Tidbits

Just a few things:

• After the DCU v SJE match, the Washignton Freedom defeated the Richmond Kickers Destiny with 4 goals in the first half and one more in the second (Andrzejewski, Lindsey, Welsh, Andrzejewski, Jiminez). WPS (Women's Professional Soccer) is slated to begin next year. More specifically, from the WPS website,

  WPS is the highest level women’s professional soccer league in North America. Formed in September 2007 as the result of the efforts of the Women’s Soccer Initiative, Inc., WPS, which will begin play in April 2009 consists of seven teams across the country.
  

  The markets for the 2009 season are Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. More markets will be announced as they are added to the League.
  

• On MLSNet.com, most of the league teams are linked across the top of the page by their location. For example, "Colorado", "New England", or "New York". But DC United only gets "DCU". I assume that this has nothing to do with a political statement about DC Statehood and is more a complement to the league's most successful club. Except what's up with "RSL" and "TOR"? Some consistency, please!
• I feel like Burch's left foot is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. He has certainly been successful with it. But when I watch him on the ball, it seems that he literally cannot play the ball with his right foot. Whether he is crossing or touch passing or dribbling and whether he is under pressure or in space or standing still or racing up the side, he never plays the ball with his right. He'll contort his body or plays the ball into a less than optimal position. Even when a soft touch with his right would do, he uses his left. No matter how awkward or inappropriate. I hope it doesn't become a problem. Watch for it. I wish we could do something similar to what Trainer Mickey did for Rocky in Rocky 2 to get him to learn to fight with his right hand. But I'm not sure how that works with legs. We can't tie one of Burch's legs behind his back...
  
• Congrats to Martinez for GOTW! That's three weeks in a row for United (Emilio, Simms, Martinez) and four weeks out of six (Gallardo). I'll go out on a limb and predict... um let's see... FRED wins it this week.
• Matchday forecast for Sunday on weather.com is "slight chance of a thunderstorm" although the local weather guy this morning on the teevees made it sound like more than just a slight chance. Let's hope it doesn't turn out like the Houston match.

Update:

• I went on the Volkswagen of America website to hunt for any DC United references. I was curious as to whether there was any reciprocity in DC United's favor. They aren't obvious, like on the homepage, but I found them here.