Is it normal for places of business to celebrate July 4th on July 3rd? No matter, it makes me happy. Just like diving headers.

It begins. If you want up-to-the-minute reports on the house activities, this is probably a good place to start.

“Us“

This is absolutely hysterical Sunday reading.

Your new favorite play by place commentary. I have the same sentiments (you’re listening for about :45).

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Mikkel Diskerud, a dual American-Norwegian central midfielder who stars for Stabæk, opts to play for the USMNT. A good get.

Amy Lawrence — one of my favorite football writers — on the USMNT win over Spain. I watched the game from behind my desk at the office, which was a weird but thrilling thing. It’s only the Confederations Cup, but you can’t say that this was only Spain. This was freaking Spain. This was the best team in the world, at full strength, and we won 2-0. I cannot wait for South Africa.

Eunice can tell you that “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” is one of my all time favorite things.

Ali Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Hosein Ka’abi, and Vahid Hashemian have been “retired” from the Iranian national team. Frequent commenter fritz writes in:

“Iran didn’t exactly gut their squad since Karimi, Mahdavikia and Hashemian are in the twilight of their careers, and Iran won’t have any meaningful games to play until late 2010. But that’s still three of the best players in Iranian history. Repression is self defeating, even on the pitch.”

“Daylight.”

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