AC Milan Legend Alessandro Nesta Drawing Interest from MLS Side Toronto FC

Alessandro Nesta could be on his way to Canada as several sources are reporting that Major League Soccer club Toronto FC is interested in the services of the Italian.Nesta has decided to leave AC Milan after 10 years and has expressed interest in playing in the MLS. The 36-year-old World Cup winner would be a welcome addition to the Reds who currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference in the MLS with eight points and 28 goals allowed through 14 matches.According to CBC, Nesta has also attracted interest from MLS clubs Red Bull New York and Impact de Montreal. Montreal signed former Bologna striker Marco di Vaio following the end of the Serie A season. He made his debut on Wednesday when the MLS transfer window opened.Nesta was at the Canadian derby between Montreal and Toronto. It seems that TFC coach Paul Mariner is confident that his struggling side can snag the two-time Serie A and two-time UEFA Champions League winner.From CBC's report: "This club's a massive club," he told reporters after practice. "And I'd put it up there with Los Angeles and New York. This is a really big club and this is a fantastic city in which ...

Major League Soccer Acting American, and It Makes No Sense

Major League Soccer continues to show signs of American isolationism. I thought we left that back in the 1800s? The league, in its 16th season, is at its highest point of popularity ever and is continuously expanding into new markets, with Seattle, Philadelphia, Portland, Vancouver, Montreal and New York all having introduced or began to prepare to introduce a new club since 2009. As more cities become interested in joining the growing phenomenon, MLS has made a statement that truly irritates me. Mark Abbott, the president of Major League Soccer, defiantly stated that the league has no intentions of exploring a promotion/relegation system. "I don't see that in the future, certainly in any reasonable future for us," he said. The American top flight has no desire to join with the rest of the world, where in most countries teams are set into single tables with the bottom three teams being relegated to the next lowest division. In MLS, the current 18 teams are split into two conferences, East and West, with the top three teams in each conference being given automatic qualification to the Conference Semifinals and the next four teams, with all teams combined into a single table qualify. Therefore, 10 of the league's 18 teams—56 ...

Seattle Sounders Have the Best Fans in American Pro Sports

Call me crazy, but I think the best fans in a professional American sport are up in the Emerald City, and they're not rooting for the Seahawks.Well, I am sure they root for the Seahawks too, but these fans are out on the streets from March through November, marching to Qwest Field to root for one of the newest clubs in Major League Soccer.That's right. A soccer team has the best fans in the United States of America.That team: Seattle Sounders FC.The club was founded in 2008 and made its debut in MLS in 2009. From the word go, the Sounders have demonstrated the best support of any team in American sports.Other teams in other leagues have great fans, but these fans are going hours before the game to intimidate the opponent from pregame through the final whistle, and they are making it nearly impossible to take points in the Northwest.Here is a look into the fans known as the Emerald City Supporters.Begin Slideshow

Chad Ochocinco: NFL Superstar Following Childhood Dream and Disproving Critics

I'll admit, I was sketchy about Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco when he decided to accept an invitation to join Sporting Kansas City on trial. Then again, because I never liked his on camera antics, I never took Ochocinco seriously as a real player in the NFL. I just thought of him as a guy who loved the camera and loved the checks. It's amazing what a couple of days can do. Since Tuesday, my respect level for Ochocinco has skyrocketed. I always knew of Chad's love for the game of soccer, or as I call it, real football. He played in his youth and was an exceptional player. Family influence and the uncertainty of a stable career in the brand new and financially strained Major League Soccer caused him to choose a career in the NFL. He is a big fan of the game in general. In fact, he is currently struggling with who to root for when he goes to the Real Madrid-Barcelona derby on April 16. He has friends on both teams. His friends in the world football community include Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo and New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry. In fact, the only ...

MLS In The Nutmeg State: Why an MLS Club Would Thrive In Connecticut

Major League Soccer is expanding faster than any other league in the United States. At only 15 years old, MLS is quickly coming up behind the four main leagues: NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Many would argue that it has surpassed NHL in a majority of the markets, same for the NBA and some MLB markets. The NFL is the biggest challenge, but MLS can easily become the #2.Expansion clubs are becoming a trend in the league. 2009 saw the entrance of the instantly successful, instantly popular Seattle Sounders FC. 2010 welcomed Philadelphia Union. While not as successful, the Chester, PA-based club enjoyed great attendance at the new PPL Park. 2011 will welcome Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In 2012, Montreal Impact will join the league. There is also talks of another New York team bearing a familiar name, New York Cosmos, for 2013.MLS is hitting the main target points of most professional sports areas. The league is now based in 18 cities: New York, Columbus, Los Angeles, Toronto, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Houston, San Jose, Denver, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Montreal, Portland, Chicago, Vancouver, Kansas City, and Washington, D.C.Commissioner Don Garber loves the expansion, but he is missing several ...

Staying Put: Landon Donovan Says He’s Not Leaving Los Angeles

Los Angeles Galaxy captain and American international Landon Donovan has reiterated that he will not leave the MLS club and will be back next season. Donovan's Galaxy fell at home 3-0 to FC Dallas in the Western Conference Final of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday night, ending Los Angeles' hopes of a third title. It has been a busy year for the 28 year old: He went on loan to English side Everton from January to March. In that time, Donovan became the biggest American sensation in soccer, if he was not already. He scored twice in ten matches for the Toffees and was a critical part of the squad as they defeated Chelsea and Manchester United and drew Arsenal in his time there. After returning in time for MLS, Donovan helped the Galaxy get off to a start of 7-0-1. During that time, Donovan recorded a goal and eight assists. We all know what followed when he went to South Africa: Donovan recorded three goals in the World Cup, including the winner against Algeria in stoppage time of the second half. The Algeria goal landed the Yanks in the knockout stage, where despite a Donovan penalty, the United States crashed out to Ghana. Having been ...

MLS Cup Playoffs 2010: Breaking Down the Bracket

The Major League Soccer 2010 season has come to a close. What a seven months it has been. From Philadelphia Union's introduction, to FC Dallas' 19-game unbeaten streak, to New York Red Bulls' new stadium, new stars, and 30-point turnaround from last year, to Beckham's return to help Los Angeles to the Supporter's Shield, it has been quite a year.This year's MLS Cup Playoffs provide some great excitement. Six Western Conference teams and two Eastern Conference clubs will go for glory and look to become the fifteenth winners of MLS Cup. Along with this, every team will also have the goal of qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League. Two of the eight have already accomplished this for next year. Los Angeles, the 2010 MLS Supporter's Shield winners and Seattle Sounders FC, the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup winners, have each qualified for the 2011-2012 tournament. The Galaxy immediately progress to the Group Stage while Seattle will have to play in the Preliminary Round.Two teams will join them. The MLS Cup winner and runner-up each earn a spot, with the winner going to the Group Stage and the runner-up going into the Preliminary Round. If either Los Angeles or Seattle ...

Landon Donovan Could Leave This Summer

It is arguably the biggest transfer that has not happened besides Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona. The move I speak of is Landon Donovan to Europe. Having been the best player in MLS the past several seasons, and after some incredible performances recently with the United States national team, Donovan has attracted clubs from all over the world. In 2009, it was Bayern Munich, where he spent 10 weeks on loan, but failed to break into Germany's greatest squad. This year changed everything. Donovan had always been doubted when it came to playing outside of MLS, having had miserable spells at Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. This year, he gained the attention of David Moyes and Everton of the English Premier League. Ten appearances produced two goals, three assists, and wins over Manchester United and Premier League winners Chelsea, as well as a draw with Arsenal. He also played very well in a loss in the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool. Not many players can say they were able to lead their club to seven of a possible 12 points against the Big Four, especially with all those games during a span of less than ten games. Donovan can. He was a star at Goodison Park, as ...