You've got to give MLS commissioner Don Garber some props: not many executives of a niche league can rankle or stand up to uber-organizations like AC Milan and the New York Yankees.

If the caliber of officiating in MLS hasn't kept pace with a quicker yet physical style of play, at least referees have toughened up their evaluations of fouls or offenses committed by players already cautioned, and applying stricter standards when deciding whether to hand out a straight red.

You can't blame Coach Bruce Arena, the Galaxy players, and the rest of the organization if they'd rather not talk about David Beckham

Before there was the SuperClassico, before hordes of TFC fans made the eight-hour trek to Columbus, before Houston and FC Dallas tangled in their own Texas Two-Step, several times a season would meet the polar opposites of MLS and California, San Jose and Los Angeles.

Why is it that so often slew of pundits and experts decry the shallow pool of talent available in the MLS SuperDraft and express astonishment during the season at how well those players selected have performed?

The elements seem to be in place for Chicago to make its first MLS Cup appearance since 2003, yet how the head coach deals with his superstar could tilt the season one way or the other.

By the time he returns to Spain, surely, Jozy Altidore will be a must-use for his club Xerez, seeing as how he drilled four goals in two hours of action for the USA against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago in Hexagonal matches.