MLS Keepy Uppy
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As the season winds down and into the MLS Cup Playoffs I figured I'd better catch up on some things. Some of these items can be verified some are just conjecture at this point.
First off the San Jose Earthquakes have named Joe Doyle as their General Manager of Soccer Operations. Doyle has had a pretty successful career both on and off the pitch. He was a member of the US National Team that reached the World Cup in Italia '90, the first appearance by the United States in the World Cup in 50 years. He also played for San Jose in MLS and at the time of retirement was the all-time leading goalscorer for defenders. So the 'Quakes appear to have the ball rolling along nicely as they prepare for their return next season.
Rumors abound in Houston that the Dynamo have found local investors to purchase the club from their present ownership group AEG. If the sale of the Dynamo does indeed come to fruition then that would mean only the Hunt Group as owners of more than one franchise. Currently AEG also owns the Los Angeles Galaxy while the Hunt Group own and operate FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew.
Speaking of the Crew, they are the latest MLS team to announce a shirt sponsor. The Crew have partnered with Glidden, purveyors of fine paints, so starting in 2008 the Glidden logo will be seen on the front of the Crew's shirts. The club announced that retail shirts should be available in January. Good for the Crew I am happy they got an Ohio based sponsor. The Crew become the sixth club in MLS to have a shirt sponsor the others are Los Angeles Galaxy, Toronto FC, Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo.
Rumors redux, many sites and blogs are reporting that it is almost a sure bet that the next MLS expansion team will be based in Seattle. Not a bad choice, Seattle does have history with the Seattle Sounders. The most recent edition of the Sounders have been playing in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division. In fact, this season's team won the First Division title with a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks. That was the Sounders fourth First Division title. The Sounders also were members of the North American Soccer League. While in NASL the Sounders lost two Soccer Bowls in 1977 and 1982, both losses came at the hands of the New York Cosmos.
Nice to see D.C. United's super striker Luciano Emilio nominated for both the Honda Most Valuable Player and MLS Newcomer of the Year. Emilio has performed well all season long for United with a league leading 20 goals. The club signed the Brazilian from CD Olimpia of Honduras on January 16, 2007. His partnership with both Fred and Jaime Moreno has been electrifying and wonderful to watch.
Rumors round 3, reports are surfacing reportedly from league sources that next season MLS will be moving to a single table. If that happens I know I shall be jumping for joy. It's time to get rid of this Eastern and Western Conference nonsense and get a single table. The reports suggest that the league will still maintain a MLS Cup Playoff system. The USL First and Second Division both have a single table with playoffs as well as the The A-League in Australia.
Finally tonight is Juan Toja wig night as FC Dallas host Chivas USA in a match that will be shown on ESPN2. I want one.
