Mark Thomas

@IanDarke @davejsports Another big takeaway from this World Cup is we need @IanDarke on USMNT games again.

Big takeaway at World Cup : Far fewer pen area skirmishes. War on dark arts / bogus injuries / and wasted time has largely worked. Players know they will not get away with much and acting accordingly. It CAN be done. Premier League take note. Take harder line.

@StanCollymore Stan, there are different options available in each sport. If you want to keep costs down, there are local options and school sports. If a kid is especially talented, my experience is clubs will find ways to keep them around. Try not to buy into the overdramatic hyperbole.

American friends, how much do you pay for kids basketball, American football, baseball, athletics etc? Genuinely fascinated to know how this works. Thank you.

@PaulSpacey Well done!

@IanDarke Ian, you are the best and we love when you call games. It’s been my experience that if a kid is talented enough, clubs will find a way to cover the cost. Same for basketball and other sports in the U.S.

Reading responses , very clear that US Govt and US Soccer need to help finance a huge programme of getting kids everywhere to play affordably … and off those laptops ! Coats for goalposts and a ball does it too.

No need for US to beat itself up over World Cup exit, even if the manner of it was deflating after such a bright group phase. Something special has happened to the game in America at this tournament. Thousands and thousands of boys and girls will be inspired to watch and play.

@IraqNT_EN Greatly admire the effort the guys show on the field. Wishing you each the best. Enjoy your time here in the USA.

🇮🇶 🆚 🇫🇷 gets back underway in 15 minutes! #FRAIRQ #FIFAWorldCup

@IanDarke So miss hearing you call the USMNT matches. You are the all-time greatest in the U.S.A. Wonder if you could’ve worked with Ray Hudson?

That’s a decent effort by USA v Germany. Encouraging despite narrow loss.

@milesplit Have you tabulated participation numbers to see if they have increased too?

The community has spoken. Access to better training is the leading cause of trackflation. Agree 🤝 or disagree 🙅‍♀️?

@MrT Happy Birthday! Rocky III is my favorite in the series. You were terrific as Clubber Lang! “Painnn”

First, I want to thank GOD for allowing me to be here another year= 74 years old. I am Blessed, Wow! I had a great Birthday with lots of memory’s!

@jaxwavesupshot There’s no “s” on the end of Silver Spring

🚨 OUR TRAINING CAMP ROSTER IS HERE 🚨

@TerpsWBB Huge welcome! We are so excited to cheer you on. Great times ahead!

Help us welcome Trinity Jones to the 𝓯𝓪𝓜𝓲𝓵𝔂! #faMily 🐢

@tomsan106 The biggest difference maker will be soccer playing parents having kids. The kids will have some DNA and grow up in a soccer family. You can already see some in the USMNT.

All the money poured into new soccer business models in the U.S., Australia and Canada, still won’t fix the real issue, the simplest one to solve. Kids need an early start and lots of time just playing. That’s your national curriculum, simple enough to fit on a cocktail napkin.🤭⚽️

@PaulSpacey It’s not unique to youth soccer. Basketball is similar, but perhaps less structured with no licensing of coaches. We still produce elite basketball talent every year. Granted international players have leveled the playing field. I 100% agree the model is messed up.

@tha_Real_Kumar @herculezg Fantastic article! Thanks for the time you put into it. I’m a big Michael Bradley fan and hope he does progress to lead our national team one day.

Michael Bradley represents the past, the present, and potentially the future of American men’s soccer. I spoke to him, and others who know him well, about his football upbringing, his leadership, and more. #RBNY #USMNT theguardian.com/football/2026/…

@TerpsWBB @NunuAgara Thanks for choosing @TerpsWBB @NunuAgara We will be there rooting for you!

Help us welcome, @NunuAgara to the 𝓯𝓪𝓜𝓲𝓵𝔂! #faMily 🐢

Welcome to the 𝓯𝓪𝓜𝓲𝓵𝔂, @NunuAgara! 🔗 bit.ly/4sGibv9  #faMily 🐢

@VinnysCorner1 This was when I felt I saw Ray on the decline. No way Donny connects like that with Leonard in his prime.

When Sugar Ray Leonard fought Donny Lalonde at 168 pounds for the Super Middleweight AND Light Heavyweight titles at the same time 🥊💥‼️ Ray Leonard got knocked down , got up and won the fight in the same round!

@AdrianReyn79551 Two great champions. So great to see Sugar Ray learn from the first fight in which Duran baited and taunted him into his style of brawl. And it doesn’t get any better than Howard Cosell describing the action. Three Titans of the time.

🚨 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤: to 1980 when you would witness “NO MAS” Sugar Ray Leonard’s Revenge against his Rival Roberto Duran🥶‼️

@trboxing Maybe the best tactical performance I’ve ever seen in such a boxing match. Fantastic fight. Ray followed his plan and won enough rounds to win the title. Two all time great champions who I greatly enjoyed watching over many years.

#OnThisDay in 1987, Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Marvin Hagler in a toe-to-toe battle for the Undisputed Middleweight championship 👑 #TR60

@QVBasketball We are thrilled to have Mimi coming to Maryland. What a great chapter she just completed. Soon, it’s onto the next. Go Mimi and Go Terps!

Way to go and congratulations to Mimi Thiero! She is the Trib HSSN Player of the Year for the entire Pittsburgh Area! #ALLIN tribhssn.triblive.com/quaker-valleys…

@stuholden @JohnStrong @AlexiLalas This is a non-binding camp, right? Why not come in?

The Noahkai Banks discussion is nuanced and as @JohnStrong says here “We are talking about a 19 yr old kid who isn’t just thinking about this summer, he’s thinking about the rest of his pro career.” Here’s a in-depth 6:30 minutes of @AlexiLalas and I bickering — flanked by @StatManMosse and John to bring the convo back to earth. @SOTUWithAlexi

@jasonwhitlock Isaiah 6:8 (NIV) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” This is the powerful moment in the Bible where the prophet Isaiah, steps up to the challenge.

Always a victim. ALWAYS. Syracuse coach whines about having to play UConn. Asks for a lower seed so she doesn’t have to play UConn. Embarrassing.