Photo by ISIphotos.com
(On a night when the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA meets in a battle for first place in the West, here is the second installment of SBI’s new segment, the West Coast Roundup. SBI correspondent Odeen Domingo shares a few news nuggets from the West Side of the country with us.)
Ching to Seattle expansion team?
Brian Ching might be heading to Seattle and he may bring Dynamo teammates Craig Waibel and Mike Chabala (former Washington Huskies) with him.
Ching, who played collegiately at Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., was a Sounder for two seasons (in 2001 and 2002) as Seattle’s top scorer before signing with San Jose.
Could he go back to play in the rain?
A Sebastien Le Toux-Brian Ching combination would be fun to watch.
Don’t rule it out with the Dynamo likely to see several departures at the end of the season. Dwayne De Rosario, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis and maybe even Pat Onstad could be leaving the club for another (MLS or abroad) after the season. Or the next.
Real Salt Lake to host 2009 MLS All-Star Game
With Real Salt Lake’s Triple-S (Soccer Specific Stadium. Yeah, you saw it here first.) set to open in October, The Mormon State has been awarded the 2009 MLS All-Star Game.
Hopefully the sparkling, brand new 20,000-seater will be host to an international club a little more prestigious than West Ham United.
Yes, Green Street Hooligans, we know the Hammers aren’t a trash team and have a celebrated history slightly better than MK Dons, but here’s hoping the MLS is able to lure a more world-renowned club for the 14th rendition of the MLS All-Star Game.
Otherwise, what’s the point?
BMO Field will be filled to the heavens in this season’s version of the mid-summer classic no matter which non-MLS team steps on the field. But if West Ham was to play at another Triple-S, say at Commerce City or even at the HDC, it’s doubtful the stadium would illuminate the “no” on its vacancy sign.
In other RSL news, Real Salt Lake lost something called the Xango Cup to Santos Laguna, 4-1, on Wednesday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
A mostly reserve squad, led by young goalkeeper Chris Seitz and even younger winger Alex Nimo (who scored in the 69th minute), couldn’t hold off the Mexican Clausura champions.
RSL, which leads the league in funny-named friendlies, will host another international exhibition on July 23 against Costa Rica’s Deportivo Sparissa in something called the Pioneer Day Fireworks Festivities.
What do you think of the MLS All-Star Game heading to Sandy, Utah? Does the MLS need to make up for this year’s matchup and bring in a team like ManU? Will Brian Ching succumb to the lure of living near 10 Starbucks coffeeshops within a 100-foot radius?