Speculationization News

Former Minnesota Kicks & South African midfield star Ace Ntsoelengoe has died unexpectedly in Lenasia South Africa. He was one of my faves on the team as a kid. Some news stories about the tragedy:
-Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (South Africa)
-The Independent (Cape Town)
-Business Day (Rosebank, South Africa)
-The Dispatch (East London, South Africa)
-Blue Sky Soccer also has a recap of this, along with two great photos of Ace playing for the Kicks.
-You also have to love some of Ace's teammates names at Kaizer Chiefs: Computer Lamola, Teenage Dlalda, & Jingles Perreira. Beautiful.
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From AP: The United States will wear navy for its World Cup opener against the Czech Republic on June 12 and its second game against Italy on June 17, then don white jerseys against Ghana on June 22.
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The rumor has been out there for a month or two, and now official word comes that Tim Howard will be loaned by Manchester United for all of next season to Everton. It's great to see our man Tim-may get his shot again. (Thanks to BQ for this tip.)
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The wretched John Ball of Rochester was named First Division Player of the Week. He is former member of (Stand Up If You Hate) Milwaukee.
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Sams Army - The USA's 12th man, from Soccer America.
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Dallas fan Chris Murphy gives us a look at his day in Houston for the first Tejas derby. Excellent reading, from 3rd Degree.
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Columbus is expecting their newest player Leonard Bisaku to arrive this week with work visa in hand. He is a Croatian midfielder who last played for Slaven Belupo Koprivnica in his home country. Where does Big Sig find these guys?
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There was a rumor floating around that New York was interested in Wolverhampton defender Darren Anderton. Here is what NYRB coach Mo Johnston had to say about that (from Big Apple Soccer): "No, I'm not interested in Darren Anderton. Not interested. I'm not interested at all." Well then. End of story.
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The always fantastic Big Apple is also reporting that Bayern Munich will be training in New York in late May and will play a friendly with the Red Bulls: German champion Bayern Munich is coming to town, most likely to play the Bulls, in late May, according to sources close to the team. Because Bayern has several players on the German National Team who will be training for the World Cup, the club is expected to bring over essentially a reserve squad. The most likely date for a Giants Stadium friendly is May 27-28.
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From Frank Giase of the Newark Star-Ledger: CHA-CHING - Each player selected to the United States World Cup men's team will receive $37,500 plus an additional $3,750 for each game played by the team during the tournament. The player pool will receive $150,000 for each point earned in the first round and $2,775,000 if the Americans advance to the second round. Read his entire weekly column here.
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What is that weird smell? Do you notice it? If you live in Houston you probably smell it. Yes, its former Galaxy disaster Naldo training with Houston and totally stinking the place up. And no, I don't mean he smells bad or funny etc. I mean his playing STINKS! He is lousy. It's a metaphor.
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From Lance: One Game Changes Everything. Very nicely done indeed.
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Der Spiegel has an extensive interview with German coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
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Jose Mourinho of Chelsea deservedly won the Barclays Premiership Manger of the Year award. Runners up were Mark Hughes of Blackburn, Paul Jewel of Wiggan and Alan Pardew of West Ham.
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Zidane's very humble last day at Real Madrid. As captured by Sid Lowe of the Guardian.
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Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune with 2 stories today. First, why has England decided to give the young men a shot now?: England selects untried 17-year-old for World Cup - AND - Secondly, more stupidity and allegation of fraud in Italian Football: Scandal shrouds the Serie A finale
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CUP MANIA:
English Championship Division Playoffs
The four teams who finished in 3rd-6th spots will fight it out now in a playoff for the third and final promotion spot. Here is the play off match line up:
Last night:
Preston 0-2 Leeds - Leeds rock into the playoff final with a huge road win and 3-1 on aggregate.
And Tonight:
Watford v Crystal Palace (3-0)
-The Final is Sunday May 21 in Cardiff at the Millenium Stadium
-Note: The away-goals rule does NOT apply in this competition. All draws go to extra time and then PK's.
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The Mexican Primera Division Clausura 2 legged semifinals:
Wednesday (return leg Saturday)
Toluca v San Luis
Thursday (return leg Sunday)
Guadalajara v Pachuca
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UEFA Cup Final this week
Sevilla v Middlesbrough
May 10 at Phillips Stadium in Eindhoven
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The Italian TIM Cup Final second & final leg tomorrow night:
Inter v Roma (1-1)
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Pairings for the Quarterfinals in La Copa Libertadores!
-First legs are played this week, then the whole tournament takes 2 months off for the World Cup. So the second leg matches will not be played until mid-to-late July. I find that a little odd, but go figure:
May 9 Chivas Guadalajara - Vélez Sarsfield
May 10 Liga Dep. Universitaria - Internacional
May 10 Estudiantes LP - São Paulo FC
May 11 River Plate - Libertad
-Second leg matches in July:
July 18 Libertad - River Plate
July 19 Internacional - Liga Dep. Universitaria
July 19 São Paulo FC - Estudiantes LP
July 20 Vélez Sarsfield - Chivas Guadalajara
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And after a couple years trying to read the CONMEBOL website in Spanish they have now opened a version for us gringo's in English! Hooray CONMEBOL! Hooray South America! Hooray Sugar Cane Stalks Made Into Ethanol!