FC Dallas will now play in FC Dallas Stadium. (Getty Images)

Side note: sorry for the lack of updates these last couple weeks, I've been super busy at the day-job and with just life in general. Maybe after the New Year things can get back to normal around here.

Say good bye to Pizza Hut Park.

For the first time since its soccer-specific stadium opened in 2005, FC Dallas won't be playing at Pizza Hut Park.

Instead, the club will play at the temporarily named FC Dallas Stadium while it searches for a new sponsor.

Pizza Hut is reportedly dropping its sponsorship of the stadium, effective after the Football Championship Subdivision title game is held there on Jan.

I had to tend to a drunk, crying man last night. Baseball does strange things to people. So MLS' first wild card round is in the books, and it was every bit as randomized and arbitrary as we thought. FCD's impressive 34-game bandage job was torn asunder in the span of 98 minutes (yes, eight minutes of stoppage time) by the 10th-best team in MLS.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By all accounts, New York Red Bulls and U.S. international centerback Tim Ream has struggled in his second season as a professional, but that doesn't necessarily mean that major clubs overseas haven't taken note of his potential.

According to reputable UK outlet The Independent, Arsenal has sent scouts to watch Ream in action during Wednesday night's MLS playoff match against FC Dallas.

By AVI CREDITOR

The New York Red Bulls have seen what their low-seeded predecessors have accomplished, and despite falling short of regular-season expectations, the club is hoping to continue the MLS trend of recent years.

"I was thinking a little about that record," Red Bulls manager Hans Backe said.

Any plans that FC Dallas fans might have had for David Ferreira to make his return in the postseason should be put on hold.

Ferreira, last year's MLS MVP, has been out since breaking his ankle in an April 23 victory at Vancouver. He has been working his way back to fitness but is unlikely to suit up for FCD during the postseason, according to FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman.

Guess NBA Champion Dirk Nowitzki was just bored on a Tuesday night in Dallas. He showed up to a FC Dallas game to watch Brek Shea and saw a horrible effort by FCD as Toronto FC downed Dirk's team 3-0 in the final group stage game of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Still, its pretty cool to see guys like Dirk show up and support MLS clubs.

Major League Soccer has taken some major strides during the 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League, but as the final games of group play approach, there is still work to be done before crowning this campaign as a great success.

Only one MLS team, Seattle, has clinched a place in the knockout stage so far, but that could all change Tuesday night.

BY ADAM SERRANO

Trouble is brewing in the front office of the Colorado Rapids.

In an interview with the Denver Post, head coach Gary Smith admitted that there is a "relationship issue" between himself and Rapids techincal director Paul Bravo that may see Smith decide not to re-sign with Colorado when his contract is finished at the end of the season.

The MLS season resumes Wednesday night with a couple of matches featuring teams in the thick of the playoff hunt. Both D.C. United and the Chicago Fire need to come away with points to maintain their hopes at sneaking into one of the remaining playoff berths.

While Vancouver can play spoiler for D.

Time is running short for D.C. United and the Chicago Fire, and an accelerated level of stress is put on each of the remaining regular season games for two teams with postseason aspirations.

As two of the three teams on the outside of the current playoff picture but within striking range, United and the Fire need to pile on the results beginning with tonight's matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Dallas, respectively.

I saw this quote over on Buzz's site (3rdDegree.net) about the whole Brek Shea rumor situation. I'm like most down here in Dallas that cover the team, you know Shea will get sold eventually to a club overseas but it won't be anytime in the immediate future. Yes, he's doing well on the National team level, which only drives his price up more.

Timbers fans will not like this. But thereyago... the Sounders are your 2009, 2010 and now 2011 US Open Cup champs. And it's not like there was any doubt either. Seattle's road: 2-1 over something called Kitsap Pumas, 3-1 over the Galaxy, 1-0 over FCD and finally 2-0 over Chicago. Not a light slate. Will have some video up as it becomes available.

Honduras has announced its roster for the Oct. 8 friendly against the United States in Miami, a roster that does not include a few regulars while carrying a bit of an MLS feel to it.

Sporting Kansas City's Roger Espinoza, FC Dallas' Marvin Chavez and Houston's Carlo Costly were all summoned for the match.

By JOSE M. ROMERO

Playoff positioning -- and the 19th-century cannon/trophy known as El Capitan -- were on the line Saturday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park, where the Houston Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 1-0 with a late goal to claim this year's Texas Derby title.

• Dynamo Notebook: Home cooking suits playoff chasers [MLS Soccer]
• Season Tickets are on sale to everyone! [Houston Dynamo]
• Q&A: Dynamo Stadium GM Doug Hall [Houston Dynamo]
• 'Dancing Bear' Bruin nets decisive goal [MLS Soccer]
• Healthy Ching eager to return for Dynamo [Houston Chronicle]

The News from Southern Oklahoma:

• FCD Notebook: Injuries piling up at the wrong time [MLS Soccer]

We always knew the flaws in Major League Soccer's screwy new playoff structure would reveal themselves sooner or later. And sure enough, here they come.

All year, MLS teams have targeted those top three spots in each conference. The aim, of course, is to avoid the new play-in round, where four wild cards square off in a bid to join six automatic qualifiers.

STARTERS
Rumors are spreading like a sandstorm that Bob Bradley will be announced as the new head coach of the Egyptian national team.
-Any Egyptian readers care to give us their thoughts?
dN
Stumbling Columbus hosts bumbling Houston in MLS action tonight.

BY ADAM SERRANO

Chivas USA are looking to qualify for the playoffs, but they'll have to be without their star defender Heath Pearce for at least a month.

Pearce pulled his left hamstring in the club's August 27th defeat to Real Salt Lake while running in the open field.

The longstanding FC Dallas man for all seasons and play by play announcer passed away on Monday evening. The public face of FCD he was a much beloved figure amongst fans showing an unsurpassed humility and love for the game and club. From all accounts he was the sort of unspoiled figure one dreams off in an age of diminishing loyalties.

Just heard on World Football Daily that Bobby Rhine, former FC Dallas player, face of that franchise, TV commentator, Around the League contributor and all-around good guy has died of a sudden heart attack while vacationing with his family. He was 35 and leaves his wife and two daughters.

well the guys are back once more banging on about there teams in a manner of which you should be all too used to by now. well i shall say no more than that. BRING ON THE BLOGGERS....

SAM BARKER(Philadelphia Union)
No game for Philly so no blog for sam this week.

Head over to SBnation.com tonight for some live coverage of games. I'll be doing the FCD-Seattle game.

Despite the international transfer window being closed for MLS teams, that doesn't mean there can't be any movement between MLS sides. Today is just such an example of that. When we all thought that the Timbers might be done for the season, it appears they had one more trick up their sleeve.

Today we say goodbye to back right defender Jeremy Hall in exchange for FC Dallas midfielder Eric Alexander.

BY ADAM SERRANO

The hex for MLS clubs in Mexico has finally been broken.

Marvin Chavez scored in the 66th minute to give FC Dallas a 1-0 victory over Pumas UNAM in their Group C opener. With the win, Dallas become the first team from MLS to win in Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League 24 tries south of the border.

FC Dallas' Setup: Dallas set up in a 4-5-1 with newly acquired Maicon Santos up top. Santos was up against Gonzalez most of the night and just could not get by him in 1 on 1 situations. Vilar and Guarda patrolled the middle behind Santos and in front of Hernandez, who played the holding midfield spot.

Game of the Week LA Galaxy 3, FC Dallas 1 Juuust when you thought those finger cracks in LA's foundation were starting to spider, Arena's boys bust out the spackle and shore this thing up with a beaut of a win over surging FCD at Home Depot Center. These teams aren't traditional rivals, but they've played some classy affairs over the last few years to grow this game into something bigger than

Ugo Ihemelu scored off a first-half corner kick, and FC Dallas' stout defense did the rest as the MLS side topped Alianza FC, 1-0, for the second consecutive week to win their CONCACAF Champions League preliminary tie on a 2-0 aggregate and advance to the tournament's group stage.

The Columbus Crew's surprising run isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

The Crew came up with a victory over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium over the weekend to take over first place in the MLS Eastern Conference and vault up to No. 4 in the latest SBI MLS Power Rankings.

STARTERS
Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad reports that Alejandro Bedoya has signed a contract with Rangers in which he will move to that club in January when his current contract expires with Orebro.
dN
Unholy Faceplant Batman - Seattle gave up SIX second half goals and lost 0-7 to Manchester United last night.

By ALAN LEDBETTER

Everyone had their doubts about FC Dallas after its star midfielder, David Ferreira, was injured early in the season. After another impressive win, FCD is proving to be the hottest team in MLS. Brek Shea has proved to be the spark in the offense that has replaced Ferreira as he has scored in four straight MLS games.

FC Dallas midfielder Eric Avila may soon be playing in Mexico.

Avila is on his way to Guadalajara to potentially seal a six-month loan to Primera Division side Atlas, FC Dallas announced on Friday. Should he join Atlas, he would be the second MLS player to go there this season after Chicago sold Gaston Puerari to Atlas a couple of weeks ago.

By ADAM SERRANO

The season is moving into its most grinding month, and there is some concern at Chivas USA that the Goats might be slipping due to a lack of concentration

The Rojiblancos have conceded the lead six times this season, and Saturday the club lost for the third match in a row.

For a while now FC Dallas has been one of the few clubs left to not have a jersey sponsor. They came close back in the winter but a deal feel through with a local company when a CEO resigned or quit (not sure which was the case). With the news today that FC Dallas extended another player's contract to 2015 (defender Ugo Ihemelu), some interesting comments came out from CEO Doug Quinn today to local beat writer Robert Casner.

Tomorrow's a big day for fans of soccer in Portland. Not only are the Portland Timbers heading to Dallas to seek their first road victory but also the United States is playing Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final. Both are happening at just about the same time though, so it's going to be a little tricky to keep track of both.

The Columbus Crew has turned to a few rookies to play key minutes, and after the club took some lumps early on, the youngsters are starting to come through.

Bernardo Anor, Justin Meram and Rich Balchan have all raised their levels of play, and their contributions (among others) in Columbus' win in Houston over the weekend, helped push the Crew all the way up to a tie for No.

After the poor performance against another bottom feeder team in Chicago I didn't have my hopes set very high for the game against FC Dallas. FCD hadn't allowed a goal in several games and has, in my opinion, one of the best keepers in MLS. And then I saw that Bunbury, Smith, Kamara, and Bravo were all sitting this game out I got really worried.

LIVESTRONG Sporting Park debuts tonight in KC. (Getty Images)

Last night things got off to an interesting start in Columbus as the Crew took down RSL 2-1 in a surprising result to some. The Crew came from behind to get the three points and moved up the standings in the Eastern Conference in the process.

LIVESTRONG Sporting Park debuts tonight in KC. (Getty Images)

Last night things got off to an interesting start in Columbus as the Crew took down RSL 2-1 in a surprising result to some. The Crew came from behind to get the three points and moved up the standings in the Eastern Conference in the process.

Just like last season, FC Dallas has embarked on an extended unbeaten run to shoot up the league standings.

The defending Western Conference champions haven't lost in nine games and find themselves second in both the Supporters' Shield standings and SBI MLS Power Rankings after another clean sheet victory and a sweet goal from Marvin Chavez.