Thursday Throw-Ins: SI and Soccer America approve, Torres beats out Ruiz and Union squad gets new insoles

Philadelphia Union in need of their young talent to develop – Tobias Lopez – SI.com
Fortunately for the American soccer community, some have learned their lessons from a history thankfully now devoid of the Burn, Clash, Mutiny and Wiz. It should come as no surprise that Philadelphia, a city so rich in history, achieved perfection in its branding and identity. Philly got it right from the very beginning and its no coincidence that the Union name, logo and overall identity of the club gained immediate credibility from the Philadelphia soccer community.

SoccerAmerica – Newcomer Philadelphia had rough start, good finish 10/21/2010
OUTLOOK. A year after filling its roster from the expansion draft, Nowak and his staff will plot which players to protect with the two newest teams, Vancouver and Portland, preparing to make their selections Nov. 24. Though team management has stated it’s not interested in pursuing a Designated Player, it is definitely expecting to make the playoffs, which would require an improvement of at least 10 points from its total of 31 this season (8-14-7). With Nowak’s contacts in Europe and powers of persuasion, a move could be made if the right player is found at the right price. He’s already instilled a work ethic and spirit that a raucous fan base in a sports-crazy city demands. “The expectations are good but they are realistic,” says Nowak. “We have done a lot of work with the players and they have pushed themselves very hard to be better. That’s a very positive sign. But we are still developing as a group. We are pleased with where we are right now but we are looking for more. That is the future.”

The Philadelphia Union Beat The Philadelphia Phillies At Something – Four For Four – SB Nation Philly
Philadelphia Union midfielder Roger Torres beat out Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher J.C. Romero and catcher Carlos Ruiz to win the “Best Hispanic Professional Athlete” award at the Hispanic Choice Awards Ceremony Thursday night.

Philadelphia Union Scores Big With UNEQUAL Insoles – MarketWatch
UNEQUAL Technologies (http://www.unequal.com/), the premier provider of shock-blocking sports products with a focus on footcare, today announced that they are outfitting the Union team with the company's UNEQUAL(R) Thin Sporty Insoles. In an effort to help reduce the painful aftermath of running up and down the soccer field, UNEQUAL Technologies provided the team with shock-absorbing insoles that were specifically designed and contoured for cleats. These insoles significantly lessen the chance of injury on and off the field by blocking chronic impact shock ("CIS") up to 80%.