by Ethan Johnson
December 30, 2007

It's still 2007, so before the year dissolves into so many memories, let's give it up one last time (this year) for YOUR investigative bullet points:

• Despite the MLS season being wrapped up for weeks on end, I'm still bitter that Houston won, AGAIN. I'll get over it - that is, the day FC Dallas offers up a long overdue shellacking.
• FYI to the uninitiated: There is no off-season for soccer. Sure, MLS is wrapped for a short time (the FC Dallas home opener is March 30, 2008, if memory serves), but there's always something. Barclay's Premier League, Champions League, African Cup, Euro 2008, and on and on. Personally, when a season ends for a given pro sport, I'm done. I don't care to watch every sort of NFL-style football played around the globe after the Super Bowl. (I never watch the Pro Bowl.) I've been adopting Arsenal as my Premier League Team to Watch, but I'm not that heavily invested in their fortunes. I'll be readier for MLS action (and all things soccer) next year.
• I may not get FCD season tickets for 2008. This is a private, personal decision and will not be elaborated further other than to say this has nothing to do with any residual bitterness about Houston winning the Big One. Overall, my first season following MLS/FCD has been positive, and I'm excited to experience more in 2008. More of it may be on the couch next time, that's all.
• Good to see Kenny Cooper Jr in a Home Depot TV ad around here. Apparently, it was filmed in August, but it just now hit the airwaves locally - or it's the first time I noticed, how's that. MLS is on the move!
• Regardless of whatever roster moves are made during the offseason (bon voyage, Clarence Goodson), at least Juan Toja has been picked up as a full-fledged Hoop. He was on loan from another team this past year. Hope he builds on the success he had in the first half of the 2007 season.
• I still haven't started working on my FCD scrapbook. No rush - although the 2008 season will be here in short order.
• Can't wait to see/hear the cognative dissonance coming out of Houston next year when the San Jose Earthquakes return to MLS action.
• Still no official word as to the fate of Denilson. FCD refused his option, but technically he could still be signed for much less money. Personally, I'm thinking he was a bust, the end. Let's move on.
• All I ask for 2008 (being new here) is for FCD to beat Houston decisively at least once. I don't care if they do it up here or down there, just take it to them, make them suffer immensely, and collect the sweetest three standings points ever.

Alrighty... time to close up shop over here and crank it back up next March. Thanks to everyone who shared in the highs and lows this past season, and maybe I'll meet more new fans next year at the stadium. GO FCD! <EM>

(Much, much more virtual ink has been spilled by me about Major League Soccer. The fledgling but growing MLS article archive may be found here.)