Can I tell you how much I love it when readers send me things of interest? It makes my life a lot easier.

• Brian Quarstad interviews the Minnesota Thunder’s new Marketing Director [Blue Sky Soccer via BQ]
• Speaking of USL, Austin gets a team in ’09 [The Offside Rules via Minor]
• Beckham is being called the world’s “biggest environmental threat,” which, of course, is code for “we want Beckham’s money and this seems like a good way to get it.” [FoxSoccer.com]
• MLS teams can now take charter flights, but only four times per year. In other news, MLS still has no money. [Big Apple Soccer]
• Roy Hodgson says that Eddie Johnson is on his way to “underperform at Fulham offer us another dimension to our attacking play.” [FulhamFC.com]

Agree or disagree?

Here’s a fact, Twellman is 27. Here’s another, he’s scored six goals in 29 international matches… Part of me thinks the suits at the US Soccer Federation so desperately want Twellman to succeed. He’s got everything they need in a poster boy — an alliterative name, goofy smile, blond hair, etc. You know, the guy that can smile and sell cokes. He has the personality that Donovan does not…except he doesn’t have the game. I hate to knock him, since he does work hard, but we’ve all seen enough.

Reminds me a bit of what I said previously about Eddie Johnson. The problem? Brian McBride is retired and we need someone who’ll put the ball in the back of the net. If these guys aren’t going to do the job, who is?

Photographer: fabbio

Ives Galarcep made a bold move on January 1, 2008 when he went independent. Says Galarcep:

I am leaving the Herald News after 10 years at the paper in order to devote myself to launching and running a soccer news website [editor's note: if it runs on WordPress, orders content sequentially by date and allows comments, it's a blog—no need to be afraid] that readers from all over the country, and American soccer fans all over the world, can come to for the best mix of news and analysis around.

Listen, I think that’s super-awesome and everything but I’m concerned about how Ives will get all that news to analyze without press credentials. It’s not like MLS or U.S. Soccer are going to give a media pass to a blogger.

By the way, Ives is doing his best to prove that age-old axiom, “nothing says ‘L4wlZ! I gotz a blog – OMG!1!’ like three skyscraper AdSense blocks per post.” I’m only kidding; the CTR must be amazing, considering all those expensive AP and ISI photos.

Last week, I mentioned a St. Paul Pioneer Press article about Minnesota Thunder co-owner, Dean Johnson, and his ambitions to (re-)develop parts of downtown St. Paul.

I’m not sure why I didn’t see this earlier but the amazing (seriously, if you’re a local, you should be reading this every day) City Hall Scoop blog at the Pioneer Press has details (including pictures) of Johnson’s plans to bring life (good luck working with the rubes on that city council) back to the city.

Here’s a nice picture of the proposed riverfront development:

While you’re there, take a listen to Johnson’s comments about owning the Thunder and building a new stadium. (mp3)

This is truly one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I dare you to type “Jose” on your cell phone using T9 mode.