This post is only tangentially related to the Galaxy, because of the presence of Landon Donovan in the US Men's National Team Player Pool. But I thought it would be fun to go through the candidates for player of the year and see what Galaxy fans thought about the choices. (I totally stole this idea from Luis Bueno over at Sideline Views who actually gets to cast a vote that counts in his capacity as a member of the media.

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Whilst thumbing through The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer in bed the other night, I wondered to myself "when is someone going to do the first book about Becks in America?". With Europe's bookshelves already rammed full of books about our David it was only a matter of time before someone got in the act over on this side of world. Click to continue reading...

I opened up MSNBC this morning and saw the news that Obama has picked Biden. Probably a smart move ... experience and gravitas and whiteness and all. I was kinda hoping for something more interesting - but would rather win. So Biden seems good. Biden I can live with. (But wouldn't [...]SHARETHIS. Click to continue reading...

Soccer and more eh...?

• Dunga's gotta go. [101 Great Goals]
  
• Commercials during live games? Lame. [Sideline Views]
  
• Clavijo stepping down. [WV Hooligan]
  
• Inside the head of the Spanish nat'l team. [Kickette]
  
• Learn about Le Toux.

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We all know Cobi ain't the long-term answer for the Galaxy.

The L.A. Times think Nowak is the one favored. But at last night's Super Clasico, that Leiweke dude was chilling with Arena and raving about the former USMNT coach.

Hmmmm....

• Hilarious faux Lampard contract.

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Okay, so this was actually meant to go out a week or so ago but somehow got put on the back burner here. Anyways, you may have seen these questions over at Sideline Views a couple weeks back about a US Soccer project that someone is doing. I thought the questions were solid enough to write [...] Click to continue reading...

Maybe this is why the stands at Dicks Sporting Goods Park always seem empty. I try not to get too involved in some of these fan issues with stadiums but after reading this email that was sent to the Sideline Views, I thought it needed to be discussed. Apparently there are some big issues going on in [. Click to continue reading...

Kenny Cooper isn't going to Rosenborg. Or Cardiff City. Or anywhere other than Dallas, according to today's statement from FC Dallas GM Michael Hitchcock.

More on transfers that are or are not or might be or might not be happening in Wednesday's paper.

Other items worth perusing:

- Sideline Views has the Week 1 wrap of Americans playing in Mexico.

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From the WNBA, here's a report on how this year's crop of rookies are faring. From Candace Parker we, of course, expected great. It's awesome, however, to see the impact of the Charde Houston's and Candice Wiggins' and Nicky Anoskie's of the group. (The Minnesota Lynx seem to have fared especially well [. Click to continue reading...

Here's a link to an interesting survey on the Sideline Views Blog. I would encourage all who are interested to respond and please post your responses here to and maybe we can get some dialogue going. My answers are listed below.

# Is U.S. Soccer on the right track in attracting potential fans? Click to continue reading...

League action in Europe is still another couple of weeks away, but closer to home, we have the start of Mexico's Apertura and USL playoffs. MLS teams get back to work Sunday.

The W-League, still the top league for women until WPS kicks off next year, the defending champion Washington Freedom opened with a wild 6-5 win in extra time over Charlotte.

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Photo credit: MLS/Paul Giamou
David Beckham, Jim Brennan and Jorge Flores visit a young fan in the hospital.
Welcome to the All-Star Game - where rivalries (Chivas USA and Galaxy and TFC) are put aside as players take on the world (West Ham).

Predictions, people. I know you've already voted in our Sideline Views poll, but now you need to guess who is going to score. Click to continue reading...

Just take a look at these images from McCain's week (so far) ... in comparison to the bits and bytes on the airwaves featuring Barack Obama. Almost makes me feel sorry for the Straight Talker. But then I see this video, and that changes! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ieHwOm4ljA Meanwhile, here's an article from Scripps News Service about the newly-configured [. Click to continue reading...

Beau takes the temperature of Beckham fever these days. It's not scorching, but it's warm.
Let's personalize the phenomenon for Sideline Views folk. How has Beckham joining MLS affected you? Not at all? Some? Explain.


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Rev's to the rescue - 3 members of the teams management staff subdued a disturbed passenger on a flight from Boston to LA this weekend. Read more in the New England Revolution section.


SuperLiga

Official match reports and video highlights etc. Click to continue reading...

When you compare all-star games, it's clear that the MLS All-Star game is not one watched too closely by the mainstream sports media.

Nothing new, really. The next time the MLS All-Star game leads highlight shows will be the first time, probably. The mainstream media gives all kinds of coverage to other All-Star games, notably the Major League Baseball one which was played on Tuesday in New York. Click to continue reading...

I just wanted to include a link to the story on the Sideline Views blog, which had a very good story about the disbursement of the million dollar prize for this tournament amongst the players on the MLS teams. Lets just say that the motivation for the MLS teams might be a little lacking in comparison to the Mexican teams. Click to continue reading...

Word To The Wise: Bookmark this post to save yourself some time as we are just hours away from kickoff.
Want to follow SuperLiga but so far feeling a little left out?

Don't get Telefutura? Don't speak Spanish? No habla Espanol? You're in luck because all SuperLiga games will be presented online in English again this year. Click to continue reading...

Sideline Views reported earlier today that GK Brad Guzan of Chivas USA has been sold by Major League Soccer to Aston Villa. Guzan has nine caps for the US National Team and this past year has emerged as Tim Howard's... Click to continue reading...

I just got word and then saw some more confirmation from Luis Bueno over at Sideline Views that Brad Guzan is indeed leaving Chivas USA to head to EPL side Aston Villa. A source confirmed that Guzan is on his way to Aston Villa in a deal that has been finalized and will see Guzan [...] Click to continue reading...

LA Times. (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-guzan12-2008jul12,0,1717536.story) Sideline Views.... Click to continue reading...

Done deal. Brad Guzan to Aston Villa. Luis Bueno of the enourmous Sideline Views blog with the details. Does he get the work permit this time? They must be quite certain of it or why would they go through this process again.

~and~

Samuel Eto'o will be in the Twin Cities next Tuesday for the opening ceremony of the massive youth tournament, the USA Cup. Click to continue reading...

Our main man Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated sits down with Jozy Altidore who begins his new life at Villarreal next Monday! Great stuff. See Americans In Europe section.

~and~

San Jose gets their hands on Huckerby. See San Jose section for details.

~and~

When you book your room at the Hotel du Nord, don't forget to pack your Due Nord II shorts, the official sportswear of du Nord futbol. Click to continue reading...

In the run-up to the Oly's it's interestting to read the thoughtful analysis being posted about the whole Solo-Scurry-Ryan episode at the 2007 Women's World Cup. Following on the heels of the SI piece by Grant Wahl, we have commentary from: Sideline Views - in which Andrea Canales cites Anson Dorrance and the way he [. Click to continue reading...

We're not even sure what to call this yet. Luis and I thought it would be a good idea to interview some soccer people in Los Angeles. Because we're different, we each have our own questions, so our interview subject had to be willing to tackle that situation.
We filmed our Sideline Views TV return out at Chivas USA practice, so we thought we'd start this new feature with someone from the LA Galaxy and their view of the SuperClasico. Click to continue reading...

The return of Sideline Views TV, Luis and Andrea talk about the SuperClasico.




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Here's a nice piece from the Fort Worth Star Telegram about some of the stories to watch at the 2008 Olympics. Then we have the outlook for the Phillies ... which, in typical Phillies' fashion, looks like it's likely to get nerve-wracking! (And BTW, they are on ESPN - or ESPN2 - Wednesday night.) Speaking [. Click to continue reading...

So that's where my Rolls went...

• Ronaldinho to Milan now? [Daily Mail]
  
  
• And yes, he's still fat-ish. [FanHouse]
  
  
• Sounders beat Chivas in US Open Cup. Again. [Goal Seattle]
  
  
• Spain tops FIFA's latest mess world rankings. [FIFA]
  
  
• France keeps coach what's-his-face.

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Chivas USA managed to draw at home against the New York Red Bulls.

Nick Green comments on the game here. He's a little rough on the Red and White, but somewhat justified.

The Sideline Views included a clip of Preki's post game for you to hear.

The game was tough, and a draw was probably fair.

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Stuff to read while you leave a toilet paper rose as an apology for breaking out of prison: A final assessment. (Germany Blog) Top 10 flops of Euro 2008. (Soccerlens) The rightful victors... (Guardian Unlimited) ....And Jogi Low agrees. (BBC Sport) More to come from Spain? (Sideline Views) Babes of the final. Click to continue reading...

Earlier this week we had some points of contention with Du Nord, so let's pick right up where we left off, shall we? Except, this isn't so much a point of contention but more a point of confusion. The site introduced something today called "The Designated Players," which appears to be some kind of blogging quintet featuring Ives, This is American Soccer, The Original Winger and The Offside Rules. Click to continue reading...

The CONCACAF Champions League groups have been chosen, and neatly summarized by Mr. Bueno at Sideline Views. Over at MLSNet, it is summarized as "D.C. United has been given perhaps the toughest test of Major League Soccer's teams in the group stage..." And yes, the schedule contains some nasty fixtures.

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Seems like a Monday around here. After a nice long weekend, we're back and raring to go. A couple things this morning to touch on, as it should be a busy day here at Hillcrest Road. First, check out Graham Jones' take on the game Saturday. Wow. Then, check out the love that yours truly received on Sideline Views Sunday. Click to continue reading...