Been an interesting week on the travel, BP Fam and “work” side of things….

More Pics after the Jump…… 

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Look, here at the BP_TOW frathouse, we keep Jay on heavy rotation… This album started at an 8 for me the day I got a copy and its getting better with every listen. First week out, dude sold 475k+ albums in an environment where you don’t really sell records anymore… crazy… Here is a cool look at what went into the album artwork… check out the interview after the jump with the photog that made it happen… (more…)

As most of you who visit this site know, a lot of what I talk about is the culture and lifestyle of American soccer. For a while now I have wanted to start a project on TOW that explores the culture of soccer in the US, but from a strictly visual medium. A digital lookbook of the vast soccer culture that is taking place throughout the United States.

Even though the sport faces some difficult challenges here in the US, it has not only survived but continues to flourish. And that is because of the fans around the country that are involved and participate with the sport on a daily basis. So I’m going to be starting a new photo project here on TOW that explores the culture of the sport around the country. From rec leagues, to fans watching games in pubs, pickup games on the beach, fans tailgating, post work matches behind a building, abandoned soccer fields, professional games, etc. All of this, and much more, makes up the soccer culture here in the US and I want to document it via photographs and share it here on TOW. I’ll be taking lots of pictures, and sharing them, but I can’t capture what all of you see and do in your daily soccer lives. So I’m going to ask for your help.

Send in pictures that you take that are soccer related / inspired and we’ll make sure and get them on here. If you can send a little info like when the picture was taken, where, and any other relevant info that would be great. This is going to be kind of like a digital quilt that is made up of images from soccer fans around the country. At least that is my hope.

I’ll go ahead and get this started. I wanted the first picture to be something that had some meaning to me. The goal you see in this picture is from the field at the elementary school I went to when I first moved to Los Angeles as a kid. Nothing about it has changed since I went to school there. There is still no net and the grass is usually overgrown with weeds. But it didn’t matter. I learned a lot about soccer at a young age on this field and it still has a special place for me. Every once in awhile I’ll drive by it and there is a new generation of young soccer players practicing on it and I can’t help but wonder where the sport will be in this country when they grow up.

Location: Golden Springs Elementary School

Date: 2009

Send your pictures to ben[ @ ]theoriginalwinger[ . ]com

Goalkeeper Arturt Boruc of Poland runs away from torches fire thrown by Slovenian supporters into the field during the World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match between Slovenia and Poland in Maribor, some 100 kilometers from capital Ljubljana, on September 9, 2009.

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David Beckham right, grapples with FC Dallas’ Daniel Hernandez during a scuffle after their match, on Saturday night, in Carson, Calif. FC Dallas won 6-3.

David Beckham could face MLS disciplinary action for the second time in a month.

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Jozy Altidore of the U.S. celebrates scoring a goal against El Salvador during the first half of their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match in Sandy, Utah. 

It’s a great shot of Altidore high in the air.  Check out the reactions of the fans - I love the expression on the face of the girl with the scarf.   The whole scene is almost like an updated Norman Rockwell painting.

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Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger gestures to the referee from the stands after being sent off during the Manchester United vs Arsenal match.

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An Israeli family plays soccer together on the beach in the southern city of Ashkelon August 23, 2009.

Image and Story via Daylife