A few thoughts before we see whether USA Reserves can reach the Gold Cup final (LIVE tonight at 7PM EDT on FSC, as well as Down the Street from My House) and demonstrate that America is not only No. 1 in CONCACAF but probably 1A as well.
   
    First, many congratulations to Joe ****s, a long-serving soccer pioneer who has been named CEO and Executive Director of the National Soccer Coaches Association. ****s, the man most responsible for the rebirth of the Boston Breakers, has pretty much done it all during his career, including an important stay with the New England Revolution during the formative years of MLS. Nobody can doubt that he has been there, done that at virtually every level so this new post can be seen as both a reward for tasks well done and a smart move by the NSCAA.
    Hopefully ****s can use his extensive background to convince the college coaches that it's time for a major change. The college game badly needs to come into the modern age, at least at the top level, on both the men's and women's side. They've got to establish some national conferences, akin to college hockey, where the teams that wish to play at the top level can do so, within the FIFA rules and with a clear eye to developing players.
    Let's face it, U.S. Soccer has lost the youth battle. It has tried exceedingly hard, but most American families still want their kids in college. (Even President Obama is touting community colleges as a necessary route to jobs in Depression America!)
    What ****s can do is use his new pulpit to argue for player development-oriented programs in colleges that choose to take that option. Most of the nation's schools could live happily at the Division III level. The 25-30 that really want to be Division I should be able to do it, and to play the world rules to boot.
    So it's congrats and a challenge for the new NSCAA boss.
   

    Looks like Club America is clearly under pressure to reverse the recent no-shows in the Mexican title playoffs.
    Yes, those are friendlies that America is playing this week against Inter, AC Milan and Chelsea, but there is more bite to their game than we've seen from the Italians, and with good reason. The new Mexican season starts this weekend, the new Italian campaign is still a month away.
    America hasn't been much of a factor in recent seasons – perhaps since Cuauhtemoc Blanco left for Chicago?
   

    English Egos Dept., Part 2: Now that England cricket batsman Kevin Pietersen is out of the Ashes series after undergoing ankle surgery, who has the biggest active ego in English sports?

DAILY READS

Seems like we ask this about [insert club name here] every other day: Who owns Notts County?

David Gill says Game 39 plan “unlikely”

Marina Hyde on LA fans’ reax to Goldenballs

Speaking of: Part of the Riot Squad’s media response: (More at lariotsquad.org)

Did we cross the line?
No.  We questioned David's loyalty to the club and we sang, made signs and chanted things that were bluntly dismissive.  As far as we can determine, no one from LARS crossed over to referencing his family, as Beckham has claimed.  In our discussions on our internet forums prior to the match, we agreed that David's family expressly off limits.  We know that Beckham has received very rough and deplorable treatment during his career, and that's why we were genuinely shocked by his response to us on Sunday.  We don't believe questioning Beckham's commitment to our team is over the line, but it's clear that David feels otherwise.

Dept. of Other Gigs: Wednesday Comics Thursdays

The Genius of Basil Wolverton

Owen is out with a knee injury; Jack starts in place of Hislop. two big changes that make you wonder if the "predicted" outcomes will come to pass...