RSL v Seattle on ESPN2 Thursday

Last year RSL was struggling for the final slot to make the playoffs and scrapping for every possible point to make that happen. Then, the amazing run in the playoffs occurred, and RSL, a team that could not get a road win, pulled off multiple road wins en route to the MLS Championship game.

Beckerman Remains Sidelined for DC United Match

Real Salt Lake faces off against DC United for the second time this week, having gone down 2:1 to DC United in a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match on Wednesday. That was the low for the week, followed by the high of being honored as MLS Champions by President Obama at The white House on Thursday.

Chivas USA Prepares for RSL Match at Home

There is a pretty good pre-game assessment of the Chivas USA versus Real Salt Lake match here. But the down and dirty assessment is that RSL has been ascendant while Chivas has been mired in mediocrity. Chivas was the hot team at the start of the 2008 season, but something happened to the team (not just the loss of Preki) and it has slipped to the place it now firmly possesses: Last Place in the West.

File Footage of RSL's 2009 Season Start

While the start of the 2010 MLS season for Real Salt Lake might not be as bad as their disappointing 2009 start (see file footage above or look at my 2009 posts), it is a far cry from how Coach Jason Kreis wanted his team to open their defense of the 2009 MLS Cup.

I didn't get to see the game, but everything I've read indicates that it was a well-fought game even if the Galaxy had the upper hand for most of it. I wonder how it would have turned out if RSL hadn't had that Cup game mid-week.

Both teams have injuries to important players, so I'm already looking forward to the rematch at Rio Tinto when, hopefully, both teams will be full strength and playing quality futbol.

Edson Buddle is on fire in LA

I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due, and while Real Salt Lake was a bit tired and beat up from playing three games in seven days, the LA Galaxy deserved the win they got on Saturday night in LA. Both teams played a high energy, entertaining game, but in the end LA looked fresher and more in control of the match.

Win was not good for my Blood Pressure

Currently I am on vacation with my two sons at Zion National Park in southern Utah. (Highly recommended, by the way). But, regardless of my personal schedule, soccer continues. Sadly, yesterday's game between RSL and the San Jose Earthquakes was not on TV, but it was broadcast on KALL-700 radio.

Mr. Bill - Famous Actor From Saturday Night Live

I remember watching classic Saturday Night Live when I was back in high school. It was the John Belushi and Chevy Chase era. (Yes, I know this dates me.) One of the recurring skits had the claymation character of "Mister Bill" constantly getting squashed by "Mister Hand".

Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy in 2009 MLS Final

There are two significant MLS games tonight on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The first pits the defending MLS Champion Real Salt Lake against the always dangerous Houston Dynamo in its home stadium. Houston opened their season last weekend, with a 1-1 draw against fellow Texas team, FC Dallas.

Findley, Beckerman and the Hardware

Saturday night I was blessed to be in Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University to watch Real open the 2010 MLS season against the San Jose Earthquakes. I am pleased to report that unlike last season, there were no "Road Monkeys" anywhere in the vicinity, and RSL looked fantastic in their opening game in defense of their 2009 MLS Crown.

16 year-old Luis Gill makes RSL debut

Real Salt Lake faced off against The College of Charleston Cougars on Saturday and came away with a 2-1 win, both goals coming in the second half of play. There are a few notable things about the game. First, it was the first time that the entire RSL team was together now that Robbied Findley, Kyle Beckerman, and Nicky Rimando have returned from duty with the U.

Robbie Findley

Well, it wasn't all Robbie Findley's fault, but he failed to impress in today's match against the Netherlands. Bob Bradley is desperately looking for strikers and Findley had a unique opportunity to impress Bradley and earn a spot on the team heading to South Africa. Sadly, Findley did not help his cause in the 2-1 loss to the Netherlands.

Real Salt Lake Coach Jason Kreis

Real Salt Lake continues pre-season preparation in sunny Arizona with the threat of a player strike looming. Regardless of how the player and league negotiations go, soccer-life goes on. Real is away from the Utah snow getting the rookies and veteran players as ready as they can be for their away opener in San Jose on the 27th of March.

Wahoo, finally MLS preseason is here for Real Salt Lake! Now don't get me wrong, I loved the offseason where I was able to rub in the fact that RSL took the cup from the "designated winner", the LA Galaxy (In your face Alexi Lalas! Yhea, I said it!)

As detailed in numerous previous articles and posts, my belief in RSL and their "different way" of building a team started way back when Jason Kreis was selected as head coach.

A candid interview with the General Manager of Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake pulled off one of the biggest upsets in professional sports, coming from the number eight-seed in Major League Soccer's post-season, to win the 2009 MLS Cup. En route to its first MLS Championship, RSL had to beat the defending champion Columbus Crew and the surging Chicago Fire on consecutive road trips.