But despite their woeful past, the New York area has helped in the development of 22% of the United States National team that is heading to South Africa for the World Cup.

You read that right. 22%. (Well, 21.739%, but hey, who’s counting?)

How’s that for a conundrum?

Five of the teams 23 players, at one point or another, made their profession right here in the New York area. And some were cultivated here well before that.

Here is a look at the Tri-State area’s contribution to your 2010 US Men’s National Team:

We will start with New Jersey native, Tim Howard, the cream of the New York crop. Howard was acquired as a 19 year old from the USISL’s North Jersey Imperials, where the Metrostars former goalkeeping coach, Tim Mulqueen, first spotted the young talent. Though he made an appearance for the team in ‘98, he saw his first real action in the dreadful 1999 season, where the team accumulated all of 7 wins for the season (with Howard manning the backline for one of those tallies).

He split his time with the Under 20’s for the Olympics, cultivating the grounds for his future post as the countries premier keeper. By 2001, Howard began to break out into the star everyone anticipated him to be. He was named MLS’s Goalkeeper of the Year, registering four shutouts and 146 saves, and earning himself a trip to the MLS All Star game in the process. His stellar play carried the Metro through 2003 before he caught Manchester United’s eye. They quickly swooped in on the promising youngster, and handing him the reigns to their nets over legendary French star Fabien Barthez.

Now that is what I call a story you can be proud of.

Another New Jersey product, Michael Bradley, also chipped his professional tooth with the Metrostars. After suffering an injury that kept him out of the 2004 season, he came back hungry following season, gaining starting status at the age of 18, and appearing with the team a total of 31 times. Besides being known as a fiery and physical player, he would make his mark with the franchine in 2005 with a dramatic goal against Chivas USA that would propel the team to the playoffs. By 2006, he became the youngest player in MLS history to be sold at transfer to a foreign league.

Next on the list; Ricardo Clark. He began his professional career with the Metrostars in 2003. He was a front runner for MLS rookie of the year that season, and a vital part of the teams success in the midfield. New York would be the place where Clark began to cement his reputation as a hard nosed bulldog with a deft pass, manning the central midfield for the team, representing the team well in regular and postseason play during his time with the team.

New Rochelle’s finest, Edson Buddle, came through both the New York youth systems and it’s professional ranks. Playing the youth leagues in Westchester, and seeing time with the Long Island Rough Riders, Buddle finally made his way to the Pro’s with the Crew. It wasn’t until 2006 where the young, lanky forward plied his profession at home, with the Red Bulls organization. Traded for fan favorite Eddie Gaven and Chris Leitch, the youngster was already behind the eight ball coming into the team, and never had a decent chance to impress. Through various poor appearances, he would be forced out of town by the end of the season through the expansion draft.

And then there is Jozy Altidore. The Jersey Born striker was taken seventeenth overall in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, with the Metrostars trading up to make his selection. After spending most of the year away from the team earning his High School diploma, Jozy began to see regular minutes by seasons end, scoring three crucial goals in seven appearances, including the lone team goal in an aggregate playoff loss to rivals DC United. He became a household name amongst the Red Bull faithful, and it wouldn’t take long for the rest of the world to take notice. By the 2008 season, Villarreal would buy Jozy for an MLS transfer record $10 million.

And the icing on the cake? Even Coach and New Jersey native Bob Bradley plied his trade here, coaching the team through the 2003-2005 campaigns. How’s that suit you?

So keep this in mind when your United States Men’s National Team takes the pitch; New York owns one fifth of that team. And that is something to be damn proud of.

Share your thoughts on the United States team, the World Cup and your New York Red Bulls, after the jump.

To quote the internet generation . . .

LOLZ

Asked if Altidore had put the twit in Twitter, an unimpressed Brown replied: “I’d have put an ‘a’ in it.”

Now that is the kind of comment Maradona would be proud of!

But the Prem is a different beast all together, and when your squad is in desperate need for goals, even a prolonged punishment to your young star striker may be a lesson the team can not afford to dish out. Jozy found some pitch time in the 58th minute, subbing in for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in hopes of igniting some sort of spark to the attack. Burnley’s Graham Alexander had other plans, as he netted a brace that proved to be too much for the Tiger’s to handle.

This seems to conclude the first public issue of Jozy Altidores young Prem career. And from the looks of it, he won’t be relegated to the bosses dog house. Let’s just hope Hull City follows suit and stays away from relegation as well.

“Apologize to the all of you. I showed up late. Made a big mistake I’m very very sorry”

Putting out a tweet like that amidst the English media is like throwing chum into shark infested waters. Soon, reporters picked up on it, and by the end of the game, manager Phil Brown was chewing out his young striker for having the audacity to post in house news to the world. The punishment? Jozy is being fined two weeks pay.

Ouch.

Not the biggest grievance ever for the striker to deal with, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time. All in all, his tenure in Hull City had started with a blast, and has fizzled like a sparkler. Adding this type of no-no to his reputation will not help the young American star find time on the pitch. Knowing Jozy, the kid is respectful to a fault, and most likely meant nothing in the gesture but the best. But was he wrong for doing what he did? Share your thoughts.

img credit: Sky Sports

So how has Jozy Altidore done in his transfer to the Hull City Tigers? Well, lets just say the kids got game.

Here was Jozy’s first professional EPL assist, a crucial game changer that helped Hull City net their first win of the campaign (watch from 3:25 on):

The kid has a nose for goal. What else can be said?

Now if that wasn’t enough, Jozy took less than a week to score his first goal; this time, in the Carling Cup against Southend. Yes, I know its Southend, but even the small teams can pack quite a dangerous punch (just ask Man U!). He blasted a shot from 30 yards out that found the bottom left for the second (and eventual game winning) goal of the match.

The King of New York and Jersey is on fire.

Hull, Everton and Fulhamerica are all in the running. My fingers are crossed for Fulham, of course (and wouldn’t that be cool to see Jozy in black and red again?). One report out of England sites a Hull City offer of 6.5 million pounds for the youngster, roughly the equivalent of what Villarreal paid for the kid in the first place.

Hull and Fulham in particular offer a competitive environment for Jozy to earn some much needed playing time. Being a Fulham fan myself, I can tell you that every year, around midseason, the biggest question mark is usually ‘who will be our target forward up top?’ Well, all I have to say to that would be “Jozy to the rescue!”

Local product done good! What do you think about Jozy’s transfer talk?

ESPN will be broadcasting a huge showdown between the US and a surging Costa Rica at Estadio Saprissa. You want to know how hardcore this game is? Look no further than United States Legend, Eric Wynalda, who gave his take of the game on Facebook:

USA vs Costa Rica tonight at 7pm (west coast). By far, the hardest place to play in our region. Gotta get in, get it done and get the hell out of there before they start throwing batteries inside of baggies full of calves blood. (yes that really happens.)

You feel me? This one is going to be a doozy.

And this game also promises to highlight some of the Metro Bulls Alumni. Lead by Coach Bob Bradley, the team may feature some time with Ricardo Clark (who will be filling the injured Maurice Edu’s spot), Michael Bradley, Tim Howard, Marvell Wynne and Jozy Altidore against a strong Costa Rican side. It’s like cheering for two of your favorite teams at once (or something like that).

Catch the game tonight, 9:30pm (pregame) on ESPN2.

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

I will have a game preview up for tomorrow most likely, but after a horrible and turbulant flight, all I want to do is hit the hay.

I am now in Houston Texas for Wrestlemania (and for that Booker T Legends of Wrestling event, the Ring of Honor Event, and the induction of Stone Cold to the Hall of Fame).

Forgive what will be my lack of posting. Either way, I will do my best to update the site as much as possible.

For a bit of RBNY news, Brian Lewis at the Post is reporting the possibility of Celades and Carlos Johnson debuting this weekend – what a coo!

And also, big ups to our boy Jozy Altidore for his hat trick, along with former Metros Tim Howard and Michael Bradley who are really holding things down at the National Team level.

Its good to be Metro Bull.

Ill be back tomorrow! Time to take a nap!