When ESPN announced late last year its roster of talent the network would feature during World Cup 2010 games, the Disney-owned company definitely raised the bar with high-profile names such as Martin Tyler, Efan Ekoku, Steve McManaman, Roberto Martinez, Ruud Gullit, John Harkes and Alexi Lalas.

Alexi Lalas is a tool. Why? Because everything he has ever said has been wrong. He makes all these wild predictions which make him seem like a complete and utter jack ass. Then, when they aren't true, he looks like a complete idiot.During his playing career, he looked like a red-headed hippie. This would be okay if he played during the 1960s and not the 1990s.

I got a busy Saturday so we're going to have to do this alphabet style:

A.Landon Donovan could play on any team in the world. He was fantastic, making both U.S. goals. His awareness and composure on the ball is on a different level compared to his teammates. He has to carry the team this next month and he just might.

The Bouncing Babes of Univision

In this past month of World Cup football, I have seen my facebook stream lit up by "friends" claiming that they are loving to watch coverage in Spanish. In many cases, these friends speak Spanish as a second language; I even have friends who don't speak Spanish well at all, yet watch the Spanish coverage because they claim it is more dramatic.

I realize that with a headline like that you might expect some overwrought 2,000-word treatise relating to sportscasting, recessive genes, people who shop exclusively at Whole Foods, soft-talking and how they all intertwine in some soccer-specific manner. But then again if you read this blog with any regularity you realize that this isn't really the place for grand exposition.

Awwwww, Major League Soccer. If anyone should be an MLS fan it should be me. I grew up playing the sport; I love watching the sport; I've covered the sport at the high school, college and professional level; I have a blog called IntelligentSoccer.com. If the MLS can't win me over there's something seriously wrong.

As a football fan living in the US, I'm familiar with the mixture of antipathy and apathy that sometimes faces the beautiful game here. Or rather, I was familiar with it. Because all of a sudden everyone loves the World Cup and loves Team USA.

Two major reasons for this, as I see it.

*While it's not yet definite, it doesn't like Philadelphia Union top scorer Sebastien Le Toux will play Saturday against the Galaxy.

*Meanwhile, Galaxy striker Edson Buddle's seven goals in five games to start the season earned him MLS Player of the Month honors, the league announced today.

Last week, Alexi Lalas appeared on the Jim Rome Show to discuss several World Cup topics including his concerns about the striking options for the U.S. men's national team, Landon Donovan's role in the team, what it'll mean to the US team if they get knocked out of the first round and the significance of the USMNT playing in South Africa.

Last week, Alexi Lalas appeared on the Jim Rome Show to discuss several World Cup topics including his concerns about the striking options for the U.S. men's national team, Landon Donovan's role in the team, what it'll mean to the US team if they get knocked out of the first round and the significance of the USMNT playing in South Africa.

1. As has been the case for every game in recent memory, set pieces will be one of Alexi Lalas' pre-game keys to success for the US.

Swing and a miss on this one Lalas didn't even give pre-game keys to success. This was a shocker. While I'm going to have to give myself a bad grade this time around, I'll be making the same prediction prior to the England game, and I'll be guaranteeing an A+ on that one.

While the match between the MLS All-Stars and Manchester United on Wednesday July 28, 2010 at Reliant Stadium is the focus of the MLS All-Star festivities, there are other events leading up to that match worth checking out if you're in Houston.
One such event is the MLS All-Star Celebrity Soccer Match, which will take place on Tuesday July 27th at 5:00 pm at Discovery Green in downtown Houston.

Good news for those of you who hate to listen to Tommy Smyth and his old onion bag. You won't have to during the World Cup.

ESPN has announced that they will be using Ian Darke, Adrian Healey, Derek Rae and Martin Tyler to provide the play-by-play match commentary throughout the World Cup.

The first part of this USA World Cup history covered USA's1930 to 1950, including the third place finish and the famous win over England in 1950. But it would be 40 years before the USA qualified for another World Cup. They made it to Italia '90 partly thanks to Mexico being disqualified (for fielding overage players in Olympic qualifying) but very much thanks to this goal from Paul Caliguiri vs Trinidad & Tobago:

1990 World Cup in Italy

So the USA were back in the World Cup.

As we all know MLS will be on a two week hiatus so as to not compete with the group stags of the World Cup, a battle it would clearly lose. With no games to scrutinize here are ideas on how to pass those lonesome days:
- Make up expansion teams. If bored enough design their mascot, kit, logo, and roster.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon Thurs 11p / 10c World Cup 2010: Into Africa US Beats Algeria www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

What's one of the best things about the United States beating Algeria yesterday to qualify for the second round of the World Cup?

More photos » Kevork Djansezian - Getty Images

Bob Bradley future as U.S. national team coach is up in the air. I see only one possible outcome ...

Browse more photos »

I'm putting out some calls today to see if this Bob Bradley-to-Fulham talk has any legs.

How about a hand for MLS? Thierry Henry is joining America's first division and I'm anxious to see him lend his touch to Red Bull New York. Finally, a big-time name playing for a big-time East Coast city; not much of a head-scratcher if you ask me. Sounds like a solid plan to bring in the fading French star to a ballclub with a new ballpark in order to generate interest and give the New Yorkers an identity.

This must be the place! MLS Cup 2010 symbols on walkways, doors, windows and even steps greet visitors to the Intercontinental Toronto Centre which hosts this weekends activities.

After a long travel day this reporter finally got into Toronto late Friday afternoon. After a some dinner and some rest time it was on to The Social, a club along Queen Street which is a seemingly never ending avenue of restaurants, shops, art galleries and trendy clubs.

Alexi Lalas and John Harkes give us their take on the draft.

Agree with most of what these two said. Agree with Lalas' take on RSL too.

• Tweet This!
• Share this on del.icio.us
• Digg this!
• Buzz up!
• Stumble upon something good?

The jet set: David Beckham and Ruud Gullit discuss hairstyles on the Galaxy's Australian tour in November 2007 (AP Photo).

At least in any depth, although with Ruud Gullit that's a relative term.

In truth, the story below is not particularly eye-opening, but then that was one of Gullit's major traits as Galaxy coach, speaking without actually saying much of substance.

In this series, we look at some of the truly amazing heads of hair that have graced the field for the U.S. over the years...

Former USA defender/rhythm guitarist Alexi Lalas works his way onto our list with his two-pronged attack flowing ginger mane coupled with a wispy goatee. Lalas would be a candidate with either one, so the combination of the two made him a lock.

Picture yourself getting ready for the USA v England match on June 12. You've got the jersey on, the beer ready, TV tuned to whatever horrible pundits ESPN/ABC drags out to say idiotic things like "onion bag" and "Hi, I'm Alexi Lalas." But what's playing on the speakers? What's the song that you need to get into the right frame of mind heading into the big tie between England and the USA?

ESPN has announced that former German national team manager and Tottenham Hotspur legend Jurgen Klinsmann has been added to ESPN's roster for its coverage of the 2010 World Cup.

Klinsmann will work as a studio analyst for ESPN this summer.

In addition to Klinsmann, former South African national team player Shaun Bartlett, who played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and Robbie Mustoe, Middlesbrough's longest serving player, will both serve as television analysts for ESPN during the FIFA World Cup.

Little bit of self promoting here. As part of the World Cup history series of posts on the front page, I recently published a two part post about the USA's history in the World Cup.

Links with quick summaries below:

USA World Cup History 1930-1950 Covering the USA's participation in the first ever World Cup (where the team finished third), the fact that the first ever World Cup hat-trick was scored by an American, and that famous win over England.

USA 1950 World Cup Squad

My go-to-website is beginning to be the World Cup Blog, a site that started up in time for the games in 2006 and are really delivering the goods this time around. Let's start with a look at the US team, more specifically the history of the US and the World Cup

USA World Cup History (Part I: 1930 – 1950) The USA's World Cup history begins at exactly the same time as the tournament itself, as they were one of the teams competing in the inaugural 1930 World Cup, where the team finished third, the fact that the first ever World Cup hat-trick was scored by an American, and that famous win over England.

Shea Groom, Liberty Blue Jays (2010) from Liberty Tribune

CHICAGO (May 13, 2010) — In its 25th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Shea Groom of Liberty High School as its 2009-10 Gatorade Missouri Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Jozy Altidore recently made his ESPN commercial debut, but he isn't the only current U.S. national team player to score one of those prized slots.

Landon Donovan can be added to a list that includes the likes of Alexi Lalas and Tab Ramos, national team players to be in an ESPN commercial, with this new (and pretty funny) spot:

What did you think of the spot?

Last night the US Men played the Czech Republic in our backyard before more than 36k. Because we were at the game last night, we thought we would revisit some of the business aspects of the match in East Hartford. The total attendance was extremely impressive and the crowd was dominated by fans of the American team.

Some good stuff today on our trip around the globe. Me, I'm still feeling the sting from Ron Artest's offensive rebound. It's weighing on me, man...Let's start with a hearty debate over the U.S. line-up, as Alexi Lalas drops in on the Daily.Having survived the crossfire, let's send it over to Jason and Nick with the USMNT camp lowdown.

First off, let me wish a happy and safe Memorial Day to everyone back home, and especially to those away from home in uniform. Secondly, I again apologize for the video overload, but there's just so many to see right now.Let's kick off today's tube with Part 2 of Landon Donovan's Everton experience, via US Soccer.

The Host: Alexi Lalas, you have taken a fair share of abuse from me over the years, but I have decided to make amends to you by throwing you a birthday bash. So, to celebrate US Soccer's most famous ginger's 40th birthday, we have all gathered here at our local Red Robin ("Yum") to (1) have a hamburger with delicious onion straws on top and (2) honor you for the amazing feats you performed for the US MNT (with your feet no less) over the last four decades.

The Philadelphia Independence lost 2-1 to the Washington Freedom on Sunday. The Independence gave up a 25th minute goal to and a 34th minute penalty kick to Abby Wambach to fall into third place, two points behind the Freedom. Caroline Seger was sent off in the 87th and Lianne Sanderson scored the consolation goal for the Independence in extra time.

1. As has been the case for every game in recent memory, set pieces will be one of Alexi Lalas' pre-game keys to success for the US.

2. Despite not being on the field, Jozy Altidore will be mentioned more than any other American player. Dempsey and Findley will pair up front, Donovan will play on the left wing, and Holden will play on the right.

Former USA international Alexi Lalas wants the Americans to exploit Wayne Rooney's infamous temper. USA and England play in their World Cup opener on June 12 and Lalas believes Rooney will be the man to target. Speaking at the launch of the FIFA ...

1. As promised in my last 5 Predictions: "As has been the case for every game in recent memory, set pieces will be one of Alexi Lalas' pre-game keys to success for the US."

I started to regret this prediction almost as soon as I made it Lalas hadn't been doing keys to success during he World Cup.

The first few days of the 2010 FIFA World Cup have come and gone like Robert Green's stint as England's #1 and ESPN (so far) have impressed with their fantastic coverage here in the States. It seems like ITV is the Robert Green of the tournamentthus far while ESPN's solid coverage, analysis and team of experts can be compared more to Tim Howard's man of the match effort v England.

If you watched the opening game of the 2010 World Cup here in the United States, you likely heard Efan Ekoku complaining to high heaven about Mexico being cheated out of a goal. Ekoku's contention was Carlos Vela was not offside and should have been credited with a goal, and he whined and whined about it.

*The Ventura County Fusion's first-ever U.S. Cup appearance was short - they lost to the Arizona Sahuaros Tuesday night up the coast.

I couldn't resist posting this if only because these are the only pictures I'm likely to see of an England captain (that's the late great Bobby Moore, for those who don't know) hoisting the World Cup trophy (ahem) this year: Life.

When the US went to the first World Cup in 1930, 16 players were on the roster, unlike the 23 that are on the roster for 2010. In 1930, there were only five extra players available largely because substitutions were not allowed: you started with 11 players and if one of them was injured during the course of a match and couldn't continue, you played on without him.