With 2011 in its final stretch, and the MLS Playoffs nearly in our midsts, it's definitely a funny time to be talking about beginnings. But for most high schoolers, such as your truly, the new year doesn't start so much on the first day of January as it does on the first day of school, and now that we've entered 2011-2012, it's time to lay down the law for the MLS Offside.

While dredging up more data points for yesterday's post on MLSsoccer.com's latest round of web stats, I came across this:

What you see is a Quantcast chart for the "MLS ad network," with stats from around May 2009 to present. Given the drop in traffic that happened around the launch of MLSsoccer.

By ALAN LEDBETTER

This is Alan Ledbetter, and I will be the SBI Fantasy MLS guru for the rest of the year. Why me you ask? I have been the SBI Fantasy MLS champion the past two seasons (once in MFLS and once in the old MLSnet.com).

Last year, my first year of MFLS, I finished fourth in the entire game in addition to my SBI League title, and I look to build on that performance this year.

We are out town today, but the MLS Combine is upon us. We thought it worth re-posting our interview from last year with Buzz Carrick about the business of the event. Enjoy the post and the great insights from Mr. Carrick.

It's time for the MLS combine, when college seniors and Generation Adidas players showcase their wares for MLS coaches and general managers.