We've Never Had A Problem, Until Now, With The News

-An absolutely classic conspiracy story from the Italianos.
-Some great stuff on BigSoccer about Team USA from a Czech perspective. Excellent quotes by Petr Cech, their keeper, and Czech coach Werner Licka. Here is a gem from Cech: "Team USA plays pretty decent football. Last summer with Chelsea we toured the USA and played an exhibition match with DC United and it wasn't fun at all." Licka adds: "This is a disaster for us. They are very ambitious, very self-confident and what's more, they've actually learned how to play football."
-Kevin Payne, President of DC United, rolls up his sleeves and goes right to the neighborhoods to tell them why a new stadium would be good for them.
-Why did MLS use this ridiculous picture of Jeff Cunningham on their website when they announced that he was leaving Colorado to play for Salt Lake next year? Why? Why? Cuz we all needed a good laugh. And Jeff is today's punch line! Thanks to Zath for the heads up on that one.
-It didn't take Wanderlei Luxemburgo long to find a new job, or rather an old job again. Since being fired from Real Madrid last week he has returned to Brazil and will resume the helm at Santos who he led to the Brazilian championship last year before heading to Spain. Ok.
-DC United declined to pick up options on the contract of both Dema Kovalenko and Lucio Filomeno. The team will instead attempt to re-sign them to new contracts at lower salaries. The team did re-sign keeper Nicky Rimando and Ben Olsen, the teams resident caveman lawyer.
-A feature story on Kyle Martino from the US National Players Assoc site.
-Rumor has it that Mexico will play Ghana on March at Pizza Hut Park in Dallas.
-Today is UEFA Cup Matchday 5 - the final round of the group stage games:
Roma v Basel
Strasbourg v Crvena Zvezda
Marseille v Dinamo Bucuresti
Heerenveen v Levski
Stuttgart v Rapid
PAOK v Rennes
Bolton v Sevilla
Guimaraes v Besiktas
Thu Dec 15
Hamburg v Slavia
Monaco v CSKA Sofia
Palermo v Brondby
Espanyol v M. Petach-Tikva
Lens v Sampdoria
Hertha v Steaua
Middlesbrough v Litex
AZ v Grasshoppers
Here are the current group standings.
-Sports Illustrated has a feature story on Maryland's Jason Garey, who is up for the Hermann Award as NCAA Player of the Year.
-Sunil Gulati is one of the secret-behind-the-scenes major players in American soccer. His current job is President of the New England Revolution, but the rumor going round has him in line to become the new President of the US Soccer Federation (he is currently executive vice president). Soccer America magazine has an interview with him.
-The third annual Carolina Challenge Cup is all set for March 18 – 25, at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston South Carolina featuring host team Charleston from the First Division. The other 3 teams will all be from MLS: DC United, San Jose (the current Cup holders) & Metrostars.
-Long time soccer writer Robert Wagman, who currently writes for Soccer Times, has just returned from the World Cup draw in Leipzig Germany and asks the question that we all think about: Can FIFA afford to put 2010 finals in South Africa?
-The San Jose Mercury News continues to cover the San Jose Earthquakes Soccer Team yo-yo.
-Two stories from the Kansas City Star on the future of the local team. One - and - Two.
-Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon will be out 2-4 more weeks after injuring a toe at practice. He has already missed this entire season suffering from shoulder ligament damage.
-There are also rumors that Real Madrid is looking to snap him up, which I don't understand at all when they have someone as good as Iker Casillas in the net already.
-Sao Paulo beat Al Ittihad 3-2 today to reach the final of the Club World Championship in Japan. Liverpool plays Saprissa tomorrow in the other semi-final. The final will be played on Sunday in Yokohama.
-Dallas is still struggling to hold on to forward Carlos Ruiz, and it's not looking like that process is going to get any easier.