More than once, Kansas City has been written off the MLS map. As of Thursday, with men and machines moving dirt on a site destined to house a soccer stadium as part of a vast commercial development, it gets a real shot at success.

Corey Furlan couldn't contain his excitement upon hearing the expansion Philadelphia Union had made yet another trade.

In the storied yet occasionally rocky history of D.C. United it has tried to deal with the constantly metamorphosing entity that is MLS while sticking to its traditions of flair, commitment, and success.

There's plenty on the MLS plate this January, with negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement slogging along and teams preparing for the MLS Player Combine that begins this weekend, and the SuperDraft to be hosted by expansion entry Philadelphia Jan. 14.