Soccer News and Real News

It looks like DaMarcus Beasley will not be playing with the US National Team against Trinidad and Tobago. The question this raises is who Bruce Arena will call in to replace him? Likely candidates are Clint Dempsey, Brad Davis, Josh Wolff, and perhaps even the Grown-Ass Man himself, Eddie Johnson.

US National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu is being targeted by Manchester United among other teams. If his contract was purchased, I have little doubt that he would get playing time, but would he get the amount of playing time he needs in preparation for the 2006 World Cup? For once a big player move actually has one US fan hoping he doesn't make the move until after the '06 World Cup. Either way, this is great news for the American player.

Ives Galarcep writes that both Guevara and Ruiz want out of MLS. I mentioned yesterday how Guevara had pulled a Livan Hernandez and talked about quitting the league. However, it appears that Ruiz has done the same. I personally can't blame Ruiz for complaining about the marketing and treatment of foreign players in MLS. Ruiz, while a nuisance, is a great player, yet he makes only $70k a year. While he still makes money from his former club because of a shared-loan deal, that's still an appalling figure for arguably the best striker in MLS.

It's official: D.C. United have signed Argentine defender Facundo Erpen. The 22 year-old should only strengthen a D.C. United defense that is second in MLS in goals allowed. United will probably retain their three-man backline, keeping Brian Namoff on the right, rookie sensation Bobby Boswell in the middle, and sliding Erpen out left. D.C. United is hitting its stride now and Eastern Conference teams need to be very careful, D.C. is only going to get better. What's most surprising about the goals against statistic though is that the top two defenses in the league use a three man backline anchored by a rookie defender. Go figure.

In other news:

Lula speaks up: Brazilian President apologizes for corruption scandal

"Domestic terrorism": British airport staff strike strands 73,000 passengers at Heathrow Airport

Breakthrough in HIV treatment?

Howard Dean opens his mouth; comedy ensues

Can Kiir replace Garang and bring peace to Sudan?

Physics holds the key to understanding relationships? What?

How could I forget this: Mangal Pandey opens in India and the UK. I don't know if I'll get a chance to see it in theatres, but it's got Aamir Khan in it, and if the music is by A.R. Rehman than it must be good.