With the gloomy weather outside this morning in the South Bay (that frankly has been indicative of our alleged summer so far) it seems somehow appropriate to be watching the opening weekend of the EPL (now in HD on Fox Soccer Channel for DirecTV customers) while blogging.

Our summer may be a lot like the version they usually experience in England, but at least that’s meant for excellent football weather whether watching MLS inside on TV or at Home Depot Center.

This weekend locals can do both with the Galaxy facing the suddenly star-studded Red Bulls in their jewel of a sold out new stadium in New York (3 p.m. FSC) and a desperate Chivas USA straining for every valuable point against the Seattle Sounders at Home Depot Center (8 p.m. live on Prime).

Game basics for both games here.

Reporter Phil Collin has more on the New York-LA matchup and what it means for MLS here.

An official viewing party is slated for Alpine Village near Torrance.

The Seattle Sounders perspective is here.

Incidentally, Chivas USA will “Donate Life” tonight in conjunction with Donate Life California to create awareness for organ donation.

“In the greater Los Angeles area, almost half of the families that say ‘yes’ to organ donation are Latino,” said Bryan Stewart, president of Donate Life California. “Their passion for life is reflected in their love of ‘the beautiful game.’ Both Chivas USA and Donate Life California celebrate life and the generosity of the Latino community, and they remind everyone that nationwide there are more than 107,000 people on the waiting list for a transplant.”

Up to 200 Southland transplant recipients and organ and tissue donor family members will attend tonight’s game and be recognized at a pregame ceremony.

Donate Life California will also have a booth at ChivaTown with information about the donation process.

Also:

*Rolling Hills Estates’ Robbie Rogers of the Columbus Crew had surgery on his left knee Friday and is expected to be out about four weeks.