At Dick Sporting Good’s Park, Commerce City, CO.

Tailgate: Starting at 2pm at the West VIP Lot, Nike & American Outlaws, and local Rapids supporters. There will be KEGS, Food, Fellow fans, Nike and their trucks and girls, giveaways like shirts and soccer balls, AO merch, and more good stuff.

Night Before Party and After Parties:
Location: British Bulldog Pub
Address: 2052 Stout Street, Denver, CO

Live on ESPN Classic and Galavision, 6pm MT.

Image via Flickr

I’m actually surprised this hasn’t gotten A LOT more press as the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz finally received his Green Card.

After 6 years in the MLS and countless trips (both stateside and to Guatemala) to the appropriate offices, El Pescadito will no longer be counted as a foreigner.  While this is a blessing for the Galaxy, it could be a curse for Ruiz as his trade value will certainly rise along with the long running rumors of his movement to another team in MLS earlier in the 2008 season.

Big props to my Hollywood United brother Mike Munoz on earning himself a well deserved contract with the Galaxy.

image via TbWreck

As we we’re finishing up the final touches for our party yesterday, I had to make a run down to LAX to pick up my boy Joe from Boston. In the time it took him to de-plane and walk out to the curbside for me to pick him up, he had a story about Paris Hilton sitting behind him in 1st class (one I will definitely tell soon) and a picture with Rihanna, which I’ll get up ASAP. But back to the story; as I was pulling up to get him, I saw the Argentinian boys crackin jokes and smiling. I hadn’t heard the result, but now I know it was because they’d played Guatemala the night before at The Coliseum, home of USC.

image via MLSnet

With Guatemala’s training camp open for business Monday, one notable absence was El Pescadito (although not so little anymore) due to his prolonged recovery from Lateral Meniscus surgery.  For those that don’t know, Lateral Meniscus surgery is either the repair or removal of the rubber band like tissue between the knee’s bones/joints that limits the impact of bone on bone.  Ruiz’s  surgery was under the “clean up” category, so he had the Meniscus removed and no longer has a protective portion but also doesn’t have to deal with the clicking, locking or pain that comes along with the injury.  LA’s and more importantly Carlos’ biggest issue he will face is his rehabilitation is his knee adjusting to life without the part of Meniscus removed (swelling, irritation, bone friction, etc), which ultimately led to Alexi Lalas’ refusal to release such an important part of the puzzle this season for the Galaxy, who’s still less than 100% fit for International Duty (Aka the game against Argentina February 6th in LA)

(image via ps2.ign.com)

With the offloading of Joe Cannon to SJ, the Galaxy received $$.  Now that $$, along with a 2009 second round pick is heading to FCD in exchange for petulant Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz.  A lot has changed since Ruiz was with Los Angeles, including his salary (not 24k anymore).  Maybe Kenny Cooper will get some of that $$ now that it’s been made loud and clear that he’s been extremely un-happy with the 80k he’s been making, while Ruiz was cleaning house.