By Eric Beard, writing from Boston

Respect is earned, not simply handed to you. However, sometimes results are handed to you. Or rather mishandled to you. Barack Obama was watching the match in the White House, as promised, and he certainly seemed happy with the result.

Here are some photos from the WPS All-Star Game week in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday June 28 and Tuesday, June 29. Tune in to the WPS All-Star Game on Fox Soccer Channel on Wednesday, June 30th, at 7:30pm ET to catch teams Abby XI and Marta XI in action!

WPS Sunday on FSC announcer Jenn Hildreth and WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci prepare for the All-Star Pick 'Em Event on June 28, 2010.

By Eric & Jordan Beard

We were lucky enough to take in a wonderful Women's Premier Soccer (WPS) match at the historic Harvard University stadium Friday night between the Boston Breakers and FC Gold Pride. Now this was personally our first WPS match we've attended, but there was quite a bit of hype surrounding it because it was billed as a match between "The Two Best Players in the World.

If you go to the site of any WPS team these days you're likely to see a counter displaying the days, hours, and minutes before opening day. We're something like three months away, with a bit of March Madness in between, but with the days getting longer, you can definitely feel the soccer in the air!

Looks like most follks are getting their picks in order for the Madness to begin. Just a quick reminder that the Men's bracket closes at @ noontime tomorrow ... women's same time on Friday. Are you ready with your picks? Me I keep changing mine whenever I have a free moment ... that's how sure I feel about 'em!

I just sent out my initial March Madness e-mail ... as the excitement builds. We had some blog readers participate last year ... so be sure to be in touch if you're interested again and I haven't contacted you!

I am mulling my post about anger ... need to set aside some time for it. Maybe tonight.

Women's Professional Soccer announced 14 reserves for the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, which kicks off at 8pm on June 30 at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. The reserves were selected by the WPS Commissioner and two WPS All-Star Game Head Coaches, Albertin Montoya (FC Gold Pride) and Paul Riley (Philadelphia Independence), based on wide-ranging criteria including needs at various positions, 2010 performance, return from injury or inaction, and other individual accolades and attributes.

Friday sure came fast this week, didn't it? I'm honestly not that sure about what happened over the course of the past several days ... but we seem to have survived it. (And the US Men's Soccer team did, too ... so it's all good!)

In the sporting world I see that the Phillies' and Red Sox' bats are alive and well, as both teams are moving up in the standings (and heading for a World Series showdown mark my words.

Amy Rodriguez is part of a class of four Philadelphia Independence players who made the WPS All-Star teams.

Rodriguez will come off the bench for Team Marta, which features defender Allison Falk in the starting lineup. Midfielder Lori Lindsey will start for Team Abby.

Independence midfielder Caroline Seger is a member of Team Marta but her injury will keep her off the field.

KENNESAW, Ga. -- All three Chicago Red Stars participants played the bulk of the second half during the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve on Wednesday night at KSU Soccer Stadium.
Marta XI defeated Abby XI, 5-2, as this year's WPS All-Star Game included a head-to-head matchup of WPS players captained by the Washington Freedom's Abby Wambach (Abby IX) and FC Gold Pride's Marta (Marta IX).

The rumors are phlying ... and maybe the Phillies will be bolstering their pitching rotation with Roy Oswalt as the trading deadline approaches. That would be a nice addition to their Roy collection! I hope they don't lose Werth in the process, as he's been picking it up lately ... and the Phils look ready to roll along toward another World Series appearance (read that win)!

After scoring in the 120th minute on Sunday to knock Washington Freedom out of the WPS Playoffs, the Philadelphia Independence made it easier on themselves in Thursday's 2–1 victory over the Boston Breakers.

They scored the game winning goal in the 103rd minute.

The Super Semifinal match was a thriller from start to finish, featuring a great deal of open play and many scoring chances.