Michael Ballack: Is MLS the Final Destination for the German Star?

MLS may have a new aging superstar join its ranks this summer if circulating reports are true. According to Goal.com, various media outlets and his own agent; Michael Ballack is looking to spend the last two years of his career in MLS. This should come as no surprise considering Ballack’s age and his coming to the end of his Bayer Leverkusen contract. It has also been reported that Adidas was pushing Ballack towards the move to help carry their brand in MLS. There are many factors working towards this move, but his landing spot is still very much the question.According to Goal.com, the New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders, Philadelphia Union, Montreal Impact, and Chicago Fire have all been rumored to have interest in the former captain of the German National Team. According to reports, the German midfielder wants to move to a team which can compete for the MLS Cup right now. He is also seeking a contract in the neighborhood of Thierry Henry and David Beckham in regards to monetary value. With this in mind, the chances of some interested parties become very slim.The New York Red Bulls seem to be the most logical destination for Ballack. With ...

MLS: Grading Each Team’s Designated-Player Rule Signings

The Designated Player Rule was put in place by MLS for the 2007 season. Since the implementation of this rule, the landscape of Major League Soccer has changed. Part of the change is due to the implementation of the rule, which allowed for the signing of a player at a higher salary. Only part of the salary counts against the cap, while the remaining portion is picked up by the team's ownership. Currently, teams are allowed to have two Designated Players, but can pay a fee of $250,000 to the league for a third DP spot. The fee is spread amongst the other teams in the league.The following is a look at each team’s endeavors into the world of Designated Players and how they fared. The years listed by the player are years the player was a DP not necessarily the years the DP was a member of the team. My opinion is based mostly on what I personally have seen, and I welcome all feedback and arguments.Begin Slideshow

DC United: Stadium Speculation Continues to Swirl Around Buzzard Point

DC United stadium plans have seen many variations over the last few years. There have been so many rumors regarding location and timing that DC United fans do not know what to believe anymore.Further fueling speculation are the articles in the Washington Post this week concerning potential development plans for Buzzard Point near the Washington Nationals' ballpark. The article references a 20-page concept document containing plans for the stadium.Is the Buzzard Point plan a legitimate option or another path to nowhere? According to the article, the plans were dated July 2010 which could lead fans to believe this is a repeat of previous proposals, but United owner Will Chang did confirm Buzzard Point is a target area for a stadium last weekend.As with any stadium plans, there are several roadblocks to overcome before the dream becomes reality. With Buzzard Point, the main sticking point appears to be the current owners of some of the targeted land in the area. The other roadblock is the all-too-common question of how to finance the stadium. The Sporting News also reported this week on a new lease agreement between RFK Stadium and DC United keeping the team there through the 2013 season. If United ...

MLS: Can the Colombian Connection Take MLS to the Next Level?

Speed, skill and style are all attributes of the beautiful game that are attractive to fans. Major League Soccer has been trying to find players with these attributes to improve the product on the field and grow the fanbase off it. Since the beginning of the league, teams have been looking for high-value talent with a shoe-string budget. Over the last few years, several teams have been striking gold in Colombia with the capture of young talent. The influx of Colombian talent is nothing new to MLS. Carlos Valderrama and Juan Pablo Angel have both shown their skill in MLS, but both were well-known commodities before bringing their game to America. Valderrama may have had the most well-recognized hair in soccer history to go along with his all-world talent. Angel spent several years finding the back of the net across the Premier League before bringing his goal scoring touch to MLS. While both men brought a lot to MLS, it may be their brethren from their homeland that brings MLS closer to being a top league. Seattle’s Fredy Montero burst onto the scene in the Sounders' first season. Since pulling on the green jersey in 2009, Montero has been an offensive force ...