Ah, the annual, bitter ritual that is the release of MLS player salary information. It makes for sobering — and deeply troubling — reading. In these columns, you can find out that David Beckham is now the highest-paid soccer player in the world, counting his endorsement deals. He’s making some $31m ($6.5m of that guaranteed from MLS), and so far has scored… well, once this season.

In unforgivable contrast, 119 players earn between $12,900 and the league “minimum” of $33,000.  This is an embarrassment for a league that is selling franchises for $40m a pop: the poverty line in the USA, for a single person under 65, is approximately $10,500. No wonder some people don’t think MLS is a pro league. with salaries like that, how could it be?

One of those poorly-paid players, by the way, would be New England’s Sainey Nyassi ($17,700). The Gambian could be the next emerging star in the league and he has impressed everyone with his performances to date. Nyassi has also scored twice and is a serious player of the month candidate. Will he get a raise? (No.)

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More pleasant news came from Seattle last week, where sanity prevailed in picking the name of their new franchise. MLS has had a hate-hate relationship with its forbearers over the years, but naming the team the “Sounders” was the right call. It hits all the bases — the fans love it, it’s well-known and it carries history — and it’s far better than the milquetoast motley the team had put forth. “Alliance?” Please.

Confidential to Philadelphia MLS: “Fury” is not as beloved a nickname.