I have to say that I tend to agree with Michael Wilbon's rant against the streamers a few weeks ago on PTI: "bush league."

Regardless of what may or may not have happened in Argentina, I think it's a good idea to just keep stuff off the pitch otherwise the stewards will have to start policing the exact material make-up of the projectiles. "Is that TP one-ply or two ply? What brand? God help you if I find any Charmin!"

Jozy to Villarreal for $10m. I heard he was going to be loaned out to Recreativo.

So, how much of that money does NY keep? And how much of that can they actually use in the short term given caps, etc.?

The Michael Bradley Audition Tour- brought to you by Bob Bradley, continued this evening in Santander Spain. Adu started and looked great- then was promptly subbed at the half- Michael Bradley was lucky not to be arrested for the "tackles" he unloaded on unsuspecting Spainards.. Bob, refusing to sub his son, actually had three defensive midfielders on the field, while losing 0-1.
Dempsey was invisible again, staying true to his 2008 form. EJ missed a sitter- but didn't look too bad. Edu had a very nice first half but tired late.. Josh Wolff, Frankie Heyduk, Eddie Lewis, ugh..


<sorry, I know this is an MLS thread>

Demsey was in that game? I watched most of it and didn't know that.

The DC-Houston game was abandoned after 15 minutes because there was too much standing water on the field and it wasn't draining fast enough. It had already been delayed 30 minutes because of lightning.

So I'm glad I was too sick to go.
It will be made up at some point, of course.

AG: 2/3rd I think, only 500k of which may be spent on a player. The rest has to be spent on off the field things-marketing, youth academies (hint hint says HQ), etc.

Thanks jefe.

Now when you say "spent on a player", do you mean salary, or acquisition or both? And wwhat's the largest transfer fee an MLS team has ever paid to a non-MLS club?

AG: I believe it's salary, but I recommend you check here for further and better info. particularly pages 6 and after.

For the largest fee MLS paid, I'm not sure. Anything more than$4m on 1 player will shock me. At the beginning of the league, there was something like $10M spent to bring in the first wave of foreign superstars-Campos, Etcheverry, Valderrama, Donadoni and others. I think.

MLS is getting annoyed streamers, by the way, says steve goff. the quote: "streamers are not to be used to impact on-field competition or thrown toward a player, referee or stadium staff member.....Should issues continue regarding the use of streamers, MLS will have no option but to prohibit streamers."

Oh boo-fucking-hoo. Some people can't take corner kicks because there's some kleenex on the ground.

Everyone should grow up.

jefe: back then, it would have been the league paying the transfer fee, right? But what about a cllub paying the fee? It would be a much smaller figure, no?

AG, the problem isn't really the streamers, it was the bottle in with the streamers in Columbus that narrowly missed Steve Ralston. They're trying to avoid the slippery slope.

Back then the league paid the fee, yes, and technically they still do. All the transfers in and out are still routed through HQ, the way the contracts are still with MLS,LLC as opposed to Toronto, DC, etc. The clubs have much more say over acquisitions and some more say over sales now though.

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuciano we love you.

And I continue as reigning champion threadkiller.....

If DC winning 9v10 in Chicago wasn't nuts enough, the reserve match Sunday finished Fire 4-5 DC, after being down 3-0.

Apparently Kevin Payne and Kasey Keller had a little chat at the USA-Argentina game. Oh please god please god please.

And the futsal team (yes we have one) qualified for its World Cup, stomping Panama 7-1 in the CONCACAF semis.

Pretty good goal from Luciano for the win. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.