A few things...

[Photo: Reuter]

Our scheduled Cardinals boasting has been postponed until Game 2. They don't really drop playoff openers, so it's very weird for me. I'm not sure what to do. Never mind, I'm confident Adam will set things Wainwright...

#1 - I had no idea someone did an MLS computer ranking! Why didn't someone tell me?!

And who is the computer's darling? Seattle FC. You can compare Hal Wall-E's ranking to my new MLS Club Ladder.

#2 - If you want to catch up on all the World Cup qualifying situations across the globe, S365 has your crash course.

#3 - Closer to home, the USMNT head to Honduras this weekend looking to clinch their place in South Africa. As you well know, things are little kooky in Honduras right now.

I'll be honest: I've intentionally avoided reading and learning about the political mess down there. My head can only focus on so much at once, and there's so much going on. But I did wonder how this might affect security for the 'Nats.

If you're like me, helpful New York Times ace Jere Longman can summarize the international soccer angle for you here.

#4 - A few readers asked why Tigres left back Edgar Castillo, who has a completed FIFA switch from Mexico on file, was not called up for these WCQ's.

Setting aside that we shouldn't want defenders who've never played with the U.S. back there for the last two qualifiers, Soccer By Ives reports that the youngster currently has a bum hamstring.

#5 - New York star Juan Pablo Angel talks with Soccer America's Paul Kennedy about next season.

By the way, did you know that the Red Bulls were trying their ass off to lure former Chelsea boss Avram Grant to become coach/technical director before he was hired by Pompey? Jack Bell did.

#6 - Sticking with the NYT all-star, Bell reports that Argentina supporters believe Maradona will get them to World Cup - even as he talks of quitting in frustration.

#7 - Wanna know what drives white-and-red-hot FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham?

Fear, man. Fear.

#8 - What can Taylor Twellman say? St. Louis dudes just have it*.

* = "It" does not include match fitness, sadly.

#9 - Baltimore United? Could be.

Meanwhile, still in D.C., the boys make a naked wall for ESPN The Mag.

#10 - The Crew may just rest Chad Marshall until the playoffs start.

#11 - Nick Green of 100% Soccer offers up both a column about Damned United - the film about Brian Clough's ill-fated Leeds United managerial stint - and an interview with star Michael Sheen.

#12 - The main part of this article is about Man United's chase for Le Havre teen Paul Pogba, but the part I was interested in at the bottom concerned their chase of Brazil U-20 playmaker Douglas Costa, who says he's not ready for Europe yet.

#13 - Speaking of Under-20's, I took an upset beating on my U-20 World Cup round of 16 picks, missing five of eight calls. Two of my final four teams went home.

And yet, I'm stupid enough to keep going with picks. To me it's starting to look like a Brazil v Ghana final:

Ghana over Korea Republic
Italy over Hungary
Brazil over Germany
UAE over Costa Rica

#14 - And finally, my Cut of the Day inspiration: Goal counts down the Top 10 World Cup One-Hit Wonders.


- Greg Seltzer