Donovan will join German giants Bayern Munich in January and is penciled in to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy in mid-March. The move mirrors teammate David Beckham's loan to AC Milan, but unlike Beckham, it is highly likely that the Donovan deal is a precursor to a permanent transfer either to Bayern or another European club.

Blanco has gone to Santos Laguna for the Apertura playoffs in Mexico, giving Mexican fans another chance to see one of their country's all-time greats.

By forcing through his Milan switch, Beckham appears to have set a precedent -- and the floodgates are opening. But is it good for the league? Sure, these players are maintaining their fitness levels and getting match practice during the drawn-out offseason. Yet doesn't it impinge upon the credibility of the league when three of its biggest stars are heading for the hills as soon as the campaign is over?

Share your thoughts on Beckham, Donovan and Blanco below.

Bob Bradley's shuffled squad put together a solid performance to rack up another win and bring an end to the tedious third round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

The most interesting aspect of the 2-0 victory against Guatemala on Wednesday was the attacking combination of Kenny Cooper and Jozy Altidore, which looks like a decent option going forwards. Also, Freddy Adu scored his first ever senior national team goal with a nice free kick as Bradley's men clinched their fifth win in six games.

But looking ahead to the Hexagonal competition next year, where up to four out of the six remaining CONCACAF teams will book a ticket to South Africa, what have we really learned from this U.S. side?

Sure, along with Mexico, the U.S. is the dominant force in its own region. Apart from Mexico, it is hard to see Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador or Costa Rica mounting a serious threat to finish ahead of Bradley's squad in the six-team table.

Yet have there been any real signs that the Americans are capable of challenging for a strong World Cup finish, such as a quarterfinal place?

If the World Cup was to be held now, the U.S. would struggle to get out of the group stages. However, there are still 18 months left -- 18 months for the likes of Adu, Altidore and Michael Bradley to develop.

Share your thoughts on where the U.S. currently stands in the world pecking order below.

One of the greatest, yet most frustrating, careers we have seen in world soccer looks set to come to an end after Ronaldo admitted he is close to retirement.

The Brazilian superstar belongs in elite company as one of the finest players of the last decade thanks to his exploits for Brazil, Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

However, we can only speculate how great he could have been if not for the cruel luck he suffered with injuries. Could he have challenged the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona as one of the best players ever, if not for repeated knee problems that blighted his career?

Some critics ripped into Ronaldo in recent years for struggling to control his weight and accused him of indiscipline and a lack of motivation. Those claims may have some merit, but if this is the end, I will prefer to remember him for his spectacular efforts in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Written off before the tournament, Ronaldo spearheaded Brazil's charge to the title, scoring eight goals including two in the final, all just a couple of years after major knee surgery that had threatened his career.

Share your thoughts on what Ronaldo's legacy will be below.

The recent trend of celebrity ownership in Major League Soccer looks set to continue after the hopeful St. Louis expansion bid joined forces with baseball superstar Albert Pujols.

St. Louis is locked in a fight to be awarded one of the next two expansion franchises for 2011, with the Miami bid (backed by Barcelona) and Montreal also among the frontrunners.

Having Cardinals slugger Pujols, the National League MVP, as a high-profile investor can only help the chances of the consortium put together by local businessman Jeff Cooper.

Increasingly, groups hoping to land a spot in the league are seeing the value in having newsworthy names from other fields involved. Seattle has Drew Carey and Houston has Oscar De La Hoya. Barcelona's teaming with Miami turned that city's bid from an outsider into one of the favorites.

Yahoo! Sports understands the actual financial investment made by Pujols is minor, but his involvement could be a key factor for a bid that until now lacked star power.

Major League Soccer's conference finals offer some unfamiliar faces, with the four remaining teams having a combined total of three trips to the MLS Cup final.

The power would appear to be in the East, where the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire square off in what promises to be an interesting and high-quality battle. But Real Salt Lake and the New York Bulls cannot be discounted as potential champions. They meet in Utah on Saturday.

Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew

The most intriguing subplot in this contest involves Brian McBride and his return to the club where he made his mark in MLS. However, once again it is likely to be Cuauhtemoc Blanco who has the biggest impact on the Fire as they bid for a spot in the Nov. 23 MLS Cup final.

Columbus has put together an outstanding season under Sigi Schmid, but even with the skills of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the Crew could struggle to break down the fortress-like Chicago defense. Expect Blanco's big-game mentality to prove to be the difference in a tense and tactical encounter.

Prediction: Chicago edge Columbus 1-0 with a late winner.

New York Red Bulls at Real Salt Lake

Rio Tinto Stadium is the finest venue in MLS and is a fitting setting for the Western Conference final. But despite the homefield advantage, Real Salt Lake faces a tough task against a confident and in-form New York club.

The Red Bulls were superb in defeating two-time defending champion Houston Dynamo in the semifinals, as Juan Pablo Angel and Dane Richards hit form at just the right time. Expect New York to come out on top in an open and entertaining game.

Prediction: Red Bulls win 3-1.

The UEFA Champions League is the most exciting club competition in world soccer, but that doesn't stop occasional mismatches from popping up on the schedule.

This week's action features two such contests, as Barcelona hosts Swiss side FC Basel and Fenerbahce travels to London to take on Arsenal.

Barca hammered Basel 5-0 away from home on Matchday 3 and they will be looking for a similar result at the Camp Nou on Tuesday. The Spanish giants have collected a maximum nine points so far, with Basel amassing the princely sum of zero.

On Wednesday, Arsenal will be looking to put last weekend's embarrassing defeat at Stoke City behind them against one of the weakest teams in the tournament.

Fenerbahce rely heavily on Brazilian star Alex, who will likely miss Wednesday's game due to a thigh strain. So there is little to suggest the Turkish side can improve on their 5-2 home defeat to the Gunners a fortnight ago.

Head coaches love trotting out the old cliche of "there are no easy games at this level." Sometimes, though, there are.

The first round of the MLS Cup playoffs begin Thursday and it features some interesting matchups. Selecting winners in this wide-open league is always fraught with danger, although the established order of the regular season should hold sway over the next week.

Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution

The Fire beat the Revs on all three occasions they met this season and there is no reason to pick against them now. Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston will be sorely missed, while the addition of Brian McBride has added extra fuel to the Fire. Chicago's defense has been mean all season and it is hard to see New England breaking them down. Expect a tight first leg at Foxboro before the Fire go through with a comfortable home win.

Prediction: Blanco and McBride step up and put the Fire into the conference finals.

Columbus Crew vs. Kansas City Wizards

The Crew could find things tough against K.C., which has been in great form over the closing weeks of the regular season. However, Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the biggest X-factor in the league and will surely be in no mood to see his regular season efforts go to waste. Columbus won 11 of 15 games at home and the Wizards will likely need to pull off one of their best performances of the season to have a chance of an upset. Jack Jewsbury could be given the task of shutting down Schelotto – but that's easier said than done.

Prediction: The Crew advance with a strong home win in the second leg.

Houston Dynamo vs. New York Red Bulls

Dominic Kinnear and his Dynamo will probably get knocked out of the MLS Cup playoffs one day, but it shouldn't happen here. Houston looks to be too strong in all departments, having once again clicked at just the right time. Kinnear is an expert tactician, yet his greatest strength has been in unifying his players into perhaps the tightest-knit group in the league. Juan Pablo Angel will look to help the Red Bulls go a step further than last year, though New York would appear to lack the depth to mount a serious Cup challenge.

Prediction: Victories for the Dynamo in both legs will keep them on course for three titles in a row.

Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake

Chivas's excellent run in 2007 deserved better than a first-round playoff exit with an injury-depleted side. Preki has again put together an impressive campaign with his solid, if unspectacular, group and Chivas looks in better shape for a deep run this time around. RSL travels poorly and may need a comfortable win at Rio Tinto Stadium to take to California. The lack of playoff experience could count against it unless Javier Morales can lift the team on his shoulders one more time.

Prediction: Narrow first leg win for RSL won't be enough as Chivas overturns the deficit at the Home Depot Center.

Diego Maradona deserves huge credit for the way he has bounced back from drug addiction and weight gain and gotten his life into better order.

However, if, as expected, he is appointed as the new head coach of the Argentina national team this week, it must still go down as one of the most surprising stories of the year.

Ever since he was introduced to cocaine in the 1980s, Maradona has been one of soccer's most controversial characters. For a spell during the middle part of this decade, it appeared as though his various lifestyle problems would drive him into an early and tragic grave.

While it is wonderful to see the slimmed-down version of arguably the greatest player ever in a better state of mental and physical condition, there must be concerns about his suitability for the Argentina job.

There will be fears that the high level of pressure and scrutiny of the position could inflame the addictive side of his personality and that his drug dependency could resurface. Even ignoring those potential issues, the 47-year-old would still be a strange choice to replace Alfio Basile, who resigned after a string of disappointing results in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Maradona has had only two brief and unspectacular forays into coaching with Deportivo Mandiyu and Racing Club. Much could depend on the experience and know-how of the men brought in around him as assistants. His best chance of revitalizing Argentina's fortunes is by using his personality and iconic status to inspire his players and mobilize a wave of public support behind the squad.

Many of Maradona's personal problems were self-inflicted and he has made some severe errors of judgment. Yet if he gets the green light as national team coach, it would be hard not to wish success to the man whose extraordinary exploits in the 1986 World Cup single-handedly gave Argentina the title – and himself an eternal place in soccer folklore.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"I would like Maradona to be our next coach."

Noray Nakis, president of the Argentinean FA selection committee.

Freddie Ljungberg became Major League Soccer's latest designated player on Tuesday after being unveiled as the marquee signing for the new Seattle Sounders FC franchise.

The Swedish midfielder parted company with West Ham after a difficult one-year stint, which followed nine prolific seasons with Arsenal.

Ljungberg raised some interesting topics while addressing the U.S. media and, although you don't get any points for impressing in news conferences, there are several reasons why I believe he can have an impact in MLS.

• Ljungberg retired from international soccer after Euro 2008, meaning there should be none of the disruption similar to that the Los Angeles Galaxy have suffered with David Beckham.

• Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has previously described Ljungberg as one of the best prepared players he has ever coached. The 31-year-old has already ordered several DVDs of MLS games in order to analyze his opponents ahead of next season.

• He comes in with his eyes open. "I am not disrespecting anyone but I realize the level is not going to be as high as in the Premier League," Ljungberg said. "I must accept that and adapt to it – and not get frustrated or annoyed. I want to give 100 percent and also help the players around me to be as good as they can be."

• Sounders FC has not played a single MLS game yet but is already impressing many around the league with its level of commitment and preparation. Chiefs Joe Roth and Adrian Hanauer appreciate the importance of having Ljungberg settle in quickly and are prepared to do everything in their power to ensure a smooth transition, on and off the field.

Ljungberg's success all really depends on his fitness. He has been plagued by several injuries in recent seasons, part of the reason why several European clubs passed on him following his release from West Ham. If he does stay healthy, though, Seattle could have a bargain, even at an estimated $2.5 million per season.

CARSON, Calif. – David Beckham broke his silence on his likely loan move to AC Milan at the Home Depot Center on Saturday, but the most revealing words actually came from his Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan.

Beckham addressed the assembled media in predictable fashion, spelling out how his desire to switch temporarily to Serie A was motivated simply by a desire to stay sharp during the long MLS offseason.

The 33-year-old midfielder is a long way removed from the shy young man who blustered his way through interviews early in his career – and he makes his point well. However, all his slick talking and positive spin can not disguise the fact that his actions have caused disruption to the Galaxy and will continue to do so.

Before Beckham was surrounded by journalists and camera crews, Donovan spoke briefly to a small collection of local journalists and gave an indication of the level of frustration with Beckham that exists in the L.A. locker room.

When I asked him if the timing of Beckham's announcement was unfortunate and could have been handled better, Donovan replied: "Candidly, yes."

"It doesn't make it much better or much worse," Donovan added, "but it would have been nice to have waited."

Donovan himself is leaving it until after the Galaxy's final game of the season on Sunday to address his own future in Los Angeles.

Beckham's excitement at spending two months in Serie A is understandable. Yet the way he has shown little regard for how he is affecting his employers and teammates reflects poorly upon his character.

As for his argument that playing for up to 11 straight months – two in Italy followed by the 2009 MLS season – will be no problem as he is accustomed to having little rest between seasons, he needs to remember he is heading towards the twilight of his career and does not have the same sap in his legs as he once did.

This week's UEFA Champions League matches represent the midway point of the group stage, but already the competition is starting to take a familiar shape.

By Thursday morning, many of the eight groups could be some way towards being decided, with few exceptions, along predictable lines.

Some of the biggest clubs in world soccer can effectively book their place in the last 16 if they win on Tuesday or Wednesday. Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all in strong shape to take a big step towards the knockout phase.

Most confident of all should be Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan, after they scored a combined 13 goals to nil in domestic action last weekend. Chelsea takes on an AS Roma side in the midst of a miserable run, United hosts Scottish champions Celtic, and Inter welcomes Anorthosis Famagusta, the surprise from Cyprus that has done a magnificent job so far but will surely be outgunned in Milan.

There is still room for outsiders such as Cluj (from Romania) and Anorthosis to break into the last 16, but in the main part, expect the established order to reign in this season's Champions League.

FC Barcelona's attempt to grab a piece of the Major League Soccer market in Miami should be treated with delight and suspicion in equal measure.

It is clearly great news for North American soccer for one of the world's most famous and successful clubs to want to get involved. However, there must be caution about the plan to strike up a franchise in Miami, where the Fusion folded back in 2001.

With exception of the NFL Dolphins, professional sports have struggled to gain widespread support in the Miami market. Even with the changing demographics of the city, with a big recent increase in South American and Caribbean immigrants, an MLS team would be a tough sell. And for diehard sports fans, the choice between South Beach and a game of soccer on a sweltering summer's day is a fairly simple one.

Barca is serious about its bid though and wants to be involved in MLS as soon as 2010, although 2011 would be far more likely. Club president Joan Laporta is a man used to getting his own way, both in business and soccer politics. With Barca's pockets more than deep enough to meet the expansion fee of around $45 million and a respected business partner in Bolivian Marcelo Claure, it is hard to see MLS turning down the prospect of teaming up with the Catalan giants.

But that doesn't mean it will be a giant success.

Gullit struggled to grasp a full understanding of soccer Stateside during his brief tenure in California and his comments at a training event on Monday were also misguided.

Talking about David Beckham, Gullit said: "David is more than just a football player and I think he does extremely well to give football here a lift. But I doubt if they (U.S. soccer organizers) really want that. I think they are afraid of football because it's so popular everywhere around the world. I think they will just control it so it doesn't become more popular than their American sports."

Gullit's claim that there is some form of conspiracy, either in U.S. soccer or American sports in general, to restrict the sport's popularity is nonsensical. To suggest that the sport's rulers themselves would impinge upon soccer's progress in an utterly self-defeating manner shows just how little understanding Gullit actually acquired while with the Galaxy.

As for other sports ganging up on soccer to ensure it does not threaten the established order, that day is a long way away. At present, NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball are so far ahead in terms of popularity that it is hard to imagine them losing too much sleep worrying about being overtaken by soccer any time soon.

The real challenges facing Beckham as he moves toward the midpoint of his stay in L.A. will be trying to find a way to turn the Galaxy into a competitive team instead of seeing them languish as one of MLS's worst sides. The only way for him to make a major imprint on the psyche of the American sports fan would be to spearhead a charge for the MLS Cup, something he has been unable to get close to over the past two seasons.

His performance level with L.A. has dropped off this campaign, and unless there is drastic improvement in 2009, there will be more ammunition for the critics who claim his career is entering a terminal decline.

A club's success can often be determined by its ability to flex its muscles in soccer's political playground and Real Madrid do it better than most.

However, as the tug-of-war between the Spanish giants and Manchester United over Cristiano Ronaldo recommences, action must be taken to curb Real's flagrant attempts to unsettle the player.

Real coach Bernd Schuster sparked more friction between the clubs over the weekend by claiming it is only a matter of time before Ronaldo moves to Madrid.

"Manchester United are going to find it very difficult to retain Cristiano next summer," Schuster said. "He's full of pride about the idea of coming to Real Madrid. We are full of hope we'll sign him next season.

"He has to be my No. 1 priority. I'll expect Real to do everything in its power to bring me Cristiano. The meetings we held were really positive because the player was genuinely interested in signing for us."

The issue of Ronaldo's possible move to the Bernabeu rumbled on for much of the summer, with him eventually remaining with United after the clubs failed to reach an agreement. But Real was never going to give up that easily and is determined to keep the pressure on United.

Yet Schuster must not be allowed to get away with such direct comments about what has become an explosive situation. FIFA rules clearly forbid proclamations such as this about another team's player and punishment should be meted out swiftly and harshly.

In these troubled times where interest rates and stock fluctuations are discussed in the court of public opinion with as much scrutiny as the box scores, it was only a matter of time before the credit crunch and soccer were debated on the same agenda.

The Leaders in Football summit at Stamford Bridge this week featured an intriguing showdown between Lord Triesman, chairman of the Football Association, and English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.

Triesman argued for tighter regulations and more in-depth checks upon foreign owners, insisting that the global financial difficulties left teams in greater danger of hardship if a buyer's credentials were not properly examined. He also claimed that English clubs carry total debts in excess of $5 billion dollars, a third of which comes from the Big Four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Yet while it is those big names that will catch the eye of the public, the real danger does not lie at the top of the English game. Instead, it is the smaller clubs in lower leagues that could be in peril, as consumer spending cuts back and that £300 season ticket doesn't seem like such good value any more.

Forget about there being major headaches at the likes of United. Sure, the Glazer family borrowed heavily in order to purchase the club, but those debts are secured by future earnings that are unlikely to drop.

Television rights deals worth billions and stretching on for several years are in place – precisely why Premier League ownership was such an attractive position for these savvy businessmen in the first place.

Furthermore, the real cost of borrowing fell around the world on Tuesday, with many central banks slashing interest rates. More cuts are expected to follow.

While foreign ownership is not to the taste of many in England, for some clubs it is the best way out of financial difficulty. As long as the buyers satisfy the necessary criteria of integrity and solvency, the pros outweigh the cons.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"The FA themselves know about all these things because they are one of the most indebted organizations in the world."

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.

The decision to award Euro 2012 to Poland and Ukraine continues to look ever more foolish as political issues overshadow the event.

Poland's status as hosts was plunged into major doubt when its national football association was suspended by the Polish government and an administrator put into place.

FIFA and UEFA received documents on Monday suggesting the Polish FA board would be reinstated, but there is still a long way to go before soccer fans hoping for another successful European Championship can breathe easy.

Ironically, the selection of Poland and Ukraine itself was largely spawned by political factors.

Italy was by far the most sensible choice to host the tournament, yet was denied as it was felt awarding them hosting rights so soon after the Italian match-fixing scandal would send the wrong message. However, the current situation is potentially far more damaging.

Poland and Ukraine have already fallen behind certain deadlines regarding the readiness of venues and since it is unclear who is really running Polish football, there is no one to pin responsibility. UEFA should strip Euro 2012 away from Poland and allow a nation with a proper administrative structure to step in.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"It's extremely difficult to organize the Euros in Poland and Ukraine. If we made them stick to the commitments they signed in April 2007, they would be in trouble, terrible trouble, already. We've done absolutely everything and more to make sure they can organize it, and the first thing they do is deceive our trust and go back on a commitment they made a year and a half ago to FIFA."

FIFA spokesman William Gaillard on the problems surrounding Euro 2012. 

Just when you thought the crisis engulfing Newcastle United couldn't get any worse, interim manager Joe Kinnear ensured the proud English Premier League club made the headlines for all the wrong reasons once more.

Kinnear was a bizarre choice to fill the breach left by Kevin Keegan's departure, although it was hoped he could provide a safe pair of hands to guide the team through a tough period. Instead, he heaped more embarrassment on the club and the city with a disgraceful, expletive-laced rant at reporters.

Kinnear incredibly used 52 cuss words as he vented his anger at the way his appointment had been reported. The main man in his line of fire was the Daily Mirror's northeast correspondent Simon Bird, with Niall Hickman of the Daily Express also copping some flak.

I worked with Bird at the Daily Mirror for several years and he remains a friend of mine, so maybe my take on this issue is somewhat biased. But I stand by my conviction that Bird is far better as a journalist than Kinnear will ever be as a manager. In my experience, Bird is a man of character who takes an even-handed approach to his profession.

Kinnear has every right to take issue with journalists if he feels slighted. The weekly press conference is a perfect forum for such an exchange. But Kinnear got it totally wrong by launching into such a vitriolic attack and showed a definite lack of class as an individual with his foul language.

Furthermore, he must shoulder the blame for the way the humiliating audio footage has now been beamed around the world.

Bird, Hickman and the other reporters present were happy to make that part of the conversation "off the record," meaning it would not be published. However, Kinnear refused to listen to reason.

Instead of calming down and discussing his grievances in a grown-up manner he instead told the scribes to "write what you (expletive) want." So they did. And the upshot is that the magnificent, loyal and patient fans who bleed Newcastle black and white must once again suffer as the laughing stock of the league.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"He is a coach? I don't know him. I am a man of peace."

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari when shown a picture of Joe Kinnear.

There is only one American investor that English Premier League fans want to know about right now -- but it's not Malcolm Glazer, Randy Lerner, Tom Hicks, George Gillett or Stan Kroenke.

Reclusive Texan Ellis Short, head of Lone Star Funds, was revealed this past week as having snapped up a 30 percent stake in Sunderland, sparking a clamor for information on the latest Stateside business heavyweight to wade into EPL waters.

Short appears to have moved in on Sunderland as an opportunist measure, as he does not have big league sports investing experience like Glazer and company. However, he is expected to remain out of the spotlight as much as possible in line with his policy in his other business dealings.

Sunderland fans won't care too much, though. In this new era of money madness, all any club wants is to be bought by a mega-wealthy owner as it is the only way to keep up with the top clubs.

Short may not say much and he might have annoyed the South Korean government a couple of years ago. But as long as he puts his hand in his pocket for new players, he will fare well in the popularity stakes.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"We are keeping our fingers crossed. Let's say the best-case scenario is that it would be a wonderful game."

Real Salt Lake president Bill Manning on the prospect of an exhibition against Real Madrid once Rio Tinto Stadium is opened.

Just a few months into Jose Mourinho's tenure with Inter Milan, the Italian media is already deciding he is not so special after all.

The self-appointed Special One refused to turn up for a press conference following his team's 1-0 home victory over Lecce on Wednesday, prompting fury from the press corps.

Mourinho made a habit of skipping questions after matches during his time with Chelsea, often sending assistant Steve Clarke in his place. However, the same trick plunged him into a storm of controversy in Serie A, where the public and media demand head coaches explain their tactical decisions after every match.

Mourinho would be well-served to think long and hard about his decision, as the Italian press is incredibly powerful when it comes to top-flight soccer. While he has always done things in his own inimitable way, it would do no good whatsoever to make such a strong enemy at this stage.

He needs to step up, face any flak coming his way and get on with the job of being one of the best managers in the business.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"Obviously we are a little bit behind the 8-ball. Likely we need to win three games if we are going to have a chance. I feel confident we are going to make a great effort to get there."

Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena on his team's playoff chances after its 3-1 loss to the Chicago Fire on Thursday.

Major League Soccer's two highest-paid players go head-to-head on Thursday night with much to play for.

David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy is miraculously back in the playoff mix following its 5-2 victory over D.C. United last week, despite not having won in its previous 12 games. But those postseason ambitions could quickly dwindle once again as the Galaxy faces the first of three remaining road games against the Chicago Fire and Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Visits to the Windy City, Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew and the defending champion Houston Dynamo mean the Galaxy's run-in is one of the most challenging of all the postseason chasers. Realistically, Bruce Arena's team needs at least a point against the Fire to maintain the tiny bit of momentum built up against United.

Since the two high-profile stars arrived in the league, Blanco has had a bigger impact on the field, leading Chicago to the Eastern Conference finals last year. If Blanco and the Fire top L.A. again, just like they did in the final game of the 2007 regular season, it could be the end of the Galaxy's playoff dream.

Keys to the contest:

• Blanco – The Galaxy has found the ageing maestro hard to handle every time it has faced him. Blanco always saves his best for the big games and knows all eyes will be trained on his matchup with Beckham.

• The L.A. defense – The most ineffective prevention system in the league will be tested to the max against Blanco and Brian McBride at Toyota Park. Unless Arena can somehow add some steeliness to his backline, this one could get ugly for the visitors.

• Beckham – The Galaxy needs to control central midfield and Beckham should be used in that position to win possession and set up runs for Landon Donovan. If Arena chooses to start him on the right, Beckham could become marginalized and the Fire could dominate possession.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"It was the first time I didn't win anything with Chelsea – and I could not leave that way."

Didier Drogba on why he shunned a move to Inter Milan this summer.

The English Premier League is set for yet more American influence as billionaire Stan Kroenke moves closer towards control of Arsenal.

When Kroenke's interest in the club was first revealed, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood pompously announced that "his sort" were not welcome. However, after increasing his share to 12.38 percent and being invited onto the board last week, the St Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche owner is likely to be the man who has most influence on the north London club moving forwards.

Kroenke has benefited from concerns among Arsenal directors concerning Russian Alisher Usmanov, who has got his hands on nearly 25 percent and is still buying any new shares that come on to the market.

Even so, this report by the Guardian's Matt Scott claims Usmanov is willing to step aside and be a silent partner, with Kroenke making most of the big financial decisions.

Kroenke is understood to be ready to spend big in the transfer market.

The profit-sharing system in the EPL is based on a staggered method that rewards success, rather than the principle of equality used in the NFL. If Arsenal continues to shine both domestically and in the Champions League, then the club's current valuation of around $1.5 billion could prove to be a bargain.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"When you bring in someone new you obviously hope and expect them to do well, but Darren has even surpassed what we thought he could do."

San Jose Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop on Darren Huckerby, the signing that has turned around the club's season.

"The team is still the same. We're not against each other at all. The situation is your relationship with UFC. I only know mine. They've take care of me in the past and I've taken care of them."

Swick is sporting a pretty impressive insane man look. But he's got a way to go to reach Dustin Hazelett level with the beard. His comments about the upcoming Jonathan Goulet fight are interesting. This is a make or break fight for Swick, who is looking to carve out a name at 170 lbs.

Couture says she's come a long way since her brutal loss to Kim Rose back in June:

"Honestly it was the best thing that couldn't happened in my career. Now i kind of feel like a caged tiger. I want to go in there and impose my will."

Couture mentioned that she was screwed from the start of the fight when Rose cracked her with a huge right hand that had her on queer street for the remainder of the fight. She never got her equillibrium back.

If anything, she's resilient. Couture has that in common with her husband, who she says hasn't once mentioned retirement since the loss to Lesnar. UFC color analyst Joe Rogan painted a picture of doom in the cage last Saturday implying that it could be the end of the road for the 45-year old.

"I don't even know where that came from," said Couture. "I thought he did a fantastic job. He stuck to the gameplan and controlled him that first round. There were a couple of times he had him up and was ready to dump him on his head which I think would've had a big impact on that fight."

Click below to listen to Couture talk about her career and husband Randy (ESPNRadio1100 w/Cofield & Cokin):

Lesnar won the fight in devastating fashion but Couture, just like her husband, is still unwilling to give him too much credit:

"I gained a new appreciation for how big he is. It's definitely going to play in his favor. If he's smart and keeps working at it, putting that skill behind that, it's gonna be a big advantage. (Randy) said he didn't feel too strong or too heavy. I'd love to see the rematch."

Couture talked about the way Lesnar handled himself after the victory. She feared that he would act like a jackass but he didn't. There were also no complaints behind the scenes about Lesnar grabbing the cage on a few occasions or throwing illegal hammerfists to the back of Randy's head.

Couture did get into the Gina Carano to the WEC story as well.

"I think she's definitely interested. I think that would be fantastic. It would be a big draw. She realizes that the interest is there to see her fight Cyborg. There's no other options (aside from WEC)."

Couture did mention Strikeforce but it sounded like the lack of live television aside from HDNet would hurt Strikeforce's chances to land Carano. No surprise, Couture did not throw out Affliction as a possibility for Carano.

MMARated's Ariel Helwani caught up with Fitch at American Kick Boxing Academy in San Jose before tonight's Strikeforce event. The smirk on Fitch's face tells you what kind of day it was:

"It was never even about the agreement or the contract. It was the approach we felt that Dana (White) was a little hot-headed and threatening us right off the bat. It didn't seem like a professional way to do things."

Fitch paints a picture portraying UFC president Dana White as the root of the problem in the squabble and that owner Lorenzo Fertitta was the voice of reason. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports told ESPNRadio1100 in a radio interview on Thursday that during a telephone interview with White on Wednesday, Fertitta was just as impassioned and could be heard in the background backing strongly exactly what the very angry White was saying about Fitch.

I wish I could explain Dana White's decision to cut not just Jon Fitch, but ties with American Kickboxing Academy. It makes no sense to me, and it may rid the UFC of some great fighters, not only in Fitch, but possibly in Cain Velasquez and Josh Koscheck. I can't fathom why they can't get together on a contract, so I won't try to explain it. Instead, let's take a look back at one of Fitch's funniest interview. He tells us how cutting weight can affect his manhood and why fighters tug on their shorts before weighing in. The language is not safe for work.

In a surprisingly good episode of the Ultimate Fighter, we get to see a good fight, some training and why you don't mess with a man's cereal.

When discussing Krzystof's (heretofore to be known as K) win over Kyle Kingsbury, Junie Browning says that his sister could have caught Kyle in an arm bar. That might be true, but since going off the sauce, Junie sure has become a grump. Going into the final first round fight, Mir has four guys still alie, and Nog has three. John "the Hugger" Polakowski and George Roop are next to decide the last fighter to move on.

Junie calls John nuts. Pot. Kettle. Anyway, John says that he likes to give long hugs and really let people now how he feels. He also had Efrain do a painting that says "Fire the Cannons" to get himself worked up for the fight. Whatever works for you, John.

Roop is a classic, skinny white boy who learned to fight to defend himself. (See McCrory, Tamdan.) Roop's right hand got twisted up in training and he is having trouble making a fist. That's not good news.

When John eats his breakfast in the morning, he notices that all of his marshmallows are missing from the Lucky Charms. He is pissed. He's right. You don't mess with a man's Lucky Charms. Though he is the nicest guy in the house, he won't let this go. He won't even give anyone on Team Mir a hug! Nog says that on the inside, John is a mean guy. Apparently, that only shows up when you mess with his breakfast.

Roop's hand is a huge concern. He's constantly icing it, but it's still frighteningly swollen. Mir and the other coaches are training Roop to avoid using his right hand. Roop seems willing to fight with his hand blown up like a balloon.

At the weigh-in, John tries to give Mir a hug. Mir seems a little annoyed. I can see why Nog gets along with John, because they're two of the most genial guys ever to be on TUF. At the house, Nog talks smack to Roop, but it is the most fun-loving smack ever spoken. Roop and John even hug the night before the fight. Awww.

They hug again when they go in to touch gloves! Then they start punching eachother in the face. After some stand-up where Roop's hand isn't a factor, he easily takes John down and works some quick ground and pound. John is slippery, and keeps moving around. Roop is dominating, but John is hanging on. Roop gets John's back but can't do anything with it, so John reverses and is on top. It turns to a ground and pound war, with both fighters landing punches. First round over.

In between rounds, John asks if he won the first round. His corner lies to him and said "Oh yeah."

John comes out much more aggressively in this round, landing a few damaging punches to start the round. Nog yells for John to knock him out. That doesn't seem very helpful. Roop takes John down and throws some big home run punches. Roop takes John back, and tries to flatten him out for a rear naked choke but John is defending well. This round goes to John, in my opinion, because John's defense is so good. Third round?

Nope. George Roop is the winner. Dana White thinks the fight should have gone to the third round, and so do I. John takes it well, and says that he shouldn't have left it in the hand of the judges. Now Mir has five in the next round, and Nog has three. Back at the house, some of guys let loose by throwing eggs at Junie. Junie does the really smart thing and tries to catch the eggs. When they splatter all over him, he gets angry. John has a solution -- shots for peace! Everyone, drink!

When deciding on the next round fights, K and Eliot want Bader, Bader wants Eliot, and Vinny wants K. Phillipe wants Roop, Roop wants Phillipe but thinks Junie is the weakest, Junie wants Efrain, Efrain wants Junie. This will be easy to make these match-ups. The match-ups are Bader vs. Eliot, Phillipe vs. Roop, K vs. Vinny and Junie vs. Efrain. That will air on Dec. 3 in back-to-back episodes.

Nice guys finish last award: John Polakowski, the hugger.

Mr. Facetime (Achievement in being sure to get as much camera time as possible): Junie Browning

Best Product Placement Award: Lucky Charms. It might have been unintentional, but Lucky Charms got a ton of exposure due to John's meltdown over his missing marshmallows. 

Generally making money and kicking ass is more than enough to drive the average mixed martial artist. Dustin Hazelett is cut from a different cloth. The 22-year Kentucky native wants to set a standard for submission experts, fight for the oppressed and get some new sponsors.

Yahoo! Sports caught up with Hazelett where he went in depth on the artistry of the submission, in particular the phenomenon of the omoplata:

"One of the beautiful things about jiu-jitsu is that you start working on concepts once you get past a certain point. You have to have your basic armbar, your basic triangle and your basic omoplata. Once you get those moves down you can start doing your own things. That's one of the things I love about jiu-jitsu because you take what works and do it."

Click below to listen to Hazelett interview (ESPNRadio1100 w/Cofield and NBC's Mike Chiapetta):

Hazelett also said that as a fellow nerd-type, he felt bad beating Tamdan McCrory at UFC 91, because he knows what it was like being bullied as a kid growing up. "McLovin" touches on the future of "the beard" as well. UFC color analyst Joe Rogan went ballistic over Hazelett's Kimbo Slice-like facial hair at the UFC 91 weigh-in. Hazelett said that he is considering going with the Rollie Fingers-like handlebar mustache next time out if he can get some sponsor backing.

If you're a hardcore or just learning about the sport make sure you listen to Hazelett talk about the omoplata conceptually. He gives a nice explanation of why many fighters like the move and why some fans don't fully understand its finishing potential. The guy knows what he's talking about since he's raked in $105,000 in UFC Submission of the Night bonuses.  

During a media day workout for Manny Pacquiao on Monday, duBoef questioned the safety of MMA based upon the finish of the Brock Lesnar-Randy Couture heavyweight title fight on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Lesnar knocked Couture down with a right to the back of the ear and then finished him with a series of blows on the ground.

That caused duBoef to question the widely held belief that MMA is a safer sport than boxing in an interview with the Times' Lance Pugmire.

"When I see stuff like that, it looks like nothing more than a Toughman contest," duBoef told Pugmire. "There's no way it's safer than boxing."

Au contraire, Mr. President.

The UFC was founded in 1993 and began the modern era of MMA. Since that time, there have been two deaths in MMA competition. Douglas Dedge died on March 18, 1998, from injuries sustained in a fight on an unregulated card in Kiev, Ukraine, two days earlier. And in 2007, Sam Vasquez died on Nov. 30, 2007, from injuries sustained in an Oct. 20 fight in Houston.

The Journal of Combative Sport has documented 71 deaths since 1993 in boxing, including several from shows that Top Rank promoted.

DuBoef's comments did not escape the notice of UFC president Dana White, who ripped him upon reading the Times story.

"What Todd duBoef said the other day in the L.A. Times, this is the same Todd duBoef who got the free tickets from me to be at that event that night," White said. "He said that the Randy Couture stoppage proves that boxing is much safer than MMA. [Top Rank chairman] Bob Arum is 95 years old and senile, when he says crazy [expletive] you know, it goes over your head because you expect it from him. Bob has been saying crazy [expletive] since Day 1. But Todd duBoef? What does Todd duBoef know about MMA?

"I have a study from Johns Hopkins that proves that MMA is safer than boxing. Todd duBoef ought to stick to what it is he knows, but I don't know what that is. He's Bob Arum's stepson and that's how he got that job at Top Rank. This is insane. Bob Arum's stepson commenting on MMA safety? He doesn't know what he is talking about. I don't know what he knows, but whatever it is, he ought to stick to that."

The Johns Hopkins' study White referenced was published in the July 2006 edition of the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

In it, it makes several references to the fact that MMA is a safer sport with fewer traumatic brain injuries than in boxing.

"With MMA competitions, the opportunity to attack the extremities with arm bars and leg locks and the possibility of extended periods of grappling could serve to lessen the risk of traumatic brain injury," the article noted.

In its conclusions, it noted that "Knockout rates are lower in MMA competitions than in boxing. This suggests a reduced risk of TBI (traumatic brain injury) in MMA competitions when compared to other events involving striking."

For a guy who's looking to make top shelf money as a fighter, his negotiating stance stinks. A while back we compared Ortiz's plight to that of Barry Bonds. Bonds' agent actually said in the middle of last season that he would take the MLB minimum. Would Ortiz come back if he wasn't making in excess of $200k per fight?

Yahoo! Sports caught up with "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" around UFC 91 in Las Vegas to talk about his health and future.

His strange odyssey puts him in a sad group of athletes who have wasted their talents. The gifted running back Ricky Williams retired from the NFL rather than face a suspension for marijuana use. Maurice Clarett descended quickly from a top prospect to Grey Goose-guzzling, unemployed football player. Denny McLain, the Detroit pitcher who was the last to win 30 games, watched a career fizzle after becoming too close with organized crime figures. The list goes on and on.

Hopefully, Filho will get some help and be able to come back to mixed martial arts as he could truly make some waves. The names above haven't completely ended in sad stories. Williams is back in the league and has 437 yards this season for the Dolphins. Time away from the sport may help Filho, just as it has done for Williams.

This gives me a little perspective on why a fighter might not be able to hold on for just a few more seconds when in a choke. It also gives me perspective on why I will run the other way if Frank Shamrock is walking in my direction.

Now, his shirt is in the clearance bin at MMAWarehouse.com. Ouch. Get El Matador's shirt for just $9.99.

Image via MMA Warehouse

"Gina Carano is a star, I think she's talented. I think she's got all the tools, so what I'm willing to do is bring Gina into the WEC. We could do fights whenever there's a challenger for Gina. That's how I'll test the waters and see how it goes."

In the past, White has consistently said that he wasn't interested in promoting female MMA:

"I'm not a huge fan of women fighting. Period. Not to say that I don't acknowledge that there are amazing female athletes out there in every sport. I just think right now we had a hard enough time getting over the stigma of the men"

This could be a huge boost for Carano and the WEC. She gets to continue fighting on free television on Versus and the WEC could see a nice ratings boost.

Carano's previous promoter, EliteXC went out of business three weeks ago. Unless there's some unforeseen legal hurdles, Carano is a free agent. On CBS, she was a ratings monsters drawing a combined 10 million-plus viewers in two fights against Kaitlin Young and Kelly Kobold that ranked amongst the top 10 highest viewed fights in mixed martial arts history.

White comments on a possible Silva v. GSP fight around the six minute mark.

Penn will not get a shot at Silva if he wins. He also refused to comment on Kenny Florian's comments in the cage and during the ESPNRadio1100 UFC 91 post-fight show. The Hawaiian did tell Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press that he wants to fight Matt Hughes after he beats GSP:

"Did anyone ever kick your ass before and you got pissed off about it?" he said when asked why.  

White also mentioned that the UFC will return to Montreal in March or April of 2009. It's more likely to be April with Columbus tentatively slated to get a return date on Mar. 7 during The Arnold Classic.

Tip from MMARated.com

A layoff like this is not odd for Florian. After choking out Din Thomas in September of 2007, he didn't fight again until he TKO'ed Joe Lauzon in April of this year. He had no trouble shaking off the cage rust and winning, and then going on to two great wins -- a decision against Roger Huerta and Saturday's win over Stevenson --  later this year.

Fans, on the other hand, aren't quite as patient. One blogger thinks that the title fight will not happen because the UFC will force Florian into a fight before his bout with Penn. Posters at different forums discussing the UFC agree. And what happens if Penn beats GSP? Will he face the top welterweight challenger, Thiago Alves, or Florian first? No matter what happens, the "superfight" between Penn and GSP will affect many other fighters, especially Florian.

What's worse than that? How about Kimbo Slice, coming off a 14 second KO loss, saying he wants to try boxing too. Kimbo told Dan LeBatard last week he's ready to crossover.

Slice entering boxing really wouldn't be that bad since we know that he's a bit of a circus act. For Silva, one of MMA's best, the attempt at boxing is a lose-lose proposition. If he gets destroyed by someone like Jones, he and mixed martial arts are a laughingstock. And since the 39-year old Jones Jr. was just smashed by Joe Calzaghe, what does a victory really do for Silva?

Click below to hear Kimbo boxing comments (790 The Ticket):

Silva says he walks around at 230 lbs. and Kimbo weighs in for his fights around 235, so let's match up the two boxing wannabes to battle it out wearing the big gloves.

Make sure to listen to the entire Kimbo interview on 790 The Ticket. In spite of his obvious deficiencies as a legit fighter, Slice comes off once again as a very genuine and likeable guy.

Ricky Hatton gets it. The guy is a media darling in the U.K. Proof positive will come this week when several thousand of his followers make the trek to Las Vegas in a terrible economy for his fight against Paulie Malignaggi. He's also smart enough to see the handwriting on the wall with the UFC.

"The Hitman" was in attendance this past weekend at UFC 91 and met with B.J. Penn. He also popped off a great line to The Sun about how scary Brock Lesnar is:

"Brock's a big bloke, isn't he? If you found him in bed with your girlfriend you'd tuck him in!" 

Hatton did something so few folks in boxing are willing to and that's admit the sport needs to steal some things from MMA:

"Boxing can learn so much from MMA. The presentation really is first class. The UFC do so much more to build the atmosphere up for the fans in the arena before the fights. By the time the fight comes on you are really ready for it - you can't wait."

From top-to-bottom, the recent Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. card could down as the worst major boxing cards ever. Hatton says boxing needs to stack its cards more often:

"The whole of UFC 91 was great - not just the main event - and rather than boxing ignore it or pretend it isn't as big as it is, it should take a leaf out of the UFC's book and start getting the crowd more involved with the show. The UFC has big screens all around the arena with pre-fight interviews on before the fight - why can't boxing promoters in the UK do something like that?"

The UFC has been doing this stuff for at least six years and boxing has stubbornly resisted getting with the times. Boxing fans can argue all they want but all you need to see is that a very hyped fight like Calzaghe-Jones Jr. did just 225,000 pay-per-view buys to understand there's trouble on the horizon.

Photo via The Sun

Mixed martial arts has experienced an explosion of popularity in the past few years, and that has reached children and teenagers. Many gyms now offer youth training. Xtreme Couture has a kids club that meets three times a week at its Las Vegas location, and Overtime MMA in Naperville, Ill. gives a special rate for children. Now, MMA has a home at a high school in Winchester, Mass.

Winchester High School has a mixed martial arts club run by students. The group meets a few times a week, has guest instructors that help out from time to time and is financed due to the fund raising of an industrious senior. The school will not let students hit each other in the head, but other than that, it's a safe place where kids can practice MMA.

I applaud the school administration for being open-minded and allowing their students to use try MMA. For one, a club at a high school is a more affordable option than joining a pricey gym, and students can try out the sport before they decide to become committed to the idea of being the next Anderson Silva. The other reason this is a great idea is that it gives a home to the students who aren't comfortable with team sports, and most importantly, gives students the opportunity to get rid of aggression in a safe environment designed for it.

After watching Dustin Hazelett and Tamdan McCrory fight last week in the nerdiest bout to ever hit the Octagon, it became clear to me that MMA can be for everyone. You can be as small as Urijah Faber, as large as Brock Lesnar and as skinny as Miguel Torres and still be a champion in this sport. Why not give high school kids, who often feel like they don't belong, a place where they can feel normal?

Thanks to Mouthpiece Sports. Photo via New York Times.

The Yahoo! MMA EXperts blog went 4-0 with its recommended plays on Maia (opened at -150), Kenny Florian (-200), Jeremy Stephens (-180) and Hazelett (-120). That makes it 14-1 on top plays dating back to September with UFC 88, UFN 15, UFC 89 and UFC 90.

Before players start thinking betting favorites is easy, don't forget that the dogs were a respectable 12-16-1 in the three previous events.

Photo via UFC.com

With the UFC getting major coverage on ESPN this weekend, does an EliteXC-like television deal come next? White said during the UFC 91 post-fight press conference that the UFC doesn't need network television.

"The networks are so strong they pretty much tell you the deal they're going to give you whether you like it or not. We don't need it. We don't need help from anybody"

White says the UFC is doing just fine with cable outlet SpikeTV:

"I'm happy as hell to be on SpikeTV, be there forever. I could care less."

Click below to listen to White talk about the UFC and television:

Will the UFC hit a ceiling in the next few years if it doesn't forge a deal with one of the networks? A deal with ESPN to get some programming on may be more effective than having to bow to needs and whims of network executives. It may damage the sport in the future if a UFC run on network television was to flop.

During the UFC 91 post-fight press conference, a German reporter asked the fighers if there was anything disturbing about the close to the fight. Couture, the guy who was on the receiving end of 25 hammerfists, was confused as to why there would be an issue:

"We fall under every regulatory commission in this country. This is definitely a sport. I guess I would question because of that scenario why it wouldn't be considered a sport?"

Lesnar's answer got a chuckle out of the reporter.

Click below to listen to Couture/Lesnar comments on the brutality of the ending:

Todd DuBoef, the head of boxing's Top Rank has the same concerns, "When I see stuff like that, it looks like nothing more than a tough man contest. There's no way it's safer than boxing."

ESPN's Around the Horn picked up on the same theme. Could the finish actually hurt UFC's chance to get consistent coverage from ESPN?

Don't get me wrong. Maia is a fantastic fighter and will have a prolific career in the UFC. His jiu-jitsu is at a level rarely seen in the Octagon, and his potential to grow as a fighter is unlimited. I didn't expect him to win on Saturday, and he easily proved me wrong. I can't wait to see what he