2009 MLS Best XI:

Goalkeeper: Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
Defenders: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
Midfielders: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)
Forwards: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)

Every year before the MLS Cup, Commissioner Don Garber talks about the state of the league and answers a few questions from reporters.

During his address, Garber called Sounders FC, who led the league in attendance and became the first expansion team to advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs since the Chicago Fire in 1998, “arguably one of the best expansion launches in all of pro sports.”

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A day after MLS Commisioner Garber mentioned the economy was hampering ticket sales of all sports leagues (and sighting empty seats at new Yankee Stadium), Yankees President Randy Levine launched a blistering attack on MLS…

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vs.

from the LA Times:

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber today said he wanted David Beckham’s future resolved by Friday or he would not approve any transfer between the Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan. Speaking at a World Cup 2018/2022 function in Columbus, Garber said that on Tuesday he had sent a letter to AEG, which owns the Galaxy, telling it to resolve the situation within 72 hours.

 ”If David believes that he wants to continue his career in Milan and Milan wants to purchase him, we’re interested in accommodating that request,” Garber said. “But right now it just continues to go round in circles and it needs to come to a conclusion by Friday.

“There’s no reason why this should drag on. They either want to do it or they don’t want to do it.”

I like it! Nobody is bigger than a league and no one is bigger than the game. I like how Garber is trying not to let this story hijack his league before the season starts.

more after the jump (more…)

Lead investor, Jeff Cooper, was in a breakfast meeting with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who said the St. Louis expansion bid still needs to strengthen its bottom line.

The Post-Dispatch reports…

Image via Bertaut

“If we miss the opportunity this round, it is unlikely that MLS will ever come to Portland,” Merritt Paulson said at the Portland Task Force Meeting today. Taxpayers would likely pick up the $85-million tab for the new stadium and upgrades at PGE.

Image via Flickr

A feisty but upbeat Don Garber covers the State of MLS with the NY Times, and probably gives Fox Football Fone-In enough ammunition to fill a couple weeks. Lotsa love for the Nordecke and RSL.

Image via BBC

If you live in Los Angeles, or if you are planning on being out here for MLS Cup, then you might want to try and head down to USC on November 20th. The USC Sports Business Insitute has invited Don Garber to discuss the state of Major League Soccer, where it’s been and where it’s headed. Admission is $50, but if you enter the discount code of MLS, you get 20% off. Head here to register.