Several prominent soccer writers are confirming via Twitter that the Team Owners Association will in fact name their new league the North American Soccer League. As USL News broke last week thanks to a trademark search, Miami FC's name was attached to several trademark claims relating to the NASL name.


If there's a press release, MFUSA is not in possession of it; if and when I'm able to get my digital hands on it, I'll pass it along.

*UPDATE* Just got it. Press release to follow:

NEW MEN’S SECOND DIVISION PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE

ANNOUNCES NAME:

NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE


Nov. 23, 2009 – Formally announced two weeks ago, the new men’s second division professional soccer league slated to begin play next spring has announced its name, and it is a familiar one to soccer fans and players in the United States and Canada – the North American Soccer League (NASL).



NASL was the name of the men’s outdoor professional league that operated in the United States and Canada from 1968 to 1984, which played its final match 25 years ago last month and generated historic moments and memories for players and fans alike throughout its 16-year run. Legends such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia, Johan Cruyff and Karl Heinz-Granitza played in the NASL, which served as the birthplace for numerous men’s professional outdoor franchises still in action today.



“By becoming the NASL, we are paying respect to the players, coaches and leaders who were pioneers for men’s professional soccer in North America, many of whom remain involved and committed to the growth of our game in various capacities throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Selby Wellman, principal owner of the Carolina RailHawks and newly appointed president of NASL, LLC. “For that, we honor and thank them with a new era for the NASL.



“Further, by going with NASL, we’re obligated to operate our league at a high standard befitting a name that means so much to the soccer community throughout North America. Our intention is to offer an elite brand of soccer and outstanding experience for our partners and fans, something the old NASL did very well during its day. We will do the same in the new NASL.”



Currently comprised of nine teams – the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United, Tampa Bay Rowdies and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – the league has submitted an application to the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a Division II Men’s Outdoor Professional League.



NASL is also active in its search for a full-time commissioner and will introduce an extensive marketing campaign in the coming months.

Two other notes:

As of the moment, NASL.com is the website of the North Alabama Soccer League, and it does not appear that the new NASL has any immediate web presence ready.


Additionally, as possible fallout of the USL/TOA tiff, Charleston Battery have self-relegated from USL-1 to USL-2 for the 2010 season.

Jason and Zach review the USMNT performance against Denmark, play Wheel of Garber with a variety of topics related to MLS, and ask for your opinion on the possible return of the NASL. Get your thoughts in for next weeks show by emailing us at show@americansoccershow.com.

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The TOA already made news today with the announcement that they've added Tampa Bay and Baltimore to their league roster, and while that's pretty big in the world of second division soccer, something else has broken that is potentially much bigger.


USLNews.com is reporting that "North American Soccer League, LLC", by way of Miami FC, has registered multiple trademarks associated with the NASL name.


The dates on the trademark applications are what make this interesting, with all of them popping up in just the past few days. What would be the point of forming an LLC and registering trademarks unless the TOA (and we know it's connected because of Miami FC appearing on the applications) intended to use the name for their new breakaway league?


Say what you want about the NASL (full disclosure, I was much too young to have any memories of the league), but it did establish soccer as a semi-relevant sport in the United States. I'm torn a bit if the TOA does use the name as to whether or not it's a good idea; there's recognition there, but I get the sense that many American sports fans, both pro-soccer and ambivalent to it, view the league as a joke.


Either way, unless it's an elaborate ruse, it appears that the North American Soccer League is coming back in second division form.


I'm sure everyone has an opinion on this, so step up and let it out.

The Team Owners Association announced today that they have added Crystal Palace Baltimore and the Tampa Bay Rowdies to their new league. The two clubs brings the TOA's total up to nine, putting to rest the question of a special dispensation from US Soccer if they had hope to form a league with less than the eight requisite teams.


Tampa Bay, originally a member of the TOA and then back in the fold with USL as recently as a few weeks ago, will play their first season next year. Crystal Palace Baltimore was also believed to be a solid member of USL's future first divisions setup; the club played in USL-2 last year. Both ownership groups were represented at the USL's first division meeting in Oregon earlier this month.


The TOA release, courtesy of Inside Minnesota Soccer:

TAMPA, BALTIMORE TO JOIN NEW PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE
Expansion brings new league to nine teams

Nov. 20, 2009 – The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have joined the new professional soccer league announced last week, beginning play in the United States and Canada in April 2010.

The addition of Tampa Bay and Baltimore brings the new league to nine teams, as they join the owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United and Vancouver Whitecaps.

A name for the new league will be announced next week. The new league is also active in its search for a full-time commissioner and will introduce an extensive marketing campaign in the coming months.

“Tampa and Baltimore joining our efforts is a testament to our game plan, our current ownership strength and our promise for the future. The ownership groups of both teams share our vision for soccer in North America and we are thrilled to welcome them to our new league,” said Joey Saputo, Chairman of the Board of Governors and President of the Montreal Impact.

“As we start a new team and build a strong franchise in Tampa, it’s important that our group of team owners learn from past mistakes in North American soccer and focus on building a strong league, as well,” said Andrew Nestor, owner and president of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. “With this new team-owned and controlled league which consists of some of the most established teams in North American soccer, we are excited about our team and collective future.”

“Crystal Palace Baltimore is pleased and honored to join and be a part of what we see as the future of North American soccer. We are particularly excited about the structure of a team-controlled and owned league, especially when you look at the quality of owners that we have in this league and the impressive history of the clubs,” said Pete Medd, co-owner of Crystal Palace Baltimore. “We are proud to be one of the founding members and believe it’s the right league at the right time for us and for soccer in North America.”

TEAM AND OWNERSHIP BACKGROUND:

Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies are owned by TBR Holdings, founded by Andrew Nestor and Hinds Howard. Nestor and Howard are the Managing Partners of Citrus Ventures, a venture firm and advisory merchant bank with operations in Boston, Houston and Tampa. Citrus Venture’s main portfolio companies are TBR Holdings and Curbstone Group, a unique money management firm. Tampa Bay’s ownership group also includes David Laxer, owner of the legendary Bern’s Steak House, voted number one steak house in the US in 2009 by Rachael Ray Magazine.

Rounding out Tampa’s ownership group is Don Kendall, founder of Houston-based hedge fund Kenmont Investments, and Jeff MacDonald, former professional soccer player and managing director at First Reserve Corporation, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm. The Tampa Bay Rowdies were Tampa’s first professional sports franchise originally founded in 1975 in the North American Soccer League and is recognized internationally as a significant part of soccer’s birth in the US.

Crystal Palace Baltimore
Crystal Palace FC USA was founded in 2006 with the help and guidance of the world-renowned Crystal Palace Football Club in the UK, one of the founding members of the Premier League, the richest sporting league in the world. Crystal Palace USA is the first professional soccer team in the USA with a direct link to a professional English football (soccer) team. Crystal Palace Football Club (UK) is a professional soccer club founded in 1905 in south London. Crystal Palace UK chairman, Simon Jordan, saw an opportunity not only to develop the footprint of Crystal Palace worldwide, but more specifically to tap into the under-appreciated pool of American soccer talent. Several senior and youth players from Crystal Palace USA have spent time training in London with the English team.

Founded in 2007, the club’s senior professional team competed under the name Crystal Palace Baltimore in the 10-team Second Division of the United Soccer Leagues. CPFC made the semifinals in just their second year of existence in 2008. It was also 2008 when CPFC reached the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup in just their second year, putting them in the top eight of all soccer teams in America for 2008. Along the way, CPFC USA defeated Major League Soccer’s (MLS) New York Red Bulls (who later went on to finish in 2nd place in MLS) 2-0 and tied MLS Champion and league leading New England Revolution 1-1, only to lose a heartbreaking penalty shootout to just miss out on the semifinals.

Crystal Palace USA is owned by: Randall Medd, Chairman of Crystal Palace USA. Currently a real estate investor and successful options trader. Randall resides in Delray Beach, FL

Pete Medd Former professional soccer player, Pete has his degree in Economics and has been an entrepreneur in real estate, the mortgage industry, and internet marketing. Pete has coached at the senior college, junior college, youth and professional levels for 12 years. Pete was the youngest member of the USL Executive Committee.

Jim Cherneski Professional soccer player for 10+ years, Jim is the founder of Crystal Palace FC USA. Jim is the head scout for North America for Crystal Palace UK as well as manages the first team in America while overseeing all the youth development for the American side.

Randall, Pete and Jim have teamed up on other soccer tour ventures in the past including bringing Sporting Lisbon and Crystal Palace FC to America.

Cue Broadway Joe saying that the USL is doomed...

Jason and Zach debut the new American Soccer Show discussing USMNT friendlies, MLS playoffs, and the USL/TOA fallout.

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In the game of back-and-forth-and-back-again between the United Soccer Leagues and the clubs aligned with the Team Owners Association, it seems that nothing can be said without a response from the other side.


Yesterday, the TOA announced that it was moving forward with plans to start up a new league for the 2010 season, though Vancouver Whitecaps President Bob Lenarduzzi couched that statement as a declaration of intent rather than the confirmation of a split from USL. Sounds like semantics to me, especially with the TOA submitting a Division II application to the USSF. For it's part, USL has shot back, specifically on the issue of that application, with the following press release:


USL Statement regarding USL-1
USL News Release

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues issued the following statement regarding the USL First Division in response to the announcement of an application before the United States Soccer Federation for a new Division II Men’s Outdoor Professional League submitted, in part, by former USL-1 franchises.

Statement:



United Soccer Leagues, founded in 1986, continues to be the only organization with Division II and III Men’s Outdoor Professional Leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, providing over 20 years of professional league management experience to its member clubs at all levels of the game.

The new ownership of NuRock Soccer Holdings has made a significant investment in United Soccer Leagues through its acquisition of the business and the retaining of strategic business partners such as Nike, Inc. and Premier Partnerships, which is led by the highly-respected duo of Alan Rothenberg and Randy Bernstein.

While USL does not oppose the right of an entity to affiliate with USSF per the governing organization’s bylaws, it does oppose the current application before the Federation on the grounds that there is misrepresentation, interference with USL business operations and substantial debt amongst the membership of the parties applying for certification.

Although USL is currently working with USL-1 member teams on reforming the structure of league management, USL’s ownership structure and franchise system has been, and will continue to be, in compliance with all USSF and FIFA statutes since its membership as a professional league with the USSF began in 1993.

There is no FIFA regulation stipulating that member leagues be owned by their respective clubs, and in many cases around the world, leagues consist of individual clubs that play in league competitions managed by the respective Federation such as the English leagues (excluding the Premiership), Bundesliga (Germany), La Liga (Spain) and Mexican Primera Division. While some management systems are similar, the models of ownership structure vary greatly throughout FIFA based on each country’s business regulations as well as respective regional confederation and federation guidelines and principles. While there are universal principles woven throughout FIFA, league ownership models are among concepts such as promotion/relegation and the prohibition of two equal-tiered leagues that are not mandated and not necessarily applicable for every federation, such as is the case in the United States. Every league in every federation has its own nuances that make it unique.

The ownership structure of United Soccer Leagues has played a crucial role in maintaining a stable foundation while advancing the sport over decades of growth through both prosperous and difficult financial times. This structure has allowed USL to support and maintain the operation of member clubs such as Montreal and Vancouver during times when the then ownership of the clubs were unable to continue operating, which would have had detrimental affects on both the competition and on all respective markets across the league. With continued financial difficulties being experienced by clubs all around the world as well franchises and leagues in various United States sports entities, USL believes its model, with upcoming reforms to better serve its teams, is an important aspect to a successful future in the USL First Division.


The sniping has gone well beyond tiresome, but this release does bring up a few interesting questions. We've heard, repeatedly, that FIFA prefers, at the very least, that a given competition be owned by its member clubs. That may still be true, but USL is clearly going out of their way to refute what they believe to be misinformation about FIFA "requiring" such a setup.


The decision, and the speed with with it is made, of the USSF is a crucial aspect of this saga. The Federation is being asked to confirm the new (still nameless) TOA league as Division II, while USL views their first division as the rightful holder of that status.


From a logical standpoint, it's hard not to see USL's case as strong and with merit. Will the TOA forge ahead if they are unable to secure certification? At this point, it's a question worth asking, and one that should be added to the five I posed to the TOA yesterday.


Duane Rollins at the 24th Minute also poses a reasonable question about the future of Canada's national championship if both Vancouver and Montreal are playing in an unsanctioned league.


What do you make of USL's response?

Jeff Cooper

Now that the Team Owners Association has officially announced their intentions to break away from USL and strike out on their own, there are more than a few questions facing them.

From a fan's perspective, more professional soccer options in the US and Canada seems like a good thing, though the TOA must get themselves ready to play and disseminate their product quickly if they have any chance of succeeding.


And so, to Messrs. Saputo, Cooper, et al., I submit the following five questions:


1. Who's the eighth team? (or, What happened with the Rowdies?)

When the TOA/USL drama first began, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, set to start play in 2010, were listed among the TOA faithful; the resulting fallout now has the Rowdies on the side of USL, meaning that the TOA only has seven teams. USSF certification normally requires at least eight teams, or the promise that more will join shortly to push a league over the magic number (a waiver). Jeff Cooper made noises about other groups looking to invest in the TOA, so perhaps the new league does have someone lined up to step in. But who? And where?

2. Will the league be broadcast?

USL did an excellent job with their first division product last year by making all of the games available for free online through USL Live. They also had a TV deal with FSC, which meant that most weeks at least one USL game was broadcast. Will the TOA be able to secure a similar deal, and will they replicate the USL online efforts? While I worry (a lot) about what the split means for professional soccer in the US and Canada, I would like to see the TOA league play. Without a broadcast set up, the new league might as well take place on Mars; no video dissemination would make it that much more difficult to market and that much more difficult to establish as a serious competition (at least in the minds of the casual soccer fan).

3. Are the Impact sticking around?

The Montreal Impact have been tagged as an MLS club in waiting, yet they're clearly one of the TOA leading franchises. If the Impact do make the leap to MLS, what would that mean for the TOA league? With Vancouver already set to move on (though they've apparently committed to operating a second division club once they do), the TOA could be hurting for clout and money in just a few years time.

4. What role does MLS/SUM play?

We know they have one, so we're curious; is MLS/SUM lurking in the background of this little split, ready to step in at some point with a marketing plan, or official relationship, or something else? SUM is the gorilla in the room whenever it comes to soccer in the US, because they drive the economics of the game more than anyone else. Just assuming due diligence, it makes sense to think TOA approached SUM, and that some kind of relationship was struck. As for Major League Soccer's part, there's a million different ways that could go, from none at all to partnered. If it's the latter, would that mean something for player movement?

5. Are your clubs stable?

The Minnesota Thunder are in a bad, bad place financially, yet they are listed among the TOA's member clubs. If the Thunder are forced to fold, which doesn't seem beyond the realm of possibility at the moment, is the TOA set up to replace them (and then still get to at least eight clubs eventually)? We know Vancouver (gone next year), Montreal (probably gone soon) and one or two other clubs in the group are healthy, but what about everyone else? Miami FC has big money backers, so we should assume they're in for the long haul, though the club has struggled to draw. Without the backing of USL and the organizational structure it provides, the new league must shoulder the administrative costs as a group. It won't be simple, it won't be cheap, and it could stretch already tight budgets even tighter.

Rumors are flying on all fronts today, and my guess is that things will continue to solidify in the coming days. It's beginning to look more and more like one of the major players in the TOA plans is Jeff Cooper, so look for news out of St. Louis. Hopefully some of that news will provide answers to these questions.

The Teams Owners Association has officially announced their split from the USL. The Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps, and a new club to be formed by St. Louis Soccer United will begin play in April 2010 in a yet-to-be-named league.


The group submitted an application to the United States Soccer Federation for Division II yesterday, and intends to apply for Division I status in Canada.


Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo was elected Chairman of the new league.


The following is the new league's press release. Thanks to Kartik of The Kartik Report for sending this along:


OWNERS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAMS IN

ATLANTA, CAROLINA, MIAMI, MINNESOTA, MONTREAL, ST. LOUIS AND VANCOUVER FORM NEW PRO SOCCER LEAGUE TO BEGIN PLAY IN 2010



Nov. 10, 2009 – The owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps, formerly of USL-1, together with St. Louis Soccer United today announced that they have formed a new professional soccer league to play in the United States and Canada beginning in April 2010.



The team owners yesterday submitted an application for sanctioning of the new league as a Division II Men’s Outdoor Professional League by the United States Soccer Federation. An application for sanctioning as a Division I League will be submitted to the Canadian Soccer Association shortly and applications to other sanctioning bodies in the region will be submitted as needed.



Joey Saputo, President of the 2009 USL-1 champion Montreal Impact, was recently elected Chairman of the Board of Governors of the new league.



“This is not your typical new league,” Saputo said. “Most of our teams have existed for years. We have united some of the best owners, teams and markets around a new vision for a professional soccer league in North America.



“We look forward to elevating our teams and league in order to give more opportunities to players, coaches, media and sponsors, entertain our fans and play our role in helping soccer truly recognize its potential in the United States and Canada.”



Jeff Cooper, the principal owner of St. Louis Soccer United and spokesperson for the new league, said team owners have commenced a search for a league commissioner and are actively finalizing other details, including a name for the league and its sales and marking plans. The league intends to launch an extensive marketing campaign in the coming months, Cooper said.



In addition, Cooper said the team owners are in active conversations with several teams and organizations throughout the world which have expressed interest in joining the new league.



“This will be a league that will offer the best of both worlds – outstanding experience and leadership at the ownership level combined with the promise and ability to chart our own course for success as a new league,” Cooper said. “It’s this structure that motivated me to bring St. Louis into the new league, and why I believe the new league will have a lot of success at launch next year and well into the future.”


What this means, exactly, is difficult to know at this point. The turnaround time for starting up the new league is short, and the TOA clubs will need get themselves together quickly. We should also find out fairly quickly just how serious claims on both sides (from USL of expansion to Baltimore, Detroit, Ottawa, and Edmonton and from the TOA of other interested parties) are.


Needless to say, with the effusive Joey Saputo as Chairman, the startup of the TOA league should be fun to follow.

It's the last Match Fit USA Soccer Show before The American Soccer Show debuts next week. Things are tense, and Jason and Zach argue about referees, discuss potential call-ups for the USMNT, talk some USL news, and close out with a heated debate about MLS and relocating clubs. Make sure you go to americansoccershow.com to subscribe to the new iTunes feed!

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The USL First Division owners are holding meetings in Beaverton, Oregon this week in the midst of the ongoing dispute with the Team Owners Association. On the docket was a revamping of the league in light of the likely departure of the TOA teams; what this means for the future of USL-1 will be revealed in the coming days, though word is that several changes are possible.


Among those changes could be expansion to fill the void created by departing teams, and NuRock president Alex Papadakis indicated Canada may be in those plans. Another possibility is Detroit, a city off the radar for MLS but seemingly appropriate for USL-1.


Though their showdown with the league is not yet over, several TOA owners did in fact attend the meetings in Beaverton. There's no indication that those attending were looking for a reconciliation with NuRock; the TOA clubs still take issue with the private ownership of the league and a few meetings in Oregon won't undo those concerns.


While USL looks to round out their top division for next year, it's possible that one of their lower divisions could take a hit. USL-2, populated with teams like Crystal Palace Baltimore and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, may go on hiatus. The waves caused by the TOA defection will likely be felt for years to come.


Much is still unknown about how USL will cope, and the status of the TOA teams and their potential new league still remains in question, but the next week should provide a few more answers.

*UPDATE* The USL didn't waste any time; here's a press release on the meetings. Expansion teams in Ottawa and Edmonton are mentioned, as well a groups from Baltimore and Detroit.

On this week's Match Fit USA Soccer Show, Jason and Zach talk about the MLS playoffs, cover the USL-TOA saga with David Fellerath of Triangle Offense, and debate the fine handed down to DC United's Kevin Payne.

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The future of the "second" division of American and Canadian soccer took a dramatic turn today: Alex Papadakis, chairman of NuRock Soccer Holdings, the new owner of USL, told a Canadian radio station that the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact would not be participating in USL-1 next season.


Papadakis indicated that "the negotiations are finished", and that the league will move forward with those clubs that want to be a part of USL-1. That would indicate that the statuses of the entirety of the Team Owners Association-affiliated clubs (Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, and the new Tampa Bay Rowdies, with a potential St. Louis club and the on-hiatus Atlanta Silverbacks involved as well) are in question.


Papadakis' words didn't jive with those of Impact owner Joey Saputo's who indicated that negotiations are not finished and that the Impact could still play in USL-1 next year. For the Whitecaps part, President Bob Lenarduzzi told John Molinaro of the CBC that the TOA is pursuing a new league option and is on the verge of submitting an application to the USSF (both statements in Molinaro's story at the CBC site); those statements have now been couched by Lenarduzzi, who has since told Molinaro that his club is "in limbo" for 2010.


It appears that Lenaduzzi may have shown too much of the TOA's hand, and was then forced to "retract" (though he didn't fully) his statements. Fleshing out what exactly is happening is extremely difficult; both sides are clearly attempting to influence public opinion, with the high profile Canadian clubs at the forefront of the battle.


Lenarduzzi's comment about submitting an application to the USSF are interesting, in that they indicate that either the TOA or some portion of it is moving ahead with contingency plans should a resolution not be found. Time is of the essence here; if the break away clubs hope to be ready to play outside of USL-1 in 2010, they need to get moving on the process.


Things are messy, that much is sure. I'm still at a loss to explain exactly what it is the TOA clubs might get out of returning to a league that is wholly owned by a third party and that leaves them out of of decision-making process. The backbone of any league, in any sport, is its member clubs; as such, those clubs should helping to make policy, determine direction, etc. USL/NuRock has done nothing to this point to indicate that they get that; instead, they inform players their contracts are voided behind the clubs backs, make proclamations that certain clubs are out of the league despite statements to the contrary by the clubs themselves, and just general look the bully.


I'm solidly on the side of owners who want a say in how the business of their league is conducted. I understand that breaking away would be extremely difficult, risky, and complicated; the new league would have a Herculean task ahead of it to install the proper administrative bodies to make such a thing happen. It all really comes down to how far the TOA member clubs are willing to go to get what they want. It doesn't look to me like NuRock will be backing down.

For an overview of today's events, read friend of MFUSA Andrew Bucholtz's piece on the matter.

What do you make of today's developments?

It's been six days since US National Team forward Charlie Davies was seriously injured in a car accident that took the life of a young woman. As I've written, and as others have reiterated, the situation Davies finds himself in is sad and unfortunate.

But by no means is Charlie's plight a "tragedy", at least not in the way I understand the word. Davies will make a full recovery, and still has a good chance of returning to playing high-level soccer. The tragedy in all of this is the death of a young woman, Ashley Roberta.

To better remind us comes a brief profile piece on Ashley Roberta from the student newspaper of her alma mater, the University of Maryland.

• The Portland Timbers, despite their ongoing stadium renovation drama, are getting down to the business of marketing the team for the 2011 move to MLS. The Oregonian gives a glimpse of the campaign, which involves a subtle early approach to better avoid burning out the community on something that won't be coming for almost two years. Part of that subtle approach involves branded foosball tables in locals bars and restaurants. Clever or just plain odd?

• The USL/TOA drama should be bigger news in American soccer circles; the resolution (whatever it may be) could have serious long term ramifications for professional soccer in the United States. Of course I'll keep covering it in this space, passing along what I know or find elsewhere. There is an update, indicating that a breakaway league seems more likely than a reconciliation with USL on the part of TOA. Several other teams below the USL-1 level are dissatisfied as well, meaning that the saga has taken on a new wrinkle. I'm of the opinion that MLS will have a part to play in the final act, I'm not just not sure on what level it might be.

• I get a kick out of "fixing soccer" pieces; I know it's a weakness, I just can't help myself. There's a masochistic element there too, as I'm generally cursing the writer in anger by the third paragraph. The inane attempts to "Americanize" the game never fail to suck me in, and I never fail to get angry; so here's a good (bad) one, to which I say STOP IT!. On the flip side of that coin today is a piece that takes elements of soccer (rules, pro/rel, player transactions) and applies them to the NBA. We started heavy, we should probably end light.

Deep Cuts appears every weekday, and highlights American soccer-related items from around the web. If you have a story for Deep Cuts (even shallow ones), you can send it along to matchfitusa@gmail.com.

THE UNITED STATES HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP EDITION! A voiceless Jason and less-cloudy-than-usual Zach take you through reactions to the US victory over Honduras, hear from several callers, and discuss the USL-TOA situation with David Fellerath of Triangle Offense.

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