Major League Soccer

It has been declared on Page 2 by the estimable Mr. Gonzo that Major League Soccer is "a weak product of insufficient entertainment value. " I happen to disagree, but I also spend my winter watching Big Five basketball at the Palestra instead of the 76ers. To each his own, I say. So the question is: What do you think it would take for all of these apparently newfangled American soccer fans to also become fans of Major League Soccer? American fans probably aren't sold on the MLS for the same reason American fans don't watch the NBA's Development League or minor-league baseball: Because, like Page 2, it's not where the best players play.

MISSOURI AND Pennsylvania. First St. Louis, followed by Kansas City — both vs. Philadelphia. Twice the two areas have placed competing bids to Major League Soccer. Both times, Philly has won. The first was in 2009, when it was between St. Louis and Philadelphia to become MLS' 16th franchise. A year later, the Philadelphia Union made its debut. This year, Kansas City threw its name into the ring for Livestrong Sporting Park, just over the Missouri River, to host the upcoming MLS All-Star Game, as did Philadelphia.

Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur 7:30 a.m. Saturday (ESPN2) U.S. national team striker Clint Dempsey returns to his English Premier League club, fourth-place Tottenham, after scoring the Americans' only goal in Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Honduras in World Cup qualifying. While Spurs are trying to reach the Champions League, once-mighty Newcastle is just six points out of the relegation zone. Fiorentina at Juventus 11:55 a.m. Saturday (beIN Sport) Once upon a time, this was one of Italian soccer's great rivalries.

The Philadelphia area's chances for a pro soccer team hinge on the Pennsylvania legislature's approving a $40 million subsidy in the coming weeks, or else St. Louis is likely to get the nod, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said yesterday. At a news conference, Garber said the league hoped to award its 16th franchise this year, with two more in the future. On Monday, the league awarded its 15th franchise to a Seattle group. "St. Louis is considered a front- runner for future MLS expansion," Garber said, adding that he speaks with the prospective franchise owners almost daily.

When a proposed new professional soccer league last week announced a list of 29 cities that have expressed interest in having a team, Philadelphia was nowhere to be found. Philadelphia is trying to get on the list now. Belatedly, some people believe. Major League Soccer, the proposed circuit headed by Alan Rothenberg, the president of the United States Soccer Federation and chairman of the U.S. World Cup organizing committee, plans to start play with 12 teams in April 1995.

Always the sport of the future, soccer may have arrived. Not everywhere. Not in Philadelphia. But the latest major soccer league, Major League Soccer, is up and running in 10 cities and bringing in the faithful. So many people showed up at the Rose Bowl (69,255) for the first game of the Los Angeles Galaxy that police were turning fans away because traffic was too heavy. Before their Giants Stadium opener (46,826), the New York-New Jersey MetroStars' phone system locked up. Last weekend, an old-time soccer fan looked around the parking lot at the Meadowlands and said it wasn't the same when he used to show up to watch Pele and the Cosmos.

THE TRUTH is that Landon Donovan simply picked the wrong time to take 4-month hiatus from soccer to re-energize. At a time when United States Senior National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann emphasized the fact that players in America don't play enough high-level soccer, Donovan, the USA's all-time leading scorer, took a break from the game from January to late March. Donovan's sabbatical cost him the first three games of the 2013 Major League Soccer season with the Los Angeles Galaxy and made him unavailable for three World Cup qualifying matches for the national team.

The Columbus Crew opened their new stadium with a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution in a Major League Soccer game last night. Jeff Cunningham and Stern John scored.

Union forward Lionard Pajoy was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount, Major League Soccer announced Friday. The MLS disciplinary committee suspended Pajoy as the result of his challenge on Toronto FC's Joao Plata in the 29th minute of a 1-0 Toronto victory last weekend.

The Philadelphia Union, which begins its inaugural Major League Soccer season in March, yesterday named Reading United AC - formerly the Reading Rage - as its minor-league affiliate in this region. The Union will open the 2010 MLS season March 25 in Seattle. The club's home opener will be April 10 against D.C. United at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Week in Soccer     Chelsea vs. Manchester City 5:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox Soccer Channel) The Europa League winners face last year's English champions at Yankee Stadium, just days after City announced a partnership with the Yankees to launch NYC FC, a new Major League Soccer team.   Houston Dynamo at Sporting Kansas City 3:30 p.m. Sunday (NBC Sports Network) Kansas City ended Houston's MLS-record 36-game home unbeaten streak earlier this month.

The New York Yankees are combining with English Premier League power Manchester City as owners of a Major League Soccer expansion team in New York that will start play in 2015. The team, the 20th in a league that has doubled in size in two decades, will be called New York City Football Club. It has less than two years to find a temporary home while focusing on a permanent stadium. The expansion fee for the new team is $100 million. Manchester City, owned by Sheik Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, will be the controlling owner.

THE TRUTH is that Landon Donovan simply picked the wrong time to take 4-month hiatus from soccer to re-energize. At a time when United States Senior National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann emphasized the fact that players in America don't play enough high-level soccer, Donovan, the USA's all-time leading scorer, took a break from the game from January to late March. Donovan's sabbatical cost him the first three games of the 2013 Major League Soccer season with the Los Angeles Galaxy and made him unavailable for three World Cup qualifying matches for the national team.

Delaware quarterback Trevor Sasek was in stable condition after sustaining multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen during a fight early Sunday morning in Newark, Del., according to the website Delawareonline.com. Sasek, a Spring-Ford High graduate from Limerick, is a fifth-year senior expected to compete for the Blue Hens' starting job this fall. University officials would not comment on the incident or confirm that Sasek was the victim. Delaware football coach Dave Brock , citing university policy, also would not comment.

Former Masters winner Fred Couples and Ryder Cup stalwart Colin Montgomerie shared the stage in St. Augustine, Fla., on Monday night when both were inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, along with three others in the Class of 2013. Also inducted: former U.S. Open champion and broadcaster Ken Venturi , former European Tour director Ken Schofield and two-time British Open champion and architect Willie Park Jr. SOCCER: New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry ($4.35 million)

Union forward Jack McInerney has been voted the Major League Soccer player of the month for April by the North American Soccer Reporters, the league announced Thursday. Tied for the league lead in goals and game-winning goals, McInerney scored four goals in four matches in April, including two in the Union's 3-2 win over D.C. United on April 21. Voted the MLS player of the week in Week 8 of the season after his performance against D.C. United, McInerney also scored in ties against the Columbus Crew on April 6 and Toronto FC on April 13. So far, the 20-year-old has six goals, including three game-winners, this season.

In a sign he is getting back from his knee injury, Rafael Nadal won the Barcelona Open for the eighth time on Sunday, defeating fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro , 6-4, 6-3. Maria Sharapova beat Li Na , 6-4, 6-3, in Stuttgart, Germany to win the WTA Porsche Grand Prix title. GOLF: In Avondale, La., Billy Horschel shot an 8-under-par 64 to finish at 20 under for his first PGA Tour win, in the Zurich Classic. Inbee Park shot a bogey-free, 4-under 67 to win the North Texas LPGA Shootout in Irving, Texas, by a stroke with a 13-under 271. Jeff Sluman partnered with Brad Faxon for a 1-stroke victory with a 193 total at the Champions Tour Legends of Golf at the Club at Savannah Harbor in Georgia.

WASHINGTON -  Jack McInerney has been one of Major League Soccer's hottest forwards this season. But that streak has come with a caveat: Most of his goals have come from close-range shots, as much a product of being in the right place at the right time as they are evidence of the youngster's developing skills. On Sunday, McInerney finally showed why Union fans have such high hopes for him. He scored two pretty goals early in the first half, and the Union held on for a 3-2 win over D.C. United - their first ever win at RFK Stadium.