Veteran ESPN soccer commentator Rob Stone has jumped to Los Angeles-based Fox Soccer, the latest switch in what has become something of a soccer media merry-go-round this offseason. Already, Brit Arlo "the voice of the Seattle Sounders" White has joined new MLS home NBC Sports Network (formerly Verses) and

Last week we gave you our our take on the top business stories in the world of American soccer. Now it's time for you to cast your vote. Don't agree with our options? Vote "other" and drop a line in the comment space with your choice. If you want our take on the five finalists, read the summaries below the poll.

Over the next couple of days (and in no particular order), we will present the top American soccer business stories of the year. Early next week we will conduct a vote to see which of the entrants you think is the winner. We'll start with two entrants today, one in Portland and the other in Kansas City.

The Very Best of Pitch Invasion, an anthology of 39 essays from this site since 2007, was released in digital and print editions last Friday.

The print edition is available on Amazon in the United States, and today (Monday) is the LAST day to order it in time for Christmas delivery!

Fairly quiet business weekend in American soccer, but here are a couple of stories worth noting. We'll start in New England, where owner Robert Kraft is pursuing a resort casino development across the street from Gillette Stadium, the current home of the Revs and Patriots. The story is significant to soccer fans only because of potential impacts on the Revolution's efforts to build a soccer specific stadium in the Boston area.

Setting expectations, time constraints prevent our customary official preview format.

The USA plays Slovenia Tuesday in a rematch of the US World Cup group stage second match. No doubt there will be review of that match in depth across the US soccer media outlets. Here's one piece from us back then.

What follows is an initial list of 25 things obstructing the US from becoming a soccer powerhouse.

The "what's wrong" topic is always around and maintains a certain level of attention. Then, when our national teams flounder, the topic spikes and dominates the discussion.

And of course everyone and their mom has an opinion.

I'm certain that Jurgen Klinsmann is a smart soccer coach. He's trying to build something that will probably take about 8 years or so to come to fruition with the United States National Team. It involves many layers, not just the current senior team, but a couple Olympics teams, many U20/U17 teams, MLS, the lower divisions, college, Academies, and youth teams.

*Learn more about this charity event here. It's for a good cause.

Learn more about eligible bachelors that include goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, Michael Lahoud and Justin Braun.

I will say however, judging by those profiles, that Chivas USA players are doing nothing to dispel the reputation that soccer players have appalling taste in music (Dave Matthews Band?

This blog covers the soccer media, so we would be remiss if we didn't note the premature and sad passing of FC Dallas broadcaster Bobby Rhine. Only 35 years old, Rhine spent more than 10 years with the Dallas organization, as a player, front office memeber and broadcaster. From the team website: "It is an extremely sad day in the history of FC Dallas," said Doug Quinn, President and CEO of FC Dallas.

Multiple reports in American soccer media and Italian dailies have U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Michael Bradley leaving Germany for Italy's Chievo Verona.
The Borussia Mönchengladbach man is on the outs and a move to the Serie A was exactly what new USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said was necessary for Bradley when he indicated that Bradley was left off the upcoming international friendly rosters for Costa Rica and Belgium to sort out his club situation.

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Over the years we have learned that are readers are savvy consumers of soccer media who use multiple sources to check soccer news, keep in touch with other fans and follow trends in the beautiful game. Because a large part of what we cover is the soccer media, we thought it was time for the first Footiebusiness poll since 2009.

Just last week,as I was talking to Scott Kessler from http://www.brotherlygame.com, we both agreed, it would be very good idea to talk to Freddy Adu's former coach Umit Kayihan and get his views about Freddy Adu.
So I made the first move, and asked all the questions to Mr.

The interview, and translation of it, was facilitated by Ahmet Turgut of Turkey Football and @TurkishSoccer.

Freddy Adu spent four long seasons dealing with an inability to make his way into a strong Benfica squad, moving around Europe on four consecutive loans. Then MLS came calling, with both Chivas USA and the Philadelphia Union showing major interest in Adu, before the Union ended up signing the 22-year-old.

Reports are flying around the soccer media about upcoming revisions to Major League Soccer's Designated Player rule. The league is expected to announce changes to the rule on Tuesday that will permit teams some salary budget relief for younger designated players. The DP initiative has continued to evolve since David Beckham first signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

This is a guest post by Jacques Pelham.

The Klinsmann era of U.S. Soccer began in earnest Wednesday with the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team facing Mexico in a friendly match just weeks after a deserved 4-2 defeat against the Mexicans in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

At three different points of the year MLS Commissioner Don Garber makes the big time media rounds and talks about the future of Major League Soccer. Tonight's All-Star Game is one of those times. MLS is getting really good, despite all the times they are the brunt of jokes, at getting exposure. This week they've done the traditional morning shows, as well as hosted a series of events throughout Manhattan.

STARTERS
Lets all take a moment to remember those in Norway who were killed today by the terrorist attacks in Oslo, and have a good thought for those injured and shaken. Lykke til Norge.
STORY OF THE DAY
Keir Radnedge of the Leader tells us about an investigation by Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy that found that the 3 families who own Milan, Inter and Juventus respectively have spent over 600 Million English pounds in the past 5 years to try and keep their clubs competitive.

In honour of the royal visitors Kate and whoseewotsits, this has been an annus horribilis for Canadian soccer.
Our two MLS franchises are stumbling through their respective league seasons. The Canadian national teams crashed in out in the group stages of the U17 World Cup, the Gold Cup, and after today's 4-0 loss to France, almost certainly the Women's World Cup in Germany.

Maurice Edu takes a shot during training.
Last night the U.S. took to the temporary grass installed inside Ford Field for a 45-minute training session; the only on the field prior to opening the Gold Cup. After a warm-up, the team got into formation to review some tactics and then also worked on corner kicks before doing some positional drills and finishing.

One of the top prep girls soccer teams in Wisconsin will take on one of the best from Illinois on Friday night as Whitefish Bay plays host to St. Charles North (Ill.).

And even if you can't get to Whitefish Bay for the non-conference match, you can still watch it.

Patch will stream the game between the host Blue Dukes and the North Stars live online here, with Milwaukee-area soccer media veteran Matt Schroeder on the call.

Hello. While I haven't been here, I've been there, there being Canadian Soccer News writing what will now be a weekly Canadian soccer media column. Please have a look at this week's entry, if you like.
Normal business hours at AMSL soccer media concern will resume shortly as my employment situation finally settles (fingers crossed to the point of extreme, vomit-inducing pain!

Big Stars Join Turkish Soccer Clubs
By Emre Karatas
With the big signings of Scotch Kenny Miller and American Jozy Altidore to the last Turkish League champions Bursaspor and as called ‘Portugal gang' by Turkish media Simao Sabrosa, Almeida, Manuel Fernandez who joined Besiktas, Turkish soccer is now observed by the world soccer media.

Mike Stobe - Getty Images for New York Red Bu

A little news out of the upcoming U.S. training camp, where Juan Agudelo will show up a couple of days late.

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The mighty winter rains in not-so-sunny So Cal may wash away hills and strain civic budgets and generally create some mayhem along the left coast, but it won't, apparently, interrupt the U.