iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I audibly gasped at a level that disturbed my wife on the other side of the room when I saw this email ping from eBay

Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

We need a team in FL again. I flip a game on here and there in the rare instance I'm channel surfing on cable or ESPN+. Need a rooting interest to really get into something though. If they named it "Florida" I'd likely be all-in regardless of where the home city ended up being.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This exact same thing happened in a FTLUTD #USL Super League match a few weeks back, I had never seen it called before, neither had the commentators.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Update: they fixed this but reminded me of similarly amateur screw up in 2014 when one of their social posts had a photo of a marina in *Honolulu* with mountains as the background.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

(Good) logo was clearly inspired by city seal/flag. Shoulda went all the way with "Resurgens Atlanta FC"

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The visuals are great. Couldn't come up with a better name than "City FC"? Ugh. I hope in the tradition of Angel City FC being abbreviated on broadcast scorebugs as "LA", this team is abbreviated as "Phoenix"

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

ok baseball gods next up I know a full time return to teal is a long shot but can we at least get "Marlins" back on the front of the Marlins home uniforms again?

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Watching this team since the 2024/25 playoff semifinal has been like pushing a big rock up a hill covered in grease. Insane monkey paw energy. "Yes FTL gets a pro club back BUT they lose in the inaugural final in ET, incapable of beating TB, consistently lose matches by 1 goal" #USLSL

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The rest of you sickos are following Minor League Cricket too, right? #MiLC

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

It's cool that this is in Florida, however it's also within a confederation (Concacaf) that has arbitrarily excluded winners from a division 1 league under it's umbrella from competing in its continental club championship & has no clear info on who is competing from USA when it restarts in 2027.

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Reposted by Derek Reese

John Van Citters @jvancitters.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Yep. Things like this are why I’m on the socials at all. 100% the content I am here for.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Just goofing around a bit here but - Team called "Flight" - Major DC *airport* has iconic terminal building that kinda looks like a volleyball net from the side #MLV #Volleyball

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It would be really funny if whenever it picks back up [spoiler] face is shown for like 5 seconds and it immediately cycles through like 10 other different people like that 1999 comedy special before settling on the new main Doctor, TARDIS crashes, and they never mention it again

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

New #MLV team in Washington, D.C.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

and then we coughed up the lead and blew it, appreciate the historical accuracy

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Stadium light problem delay in Tampa. UTD x Sun rivalry officially part of TB v FTL heritage now, got “wacky shit” checked off #USLSL

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

(Kirk van Houten voice) I don't like the idea of Milhouse having two Barb(a)ra B forwards in one league

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

While we're on the subject of "random stupid stuff that might have been be funny 6 years ago but I only thought of it just now", may I present: Darmok and Jaap Stam, at Tanagra

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

please enjoy this incredibly niche Simpsons x #NWSL crossover meme

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

It took something notable from challengers to force the partnerships/mergers in the "big 4" North American pro sports. If USL can prove it'll work, and it moves the needle for them, never say never.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Technically that's possible now via slim USOC chance, but moving to having every league match count towards that dream, even if not anywhere near realistic at all, is inherently very cool and something no other American sport can offer.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Of course having *everyone* (re: MLS) involved would be ideal. But USL being able to sell "your team in your town could win their way to playing Barcelona in a match that counts" ought to help at least a little in getting more fans/sponsors/media engaged

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Maybe I'm a stubborn, idealistic, naive idiot, but I still really do believe having the market differentiator of pro/rel, "anyone, yes even Boise, Idaho, have a sporting chance to make it big", can be a key part of solving that demand issue for soccer amongst the crowded domestic sports scene.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Even in the "best" overseas systems people such as myself often cite as examples to follow we do still sometimes see clubs massively screw up and fail. Hopefully this helps though, and also maybe incentivizes quick formation of phoenix clubs in worst-case scenarios (Parma, Rangers, etc)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I saw that but my brain read it as sales of existing franchises. I supposed that could include new expansion ones as well. I'm dumb (probably)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Good news, everyone! (I'd like to see expansion fees be a part of this)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

At some point they gotta actually do the regionalization bit even if the distribution is unfair to some of the teams.

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Reposted by Derek Reese

Riker Googling @rikergoogling.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

CAPS LOCK STUCK ENTIRE STARSHIP

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

..unless they're super deranged and go "hey yeah WHY DON'T we play the national anthem at the movie theater?!" lmao

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

My question to the overly patriotic weirdos whenever this comes up is "Why don't we play the anthem & make everyone stand up at the movie theater? Or when the grocery store opens for the day? Or at the start of every TV show?" They never have an answer for it because it would be ridiculous

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Fair, but something that could/should likely have been sorted out before open qualifying was set / before 2026 amateur league seasons were over (could have done more direct spots that way)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Sporting merit is at least something, but don't like expansion teams being left out of what should be a fun part of 1st year experience. Hopefully it evolves further to include everybody w/ expansion of amateur spots to make bracket work.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

My count has 53 indy D2/3 teams playing next yr, including announced expansion (54 if Armada somehow play). Very curious to see how they decide who is in/out among existing teams. Maybe combined PPG table for L1/MLSNP cause Carolina Core sits in 25th place & should not get in over a better L1 side.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Reading the press release built me up so much until I got to the part where a decent chunk of lower division pro sides will be left out. Thankful for improvement & glad USOC still exists at all but a real bummer. Can't we have one positive domestic soccer thing w/o a monkey paw side effect? lol

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

You could fit EVERYONE into the #USOC & do the entire thing in the July-Dec footprint: - ALL indy pro clubs in, including expansion - Expand field to 128 by adding 16 amateur clubs (additional league slots and/or open qualifiers) Would add only 1 game to calendar for MLS-based finalist

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

By my count there will be 53 independent D2/D3 pro clubs (including the 8 announced expansion teams across USLC/USL1/NextPro) next year. Only 37 of them will be allowed in the tournament. That sucks.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Massive disappointment that not all USL clubs are participating. Pro clubs should not have to qualify for this tournament, and expansion clubs should be eligible. Adding more amateur teams and starting everyone one measly game earlier in round one would solve it. www.ussoccer.com/stories/2026...

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I would not be opposed to this. Maybe do it via points-per-game in league play or something, Would suck for expansion teams but not too complicated to execute. My dream is every club starting in round one, like the (old 64 team) NCAA basketball tournament. 128 teams, 7 rounds, maximum wackiness.

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Some really cool boardwalks and trails off the Tamiami Trail/US-41, as close as about 35-40 minutes away from the Naples stadium. Bit of a trek in the wrong direction but Big Cypress/Everglades always an excellent nature experience (mosquitos shouldn't be *too* bad in October lol)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

What having your entire league bounced from the QFs of your own made up tournament does to a MFer (this is fantastic news)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

License plate fun fact for non-Central FL people: When they released the FL Orlando City license plates, the standard lettering/numbering sequence was on "SEA". So you see a bunch of OCSC plates around here that start with "SEB". Wild coincidence (played for OC in addition to coaching Pride)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Thought he earned a stay of execution after putting Morché in last week and getting a shutout over Washington but then this week was a stinker. Maybe the GK switch was more of a "welp nothing to lose now" move (GK coach gone too)

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

>when the WNBA Finals does a better Marlins rebrand than the Marlins

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Casually scrolling the USL Soccer feed column this morning when "guy who apparently just hangs dong and drinks coffee" was doing so today with a NM United mug

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

[disgruntled Raging Rhino noises]

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Derek Reese @dr928.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Bill's money kept the Strikers in business thru the end of 2016 (which kept me & my wife's paychecks coming in, even if late). And him holding Strikers trademarks all those years possibly kept MLS from scooping them up & mothballing forever or doing something dumb with it (B team) RIP

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