And the game of chicken continues, sort of. Up against a twice-extended deadline to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement with MLS or play another season under the same conditions or go on strike, the MLS Players Union has instead decided on d), none of the above.

It's time to analyze the analysis of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations as explained, or not, to members of the American press.

While it's true that expanding into Philadelphia in 2010 will mark the fourth straight season, and fifth occasion in the last six years, that MLS has added at least one new team, this move might be the most important. Philly will not be a melding of MLS and NFL, as is the case in Seattle, nor the NHL-MLS partnership that is present in Toronto.

There's been a bit of ballyhoo the past few days about Landon Donovan taking a big gamble by going to Everton on loan.

The David Beckham Academy in Carson, Calif., has closed. Good riddance. Selling jerseys and tickets and perfumes and sunglasses in the USA as a sleek global icon is one thing, traipsing around a field during perfunctory appearances to thrill children whose parents are shelling out hundreds of dollars for a few hours of luxurious surroundings is quite another.

Preseason isn't even a week old, and already the Fire is well out in front as the most intriguing team in MLS. There's Mexican coach Carlos de los Cobos, and Mexican international and perhaps former Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and another midfielder, Julio Martinez, who is Salvadoran yet arrives on loan from Mexican club Leon, which has personal and professional ties to Fire and Andell Sports Group managing director Javier Leon, no relation.

I'm going out on a limb right now to predict the Red Bulls won't be as bad with Coach Hans Backe in charge as they've been in the past.