After a midweek tease, the MLS slate is full this weekend with all but two teams playing on Saturday. &nbsp;For those looking forward to a little Friday night soccer, there will be none so you’ll just have to wait for Saturday night’s glamorous TV lineup, which includes the renewal of the U.S. leg of the Cascadia Cup rivalry.
Now for the other stories catching our attention this week:
<ul>
<li>Marcos Mondaini <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/51802477-77/field-tackle-mondaini-morales.html.csp" target="_blank">received a four game suspension</a> and a $1,500 fine for his aggressive tackle on Real Salt Lake’s Javier Morales. &nbsp;The suspension is much less than Brian Mullan’s, but the league deemed the tackle as one to prevent a scoring chance, while Mullan’s “showed utter disregard for his opponent’s safety.”</li>
<li><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/struggling-with-crumbling-rfk-stadium-dc-united-is-desperate-for-a-new-home/2011/05/11/AFiiNb1G_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a> ran a front page story this morning on DC United’s situation at&nbsp;Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. &nbsp;There were no great surprises to MLS or DCU fans, but the prominent placement may help the team in its efforts to build a new home.</li>
<li>Speaking of DCU, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/post/us-coach-bob-bradley-considering-dc-united-forward-charlie-davies-for-spain-friendly-and-concacaf-gold-cup/2011/05/12/AFnHuF1G_blog.html#pagebreak" target="_blank">Steven Goff of the </a><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/post/us-coach-bob-bradley-considering-dc-united-forward-charlie-davies-for-spain-friendly-and-concacaf-gold-cup/2011/05/12/AFnHuF1G_blog.html#pagebreak" target="_blank">Post</a> broke the news that Bob Bradley will be in attendance at the DC-Colorado match tomorrow night. &nbsp;While there are other American nationals like Dax McCarty and Anthony Wallace there, this is likely Charlie Davies casting call for a Gold Cup spot.</li>
<li>Speaking of Bob Bradley, over 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the <a href="http://www.ussoccer.com/Social/MNT-Blog.aspx?plckController=Blog&amp;plckScript=blogScript&amp;plckElementId=blogDest&amp;plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&amp;plckPostId=Blog%3a1a697a53-a181-4302-aa61-f454d97c88fdPost%3a4e350f30-c50d-47c3-8342-8c29fc4f29b1" target="_blank">USA v. Spain</a> friendly at Gillette Stadium on June 4, and organizers expect a record crowd for the region.</li>
<li>Our parent site announced the news a few days ago that possible FA Cup champion Manchester &nbsp;City will <a href="http://epltalk.com/manchester-city-expand-us-2011-summer-tour-to-face-la-galaxy-31539" target="_blank">extend their U.S. tour</a> to play the LA Galaxy July 24 at Home Depot Center.</li>
<li>The Colorado Rapids injury list grows, as the <a href="http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2011/05/cummings-out-2-4-weeks-ankle-sprain" target="_blank">team announced</a> that Omar Cummings will be out 2-4 weeks with “an ankle”. &nbsp;Caleb Folan is also out this weekend, but Conor Casey is expected to return.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/05/12/mls-confirms-contact-over-possible-minnesota-expansion" target="_blank">MLS in Minnesota</a>? &nbsp;Don Garber’s considering it (sorry Miami/Cosmos/Las Vegas/San Antonio fans).</li>
<li>If you like fan bases tweaking each other and stirring up regional rivalries like I do, <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/05/11/new-billboard-stokes-fire-houston-dallas-rivalry" target="_blank">this billboard</a> in Dallas will make you laugh.</li>
</ul>
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Bob, Robert, and Omar: The Week in Review May 9-13, 2011

Bob, Robert, and Omar: The Week in Review May 9-13, 2011 - World Soccer Talk

<a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mls-badge.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6194" src="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mls-badge.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="169"></figure></div></a>Our long national nightmare is over. &nbsp;The MLS schedule is out.
About a month before the beginning of the season, MLS finally released the entire schedule for all 18 MLS teams. &nbsp;Previously, only each team’s first home game was known, and some clubs like the LA Galaxy got an early jump on releasing the schedule by leaking the dates and opponents of some key matches. &nbsp;But finally, you can plan your life around your favorite team’s schedule and start buying your plane tickets for those away trips. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/2011-schedule" target="_blank">See the league schedule here</a>.
As for the long awaited television deal… it will be a bit longer of a wait. &nbsp;But MLS did release the ESPN schedule for the year. &nbsp;ESPN will broadcast 21 matches, 17 on ESPN2 and 4 on the Worldwide Leader. &nbsp;All of them fortunately will be available on ESPN3.com and ESPN Deportes. &nbsp;Eight matches will feature the Red Bulls, six the Galaxy, and five Seattle, including the opening match pitting the Galaxy at the Sounders. &nbsp;Absent from the TV schedule? &nbsp;New MLS team Vancouver, rebuilding Columbus, new management Toronto, and MLS Cup contender Dallas. &nbsp;Odd that MLS couldn’t fit a new club and one of its better clubs on the TV schedule. &nbsp;See when your favorite team is on ESPN <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/espn-and-espn2-broadcast-21-regular-season-matches-2011" target="_blank">here</a>.
The schedule also goes out of its way to emphasize regional rivalries. &nbsp;We knew ahead of time about the Cascadia Cup pitting Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland, but the league didn’t schedule the games back-to-back as promised. &nbsp;In addition to this Northwest rivalry, the league has created a I-95 Corridor rivalry (D.C. United, Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bull, and New England Revolution), the SuperClasico (the Los Angeles derby), the Rocky Mountain Cup (Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids), and the Battle for El Capitan (Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas).
So what do you think? &nbsp;Do you like your team’s schedule? &nbsp;Excited for the Rocky Mountain Cup or sad your team isn’t involved in a Cup contest? &nbsp;Sound off below.

The MLS Schedule is Finally Released!

The MLS Schedule is Finally Released! - World Soccer Talk

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Bob, Robert, and Omar: The Week in Review May 9-13, 2011

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The MLS Schedule is Finally Released!