The Galaxy won't sell tickets to the upper deck at Carson's Home Depot Center for its first and perhaps only playoff game this year at the stadium (date and opponent TBD), the first time the club has done that since moving there in 2003.

Of course, that's slightly misleading because the Galaxy haven't made the playoffs in the last three seasons.

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Though the 2009 regular season is finished for them, the Aztex are still going strong. A number of players and other individuals were honored at a recent post-season awards banquet, and the team is still looking forward to a few bigger-than-usual exhibition games.
First, the awards:

• Yordany Alvarez - Fans' Player of Year
• Miguel Gallardo - Chantico's Army's Player of Year (more info)
• Eddie Johnson - Players' Player of Year
• Michael Callahan - Clubman of Year
• Ignacio "Nacho" Araujo (Univision Radio) - President's Award

Additionally, Eddie Johnson was just named to the All-League Second Team. Click to continue reading...

Fabio da Silva is no longer a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. The Brazilian defender was on the Quakes' books less than a month, appearing in two exhibition games. He originally signed with San Jose on August 18th after spending 2009 with Brazil's Rio Branca. da Silva was part of Red Star Belgrade's Serbian Cup winning squad in 2007. Click to continue reading...

Brian Lewis over on the New York Post's Blog gave us a nugget of information regarding FC Barcelona's interest in perhaps purchasing a 2nd team in New York:

I don't claim to have Deep Throat in my Five, or get flown to Salzburg to go over the books of the Austrian overlords.

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Caster Semenya

The issue of gender testing in sports has hit the headlines again. South African runner Caster Semenya has become the subject of considerable speculation about her gender after she went to Berlin and claimed the world championship in the 800m, crossing the line at 1:55.45, two seconds faster than her nearest rival.

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The topic of gender testing in sports has become a headline again. South African sprinter Caster Semenya became a news story when she went to Berlin and claimed the world championship in the 800, crossing the line at 1:55.45, two seconds faster than her nearest rival. She announced herself to the global press only a few weeks earlier at the African junior championships with what had been (until her race in Berlin) the fastest time in the world this year (1:56. Click to continue reading...

by Matt Besler - Kansas City Wizards
Hello everyone! Back again this week from "Across the Midwest Pitch."
Just want to give a shout out to the US Men's National Team for their Gold Cup performance and silver medal. Obviously, the final wasn't the result we were looking for and not in the fashion we were hoping (especially to Mexico), but looking at the big picture, everyone on the squad deserves recognition for a successful tournament. Click to continue reading...

...on Simmons' BS Report podcast yesterday:

Bill Simmons: "It's funny as we get older, like time like suddenly becomes a criteria for anything that's enjoyable."

Seth Meyers: "It's ridiculous. Like, the difference between a movie being like someone will go, 'It's 90 minutes,' I'll go, 'Yeah, I might see that.

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Asia is accustomed to hosting teams from Europe. Every summer sees big clubs from the west heading east to play exhibition games in attempts to win new fans and conquer new markets.
The likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Roma and Juventus have all paid visits to the world's largest continent in recent years. Click to continue reading...

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that French Ligue 1 side AS Nancy Lorraine has the least intimidating team name in all of sports. When the boys from France backed out of some exhibition games in England this week due to fears over swine flu, the incident became a headline writer's dream. Click to continue reading...

The University of Denver men's soccer team has added transfer Jesse Henderson, who played three seasons with the University of San Francisco, DU head coach Bobby Muuss announced.

Henderson started 24 of his 41 games with the Dons, helping them reach the NCAA tournament twice during his three years, the last of which Henderson served as team captain.

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Former Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta is set to play Boca Juniors again.
However, the striker, who retired in 2005 and is Argentina's top all-time scorer, will be part of the Boca Polo Team, who will play exhibition matches inside and outside the country and plan to compete in national competitions. Click to continue reading...

In 2004, Mexican National Women's Team superstriker Maríbel Dominguez was signed to a two-year contract with Celaya FC, a second division men's team. FIFA stepped in with an official prohibition and the assertion "There must be a clear separation between men's and women's football." The memo furthermore forbid her from playing in exhibition games with the men's squad. Click to continue reading...

Wow,
This was something as a huge fan I had heard rumblings about but now that this is true I couldn't be more excited.
As most of the Sounder fans know Barca play one of the most entertaining styles of football in the world and it will be a fucking privledge to watch them in person. Click to continue reading...