Major Link Soccer: End the (Expansion) Draft!

Seattle

Obafemi Martins is amazing. Especially when he is scoring and doing flips. So why didn't he score for Nigeria during his recent callup? His teammate Ajibade Babalade says it's because he was deployed in the midfield, and he needs to be near the goal for the Super Eagles.

Copa América! It's coming to Seattle. Details are a little scarce right now, but here's what local politicians had to say.

Major League Soccer

Why is FC Dallas' academy so successful? It's not just that the Dallas area is a great pool of soccer talent. The system there really is different, and they are pushing for something greater. It helps a lot that Oscar Pareja is a big part of that.

Alvaro Saborio has signed a contract extension with DC United, likely at a reduced number for the 33 year old.

New Chicago Fire GM Nelson Rodriguez has wasted no time in ruffling feathers, after joking at a conference that he was surprised Eric Wynalda could read. Wynalda didn't appreciate it much.

Rumor has it that the expansion draft will be no more. Teams like Atlanta United and others soon to enter MLS will no longer be able to snag talent from the rest of the league to start their inaugural years. But they just might be better off with more international slots and allocation money.

The New England Revolution may be looking to pick up Newcastle United defensive midfielder Cheick Tiote. He is 29 and recently recovered from an injury, but has been a regular with Newcastle for years.

Real Salt Lake's Elias Vasquez has undergone surgery for a ligament injury he picked up playing for Guatemala in World Cup Qualifying, and is likely out for up to six months.

Also in RSL land, the club is interested in pursuing Spartak Moscow striker Yura Movsisyan, despite a more glaring immediate need for center backs. Movsisyan is still under contract in Moscow.

And finally, Javier Morales will turn 36 soon, but he just signed a multi-year contract extension with RSL. He wants to end his career with the team, calling it the most important club in his life.

AJ DeLaGarza not only locked himself out of his apartment, but was scammed by the locksmith out of almost  $700. All before going in for groin surgery the next day.

In mocking promotion/relegation in the US, Don Garber chose the wrong amateur team to make fun of, according to Twice a Cosmo.

The Eastern Conference Final at Red Bull Arena is officially sold out, which is good news for the league, and bad news for PATH train users.

NASL

The New York Cosmos won the NASL title, and Raul can retire at 38 on a high note after a legendary career.

The league is looking for an owner for the Atlanta Silverbacks, and they have some interested parties, but nothing concrete yet. They have a few options if they can't get something in place before the next season.

World Soccer

Team America was supposed to be the saving grace of US soccer, training a team that could again qualify for the World Cup in 1986. Here's a short video about what went wrong.

The ongoing FIFA probe is investigating over 120 suspicious transactions at his point. Strangely, no officials from Qatar have been questioned. The investigators say the testimony of officials there would be "particularly welcomed" if it were forthcoming.

Guests at a Radisson hotel in Belgium called the police because they though Belgian international Radja Nainggolan was a terrorist. He was so good-natured about the mixup he even posed for photos with the police officers who came to investigate and immediately recognized him.

There have been many times I've been driven to muting the commentary on soccer games, but this ref took it to the next level, ejecting the TV announcers of the match he was officiating after hearing what they were saying about him.