News and Views

Yes, it certainly is the off-season. San Jose’s impending move to Houston is just about the only thing making MLS news today. As someone who lives in Texas, I must say that I greatly look forward to an intense Dallas-Houston rivalry, even though I am a fan of neither team.
Players prepared for move to Houston
Hoops hope to build new rivalry

Soccer 2005: From A-Z This is definitely an entertaining read.

Happy Holidays

To all of you who celebrate any holidays at this time of year, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays.

News and Views

Arena, U.S. Prepare for Summer Abroad Here's to hoping that Arena makes some good decisions while preparing for this summer; I don't think that any of us who remember '98 want to see a repeat of that. At the very least, I hope they make it out of the group, and, at the most, I'm hoping they make it into either the final or the third place match. Perhaps I'm just dreaming, but it could happen. After all, who expected Croatia to end up winning the third place match back in '98?

2006 MLS SuperDraft Forward Rankings

Houston, We Have a Problem

One ball, two goals, few fans

News and Views

You know it's the off season when you start trolling the Web for MLS news and come up with article after article after article about the same thing, and very little else. In this case, it's San Jose's move to Houston. Maybe I'm way out of the loop here, but am I the only one who thinks this is a bit sudden? In case you're as out of it as I am, here are a few articles on the subject:
San Jose's move gives FC Dallas a state rival
Houston lands Major League Soccer franchise
MLS Gets a New City
Personally, I think that a team in Houston will do quite well. I find the comparison to the Cleveland Browns interesting (the Browns moved to Baltimore, and, after several years without the Browns, Cleveland got a new team and stadium). Maybe the Earthquakes will return, bigger, better, and with a stadium in a few years. Who knows; I guess time will tell.
Update: most of the blogs I link to in my sidebar have a lot more to say about this move. Go read - there's some good stuff there.

Wizards players’ reactions mixed So the Wizards are staying, at least for one more year. That's good news, though I'm sure that the fans would prefer a more concrete affirmative.

News and Views

Walsh: Scheduling A Break Can anyone explain to me what on earth possessed MLS to keep scheduling games during the World Cup? My guess is that it is a vestige from the stupid-decision-making period at the beginning of MLS - you know, the period when they did things like break all draws with shootouts. And, I don't about you, but I don't even so much as pay the slightest bit of attention to MLS when the World Cup is in session, and that is completely regardless of whether or not the USA or any other country that I am rooting for is still in it. This is coming from a pretty hard-core MLS supporter.

Commissioner joins sports youth talk This made me think: I wonder if the whole Freddy Adu hype has anything to do with the media hoping that they'll have the distinction of being the first to report on the future Pele...just a thought.

FC Dallas players lend a hand

Quakes fans rally to show support

Teams, players planning for draw

Matthaeus tied to U.S. team's fate