ussoccer.com's 2008 "Best of U.S. Soccer"

Best Performance: Player Winner

2008-12-17T11:57:00.001-06:00

Best Goal: Academy Winner

2008-12-17T11:56:00.002-06:00

Best all_access Video Winner

2008-12-17T11:56:00.001-06:00

Best Assist Winner

2008-12-17T11:55:00.000-06:00

Best Fan Photo Winner

2008-12-16T13:42:00.001-06:00

Best Soccer Specialty Store Winner

2008-12-16T13:41:00.001-06:00

Best Soccer Bar Winner

2008-12-16T13:37:00.002-06:00

Best Soccer Blog Winner

2008-12-16T13:34:00.001-06:00

Finalists Named for 2008 “Best of U.S. Soccer” and U.S. Athlete of the Year Awards

2008-11-18T08:49:00.002-06:00

U.S. Soccer has announced the finalists for the 2008 “Best of U.S. Soccer” and U.S. Athlete of the Year awards.

The seventh annual “Best of” series, presented by Soccer America, the No. 1 soccer magazine in the United States, gives fans the opportunity to make their selections for the best in soccer in the United States.

In addition to voting for the “Best of U.S. Soccer” awards, fans will also have the chance to vote daily for the prestigious ussoccer.com Athlete of the Year awards.

Fans can vote once a day from now until Monday, Dec. 8.

So, don’t delay. Vote now!

Best Soccer Bar

2008-11-03T12:35:00.013-06:00

This award goes to the best soccer-focused or soccer-friendly bar in the United States. A nominee for this award should be a place that provides the full gamut of world soccer and doesn't have an elitist bartender that thinks the Premier League is the only league that matters. You go here not only because the bar opens its beer-swilling doors at 7 a.m. on a Saturday to catch Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard or Carlos Bocanegra over in Europe, but also because your favorite place has the MLS package and turns the bar red, white and blue when the U.S. is playing anything from a friendly to a World Cup qualifying match.

Best Soccer Blog

2008-11-03T12:34:00.025-06:00

You’ve been reading countless soccer blogs on the information superhighway, but which is the one you queue up first when you get into the office in the morning? Is it ussoccer.com’s very own MNT or WNT Blogs? Or maybe you hit up your favorite soccer journalists’ blog for the latest video or rumor? Whatever it is, we’re giving you the chance to tell us which blog is king.

Best Soccer Specialty Store

2008-11-03T12:34:00.024-06:00

This award honors the best soccer specialty store to buy all things soccer, from the latest Nike cleats for your weekend league to that Carlos Bocanegra national team jersey you wear to cheer on the U.S. Men at the stadium, from the bar (see above!), or from your couch.

Best all_access Video

2008-11-03T12:33:00.018-06:00

In this category you’re selecting the best behind-the-scenes all_access video segment that appeared on ussoccer.com in 2008. Whether it was a Studio 90 interview featuring your favorite WNT player at the Olympics, a sneak peak into the locker room for that historic win by the MNT in Guatemala, or a unique look at a part of the world you've never seen before, this is the video that sticks out in your mind from the past year. Ok, we know, there are countless candidates. Can you pick just one?

Best Fan Photo

2008-11-03T12:33:00.017-06:00

Have you traveled far and wide, camera in tow, trying to get the best shot of a U.S. team at a game? Did you and your friends have the best tailgating experience possible leading up to a famous win? Were you lucky enough to get overseas for a game this year? We know it's hard to compete with U.S. Soccer's official photographers but now you finally have your chance! Send us your best snapshot of one of the many memorable events from this year.

Best Performance: Team

2008-11-01T19:01:00.004-05:00

This award is for that match where a U.S. National Team played at the top of its game, rising to the occasion to deliver a memorable performance in 2008 – or even all-time.

Best Performance: Player

2008-11-01T19:00:00.004-05:00

This award goes to the one U.S. National Team player who took the team on his or her shoulders with an outstanding, if not dominating, individual performance.

Best Assist

2008-11-01T18:59:00.007-05:00

Where would goals come from without a perfect setup? Pick your favorite through ball, reverse pass or cut back from 2008.

Best Photo

2008-11-01T18:59:00.006-05:00

This award goes to the picture featured on ussoccer.com during the year that made you go, “How’d they get THAT shot?”

Best Goal: Academy, Presented by Sierra Mist

2008-11-01T18:57:00.004-05:00

Best thing in soccer? Goals, goals, goals. This award crowns the top strike by a Development Academy player during 2008.

Best Goal: WNT, Presented by Sierra Mist

2008-11-01T18:56:00.005-05:00

Best thing in soccer? Goals, goals, goals. This award crowns the top strike by a U.S. Women’s National Team player during 2008.

Best Goal: MNT, Presented by Sierra Mist

2008-11-01T18:54:00.004-05:00

Best thing in soccer? Goals, goals, goals. This award crowns the top strike by a U.S. Men’s National Team player during 2008.

Athlete of the Year Voting

2008-11-01T01:31:00.001-05:00

U.S. Soccer has announced the finalists for the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year Awards – Male, Female, Young Male and Young Female. You, the fans, collectively decide 50 percent of the final vote, with media and U.S. Soccer officials getting the other 50 percent of the vote.

Click on the buttons below to vote. To read more about each candidate, click on their name in the voting window. Don't forget to leave a comment supporting your choices!

Female Athlete of the Year Candidates

Shannon Boxx - Midfielder
Lori Chalupny - Midfielder
Angela Hucles - Midfielder/Forward
Carli Lloyd - Midfielder
Christie Rampone - Defender
Hope Solo

Male Athlete of the Year Candidates

Carlos Bocanegra - Defender
Michael Bradley - Midfielder
Clint Dempsey - Forward
Landon Donovan - Midfielder
Tim Howard - Goalkeeper
Oguchi Onyewu

Young Female Athlete of the Year Candidates

Kristie Mewis - Midfielder
Vicki DiMartino - Forward
Michelle Enyeart - Forward
Alyssa Naeher - Goalkeeper
Keelin Winters - Midfielder
Courtney Verloo - Forward

Young Male Athlete of the Year Candidates

Sacha Kljestan - Midfielder
Maurice Edu - Midfielder
Stuart Holden - Midfielder
Robbie Rogers - Forward
Michael Orozco - Defender
Marvell Wynne - Defender