Pre-game life jackets

Venezia shuttles to stadium by...water?

Motion sickness may be to blame for Venezia FC's recent poor performances. The only way for players, staff and fans to travel to its stadium is by boat—a truly one of a kind, Italian experience.

Venezia FC’s Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo opened in 1913, the same year the first modern zipper was patented. Thank you Sweden! The team spent most of its history in Serie B and C. However, from 2015-2021 Venezia FC rapidly rose from Serie D to Serie A.

Last season the team was relegated to Serie B, which it currently sits in 15th place.

Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo holds 9,977 fans so you’re guaranteed an intimate viewing experience. Boat rides aren't overly egregious either—it's only a 15 to 30 minute trip. Yet to our disappointment, players aren’t traveling by gondola with a man playing an accordion in the back. Teams ride in Vaporettos, or water buses.

Last season Lautaro Martínez, Tammy Abraham and the rest of Serie A’s superstars humbled themselves and drifted along a canal to Italy’s second oldest stadium. But Venezia's drippy kits make up for any unnecessary travel costs.

The Origin of Nike Tiempos

The history behind the classic shoe

Nike Tiempos are one of the most iconic boots in the game. Worn by maestros like Andrea Pirlo and Ronaldinho, the shoes are comfortable and reliable—just like your high school friend's Toyota Corolla. Tiempos are currently marketed towards center-backs and goalies: if you’re wearing Tiempos in 2023, you may not be the fastest player out there.

Yet, the Tiempo wasn’t Nike’s first soccer cleat. The company produced “The Nike” in 1971, a shoe that resembled the soon to be Nike Cortez.

Nike continued to produce soccer boots but Tiempos weren't released until the 1994 World Cup when they catapulted Nike into the sport. But where does the iconic shoe’s name come from?

Tiempo is a Spanish word that translates to “weather” and “time.” The original 1971 boot was produced in Mexico for the 1970 World Cup. But once kids wore them in colder climates, the boots deteriorated and the leather cracked.

Titling the cleat "Tiempo" could’ve been Nike signaling their new cleat was for all weather conditions. Or the shoe had timeless durability and style.

Maybe it was named after the kid on your AYSO team who yelled, “Time. Time. You’ve got time!” before you even got the ball.

Whatever it may be, the Nike Tiempo is a classic boot that's lasted multiple generations and playing styles. But if you’re trying to be a pacy winger, Mercurial Vapors may be more your style.

Carlos Vela's superhero sidekick

Batman's MLS history

LAFC has been a star studded team since its arrival in MLS in 2018. The team’s boasted famous players like Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini and Carlos Vela. But their celebrity status starts in the front office with owner Peter Guber.

Guber is a businessman and entrepreneur who co-owns the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's also executively produced movies like Rain Man, The Color Purple and of course, Batman.

Before Guber was eating sliders in a suite with Will Ferrell and watching Carlos Vela drop defenders, he was convincing Jack Nicholson to play the Joker. Guber was also behind Prince producing music for the film. Purple rain, purple rain.

Batman made $411.6 million in the box office, making it the highest grossing DC comic book movie until The Dark Knight. The film’s success led to Guber producing Batman Returns—and eventually a MLS championship for LAFC.

An important question stands: what LAFC player would be the best Batman? Illie Sanchez comes to mind. His smolder, quiet demeanor and leadership on the field would translate well to fighting crime.

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