Three more signs today that U.S. interest in soccer continues to grow: MLS expansion, Spanish football and EPL

For every news story like this one that indicate Americans still do not give a damn about soccer, there are other heartening signs that seem to contradict that.

Here are three today:

  • Land online here at 2 p.m. to find out what Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry are talking about in the above video and share in the open secret that MLS will formally announce an expansion in Atlanta.
  • Of course, some of you may be busy then. Look who is televising live at 12:30 p.m. the Spanish cup final between Barcelona and Real Madrid: ESPN.
  • Finally, NBC today unveiled what it described as the “most extensive and comprehensive championship Sunday (English Premier League) programming plans ever in the U.S.” with 10 games on 10 different channels as the season concludes May 11. Notwithstanding the fact that if memory serves Fox did almost exactly the same thing when it held rights to the EPL, that sounds like a fun day   When was the last time you saw a soccer game on cable channels like SyFy and Oxygen anyway? To find out what games are on what NBC channels for any weekend, click here.
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Week 6 MLS Preview: LA Galaxy host Vancouver Whitecaps, Chivas USA visit the Portland Timbers

The weekly MLS game predictions by a Southern California panel of pundits is here.
mlsapril12whitecapsgame

  • The key to the game from a Vancouver perspective? Defense.
  • Crunch the numbers on this game here.

chivastimbers

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Week 34: Barclays Premier League Preview

EPLlogoIf watching relegation-threatened Norwich City’s last chance to win a game this season against relatively modest opposition (Fulham) at 7 a.m. Saturday on NBCSN beforefacing a bevy of class opponents in their last four games doesn’t turn your crank, then try Wigan-Arsenal in the semifinals of the FA Cup live at 9 a.m. on Fox Sports 2.

Of course, the EPL game of the weekend has table-topping Liverpool attempting to fend off third place Manchester City at 5:30 a.m. Sunday on NBCSN, while the not Hull City Tigers play not EPL club Sheffied United for the chance to play at Wembley in the other F.A. Cup semifinal at 8 a.m. Sunday on Fox Sports 1.

Want all the facts and figures in one handy guide? Click here.

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Major League Soccer salary report show the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA have four players among the 20 highest paid

MLS-LogoThe Major League Soccer Players Union has released the 2014 salaries of its members with three Galaxy and one Chivas USA player ranked among the top 20 highest paid players (although former Galaxy player Mike Magee just missed out on making that list despite just receiving a handsome raise).

Want to see who got raises and who got their wages cut? Check out the 2013 list.

Along those lines you think Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez is happy? He went from a salary of $282,000 last year to $1,250,000.00.

Lightly-used Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers got a substantial raise, too, going from $90,000 last year to $167,500 this year — and he was one of four players loaned to Galaxy II for their game this weekend.

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LA Galaxy unveils “Undefeated” clothing line

It’s called the LA Galaxy x Undefeated 2014 Field Collection and is available beginning Friday at StubHub Center and Undefeated.com

Here’s more from the Galaxy press release:

Under the direction of Major League Soccer (MLS), Undefeated reinterpreted the official club logos and emblems of the LA Galaxy, working closely with the league and the club to craft a collection that displays the power and prowess the Galaxy represents and the attention to detail that Undefeated prides itself on.

 

The collaboration is laced with competition iconography; re-appropriating the team’s hard-won championship stars and the team’s classic shield as a symbol of on-the-field patriotism. From fleece to tees, hats and scarves, the collection pulls from the concept of the warriors through history – from early man to the martial arts, classic military markings to primeval survival insignia. Playing on themes of victory and virtue inherent in the Undefeated brand, the collaboration reflects the personal drive of the Galaxy, a team that has taken home four MLS Cup titles since 2002.

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Chivas USA acquires another Argentine, waives two

riverochivasMan in the middle: Colorado Rapids midfielder Martin Rivero was acquired by Chivas USA today (Photo courtesy Chivas USA).

Chivas USA have signed their fourth Argentine player, Colorado midfielder Martin Rivero,who made 30 appearances for the Rapids in 2012 and led the team in assists.

A right foot fracture suffered in preseason limited his appearances for Colorado in 2013 and the club opted not to bring him back this year.

“Martin is a very talented player who already knows the league,” said Chivas USA coach Wilmer Cabrera.  “His personality, technical ability and energy will help us a lot. He is a hard and relentless worker on the field, always looking to gain and maintain possession, an area we need to improve. Once settled, he will blend in well with our current players and make us a better team.”

Rivero, 24, who also made more than 50 appearances for Argentine club Rosario Central, joins Mauro Rosales, Leandro Barrera and Agustin Pelletieri on the Chivas USA roster and is available for Saturday’s game against the Timbers in Portland.

Chivas USA has also waived two fringe players: midfielder Daniel Fragoso, 31,  a Spaniard who was only signed by the club last month and defender Andrew Ribeiro, 23, who has yet to make his MLS debut.

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Thursday Kicks: Vancouver Whitecaps-LA Galaxy Preview

GalaxyposterFor the first of two consecutive games against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday in Carson, the Galaxy have released the above poster available for purchase on gameday for $25 with the proceeds going to charity.

Meanwhile, ‘Caps star Nigel Reo-Coker has recovered from a self-inflicted concussion and is available for the game. Vancouver is trying to win for the first time ever against the Galaxy in Southern California and early season MLS hotshot Pedro Morales may have something to do with that.

Finally, is the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan entering a new phase of his career?

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