Well then. Yikes. Last saturday was certainly not what the DC United community had in mind, but one game does not make a season. We still have 29 games to go and DC has never done exceptionally well at Kansas City. Now that Head Coach Onalfo knows the defensive situation here is some  questions United need to answer on Saturday during their home game against NE Revolution:

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Later today D.C. United will face the Kansas City Wizards at 8:30 p.m. (EST) in Kansas City. United look to hit the ground running as they try to prove to the rest of the MLS that their glory days are not over. Head Coach Curt Onalfo will especially hope to win this one, since he was fired from the Wizards in the '09 season. Here are some key questions United and its fans should keep in mind for tonight:

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The 2010 MLS Season kicked off last night with a game between two of our most hated rivals.  I turned the match off at half time because it was just getting out of hand, but check out these stories from across the SBN network for more:

Sounder At Heart - Game Thread - Post-game reaction

Brotherly Game - Game Thread - Post-game reaction

MLS and the player's union have agreed to a new five year collective bargaining agreement.  The players ended up not getting free agency, but they did secure guaranteed contracts and a "re-entry draft" for players who are out of a contract at the end of the season.  It will surely be convoluted and complained about in the years to come, but for now, we've secured five more years of local soccer.

Which is huge.  Obviously the World Cup is coming up in the summer, and a spirited run by the Americans should drive some interest in soccer among non-fans here in the States.  Secondly, the NFL and NBA seem to be heading towards labor stoppages in 2011.  If either, or both, of them were to have a strike or a lockout, the door would be opened for soccer to gain much more of a hold on the American sporting landscape.  The rise of soccer is inevitable, but thank goodness no steps to hinder that rise were taken today.

See you all at RFK on Apr. 3!

I know there are at least a couple regulars here that try to watch the CCL even if United isn't involved. I'm on the record as totally into it. In the process of making sure I get my fix, I looked up the TV schedule for this week's second leg matches (home teams first).

Tuesday, 3/16: Pachuca vs. Comunicaciones (Galavision, 10pm)

Wednesday, 3/17: Toluca vs. Columbus Crew (FSC and Telefutura, 8pm)

Wednesday, 3/17: Cruz Azul vs. Arabe Unido (Galavision, 10pm)

Thursday, 3/18: Pumas UNAM vs. Marathon (Galavision, 10pm)

Be on the lookout for another article on the Toluca-Columbus series, as the first one was rather popular.

Hey United fans I just wanted to let you all know that the match is live on TFC TV  so while I am pulling for Real Salt Lake and RSL is providing the announce team, it still beats not being able to see the match at all.

So jump online and catch the start of the 2010 CCC tournament, you know the history the winner of this either claims the Supporter Shield or the MLS Cup almost every time.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

1. Curt Onalfo's magic plan to avoid injuries isn't just BS.

2. Jermaine Taylor makes the team and becomes the stud CB we've all been hoping for.

3. DC United finds a brand new stadium underneath all that snow that's been piled in Lot 8.

4. An MLS quality starting right midfielder emerges in the form of one of the following: John DiRaimondo, Brandon Barklage, or Daniel Wasson.

5. Ben Olsen un-retires.

Feel free to add your own...

After declining US U-20 invites to stay with his club, Estudiantes, Hoyos has decided to accept an Argentine U-20 invite. Looks like US fans are losing out on another young prodigy with dual citizenship. I don't think I'm too off base by saying that American fans harbor a lot of bitterness towards Giuseppe Rossi when he did what Hoyos is doing. But I wonder: is that really an appropriate response?

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I have just found this very interesting tidbit in DC United's twitter:

"D.C. United has waived goalkeeper Milos Kocic. Official release coming shortly."

What do you guys think this means? Think Hamid can beat out Wicks for the starting job? Or do you think Wicks provides a more solid alternative for this year as a backup?  Do you think my style of writing is just like Ives when he writes up his posts? ;)

As we sit buried in snow, let us ponder, who will be the breakout player this year, the one who will surprise us all (like party and Wallace last year) and go much farther than we expect?

I'm thinking Flo, Bark becoming starters

Tino and Pontius moving into the league elite

Hamid making a run at the number 2 spot

Love that preseason optimism!  And this optimism feels more genuine than years past because we've gotten bigger, faster and younger.