MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The task of tearing down Giants Stadium began today so you can now breath deep and easy Red Bulls fans; it is now physically impossible for your team to ever play there again.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Without a doubt David Beckham is one of the most photographed athletes/celebrities currently residing on the planet earth. A Google image search of his name produces a seemingly endless parade of photos both professional and amateur of the English soccer icon. Photos of him on the field. Photos of him with his shirt off. Photos of him in jeans. Even photos of him on the field, shirtless and in jeans. The results (and attire ) really seem to be truly endless.

Last fall Becks released his own collection through adidas and prior to it’s launch partook in the prerequisite photo shoot in Los Angeles. The video above is a “behind the scenes” piece that takes a quick look at what goes into a big budget, high-gloss photo shoot. Polaroid point-and-click this is not.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

You know, if this whole pro soccer player thing doesn’t work out Jonathon Bornstein might want to consider opening one of those places in the mall where stage moms bring their cheerleader and pageant princess daughters to have their photo taken. If he can make a hard-nosed defender like Carey Talley look as soft as new down pillows he can certainly make a toddler in a tiara look doily-dainty. Seriously, with his talent he would be the Herb Ritz of the shopping plaza. Plus he’d probably be working within walking distance of Cinnabon and that can’t be all bad.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

With the 2010 season less than 2 months away, this year’s soon-to-be released schedule is currently undergoing a final bit of fine-tuning. So while I can’t reveal the matches beyond First Kick just yet, here’s a few nuggets of intel that I can share with you regarding this year’s calendar.

• All 240 games will be televised. You can watch every game live via either the league’s national broadcast partners (ESPN2, FSC, Telefutura), regional telecasts (too many to list), the absolutely essential Direct Kick television package or online at the league website. Regional broadcast schedules will be announced by the individual teams as they are finalized.

• One third of the games will be broadcast live by a national TV network: ESPN, ESPN2, FSC or Telefutura

• Remember these dates: April 10, June 5, and Sept. 4. Don’t make any plans on these three occasions as all 16 teams will be playing on the same day. You may want to start blocking out the calendar, making plans for a family trip that does not include you and purchase a second Tivo in anticipation of said occasions.

• You may already know this but it bears repeating: for the first time in League history, every team will play each of the other 15 clubs once at home, once away, for a balanced, 30-game season.

• The 2010 regular season will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 24 with a pair of games. Eight teams will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin the following weekend, Oct. 28-30. The championship match, MLS Cup 2010, will be held Sunday, Nov. 21 at a venue to be announced at later date.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

There are few places in MLSland where the offseason is as long as it is in Chicago. I have no first-hand knowledge of this but I’d be willing to wager a lot of the Fire guys get out of dodge and make for warmer climes as soon as the final game is played every season. But like Northern retirees returning from a long winter in Del Boca Vista, the Fire players reappeared at Bridgeview yesterday ready to begin the work of preparing for the 2010 campaign. And the first order of business? Handshakes and photo shoots; it’s almost like they are a band returning from an extended hiatus with a new album to promote.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Now this is inside stuff people. In the name of bringing you the first word on all things soccer in Seattle, SoundersFC.com didn’t even wait for Freddie Ljungberg to report for training before they got all up in his face with a mic and a camera; Sounders Insider Matt Gaschk met him just outside the international arrivals terminal yesterday at SEA-TAC Airport to find out how the snow was in Canada & Sweden (Freddie’s been snowboarding a bit this offseason) and how he feels about resuming training tomorrow with the rest of the team. And you thought I was a stalker? Please. I would at least have waited to catch him at baggage claim but once again Seattle is taken things to the next level.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

…the 2010 ChivaGirls auditions. Please make sure you are up-to-date with any heart medication that may have been prescribed to you.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Check out this video; it’s part one of Gol TV Canada’s Behind the Draft special (parts 2-4 can be seen here). Clocking in at nearly 30 minutes, it’s a revealing look at the 2010 MLS Combine and SuperDraft through the eyes of this year’s crop of MLS prospects and the Toronto FC front office/coaching staff. As entertaining as this project is you can’t help but feel the it’s producer’s were hoping for a bit more of Mo Johnston’s patented draft-day shenanigans to pump up the intrigue. Perhaps next year they’ll follow Peter Nowak around instead as he seems to be making a play for Trader Mo’s crown as the Deal-Making King of MLS.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

As the Union continues construction of it’s impressive new stadium on the Chester waterfront it’s also building the foundation of the team that will call it home. Today the Philadelphia franchise announced the acquisition of the top spot on the allocation list from Red Bull New York and it’s subsequent use for the capture of San Luis and U.S. International defender Michael Orozco. The two teams switched spots, with New York moving from 1 to 6 in exchange for allocation money.

At 23, Orozco (who will play in MLS on a one-year loan with an additional one-year option) represents yet another capital investment in youth by coach Piotr Nowak; of the 20 players in camp with the expansion team only 3 are over the age of 30. Should the team center itself around this core of players the first few seasons may have a steep learning curve but in 3-5 years time watch out: they could be a mid 2000’s Houston/San Jose or New England for the 20teens.

For more information on this signing visit PhiladelphiaUnion.com.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Last night the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia gave us a whirly bird’s eye view of the progress at Chester Stadium. It’s not a good, long look but from where I sit it’s certainly good-looking. Between this place, Red Bull Arena and the renovations at BMO Field it’s going to be one hell of a summer on the facilities front for the Eastern Conference; looks like the West no longer rules the soccer-specific stadium roost.