Occersay Uesdaytay

United has a new Brazilian striker:

Emilio, 28, became one of the top scorers in Honduras after beginning his international career in Germany. His potential move to United first surfaced in the Honduran media last week. D.C. Coach Tom Soehn told The Post on Friday that Emilio "is on our radar."

More anti-news on Ruy, further dampening speculation he'll come to DC.

UPDATE: In Weds Post, a profile of Emilio.

UPDATE 2: Sports Waves column focused on American soccer, with this paragraph:

But despite continued visions of potential future grandeur, soccer remains a niche sport in this country, particularly on television. It still lags behind pro football, baseball and basketball in spectator and TV popularity, though it may well have surpassed professional hockey, a game that seems to be constantly heading in all the wrong directions after its disastrous lockout two years ago. Consider, for example, that D.C. United averaged about 18,000 a home game last season and the Washington Capitals are averaging about 13,000 a home game (albeit over a longer schedule).

Soccer overtaken hockey? It will, but has it already?

The issue isn't just attendance, it's media perception. When Sports Center starts showing soccer highlights of midseason MLS game with the same assumed regularity of hockey highlights, then we can talk.

Also, Goff taking questions today (1/17) at noon at Post.

Interesting stuff in the same article regarding United's participation in the eight team tournament this summer with three other MLS clubs and four Mexican clubs:

United will face Mexican clubs Morelia and Club America on July 25 and 28, respectively, at RFK in Group B of SuperLiga, an eight-team, inaugural event that will reward the champion $1 million. During the formal announcement in Los Angeles this past weekend, organizers also said that D.C. would play its first-round finale against the MLS champion Houston Dynamo on Aug. 1 at RFK.

However, the Washington Nationals are scheduled to play the second game of a three-game series with Cincinnati that evening.

Despite the scheduling issue, United officials said the team will remain the host for the Houston match and that they are exploring other potential sites. "It will be somewhere nearby," senior vice president Stephen Zack said, listing Philadelphia, Baltimore and Richmond as possible candidates.

I've heard good things about the Raven' stadium in Baltimore, and I really don't feel like driving to Richmond or Philadelphia, but you do what you have to.

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DCenters has a debate up over the nature of soccer fandom.

I'm well aware that I'm almost as big a fan of my fandom as I am of soccer. Almost. And I very well aware that my fandom satisfies an aspect of my personality that's susceptible to those very characteristics authoritarian demagogues (of all flavors) know precisely how to exploit, whether as incitement to action or diversionary strategy to misdirect energy. But enough.

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This from yesterday's Soccer America MLS Confidential email (sorry, no link; you have to subscribe):

Whether receiving a large percentage of transfer fees will make club officials more willing to approve deals won't be known until more possibilities arise. However, another source said the Revs are refusing to approve a sale of midfielder Shalrie Joseph to Scottish club Glasgow Celtic, which has upped its original offer of $1 million.

I'd heard Celtic had bid for Joseph but nothing since.  Ningland takes a huge step down if Joseph leaves; he's the best holding midfielder in MLS.