In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the U.S. Men's National Team, the USA beat Brazil 1-0 on Feb. 11, 1998, in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. That game was the first U.S. win against the South American side, and today it remains the only time in 16 matches the U.S. has emerged victorious.

Cobi Span was on the 2009 Academy Select Red Team before joining Djurgarden.
Brian "Cobi" Span has joined Swedish club Djurgarden and will start trianing with the team early next year.
Span, who got his nickname from U.S. Men's National Team star Cobi Jones, was a member of the U.

Sorry I went AWOL on everyone (which I'm guessing is about 5 readers at this point in the offseason ;)) for a few days, stomach flu sucks. A couple of interesting news items came out this week.

• Colorado declined the options on Miguel Comminges, Danny Earls, Steven Emory, and Michael Holody.

Holody's 3 years of service means he's eligible to be selected by other MLS teams in next week's re-entry drafts.

As people across the United States get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, we give you some extra food for thought as we look at the year by the numbers. Here's 11 from '11:

• A total of 46 players earned at least one cap for the full team; under Klinsmann, 28 players got at least one game.

Nice to see BP's name in lights.
FBM was lucky enough to get a VIP invite to the Nike Soccer/ Bumpy Pitch "Celebration of Los Angeles" party during MLS Cup 2011 weekend. Us, along with the leadership of The American Outlaws took off to the historic Ricardo Montalbon Theater in Hollywood for drinks, diversions, and, of course, some sweet American soccer swag.

This is it folks! All the drama and tears and cheers have led us to the end of MLS playoffs. Most fans are left rueing squandered chances, bad decisions, and a lack of that intangible but often referenced "heart", but a few lucky fans get to experience the true excitement of their team in a MLS Cup. It's something you can only really feel when your team could win it all.

Former Galaxy greats Cobi Jones and Chris Klein marked the installation of two Starlight Children's Foundation FunCenters at Children's Hospital Los Angeles Wednesday ahead of MLS Cup. More than 7,000 FunCenters, which include a TV, DVD player and video game system, have been installed nationwide (Photo courtesy MLS).

FOX is continuing its series of broadcast EPL matches this weekend with the Liverpool/Chelsea game. The game will be broadcast on Fox Soccer re-broadcast on FOX either before or after NFL football. According to the press release, "CNN talk show host Piers Morgan is slated to join the studio team, providing commentary and analysis for the Chelsea vs.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Carlos Bocanegra has enjoyed a distinguished career as a U.S. national team defender, and he joined exclusive company on Tuesday, becoming the 12th player in U.S. Soccer history to reach 100 caps.

The steady U.S. captain marked the 3-2 victory over Slovenia by joining Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan, Marcelo Balboa, Claudio Reyna, Paul Caligiuri, Eric Wynalda, Kasey Keller, Earnie Stewart, Tony Meola and Joe-Max Moore in the century club at the start of his 90-minute shift.

The following was inspired by Lalo's latest comment. He makes good points about leadership, and poses questions about the work on this blog. What follows is not intended as a full response, but I preferred to post here instead of in the comments.

On the statement: "Leadership is doing the right thing".

Sweet Cobi Jones' ghost the promos for the #LAvRSL match are sexier than a couple of MFers. Even Bruce Arena looks like a badass. Can. Not. Wait.

Watching Major League Soccer highlights last night one might think hockey season broke out. Sporting KC's Kei Kamara mixing it up against Matt Pickens and the Colorado Rapids was the nightcap, but the undercard in the early evening proved to be the most compelling.
The American soccer world is buzzing about the post-game handbags between New York Red Bulls Rafael Marquez and LA Galaxy's Juninho.

By Chris Wright

Part-inspired by Sandro's blue Roadkill Mullet-Hawk, welcome one-and-all to the Pies 'Horror Hair Hall Of Fame'. Let's dive straight in shall we?

(Warning: Those with a low resistance to wanton follicle abuse should probably turn around and leave right about.

July saw Kevin Hartman named MLS's MVP of the month. He follows that accolade with an inclusion into our MLS Legends feature. The 37-year old currently leads the league in minutes, and we caught up with Kevin on the way to practice. He told us all about his stock portfolio, and how he's managed to have such a long career.

What lineup will Jurgen Klinsmann use tonight in his USMNT debut against Mexico?
We'll all have to wait and see of course, and another thing we'll have to wait and see about is what players Klinsmann will rely heavily on during his time as US coach.
Might those players be on the field tonight against Mexico?

What lineup will Jurgen Klinsmann use tonight in his USMNT debut against Mexico?
We'll all have to wait and see of course, and another thing we'll have to wait and see about is what players Klinsmann will rely heavily on during his time as US coach.
Might those players be on the field tonight against Mexico?

On July 13, Brazilian Carlos Alberto Torres arrived in New York City in the midst of a blackout. Not just any blackout, but the infamous 1977 blackout that was marked by extreme violence and looting in the Big Apple. Quite the warm welcome for Pele's former teammate at Santos FC, a member of the 1970 World Cup winning side, and widely regarded as one of the games best defenders.

At the halfway mark, the Philadelphia Union sit alone atop the Eastern Conference with 27 points - just 4 points away from their resting place at the end of the 2010 season. They are one of only 3 teams with more wins than draws, one of 3 teams in the East with a positive goal differential, and one of 3 teams unbeaten at home.

*They're bracing for a huge crowd for a much anticipated U.S.-Mexico Gold Cup final in Pasadena where temperatures are expected to top out at in the 80s.

Kickoff is at 6:10 p.m. incidentally, live on Fox Soccer Channel and Univision. I'll blog live from the game.

Notable: It's the first time in 11 years Mexico and the U.

Steve Cherundolo celebrates with the RFK faithful on Oct. 14, 2009.
The U.S. Men will be playing their 21st game at RFK Stadium on Sunday, the most of any venue other than the Los Angeles Coliseum which has also hosted the MNT 21 times. The U.S. history there dates to 1977, and the most recent appearance was a 2-2 tie with Costa Rica on Oct.

On a tough afternoon for US soccer supporters, the United States lost 4-0 to Spain in front of over 64,000 fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The United States started a mix of veterans and squad players against an equally experimental Spain. Without Landon Donovan (illness) or Carlos Bocanegra (rested), US coach Bob Bradley opted to leave regulars Michael Bradley, Steve Cherundolo, and Clint Dempsey on the bench.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The National Soccer Hall of Fame inducted Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart, Bruce Murray and Bob Gansler in a ceremony held at Showcase Live in Foxboro on Saturday. Jones, Pope and Stewart were inducted in the player category, while Murray was inducted on the Veteran's ballot and Gansler was inducted as a builder.

Cobi Jones is considered a legend of US Soccer and MLS. Having played in Europe, South America and for his beloved LA Galaxy, Jones truly is a great of the US game. The 4th of June sees him inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside former team mate Eddie Pope, as well as Earnie Stewart, Bruce Murray and former U.

Legendary Milwaukee coach Bob Gansler will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in a ceremony June 4 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., U.S. Soccer announced today.

The induction ceremony for the Class of 2011 – Gansler, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart and Bruce Murray – will precede the U.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 will be inducted prior to the USA – Spain game on June 4th at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, the US Soccer Federation announced on Wednesday. Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and Earnie Stewart were elected in the Players category, with Bruce Murray as a Veteran, and former National Team coach Bob Gansler as a Builder.

Today we're revisiting both our "USMNT Celebrity Death Match" series and the classic US vs. Mexico series.
The regional rivalry has, in the last ten or so years, reached a cresendo of competition. All-time, Mexico holds the advantage 32-15-11 (W-L-T), outscoring the U.S.126-65, but since 2000 the U.

I noticed a couple of errors yesterday relating to the LA Galaxy's games in the 2000 CONCACAF Champions Cup (played in January 2001, but still called the 2000 edition). They've been fixed, and the corrected version can be downloaded here (stats through 2010).
Brian Kelly & Zak Ibsen were each listed with two sub appearances.

The Seattle Sounders are on the road this weekend in San Jose to face the Earthquakes. The Sounders need to secure three points to get their season back on track especially against a rival in the West for that vital third playoff spot. Dave Clark has three questions up for the game and come back to SAH later today for a match preview and line-up card.

On Monday, March 29, 2011 the United States Soccer Federation announced that US National Team all-time leading cap winner Cobi Jones has been elected to the National Soccer of Hall of Fame Class of 2011. Recognized for participating in the three World Cups (1994, 1998, 7 2002) and a long-time member of the Los Angeles Galaxy where he was a player and a coach, Jones picked up votes from an outstanding 87 percent of the.

Cobi Jones, who played more games for the U.S. men's team than anyone else, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Tuesday along with three-time World Cup veterans Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart.
The Hall of Fame itself is actually closed, but inductions continue.

Fittingly, Bob Gansler was lecturing at a coaching clinic in Florida when he heard the news on Tuesday.

Gansler, who coached the Kansas City Wizards (now known as Sporting Kansas City) to their only two MLS Cup appearances — winning the championship 2000 — was elected Tuesday to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Milwaukee's Bob Gansler has earned yet another accolade in recognition of his remarkable coaching career.

Gansler will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame this year in the Builder category, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday.

He joins former U.

Nick Schmitt (West Plains), Bob Gansler (KC Wizards), Jon Leamey (Missouri State) 2006

COBI JONES, EDDIE POPE AND EARNIE STEWART ELECTED TO NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2011

Bruce Murray Elected on the Veteran Ballot Bob Gansler Elected on the Builder Ballot

CHICAGO (March 29, 2011) – Cobi Jones, the U.

STARTERS
Happy Birthday to newly minted USA international Timmy Chandler.
dN
Are you ready?
-Sat Apr 2
AC Milan v Inter Milan - 1:45pm CT on FSC
-Come join me at the Sweetwater to watch this humdinger.
dN
The United States National Soccer Hall of Fame announced today that the new inductees are Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart, Bruce Murray & Bob Gansler.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

Longevity and productivity are two themes that can be used to describe the careers of the players inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame this year.

Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart will be the latest to be enshrined in the hall in a ceremony this summer, U.

With Bob Gansler and Bruce Murray also making the cut, this stands as a monster year to get in - those two, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart.What a class class!- Greg Seltzer

The National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 has been announced and all five inductees have ties to the US National Team. Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and Earnie Stewart were elected from the general ballot. Former US National Team player Bruce Murray joins them from the Veteran ballot. Former US National Team coach Bob Gansler was elected as a Builder.

Interview with the football legend, film actor, political activist, and tangential philosopher waxing on his career, international football and his new role with the New York Cosmos

"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown in the sea."
~ Eric Cantona

Hopefully this is not what will happens to the NY Cosmos if and when it gets off the ground.

The KING signed on my notepad!!
It's not wonder that wherever he been to, he will always bring joy to everyone he meet and yours truly is one of them.
Never in my wildest dream that I thought I could meet the man who is regarded by the world as the best footballer seen on the earth.

Galaxy players in training at ASU earlier this month (from The Bleacher Report)

The 2011 MLS season, the 16th edition since play began in 1996, starts in one month.

No matter how you look at the off-season moves that Arena and crew made, there can be only one conclusion: Bruce Arena sees this year as the year he brings the Cup back to Los Angeles.