A few things...

As promised, a very special MLS Cup episode of AFT...

#1 - Daily News All-Star Michael Lewis lets us know that Juan Pablo Ángel's training knocks won't keep him out of the game. One can almost hear Red Bulls supporters collectively wiping their brow.

#2 - Even as he leads the Crew to the final on Sunday, Columbus boss Sigi Schmid still has a 2009 status that reads "TBD". Soccernet's gentleman scribe Steve Davis wonders if Mr. Smalls might be headed off to Seattle soon because his current employers have shuffled their feet too much.

#3 - Jack Bell of the New York Times gives a great rundown of MLS commish Don Garber's Friday "state of the league address" - which includes such interesting notes as: Montreal pulling their expansion bid, a playoff entrance rework and news of at least a little leeway in scheduling on FIFA dates.

Oh yeah... and he claims Bayern have yet to hold any formal talks over Landon Donovan. Hmmm. That sounds like hokum to me.

#4 - And right on time, Bayern boss Jürgen Klinsmann goes on record as saying that, not only have they started talks, but he is already trying to find ways to extend a two-month loan into one that extends until the end of the Bundesliga season in May.

#5 - Getting back to Garber quickly, 100% Soccer's Nick Green reports that the MLS big cheese came off a bit limburger in his recent appearance in front of USC sports business students. It seems da Don is rather fretful over the quality of the USMNT and the league's financial outlook.

#6 - Barcelona Miami MLS expansion sherpa Marcelo Claure answers a looooot of questions about their plans for a team to Miami Soccer Fan.

#7 - SI's Grant Wahl recounts some of the stumbling and bumbling it took for New York to make their first MLS final.

#8 - Likewise, the always in-form Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch gives us a retrospective on the long road to MLS Cup #1 travelled by the Crew.

#9 - The Star-Ledger has a great profile of sudden star netminder Danny Cepero of New York. It turns out he is far, far more than a goalscorer.

#10 - Soccer By Ives reveals that Eintracht Frankfurt were among the Euro-clubs with scouts to watch Kenny Cooper score against Guatemala on Wednesday night (as well as a tip that L.A. coach Bruce Arena was watching Canada v Jamaica the same night looking for defenders).

I can add that Rosenborg were again in attendance to see the FC Dallas striker - but that's hardly a surprise, now is it? I also wouldn't be stunned if it turned out a certain disgusting club from Rotterdam had a rep at the Home Depot Center.

Urgh... I try not to even think about it. I don't care if they have the best stadium in the country.

#11 - Enjoy a 2008 NYRB highlight video...



#12 - And for the favorites Columbus, their top 10 goals of the season.



Lucky #13 - And finally, Goal gets Cup predictions from three MLS players - all of whom tab the Crew.



- Greg Seltzer