Category Archives: Cf

Denis Poroy/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.com

The demise of Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen has been greatly exaggerated.

At least thats the way Cutch is making it seem this summer.

As the calendar flips to August, the 30-year-old mainstay is on an extended tear thats helped turn around an abysmal season for himself and the team.

McCutchen put a bow on July by slugging three home runs against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. In the months of June and July, McCutchen is batting .367 (65-for-177) with 14 homers, 42 runs batted in 11 doubles and 44 runs scored.

The resurgence is a welcome sight for Pirates fans beginning to worry about their center fielders future. McCutchen struggled throughout the 2016 campaign, ending a streak of five straight All-Star selections that included the 2013 National League Most Valuable Player award three other top-five finishes.

McCutchen ended last year with the worst slash line of his big-league career in all three categories .256/.336/.430. That kind of underwhelming performance at the plate then carried into the 2017 season and concern mounted. After an 0-for-5 day against the Atlanta Braves on May 23, McCutchens average dipped down to .200 and he had only six home runs and 20 RBI through 45 games.

The slow start added fuel to burning trade rumors that predicted the nine-year veteran didnt have much longer in black and gold.

Fast-forward two-plus months and the slash line is up to a McCutchen-like .292/.385/.535. The average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage are all team-highs and hes also Pittsburghs top home run hitter (22), run producer (66 RBI) and run scorer (68).

Wins took a little longer to catch up. After falling to a season-worst nine games under .500 (37-46) on July 3, the Bucs have won 14 of 22 and enter an eight-game homestand at 51-54. Pittsburgh remains a long-shot to reach its fourth postseason in five years, but the Pirates are within 5 1/2 games of the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs and 8 1/2 games of the second wild card berth, currently held by the Colorado Rockies.

The non-waiver trade deadline passed at 4 p.m., Monday afternoon and McCutchen remains in a Pirates uniform. That could still change, but Cutch is proving hes got a lot of high-level baseball left to play.

Eric Horchy is a staff writer withOutsidePitchMLB.com. You can follow and interact with him on Twitter:@EricHorchy

2017Andrew McCutchenBaseballBuccosBucsmajor league baseballMLBMLB StandingsNational LeagueNL CentralOutsidePitchMLBPittsburgh PiratesPNC Parkregular seasonSports

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Pittsburgh Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen's lengthy tear - OutsidePitchMLB

"The Real Madrid Kika Keyboard is a great opportunity for Real Madrid to create even more engagement between the club and our 500 million fans worldwide," said Rafa de los Santos Navarros, Global Digital Director, Real Madrid.

Kika's mission is to provide users with a seamless mobile experience that allows them to freely express their ideas. The Kika ecosystem includes its award-winning, Kika Emoji Keyboard app, which has received Google's Best of 2016 and Top Developer in 2015. Kika partnerships include Huawei, ZTE, 21st Century Fox and Warner Bros., amongst others. Kika has also been ranked a top productivity app in more than 77 countries. With 300M downloads, 26M DAU and 50M MAU, it's not surprising that leading mobile manufacturers and movie studios partner with the company.

"There are over 26 million people using Kika everyday," said Bill Hu, Co-Founder and CEO, Kika Tech. "With the Real Madrid Kika Keyboard, the team has a new way to connect with its fans and Madridistas have a new way to connect with each other."

About Kika Tech

Say it with Kika!Make everyday interactions more engaging and fun with Kika.Integrating into smart devices,Kika enhances self-expression that goes beyond mobile platforms. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), Kika enriches the emotional connection between individuals, in this technology driven world. Keep up to date with Kika onFacebook,LinkedIn,Instagram, andTwitter.

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Kika Now The Exclusive Mobile App Keyboard For Real Madrid CF - PR Newswire (press release)

The new La Liga season is still weeks away, but try telling Miami that Saturday nights El Clasico at a sold-out Hard Rock Stadium is meaningless.

For the first time in over 35 years, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid C.F. will meet on foreign soil. Its also the first encounter between the two sides in the United States.

Back in 1982, the match staged post-season in Venezuela, coming just before that years World Cup, was so nondescript it wasnt even shown on television in Europe.

Fast forward to 2017, however, and this encounter has morphed into a huge global event which has gripped a soccer-mad city and ensured the now annual International Champions Cup exhibition tournament will remain a permanent fixture on the sporting calendar for years to come.

TV network ESPN have transplanted a crew of 25 reporters and presenters to South Florida to help produce wall-to-wall coverage.

Their daily Sports Center news show will be on-site in Miami and, at a time of the year where the NFL, NBA and NHL are in hibernation, the timing couldnt have been better.

The game has long since sold out -- tickets on the black market are now costing upwards of $900 (770 euros) each -- although only 30% were bought by fans in the South Florida region, with the remainder being snapped up by the rest of the United States as well as people in 50 countries.

Football supporters from Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Honduras will all descend on the recently renovated home of the NFLs Miami Dolphins while the city itself is basking in the glow of a fun filled festival of soccer.

A legends game at the Casa Clasico event at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami on Friday sees legends such as Patrick Kluivert, Fernando Hierro and Carlos Puyol among others all dust down their boots once again and recreate the magic moments of yesteryear.

Live music and DJs will keep fans entertained and on Saturday watch parties on huge TV screens are planned for those unlucky enough to miss out on a ticket as well as allowing the casual fan to get a unique taste of what this match actually means.

Travel companies have also been offering special El Clasico packages with prices, including stadium tickets and hotel stays in luxurious South Beach properties, starting from $750 per night.

Naturally, both sides are in the middle of pre-season preparations and have been travelling across the United States for the past two weeks along with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur.

Yet such a mouthwatering rivalry ensures that whenever Real and Barca meet, interest abounds. The build up has, invariably, been centered around incredibly priced incomings -- and possible departures -- both at the Camp Nou and the Bernabeu.

Neymar adds intrigue

Neymar, Barcas Brazilian superstar, has been consistently linked with a record breaking move to French giants Paris St Germain, who have also been in America, while Real are believed to be closing in on Monacos young star Kylian Mbappe for a fee which could eclipse 180 million euros.

Furthermore, while Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is still basking in the glory of winning the La Liga and Champions League double, new Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverdes reign has yet to begin in earnest.

Having to contend with the Neymar situation and everything surrounding it wasnt what the former Barcelona forward would have hoped for so early into his tenure.

Meaningless? Perhaps. Yet Hugo Sanchez, the legendary Mexican striker who scored an astonishing 208 goals in 283 games for Los Blancos during a glorious spell which stretched from 1985 to 1992, knows exactly what it means when these two giants of the game collide.

Its the most important game in Spain but given the technological advances we have in the world, it should be known as El global Clasico, said Sanchez. For those lucky enough to be at the match, they will have an opportunity of a lifetime.

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$900 a ticket! FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid CF El Clasico fever grips Miami - Hindustan Times

The Italian health insurance systemhas agreed to cover cystic fibrosispatients use ofVertex PharmaceuticalsOrkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor).

Those eligible for the Italian Medicines Agency coverage are patients 12 and older who have two copies of a particular mutation of the gene that is defective in the disease. That is the F508del mutation of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator, or CFTR, gene.

The Agencia Italiana del FarmacosOrkambi initiative is aimed both atlowering the drugs price and helping more patients obtain access to it. Italys efforts are part of a bigger European initiative. The British and French health insurance systems are continuing to negotiate Orkambi supply and price deals with Vertex.

F508del is a deletion mutation of the CFTR gene, which means that part of the normal gene is missing. The mutation generatesdefective CFTR protein, which leads to inflammation and mucus buildup in the lungs, digestive track, and elsewhere. These problems can cause severe respiratory and digestive dysfunction, as well as other complications like infections.

Two copies of the F508del mutation can result in little-to-no CFTR protein at the cell surface where it is needed.

Orkambi is a combination therapy composed of lumacaftor and ivacaftor. Lumacaftor is designed to increase the amount of mature protein at the cell surface, and ivacaftor to enhance the activity of the CFTR protein once it reachesthe surface.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Orkambifor the treatment of CF in July 2015.

It based its approval on results of two clinical trials, TRAFFIC (NCT01807923) and TRANSPORT (NCT01807949). Those studies showed that the drug,taken as two pills every 12 hours, improved lung function in CF patients, when compared with a placebo. It also reduced pulmonary exacerbation rates.

We are pleased to have reached this agreement on behalf of CF patients inItalywho have been waiting for this important medicine, Simon Bedson, senior vice president of Vertex, said in a press release. We continue negotiations with other countries, includingFranceand theUnited Kingdom, and we encourage these national health authorities and governments to work quickly with us to achieve reimbursement for all patients who may benefit.

Italys countrywide sign-off means that regional health coverage authorities there will begin making Orkambi available to patients who are eligible for it.

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CF Patients in Italy to Gain Access to Orkambi Under National ... - Cystic Fibrosis News Today

StockNewsTimes

Analyst's Predictions on The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW), CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) StockNewsJournal CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF), maintained return on investment for the last twelve months at -1.91, higher than what Reuters data shows regarding industry's average. The average of this ratio is 6.98 for the industry and sector's best figure ... Now Is The Time To Reconsider The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW), CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF)AllStockNews all 54 news articles »

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Analyst's Predictions on The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW), CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) - StockNewsJournal

Sema4 and Helix have partnered to offer CarrierCheck, a simple, saliva-based test that screens for 67 hereditary conditions, including cystic fibrosis (CF).

The test provides people with a snapshot of their DNA and how it might impact their future choices, lifestyle and childrens health, among others. The partners created it to increase peoples awareness of their genetic history.

Sema4 is a health information company committed to providing open access to data and creating practical tools to help patients, doctors, and researchers better predict health trajectories. Helix is a personal genomics company whose mission is to help people improve their lives through DNA.

Sema4 and Helix are perfectly aligned in their missions to help consumers gain greater access and understanding of their personal genomic data, Dr. Eric Schadt, chief executive officer of Sema4, said in a press release. We are excited to launch CarrierCheck, our first product on the Helix platform, to empower consumers with the understanding of their own DNA and gain insights useful to their future family planning.

CarrierCheck is available online for $199 plus a one-time $80 fee for a Helix DNA kit.

Toorder a DNA kit, new customers must first create an account with Sema4, then answer a brief health history questionnaire. A physician from Sema4 will review thehealth history to ensure CarrierCheck is an appropriate optionand, once approved, the company will mail a saliva collection kit to the customer.

Helix will use the saliva to sequence a customers DNA, and store the unused part of the sample for further testing.After that, customers can access CarrierCheck and other services that Helix offers, like fitness guidance, nutritional guidance, andfamily planningadvicerooted in DNA.

When a person orders CarrierCheck, the genetic information is returned to Sema4 for analysis, and the results are then communicated to the customer. To help a person understand the report, Sema4 makes genetic counseling services available.

Onecan track the CarrierCheck order through the entire process through an online Sema4 account.

We have been working with the Sema4 team since before their spinout from Mount Sinai, and we are proud to be working with a partner that is committed to pairing clinical-grade interpretation with our high-quality sequencing, said Justin Kao, Helixs co-founder and senior vice president.

Carrier screening is one of the most well-known and sought-after types of DNA tests, and we are proud to feature CarrierCheck in our marketplace to provide people with an accessible carrier screen that also offers genetic counseling support, Kao said.

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Sema4 Partners and Helix Offering CarrierCheck, a Genetic Test for 67 Hereditary Diseases - Cystic Fibrosis News Today

CEDAR FALLS One can now literally survey the landscape, or landscaping, on reconstructed University Avenue in front of College Square and Black Hawk Village.

Work crews have installed new landscaping stones and plantings in and around several roundabouts constructed in front of the retail areas at Waterloo and Holiday roads and Boulder Drive, the first phase of the multi-year, $38.9 million project.

The first phase in front of the mall and generally between Grove Street and a point east of Waterloo Road, is about 95 percent complete, said Cedar Falls Community Development Director Stephanie Houlk Sheetz.

That work has a target completion date of July 31. Remaining work includes construction on the north frontage road generally between Waterloo and Holiday roads, as well as sidewalks and landscaping.

The second phase of work, generally from Waterloo Road to Midway Drive, will be spread over two years. Crews are about 15 percent into that phase. They are working at either end of that stretch of road, from Hillcrest Drive to Rownd Street and from Cedar Heights to Midway, with a roundabout at University and Cedar Heights.

Work on each of those sections is anticipated to be completed by about mid-November. The middle section, from Rownd to Cedar Heights, would be worked on in 2018. Rownd Street would remain a signalized intersection. Sheetz said the goal is to have both the Rownd Street and Cedar Heights Drive intersections complete by the end of the construction season in November.

The overall project calls for the narrowing of University from its previous six lanes of travel three lanes in each direction to four lanes, with two lanes of travel in each direction. Roundabouts are being installed at six of the eight previously signalized intersections. The third and final phase would be the portion under relocated Iowa Highway 58, between Boulder Drive and Main Street. The design calls for two roundabouts at the entrance and exit ramps to and from University under the interchange a double roundabout configuration sometimes referred to as a dog bone.

A major portion of University was once part of U.S. Highway 218, and then it became a state highway. The road had deteriorated significantly over the years. The state turned jursdiction of the road over to the city with $20 million to bring it up to a good maintenance condition.

Other revenues include sewer revenue bonds, local option sales tax, storm water and Cedar Falls Utilities revenues and street construction funds from the citys portion of state gas tax revenues. The city also received a $500,000 state safety grant for work at the Cedar Heights intersection and $450,000 from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association for bicycle, pedestrian and landscaping improvements.

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First phase of University Ave. work in CF nearly done - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

The camera industry is moving toward SD and microSD cards for storing images, but there are still some holdouts, especially at the high end of the market, that use larger CompactFlash (CF) cards. For the ability to read those cards with the latest MacBook and MacBook Pro models, which use only USB-C ports, we tested the Iogear USB-C 3-Slot Card Reader/Writer ($20 MSRP; $16 on Amazon).

The adapter includes three ports to accommodate SD cards, microSD cards, and CF cards, with a single USB-C plug at the end of a short (3-inch) cable for connecting with the laptop. We found it to be a perfectly capable and affordable accessory, with a few quirks.

The primary function of an adapter like this is to transfer image and video files from a memory card to the computer. One of the selling points of Iogears accessory is that it supports USB 3.1 Generation 1 SuperSpeed mode, allowing data throughput of up to 5 Gbps, or about 625 MBps.

Thats great, but its also overkill: The fastest CompactFlash cards, rated as UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) 7, read data at a maximum of 166 MBps. (A newer specification, CFast 2.0, can achieve up to a theoretical 600 MBps speed, but its not interchangeable with CompactFlash cards or readers.)

On the SD and microSD side, the Iogear adapter supports only UHS-I cards, which max out at a theoretical 104 MBps. Faster UHS-II cards include a second row of pins on the back that triple the throughput, but only work with UHS-II adapters that can read both rows.

That said, we found the Iogears performance to be solidly in the middle of the pack of other adapters we tested, which included the Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Slot Card Reader and SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II USB-C Reader.

To gauge read speeds, we copied 12.9GB of photos (684 JPEG and raw files) from a SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card rated at 95 MBps to a 2016 MacBook Pro in three passes. That resulted in an average time of 2 minutes 47 seconds, or a rate of 77.25 MBps.

We also copied 32GB of video (9 files) in three passes, occupying an average of 5 minutes 59 seconds, or a rate of about 89.5 MBps.

For the CompactFlash card, we copied the same 12.9GB of photos from a SanDisk Extreme 16GB card rated at 120 MBps (UDMA 7), which took an average of 2 minutes 14 seconds, or about 94.9 MBps. To test video copying speeds, we transferred 12.9GB (3 files, since this 16GB card was the only one available for testing), which took an average of 1 minute 46 seconds, or an impressive 121.7 MBps.

Megabytes per second (MBps). Longer bars/larger numbers are faster. Click to enlarge.

One downside to the Iogear adapter is that its somewhat bulky for what it offers, and its rounded design feels like an effort to make a utilitarian tool more friendly.

More surprising, in our tests we werent able to read more than one inserted card at a time. Mounting an SD card and then inserting a CompactFlash card would force-eject both of them, for instance.

If you need to transfer data from CompactFlash memory cards, or a mix of CompactFlash and SD or microSD cards, to your USB-C equipped MacBook or MacBook Pro, the Iogear USB-C 3-Slot Card Reader/Writer handles it with good speeds in a single package.

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Iogear USB-C 3-Slot Card Reader/Writer reader: Adapter for your CF ... - Macworld

CRYSTAL FALLS A Crystal Falls teen accused of shooting two horses and an occupied home in Crystal Falls Township has been found competent to stand trial.

Court proceedings now will continue for 19-year-old Luke Endjamin Wool with a probable cause conference Aug. 7 and a preliminary examination Aug. 14 in Iron County Trial Court.

The case had been on hold since early April, when Wools defense attorney requested the competency evaluation.

Wool faces attempted murder, a life felony; discharge a firearm in or at a building, a 10-year felony; two counts of killing or torturing animals, a four-year felony; and felony firearm, a two-year felony.

Wool reportedly told police he shot and killed a draft horse Feb. 24 in Crystal Falls Township while playing American Sniper,' then shot and injured a second horse March 16 because it laughed at him and draft horses are supposed to be in pairs, Iron County Prosecutor Melissa Powell said in a previous court hearing.

The horses belong to Chuck, Lisa and Jeff Battan.

Iron County deputies went to the March 16 incident after hearing of shots fired at a horse and a nearby occupied home. They were able to connect Wool with the horse found dead Feb. 24 after breaking its leg, which severed a main artery.

Wool reportedly told police he listened in on a conversation between his pastor and the pastors wife, who he was living with, to figure out how to get into their gun safe. While the two were out of town, Wool reportedly took five guns and ammunition, according to Powell.

Powell initially only charged Wool with the firearm discharge and killing or torturing animals charges, but later added the attempted murder and felony firearm charges.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said President Donald Trump plans to make a "major jobs ...

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CF teen can go on trial for horse shootings - Iron Mountain Daily News

CINCINNATI -- FC Cincinnati could not hold up for a full 90 minutes against Spanish giant Valencia CF but walked away from the international friendly feeling satisfied with the experience.

Valencia, one the biggest clubs in Europe, scored two second-half goals to beat FC Cincinnati 2-0 in front of 23,114 fans at Nippert Stadium as part of its preseason trip to North America.

GALLERY:International friendly with Valencia ends in 0-2 defeat for FC Cincinnati

FCC used 22 players, including giving forward Omar Cummings one last appearance before retiring to a position with the club's front office, and sustained a barrage of attacks by Valencia before finally breaking down in the 62nd minute.

Here's a look at the top 9 takeaways from the match:

1. A good experience for all

This match was never about winning, although though both teams obviously wanted to come away victorious.

Although FC Cincinnati had a lot to gain with a good result, the match likely meant more to Valencia, which is about three weeks from its La Liga season opener and still figuring things out under new coach Marcelino Garcia Toral. With the win, Valencia improves to 3-1 this preseason as it seeks to improve from a 12th place finish last year.

For FC Cincinnati, it was mostly about giving players a chance to compete against a high-quality opponent and perhaps learn a little more about some players who haven't played a lot of minutes this season.

"It's not very often when you lose a game it's OK to smile," FC Cincinnati coach Alan Koch said. "We all hate losing but tonight was more than winning and losing. It was obviously a great experience for our entire group. It was (22) players we got to play and we managed to get some good minutes for guys that played a lot and managed to get some minutes for guys that haven't played that much. I was happy with how the entire group embraced tonight."

2. Breaking down

FC Cincinnati's defense held up for more than an hour before finally breaking down to allow a goal.

Valencia midfielder Dani Parejo had been sending long balls into the attack all night with many opportunities waived because of offside calls, but it finally worked in the 62nd minute when Nando managed to stay onside for a far-post strike at the corner of the 6-yard box. Parejo set him up with a tidy pass over top of the FC Cincinnati defense and Nando curved the shot past reserve goalie Dallas Jaye.

RELATED:FC Cincinnati will get unique language experience when playing Spain's Valencia CF in friendly

Valencia had a series of similar tries late in the first half: One that Alvaro Negredo put into the net as the offside flag waived and a couple that negated Simon Zaza shots. FC Cincinnati midfielder Aaron Walker had made a goal-line clearance to keep the game scoreless just a few minutes before Valencia finally found the net.

Zaza added an insurance goal moments before the final whistle sounded, beating third-string goalie Dan Williams one-on-one for an empty netter.

3. Mixed lineups

As expected, both clubs held back some stars but didn't completely deny fans the sight of some regular standouts.

FC Cincinnati sat scoring leaders Djiby Fall and Danni Konig and rested the likes of Harrison Delbridge, Austin Berry, Justin Hoyte, Kenney Walker, Corben Bone and Matt Bahner for at least most of the game, but still started goalie Mitch Hildebrandt and forward Jimmy McLaughlin, as well as Kadeem Dacres and Aodhan Quinn, who were regular starters early in the season. Newcomers Kyle Greig and Sem de Wit got their first starts, while Josu Currais, the lone Spanish native on the squad, reportedly was unavailable with a swollen knee.

"The players that played a lot showed why they have been playing a lot, and some of the players that haven't played that much showed they should be given an opportunity, which is great because it creates healthy competition," Koch said.

Valencia didn't even bring its biggest name player on its North American tour, as Luis Nani stayed behind, but otherwise the visiting club played a good number of regulars for much of the game. Well-known goalkeeper Neto joined Zaza and Parejo as some of the more exciting players to watch.

Because it was a friendly, both teams were able to use as many subs as desired.

4. A test of possession

FC Cincinnati has not faced an opponent like Valencia before, and the La Liga squad brought a highly technical, quick-paced possession game.

Though Valencia had many opportunities in the first half, FC Cincinnati still managed to take away the ball a few more times than the visitors would have liked. Eventually, however, the superior team adjusted and the Orange and Blue couldn't keep up.

Valencia outshot FC Cincinnati 14-5 and had nine corner kicks compared to the home side's three. FC Cincinnati finished with a total of five saves.

"Valencia is an amazing team," Koch said. "There is a reason they are the club they are and they play in the league they do. You could see their team was a little rusty. It's their preseason, and that's to be expected, but you could also see individual moments that were sheer brilliance and it showed the difference obviously between playing in La Liga and playing where we're playing at this time."

FC Cincinnati midfielder Marco Dominguez said the quick pace of the game was challenging but he and his teammates just tried to keep things "simple" and that allowed FC Cincinnati an opportunity to be competitive overall.

5. See you later, Omar

Cummings, who played briefly in just three league games this season, announced his retirement Sunday night and was recognized in a halftime ceremony in which he was presented with a framed jersey.

The former University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati State forward then took the field to start the second half for one last appearance on the field and played 28 minutes. Cummings will be joining the FC Cincinnati front office in a role working with its youth academy and community initiatives.

"Cincinnati has given me so much, from an education from college to the opportunity to play soccer here in the city. To move on and get the opportunity to be drafted by Colorado and move on to a professional career and to finish my career in Cincinnati has been a joy," said Cummings, who was drafted 31stoverall by the Colorado Rapids in 2007 and went on to become Rookie of the Year that season.

Cummings hasn't been the same physically since his 2016 campaign ended with a knee injury in late August and said he considered retiring then but gave himself six months to recover. Had he not been ready by the preseason, he would have quit then, he said.

Still, he had played just 37 minutes prior to his arrival off the bench Monday, and Cummings said the emotions of the end of his career started to build during warmups.

Last season, he scored four goals, including one game-winner against Toronto FC, to go along with five assists to finish tied for third on the team with 13 points.

6. Strong game, weaker crowd

Attendance didn't come close to last summer's special against English Premier League club Crystal Palace, which holds the all-time Ohio soccer record at 35,061, but maybe that's a sign of how spoiled fans here have been this season.

Crystal Palace -- a team that has never finished higher than third in the EPL -- was the big event last year, while Valencia had to compete with a deep U.S. Open Cup run and an upcoming U.S. Women's National Team game drawing dollars from Cincinnatians' pockets.

RELATED:FC Cincinnati friendly with Valencia CF not selling tickets quite like Crystal Palace did last year

For some added perspective, Valencia's friendly against North American Soccer League club New York Cosmos drew just over 15,000 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Still, the crowd reflects an apparent lack of knowledge to the significance to bringing a club from La Liga, winners of the last four Champions League titles.

Perhaps if the friendly was on a Saturday like last year it would have done better, but then again, fans came out in droves for midweek games against two Major League Soccer clubs that in all reality are much less competitive than Valencia, which is the third most supported in Spain and one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Monday's crowd was the fourth best out of all matches this season at Nippert Stadium, topped by the home opener against St. Louis and two U.S. Open Cup games against MLS clubs.

7. Building a following

The reason international clubs such as Valencia travel to North America for preseason games is to build their brand and following overseas. It worked well for Crystal Palace last year, which seemed to gain some fans and, at the very least, name recognition it might have lacked on a large scale here before the match.

However, the relationship with Valencia might not come out as strong from this one. Fans seemed discouraged Sunday when the club canceled an open training and autograph session and then created more confusion by announcing via Twitter that it would instead just be pushing practice back -- to the same time as the scheduled VIP event. Valencia sent a few players to the event, while others practiced, but the session was closed and there were no other opportunities made public for fans to meet the team.

Despite any disappointment for fans Sunday, both sides expressed positive impressions from the experience.

"What a joy for our fans to see some big-time players," Koch said. "I can say personally I will be following Valencia more this year than I would have, so it made it unique from that perspective. Getting to interact with their players and coaches, we all do the same thing. ... I'm excited to see how they do this season."

Toral said his club felt well-respected by fans. Time will tell if Valencia was in fact able to win over some fans with its magisterial possession game and technical skill.

8. Valencia's take on FC Cincinnati

Valencia coach Toral said the turf was a big adjustment for his team, but in terms of the atmosphere, FC Cincinnati provided an experience comparable to his club's La Liga season.

With what he saw on a Monday night, FC Cincinnati has a bright future.

"I know in a short period, the main goal is for FC Cincinnati to get to MLS and that's what I really hope they will achieve," he said through a translator. "I think it's really important, with what I've seen tonight, on a Monday night the stadium was as full as it was. That really shows the engagement of the fans here, and that's really a good thing. I wish them all the best."

9. Up next

FC Cincinnati will take the day off Tuesday and return to training Wednesday in preparation for Saturday's home United Soccer League game against Rochester Rhinos.

Cincinnati heads into that match sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Division, while Rochester is seventh, four points back. The Orange and Blue are five points out of first, a position held by Charleston, which has played one less game.

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FC Cincinnati falls 2-0 to La Liga's Valencia CF in international friendly - WCPO