According to TMZ, "David Beckham didn't grab the mechanical bull by the horns -- but dude definitely appreciated the busty, jiggling ladies who did last night at the Saddle Ranch." What, no love for Alan Gordon? The only thing featured more prominently in this clip than his mug is the bull's ass.

I gave myself the better part of two days before committing this Galaxy-FCD postmortem to the foreverness of the internets because I wanted to get past the bitter taste of frustration lingering in my mouth after Saturday's excursion to Frisco. I wanted to see if that would change what I had to say.

Dotting the 'i' If you were wondering about the difference between David Beckham and David Bentley, one makes faked virals about making bets to display their passing accuracy while the other does it for real. The story to go with this video is that Galaxy forward Alan Gordon bet Becks he couldn't put the ball through the [.

Aaaaaand we're back with Los Angeles Galaxy analysis.

My apologies to everyone for disappearing just as the Galaxy does three games in a week. I was at a conference in Pittsburgh then in my hometown in North Carolina for some family-time as we saw my grandmother off into the next stage of her journey through the universe.

Could the 2010 MLS season be in a little bit of danger next season? It seems like it could be a possibility, as the current collective bargaining agreement is up in January. According to former Wizard, Nick Garcia in the Toronto Sun (yes I know the Sun is a tabloid), players have been told to put money back for this year just in case.

Could Bobby Convey be headed home to Philly? (Getty Images)

The speculation has begun for the Philadelphia Union and their expansion draft that takes place tomorrow afternoon. The 15 clubs released their protected list last night and now the Union have a full list of guys that they can get 10 players from.

The weather's crazy. Seattle and Chivas USA are 3-0-0. Colorado's 2-1. Chicago is 2-0-1 despite keeping Cuauhtemoc Blanco on the bench. New England is 2-0-1 despite a revolving door to the injury list.
Defending champion Columbus is 0-2-2. MLS Cup finalist New York is 0-2-1.

Everyone in American soccer has been talking about Grant Wahl's book, "The Beckham Experiment" and everything involved with it. I was given the chance a few weeks ago to get a copy of the book and review it. With the game against David Beckham and the Galaxy coming up I figured it was the perfect time to get my review of the book out.

One MLS player who boosted his fan appeal in The Beckham Experiment was Alan Gordon, who's presented in Grant Wahl's best-selling book as the typical MLS player to counterbalance the atypical David Beckham. Wahl worked several angles of the story, and one was the contrast between Beckham and the guys on the other end of the pay scale, as he tells This is American Soccer.

Wow. Did that suck or what?

Here are the high points:

The Galaxy is now unbeaten in seven games.

I'm sorry, I guess that just high "point".

Let me put this another way. The season is now almost one third over (I know the pundits keep saying "at the quarter point", but the G's have played 9 games in a 30 game season.

Picture by Saed Hindash from the Star Ledger

And those words are: Don't get cocky.

That's 4 wins in a row for the Galaxy, which is not the longest win streak since 2006. (The dismal 2007 season featured a 5 game winning streak from September through October.) All of a sudden the team is tied for third in the West and sitting pretty in a playoff spot (granted it has still played a game more than most of the West) and it is surging rather than falling.

Image by Victor Decolongon of Getty Images

And those words are: Should've taken three.

I can't remember the last time my frustration from a Los Angeles Galaxy performance was based on the fact that they clearly outplayed their opponent for an entire game, but could not deliver the death blow.

*rubbing my temples* I am sensing a win. Why? Because it's about damn time!

No, no, that's not the only reason.

The bad news? The Earthquakes have a very good midfield. Bobby Convey, Simon Elliot (effective when with the Galaxy), Arturo Alvarez, and Darren Huckerby (scary assists leader).

Rauwshan McKenzie battles with the Galaxy's Alan Gordon last weekend.
Today, a few stories came out after Zoltan's introduction press conference yesterday. Terez Paylor of the KC Star chimes in, focusing on the language barrier. The Kansas City Kansan's Nick Sloan offered up his version of the story.

Photo by C.J. Guntner

And those words are: Getting there.

In the normal MLS scheme of things I wouldn't be so cautious about a win on the road over the New England Revolution, but the fact is that if not for the Red Bulls' epic FAIL of a season, New England's struggles would be much bigger news.

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

The above video is from a couple weeks ago, when the LA Galaxy were at DC's RFK Stadium, but I just came across it. Galaxy forward Alan Gordon bet Davey Becks that he couldn't kick the ball through the press box window above the "I" in the "TRAFFIC" sign.

Chivas USA 2 Galaxy 2

An entertaining if error-ridden game with all four goals coming from unmitigated howlers has ended all square.

Alan Gordon missed a trio of chances for the Galaxy after coming on a as a second half sub that could have made the difference, but Chivas USA had their own burden to bear with striker Justin Braun seemingly intent on giving away virtually every ball he touched.

On the road for another day or so, but as long as I have this netbook and a free connection for a bit this morning, I thought I'd pass along possibly as easy a sendoff as you'll see this year, courtesy of the recently repatriated Gregg Berhalter:
Then again, referee Tim Weyland pretty much wore out a set of cards, issuing nine yellows (with disgraceful MLS thug Paulo Nagamura - who, having scored his yearly quota of two goals in week one has returned to what he does best: hacking - seeing two before the halfway and LA's Alan Gordon seeing yellow twice inside of three minutes after it) to go with Berhalter's straight red.

And those words are: That was disappointing.

I admit that I was suckered by the recent 10 game non-losing streak into believing that the technical deficiencies of the team could be compensated for by heart and determination. Even as I wrote about the mediocrity of the midfield, the ability to gain points on the road and refuse to lose got me into the dangerous head space of thinking that the Galaxy could consistently compete with any team in the league.

Lovely cool evening here at Home Depot Center and throughout the South Bay, which is maybe one reason why Landon Donovan is barbecuing on the beach ill and has stayed at his Manhattan Beach home this evening. Maybe he has Beckhamitis?

That means the same XI for Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena that dispatched MLS leaders the Houston Dynamo last time out aside from goalkeeper Josh Saunders who replaces the Gold Cupping-Donovan Ricketts.

The Los Angeles Galaxy might have lost forward Alan Gordon shortly before Saturday night's game, but they immediately found out what they have gained in Alecko Eskandarian: A heck of a scoring threat. With a chance to make an impression, the newly acquired striker didn't disappoint. Eskandarian scored the game's only goal on a precision left-foot volley early on, leading LA past New England, 1-0, at The Home Depot Center.

I enjoyed it, and I suspect any hardcore MLS fan would as well. All the biggest revelations have already been publicized, but there's plenty of interesting anecdotes and many details about the LA Galaxy power players. Those details are the reason to read this book (such as how Alexi Lalas vetoed a proposed Peter Vagenas for Kyle Beckerman trade), as everyone who follows American soccer already knows how the story goes.

There's something sarong about Becks' attitude

I know this isn't US Soccer related, but I find this situation pretty annoying. David Beckham abandoned his team for half a season. Instead of admitting he did in order to achieve his personal goals (pretty understandable), he tried to deflect heat by claiming all other players in his situation would have chosen the same path.

Watch it live on ESPN2 at 6pm Pacific.

It looks like Edson is out and Gordo will be starting. Check out the video preview with thoughts from Bruce, Landon, David, and Alan Gordon.

And just in case you forgot, remember this goal from last year? Poor Hartman. I still miss that guy.

Ever since I wrote a column Sept. 29 about the poor form this season of Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan he's been on something of a mini-tear.

His goal in a man of the match performance in Chivas USA's 2-0 win over the Wizards Saturday is up for MLS Goal of the Week honors (he also had four of the club's six shots on goal); his five goals on the year now equals last season's tally.

It's only a preliminary round game and only the most hard-core fans will be there, but the Galaxy play a return fixture against the Colorado Rapids at 8 p.m. at Home Depot Center with the winner moving on to the next round to play Seattle or Real Salt Lake for a berth in the U.S. Open Cup.

Injuries
Leonard Griffin (Sports Hernia Surgery) is out; Edson Buddle (right quad strain), Todd Dunivant (right ankle), Mike Magee (bruised right foot), Donovan Ricketts (groin strain) are questionable; and Eddie Lewis (left Hamstring strain) is probable.

The Galaxy are down to 10-men as well as Alan Gordon picks up a second yellow (he got two in two minutes) for an off the ball incident with Carey Talley.

It's still deadlocked 0-0 in the 76th minute.

Good evening from the Home Depot Center where the Galaxy are seeking their first win of the season and New York just their second.

Both teams undoubtedly sense the opportunity the game provides, but it remains to be seen whether the antagonists will react to their respective plights with fear or seize the occasion.

And that word is: Punchless.

One shot on goal, seven shots overall, despite controlling the game for decent stretches over the course of the afternoon. Punchless. One shot on goal despite fielding an "offensive-minded" lineup designed to counter the improved San Jose Earthquake defense and attempt to victimize the leakiest defense in the league.

And those words are: I'll take it.

The Galaxy put together their longest winning streak of the year at three, all 1-0 victories, all against tough teams (Houston, New England, Chivas), though you could argue that this is turning out to be a kind of lost season for the Revs. The scoreline is starting to remind me of the increasingly iconic 2-0 result that the US MNT always seems to get in huge games.

Yes, this guy has every reason to be excited...he just scored against AC Milan last night and was generally playing like a man possessed.
Even more interestingly, Alan Gordon has clearly stepped out in support of Beckham and hopes everyone will too. For this and more in his own words, see the group reporter chat with Gordon below:
What do you think?

The LA Galaxy will look to continue their climb atop the Western Conference standings while Seattle Sounders FC will look to get its season back on track as the two teams meet at the Home Depot Center in a match that carries huge implications in the Western Conference standings.

The two teams met for the first time back on May 10 at Qwest Field.

Or at least that's the consensus after the Galaxy's whooping by Dallas last week, losing 6-3.

Most of the analysis of last week's game concludes that the loss is a wake up call to the Galaxy, who may have been getting too comfortable with their winning record.

So, on to hosting Toronto FC tonight.

Galaxy 0 Colorado 0

Slips and gaffes sums up this one (and that's just the ref, who unnecessarily left Colorado at 10 men in the 36th minute).

Debutant Greg Berhalter almost flubbed a ball to let in the Rapids' Jacob Peterson, but the striker was unable to capitalize in the 31st minute.

For the fourth straight game 3-0 Chivas USA is dressing all 18 of the healthy players on the club's roster, but Coach Preki makes just one change to the starting lineup, restoring right back Mariano Trujillo to the first XI after he sat out last weekend's game against the Columbus Crew with bruised ribs.

I'll be working on my Press-Enterprise column this morning, and right now I'm leaning towards writing on the early trends in MLS this season. I'll probably also write about the local teams as well since they've got trends of their own to discuss.
One of the two major early trends this season is the high number of red cards.

As promised, here's a look at who's in and who's out of this weekend's games:

Galaxy -
*The tight-lipped Galaxy organization aren't telling all their secrets, but I was able to glean that striker Edson Buddle will not travel with the team for Saturday's game against San Jose in Oakland because he's still bothered by a quad strain that has kept him out of action since the season began.

What a finish! Those who were brave enough to sit through the first 89 mundane minutes of last night's match between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy were treated to a wild and controversial ending. Four minutes of stoppage time yielded three goals, including two for the penalty spot and a stunning last-second goal by the Galaxy's Mike Magee to earn a share of the points in the 2-2 draw.

Landon Donovan and the rest of the 24 man roster of the USMNT will meet in Miami beginning Tuesday, the 26th to train for upcoming qualifiers.

The men face Costa Rica in Costa Rica on Wendesday, June 3rd. Kick off is at 8pm MT (so 7pm for you West Coast folks yup, I can do math!

What's with all of the Man U love? People are acting like Messi is Mike Magee and Henry is Alan Gordon.