Landon Donovan hasn't had much time to recuperate over the course the last few years. Starting with the MLS season of 2008, Donovan's off-season has consisted of no more than a short period of inactivity between the end of the domestic season and the opening of the winter transfer window in Europe. In 2009, Donovan took another shot at Germany and spent the pre-MLS months with Bayern Munich. In 2010, he went on that successful loan to Everton, a stint that set the table for much of the intrigue over a possible permanent move to Europe following a good showing at the World Cup.

I love the arrival of International dates on the FIFA calendar, because I know there is a good chance that I’ll get to watch the U.S. National Team in action. And even though most of their matches are inconsequential friendlies, I watch with the same critical eye and intensity usually reserved for the contests that count. I agonize over the failed opportunities to beat a worthy opponent, and I applaud the effort of the players when they meet my expectations. Above all, I am proud to cheer on the U.S. no matter the opponent or the result.

Perhaps you've been living in a nuclear fallout shelter for some reason, or have just avoided all forms of mass media over the last two weeks or so and didn't know that the NFL season starts tonight.  Well, it does, and the super spectacular kickoff game features the defending Super Bowl champions versus the Brett Favres.  I'm sure many of you will be watching.

I grew up really, really caring about baseball.  In baseball, a sport that is as much an individual pursuit as it is a team game, awards given to players really, really matter.  Careers can be made on a Cy Young or an MVP, and even lesser awards like the Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers are hotly debated.  Every year the same question pops up when it's time to crown MVP: should the award go to the best player in the league, or should it be given to the player who means the most to his team?  Despite the debate, the award inevitably goes to the best player, meaning the guy with the best stats.  Hit a lot of homeruns and collect a lot of RBI, and you're likely to be the MVP.  All that talk about what "valuable" actually means is just a bunch of window dressing.

I groused about the US Open Cup start time last week, a post that got me branded a rampant East Coast elitist; though that wasn't my intention (I should have simply stated that the final should be moved to a weekend), it is certainly discouraging that much of the country would need AM bedtimes to see the game (much less the trophy ceremony) in its entirety.

Chicago Fire - 1
Toronto FC - 0

Seattle Sounders FC - 2
Real Salt Lake - 1

Chivas USA - 2
New England Revolution - 0

Toronto FC - 1
DC United - 1

New York Red Bulls - 3
Colorado Rapids - 1

Philadelphia Union - 1
Chicago Fire - 2

San Jose Earthquakes - 1
FC Dallas - 1

LA Galaxy - 2
Columbus Crew - 2

When US Soccer sanctioned second division soccer for 2010, they did so on a temporary basis; after several USL member clubs split off to form their own rival collection, a revived NASL, it was unclear just how the division would operate this season.  In the end, the Federation chose to run the league under their own auspices via forced truce, with the situation to be reviewed again at year's end.

Derby County's Conor Doyle

As foreign clubs cast their scouting nets over the American soccer landscape, more and more young American kids are landing in surprising places.  In some cases, these kids have cultural connections or passports that make their moves easy; in others, they've been lucky enough to find themselves playing in front of the right scouts at exactly the right time.  After going on trial, these players have managed to catch on with clubs and entered the professional environment earlier than anyone thought they would.

I considered posting this under our Match Fit Reserve label, but decided that it was more tragedy than comedy in the end.


The FIFA people landed in the US yesterday, and after a look around New York and its environs, will head to DC to visit FedEx Field and George Mason University (I hope they've allowed enough time to deal with traffic).  From there it's on to Miami, where the team will scout the proposed venue in South Florida (Joe Robbie? Pro Player? LandShark? What the hell are they calling that thing these days?).

I was thinking about Non-League Day as I fell asleep last night.  If you don't know about Non-League Day, here's a bit of background:

"The "non-league football day" is the brainchild of James Doe, a lifelong football fan, supporter of QPR and follower of Harrow Borough FC. Its aim is to promote the semi professional game in this country by virtue of a fortuitous break in the football calendar. In James' own words:

'WITH ENGLAND PLAYING THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP TAKING A WEEK OFF, I URGE ALL FANS OF THE BIG CLUBS TO GET OUT AND WATCH THEIR LOCAL NON-LEAGUE TEAM INSTEAD ON SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER. GIVEN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, CLUBS OUTSIDE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT THEY CAN GET, SO YOUR PRESENCE AT A GAME WILL BE GENUINELY APPRECIATED. WITH TICKETS AND REFRESHMENTS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST, WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?'"

Brian McBride's announcement came with great sadness, because he had one of the most illustrious playing careers in American history.


The 38-year old center forward will be hanging up his boots following the conclusion of the Chicago Fire's involvement in the 2010 Major League Soccer season. As it stands right now, McBride's last game would be on September 29th against the San Jose Earthquakes, because the Fire are five points adrift of the final play-off spot.

San Jose's first ever Designated Player signing is already making a difference. Geovanni set up a goal and scored his maiden MLS tally in the Quakes 2-1 win over the Dynamo in Houston last night, showing a readiness to contribute sorely lacking in some of his mid-summer DP peers.