Here's a clip of the incident that everyone's talking about. Houston Dynamo's Ricardo Clark kicks Carlos Ruiz in the arm quite hard in retaliation for an apparent punch in the back.

If you haven't heard, during Houston's 3-0 win over FC Dallas Ricardo Clark and Carlos Ruiz were red carded. Clark's snapping and kicking another player is sickening and inexcusable. Nevertheless Ruiz's punching him in the back and then acting as though he was kicked in the face is inexcusable in another way. The question is, what should their punishments be?

First of all, is this a fair rundown? "Things finally boiled over between the rivals in the 89th minute when Ruiz and Clark got tangled near the far post. While Ruiz was on the ground, Clarke kicked him in the right shoulder and was summarily sent off by Gonzalez with a straight red card. Clarke had [...]

MLS has suspended Ricardo Clark of Houston for nine games and given him a $10,000 suspension. This is an unprecedented fine for MLS, but given Clark's actions against Carlos Ruiz last week, the league felt the fine and suspension were justified. Given Carlos Ruiz's history as a provocateur I am anxious to hear Clark's side of the story. It is entirely possible that Ruiz flopping and gamesmanship provoked Clark.

In my search for a video of that nice Taylor Twellman goal from last nite I came across this video that shows some of the best in the history of MLS. Carlos Ruiz makes the video twice and TT would now have 2 appearances in it. None of them match Balboa's goal though. I remember watching that game on TV when he got that one!

Last night was my first chance to see Blanco, Denilson and Wanchope in action as the Chicago Fire traveled to Pizza Hut Park to take on FC Dallas. This was a big game for both teams as the Fire are fighting for the last playoff spot and FC Dallas would like to get back up to the top of the Western Division.

Chicago has been on a good run recently and FC Dallas has been on a bit of a slide since their wonderful start to the season.

In the 89th minute of Houston Dynamos 3-0 destruction of FC Dallas yesterday both Ricardo Clark and Carlos Ruiz were red carded. Aparently Ruiz punched Clark as they were going up for an air ball. Ruiz was on the ground after the play when Clark hauled off and kicked him in the shoulder. I found a video (with no sound) on YouTube and I have it here for you.

Could possibly happen, if you believe Not Doug Logan and his blog Logan's Revenge. Apparently FC Dallas is looking to offload the striker, and the Wizards are pursuing him. The Wizards are looking to fill the possible hole that would be left in the forward line if Eddie Johnson goes abroad. That's what this entire rumor hinges on.

Well, this is swell. Ian Plenderleith's Major League Soccer Week 26 review touches on all the points I intended to make, so I'll just rip off large portions of his work and enjoy the morning cuppa. Not only did he provide righteous coverage of everything down to the Rico Clark incident (I posted on this [...]

Jesus balls! What a day! So many major and minor things to discuss....best start with the little stuff to warm up. Just like before playing, right? - One little thing to keep an eye on: I seriously don't know how teeny-tiny Major League Soccer (MLS) rosters will cope with the scheduling insanity if [.

Interesting chat with Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid. While I am frequently critical of MLS, there is nothing like the Crew fan base. Crew Stadium will someday be remembered as the Plymouth Rock of a real soccer culture in this country. Walking to a game, you watch the fans tailgate and juggle in loose circles all around the stadium.

Yesterday, FC Dallas may have locked up the MLS Cup by adding 30-year-old Brazilian Denilson to their roster via the Designated Player Rule. Potentially the former World Cup winner could become the league's top player the minute he takes the pitch and will do so for the Hoops once he receives his work visa.
With Roberto Miña out for the season and Kenny Cooper at least three weeks away from returning, Denilson joins Carlos Ruiz and Juan Toja as the third piece to the club's attacking puzzle.

FC Dallas Record (W-L-T): 13-12-5; 37 GF, 44 GA Source Material: Schedule/match reports; roster Overview Some recent constants held for FC Dallas in 2007: lead the Western Conference at in the early-mid part of the season - check; head into the post-season like a pack of whipped dogs - check; consequently, lose in the first round - check; have [.

Major League Soccer has made several efforts in the past few seasons to eliminate the appearance of favoritism towards certain clubs that was often alleged in the early seasons of the league. Many fans of clubs in the league had what in my mind were legitimate gripes against clubs such as the Metrostars and LA Galaxy who seemed to be assigned the best players and biggest draws by the league which controlled all player contracts.

Other reports: MLSnet.com When two teams you, as a fan, like about equally play one another, the best you can hope for is a great game. Happily, the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas obliged (me, at least) this Saturday by turning in one of the games of 2007. Crisp and intelligent movement produced countless threatening [...]

It is finally official, Denilson is going to Dallas. After months of negotiations, the two sides have reached an agreement that will see the World Cup winner (the fourth in MLS history) take to the pitch as soon as his work visa is granted.
However, before he does that, FC Dallas must make room on their roster, which means trading a senior international (SI).

Chicago Fire 1-1 FC Dallas
So what do you think the Fire coaching staff is talking to Calen Carr and Paulo Wanchope about today? If it is anything but how to keep the ball and waste time at the end of a match, then the Fire are doomed. This was not a pretty game as neither side had much ball control. Again and again, passes were intercepted and knocked out of bounce.

Tickle

• All signs point to action! How will UEFA react to Dida's shameful behavior following the fan incident in the Milan v. Celtic Champions' League match? As we mentioned last week, he definitely shouldn't quit his day job to get into acting. Tomorrow is the day of reckoning. Will Dida be punished? If he is, will MLS even notice and decide to punish their own SAG-rejects (see: Ruiz, Carlos)?

1. Sacha Kljestan - a somewhat surprising first pick - I know - but his sophomore season has not been one of ups and downs; instead the Seton Hall product has already outdone his rookie season of 0 g, 7 a, by striking for 4 g this year and adding 7 assists; he put the [...]

MLS's Commissioner Don Garber gave Houston's Ricardo Clark the rest of the season off for his kick to FC Dallas's Carlos Ruiz this past Sunday. Clark will also get some time off at the start of next season, as his total suspension is 9 games. The Dynamo have three remaining matches and, at most, four playoff games, which means Clark will not take the pitch again till the third game of 2008 at the earliest.

Once again, the annual Carlos Ruiz rumors have heated up in the MLS off season, and MLS Fan Central is here to weigh in on what is being said and how the drama is lining up this year. Let's first take a look at a recent blog from the Washington Post:
According to the great Steven Goff, Dallas is growing just as restless with Ruiz's huge contract as Ruiz is growing restless with the club.

- Well, contrary to what was written in so many places earlier today (and on this site - wow - Wednesday; and the preceding ain't a complete list, either) the deal to bring Juan Sebastian Veron to DC United is dead...for now. But I'd leave that last one in the big ol', half-meaningless file [...]

(* This asterisk is meant to indicate I caught only about 25 minutes of the second half, but I'm assured by trustworthy parties that this was a good game.) The bomb of a goal Chris Rolfe produced to give the Chicago Fire the lead over FC Dallas will probably be what most people remember about last [...]

There will no be DP slots for Eddie Johnson, Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz next year. Despite originally declaring that the grandfathering in of these players would only occur for one year, the MLS has gone back on it's word. Those 3 players won't count as designated players in 2008 despite making more than $400,000 for the year.

If you're thinking that's good news for all 3 teams, it really benefits Los Angeles the most.

I held true to my viewing schedule for once: my Saturday featured Red Bull New York's gutsy draw against the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution's (at-long-last-hallelujah) sharp win over visiting FC Dallas. By coincidence, both games threw two roughly equal teams into contention. By lesser coincidence, the gap in quality between the respective [.

So which bicycle kick was the most impressive? Little Mauricio Cienfuegos' beauty against the ol' Dallas Burn? Marcelo Balboa against the Crew? Or was it just seeing Carlos Ruiz in a LA Cosm.... I mean, Galaxy uniform?

The only bad thing to say about last night's eleven goal barn-burner between FC Dallas and the Los Angeles Galaxy in Frisco, Texas was that it would have been better had this been a Major League Soccer (MLS) team facing a Mexican club. After that, it's all pretty happy....well, unless you tally up the injuries large and small picked up by FC Dallas players.

It wasn't till Taylor Twellman's post-game interview, when he smiled about seeing "Rally" (Steve Ralston) and "Heapsy" (Jay Heaps) in the first flush of final victory the New England Revolution had ever known, that real contentment about the state of things filtered in. Even if a sprinkling of New England fans made the trip [...]

Holy crap! Ray Burse, Jr, startin' in goal!

I don't say that out of concern, just surprise.

I've seen Ray play, and I know the young man gots serious game. I just found out today Darío goobered up his knee, and that Shaka was having back spasms, but I was under the impression that one or the other would play.

Pescadito at the death steals two points from the Fire. For the life of me, I can't figure out how the Hoops didn't wipe the pepperoni-ladden pitch with Osorio's ancient assemblage of past their sell-by date CONCACAF stars (Blanco, Wanchope, Armas). Sure the Fire were organized, but they were also glacial, and a quick team like Dallas should really be exploiting that more effectively.