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Eriq Zavaleta says he enjoyed his brief, two-game stint with the NASL's San Antonio Scorpions - which might be a good thing considering Sigi Schmid says he may be going back, and for a longer spell.
Bruce Arena's been kind of grumpy lately. First he refused to even bother traveling to the team's U.S. Open Cup loss, now he is bemoaning the Galaxy's loss of players for the Gold Cup.
Toronto might also be pretty short-handed for the Gold Cup, with four players expected to be called in to the Canadian team - though the announcement of that squad was delayed on Monday.
Perhaps my favorite Gold Cup moment ever is when Benny Feilhaber volleyed in a "golazo" against Mexico in 2007. Feilhaber's career seemed on the ascendancy at the time, but it has been pretty much downhill the past four years - the latest blight being that Feilhaber is not even traveling with Sporting KC for road matches.
Sounder supporters' favorite Liga MX player was officially introduced in Tijuana over the weekend. Herculez Gomez is the third well-known American player - along with fellow national-teamers Edgar Castillo and Joe Corona - among a stable of Americans playing just across the border in Tijuana.
Sometimes I look at what the Xolos are doing and think "it's what Chivas USA wanted to do but were too inept to accomplish." One CUSA supporter group pulled off a protest at Sunday's "superclasico" when they paid to have a plane fly by with a sign calling for the ouster of owner/operator Jorge Vergara. I swear if I had all the money in the world I would buy that team and give LA residents who dislike the Galaxy as much as I do a decent alternative to support.
Speaking of good teams most of us in Seattle dislike, here is a well-written piece on "Porterball," and how it has made Timbers into a very good MLS side.
And finally today, the Timbers will be getting new announcers soon as John Strong has officially been named "lead voice" for MLS broadcasts on NBC Sports Network. He replaces Arlo White, who will anchor EPL coverage for the network. To bring this all full circle, Strong's replacement in Portland is Christian Miles, formerly the TV voice of Chivas USA, back when their owner actually bothered to try and get his team on L.A.-area television.
- Scott Ayers