popular player in all the land, decided the ‘C’ before his name was as useless as the ‘1’ in front of the ‘7’ he’d worn heretofore, and ditched them both like an old pair of cleats. This was the merchandising equivalent of an own-goal, leaving us with dozens of #18 CESC and C. RONALDO 17 shirts that just brought us snarky comments from browsers about how out of touch we were. Not even reducing the price helped us save face.

But why do I tell you this? Why, on such a jolly time, when the Holidays are so near and sales have been so good, do we talk of mercurial number changing? Well, it’s Julie’s fault.

You see, Julie bought an AC Milan Beckham 75 jersey and it turns out Spice Boy threw us all for a loop when he decided to not wear 75 (the number of his birth year) after all, but instead went with 32! Why 32? Why not 33 his age? No matter. Julie is angry and rightfully so. As we are we. Because we pride ourselves with great service, we will do something amazing to satisfy Julie. Yet, we are now stuck with BECKHAM 75 jerseys that look utterly ridiculous and as useless as a irrelevant as an England Euro 2008 T-Shirt (yeah, we were stuck with those as well) I feel like a little sad-faced wingding would be appropriate here, but there’s no sadness in soccer – or soccer merchandising for that mater. We will overcome this embarrassing incident with our heads held high. For Julie and thousands more soccer fans like her, most of which will get the shirt they wanted, hopefully for at least a few years, until his/her player changes numbers/names. A suggestion: stick your own name on the back of it, unless YOU plan on a name-change.

Scotland is Ready to Make a Run at South Africa 2010

And we’ve just got our hands on the Official Soccer Jersey the Scotland National Team will be sporting throughout their UEFA World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign.

The new jersey is a true combination of the latest in performance garment technology, Scottish football tradition and Italian styling and was worn by the team for the first time in the draw against Northern Ireland on the 20th August 2008 at Hampden Park. With Iceland, Macedonia and Norway, the Tartan Army is feeling pretty confident in their chances at making a summer 2010 trip to South Africa.

And we're currently selling this amazing new shirt for a meager $63.99 - so there's no reason you shouldn't be wearing one of these in support of your Scots for 08-10.

What do Vapor Citron and Charcoal have in Common?

First off, I’ll offer some definition service for anyone not well versed in fruity colors: Citron is a type of citrus tree, which describes part of the greenish yellow color in the new Vapor IVs and the Vapor SL’s.

And yes, they all have charcoal, which creates smoke when lit, which is what you’ll be doing to your opponents when you light the soccer pitch on fire in these amazing new boots - which you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere esle!

The Breakdown, after the jump:
The Mercurial Vapor IV FG Cleats by Nike (Citron/Classic Charcoal/Metallic Silver).

Also the Mercurial Vapor IV FG Cleats (Classic Charcoal/Max Orange/Metallic Silver)).

Weighing a mere 9 ounces, with a soft, supple Teijin synthetic leather upper that adjusts to the shape of your foot, contoured speed last, covered lacing for increased strike zone, internal chassis for instant acceleration, and molded sock-liner with EVA inserts for comfort … plus the direct-injected heel studs for weight reduction, Vapor forefoot plate with multi-direction traction studs for optimum performance on firm, natural surfaces - You can't go wrong with these smokin' new boots from Nike!

Mercurial Vapor Super Light FG Cleats by Nike (Citron/Classic Charcoal/Metallic Silver).

Even lighter Carbon

Nike's newest creation is crafted almost entirely of carbon fiber, the revolutionary material used in jets that offers unbelievable strength with incredible lightness. It took Nike three years to design and produce this incredible version of the Vapor. The outsole plate is seven layers of carbon composite material interwoven with TPU and polyurethane. This eliminates the lasting board and puts the foot closer to the ground for a smooth feel. A reinforcing rib offers support. The cleats and stud tips are injected/molded to the plate for a strong, single outsole piece, which creates incredible durability. An internal heel cradle keeps your foot securely in place. This is the first boot to have a molded carbon fiber upper for incredible performance and feel. The result is a boot that weighs less than 7 ounces!

WorldSoccerShop.com's New Theme Song: Soccer Ball (In The Face) by Parry Gripp

This video is genius. Put together a bunch of clips of people taking soccer balls to the face (by itself, hilarious) and a catchy, cheesy, and funny song and you have pure comedic gold. OK, well maybe not gold, but a good laugh nonetheless.

Parry Gripp has done a few videos that have become Youtube hits (Hamster On A Piano (Eating Popcorn), Cat Flushing A Toilet, Chimpanzee Riding A Segway). But none are quite as funny as watching little kids getting hit so hard in the face by a soccer ball that their feet come off the ground. Enough said.

[Parry Gripp]

We can’t wait for South Africa 2010

That’s exactly why we’ve twisted, pushed and prodded adidas to make us this awesome new OFFICIAL World Cup 2010 T-Shirt. Okay, truth is we really didn’t have anything to do with the making of this shirt (it’d be so cool if we did) - though, as usual, we’re one of the few places on the planet where you can get this officially licensed piece of World Cup 2010 merchandise, brought to you by one of the official sponsors – adidas – who will be providing most of the gear, including the balls—which we’ll also surely be getting before anyone.

So, even though I have never blogged about a t-shirt before, I’m glad that my first time talking about something made of cotton, it’s this special product, sure to go very quickly, as these shirts always do.

Swerve, Power and Control: The Meaning of a Predator

Part 1 – The adidas Predator Swerve TRX Firm Ground Soccer Shoes (Dark Indigo/Metallic Silver/Pool)

Get on the top of the soccer food chain with the brand new Predator Swerve TRX Firm Ground Soccer Shoes from adidas

The Predator Swerve is the latest major incarnation of the iconic and hugely popular Predator soccer boot. But most importantly, it features more technology than ever before! So, there’s no doubt this new Predator will be hunting prominently across the globe in international soccer competitions and all the top divisions, right down to the grass roots.

SmartFoam

The introduction of SmartFoam technology (adapts to offer increased power and/or shock absorption on ball strike as your needs change throughout the match) and a re-designed PowerPulse system gives this boot increased ball spin for accuracy and masses of power when you need it. Liquid Predator vamps have been added to produce extra swerve on the ball.

Predator PowerPulse

You already know about the super soft K-leather which offers added durability, lightness and a glove like fit.
But, did you know this boot provides a reengineered dynamic PREDATOR featuring POWERPULSE technology for more power, swerve and control?

That doesn’t even begin to describe it.

You also get a 2nd density asymmetrical external heel counter for optimal comfort, fit and stability with asymmetrical loop lacing added to increase better ball contact.
Dynamic

The inlay of the boot has a new exchangeable Dynamic Power System for more flexibility and increased shooting power.

The Dynamic PowerPulse technology in the sole of the boot and the special hi-tech foam in the forefoot upper material make these improvements possible. The PowerPulse element filled with tungsten powder, which shifts weight toward the point of impact, enables players to put more power behind every shot. The hi-tech foam in the Predator® element ensures added power, more swerve and better ball control.

Lastly, the split outsole for the Predator Power optimizes the weight and flexibilty of the boot, while the X-Traxion fixed stud system will give you adaptable grip on any terrain.

Predator Family Tree

With the launch of the Predator® Swerve - adidas is adding an exciting new chapter to the successful Predator® story.
Since first being introduced in 1994, the Predator® has been continuously further developed with the help of top soccer players, guaranteeing that it meets the highest standards in terms of design and, above all, functionality. World-renowned soccer stars relying on the new Predator® technology include: David Beckham (LA Galaxy, AC Milan), Michael Ballack (Cheslea FC), Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard Daniel Agger, and Dirk Kuyt, Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg), Angelos Charisteas (1. FC Nuremberg), Daniele de Rossi (AS Roma), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) and Anderson (Manchester United).

Who will join them?

While we may not be the first to have these, we are always on the top in the US market. In the future we will be offering launch dates for the top items all soccer fans want.

So

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3:

Power: launches in a couple weeks

Control: launches in February

Seattle Sounders FC Have Landed

We’re happy to have available for pre-order, the entire MLS 2009 line for the latest team to join Major League Soccer – Seattle Sounders FC

The Team

Seattle Sounders FC, the 15th team to join MLS, will begin play in the 2009 season. The name ‘Seattle Sounders FC’ was announced on April 7, 2008, along with the team logo, colors and badge design in a presentation held at the Space Needle.

The Badge

Loosely resembling a heraldic shield, the new badge over the heart consists of two layers representing the partnership between the ownership, the community, the players, and the fans. The logo incorporates the Space Needle, a universally recognized Seattle landmark.

The Colors

The official team colors are Sounder Blue, representing the waters of the Puget Sound; Rave Green, representing the forests of the Pacific Northwest; and Cascade Shale, representing the Cascade Range to the east of Seattle.

The Jersey

As most adidas officially licensed team jerseys, this one is made with ClimaCool® - the advanced material engineered to reduce heat and moisture build-up, allowing increased comfort and performance, and mesh panels – to keep you feeling fresh no matter how long the big Sounders match goes on.

The Sponsor

The jerseys features the familiar XBOX 360 logo on the center chest, representing the landmark multi-year sponsorship deal between Seattle Sounders FC and Microsoft Corp. and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system worth $20 million over 5 years. Xbox 360 also will be featured as the presenting sponsor of the Sounders FC annual international tour and will gain entitlement to the team’s playing surface, "The Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field". Xbox 360 will be recognized as the official and exclusive video game console of Major League Soccer.

Sounders FC will debut these awesome new jerseys when the team hits the field for the first time in the Spring 2009.

But just who will be the coach of the team? Stay tuned to find out.


Video: FootballShirtCulture.com