Good Tuesday morning, everybody. I trust we all had restful and productive respective evenings? Let's get right to this morning's links.
Infographic: D.C. United vs. Chivas USA | dcunited.com
We start things off with a graphical look at United's win on Sunday. Only kind of related, but I probably would have given Eddie Johnson two assists in that game: the one he's currently credited with on Perry Kitchen's goal and also a secondary assist on Luis Silva's. It didn't look like much at the time, but EJ's first-time pass to Chris Korb set the fullback up to deliver the through-ball for Silva to run onto. That ought to be reflected on the scoresheet.
DaMarcus Beasley reportedly in talks to sign with MLS | Stars and Stripes FC
Goff once again scoops the world, reporting on Twitter not just that Run DMB is in talks with the league but that he will come as a DP and will skip the allocation order (Calvinball, y'all!). Could he be lacing them up at RFK, where a guy who can play anywhere on the left side of the field would check off the top two items on this summer's wish list?
Beasley deal with MLS likely to be finalized this week. Club tbd
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 21, 2014
Armchair Analyst: The first days of MLS 3.0 and other Week 19 thoughts | MLSsoccer.com
Nice discussion on sub-eras within the oft-used MLS 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 designations many fans and writers like to use. Also scroll down to his praise of Perry Kitchen, which concludes "It's probably time for USMNT fans to notice him."
Team of the Week (Wk 19) | MLSsoccer.com
Perry Kitchen gets the accolades as a First XI player from last week. Eddie Johnson makes the bench. Chris Korb gets no love despite a generally stellar performance stopping from Mauro Rosales (and out-crossing him to boot), but he can't feel too hard done after being listed on last week's team of the week. My only other complaint is the inclusion of Bernardo Anor, who definitely had a good game for Columbus, but who has also played more games where he deserved at least one red card than games where he didn't.
Besler, Zusi deals highlight strides made by MLS clubs in bid to retain stars | FOX Sports
More on what the retention of Sporting Kansas City's two World Cup stars represents for the league. One hopes the league (which is to say, the team owners) recognize that MLS is at a proverbial fork in the road when negotiations for the next collective bargaining agreement commence this summer.
Xander Bailey suits up for Sounders thanks to Make-a-Wish | SBNation.com
By now, you all know about Jordan Johansen's big day at RFK on Sunday, but he wasn't the only beneficiary of Make-a-Wish this weekend, as the Seattle Sounders gave a start in their friendly against Tottenham Hotspur to an 18-year-old with cystic fibrosis.
Stuart Holden joins NBC crew to call midweek MLS clash | ProSoccerTalk
This is really just here to remind you that even with D.C. United on a bye week, there's a nationally televised match this Wednesday. And also as an excuse for me to yell Stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!
How 'I Believe That We Will Win' became FC Nantes' victory chant | SI.com
It's the chant that so many Americans grew to love in the last year, and it's apparently just as popular in one pocket of western France thanks to a certain Yank by the name of Alejandro Bedoya. Really cool story, and be sure to watch the second video in the post for a nice tribute the Nantes fans pay to Ale.
FIFA will not make results of 2018 and 2022 World Cup ethics investigation public | SBNation.com
Any actions by the Executive Committee (up to and including stripping Russia and/or Qatar of their World Cup grants) will obviously be made public, but the contents of the investigator's report and any recommendations from the ethics panel will not be. FIFA not being transparent about an an ethics investigation... John Oliver, I believe this is your cue.
That's all I've got this morning. Let us know in the comments what stories from the world of soccer have grabbed your attention today - or really anything else that crosses your mind. It's your open thread, after all.