Major Link Soccer: Hope Solo's defense

Seattle

Yesterday much of the Sounder at Heart crew was attending the Lamar Neagle Foundation's FIFA 15 Charity Tournament Extravaganza Bazinga Good Luck Go Go Event. This was the third straight year that Neagle has taken on his neighbors at one of the world's most popular video games. We will have another story on that later, but the point is that they raised nearly 10,000 dollars for charity. With a little bit of last-minute help, you could push them over the top:

Ps - the donation link for PayPal is still up, think you all can help us hit $10k for @LamarNeagle foundation? Only need $500 more :)

— sonarriley (@sonarriley) January 5, 2015

By the time you read this, Alan Hinton will be in surgery to deal with a cancerous  bladder tumor. The Seattle soccer/sports legend has been one of the most public faces of the Sounders legacy, doing TV as well as having a prolific Twitter presence. Here's hoping things go well.

At a party tonight think my last real food & alcohol 4 about 7 days? Sun a day of clensing B4 Mon 6am surgery? Little concerned but strong?

— Alan Hinton (@alanhinton11) January 4, 2015

If Hope Solo wasn't already a household name, it became one last summer when charges of domestic abuse appeared with her name on them. But her accuser's stories have reportedly changed dramatically from the original claims, taking away their credibility. It now seems entirely possible that Solo will walk, and makes one wonder whether a crime was committed at all.

MLS

After a wave of bad publicity, MLS Commissioner Don Garber is attempting to stem the tide with a Dursology (When he goes out, he'll get NYCFC TWO SHINY NEW DPs) However, no amount of shining will polish this turd if Frank Lampard's New York debut comes when Manchester City visits for a pre-season friendly. New Yorkers are calling the situation like it is (as New Yorkers are wont to do): A bold-faced lie. And Eighty-Six Forever compares New York's relationship problems re: Frank Lampard with their own Camilo issues from last year.

With Steven Gerrard's imminent move to Major League Soccer, BBC's sports section put together a list of ten things Brits should know about the US/Canadian game. It's something of a "through the looking glass moment," seeing how they see us.

Leicester City is hotly pursuing Toronto's Jermain Defoe, and reports have Liverpool on his tail as well.

The moniker "LAFC" was always supposed to be a placeholder while the expansion/resurrection Los Angeles 2 got its feet under it. The president of the Zombie Goats says that an official name and colors will come this year.

Next year, Orlando City is expected to open up a brand new soccer stadium, with the help of some public dollars. Following the script of such situations, a local economist has chimed in with his concerns about the arena. On a somewhat related note, Orlando City fans will be getting much better bang for their (surprisingly similar) buck.

USNT

The roster for the Women's team heading to camp this month has been released, and it includes the three Reign players who would be expected.

Jurgen Klinsmann spoke with US Soccer on a number of subjects, including the USA's young budding stars like John Brooks, DeAndre Yedlin, and... Brek Shea?

Europe

A young Russian youth player was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Dagestan this weekend, another in an unfortunately long history of violent acts in soccer.

Sports

We're seeing a slow but steady invasion of American Football by Football Football:

Not exactly Clint Dempsey quality, but a valiant effort.

#FlatnessOut