Busy few days in Major League Soccer as teams have been aggressively signing players, preparing for the re-entry draft, unveiling jerseys and generally trying to remain relevant in the news cycle. While I've never personally understood the excitement around the release of a new kit, the oft criticized Revolution front office handled their unveiling rather well, usual social media to spread the word.

On his twitter feed today, Beau Dure said, "Just saw an NFL ad that looked quite a bit like the YouTube montages of people celebrating Donovan's World Cup goal."
So, here are the two videos - you be the judge:

Beau Dure of ESPN writes about Claudio Reyna's vision for the future of US Soccer.
In the ballroom of the Baltimore Convention Center, nervous soccer players of varying backgrounds smiled and held up scarves for the teams that had just picked them in the MLS SuperDraft.

At the same time, one floor below at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention, Claudio Reyna, Youth Technical Directo for U.

It took me too long, but I cracked open Long Range Goals, by Beau Dure last night. An inability to sleep combined with strong writing meant that I also finished the book. Dure you may know if you read USAToday, frequent SB Nation's MMA blogs or read ESPNw, or if really dedicated you read his blog (SportsMyriad).

From the Evansville Courier Press, January 30, 2011
The formula for developing soccer players shouldn't be like trying to solve the Rubik's cube — it shouldn't be a series of twisting, turning and guessing.
There is one club in the world that churns out world-class players more than any other.

While we're getting close to the start of the 2011 MLS season -- official First Kick for the League is tomorrow night with the Galaxy at Seattle on ESPN -- our focus today should remain in Japan. If you haven't already, please, donate whatever you can however you can. As we mentioned yesterday, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross efforts in Japan.

I love the predictions game! Truth is, as Beau Dure points out,
no one knows anything when it comes to season predictions. Since I accept this truth to be self evident, I have decided to make my predictions with a heavy DC United bias. Thus, let me present the MLS award predictions for the 2011 season with Black and Red colored glasses.

Their Words Overall, we were very disappointed not to get the three points at home but getting at least one point is still a plus. San Jose coach Frank Yallop. Other Sources Marta has her Diego Maradona moment - from ESPN.com's Beau Dure: Marta scored her first goal with some nifty work in the box, but only after shoving a defender to win the ball in open space.

It sounds a lot like you do
Always saying shit I know is not true
It sucks me in
It spits me out
I try to shut it up
'Cause I must let it go
-Poe, Choking the Cherry

I was a little confused about Beau Dure's piece on choking.

Whoever wrote the headline to Beau Dure's latest piece, "Women's soccer seemingly has options for growth," has a sunny disposition I don't share. First, WPS owners have radically different ideas about the way forward and think this arrangement can work in the long run:

"We [owners] don't all agree all the time," Philadelphia owner David Halstead said.

I've written very little on the running feud between WPS and the Dan Borislow, owner of Magicjack (née Washington Freedom), but events just after my last piece on the uncertain future of women's pro soccer have rendered me past due. Beau Dure's post will bring you up to speed on how the troubles with magicJack and Borislow started and then expanded earlier in the year:

Borislow moved the team to South Florida and renamed it after his product, magicJack, the device that allows users to make phone calls over the Internet.

Via Jenna Pel, Beau Dure and Jeff Kassouf, the initial hearing in Magicjack's suit against WPS has been postponed. Hal Habib reports in the Palm Beach Post that there's a "high likelihood" to the suit being withdrawn, with quotes from team owner Dan Borislow.

Regarding reasons for the withdrawal, Pel speculates on venue filing problems (i.

Demetrius Johnson, like so many, wasn't born in Washington, but he lives here now. As much as a fighter lives in any specific city. That, and an XBox sponsorship means that he's sporting a Seattle Sounders top at his pre-fight press conference. Thanks Beau Dure for making me aware.

Amanda, Rachna, and Kirsten return to review the final weeks of the MLS regular season and speculate about the playoffs and the MVP race. Fans of DC United and/or DeRo and/or New York may want to fast forward to our second segment, where Amanda talks with Beau Dure of Sports Myriad about David Downs' comments on WPS, Hope Solo, and the state of women's soccer.

Women's Pro Soccer may not be failing, but it is in danger. Their sanction is in doubt as there are only five teams in the league for 2012. There is a lawsuit against WPS from a former team owner. While attendance was significantly up after the Women's World Cup there is an issue about revenue not being greater than costs.