Count RealSaltLake owner Dave Checketts as one who favors a major format change in MLS Cup – as mentioned in the previous post – where the higher seeded side will host the final.

"I've told [MLS Commissioner Don] Garber all along that the championship game should be at the highest seeded team in the game," Checketts told me said Saturday morning as RSL was finishing its training.

Qwest Field in Seattle will be rompin' and stompin' Sunday. Could it be this way at MLS Cup more often ...?

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How would everybody feel about a championship match at the site of the highest seeded team involved?

David Beckham answering questions at Friday's pre-game presser at Seattle's Qwest Field

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SEATTLE – To say that RealSaltLake never traveled well is like saying most people aren't exactly fond of cold sores.

SEATTLE -- The teams arrived in Seattle last night, all staying near the teeming town center, presumably to be close Pike Place Market in case they get the urge to throw some fish.

From a competition standpoint, I find it interesting that the teams didn't arrive a little earlier. On the one hand, I do get it: they want proper training during the week, and that's more manageable in nicer conditions.

Thierry Henry, the stubborn suits at FIFA and about 4.25 million people on a little island just West of England would like to know how the world feels about handballs, resistance to modern technology and an individual's responsibility to cop to the truth at the critical moment?

I'm talking, of course, about the Ireland-France brouhaha.

George McFly believed in destiny. And "density." I'm just not sure I do ... not as it relates to MLS titles, anyway.

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Personally, I don't believe in witches, warlocks, hoodoo, voodoo or mythical beings from MagicMountain.

Great weather expected for Sunday -- if you're a duck

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I learned a new weather term today. "Sun spots"

Now, I used to think those were symptoms of dermatological distress, something that happened to aging skin, particularly for former glamour gals or golfers who had spent too much time under the brilliant rays of summer.

Since the players aren't here yet, may as well eat at Dick's

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SEATTLE – Since it's mostly going to be an MLS Cup-centric week (after today's World Cup qualifiers, which Richard Farley told you about in the previous post), we may as well get the Pacific Northwest party started.

(Editors note: This entry is from Richard Farley, who will soon have SB Nation's new World Cup blog up and running. Here's a great example of what you can expect regularly)

Wednesday, we will see the field for the 2010 World Cup field completed, with invitations to be handed-out after the six matches spanning Africa, Europe, South America and (by extension) Central America.

Reports all week from the lovingly grungy Northwest

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True story, swear it: I had big pep in my step on my first trip to Seattle about 10 or 12 years ago.

U.S. defender Jonathan Spector ... Did well in Saturday's friendly at center back, but let's not get carried away

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If we equate soccer to real life, international friendlies are a little like on-line dating – good for an initial weeding out, but maybe not for a whole lot more.

I will have a piece up at ESPN Soccernet later today looking back at the pair of weekend conference finals and gazing ahead at this weekend's MLS championship. Here's a little sneak peak at the most interesting note:

It involved Landon Donovan and his ability to convert penalty kicks. And it involves RealSaltLake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, whose heroic performance in Saturday's penalty kick tiebreaker against Chicago is a big reason why the men of Utah remain alive today.

The Galaxy has one hand on the MLS Cup

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Unless you staid up well past the bewitching hour, you didn't see the Galaxy's 2-0 win over Houston in the Western Conference final.

The best of brightest of a youthful MLS

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Major League Soccer will announce its Rookie of the Year today. And while I expect big L.

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With the World Cup inching ever closer, it's just about time to stop nibbling around the edges of the U.S. depth chart conversations and start biting into the chewy center of that little candy bunny.