Operation Freedom
The Washington Freedom has begun its marketing campaign for the 2010 WPS season with several not-so-subtle digs at the hapless Redskins. In an ad that appears in Monday's Washington Post, the club trumpets its: -- "Freedom Speech and Self Expression, Including the Right to Create Signs and Banners and Bring Them into the Stadium!" (The Redskins have been confiscating posters at FedEx Field.) Zing! -- "Highest Level of Customer Service, Tickets Will Always be Offered First to Our Fans!" (The Redskins sold seats to ticket brokers, despite an alleged waiting list in the thousands.) Meow! -- "Economic Forgiveness! You Will Not be Sued if for Some Reason You Must Default on Your Payments in This

Sunday Kickaround
*With all due respect to the Revolution, which overachieved in the absence of Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston and offered admirable playoff performances, Chicago's 2-0 victory Saturday night was in MLS's best interests. Presentation remains important to this young league, and an Eastern Conference final next Saturday at a packed, medium-sized, natural-grass stadium in Bridgeview provides a more soulful atmosphere for a big match than a mostly empty, made-for-the-NFL, artificial-turf venue at Foxborough. The clincher by Cuauhtemoc Blanco: *Today's second legs: Seattle at Houston, 3 p.m. ET (Telefutura) The clubs played to a 0-0 tie last week Chivas USA at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Duka to MLS
Dilly Duka, the USA under-20 national team midfielder who left Rutgers this fall and has been exploring pro opportunities in Europe, has agreed to a four-year contract with MLS, the Insider has learned. "It's done," a source close to the situation said. Duka -- who scored on a long-distance shot against Cameroon at the U-20 World Cup on Sept. 29 -- will be available to all clubs in the league draft in January. However, the New Jersey native has been part of the Red Bulls youth system and, according to sources, adamant about playing for New York. With the second overall pick, the Red Bulls seem almost certain to select him. Expansion Philadelphia has the top choice. Duka, who turned 20 in Se

Saturday Kickaround
*Who will host Real Salt Lake in the Eastern Conference final next weekend? We'll find out tonight when New England takes a 2-1 advantage to Toyota Park for the second leg against the Chicago Fire (8:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel). *D.C. United defender Dejan Jakovic was named to the Canadian national team for friendlies at Macedonia next Saturday and Poland on Nov. 18. The only other MLS player on the 17-man list is Toronto midfielder Julian de Guzman. *Former DCU defender Ryan Nelsen discusses New Zealand's World Cup qualifying playoff finale against Bahrain. Meantime, ex-DCU forward Nick Addlery, who has done well for USL-1 Puerto Rico, has been loaned to Aguila in El Salvador. *Did Hou

Pulling Ponytails and Other Mischief
Video from the BYU-New Mexico women's soccer match.....