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MLS Notes: Whitecaps sign Lee, Fire extend Pause deal, league reveals new ball

Lee Young-pyo (Getty Images)

The Vancouver Whitecaps added a veteran fullback with loads of World Cup experience to his name by signing South Korean defender Lee Young-Pyo.

According to reports, the 34-year-old Lee is joining the club on a one-year deal with an option for one more. While Lee can play on either side of the field, it appears that he will play right back based on comments made by first-year manager Martin Rennie, who already has left backs Jordan Harvey and Alain Rochat in the fold. 

Lee brings a wealth of experience to the Whitecaps defense, with career stops at PSV Eindhoven, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund on his resume. He has also appeared in three World Cups — including starts in all four games for South Korea in the 2010 World Cup — and has 127 caps under his belt.

Here are a couple of more items from around MLS:

PAUSE STAYING IN CHICAGO

The Chicago Fire's captain isn't going anywhere.

Chicago announced that it came to terms on a two-year extension with Logan Pause that will keep the veteran midfielder in the Windy City through the 2013 season.

Pause, 30, has been with the Fire his entire MLS career, which spans back to 2003. He started 28 games last season and trails only C.J. Brown on the club's all-time list of games played.

MLS UNVEILS NEW BALL

Goodbye Jabulani, hello PRIME.

MLS will introduce a new match ball during the 2012 season, replacing the unpredictable adidas Jabulani with PRIME, a ball that is supposedly designed for superior consistency in all conditions.

Here's a look at the new ball:

PRIME2


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Do you think the Whitecaps have addressed a big need by signing Lee? Think Chicago made the right move by keeping Pause on board? Do you like the look of the new ball?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. This has a better graphic design to it. Maybe more importantly, the panel design is kind of unique, too. I hope it really is more stable of a ball in-flight.

    Reply
  2. so which are you going to go with, wendell? over or under 16?

    34 is a fact….one that i don’t think was highlighted enough in the article…thats all….

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  3. I was surprised to read that people had trouble seeing the silver ball. I had no issues whatsoever (watching both on a relatively small HD tv and a larger SD tv).

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  4. he’s got a valid point. Sure, its onyl a year, but at 34 he’s certainly past his prime. We talk about US defenders being over the proverbial hill for WC 2014 ie) Boca, Dolo and they’ll be the same age at WC as this guy is now. It’s totally understandable to bring his age into the equation.

    Reply
  5. From what I read once, it’s the Champion that gets to play with the Silver Ball only??? Maybe it’s MLS Cup Champion, Supporter’s Shield Champion and US Open Cup? Cause I remember seeing it often? lol

    But maybe it’s just me?

    Reply
  6. In all fairness to the Commissioner, rumors circulated by lower-level Addidas employees confirm that Don Garber tested the game-worthiness of the ball by kicking it against the side of his garage for a full half-hour before approving its use in MLS 2012. Lay off the Commish!

    Reply
  7. Please, he doesn’t sign each ball personally. They teach kids in the sweatshops how to imitate his signature and THEY sign them. They then try to forge a transfer document so they can come play for the Cosmos.

    Reply

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