Birthdays of Note: Go through the top strikers from the beginning of the century and there are few who put together better careers than Henrik Larsson. The former Sweden captain averaged over 30 goals per season for Celtic from 2000-01 to 2003-04, eventually moving to Barcelona, where he won a European title. Internationally, Larsson participated in three World Cups and accumulated 37 goals in 106 appearances, guiding Sweden to a third place finish in World Cup 1994.
Along the way, Larsson accumulated a reputation for being one of the classier strikers in the world, a term that served as a short hand for there are so many things that make him great – from skill to production to attitude – we’re just going use a single word and pretend everybody knows what we’re talking about.
Larsson turns 41 today.
Big Important Story of the Day: Although we’ve got MLS and CONCACAF Champions League tonight (as well as the start of Europa League), most of today’s big stories are going to look back to Wednesday: Digesting UEFA Champions League, and reflecting on Pia Sundhage’s impact on the U.S. women’s national team.
Twitter Daps: The Pia edition:
What we should all be watching on TV: DC United is in Philadelphia today, ESPN2 having the broadcast honors. Still adjusting to life without Dwayne De Rosario, points like tonights’ are crucial if Ben Olsen’s squad’s going to claim a spot in the East’s top five.
A little later, Houston will be welcoming FAS to BBVA Compass Field Stadium Arena. FOX Soccer has the honors.
RASNoD (Random American Soccer Name of the Day): Mark Dodd
If the MLS playoffs started today (after Wednesday’s results):
Eastern Conference
(Wildcard round)
- Houston vs. Columbus (D.C. United dropping out)
(Second round)
- Sporting Kansas City vs. Wildcard winner
- Chicago vs. New York Red Bulls
Western Conference:
(Wildcard round)
- Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
(Second Round)
- San Jose vs. Wildcard winner
- Seattle vs. L.A. Galaxy
PST background noise while blogging today: I keep replaying this weekend’s Saturday Night Live (host Seth McFarlane and Keenan Tompson, pictured), but only three sketches: Lids, puppet class, and Weekend Update. We’ll see if the show eventually misses Kirsten Wiig and Andy Samberg, but after one week, so far, so good. (And please, spare everybody the obligatory Saturday Night Live used to be good, but now it’s not comment. That critique has literally been around since Season 2. It’s now Season 38.)
