MLS looking at top European clubs for 2008 All-Star match

Rumors have it that MLS has their eyes on four teams for the 2008 All-Star match in Toronto. Those clubs, in no particular order, are Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Yes, the All-Star game is a bit of a joke based more on marketing then anything else, but if it has to be done (and it does), might as well get some top-level competition.

My favorite part of the article concerns the teams MLS has faced in recent years:

The MLS All-Star format typically pits the best of the North American league against a top European club. In the past three years, Chelsea and Fulham of the English Premier League and Celtic of the Scottish Premier League have appeared. Those recent participants pale in terms of quality and/or pedigree with any of the four now being considered.

Now my heart might not bleed Chelsea blue, but to say that they are not on the level with the four teams being considered for '08 is a little shy of the truth.

Anyway, as stated in an earlier post, I would guess Liverpool would be at the top of MLS's list, especially if the tails of George Gillett Jr. and a Montreal expansion team are true. However, I'd be willing to watch any of these four take on the best of North America.

Beckham walked because of Real snub

David Beckham might be the great hero of Real Madrid and England right not but just six months ago it was very different. Back then he was still being vilified by the British press and people for the England's failure in the World Cup as well as being treated like a diseased rat by Real coach Fabio Capello.

It was about this time that Beckham signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy. People all over the continent fell over themselves to explain how this not only proved that his career was over but it also showed that he was not very good in the first place. Well it turns out a big reason for Beckham's move had more to do with the poor treatment by club then the his talent.

Last night Beckham revealed that Real's failure to offer him a contract was the main reason he decided to leave along with Capello's desire not to play the star.

"I first realized I would be leaving Real Madrid six months ago in January when I was told my contract wouldn't be renewed," the 32-year-old former England captain told a news conference before his final game for the Primera Liga club on Sunday.

"I definitely agree there was more to it than the manager, but I'm not going to criticize Fabio Capello because I have too much respect for him as a person and as a manager. It was a difficult time and there were many other things going on around the club."

He also stressed that he will indeed play for LA and that there is no clause that would allow him to back out of the deal even if he wanted to.

Anti-Real Stadium petition fails big time; next stop, the governor?

The people behind the petition regarding the use of county taxes to help build a new stadium for Real Salt Lake failed to reach the 91,966 signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot. In total, they only came up with 12,343 certified signatures.

This means Governor Jon Huntsman is free to release the money, however the same group "wants to ask Huntsman why it was OK for the state to spend county tax money. " They also, with good reason, take issue with the requirements to get issues on the ballot.

Since Huntsman was the driving force behind this deal, it is unlikely he will alter his stance. With such a low number of signatures to their petition, they really don't have the public backing to force his hand. That is unless they can get some major rallies happening.

The odds of this deal stopping now are next to none, so it looks like Real might just have their new home in time to play Real Madrid next July 4th.