From USA Today:


ESPN will announce today that its Thursday prime-time Major League Soccer games will have super-imposed TV graphics, like football's virtual first-down lines, to show offsides. And those MLS games will get replay and with a radar gun system — like what ESPN uses for baseball pitches — will show the speeds of kicks. The idea, ESPN producer Tim Scanlan says, is making soccer more accessible to "casual sports fans."

It's Official: Fire Sign Blanco

Finally, after nearly two months of talks, the Chicago Fire get their DP Cuauhtemoc Blanco from Copa America in the Mexican League.

Blanco is well-known for his fiery temper and his interesting celebrations. It will be even more interesting to see how his style of play will match up with the MLS style of play.

The multi-year deal is reported to be close to $2 million per year. Blanco becomes the third DP signing.




Article Here


In other news:

Red Bull New York has offered a one-year deal to Chilean stand out Marcelo Salas.

Salas has played with River Plate, Lazio, and Juventus. His latest club was with Universidad de Chile where he has been mostly plagued by injury.

The forward remains one of the living legends in Chile and has a strong following there. His nickname is 'El Matador'.


Watch Marcelo Salas in action

Clint Mathis To New York

The Red Bulls have acquired Clint Mathis from the Colorado Rapids. Whether he'll be playing in midfield or forward has yet to be seen. However, it seems it will be a good mix for Mathis alongside Claudio Reyna and Bruce Arena.



More here

Everyone Wants A Piece...if it's there!

Although this was unofficially announced about a month ago, it seems the Rangers of the Scottish Premier League will confirm a friendly against David Beckham and the Galaxy.

The Evening Times of the United Kingdom reported:

"Rangers will confirm within the next few days that they will face David Beckham's MLS side LA Galaxy on Wednesday, May 23 in a lucrative end of season friendly, as revealed in SportTimes a month ago."


However, David Beckham will not be playing in this game. If you remember, Beckham sustained an injury against Getafe in La Liga this season. He is not expected to return to action until June.

Previous to the Rangers game, the Galaxy will be scheduled to play Chivas USA on 5/20 and then the Rapids on 5/26. Maintaining a busy schedule is apparently one of the things the Galaxy must do if it is indeed their goal to become an internationally recognized club.

MLS Notebook apologizes for the lack posts the past few days. We are back on board, however, with boat loads of information to give you!

The (Short) List

ESPN MLS TV Promo's

• I have to say I love them all! I hope they show on every commercial break because I've just seen them already three times each.

Carolina Challenge Cup

• Red Bull New York just lost to Toronto FC. Watch the Dynamo vs. Charleston Battery (USL) game.

Portland?

• Looks look MLS Commsionaer Don Garber is intent on having another team out west in either Portland or Seattle. The plan is to have three more clubs by 2010 in either Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, the Bay area and Seattle/Portland.

More Revs Drama

• Besides the Shalrie Joseph hoopla with him wanting to get traded, another former captain Joe Franchino is taking a leave of absence from the Revs.
  

The Rundown

Here is a short list of things to update you on:

• Congratulations to the Columbus Crew and their fans on having all games televised. Lamar Hunt is very proud.

• Landon Donovan is looking improved. It will be exciting to see Beckham feeding him on the pitch.

• Not surprisingly Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rapids, is looking to purchase Arsenal. Rapids and Arsenal formed a special partnership earlier in the preseason.

• Sharlie Joseph and the Revs still have not come to terms and things so far look pretty dismal.
  

• Looking forward....April 3rd @ 9pm ET. D.C. United @ CD Guadalajara & April 5th @ 7:30 CT Houston Dynamo @ Pachuca
  

Galaxy Announce Herbalife Ltd, Will Be Jersey Sponsor

MLS Notebook has learned via the Wall Street Journal today that Herbalife, the LA-based nutrition-supplement company will pay anywhere between $3.5 million to $5 million for jersey sponsorship through 2011.

Previously, MLS Notebook reported that Herbalife advertisements were posted on the Galaxy site but nothing was confirmed until now.



Press Release