He starts by saying that "Those are the players MLS needs to keep or go out and get, the players who might be great stars one day, but right now are simply solid role players who increase the team competence on the field."  No one can argue with that statement, clearly any sports league needs a healthy mix of rookies, solid supporting players, and stars.  But then, he makes a statement that I just can't process, and if you look closely, contradicts itself quite obviously.

Word from the MLS Underground is that DC United will announce Marco Antonio Etcheverry's new role with the club before tonights game. It's pretty easy to guess that he'll be taking over the youth development position now that Harkes is at Red Bull NY. Wouldn't it be nice if he were helping Soehn and Staff scout more Latin American talent?

What's the best indicator of the health of the league?  For non-fans, the Beckham signing earlier this month was a huge deal.  But, there are actually many reasons to be optimistic about the state of Major League Soccer and its future.

A new community site for soccer players and fans launched last week - Ziga-Zoga.  I just registered to check it out.  They have some crazy Terms of Service, I'm sure everyone will read all the legalese and abide by it.  I'm not the most astute networker out there, so I'm lost on any of these "tell-us-about-your-life-and-we'll-connect-you-with-people" sites.   It doesn't look like a lot of people have joined, so I won't judge it yet.  I'm a little lost of what

No pun intended by the headline, honest!  Unless you've been living under a rock like one person I know (who lives in L.A.

As usual, For the Integrity of Soccer has a sobering, insightful, and depressing review of the quality of officiating in Major League Soccer.  As an avid fan, the lack of improvement in this area has been stark in comparison to the progress the league has made on other fronts over the last decade.

Maxi Rodriguez unfortunately blew out his ACL in Argentina's loss to Spain yesterday.  Rodriguez scored one of the best goals of the World Cup during the knockout phase against Mexico. (Post includes video).

 

Ignore for know the fact that the next Copa America is in Hugo Chavez land.  The American soccer blogs are a twitter with the news from Sunil Gulati that the US is expecting a formal invitation to the 2007 edition of the Copa America.  I, along with everyone else, want to see our team take part in the competition.  The American player needs more high level competition, in games against quality opponents with real pride on the line

A quick reminder that tonight at 9 EST you can catch "Once in a Lifetime: the Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos" on ESPN2.  According to wikipedia the Cosmos were: