And The Zizou Rumors Continue

The mainstream media has picked up on the widespread rumors that Zinedine Zidane may be on his way to the L.A. Galaxy. Reports say the G's have made an offer to the 35-year French star who is seen as a soccer god in most of the world. He has been retired since his unceremonius sending-off in the World Cup final and several teams have tried to lure him back to the pitch, but the latest round of rumors appears to have more teeth to it.

AEG everyman Tim Leiweke may have traveled to France to speak with Zidane's representatives. He told Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, "We have contacted his entourage about coming to play for us this year."

Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas: "I can't comment about specifics of any of the negotiations we have. All I can say is we continue to court the best players we possibly can. I would certainly think this player would be an asset to any team."

Laurent Merlin Joins Chivas

Laurent Merlin, the French forward who briefly survived the tryouts held by the Los Angeles Galaxy in February, has officially joined Galaxy rivals Chivas USA after training with the club for more than one month. With his signing, Chivas USA now has five strikers on the roster, including rookie standout Maykel Galindo and veteran Ante Razov.


Merlin will be able to play in Saturday's game against Houston, pending the approval of a work visa. He is a native of Marseille, France.

FC Dallas 2 - L.A. Galaxy 1

FC Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday night, 2-1. Dallas got goals from Carlos Ruiz on a questionably-called penalty kick and Kenny Cooper. L.A.'s goal was scored by Robbie Findley.

I was there and I will be filing a full report on everything from Justin Guarini's national anthem to the Riot Squad heckling ESPN anchors by shouting "Eric Wynalda" during the pre-game - look for the report later tonight.

Galaxy/FC Dallas Preview

I'm going to be ducking out of work early so that I can be immersed in the hell that is the 91 freeway at rush hour - I'm hoping to get to the Galaxy/FC Dallas game on time. I am fortunate enough to have front row seats at midfield, so I'll have a good vantage point to give a full report from.

Here's what I'm expecting: A Galaxy romp in their home opener. The defense of FC Dallas will be exploited at will by Landon Donovan and Kyle Martino. Joe Cannon may get another shut-out if Carlos Ruiz doesn't steal a last-minute goal against the G's like he did against RSL. Final score will read 3-0 Galaxy, with goals from Donovan (2) and Martino.

The game will be televised on ESPN2, starting at 7 p.m. PST. Keep an eye out for the 'Free Eric Wynalda' signs in the Riot Squad section.

American Idol Meet MLS

According to a recent press release, American Idol season one runner-up Justin Guarini will be singing the national anthem before tomorrow night's FC Dallas - L.A. Galaxy clash. And ESPN2 will be there to catch it all.
Seriously. Go back up and read it again. I had to read it four times before it set in. Really, I've got nothing else to say to this.

Galaxy VIP Entrance

The Los Angeles Galaxy have decided to build a "VIP Only" entrance to the Home Depot Center, because of all the celebrities expected to turn out to see Pete Vagenas later this year... what? Here's a look at the new entrance, courtesy LosAngelesSoccerNews.com:

Pretty glamorous, huh? Of course we don't want the Hollywood A-List to have fraternize with the general population. Can you imagine Jennifer Lopez waiting in line for a beer next to Tommy Mack from the Riot Squad? I'd pay extra to see that.

Stars that are reported to have bought season tickets to see the G's besides Jennifer Lopez include Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise. No word on whether there will be a Scientology night in the future, but I wouldn't rule it out.

Jeff Cunningham Named Player Of The Week

Real Salt Lake's Jeff Cunningham has been named MLS Player of the Week for Week 1. He scored both of his team's goals in a two-all tie against FC Dallas.

Cunningham has been named Player of the Week nine times in his career, tied for the most-ever with the L.A. Galaxy's Cobi Jones. He was also the Golden Boot for last season, when he scored 16 goals over the course of the year, most in the league.

TJ's take: I didn't get to see any of the FCD-RSL game, but my player of the week would be Sacha Kljestan. The kid had a beautiful goal (his first goal ever) and an assist in Chivas USA's impressive defeat of Toronto FC.

Houston Falls To Pachuca

The Houston Dynamo have been eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup after a tough 5-2 loss to Pachuca. Pachuca was far too aggressive for the men in orange throughout much of the game. Two of Pachuca's five goals were via Christian Gimenez penalty kicks, including a controversial call on Brad Davis after taking down Gimenez on the corner of the box.

But still, the Dynamo clawed their way back and even re-took the aggregate lead after Brian Ching's header in the 79th minute. But shortly before the end of regulation, Gabriel Caballero struck for a second time, sending the game to two fifteen-minute overtime periods.

Gimenez struck for his third goal just before the end of the first overtime period. Replays showed the official was about to blow the whistle to end the period, but at the last second, he let the play continue. Dynamo 'keeper Zach Wells couldn't even manage an attempt at stopping the perfectly-placed shot into the top-left corner.

Despite being completely outplayed in front of a rabid Mexican crowd, the Dynamo still nearly pulled it out. Instead, Pachuca advances to meet Chivas de Guadalajara in the final. Houston will be back in Texas for their MLS season opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.

Russell Plucked From Retirement

The Los Angeles Galaxy have signed midfielder Ian Russell out of retirement. The 31-year-old played underneath head coach Frank Yallop with the now-defunct San Jose Earthquakes, winning two MLS Cups. He retired prior to the 2006 MLS season, but has been called upon to suit up for the G's.

"Ian is a player that I know very well from our time in San Jose and that I have tremendous respect for," Yallop said. "He is a true professional and a proven winner who will play an important role in this club's success in 2007."

Alan Gordon Has Stress Fracture In Foot

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Alan Gordon will miss 2-3 months after sustaining a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his left foot. He had missed the Galaxy's last nine pre-season games and has undergone surgery to repair the fracture.

Gordon was expected to figure prominently in the Galaxy's new 4-3-3 formation, but will now have to watch from the sidelines. It looks like Gordon's main task will be to model the Galaxy's new jerseys, prominently featuring the Herbalife bumper sticker.

2007 Preview - Los Angeles Galaxy

2006 record: 11-15-6 - 39 points (5th in the West)
-- missed playoffs.

Key additions: David Beckham (Real Madrid), Joe Cannon (Colorado), Nate Jaqua (Toronto FC)
Key losses: Herculez Gomez (Colorado), Ugo Ihemelu (Colorado), Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), Cornell Glen (released)

After missing the playoffs for the first time in team history in 2006, the Galaxy grabbed worldwide headlines by signing David Beckham away from Real Madrid. In the ensuing chaos that followed the announcement, the Galaxy have managed to sculpt what should be one of the strongest teams in the league this season.

Head coach Frank Yallop has done well to trim the fat from a bloated Galaxy roster and he's managed to bring in a solid forward in Nate Jaqua. Team MVP Landon Donovan will be used as a recessed forward in the new 4-3-3 formation that will see Beckham slotted into center midfield when he arrives in July.

U-20 standouts Nathan Sturgis and Quavas Kirk have returned but will likely have to battle for playing time on a Galaxy roster full of talent. They will also be absent from the roster during the U-20 World Cup this summer.

The weak spot for the G's is their defense. Promising young center-back Ugo Ihemelu was traded away in December. Chris Albright is likely to be called-up this summer for national team duty, leaving aging defenders Tyrone Marshall and Ante Jazic to be the core of the back line. However, the G's finally addressed this weak spot and traded for Shavar Thomas from Kansas City recently.

It will be a season to remember in Los Angeles. They will play quality football from beginning to end and should be a force come playoff-time. A third MLS Cup would be the best send-off for Cobi Jones in his last season.

TJ's projected finish: 2nd in the Western Conference, 4th overall.

Can Adidas Lure Zidane to L.A.?

I have tried to ignore this story for a few days, but can do so no longer: Adidas is reportedly trying to lure Zinedine Zidane out of retirement to play alongside David Beckham with the Los Angeles Galaxy. It was first reported in German daily tabloid Bild-Zeitung, which is Europe's best-selling newspaper, according to Wikipedia.org.

Bild says Adidas is in talks with MLS and Galaxy about sponsoring a deal that would pay for the majority of Zidane's contract, to help further the growth of soccer's popularity in the United States. From tribalfootball.com, "The German sportswear giant has already sounded out Zidane about coming out of retirement for the venture and have been encouraged by the Frenchman's initial response."

TJ's take: Although HIGHLY unlikely, a midfield pairing of Beckham and Zidane would be sensational for the Galaxy and for the league. If Adidas is willing to shell out most of the cash for a 1-year contract, the Galaxy and MLS should jump at the offer. I'll wait until I see this story run by a more credible news source before I put any stock into the idea.

Galaxy-Rangers Friendly Confirmed

The Los Angeles Galaxy have added another fixture against a well-known European club to their schedule. On May 23rd, the first MLS "Superclub" will take on Scottish Premier League powerhouse Rangers Football Club at the Home Depot Center. It will be included as "Bonus Game 2" for full-season ticket holders.

"Galaxy fans are consistently exposed to the best domestic and international players and teams," L.A. Galaxy President and General Manager Alexi Lalas said. "Rangers bring a competitive team with a passionate fan base and we look forward to having them as our guests."

On a related note, Rangers star and Croatian international Dado Prso has been linked with a move to the G's... but who hasn't at this point. Prso agent, Ranko Stojic told PA Sport the striker would consider offers if they were forthcoming from the U.S. and wealthy Far East clubs.

Galaxy Wins USL-MLS Challenge

The Los Angeles Galaxy have won their first trophy of 2007 - they were crowned champions of the inaugural 2007 USL-MLS Challenge in Puerto Rico with wins over the Rochester Rhinos (3-2) and the Puerto Rico Islanders (2-1). Going 2-0 in the tournament, the Galaxy now boast a pre-season record of 8-1-2 with one match left before the season begins. The L.A. goalscorers in the tournament were Chris Albright, Nate Jaqua and Kyle Martino. Albright boasts four goals in this pre-season, two more than any other Galaxy player.

MLS Zone Player of the Week

So where are all of those LD haters now? The first ever MLS Zone Player of the Week award goes to Landon Donovan, forward for the Los Angeles Galaxy and U.S. MNT. He scored three times in yesterday's friendly vs. Ecuador (1', 66', 67'), giving him five goals in the team's three friendlies in 2007. He opened the scoring just 41 seconds into the game and came close several other times in the 3-1 victory, looking very potent in the attack throughout the game.

Donovan's reaction upon hearing he won the MLS Zone POW honor.

My take: Critics are calling out Donovan because of the way he "disappeared" during the '06 World Cup and because he's said he wants to skip the Copa America later this summer to be with his club. With a crowded summer schedule coming up, Donovan's decision makes sense. He is a leader on the Galaxy and if he's away for the better part of two months again this summer (like in '06), his team could sink out of contention while he's gone.

On the international side, Donovan is clearly out to make a statement this year and can excel in Bob Bradley's new system when surrounded by the right talent. If he continues to improve his play and can stay healthy, 2010 may be a great year for United States Soccer.

Galaxy Acquire Defender Thomas

The Galaxy have finally addressed their lack of depth in defense and have traded for Kansas City central defender Shavar Thomas. In exchange for the 26-year-old Jamaican international, Los Angeles will give up a conditional second round pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
Thomas should be familiar with his new partner in L.A.'s center of defense. He and Tyrone Marshall are both veterans with the Jamaican National Team - Thomas has earned 12 caps with the National Team.

Thomas has three goals and one assist in 91 career MLS games.

Galaxy Jersey Sponsor Deal Announced

It's not the $49-million Citibank sponsorship deal the Galaxy were hoping for, but today they have agreed to a front-of-the-jersey sponsorship deal with nutritional products manufacturer Herbalife. The deal, which was first reported in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal last night, is reportedly worth up to $5 million per year through 2011.

Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports, called the Galaxy sponsorship pact "a milestone event in American sports marketing." The Galaxy are now the third team to have a company logo or name featured prominently on the front of their jerseys, behind Real Salt Lake (XanGo) and Red Bull New York (Monster energy drink... or not).

Galaxy News Bits

- From AS.com, Real Madrid will be traveling to the United States in late June. President Ramon Calderon has confirmed that the Galacticos will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in a friendly where David Beckham will play the first half with Real Madrid and then switch jerseys at halftime and finish the game with the Galaxy. Pretty cool idea if it's true. Additionally, Real Madrid will also play a match in Washington and another in either Chicago or Salt Lake City during their 10-day visit.

- A few weeks ago, it was reported that Citibank had offered $49 million over five years to become the jersey sponsor for the Los Angeles Galaxy. According to Steven Goff of the Washington Post, the deal will not be happening. No reason was cited for the sudden end to negotiations, but Goff speculates that it may have something to do with banking rival Chase being a league sponsor. Herbalife has also been mentioned as a possible front-of-the-jersey sponsor.

- The Galaxy have launched a Spanish-language site. It can be found here.

Cobi's Final Season

As expected, Cobi Jones announced today that 2007 will be his final season in MLS. He goes into his retirement as one of the most popular and important players to the Los Angeles Galaxy, MLS and U.S. soccer. He is the only player to play for the same team since the inception of the league and won two titles with the Galaxy (2002, 2005). At 36, he may have lost a step, but he still gets the loudest cheers at Galaxy home games, and rightfully so: #13 stands as the Galaxy's all-time leader in almost every major statistical category, including games played (281), goals (66) and assists (86).

"It's been an honor and a pleasure to represent my country and the city of Los Angeles over the span of my career... I hope that people remember me, not only for the accomplishments that I've had, but also how I've conducted myself on and off the field," Jones said during his press conference today.

Toronto FC Sells Out Season Tickets

Major League Soccer's newest team has done something that no other league side has accomplished: Toronto FC has completely sold out of season tickets. A cap was placed at 14,000 and just five months after tickets went on sale, they are all gone. BMO Field will hold roughly 20,000, which leaves 6,000 tickets available for walk-up buyers or through various ticket plans."We've had phenomenal momentum since launching Toronto FC last May and the response we've got with respect to season seat sales tells us that soccer fans across the GTA are excited about their new team," said Tom Anselmi, executive VP and COO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Ltd.

Toronto will play its first game at BMO Field on April 28th and David Beckham is scheduled to visit town with his new Galaxy teammates on Sunday, August 5th.