DoHaeng Michael Kitchen

May 19, 2019: Kalamazoo FC (NPSL Regular Season)

dohaeng

December 20, 2019

May 19, 2019
NPSL Regular Season Match
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
Detroit City FC 2, Kalamazoo FC 3
Attendance: 5,254

Standings: 1-0-1 = 3 pts; 4th Place

DCFC Shawn Lawson (Kervin Kenton) 40′
KFC Giuseppe Vitale (PK) 58′
DCFC Max Todd 63′
KFC Dalton Michael 73′
KFC Elliot Miller 90+

Michigan provided its variety of weather today, beginning with hot, followed by rain, then tornado warnings, the rain becoming intermittent, concluding with sun. Due to such uncertainty, the annual home-opening tifo raising was postponed to the next match.

Keyworth’s newest feature: shipping container suites at the north end of the pitch.

This banner acknowledges a new supporter podcast, the 4:51 podcast.

Shawn Lawson’s goal in the 40th minute carried us into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

A penalty kick was awarded to Kalamazoo FC on a foul just inside the box. Giuseppe Vitale converted it in the 58th minute. Five minutes later, Max Todd put City back in the lead…

However, two defensive lapses in the 73rd minute and added time shifted the three points to Kalamazoo.

Overall, it was not a bad game. City dominated the first half, and things got chippy in the second. A couple of late mistakes stirred the ghosts of second-half-goals-against, quelling some of the home-opening excitement. But, we’ve also seen in the past that early losses can easily be covered in the dust of a rampant winning streak, so optimism remained high.

May 12, 2019: at Michigan Stars (NPSL Regular Season)

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December 15, 2019

May 12, 2019
NPSL Regular Season
Ultimate Soccer Arenas, Pontiac, MI
Michigan Stars 0, Detroit City FC 1
Attendance: ?

Standings: 1-0-0 3 pts, 2nd place.

Detroit City FC Shawn Lawson (PK) 30′

They crossed the US border in 2014, formerly known as FC Windsor Spartans, to join the NPSL. They called themselves FC Sparta Michigan (we refer to them as “Sharta”), and played at Hurley Field in Berkeley. That lasted a year.

In January, 2014, Dearborn Sports Enterprise purchased them, and rebranded them Michigan Stars FC. After four uneventful seasons, winning 16 of 52 matches and finishing no higher than third place (2016), the team folded.

In 2018, a 50% share of the team was sold to George Juncaj, who will be coaching the team, with two of his sons – Steven and Robert – in the line-up.

I almost didn’t take this photo. And I almost didn’t share it. This could be a reflection of Ultimate Soccer Arenas ownership/management or Michigan Stars FC ownership/managment. It does set a tone when one enters Ultimate Soccer Arenas…one that makes a person throw-up a little in the back of their throat.

This is the dome, where photos are nearly impossible to take due to the poor lightning (not even enough power to illuminate the “0” on the scoreboard). So I only have a handful of photos and a recap video for this match. When we go pro in the fall, maybe we can avoid ever having to play in this pit again.

The first regular season match went well. The team looked good, especially defensively. And the Northern Guard were in fine voice. A solid rehearsal for next week’s home opener.

May 4, 2019: at Flint City Bucks (friendly)

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December 10, 2019

May 4, 2019
Friendly
Atwood Stadium, Flint, MI
Flint City Bucks 1, Detroit City FC 0
Attendance: 4,736

Flint City Bucks: Umar Osman 35′

On October 30, 2018, the Michigan Bucks announced their move from Pontiac to Flint in the USL-2. To be fair, the Bucks have been a successful franchise on the field, winning five regular season titles and three North American Championships since 1995. They’ve beaten a few MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup as well. However, they’ve been unsuccessful in creating a supporter-base, their match day attendance trickling into three-digits.

And we’ve had our fun with them, winning two of three U.S. Open Matches against them in 2016 and 2018. So, I guess this was kind of a big deal for them to have us visit as their opponent for their inaugural match.

As expected, under the auspices of MLS-USL crowd control, we were greeted with five-pages of stadium policies, including a Patron Code of Conduct loaded with a bunch of “Do Nots”

Tenacity Brewing was our pre-match hydration station.

At around the 15-minute mark, a nasty collision forced keeper Hunter Morse to leave the pitch. Max Jewett stepped in to finish out the match.

A clean tackle by Stephen Carroll, deemed a foul by the referee, set up the free kick by Umar Osman which beat Max Jewett in the 35th minute.

All-in-all, it was a really good match, with both teams getting opportunities. This wrapped up the pre-season. With three losses and only a single goal scored, there was little concern. Just a tiny bit. On the whole, Trevor James assembled a quality cast of players to work with, and the level of play looked like an upgrade, providing a positive. With a little patience to allow the team to gel, we were ready for the season to begin. Our first test would be the following weekend, in the tin-can where these Bucks used to play, against the returning Michigan Stars.

April 20, 2019: Michigan State University (Friendly)

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December 1, 2019

April 20, 2019
Friendly
The Corner Ballpark, Detroit, MI
Detroit City FC 1, Michigan State University 2
Attendance: ?

MSU Giuseppe Barone 15′
MSU Giuseppe Barone 19′
DCFC Tommy Buono (George Chomakov)

Our first match of the year was a friendly in Chattanooga on April 6, 2019. Yes, Chattanooga FC and the Chattahooligans are our best frenemies, and the trip was not only a tune-up for both teams, but to support CFC. A few of their previous owners defected and teamed up with a Utah investor to bring a USL League 1 team into Chattanooga, known as the Red Wolves. April 6th was the Red Wolves’ home opener. The friendly with our southern brethren was to show support for Chattanooga FC. I had made plans to make the drive, however a flu sidelined me earlier in the week. I’m sure the warm weather would have helped, but I would need to have survived the 9+ hour drive, each-way. Wisdom took over and I cancelled the hotel reservations.

Instead, I went to the watch party at our new Detroit City Fieldhouse and City Clubhouse. Located at 3401 East Lafayette in Detroit, the Clubhouse is the bar/restaurant/gathering place elevated between two indoor soccer pitches at the Detroit City Fieldhouse. The facility opened on October 27th, with an alumni game on the boarded field.

I’d highly recommend this as the go-to place when City are on the road. Great atmosphere and food – minus the smoke.

Chattanooga FC won the friendly, 1-0, on a 52nd minute laser shot by Markus Smarzoch.

Two weeks later, Detroit City FC played a friendly against Michigan State University at The Corner Ballpark in Detroit. It was chilly and, up until an hour before the match, rainy.

You know if you’re wearing Detroit Vipers’ merch, I’m taking a photo!

MSU keeper Hunter Morse prevents a goal.

Guiseppe Barone (10) scored in the 15th and 19th minutes to give MSU a 2-0 lead.

Tommy Buono cut the City deficit in half by scoring in the 31st minute.

After conceding the first two goals in the opening 20 minutes, City dominated the remainder of the first half and cut the deficit. The game tightened in the second half. Overall, it was a fun afternoon supporting Detroit City FC after the long nine months since last season’s final match.

November 28, 2019: Spinning around the sun – my first year of indoor cycling.

dohaeng

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November 28, 2019

* My Detroit City FC Scrapbook.

** Rebel Cycle Studio website.
*** Book Review: A Critical Look at Positive Thinking.

Photo after a spin class, hanging out at the Detroit City Clubhouse.

Highest Average Power – November 13, 2019

Highest Average RPM – November 19, 2019

Highest Miles – August 28, 2019

Highest Maximum RPMs – November 19, 2019

Highest Maximum Power – August 24, 2019

This beat the previous maximum power so significantly. And I never saw the 567 hit during my sprinting. It felt odd to change it on the board to make it my new high.

I feel better about claiming this 493 on October 2, 2019 as my highest maximum, because I saw it pop up on the display while I was sprinting hard.

October 27, 2019: The American Writers Museum

dohaeng

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October 27, 2019

On September 14, 2019, Detroit City FC paid a visit to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to play the Milwaukee Torrent in an NPSL Members Cup match. The day before, I drove to Milwaukee. On the way, I made a stop at the American Writers Museum in Chicago.

The first section focused on children’s literature, with several hands-on exhibits for the kids. On a massive wall was a mural of a tree populated by squirrels reading various children’s books.

The next section was a historic timeline of notable American writers, telling the story of the development of American writing. Along the opposite wall was audio or visual media featuring American writers.

Many of the writers along the timeline were interesting and unheard of (at least in my public and college courses). Most interesting was Susanna Rowson whose fictional character actually has a tombstone in New York City.

The other that stood out was Richard Wright. I had read three of his works earlier this year; Native Son, Black Boy, and a collection of his haiku. The display didn’t mention the haiku.

Oh, but then around the corner, there it was: Mind of a Writer!

To the left, a display of typewriters previously owned/used by famous writers.

I could post the photos of these typewriters, but I’ll leave you to see them for yourselves. However I will show you my favorite one. Orson Welles. Cool wooden veneer, and signed!

Now, onto the typewriters to play with.

IBM Selectric II, the make of typewriter similarly used by Alex Haley, David Sedaris, Hunter S. Thompson and Charles Bukowski.

1964 Royal Empress, the chosen typewriter of Hugh Hefner, David Letterman, and Helen Gurley Brown.

1966 Olympia SM8, used by Evan S. Connell and Tennessee Williams (who used several different models during his career).

1960 Olympia SG1, a favorite of Harlan Ellison, William S. Burroughs, Stan Lee and Bob Dylan.

A 1931 Royal Portable is similar to those used by Vladimir Nabokov, Jean Stafford, Jerry Siegel, Bernard Malamud, Damon Runyon, and Will Rogers.

A 1942 Underwood, which would be similar to the one Tom Wolfe used.

1947 Royal Quiet De Luxe, which Edward R. Murrow, Anne Sexton, Clifford Odets, and Steven King would use.

Time for me to play!

In the 1942 Underwood, someone had begun a story, so I advanced it.

That was fun! I wonder how it ended.

There were other hands-on displays within The Writer’s Mind section, like this interactive Create Your Own Dialogue. The user chooses the characters and action, then writes the dialogue.

Spotted this bit about the book store, highlighting Borders.

Yes, I had a blast here. Even had a cool gift shop which included Richard Polt’s The Typewriter Revolution, and I came home with a nifty tie.

You can visit the American Writers Museum Website HERE.

August 10, 2019: 2nd Annual Type-In at Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI

dohaeng

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August 10, 2019

On August 3, 2019, Literati Bookstore and Charly’s Typewriter Collection and Repair, hosted its 2nd Annual Type-In on August 3, 2019. Last year’s event was so much fun that I loaded up the 1954 Olivetti Lettera 22, and headed out to Ann Arbor, MI.

Around 6:30, the typers arrived. A variety of unique keyboards ready for fingertips to dance upon.

My little Olivetti found a home between two of his kin – an Olivetti Lettera 32 to the left, an OIivetti MS 25 to the right.

The typing commenced. A lot of typewriter test-driving was going on, with a few people sticking to their own.

I tested out a couple. My favorite was the 1961 Olympia SM3. Though my fingers stumbled along its keyboard, I love the cursive script font. So much so, it drew a rough haiku from me.

Many would argue that I have rescued too many typewriters from estate sale purgatory, but I do want to find one that has this cursive script. I know some collectors are not fond of the font, but I find it appealing.

And my Olivetti was not jealous, as he was receiving love from those who typed on him. This sheet was left in it as I packed up at the end of the event.

The video I recorded captures the beauty of not only the machines but the music of the keystrokes, bells, and chatter of fellow typers. I also had to record the action on the stunning, green, 1920 Oliver No. 9.

Until next year…Type On!

Charly’s Typewriter Collection and Repair

Literati Bookstore

More typed pages

July 26, 2019 – Typing Assignment #22

dohaeng

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July 26, 2019

It’s been a while since Joe Van Cleave provided the typing community with a typing assignment, but here we are!

Typing Assignment #22 is to write about a summer road trip. I thought I was going to miss this assignment. Partially because of life’s general busyness, and mostly because I couldn’t locate a trip worthy of writing about. There have been many family road trips – both as a kid and as a parent – but I didn’t think any of them would be interesting to a casual reader. Then, as the playoffs for Detroit City FC approached and I was preparing for a potential away match, I realized that I had some wild experiences on Detroit City FC road trips.

This is about our first visit to FC Indiana in Lafayette, IN. Photos and video of the day can be found HERE.

This was typed on my latest find – a 1953 Olivetti Lettera 22 with an Italian keyboard (which was interesting to type on).

For more Typing Assignments and other typing entries, go HERE.

July 31, 2018: Frosinone Calcio

dohaeng

3 comments

June 12, 2019

July 31, 2018
International Friendly
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
Detroit City FC 0, Frosinone Calcio 10
Attendance: 7,887

FC Camilio Ciano (Cristian Molinaro) 7′
FC Edoardo Goldaniga 17′
FC Paolo Sammarco 28′
FC Paolo Sammarco (Christian Molinaro) 30′
FC Brad Centala (DCFC Own Goal) 48′
FC Paolo Ghiglione 53′
FC Emmanuel Besea (Camilio Ciano) 61′
FC Luca Matarese 66′
FC Paolo Ghiglione 85′

A rainy Tuesday night, international friendly and last match of the year. Could have been a downer. A 10-0 loss could have been depressing.

Instead, it was a blast.

Frosinone Calcio is a newly promoted team into Serie A from Frosinone, Lazio. Their home pitch, Stadio Benito Stirpe, has a grass turf. The stadium broke ground in 1974 but didn’t open until 2017.

Founding members of Ciociaro Club in Canada have roots in Frosinone, and hosted the club prior to the match. Busloads crossed the Detroit River in order to watch the team play. With their help, and the Detroit City FC community, the game’s attendance of 7,887 was the largest in our seven-year history.

You’ll notice the Stand With Chatta two-stick. Our brothers – Chattanooga FC – experienced the jolt of having a Board member and their General Manager leave the club, to join a Utah investor in putting a USL D-III team in Chattanooga. Chattanooga FC is a community-modeled team that have grown large crowds to their NPSL club over the last decade. The announcement sparked controversy because the USL team would fall under the MLS umbrella of ‘franchise’ teams versus community. We strongly support Chattanooga FC and their supporters’ group, The Chattahooligans.

The ten goals run up by the Serie A team may seem demoralizing, but not for us. Without a goal, and the final match of the season, there was a lot of smoke to use up, and in the final five minutes, the Northern Guard Supporters found a way to keep Frosinone from scoring an eleventh. We smoked them out.

And, typical of our international friendlies, our guest joined in celebrating with our team and supporters.

This was the best 10-0 loss ever. Of course, it concluded with the traditional pitch-wide Tetris.

July 24, 2018: Windsor TFC

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June 1, 2019

July 24, 2018
International Friendly
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI
Detroit City FC 4, Windsor TFC 0
Attendance: 7,097

DCFC Shawn Lawson (Kervin Kenton) 38′
DCFC Kervin Kenton (Jeff Adkins) 51′
DCFC Trevor Amann (Jeff Adkins) 73′
DCFC Trevor Amann (Cyrus Saydee) 78′

This tends to be the final match day of the season, and is generally a party atmosphere before the long layoff. It is also the match where The Black Arrow Award is presented to Detroit City FC’s Most Valuable Player.

On this Tuesday night, it was amazing the number of fans who showed filled Keyworth.

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this on any of the previous match pages, but in the Scottish Register of Tartans, the Northern Guard has registered its own design. John Sarge, below, models the tartan kilt.