The Crew took on the U.S. Under-17 squad this morning in its first game action of 2010 preseason training camp, as they faced off against the U-17s in a series of three mini-matches on a windy and cool day in Bradenton, Fla. Read more…

The Crew’s 2010 MLS regular season schedule was released today, highlighting the fact that we are only 52 days away from the Black & Gold’s season and home opener against Toronto FC on Saturday, March 27 at 4 p.m! Read more…

Hey gang,

Sirk here. On behalf of myself, my employer, the Columbus Crew, the Crew Soccer Foundation, and everyone who contributed in some way to the creation of the book, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to the 18 people who bought books during our Haiti fundraiser. (Which is honestly exactly DOUBLE what I was thinking we might get on such short notice.)

Bolstered by the revenue foregone by the CSF as part of this effort, I pledged to write a check for $11 for each book sold through 5pm today, and 18 x $11 = $198. It was so close that I rounded it up to $200, meaning my employer will also kick in $200 to match, for a total donation of $400 to Doctors Without Borders for their relief efforts in Haiti.

In situations like this, I find it helpful to visualize what the money could buy. Anyone who has ever checked their medical bills might assume that $400 would buy the Haitians a couple of popsicle stick tongue-depressors and a few of those extra-long one-sided Q-tips. But that is not the case.

I was reading that one of the big concerns right now is that there are many untreated open wounds. Obviously, the original emphasis was on life or death procedures, which meant many people with open (yet not life-threatening) wounds were left to wait. But in the weeks that have followed, those people are now at risk for serious infections, gangrene and even something that we Americans only associate with a shot we get every several years.

“We are also worried about tetanus, which is naturally occurring,” wrote epidemiologist Brigg Reilley on the Doctors Without Borders website. “It’s in the soil, it’s in the environment, and so big open, dirty wounds are likely to cause tetanus. The vaccination rate in Haiti is only about 60 percent. There is no cure, and it is fatal in more than 50 percent of cases. There have already been a few cases. The incubation period is usually about 14 days and we are about to hit that, but tetanus is also something that can affect you months later. Vaccinating people with wounds for tetanus is going to be a priority as well.”

So latching on to tetanus shots for illustrative purposes, I looked at the CDC website and it seems that a batch of 10 tetanus vaccinations costs $13.25. That means that the $400 combined donation is the equivalent of approximately 302 doses of the tetanus vaccine. So if you want to visualize what you did, that’s what you did.

As a bonus, I hope you enjoy the book. I’d like to think that SOME good deeds go unpunished.

Through the contributions of Steve Sirk, his employer and the Crew Soccer Foundation, every copy of Sirk’s book, “A Massive Season,” sold via the Crew Gear store and TheCrew.com (direct link here) between today and Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. will generate a $22 donation to the international medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders for relief efforts in Haiti. Read more…

Well its hard to believe, but the 2010 MLS season is already upon us as the Black & Gold officially opened it’s preseason training camp at SuperKick/TeamZone yesterday morning (Jan. 26). The Standard was on hand to snap a few photos, which we’ve put together in a slideshow below for your enjoyment.

Four of the Crew’s five draft picks were in attendance on day one, including: first-rounders Dilly Duka & Bright Dike and fourth-rounders Othaniel Yanez and Shaun Francis. The lone draft pick not present, Kwaku Nyamekye, is expected to conclude his final semester of studies at Harvard before turning his focus to the pitch.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Emmanuel Ekpo joined the boys today, while U.S. national teamers Eddie Gaven, Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers are expected to be on the field tomorrow. Forward Emilio Renteria is with the Venezuelan national team. The Crew continues preseason training at SuperKick through this week, before departing for Bradenton, Florida on Monday (Feb. 1).

The Crew announced today that it has re-signed Argentine legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto

Since joining the Crew in 2007 from storied Argentine club Boca Juniors, Schelotto has been one of the finest attacking players in the league, earning both league and MLS Cup MVP honors, along with two MLS Best XI selections, while accumulating 26 goals and 39 assists in 78 regular-season and playoff games.

A native of La Plate, Argentina, the 36-year-old Schelotto was the Crew’s 2009 Budweiser Golden Boot winner with 12 goals, a haul that included three multi-goal games and three game-winning goals. He was named MLS Player of the Week on June 15, MLS Player of the Month for June, and was an 2009 MLS All-Star First XI selection. Schelotto’s exploits helped lead the Crew to a second consecutive MLS Supporters’ Shield, with a 13-7-10 record (49 pts.), and into the quarterfinals of the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League tournament.

Head over to TheCrew.com for more on the re-signing of Guille.

We’ve now posted video of Crew first round pick (No. 8 overall) Dilly Duka answering questions about the 2010 SuperDraft, his career up to now and what he hopes to bring to the Black & Gold in 2010 and beyond. Check it out below and let us know what you think.

The two-time defending MLS Supporters’ Shield-winning Columbus Crew yesterday selected five players in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

The Crew began by utilizing its initial first-round selection (No. 8 overall) on Generation adidas midfielder Dilly Duka of Rutgers University. Moments later, the Black & Gold selected forward Bright Dike, a product of Notre Dame, with the second of its two first round picks (No. 12 overall). With the first of three fourth round picks, the Crew selected defender/midfielder Kwaku Nyamekye from Harvard Universtiy (No. 60 overall) and followed immediately with the selection of midfielder Othaniel Yanez from the University of Louisville (No. 61 overall). The Crew then rounded out its 2010 MLS SuperDraft with the selection of defender Shaun Francis (No. 63 overall), a product of Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.). Read more…

As we’re sure all of you Crew fans know, Major League Soccer will be holding its annual SuperDraft today (Jan. 14) at 2 p.m. ET at the Philadelphia Convention Center, with the first hour of the Draft proceedings appearing on ESPN2. Your time two-time defending Supporters’ Shield winners currently hold five selections - two in the first round (Nos. 8 and 12) and three in the fourth round (Nos. 60, 61 and 63).

Be sure to check out MLSNet.com here for continuing coverage of today’s wheelings and dealings. Also, our friends over at Claddagh Irish Pub (585 S. Front St. 43215) - the Crew’s official away game viewing headquarters - will be airing ESPN2’s broadcast of the SuperDraft, so head on over to check it out if you have a chance.

We plan on catching up with draft picks and the Crew technical staff following today’s action, so check back late today or Friday for video on the Black & Gold’s 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

George Vescey of the New York Times recently penned a “Postcards from 2009″ article which highlighted USA vs. Mexico on Feb. 11, 2009 at Crew Stadium, among other significant sporting events that occurred in the year that was. Vescey writes:

“COLUMBUS, OHIO, FEB. 11 An eerie storm straight out of “The Wizard of Oz” strikes just before the United States and Mexico kick off the qualifying round for the World Cup of soccer. The United States wins, 2-0, and both rivals will reach South Africa in 2010.”

The illustrated “postcard” which accompanied the above section of the article is after the jump. Be sure to check out the rest of Mr. Vescey’s interesting year-in-review article over at NYTimes.com.

Read more…