I've been wanting to comment on this for a few days, but it seems especially apt in light of the new FIFPro statement that got released today:

"The league shutting down MLS in February would do real damage to the development of the game in the United States and to our efforts to prepare for South Africa," US leading scorer Landon Donovan said.

Should I make an offer to K.C. soccer-hop trio HBK to be the first signing on TOR Records? They don't know that HBK is their name yet but since I'll be playing the role of Svengali --think Phil Spector meets Suge Knight minus the criminal records-- of this whole operation I figure they won't mind me blessing them with their nom de rap.

This was from the season opener, but you get the idea...

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There's a nasty rumor going around that cussing is not allowed in the Gorilla FC supporter's section.

By Ollie Irish

One of the most disgusting – and upsetting – acts I've ever seen on a football pitch in Britain:

Of course, to call this a horror 'tackle' is grossly unfair on horror tacklers everywhere. This was a flat-out assault: deliberate, brutal and criminal.

Jo's one-man introduction of a winter break into the English calendar by returning to South America without permission over the Christmas period is not a good sign at all. It sends out a bad message - that Everton's Brazilian striker has fallen off the tightrope.

It's arguable that we are seeing more such acts of inconsistency from players than ever before at the top level of the game, and I am convinced this is no coincidence.

Hello all, many thanks for keeping it all alive and interesting.... I left like I abandoned you! Had a great Xmas break. Went to the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland and saw some great acts, theatre, did some workshops, had yummie food and chilled out with cool people (not as cool

The X Factor may have finished in December, but three of its most popular acts will do battle once more - on the same night - in Southend.
So-bad-they're-good duo Jedward, and Essex artists Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon will all be in the town this Thursday (28th).
Olly and Dagenham-based Stacey will both perform at the relaunch of Talk on Lucy Road, while John and Edward will take to the stage at Element (formerly Bakers Bar) at the same time.

That's not watercloset by the way, although it should be said the above two don't often meet in international tournaments. No I'm talking about the World Cup, as in, why are England fans the only Europeans buying tickets? Bill Archer blames issues with security, so maybe travelling England fans are used to being the major "issue with security" during internationals so what's a few back alley robberies here and there.

Stevie and Rafa Hoist the Glorious FA Cup After Gerrard Acts Like a Demi-God and Wins it All on His Own!!! SEASON SUMMARY The 2005-2006 season was one of significant improvements on the pitch, playing very well off of the love affair that was the glorious night of Istanbul the year before. Steven Gerrard gave all of [.

I love how everyone acts like Bob Bradley has a tough job. Oh harsh... he has to narrow his squad down to 23. Twenty three!!! The poor guy.Let's just see him try to distill the best of Michael, George Michael, Buster, George Sr., GOB, Lucille, Lindsay, Tobias, Maeby and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bluth down to five choices.

By necessity, this post will be relatively brief. Perhaps next season we'll have an epic MLS preview. But then again, maybe we won't. Let's just say there are some things you can tell from preseason, and some things you can't. And things change as the season goes on, teams are different at the start than they are in the middle or end.

My last post on Valdes and Spanish National Team ended with a hope that Valdes somehow manages to get into the World Cup squad. How things have changed drastically. When I wrote my previous post I was conviced that Del Bosque was never going to pick Valdes for Spain. Such has been Valdes' performance since my post, Vicente del Bosque can no longer overlook Valdes for the World Cup squad.

I wanted to get to this yesterday, but things have been kind of hectic around WFW HQ lately, which is why I haven't posted here in....damn, has it really been over a week? But don't worry. It's all been good, both on the professional and personal sides.

Still, yesterday was a pretty big day here, as three albums by some of my favorite contemporary acts were released.

Source : Spanish Football Sports/ Here is the ATLTLETICO DE MADRID 2010 EUROPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS Team photo (starting 11 line-up). Thanks to all for the emails & did not think Spanish Football Sports had so many Atletico fans. The team has arrived to Madrid this morning & will be offering the Cup to the city from 17.

It's something I think murderers struggle with; there are defining acts. It's possible to do something that becomes more you than you are. I have no idea whether you live in the Middle Ages, but if you do, and you buy an indulgence, can you ever stop being the guy who bought an indulgence?

Not content with being the first music act to perform at the Cardiff City Stadium, proud Welsh songsters Stereophonics are spending the summer on the festival circuit. Lucky blighters.

Compare and buy Sterophonics tickets at Tixdaq.com

Stereophonics are embarking on a list of festival dates in the British Isles that will please fans who were unable to get their hands on a ticket to any of their arena shows in March.

By Chris Wright

Anti-racism charity Kick It Out have revealed that the contract David Villa signed when he joined Barcelona last month included a ground-breaking 'anti-discrimination' clause, that the organisation hope will now be included in every future deal made within professional football.

Rage Against The Machine: it can get pretty hot under those lights

Download tickets are still widely available from ticketing websites and weekend tickets with camping are now trading below £150. There are over 70 Download weekend tickets listes on sites such as Seatwave, Viagogo and eBay, with the cheapest currently available at £140.

Robin Williams is one of the funniest stand-up acts of all time. So when he did a routine on the World Cup, I was thrilled. Despite being recorded in 2002, the material is still relevant today. His astute observations are brutally hilarious. Enjoy.

Diana Krall is just one of the brilliant acts to play at Kenwood House in West London as part of the English Heritage Picnic Concerts. Blondie, Rufus Wainwright, Will Young and Jamie Cullum will join the Canadian musician at the stately home this summer.

Kenwood Picnic Concerts Tickets Buy Here

The Kenwood Picnic Concerts are a fabulous event organised by English Heritage.

Snoop Dogg is finally allowed into the UK again after being denied access for years. Better take advantage before he is banned again!

Snoop Dogg Tickets Buy Here

Snoop Dogg tickets are now available for the American rapper's July UK tour. Snoop Dogg will perform at Glasgow O2 Academy on 4th July, The Marquee Cork on Monday 5th July, Dublin Olympia Theatre on Tuesday 6th July and London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on Friday 9th July.

We don't know if you knew this, but Stevie Wonder is actually the United Nations Messenger Of Peace. Pretty lofty title, no?

Stevie Wonder Tickets Buy Here

Fans have called for Stevie Wonder's Hard Rock Calling appearance to be his official UK birthday celebration, after the legendary songwriter turned 60 last month.

The Black Eyed Peas are just one of the great acts performing at T In The Park 2010.

T In The Park tickets Buy Here

T In The Park is twinned with Oxegen Festival in Ireland in 2010 in much the same way that Reading and Leeds Festival are. That means that the Scottish festival will share many of the same phenomenal acts as its Irish partner Muse, Eminem, Kasabian, Faithless, Stereophonics, Jay-Z, The Black Eyed Peas and The Prodigy to name but a few.

Belle And Sebastian's first album was called Tigermilk.

Latitude Festival tickets Buy Here

Belle And Sebastian are one of the most critically acclaimed bands to have come out of Britain in the last twenty years, and the Scottish group are behind brilliant songs such as The Boy With The Arab Strap, It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career and Step Into My Office, Baby are much loved by their fans.

Not happy with Shaibu Amodu, you fire him. Even though he actually got you qualified.

Now that you have failed in yet another World Cup, the guns are out for Lars Lagerback. Is it just the choice of coach that leads to Nigerian ruin each time?

We just saw Aiyegbeni Yakubu miss an absolute sitter in the South Korea match that could have seen them through.

The surreal live experience that is Empire Of The Sun will also perform at Rock Werchter 2010.

Rock Werchter Festival tickets Buy Here

Summer is festival season. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand why the combination of fantastic live music and sunny weather goes down a treat with music fans, and there are plenty of outstanding line-ups to choose from this summer.

Yossi Benayoun will confirm his exit from Liverpool within the next 24 hours and put pen to paper on a £5.5 million deal to join Chelsea, according to a report from The Sun.
It is understood one of new Reds boss Roy Hodgson's first acts in his new role was to rubber stamp the winger's departure.

According to the verdict of Guinness World Record officials, Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention and Entertainment Resort and Kia Motors have the biggest soccer ball of them all. Standing at 15-metres high, the ball was presented to the public amidst entertainment and exciting acts.

Paolo Nutini usually makes records, not breaks them.

Paolo Nutini tickets Buy Here

Due to overwhelming demand for his first show, Paolo Nutini has signed up to become the first ever artist to play at Cornwall's Eden Project twice in one year. He will be joined for both gigs by support act Martha Wainwright, who is a fantastic singer in her own right.

Images of Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas celebrating Spain's World Cup triumph kitted out in a Barcelona shirt - albeit one forced on him - have rekindled memories of similar acts of disloyalty.

It's like seeing an old friend once again. So many memories, so many ridiculous acts, and so many pints... The Premier League is back! While the AFR team will probably take the day off to bask in the glory of the world's most competitive league, we'll leave you with our individual "snippets" of who will hold the Premiership trophy come May.

There are growing rumblings about our captain's ability to last for 90 minutes 'week in, week out'. I haven't seen this myself but then I do tend to sit in happy stupors at games and miss all sorts of things as a result. So perhaps this is a case for the scientific method.

If Danny Murphy was struggling to last for 90 minutes we might reasonably expect to see a difference between second half and first half performances, right?

Swedish actor acts as conductor to rowdy crowd Alexander Skarsgard is not a no name. He is the star of True Blood, Generation Kill and Battleship. He is a Hollywood actor. So what on earth is he doing swinging from a pole conducting football chants? And more importantly, how does he look so cool and [.

Swedish actor acts as conductor to rowdy crowd Alexander Skarsgard is not a no name. He is the star of True Blood, Generation Kill and Battleship. He is a Hollywood actor. So what on earth is he doing swinging from a pole conducting football chants? And more importantly, how does he look so cool and [.

Shakhtar 2-1 Arsenal (Theo / Cygrinksfasidfhiy , Eduardo)

I don't mind losing most of the time. If we are outplayed, hands up, fair enough. Losing due to lack of application, intelligence and effort in some cases is something I can't stand. But, if we were given a game to lose in November this would have been it.

By Darshan Joshi, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Santa is a fat man. Ridiculous, really, that fact - you'd imagine that a man kids looked up to might be a tad healthier. You'd imagine Santa being the sort of man who may fall through your chimney, roll to the dining table and tell the kids to eat their greens and to lay off the ice-cream, but he can't because children recognise a hypocrite these days.

It is oft-repeated within football that smaller clubs may mean more to their supporters than larger ones do. Whether this is an accurate summation of the relationship between clubs of different sizes with their supporter bases is debatable, but there can be little question that the work done by supporters of Blue Square South club Welling United over the last few weeks must count as one of the more extraordinary acts of benevolence by a set of supporters in recent times.