Did You Know Washington DC Has a Professional Soccer Team?

Goff:

D.C. United chairman Will Chang confirmed a Sports Business Journal report that he has hired an investment firm to identify potential business partners...

In a telephone interview this afternoon, he also told me that he has no plans to bail on United, despite mounting losses. "If I didn't believe in the franchise, I wouldn't have bought out the other partners -- that is my vote of confidence and belief that the franchise has a huge future," he said, referencing his purchase of Victor MacFarlane's stake in the club and buying out a group that included former Duke basketball teammates Christian Laettner and Brian Davis last year. "I am passionate about the game and about the team, and I have no intention of getting out."

I believe him, at least the part of not scheming to leave. But....

Naturally, the conversation shifted to the prospects for a new stadium, which are intrinsically tied to the club's financial well-being. Without a new facility, United will continue to bleed cash and remain a candidate for relocation. Philadelphia and New York will move into modern, medium-sized arenas this season and Kansas City has broken ground on a venue that will open next year. Los Angeles, Chivas USA, Dallas, Chicago, Colorado, Real Salt Lake, Columbus and Toronto have moved into new stadiums over the years.

You are going to be treating each home game this year as if there are a finite number left, yes?

Meanwhile, Gomez 2.0 seems over. He looked his MVP self what? the first quarter of the season? then his mileage kicked in and he lost that first step and dart that made him once a great MLS player. Irony's a bitch: he was actually better fit last year trying to recover his youth than he was when he was young and an MVP.

What is United's starting midfield, assuming a 4-4-2: Castillo, Simms, Doghouse, Santino?

Though United remains in the international market for a traditional playmaker -- Kasper and Onalfo scouted in Argentina and Uruguay recently and another staff member was in Costa Rica -- the club might turn to a returning player, such as Santino Quaranta and Danny Szetela, or newcomer Floribert N'Galula.

Speaks to how badly Gomez' skills had deteriorated that United would rather consider for the 10 a guy who couldn't make Crewe Alexander (currently 83rd in the English tables), though I'm guessing Danny Doghouse is going to be given every opportunity to fail at 10 in lieu of another signing. More here.

O! In more proof that PU's future is brighter than United's:

Energy company PPL Corp. is finalizing a 10-year, $20 million naming-rights deal with MLS expansion team Philadelphia Union, some five months before the first match at what will be PPL Park, a new $120 million soccer stadium just outside of Philadelphia in Chester, Pa.

You are going to be treating each home game this year as if there are a finite number left, yes?

UPDATE!

Ray Hudson in The Millions?

"Tom Cruise. Give me a break. If he smelled a soccer jockstrap he'd faint dead away."

He sucked as United's coach, but Wowee, he's great to listen to (even if the dope Gol TV pairs him with sucks).