MLS “Behind the Net” previewing the 2007 MLS season airs tonite at 6:30 cst on HDNET.
The show features interviews with MLS players, coaches and owners , features plus conversation about each and every MLS team.
Heading into their 5th season of MLS coverage on HDNET are broadcasters Glenn Davis and Marcelo Balboa.
HDNET opens their MLS package up next Saturday in Columbus, Ohio with the Crew hosting the New York Red Bulls followed by an enticing match-up the following weekend as the defending MLS Cup Champions the Houston Dynamo host Chivas USA in a repeat of last year’s playoffs.
For more information go to www.HD.Net

*The Dynamo Power Hour hosted by Glenn Davis airs this Wednesday at 7PM on 790AM The Sports Animal

I have always been a Clint Mathis fan. Skilled, talented and with an edge of bravado not often found in American players .
Remember his five goal MLS record setting performance against the Dallas Burn. Here was Clint weaving, juking, and powering his way past defenders that looked like light poles.
Fast forward to his return to MLS . Real Salt Lake and John Ellinger could not get anything out of Mathis. Colorado may have gotten a spark here or there but in the end Fernando Clavijo had enough. So what is up with Mathis?
Some reports say he is unmotivated and that is clearly backed up by his last few seasons. So why would the Red Bull acquire Mathis? Did they need a name? Do they truly believe they can turn him around? Is this a stop-gap measure for other deals gone astray? Will they sign Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel?
The Red Bull may just be stockpiling themselves with players that are large question marks.
Mathis may be the latest version, I hope he gets motivated….The league needs a curtain call from the Conyers, Georgia native.
Re-wind to the 2002 World Cup and mohawk Mathis. Take a deep breath and re-live the memory. Can we see a swashbuckling Clint put in some consistent performances in 2007? Not based on his last few years but I remain hopeful.
The pressure is on in the Big Apple and from an MLS perspective lifeless over the years.
Clint don’t go soft on us. Find that competitive streak inside of you again, you have plenty of time down the road to be a kinder, gentler Clint Mathis on the field.

Guten Tag from Munich, Salman Mitha, European/German correspondent and commentator for the Bundesliga on LigaRadio.
The Bundesliga is back this Saturday with a Spitzenspiela of a match (as the Germans call a top match) as defending Champions Bayern Munich take on table toppers Schalke 04.
Previewing this match presents a great opportunity to talk about the current rise of Kevin Kuranyi as a top level striker for Schalke and for the German national team. In the Germany match versus the Czech Republic Kuranyi showcased his skills. His two goals in Prague proved to be the difference as the Germans solidified their position at the top of their group for Euro 2008.
His performance is not surprise to those who have followed the league this season. After a slow start Kuranyi scored 9 goals in 12 matches, 10 in victories for Schalke that has resulted in a strong hold on the top of the Bundesliga table.
You can listen to all 90 minutes of the Bayern-Schalke 04 match with LigaRadio this Saturday.
Visit the language site of teh Bundesliga at www.bundesliga.de/en starting at 8:15AM CST.
Click the blinking LigaRadio button and the player will launch automatically. Email me with your thoughts and comments at ligaradio@bundesliga.de
Bis dann! (Till next time)

Freddy Adu currently in Frisco, Texas with the Under 20 National team and Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear will be guests tonite on the Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis on 790AM Radio The Sports Animal starting at 7pm.
Fans can listen via the internet at www.790thesportsanimal.com and can call in with questions at 713-212-5790.
Podcast of the program can be heard at www.HoustonChronicle.com or at 790thesportsanimal.com
Contact Glenn Davis at GlennDavis@thesoccerhour.com with questions or comments about the show.

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My ankle is getting better and I was able to run today for the first time. My date of recovery which is six weeks seems to be going by real fast and I get the feeling I will be back even sooner. I was trying to make it back for this weekends game but that didn’t happen. I wanted to get back and tackle the guy that tackled me LOL (just one tackle).
I am looking forward to the season and will be fit for the second game against LA. I would say the first game but my red card in the playoffs last year against Colorado rolls over to opening day of the 2007 season.
On another note watching the U.S. game against Ecuador I was taken back by how far U.S. Soccer has come over the years.
The U.S. now has guys playing in England, Germany , Holland and these are some of the biggest soccer playing countries in the world. I am also impressed with how young the U.S. players are.
If the U.S. is to win a World Cup I think the next one in South Africa is it’s best shot.
I have represented Liberia internationally and I must say it would be nice if we could get a “friendly” between Liberia and the U.S.
It would be great for both countries with all the historical ties it has with each other.
U.S. Soccer, Liberian Football Federation lets make this happen.
Till next time enjoy your family and football.
Chris Gbandi

I freqently get asked what the most memorable moment has been in my career but because I am long winded and love conversation I can never limit myself to just one.
In 1999 I subbed into my first MLS game at Mile High Stadium donning the “old school” Colorado Rapids kit. At that moment it was easily the pinnacle of my soccer days because I felt it rewarded me for years of dedication to the game. I have always remembered that feeling and have the great Mooch Myernick to thank for it.
The second memory that crops up is coming back from four goals down in 2003 against the Galaxy in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. In my opinion it stands as the greatest comeback as well as the best game in MLS history. I had been released from LA the previous off-season and picked up by San Jose shortly thereafter so there was a bit of venom involved for me which made it all the more rewarding. The number one memory for me though will never be replaced! It was getting beat 2-0 by DC United in the third week of the 2006 MLS season. It was my first time back on the field after blowing my knee out in 2005 and it was euphoric. Any one that has suffered an injury will probably agree that returning to the pitch is better than any win or accolade that you can receive. I enjoy the game more than ever before and often try to re-live the feeling of that da because of what it did for me and my career. If there are any other top three’s you want to know feel free to ask. Until next week GO USA!
Craig Waibel

So that was the Landon Donovan everybody would like to see on a more consistent basis.
Three goals of variety yesterday in a solid exhibition win over Ecuador who incidentally advanced in the last World Cup before elimination. Yes they were without Augustin Delgado and Ivan Kaviedes but this was a solid win for the United States and manager Bob Bradley.
Some random thoughts:

1. Introduction of new players: It was great to see some new players in the team like Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg) and Michael Bradley (Herenveen). Before we grant them star status let’s remember that they are 22 and 19 years of age and getting games in Germany and Holland at the club level. A good sign. Another good sign is the additionally depth at that holding role in midfield.
Competition is good for all.

2. Brian Ching: Do you want to know why he was picked by Bruce Arena over Taylor Twellman? Yesterday’s game gave you the answer. Ching in a hold-up role offers just that little bit more especially in combination with Landon Donovan. He keeps it simple but just has that little bit extra “soccer player’ in him. His hold up play was excellent with Donovan and his pass superb to on Donovan’s second goal. Ching is simple and is not a player stuck in between about what his strengths are. He is clear on his game and that is why he is effective.
60th minute he worked Donovan into a good goalscoring position to be denied and 6 minutes later Ching put Donovan through for goal number two.
Donovan mentioned to me a few weeks back on my radio show in Houston that Ching was his favorite striker to play with.
Some thought he said that because he was on a Houston talk radio show. Yesterday reminds us he was not being politically correct.
3. Center backs struggle: Oguchi Onyewu and Jimmy Conrad where less than stellar in the first half and without solid goalkeeping from Tim Howard might have been hit for another goal. Enough with the American football comparisons with the “Gooch”. Being big and strong is an asset but you also have to be a soccer player. That being said I am glad he is on the U.S. National team and look forward to watching him grow with his experience at Newcastle United. A reminder that Eddie Pope has retired.

4. Bob Bradley: 3-0 with wins over Denmark, Mexico and Ecuador. A good start for Bradley and it validates him as the top U.S. candidate to coach the team. More importantly yesterday it was impressive to see the focus that Landon Donovan is bringing currently. Bradley has to get his “star” player behind his bid to be the national team coach and it seems in the short term to be working. Deserves credit for the “group” mentality which is a necessity with the U.S. National team.
His weaving of a number of players into the victory only bodes well for harmony.

5. Landon Donovan: When he is on what a player to watch!
Three breath-taking goals ….Three goals of variety exemplifying power, pace, precision. How about the timing of the goals also. In the first minute and then two goals back to back that struck a body blow to Ecuador.
Fact is LD is the greatest attacking soccer player that the United States has ever produced even if he retired today. So how does Bob Bradley get the most out of this talent in the future and get delivered more consistent performance? That is the challenge. Keep him behind a forward or two and we will see the best of Donovan.

Give me your thoughts on the US win over Ecuador yesterday?

Sponsorship on jersey fronts have been a great space for advertisers.
After all why not have soccer players running around on tv with your logo emblazoned across their chest. How about a photo op or interview with that logo proudly displayed on your chest.
Yes the sponsorship logo stands out even more than the team symbol or crest. With that in mind it is valuable revenue generator.
So now the LA Galaxy will have Herbalife as their shirt sponsor and Toronto FC Bank of Montreal and Real Salt Lake with XANGO an energy drink I am told.
Never have heard of XanGo and that is the point, I have now.
The Herbalife deal is said to be for five years according to reports out of LA at a price of 5 million a year.
Who says the Beckham deal has not be worth it. Herbalife never steps forward at that price without one David Beckham.

*More disappointment for England as they drew 0-0 in Israel creating a number of chances and Jamie Carragher heading off the crossbar. The pressure intensifies on Steve McClaren and the questions role out around the EPL…..Has the foreign element in the EPL hurt the English National team? You bet it has? More thoughts on that later.
*Locally it is tiring to see the ridiculous structure that sourrounds our youth game. I wrote a piece that ran in today’s Houston Chronicle about youth development. Adults in decision making positions need to be the ones that are alleviating the pressure on youth and youth parents. This win at all cost mentality at 9, 10 years of age is just blatantly an example of how ridiculous the structure, rules, amount of games played and pressure’s inflicted on young players are.
When will common sense take over? Or is it just that leadership doesn’t understand player development.
It is time for the U.S. National team coach to dictate policy along with U.S. Soccer on the youth structure in this country(That makes to much sense).
Relieve state associations of this pressure, the fact is they are not equipped.
It’s all good and well to put coaching manuals together but what does it matter if it is not being heeded.
DOC’s and coaches need to get involved in the political process to IMPROVE a solid youth environment that needs to get better.
Time for some take charge pro- player development DOC’s to step in and push the pendulum back towards the player.
Less games, less pressure, better adult education and age specific training with gradual implementation of competition at the correct age. Seventy games a year at age 10 is mind blowing……If you don’t nurture the technical base with young players their chances of remaining in the game is limited. Soccer is an experience, players must have a soccer culture to play in in order to thrive.
Too many rules, filibusters and red tape are confusing the parent, player soccer relationship. Get back to the game.

*Freddy Adu will be on the Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis this Tuesday at 7pm on 790Am Radio