plus 1, Troy Perkins Shipped to Portland from D.C. United; Bill Hamid Destined for No. 1 Job - FanHouse

Troy Perkins Shipped to Portland from D.C. United; Bill Hamid Destined for No. 1 Job - FanHouse

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:42 PM PST

December 17 2010 Last updated at 06:45 PM ET

For D.C. United and 20-year-old goalkeeper Bill Hamid, it looks like the future is now.

United shipped veteran keeper Troy Perkins (right) to the Portland Timbers on Friday in exchange for goalkeeper Steve Cronin and allocation money, paving the way for Hamid to take the No. 1 job on a full-time basis.

The move marks the end of Perkins' inconsistent return to the nation's capital, where he played from 2004 to 2007 before coming back in a blockbuster trade before the 2010 season. Perkins, 29, started 22 league contests for the Black and Red last year but never regained the form that won him 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors.

The weight of hefty expectations may have led to Perkins' D.C. downfall. United paid Philadelphia a handsome price to secure his rights, sending midfielder Fred, its seventh overall SuperDraft pick and allocation money to the Union.

Cronin returns to D.C., where he played on loan from Portland late in the 2009 season, starting United's final two games as the club made an unsuccessful last-gasp push for the playoffs. The 27-year-old spent the past two campaigns with the Timbers in the second division after previously playing in MLS with the Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes.

Hamid, an athletically imposing homegrown signing, became the youngest goalkeeper to win a match in MLS history when he started United's 2-1 win over Kansas City in May, toppling Tim Howard's record by five days. He filled in for Perkins on eight occasions during the regular season before lingering shoulder and knee injuries ended his campaign in September.

On the surface, the move makes sense for all parties involved. Although United will be on the books for part of Perkins' salary during the 2011 season, according to The Washington Post, the club was smart to more or less purge itself of his hefty paychecks.

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Simply put, it was not financially feasible for United to keep Perkins, who was the second-highest paid goalkeeper in the league last year (behind Seattle's Kasey Keller), with the immensely talented Hamid waiting in the wings.

By acquiring Cronin, D.C. added a dependable but reasonably priced insurance policy should Hamid not return from injury in time for March's season opener.

Perkins, meanwhile, could use a fresh start, and the expansion Timbers most certainly provide that opportunity. Perkins worked his way into the U.S. national team picture during his two-year stint with Norwegian side Valerenga, and he seemed locked in as Bob Bradley's third-string goalkeeper after starting five games at the 2009 Gold Cup, however his early struggles last season cost him a chance at the World Cup squad. He finished 2010 with a 1.68 goals against average and a 3-15-4 record.

Despite those less-than-impressive numbers, Portland will embrace having an experienced presence to organize its back line, which thus far is an exceptionally young unit.

It was the second trade between United and the MLS newcomers after D.C. sent left back Rodney Wallace to the Pacific Northwest for central midfielder Dax McCarty in an expansion draft-day swap.

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Start an Exciting Career as a Red Carpet Photographer - YAHOO!

Posted: 28 Dec 2010 05:56 AM PST

Learn what it takes to start and maintain a career as a Red Carpet Photographer from a seasoned professional. The newly launched website for The Red Carpet University at http://www.tear-sheets.net details every step necessary to show an amateur or experienced shooter how to master the art of Red Carpet Photography.

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 28, 2010

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Sooner or later, many of these photographers are faced with the challenge of shooting a Red Carpet event. Shooting a Red Carpet event is unlike shooting any other kind of event. Red Carpet Photography could be compared to shooting sports. Even a seasoned professional photographer who has no or little experience shooting Red Carpet will find it challenging at first. Experts in this kind of photography are constantly approached by amateur photographers as well as seasoned professional photographers asking how to effectively shoot Red Carpet events with consistent results. The Red Carpet University addresses those issues. The Red Carpet University website is located at http://www.tear-sheets.net.

The people who should benefit from this site are photographers who choose to specialize in Red Carpet Photography and Pro Shooters who know how to shoot, but want to be prepared to go to work with the right equipment, approach and skill set to survive a Red Carpet Shoot and get exceptional results. Some the topics that will be covered include The Basics, The Business and The Techniques. Within each of those topics are sub topics that explain in great detail what equipment is needed, how to set camera equipment, where to find work and what is expected of professional editorial entertainment news photographers. Email and phone support is available. Hours are 9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday. Evening and in person lessons can be arranged for residents in New York City. Travel for group lessons can also be arranged.

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STEVE MACK
S.D. Mack Pictures
(917) 202-4358
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