Just got back from the Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew match that ended 3-nil in Columbus’ favor.

After the match I met up with FC Uptown to grab a few beers with the boys (Dante, Holly, Duncs, Carly, Tommy Presthus, etc) at Bar Louie downtown.

Now it’s up in two hours for the cross-country trip back to LA to get back in time for the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup between Valencia at Real Madrid for a noon call time at the FSC studios.

Over the weekend I took a trip north of the border to visit Toronto and meet a couple friends and go to the FC Dallas-Toronto FC game.

After driving about 6 hours (I live in OH these days) I got to Toronto and checked into the Canadiana Hostel and met the crew. Staying at a hostel was a pretty random idea, but the location was great, there were a ton of Euro backbackers looking to grab a brew at one of the hundreds of local pubs, and of course it was dirt cheap. Hey, who needs air conditioning?

The Texas invasion force does not seem to scare the locals…

We walked over to pre-game a bit with the Red Patch Boys. Meeting the Red Patch Boys was very cool - let’s be honest, it can be strange to meet a bunch of Texans rolling up - but the guys could not have been nicer and we had some good laughs here. Notice the boots with shorts look, Yikes!

A Lot More Pics After The Jump…

(more…)

Dara Torres, 41, Swimmer, Team USA.

Those are some abs…!

Image via NYTimes

“DOG may be off the menu for the Olympic Games, but adventurous gourmets can still choose from a dazzling array of culinary delights in Beijing - from seal penis to cow stomach, deep-fried scorpions or sea urchins, turtle (really best done as a broth) and brains in hot pot.

…Locals may be grumbling after some of the city’s favourite eateries were forced to close for two months because they are considered too close to venues, but others such as Beijing’s first specialty penis restaurant is still taking bookings….”

Image via IndianaJones

Televisa launching Spanish language soccer channel Planeta Futbol for Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries, featuring Premier League, Mexican tournament matches and La Liga.

Image via Lexblog

Arturo Alvarez of FC Dallas was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for allocation money and first round pick in the 2009 Superdraft. The Earthquakes are the team that originally drafted AA in 2003.

Coach Cobra Kai is obviously making changes, and San Jose needs a striker so maybe this is a win-win. On the other hand, Dallas better be bringing a slew of guys into town because they are losing a lot of players at once.

Image via Mlsnet

FC Dallas vs LA Galaxy, 6pm CT/4pm PT (DK, MLStv.com).

The Saga Continues….

Gullit is steamed, Schellas needs a win, the seats will be filled, and (despite Euro interest) Donovan, Cooper, Buddle, and Toja will all be playing.  David Beckham and Adrian Serioux also plan to renew their friendship.

The recent games in Frisco have been controversial, if not always close affairs. There was the Bench It Like Beckham game last year, the Donovan Throat Slash to fans, the Tyrone Marshall leg breaking of Kenny Cooper, the Saragosa-Beckham “nobody speaks the same language” argument, the recent “Welcome to the MLS” tackle by Adrian Serioux on Becks, then Beckham’s “Shhhhh” to the crowd which all contributed to Coach Morrow’s shocking demise. Almost forgotten in all the plotlines today is the Return of Pescadito. More drama than your typical Brett Michael Rock of Love episode….

Oh, one more thing. Welcome to North Texas in July, where the temperature is expected to be 103.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson says bringing Major League Soccer to the city is no sure thing…(more)…

Image via Flickr

The Dude is back in Tr2N!  

Lightcycles, frisbie disks, and even (the hottest girl of all time) Lacy Underall from Caddyshack rocked in the original classic movie, Tron.  Now comes the sequel.  This is a little hard to make out in the beginning but looks way cool.  In addition to Jeff Bridges, John Hurt, Ricky Gervais, Sean Connery and Jada Pinkett are also attached.  No release date given.

The Vancouver Whitecaps made their play for MLS official today (including the British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell) following their meeting with the MLS Board of Governors in Toronto. Steve Nash (whose bro Martin plays for the ‘Caps) will be part of the ownership group - check out his video on the Whitecaps website. Their stadium would appear to be BC Place (think 80s style Pontiac Silverdome/Minneapolis Metrodome) . There has been SSS talk and maybe that will progress too but BC Place is undergoing big changes. The current BC Place has just begun a huge refurbishment top-to-bottom for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The “New BC Place” is scheduled to be ready for the games, and following the Olympics will have a new retractable fabric roof to be completed by July, 2010 (pictured above).

Who is Greg Kerfoot, owner of the Whitecaps? He is an advisor to the government, a wealthy guy, and a huge soccer fan. Very ambitious plans here and many bases seem covered. Exciting times. (Or are the times a little too exciting….)

Image via Canada