Major Link Soccer: Josh Ford to Orlando

Seattle

Marco Pappa picked up another award yesterday, Univision Deportes's MLS Player of the Year. He can put this trophy right next to his MLS Latino del Año award.

No need to worry about those Sounders jerseys getting out of date, Xbox's sponsorship contract has been extended through at least 2016.

Brotherly Game does a ranking of the top 100 soccer teams in US and Canada, and guess who ended up in second? Your very favorite Seattle Sounders, of course.

Remember a while back when a bunch of Seattle Impact players walked out on the team? Well the Seattle Times has a piece on what that was all about: team owner Dion Earl, and a whole lot of sexual misconduct allegations.

In a piece of non-soccer-related news, it appears as if pacific northwesterners do have an accent after all, contrary to popular belief among pacific northwesterners.

MLS

Eight players were selected in the second stage of MLS's Re-Entry Draft yesterday, including two Sounders. Josh Ford went to Orlando City SC, who apparently are trying to "Philadelphia it up" goalkeeper wise, while Tristan Bowen was selected by New England. Other notable movements include Marvell Wynne to San Jose and Bakary Soumare to Montreal.

In other goalkeeper news, Sporting Kansas City just signed a new net-minder, Chilean Luis Marin. SKC also picked up a new forward, Hungarian Krisztian Nemeth.

In meetings with some representatives from the Korean K-League, front office members from around MLS revealed what they thought to be the secret to MLS's success: create an identity, and connect with your fans.

Brek Shea appears set to make a move back to MLS, with reports linking him to Orlando City. Shea was apparently in Orlando yesterday to sign papers.

In a political themed article, MLSsoccer.com takes a look at all of the Cuban players who have passed through MLS, including Seattle's own Ozzie Alonso.

MLSsoccer.com also has a short summary of the Sounders' 2014, and a look forward into what 2015 could look like.

Both NYCFC and Orlando City FC have their local television deals sorted out. Orlando signed a contract with local Fox 35, and NYCFC signed with YES Network.

The relationship between NYCFC fans and Manchester City is complicated. Hudson River Blue suggests that there are four groups of opinions on Manchester City among fans of their New York affiliate.

With the departure of Thierry Henry, the New York Red Bulls have some big decisions to make. Once a Metro takes a look at what lies ahead for the team.

A Boston dad raised the bar for parents everywhere when he surprised his twin sons with two tickets to MLS cup in LA.

It looks like Erick "Cubo" Torres's future is wrapped up for the next few months at least. MLS bought his contract, but the 21 year-old has been loaned back to Chivas de Guadalajara for the next six months. It still remains to be seen which MLS club will gain Torres's services when he returns after his loan stint.

Dom Dwyer signed a new contract with Kansas City. Oh and he also told other clubs to "back off."

Las Vegas got a bit closer to an MLS expansion team yesterday when their city council approved a subsidy for a soccer specific stadium downtown.

The Portland Timbers again showed their confidence in the US's college system, signing former Wake Forest Men's Soccer head coach Jay Vidovich to head their new USL Pro side.

In yesterday's worst news, Steven Lenhart will continue playing soccer for at least another year. He signed a new contract with the Earthquakes through 2015.

World

USMNTer Mix Diskerud appears set to join Liga MX side Club Tijuana, despite previous rumors that he might be on his way to MLS.

In other Liga MX news, Herculez Gomez is returning to the first club he played for in Mexico, Puebla FC. Hopefully this move will mean a bit more time on the field for Gomez.

Is there something about learning to play soccer on the streets that just can't be taught in an academy? Goal.com certainly thinks so.

When DeMarcus Beasley retired from the USMNT he left a gap to fill at left back. Should Robbie Rogers be the left back of the USMNT's future?

Sure you can juggle a round football, but can you juggle the pointy kind like Stevan Jovetic can?

The Gaurdian looks back at their 10 most memorable moments from 2014, which include MK Dons's defeat of Manchester United and Brazil's 1-7 dismembering at the hands of Germany.

If you think the #sigiout people are crazy, just take a look over at Club America's owner, Televisa. America's manager Antonio Mohamed was just fired for being too boring, despite winning a Liga MX title the day before.

In England, those cute kids that walk the players out before games aren't from the local Boys and Girls club. Some teams are charging kids up to $940 dollars for the experience of walking out before the game.

The US U-20's are getting prepared for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. They played Honduras in a friendly yesterday, with goals from Columbus's Romain Gall and San Jose's Tommy Thompson propelling them to a 2-1 victory.

The USWNT had a pretty good game yesterday too, defeating Argentina 7-0. The goals were split between Chicago's Christian Press who put three in the back of the net, and Houston's Carli Lloyd, who scored thrice.

Is wearing a wig dumb? Perhaps, perhaps not. Is wearing a wig during a soccer game dumb? Yes. Especially if it falls off during a game, which happened to Baily Cargill in a game against Liverpool.

Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus just got a fine for driving without a license. No it wasn't on the order of $500, the fine came in at a horrific total of $665,000.