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22Mar/120

MLS Weekend Preview: 6 Players to Watch and Why

You have to love the current state of the sport in the U.S. when there are three consecutive days of Major League Soccer action.There are many matches this weekend worth watching, starting with Houston visiting Seattle Friday evening on NBC Universal Sports, and ending with FC Dallas at Sporting Kansas City on Galavision.However, this isn't about breaking down teams, but rather the players than can be influential in the end result for some of the teams in action.So here are my six guys I will be taking a closer look at this weekend, and why you should too. Begin Slideshow
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21Mar/120

Valencia FC Planning U.S. Tour to Face Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers

Major League Soccer clubs Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers have announced they will be hosting La Liga's side Valencia FC in a pair of friendlies set in May.The historic Spanish club will first travel to the Pacific Northwest to the intimidating confines of JELD-WEN Field to take on the Portland Timbers on May 23. Eight days later, on May 31, Houston will host Valencia in its new BBVA Compass Stadium, which is set to open May 12th.The bout between Houston and Valencia will be part of the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup, which will be entering its fourth edition. “We are honored and privileged to be hosting such a prominent international soccer club in Valencia,” said Dynamo president Chris Canetti in a press release. “Their participation in this match helps bring major credibility to the tradition we are building in this event. We expect that the local soccer community will come out in strong support of this match, the first of its kind in our new stadium."This announcement by Houston and Portland continues the tradition over the last few years of MLS squads welcoming European teams to the U.S. during the later Spring and Summer months for a string of friendly matches.Read more MLS news on ...
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19Mar/120

MLS Weekend Review: 6 Underperforming Players

As we recuperate from all the St. Patty’s Day festivities and try to puzzle together the weekend’s events from our hazy memory, let us look back at week two of the Major League Soccer season.  There have been great highlights and player of the week performances, but today I would rather break down six players who I thought did not perform to the standards expected by their team and fans.Begin Slideshow
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15Mar/120

MLS Weekend Preview: 6 Players to Watch

It's another full slate of Major League Soccer matches this weekend. Even though it's very early in the season, some players are starting to make waves around the league with their play.Six players have peaked my curiosity coming into this weekend, either by their performances with their teams last week or by the expectations that have been building since preseason.Begin Slideshow
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9Mar/120

MLS 2012 Season: 20 Bold Predictions for the New Campaign

Go big or go home. That’s the motto that has been going around for decades now. I figured I’d do the same with this list of prediction for the upcoming 2012 Major League Soccer campaign.  I tried to make sure to keep them within reason, but I can say there is one—maybe two or three depending what team you root for—that are a bit far-fetched.  Just have fun with the predictions. You never know, in a few months I might be considered a genius. Otherwise, we can forget this whole thing ever happened.  And as always, feel free to post your own.Begin Slideshow
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7Mar/120

Cobi Jones, Jaime Moreno Highlight MLS’ Top 30 Players of All-Time

Say what you may about Major League Soccer. But one thing that’s true is there have been many remarkable players that have spent time in a league that has tried to claim its space in world soccer.  From 16 years of MLS come the best 30 players in league history. Some players in this list are a given, while other payers might be a stretch.Keep in mind that those in this list are players that have devoted their careers to this league, not just use it as a stepping stone to something larger (which I must say isn’t a bad thing necessarily). The players aren't really ranked in any particular order.  Hopefully, I achieved my goal in compiling a list worthy of discussion. Begin Slideshow
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23Feb/120

Who Are the All-Time MLS Best XI?

The talent that has come and gone through Major League Soccer could probably fill two All-Time MLS Best XI teams.However, narrowing down the league's best talent of all time to just 11 guys is definitely part of the fun in compiling a list like this one.In my opinion, players that deserve a nod in this All-Time Best XI are those that have dedicated their life and career to MLS. You will not see players on this list that have used the league as a stepping stone to better things.So if you're hoping to see players like Clint Dempsey, David Beckham or Tim Howard, look elsewhere.Enjoy the list, and let the comments fly...Begin Slideshow
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9Feb/120

10 Things the MLS Can Do to Get Bigger

Major League Soccer has grown a ridiculous amount in recent seasons, but that hasn't stopped its fans or critics in creating some sort of list about how to help MLS grow even larger.So of course, I have my list of things I would like the league to change as well.These aren't things that will make it grow to EPL status, because personally I don't care about hitting that level. Instead, I focused on things that I believe will resonate among the American populace and help MLS grow domestically. Which is what we need first and foremost.I'm not saying this list is the answer, just suggestions. So here are my 10 things I believe MLS can do to get bigger, and in turn, better.Begin Slideshow
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26Jan/120

David Beckham the Tiger Woods of Soccer, or Is It Vice Versa?

Maybe because when you think soccer, you think David Beckham.And when you think golf, you think Tiger Woods.However, it's not just in the sporting sense that Woods and Beckham compare. They have both succeeded and suffered in their careers very similarly.  Woods was rising as the best golfer in the world, winning his first Masters Tournament in 1997 and PGA Championship in 1999.Meanwhile, across the pond, Beckham helped Manchester United become the first team to ever win the coveted treble—winning the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League—during the 1998-99 season. And from that success came the usual: money, fame, endorsements, notoriety. Both Woods and Beckham rode their success to levels not seen by many before. While still in Manchester United, Beckham signed a three-year extension in 2002 worth £90,000 a week. The contract made him the highest-paid player in the world at the time. Around the same time, Woods was raking in the dough from his PGA Championships. He started the new millennium collecting just over $9 million in PGA prize money. Since then Woods has collected over $10 million in PGA prize money three different times—2005, 2007 and 2009.Beckham's popularity and demand continued to grow, signing for what has been ...
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19Jan/120

Top 10 Young MLS Prospects to Watch in 2012

As the 2012 Major League Soccer season inches closer, team priorities include finding chemistry between veterans players and those rookies coming into league—either chosen in the Superdraft or through Homegrown Player contracts.For teams starting from scratch, and for those rebuilding, a young prospect can be a very valuable asset to make a run for MLS Cup and to build for many years to come.Here are 10 young prospects fans should keep an eye out once the 2012 MLS season commences.  Begin Slideshow
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