Buddle returns: The forward Galaxy fans never wanted to leave has returned to the club (Daily Breeze file photo). The rumors were true. Edson Buddle has returned to the Galaxy after spending a year in Germany where he scored 10 goals for second tier Ingolstadt. "I am thrilled to be

This is a Special Edition soccer news blast during this holiday week. I have been off enjoying regular life, cut had to at least lay all of this good stuff on you once this week. We will be back to regular service next week. But for now here is some news, in pretty much random order - no headlines or sections:
dN
du Nord at the Controls - Tue Dec 27, 2011 - My Dad's birthday - new music mix at Spotify.

Because without a ball, soccer is a just a bunch of guys standing around stretching (AP Photo).

The 12th annual annual Daily Breeze ball drive has begun.

The deadline is Dec. 16, but why wait. At Sports Authority, for instance, all balls are 50 percent off today.

If that video doesn't get you excited for a Galaxy season finale that is not about merely winning a championship, but as Staff Writer Phil Collin rightfully observes leaving a legacy then nothing will.

The game is perhaps the most important for MLS and soccer in general in Los Angeles and across the country I argue today in a rare front page column.

STARTERS
That was better from the USA! And beyond getting a 3-2 win in Ljubljana they entertained us. The game was wide open end to end fun from both teams for 90 minutes. Thank you boys.
dN
The world's 3 biggest friendlies ended like this:
Costa Rica 2-2 Spain
Germany 3-0 Netherlands
Italy 0-1 Uruguay
-Sure they are only exhibitions, but those are all big results.

STARTERS
I really really really DISLIKE the idea of an unbalanced schedule for MLS next season.
-If you play more games against your biggest rivals then each game means a little less, not more.
dN
Oguchi Onyewu broke a rib of Zlatan Ibrahimovic during a training session fight when they were both at AC Milan a year ago.

THE WORLD IS CHANGING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES
Mexico has dropped captain Rafael Marquez from the national team this week after his 3 game suspension in MLS after he threw a ball at Landon Donovan, started a brawl and then pretended he got hit in the face. Karma's a bitch.
And as many times as I have found the Mexican football federation to be poor in their judgement, they need praise for doing the right thing this time.

STARTERS
Barcelona has clinched their place in the knock out stage of the UCL. See details below.
dN
Just got an email from DirecTV saying that they reached an agreement to keep Fox Soccer on their system!!! Their deal ended today and they had been in a large disagreement.

Good time Gregg: Gregg Berhalter, seen here celebrating a Galaxy goal with David Beckham and Todd Dunivant, has played a major role on and off the field in the Galaxy's exemplary defensive record in recent years; they have conceded fewer goals during his three years with the club than any other MLS franchise (Daily Breeze file photo).

Players on the U.S. Futsal National Team scrimmage Thursday at South Coast Soccer City in Torrance (Photo by Staff Photographer Brad Graverson).

When it comes to U.S. national outdoor soccer teams, the South Bay is already home to all but the Under-17 boys national team program (that has its HQ in Bradenton, Fla.

STARTERS
For one of the 1st times ever MLS is complying with FIFA international dates and only 2 games will be played this weekend, one of them a make up game. We are getting there.
dN
Michael Bradley has completed his transfer to Chievo in Italy from Gladbach in Germany.

Their Words Big scores are humiliating and difficult to swallow but I don't think they have a special meaning. They are always under special circumstances. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Other Sources Next two games should indicate where U.S. soccer is headed - from The Carson Daily Breeze's Nick Green: "The more we can get together for longer periods of time, the better.

U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Futsal National Team will stage a player identification camp from Sept. 12-15 at Torrance's South Coast Soccer City (Daily Breeze file photo).

In a coup for Torrance's South Coast Soccer City the state-of-the-art 73,000-square-foot futsal facility that includes an international size field will host the U.

STARTERS
There will be 4 MLS games shown on ESPN2 this weekend - 1 Saturday, 1 Sunday and 2 Monday. How weird is that?
dN
I will be a guest this Sun Jul 3 on Vuvuzela - The World Soccer Show at 10am CT from WBCB in Levittown NJ, hosted by Eric Nash. Tune in to 1490am if you are a local, or dial em up on the web at WBCB1490.

Hot stuff: Former Galaxy midfield general Mauricio Cienfuegos has returned to the club as a coach (Daily Breeze file photo).

Mauricio Cienfuegos, the diminutive Salvadoran who made more than 200 hugely influential appearances for the Galaxy in an eight-year career with the club that ended in 2003, is returning as technical coach for the LA Galaxy Academy.

I hesitate to turn this into the "Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask about the LA Riot Squad" blog, but I wanted to acknowledge this modest (yet excellent) LA Weekly profile by former Daily Breeze colleague Gene Maddaus on a huge Galaxy fan and member of the fan group nick-named Shooter (I'd better - I gave Gene the profile idea).

The growth of the rich soccer culture in Southern California is continuing, spurred by Facebook and the Internet.

A decade or so ago, when I first began working at the Torrance-based Daily Breeze, I wrote a story about the Orange County Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club that met in Old Torrance (the South Bay was a compromise meeting place for members in OC and LA counties).

STORY OF THE DAY
Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America considers the Adidas influence on MLS.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"One day we went to Maradona's assistant's house for a barbeque, and we all played some soccer. That was so cool to meet Maradona. He was a lot different than I thought he'd be.

It's a dream come true for the former multiple winner of the Daily Breeze player of the year award. Here's more from the Associated Press:

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Stanford's Christen Press, a former Chadwick School standout, won the Hermann Trophy on Friday as the nation's top women's college soccer player.

David Beckham: yadda yadda EPL loan yadda yadda (AP Photo).

I will mark a dozen years of employment at the Daily Breeze Monday by taking the day off so there will be no column Tuesday.

*I'll leave you with the usual blather out of England that include reports Newcastle United want David Beckham on loan.