The Seattle Sounders FC will be used for examples in this article.

Mourinho said in an interview a few months back that the MLS should change, which I agree with.

He listed the following things....

1) Two European players on each team
2) No salary cap
3) More European coaches

I agree with Mourinho.

Seattle has a European mindset; they signed Ljungberg and Keller ( American who played in Europe).

I like the no salary cap idea.

I mean really, the MLS is holding itself back. They could be a top league in about five or more years if they wanted to.

Garber cares a lot about the quality of the ownership, so why not reward them with no salary cap?

And because most of these Owners are smarter than the NASL ones, who screwed it up?

Think about this...take out the DP rule, which is really stupid for the league because basically your setting a team up to fail.

If the league wants to be great they need to get rid of the cap. Look at the top European teams.

You don't see them with a cap.

Imagine Seattle with this realistic team.

Montero (sign him to a DP like contract, six years 20-30 million), Ljungberg and possibly Henry, or Shunsuke Nakamura who's contract is up at the end of the year.

It would be great for the league because they can have the college players be drafted and learn from top Euro players, they can have a great future in the MLS and, at the same time, have top Euro talent on the team.

Now something Mourinho didn't include, but that I have a problem with is that with or without (please without) the top college players—all need to be signed/drafted.

MLS has this thing called Generation Adidas which is a project aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States.

The program, sponsored by Adidas, encourages early entry (without college graduation) of American players into MLS.

I think, for example, all of the top college or before college soccer players should get a generation Adidas contract. That way top U.S. soccer talent stays here instead of going to Europe.

Now the last thing the MLS should focus on is bringing top young South American players into the MLS.

Seattle brought in John Kennedy Hurtado DF and Fredy Montero FW, and they have done great.

In order for the MLS to be a top league in the world they need to bring top Euro players over, have great U.S generation Adidas young players, some top young south American players, and current MLS players all combined.

Like the Seattle sounders FC for example..

Some good South American players that the MLS could look at to build up the league are...

MF Daniel Sanchez-Peru-19. Seven goals in 45 appearances for Sporting Cristal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_San ... footballer)

FW Junior Aliberti-Uruguay-24. Three goals in six appearances for Sporting Cristal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Aliberti

FW Daud Gazale-Chile-24. Seven goals in 15 games for colo-colo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daud_Gazale

Those three players are just examples of what the MLS should try and bring in.

So, lets put this into play and use Seattle Sounders FC as an example.

This is without salary cap, two European players on each team and top college players being a part of Generation Adidas and top South American players.

Here is what the Sounders FC could look like....

------------Henry----Montero-------------
--Zakuani-----Evans----Ljungberg---
--------------------Alonso------------------
Sturgis---Hurtado---Mashall---Riley
-------------------Keller---------------------

Bench:

MF Daniel Sanchez (one of the young SA players), GK Chris Eylander (a good young American player brought up), DF Zach Scott (same as eyelander), DF Tyson Wahl (same as Scott), FW Sebastien Le Toux (same as Wahl), MF Sanna Nyassi (signed from Gambia, a good MLS player), FW Jarrod Smith (same as Le Toux), and Roger Levesque (good experience as a leader).

SO, using that as an example, that would be a great starting 11 and a great bench with players than can step in if needed.

That would be a great look for any MLS team.

Thierry Henry,Ljungberg, and Keller qualify as Euro players.

Zakuani is a GA player.

Montero and Hurtado are top South American players.

SO, having that kind of mentality in the MLS can really help this league:

No salary cap, two to three top European players, two to three top South American players, and good experienced MLS players.

Any team could win with that mentality.

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During World Cup 2006 Qualifiers, a young American star by the name of Eddie Johnson made himself a household name (by American soccer fan standards, that is) when he scored seven goals in his first six matches.

The next year, on June 2, 2007, Johnson became the first player in MLS history to score back-to-back hat tricks. He was only 23 years old, and he had what appeared to a bright future ahead.

Word of Johnson's exploits reached the ears of several European clubs, and in the end, he signed a three-year deal with Premier League club Fulham FC. His talent was undeniable, and he was expected to be a star.

Unfortunately, things just didn't come to fruition.

Eddie Johnson failed to reclaim the form that made him a star in the MLS. In August of 2008, he was loaned to second-tier team Cardiff City, and in 25 appearances with that club (mostly off the bench), he has only scored twice.

Eddie isn't the only one with this story. There are several American players that are abroad that struggle to make an impact on their teams. They are confined to the bench and sometimes the reserve squad, where their talent and confidence diminish. 

Some of these players aren't given a chance to succeed, but many of them simply don't have the raw ability. 

But as the guys' skills atrophy, so does the quality of our national team, and in some cases, so does our domestic league, the MLS.

It is time for MLS team to put their money together and bring back players like Eddie Johnson.

The MLS cannot expect to become popular with American fans unless the league's teams can boast the top homegrown players. Right now, the majority of the best in the MLS are aging international players. 

If you ask a young American soccer fan who his or her favorite players are, they will likely mention international stars like DaMarcus Beasley or Eddie Johnson. But kids' interest in these players will fade because they do not ever hear from them again. 

By bringing them here to the United States, our youth will be able to see their heroes on a weekly basis.

This article isn't meant to downplay the success of stars like Clint Dempsey or Michael Bradley; these are players that deserve to be in Europe and are making an impact on their respective teams.

Nor is this article an attempt to keep American players from going to Europe. Our young talents should try to excel in European leagues, as many of them will become better players for it.

But the MLS is in danger of becoming like the NHL, a league in which the closest thing to "domestic" stars are Canadian. I mean, the MLS team with the second-highest average attendance is Toronto FC, and in 2011, Vancouver will receive an MLS team.

The team with the highest positive change in average attendance so far in 2009 is Chivas USA, a club whose games are primarily attended by Mexican immigrants.

Though it is great that attendance is increasing overall, the MLS is losing American fans. What's truly tragic is that some of those fans could have potentially been national stars in the future.

There is a time to say "enough is enough," and that time is now. If a player is struggling even to make it to the bench after years abroad, it is time to come home. 

Come back to the U.S. Get paid as much as the aged international stars, and become heroes for millions.

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During World Cup 2006 Qualifiers, a young American star by the name of Eddie Johnson made himself a household name (by American soccer fan standards, that is) when he scored seven goals in his first six matches.

The next year, on June 2, 2007, Johnson became the first player in MLS history to score back-to-back hat tricks. He was only 23 years old, and he had what appeared to a bright future ahead.

Word of Johnson's exploits reached the ears of several European clubs, and in the end, he signed a three-year deal with Premier League club Fulham FC. His talent was undeniable, and he was expected to be a star.

Unfortunately, things just didn't come to fruition.

Eddie Johnson failed to reclaim the form that made him a star in the MLS. In August of 2008, he was loaned to second-tier team Cardiff City, and in 25 appearances with that club (mostly off the bench), he has only scored twice.

Eddie isn't the only one with this story. There are several American players that are abroad that struggle to make an impact on their teams. They are confined to the bench and sometimes the reserve squad, where their talent and confidence diminish. 

Some of these players aren't given a chance to succeed, but many of them simply don't have the raw ability. 

But as the guys' skills atrophy, so does the quality of our national team, and in some cases, so does our domestic league, the MLS.

It is time for MLS team to put their money together and bring back players like Eddie Johnson.

The MLS cannot expect to become popular with American fans unless the league's teams can boast the top homegrown players. Right now, the majority of the best in the MLS are aging international players. 

If you ask a young American soccer fan who his or her favorite players are, they will likely mention international stars like DaMarcus Beasley or Eddie Johnson. But kids' interest in these players will fade because they do not ever hear from them again. 

By bringing them here to the United States, our youth will be able to see their heroes on a weekly basis.

This article isn't meant to downplay the success of stars like Clint Dempsey or Michael Bradley; these are players that deserve to be in Europe and are making an impact on their respective teams.

Nor is this article an attempt to keep American players from going to Europe. Our young talents should try to excel in European leagues, as many of them will become better players for it.

But the MLS is in danger of becoming like the NHL, a league in which the closest thing to "domestic" stars are Canadian. I mean, the MLS team with the second-highest average attendance is Toronto FC, and in 2011, Vancouver will receive an MLS team.

The team with the highest positive change in average attendance so far in 2009 is Chivas USA, a club whose games are primarily attended by Mexican immigrants.

Though it is great that attendance is increasing overall, the MLS is losing American fans. What's truly tragic is that some of those fans could have potentially been national stars in the future.

There is a time to say "enough is enough," and that time is now. If a player is struggling even to make it to the bench after years abroad, it is time to come home. 

Come back to the U.S. Get paid as much as the aged international stars, and become heroes for millions.

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There was plenty of drama to enjoy if you found yourself watching an MLS match this weekend. The Chicago Fire netted a late equalizer against Columbus Crew, Kasey Keller continued his record-setting shutout streak, and the DC United scored twice in the last minute to shock the New York Red Bulls.

Oh yeah, and Real Salt Lake scored six second half goals against perennial heavyweight New England Revolution.

Keep your heads up though, New England. At least you got to watch Jacoby Ellsbury swipe home plate against the Yankees on Sunday night.

Last week's rankings in parenthesis:

1. Chicago Fire (2)

After a draw with Columbus, Chicago is now the sole undefeated team remaining in MLS. Their defense has been somewhat of a letdown though, as they've allowed more goals than Chivas and Seattle combined. As long as the offense continues to fire, the defense will have some time to figure things out.

2. Chivas USA (1)

Chivas finally suffered their first loss of the season to Toronto FC thanks to an Amado Guevara goal. They followed that loss with a shutout victory over Dallas. Chivas may have the best defense in the league, as well as the best midfield. Is it too early to predict the 2009 MLS Cup?

3. DC United (3)

DC's 3-2 win over New York this weekend should spark this team to some great things. They'll need Luciano Emilio to continue producing, and a couple others *cough* Christian Gomez *cough* will also have to step up as well, but the season looks bright for DC.

4. Seattle Sounders FC (6)

As Kasey Keller goes, so goes Seattle. He's played every minute of four matches this season and hasn't allowed a goal. In the two matches that he hasn't gone 90 minutes, Seattle has surrendered three goals. That shows you just how important he is to Seattle's fortune.

5. Real Salt Lake (7)

Their six-goal outburst against New England has put the rest of the league on notice. RSL has one of the most explosive offenses in the league and want to return to the postseason.

6. Kansas City Wizards (5)

KC was aided by an early red card/penalty kick in their match against New York, but a win is a win. The Wizards find themselves sitting pretty at third place in the East after an undefeated month of April.

7. Toronto FC (14)

Toronto had the best week of any club in MLS, scoring two shutout victories. On Wednesday, they became the first team to beat Chivas in 2009, which is a very impressive accomplishment. They're showing signs of righting the ship and making a push towards the first playoff appearance in franchise history.

8. New England Revolution (4)

Going into this week, New England had allowed three goals on the season. After Saturday's debacle, that number has tripled. That's inexcusable for a team of this caliber.

9. Colorado Rapids (8)

At this point, a draw with Los Angeles is basically a loss.

10. San Jose Earthquakes (9)

San Jose didn't win in April, not even when they managed to score three goals in a match on the 11th. This is a hard team to get a read on. Some weeks, they need offense. Others, defense. The one conclusion we can draw is that they've got too many holes to make a serious run.

11. Houston Dynamo (10)

Houston did not play this week.

12. FC Dallas (12)

After victory last week, Dallas is back to their losing ways. But, they don't move down in the rankings by virtue of some absolute stinkers from other teams in the league.

13. New York Red Bulls (11)

New York had the worst week of any MLS club, losing twice. Loss number one happened thanks to a second minute red card and subsequent penalty kick. Loss number two was a result of two stoppage time goals. Ouch.

14. Columbus Crew (13)

Have the wheels officially fallen off? If not, it's getting close. That's six straight matches without a victory.

15. LA Galaxy (15)

Landon Donovan is counting down the days until his contract is up...I'm sure he'd rather be emptying waste bins for Bayern Munich than playing in Los Angeles right now.

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Three months later and I still hear people mention, "the post". I am here to tell everyone I regret what I wrote, and I apologize if I offended anyone. Frankly, my eyes have been opened after the first couple games, and I am actually enjoying watching the Sounders.

I'm not super educated on soccer, and I don't understand advanced strategy but watching it is way more exciting than I first presumed.

It's fun to watch the players move the ball around so fluidly. The game is also surprisingly physical. The players do complain and whine a lot, but is that really all that different from any other sport?

Okay, I admit it. I am a giant hypocrite. The other day, someone in my family was trying to start a conversation with me, and I said, "Wait, I want to watch this free kick". That is when I realized that the words I said in January were pointless and dumb. It takes some getting used to, but soccer is a nice change of pace as opposed to watching "the big three" (basketball, baseball, football).

It doesn’t hurt when the Sounders are a winning team either. I had no idea of how good this team was going to be going in. Any expansion team in any sport has a rough first season, usually. The Sounders have asserted themselves as the top team in the MLS.

I'd like to eventually go to a match, but each match has been sold-out, if I'm not mistaken. I'm waiting on one of my many soccer friends to take me to a game...hopefully.

I can understand if you can't forgive me for those words back January. But I am going to admit that I will not be committing myself to learn the technical aspects of the game of soccer, and generally I am also not necessarily crazy for the Sounders or anything.

But I do regret what I said back then.

The only appropriate way to end this article is to say this: The Sounders are relevant.

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With little or no argument, any Major League Soccer fan includes Jaime Moreno in their top ten, top five, maybe top three for biggest impact in the history of MLS. But where does he stand right now?

On Saturday, Jaime Moreno assisted DC United's game-tying goal by Ben Olsen, raising his assist total to 100.

He now is the only player ever in Major League Soccer to reach the 100 goal, 100 assist mark. He currently leads all-time scoring with 122 goals.

Not only does he lead DC United, the most trophied and historic franchise in MLS, in almost every category, he sits in the top ten in almost every overall MLS stat.

First in goals. Fifth in assists. Seventh in games played. Tenthin minutes played. Fifthin game-winners. First in penalty kick goals. Fifth in multi-goal games.

And most of these he will move up in, even if he decides 2009 is his last season.

Moreno has recorded ten goals and ten assists in four seasons, tied with Preki for most ever.

What I love so much about these records is that he has done it almost all in one place, with a rotating cast of players since 1996.

Jaime Moreno has become the face of DC United soccer. Should he be the face of Major League Soccer?

We will probably see this accomplished again, but no current player even sits above 75 in both goals and assists. Who is next?

Landon Donovan currently has 86 goals, 72 assists. Ante Razov is 34 assists away, but has not played yet in his 14th MLS season. Steve Ralston also in his 14th season, needs 30 goals. Jeff Cunningham needs 40 more assists.

One hundred, one hundred is difficult.

Congratulations Jaime Moreno, you are in an elite class of Major League Soccer players. And currently the most elite.

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He who has a thing to sell,

And goes and whispers in a well,

Is not so apt to get the dollars

As he who climbs a tree and hollers.

So were the words on a Lipton tea bag that I sipped from at my little Grandma Civin's house about 30 years ago. Grandma was a tiny woman, with a slight Russian accent. A pleasant woman who had more friends than anyone I had ever met. I reminisce foolishly but all in all just wanted to tell the story of my tea bag. 

I loved to drink at Gram's house due in part to the sayings on her Lipton tea bags. Even when they'd sink into the bottom of my cup, I'd fish them out and let them dry on my napkin as I drank tea and ate Stella Doro cookies with Gram.

I remember this one vividly and kept it in my wallet for years. I wasn't sure if and when I'd ever use it. Today seems right.

The new Women's Professional Soccer League has embarked on it's maiden voyage and three of us Bleacher Report writers have taken up the task of becoming the league's voice. Jo-Ryan Salazar has befriended the gals of the Los Angeles Sol, John Howell has done the same the for the Chicago Red Star.

We, the Few, The Proud, The Writers of the WPS have thrust the league upon our shoulders and, for whatever reason, have become committed to the success of the league. As the league grows we do the same.

Sort of a journalistic version of she scratches mine and I do the same for her (no comment, honey...a simile....).

We are the trend setters, the trail blazers..The Lewis and Clarks of the Women's Professional Soccer League. But our map is missing cities.

Though I would love to take me a road trip every other week to the City of Arches it simply isn't going to happen. And if I go to DC it is to play some hoop with Barack not to watch a futbol match. And frankly, I don't know where the cities of FC Gold Pride and Sky Blue FC even are.

So this is where you come in....As my Athletic Director said to me as a high school freshman, "Hey kid, you like sports? Can you write? Okay, you're our school sports writer." I say the same to you some three decades later. Hey kid? Can you write?

Drop me an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on my Bleacher Report Bulletin board. Though I'm sure you can figure things out on your own, I'm happy to help.

And when you get to the top of that tree..tell me if you can see FC or Sky Blue from there.

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"I’m having a go at the referee today, because his performance was a disgrace." 

To say that Toronto coach John Carver was frustrated by the 3-2 loss to FC Dallas would be an understatement.

For once, there was nothing TFC could have done after conceding yet another late goal, with referee Tim Leyland giving a controversial penalty to the home side six minutes from time. 

MLS All-Star Kenny Cooper blasted the ball past Stefan Frei to secure Dallas’s first victory of the season.

The penalty was awarded after David Ferreira ventured into the area and flicked the ball onto the forearm of defender Marvell Wynne.  The Reds fullback had no chance of getting out of the way.  As Carver noted, "I’m sure the referee couldn’t change direction with his hands in his pockets."

The late goal offset the effort put in by the Reds, as they battled back impressively from a first half in which Dallas controlled the game to take a two-goal lead.

Drew Moor started the scoring in the 20th minute, after the Dallas defender lost his marker in the box to head home past Frei.  Just minutes earlier, Moor had saved his team at the other end, blocking a Chad Barrett shot and clearing the ball after his goalkeeper, Ray Burse, fumbled a Sam Cronin cross in the area.

Dallas continued to dominate play and were rewarded with a second goal in the 44th minute.  Dwayne De Rosario, playing despite being questionable with a hamstring pull, gave away the ball to Ferreira, deep in the Toronto half.  The Columbian passed the ball to Cooper, who drilled a low shot home from 22 yards out.

Toronto appeared to be facing an uphill task.  However, right on the stroke of halftime, they won a corner, which Amado Guevara played right over the penalty area to recent international retiree Carl Robinson.  The Welshman, who was all alone, crossed the ball into the six-yard box for former Dallas player Adrian Serioux to bundle over the line.

TFC were boosted by the goal and came out firing in the second half.  Their endeavour was rewarded just before the hour mark.

Fuad Ibrahim, another ex-Dallas player, who was making his second consecutive start, hit a deep diagonal ball into the opposition’s half.  Midfielder Guevara was involved again, heading the ball onto Barrett, who raced towards goal after beating the offside trap.  With only goalkeeper Burse in front of him, the American finally ended his goal-scoring slump, slotting home to level the game at two-a-piece.

The goal appeared to justify his coaches’ continued faith in him, especially after Barrett had wasted an opportunity earlier in the game to help give Toronto the lead.  On eleven minutes, he was put through by another Guevara header.  Unfortunately the striker decided to shoot for goal, blasting the ball into the side netting when two team-mates were better placed to score.

Ultimately though, it was the late penalty which resulted in Toronto’s first away defeat of the season.  Further bad news came as Canadian international De Rosario went off with a re-occurrence of his hamstring injury, meaning he will miss the next match at home to Chivas USA.

It will be a tough game against the team with the best record so far in 2009.  Toronto will need a similar fighting spirit to that displayed in this game if they are to gain anything from what has now become an important fixture.

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Rob Bruggeman runs to the fan section to sing the Iowa fight song after their 31-10 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 1, 2009. (Jonathan D. Woods/The Gazette)

IOWA CITY — Rob Bruggeman views his transition from college football to the NFL in the same vein he once did when he entered the University of Iowa five years ago.

“Coming in here nobody thought I could play D-I football at the time,” Bruggeman said. “I’m sure plenty of people think I’m too small, too whatever to play NFL football. You just go in with the mentality that you’re good enough, and you’re ready to play.”

Bruggeman, 23, originally walked on at Iowa and paid his way for three years before earning a scholarship in spring practice before his junior season. He built himself into a team leader by his senior year, earning permanent captain status for the offense. Bruggeman, who graduated last December with a degree in finance, ended the season with second-team all-Big Ten status at center by the league’s coaches and media.

But none of those honors matter to him now. Bruggeman, like all NFL prospects, is playing the waiting game. Until he sees his name announced as a draft pick this weekend, he’s keeping busy to avoid the typical anxiety that captures football players before the draft.

“Everything is done that I can do as of this point,” Bruggeman said. “I just keep working out, trying to stay in shape. And what happens, happens; there’s not a lot I can do from here on out. The film is set, I’ve done the interviews … I’m just trying to not think about it too much.”

Bruggeman’s journey the NFL began at Cedar Rapids Washington, where he was an all-state player his final two years. He received little attention from colleges and decided to walk on at Iowa.

“I was surprised he didn’t get a shot out of high school,” said Chuck Bruggeman, Rob’s father. “I knew if he got a chance to play there that he would deliver.

“It was never the goal to earn a scholarship. It was never to make the team. His goal was to get the starting position.”

Bruggeman’s opportunity came last season. He delivered for Iowa, starting every game and becoming the unit’s vocal leader. He started every game and impressed his coaches. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Bruggeman surprised him with his durability and even with some of his mistakes.

“He’s only been a one-year starter; we had to remind ourselves of that,” Ferentz said. “He’s a highly intelligent guy, very competitive. He played well on film.”

Bruggeman is projected as a possible seventh-round draft pick or priority free agent by many scouting services. As for accolades, NFLDraftScout.com describes Bruggeman as an “ascending player with good overall technique.” The Sporting News touted Bruggeman’s “flexibility, body control and balance.”

Dan Shonka, general manager and national scout for Ourlads Scouting Services LLC., listed Bruggeman as a priority free agent. Shonka said the depth at center makes Bruggeman’s draft chances difficult.

“Obviously, he’s a hard worker,” Shonka said. “All of his intangibles are excellent. He’s well thought of … he’s going to go to a camp. He may be taken late, and he’s certainly going to be signed as a free agent, but which is not bad either because you pick your team where you might fit, where you have a chance of making a ballclub.”

Bruggeman stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 293 pounds, a little light for many NFL clubs. But he ran the 40-yard dash at Iowa’s pro day in 4.97 seconds and bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times. Bruggeman also could play guard if necessarily.

To Ferentz, Bruggeman is a leader, a value NFL teams will accept once he dons their helmet next week.

“I can think of three guys that I had association with during my time in the NFL that he’s better than, and all those guys played nine or 10 years,” said Ferentz, a former NFL offensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. “He belongs, he’ll find a spot. I don’t know how he’s going to get there, but once he gets on a team, I just can’t see him getting cut.”

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