In an absolutely brilliant move, World Soccer Shop has launched official Nike USA 2008/09 soccer jerseys featuring the new US president Barack Obama. All Obama shirts feature the president's last name and the number 44 in authentic USA letters and numbers. Insert Obama's face here.

The season is officially over with Barcelona ruling the roost on the continent and the Red of Manchester being the fairest in the land for the 2nd season on the bounce. So what we got to look forward in the next few days before the U21's? I tell you what, avin a butchers at the gorgeous Sophie Reade on Big Brother.

Katy Perry hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin last night and wore the above claret and blue ensemble for part of the show on a dare from boyfriend, fellow MTV host, and West Ham faithful Russell Brand (see him sing "We All Follow The West Ham" on Jimmy Fallon four minutes into this video).

While at the G8 summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio gifted USA boss Barack Obama a Nike Brazil soccer shirt signed by the FIFA Confederations Cup winning Selecção. Seemingly knowing of Brazil's 3-2 come from behind victory over the U.S. Obama posed with the shirt with a sad face for photographers.

Sepp Blatter was in town recently for the Gold Cup final and then flew down to DC, invited to the White House for a meeting with Barack Obama. The FIFA president formally invited the US president to attend the World Cup in South Africa next year. Obama also took the opportunity to make a plug for USA's bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Separated at birth? OK, it is not a lookalike as such, but OTP reader Ben C has very kindly put this together for us. I think it maybe done on this Obama gadget, which allows you to put your (or your favourite Inzaghi brother's) face onto the new President's iconic Hope poster. Ben has chosen Offsides as [.

To paraphrase a very famous piece of commentary by Bjorge Lillelien: "George Washington, Barack Obama, Hulk Hogan, Michael Bay, Rush Limbaugh, George Costanza, Zac Efron, Carrot Top... your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell of a beating!"
While watching Brazil dismantle the US, limb by limb, I was reminded of the terrible moment when a white tiger turned on one of Siegfried and Roy (Roy, I seem to remember).

Ahead of the biggest game in their history, USA coach Bob Bradley and striker Landon Donovan probably had better things to do with their time than to sit down and answer pointless questions from journalists with nothing but Michael Jackson and Barack Obama on their minds.
Landon Donovan deals with the first question as best he can but is quite visibly stunned when asked what impact Michael Jackson's death has had on the USA team and would they be paying a tribute.

Remember way back in November when we reported this rumor?
Well our anonymous friend is back with more to it..

Hello,
I wrote you one before with the story that DC United and MLS were looking to have President Barack Obama at DC's home opener.
I can now tell you DC's schedule has been changed to face the Chicago Fire in a game to be broadcast on ESPN with President Obama in attendance.

Yesterday President Barack Obama repealed the Mexico City Policy - the infamous gag rule that pulled funding from health care providers who offered (or even just talked about) certain health care options for women.  Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.  Obama's Day Three ... was a mixed bag, reminding me that change is a process [.

U.S. President Barack Obama is presented with a soccer shirt by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, signed by the Brazilian national soccer team, during the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy. (photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP Photo)

Love the look he gives here. Classic.

U.S. President Barack Obama's soccer jersey collection continues to grow. First he got his own U.S. Nike Obama #44 jersey. Then last week he got a Nike Brazil soccer shirt signed by the FIFA Confederations Cup winning Selecção. Now today, defending Major League Soccer champions have presented Obama with a 2008/09 "Obama #44″ Adidas Columbus Crew home kit, [.

via REUTERS

The last we heard, El Pato wanted to buy a fantasy island with Sthef. Now, rapaz says he misses Kaka. Awwwwww. "Sinto saudades dele, mas estamos sempre em contato," he told Chi magazine in Portuguese.

President Barack Obama has sent a letter to FIFA supporting the USA bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 tournament. The contents of the letter were given to the New York Times by the US Soccer Federation. In it, President Obama wrote: "Soccer is truly the world's sport, and the World Cup promotes camaraderie and friendly competition across the globe.

President Barack Obama talks up another stateside World Cup on Mexican television.Meanwhile, Abby Wambach and the Washington Freedom have invited Michelle Obama and the girls to take in a WPS match (scroll down), and I'm guessing it won't be long before they accept. Both the Obama daughters play, if I'm not mistaken.

Barack Obama's motivational influence now extends to soccer matches.

Kaka, the player of the Confederations Cup reveals that the Seleccao took the two goal deficit to the locker room and rallied using Obama's now famous campaign slogan. "Yes, we can!" It worked as they fought back and won scoring two goals by Luis Fabiano and the match winner by Lucio in the second half.

The United States' bid to host the 2018 World Cup received an assist from none other than President Barack Obama, who wrote a letter to FIFA in support of the nation's bid to host the game's most prestigious event.

"As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together," Obama wrote, according to excerpts released by the U.

Barack Obama smarting from West Ham's weekend loss against Spurs and a 75% failure rate in the Final Four maybe a bit of a lightweight when it comes to picking sports teams that actually win but in throwing his weight behind the US bid for the 2018 World Cup, he knows a good thing, especially in capturing the hearts and minds of the world.

As many had hoped, and we predicted, US President Barack Obama has gotten behind the USSF's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
From the New York Times:

"As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together," the president wrote in a letter that was hand-delivered recently to Joseph S.

Remember when we passed along this rumor way back on November 15, 2008 and then followed up with an update on January 23 of this year? No? Well we have reprinted them for you belowthe video. For now, just watch....(And remember support of our sponsors is always appreciated as a "thank you".)
FLASHBACK:
Novemer 15, 2008
Could President Obama be the ultimate DC United Capo?

Love him or hate him, US President Barack Obama appears to be ubiquitous these days. If he's not actually in a town or football stadium near you, one of his imitators might be. Check out this enterprising Brazilian dude who goes by the name of Rinaldo Obama. He's turned his slight resemblance for Prez #44 [.

Nicely done Lula! (thanks Limonada for the tip)

Chicago citizens gathering in downtown where shocked when the cities bid was the first of the four eliminated

The IOC announced on Friday that the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Brazil seemed to be a global favorite for hosting the games even though hosting the games in the South American city will present more obstacles than any other of the four final cities that were in the running.

A song for South Africa (well, France at least) Sometime we lack skill / And sometimes we lack speed / Who needs Steven Ireland? / Bring back Andy Reid We have all heard of World Cup songs, but World Cup play-off songs might be a new one. Here's To Trapattoni has been written by the Corrigan Brothers [.

Barack wants United veteran#8217;s bonus back With all the controversy over the huge bonuses paid to employees of bailed-out US financial group AIG, we couldn#8217;t help but notice that an ageing employee by the name of Ryan Giggs picked up a bonus from AIG at around the time in question. AIG#8217;s shirt sponsorship of Manchester United has [.

Work requirements mean I'm forced to miss these Champions League fixtures, which is like missing out on Christmas really, or key episodes of The Wire. I would have sold my left arm to see Porto (Porto!) knock two against Man United at Old Trafford, and now the instant has been youbtubisized for ever (actually, Samoed would be the more appropriate made up verb in this litigious time).

Is U.S. President Barack Obama trying to get the World Cup to America?
According to the New York Times, he just might be.
Not the 2010 World Cup, of course. But how about the 2018 or 2022 Cup?
In a letter hand-delivered to FIFA President Sepp Blatter, (Blatter's so important that Obama has to have his letter hand-delivered) the US President said, "As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta (his youth in Indonesia), and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together.

It looks like the Chicago Fire have beat DC United to the punch. The following photos were sent to us by an MLSR contributor:
The first person to send a pic of Obama with his Fire gear (so we can add him to the Celebrity MLS Fan Gallery) will win an MLS soccer related prize.
No word yet if President Obama will attend the game Saturday at RFK Stadium.

West Ham's most powerful fan, Barack Obama, is set to accept an invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup. The President is a self-proclaimed "soccer" fan - he's publicly backed the States' bid to host the World...

Robin van Persie is looking up to none other than US President Barack Obama, after the Gunners' forward revealed that Arsène Wenger gets inspiration from the American during his team talks. The 25-year-old bared all in an interview with News of the World and surprisingly admitted that French tactician Wenger studies Obama to gain more [.

Photos Courtesy of The Black and Gold Standard, Official Blog of the Columbus Crew.

The Columbus Crew visited President Obama at the White House this afternoon to receive recognition as the 2008 MLS Cup Champions and to present the President with a Black & Gold No. 44 kit.

President Barack Obama hosted the 2008 MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew at the Rose Garden on Monday, where he talked about the Crew's run and the support of their fans as well as the success of the United States National Team this summer. "As some of you may know, I just got back from the G8 meeting in Italy, and one of the leaders there was President Lula da Silva of Brazil.

The Columbus Crew finally made their visit to the White House on Tuesday and they were greeted by a huge surprise.
President Barack Obama received a ball signed by the entire MLS championship-winning side and he treated them to some of his own trickery and skill with the ball.

"He's impossible to reach. It's easier to speak with Barack Obama than with Leo."
Argentina coach Diego Maradona on the difficulty of tracking down Lionel Messi.

"The management are doing well to keep us away from the media."
Manchester City's Gareth Barry....being interviewed on Sky Sports.

I invite you to recall how that outreach went during the January/February stimulus debate as recounted by the conservative UK daily, The Times (of London).
Do you remember now?
And should anyone then be surprised by how the health care debate has devolved into such acrimony?

Some news to read as you refresh your memory in preparation for reading our first Dose link. Understanding Italian football part two - Furbizia, or "guile" (Football Italiano) Got inauguration fever? Order the Barack Obama Nike 2008/09 USA Inaugural Soccer Jersey. Yes, I'm serious. (Football Fashion) What's going on with Nottingham Forest's finances?

Russ Feingold is going to be introducing a proposed amendment to the US Constitution that will require special elections to fill vacated Senate seats.  Some states already do this by State law - and Feingold's amendment would require all to do so.  He states: "The controversies surrounding some of the recent gubernatorial appointments to vacant Senate [.

Some local musicians have created a song that's been getting alot of play on the Opie and Anthony Show in recent days. I've never really been an Opie and Anthony fan but apparently Anthony is or has become some sort of right wing, racist, republican wing-nut who thinks Barack Obama is gonna steal his guns and [.

I didn't read this at the time but it did raise a smile. There are few things worse than giving someone a gift only to find out the person returns a much, much better present in return.br /br /Apparently Gordon Brown present President Obama with a pretty splendid historic gift :br /br /blockquoteMr Brown's gifts included an ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President.

Perhaps every bookish football supporter has heard of/read the writings of Uruguayan journalist and poet, Eduardo Galeano. Judging how often his name is dropped among left-wing academic armchair football "fans" (see SWPL on the subject), he's also becoming the face of football for the growing body of mostly North American academes who deem football the one acceptable spectacle sport, in contrast with those "brute expressions of masculine oppression," American gridiron and hockey.