A few things...

How fun must it be to work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? This show is like Seinfeld with the evil turned up to 11. Sometimes, the best comedy of manners is the one without any (also see Curb Your Enthusiasm)...

#1 - A few local all-stars hook us up with the view heading into respective first round deciders:

- Bernardo Fallas on HOU/SEA
- Nick Green on LA/CHV
- Shawn Mitchell on CLB/RSL

#2 - Meanwhile, Fire coach Denis Hamlett was fuming a bit over Shalrie Joseph's alleged "space acquisition skills" on the game one winner. He is also still crossing fingers over the defense firm of Conde & Segares.

#3 - The Salt Lake Trib's Michael C. Lewis looks at the daunting RSL task: a result against the cornered champs in Columbus.

I'll be direct on my feelings: the way the Crew are struggling in attack, I really think one away goal may just do the trick for a draw.

#4 - Daily Fix-er Steve Davis offers up his first leg MLS XI. Hard to argue too much.

#5 - From the "no surprise" file: Tigres left back Edgar Castillo has revealed his call-up for the upcoming pair of USMNT Euro-friendlies with fellow World Cup 2010 invitees Slovakia and Denmark.

Psst! Edgar! Don't forget your passport!

Just joshin', EC. But seriously, I'll have the 20-23 guys I feel should make up that squad here at NSC tomorrow morning.

#6 - Koblenz keeper David Yelldell missed out this week with a thigh knock, but the club is hoping he'll be back this weekend. I just spoke to David, and I'll have a bit up at S365 first thing in the morning.

A little preview? He wants a USMNT call-up.

#7 - If you absolutely must read about how Azzurri back-turner Giuseppe Rossi is blowing up, go here.

#8 - Is Fab gonna poach a winger for England? Bild says (yeah, I know) that Werder Bremen's Aaron Hunt is being stalked by a 3 Lions Psycho.

#9 - S365 co-hort Andrew Discenza drops his weekly Prem roundup science.

#10 - Finally, we have the MLS Goal of the Year nominees (full awards nominees list in another post)...






- Greg Seltzer