Canada Watch

The United States Soccer Federation held the functional equivalent of a shotgun wedding yesterday, with Sunil Gulati playing the role of the backwoods daddy holding a Remington double barrel 12 gauge.

And they say chivalry is dead.

When the confetti settled and the happy couple were finally headed down the road in the three-tone 87 Ford pickup, it was comforting to know that amongst all the hysterical blather of the past few weeks there was at least one thing that the "The Sky is Falling" crowd got right:

Neither USL nor NASL will be sanctioned.
...

Seeing as how Mo Johnston has already announced that "Whining John" Carver will be Toronto's head coach next season, the latter's self-serving comments about "deserving to lose my job" and "my head is on the block" ring pretty hollow IN TODAY'S TORONTO SUN.


While the headline "TFC Coach Puts Job on the Line" is laughable, implying that Carver is saying that if the team keeps losing he'll quit - which he most certainly is NOT saying - it's the closing item which...

Here, courtesy of UNPROFESSIONAL FOUL is the jersey you've been waiting for:


I understand the BigSoccer shop will personalize it with "SUCKER" or "TAXPAYER" or "JIM ROME" for a modest additional fee.


Another CONCACAF Champions League kick in the teeth for MLS last night as MONTREAL IMPACT PROVED THEY"RE SIX GOALS BETTER THAN THE REVS with a very convincing 2-0 win over Jack Warner's Joe Public.

The goalscorers were an Italian and an Agentine and an American GK was absolutely...

...but someplace there's a Media guy WHO HAS PUT ME TO SHAME:

A new interactive sports lifestyle debuts Sept. 16, 2008, with the formal introduction of the Xtreme Soccer League and the Xtreme Soccer Xperience.

More than an indoor soccer league, the XSX is an energetic and innovative 12-month experience built around skilled soccer professionals, entertainment and fan participation - both live and online.

"It took us only a short time to fully appreciate the impact this lifestyle brand has, and we are elated to be at the forefront of the Xtreme Soccer platform,"...

Call it the Curse of EA Sports: lately it seems that getting your mug on the cover of one of their ubiquitous sports simulation games means you're on your way out of town.

Following in the footsteps of their decision to put Brett Farve in Green Bay duds on the front of NFL 2009, they prominently featured Maurice Edu in TFC red:


Will EA offer an updated cover for download, LIKE THEY DID WITH THE FARVE COVER or, seeing as how it's MLS, will they figure nobody cares anyway?


Toronto...

So much going on, so little time:

The US Women's Soccer team took Norway apart at the seams yesterday, winning 4-0 in a country where they've never won before, getting the goals from four different players.

The women look ready to do some damage at the Olympics.

While we're on the subject, here's a great look at the US WOMEN'S TEAM that Pia Sundhage is taking to Beijing by the increasingly indispensable Lindsey Dolich.

I know most of you don't follow the ladies too closely - to each his own and all that - but when you feel like checking in...

Well, another weekend, another complete shellacking of MLS West by MLS East, as New England made it a 3-0 weekend yesterday by sticking it to suddenly toothless Seedy Chivas, WHO ONLY MANAGED TO GET OFF THE SCHNIDE IN THE 93rd MINUTE with rookie Justin Braun's first professional goal.


Preki is blaming a shortage of healthy defenders for his teams woes, which may be so but which doesn't entirely account for the 200+ minute...

If you missed the Chicago/District of Columbia match last night - and I myself had to DVR most of it after having to go rescue a dead 300zx TT from the side of the road in the pouring rain; delightful - then you missed a couple of the key stories of this increasingly less "still early" season:


For DC, it's becoming clear that it's not just a team that needs to gel; rather it's a team that needs to dump some guys who can't play. Franco Niell, please pick up the white courtesy phone. In the airport. On your...

In the finest tradition of Rocky Balboa, HOUSTON OWNER OSCAR DE LA HOYA will enter the ring on Saturday wearing Houston Orange on his robe.

No word on whether Corey Ashe will be picking up three grand for letting The Golden Boy punch his meat, but de la Hoya will doubtless get to keep the robe.


de la Hoya notes that the Dynamo is "actually playing the same night I am fighting and I have a great feeling we will both come out victorious."

His confidence is understandable;...

Long unplanned weekend away, just getting back to my desk, so I'm just tossing it all in the pot:

The biggest early surprise in the MLS season has to be THE WINLESS HOUSTON DYNAMO stumbling to a 0 - 1 - 3 start.

The last remaining winless team in MLS, the Dynamo currently have a solid grip on last place, a spot they haven't had much experience with.

Playing four out of their first five games on the road isn't an easy task for any team, and some injuries have certainly contributed but going all the way back to the 6-1 pasting laid on them by Gamba Osaka...