The Freddy Adu conundrum

Fox Soccer Channel leaps in first year of TV ratings
After a year as a Nielsen-rated channel, Fox Soccer Channel isn't quite challenging Monday Night Football in the cable ratings but can point to impressive growth across the board -- doubling or tripling its ratings from fall 2008 for most programming.Here's the most impressive part: The ratings gain can NOT be explained by an upsurge in cable and satellite companies adding the channel, says FSC executive VP and GM David Sternberg."Our total audience increased a little over 1%," Sternberg says. The channel is available in just under 35 million households. Quick comparison: ESPN was at 98 million households

As it happens: MLS' big day
Six teams, two playoff berths. We'll keep the standings atop the post and update them with final results. Standings include opponent, goal difference (for/against), and tiebreakers. All times ET40 Colorado: +7 (42/35), even on tiebreakers39 Toronto: -4 (37/41), beats NE and DC, loses to DAL39 D.C. United: -1 (41/42), beats DAL, loses to NE, TOR, RSL39 New England: -5 (32/37), beats DC, loses to TOR39 Dallas: +4 (49/45), beats TOR, loses to DC37 Salt Lake: +5 (40/35), beats DC------Games to go:D.C. United at Kansas City,

What will happen on MLS' final weekend
Can't stand the suspense or the scenario-crunching? Here's what will happen this weekend in MLS, chronologically:Toronto at New York, 7:30 p.m.: A lot of people seem to be assuming Toronto will march right over the last-place Red Bulls. Don't overlook the motivation of New York playing the final game of a magical era -- the interim coachship of Richie Williams. (Oh, and it's also the last pro soccer game in Giants Stadium.) New York wins, leaving Toronto waiting on 39 points and hoping.D.C. United at Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.: Desperation time should bring out the best in United, and Steve Cronin has proven to be a terrific stop-gap sho

MLS: Attempting to comprehend scenarios
Seven teams, three berths, endless combinations.The tiebreakers for MLS playoff berths go in this order:1. Head-to-head (points per game if more than two teams tied)2. Overall goal difference3. Overall goals scored The list below shows all seven teams, their final opponents (all times ET) and their head-to-head records (U.S. standard Wins-Losses-Draws) against the other teams in the playoff chase. Parentheses show whether the team wins head-to-head (W), loses (L) or goes to overall goal difference (GD).The benefit here, I hope, is that you can quickly add up the records if you have a tie with multiple teams. Just copy this to Notep

Saturday showdowns
The next-to-last weekend of MLS action sees the teams broken down into three groups:1. In the playoffs, still alive for Supporters Shield2. Not yet in the playoffs3. Out of the playoffsEvery contending team has two games left except Chivas USA, which has three.We'll update this glance as the day goes on, pressbox wi-fi permitting (wi-fi or not, check Twitter updates). All times ET. All games on DirectKick and MLSNet unless noted.The domestic day starts the USL First Division final's second leg (2:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel). Vancouver must overcome a 3-2