So Adidas looks like they are doing good stuff again. I generally like their commercials, but this looks like it is gonna be a series and what a dope one it looks to be. I'm a bit of a good animation junkie especially when it comes to soccer, and Adidas loves pushing the boundaries of new media with soccer which i really like. Scope "The Powerhouse"



I really like how Zidane is just a presence, a dark shadow in all the new Adidas commercials, almost the puppet master. A good role for a man that would be featured in one of these commercials if he was still playing, but now he is the man behind the scenes. Very nice. Some foreshadowing of a managing career maybe? I could see him step in at Juventus/Real Madrid at some point.

Cal Poly's Evertonian alum Anton Peterlin got a start today in a reserves match versus Manchester United and although it appears that he did not do anything of note, the fact he is getting a start is huge and tremendous for him. You can read the match report here.

More Adidas/FIFA10 goodness. Oh zeee Germans.

Dude is a monster though. Even I can't deny that.

Welcome to painful outcomes, where I will give you the painful outcome that is likely to follow certain news. We are off and running.

Don Garber is off to tell the tremendous story of the salary cap and salary limits in MLS and how they could fix the European leagues and their financial problems. Now I like The Don a lot, however he is off his rocker here for a number of reasons. Mind you these are direct quotes. "I hope to present some of the experiences we have had in the MLS and in other leagues as perhaps, if not blueprint, a guide as European football starts looking at financial fair play," Garber said in a telephone interview ahead of this week's "Leaders in Football" conference. "That is the key driver to the stability that exists in our major leagues -- and there is tremendous stability in American sport. "I'm not so sure that same stability exists in football around the world." Don, you don't even pay some of your players enough to make a living, but you are going to tell some of the most succesful leagues in the world how to fix their sh*t? I mean, really? MLS has a 2.3 million dollar salary cap. It isn't always a financially viable option for guys graduating college, they would rather get a REAL JOB. That is insane. Bump the cap to four mil, have an MLS side win a CONCACAF champions league cup, then maybeeeeee consider going over there and offering bits of advice if asked.

Painful Outcome: The world laughs at MLS, again. It would be nice if we didn't set ourselves up for failure.

Maradona decides on homegrown players for final World Cup Qualifiers, also decides he wants to go on summer vacation next summer somewhere where it will actually be summer. IE not South Africa. The One Who Is Somehow Still in Charge has announced who he is bringing in for the incredibly important final two qualifiers and I really think Bad Decision Bob is out there thanking his lucky stars, because Maradona literally is sabatoging his team again. Unreal. Where are Cambiasso, Maxi, Zanetti and Garay? Obviously somewhere in the world that Diego doesn't get television service. I'm befuddled. Again.

Painful Outcome: Argentina. SIXTH PLACE. NO PLAYOFF. NO WORLD CUP. The country will riot. Mark my words.

South Africa is going back to the wild west days of shoot first and ask questions later. Hello zero tolerance and shoot to kill policing. I'm all for Africa hosting the World Cup, but honestly, this scares me. Why did I choose South Africa as the dream trip? Not completely sure. Also, South African and Everton stud Pienaar says don't worry if you hear gunfire at night while in South Africa. Uh, excuse me? What have I gotten myself into? Not that it will matter if the US doesn't qualify.

Painful Outcome: Myself and many other possible WC2010 travelers may reconsider their trips. Because we are actually scared for our lives.