SoccerProfiles.org

Thanks to our good friends at EzWeave in Folsom, we are proud to announce the launch of Soccerprofiles.org 2.0

Our online recruiting tool for prep soccer players that has garnered national attention in the last year, went through a major re-work.

Check it out and please let us know your thoughts....

www.soccerprofiles.org

Sports Specialization

The last few days I have received calls from parents asking me on my thoughts of kids specializing in a particular sport from an early age.

My stance is simple: playing multiple sports for a prolonged period of time benefits the child, mentally and physically.

Specialization leads to burn-out and lack of creativity. Playing soccer improves your footwork for basketball; playing tennis makes you a more adept baseball player.

The other part of the equation is that sports are supposed to be fun. The relationships that kids can make over time by playing with multiple teams can be valuable later in life (i.e. Job networking). Case in point: my first job out of college was working for my former club soccer coach. It was a relationship that was built over several years as a player-coach dynamic.

So I say "play as many sports for as long as you can." One day, you will have to retire and become a spectator. Enjoy the journey.

Too Many Brands

IMG00010.jpg, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Toyota

One of my 2008 predictions came true (kinda). According to WallStreet Journal, Toyota tied with GM with regards to world-wide sales. This is the first time that GM has shared the number one spot for as long as most can remember.

Toyota will continue to expand, and the chances are that we should see them take over the top sport within in the next one or two quarters.

Sacramento is Rainy

photo.jpg, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Today it has been raining non-stop in Sacramento. The only good thing about the rain is that is makes me focus on work in the office and I find that I get a lot more done. There are a couple of really interesting posts on TechCrunch and Fred Wilson's Blog today. Check them out. I am also finishing up a couple of other posts. I want to write more about youth sports, but find myself reading and writing a lot about the economy.

Hotel Vitale

IMG_1443, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

More photos from the Hotel Vitale.

18th and L Street is finished.

18th and L Street is finished., originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

BofA to acquire Countrywide

News of Bank of America's plans to acquire Countrywide did little to settle the markets down. Countrywide stock trading near a record low of about 6 bucks. Who out there still doesn't think that there was housing bubble?

Thoughts on the Economy

For the last several weeks, many of my friends have asked me what my thoughts on the U.S. economy were...and what I thought 2008 will hold. In many respects, I think several of my friends were looking for me to cheer them up (I typically take a very upbeat outlook on the economy and try to see the brighter side of everything).

I am not sure what my overall thoughts are about 2008 and what the economy will hold for us all, but below are some predictions....

1) Toyota will go to #1 is US sales.

2) A democrat will be elected President.

3) We will see a continued downturn in housing prices in the areas that are over priced (like San Diego, Sacramento, Las Vegas, etc...)

4) Google's stock will continue to rise.

5) Twitter will become more mainstream and will have a huge effect on how we use facebook, blogger, etc..

6) We will see more consolidation in the banking sectors -- as mortgage defaults increase in the next two quarters you will see bigger banks snatching up the smaller community banks.

7) Credit Crunch will become a Credit Crisis.

8) The Celtics will win the NBA Championship.

9) Apple will release a new iPhone, only to be out-shadowed by a new Blackberry device.

10) The dollar will stabilize against the Euro.

Ryan Downing

Ryan Downing, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

For a few days last week, my nephew came to visit up from San Diego. He's the man. Boy, they sure do grow up fast...........