Blogs, Boswell, and Buh-Bye to Bachelorhood

Scattered blogs 'bout the 'Mo:
Stuart Holden and Pat Ianni have been writing a great blog from their tour with the U-23 MNT in China. There are some nice bits to the blog:

• Holden calls Ianni a "Meatball"
• Ianni calls Holden "Mr. Teen Houston"
• Ianni notes that in the game vs the Chinese Olympic team, "I'm sure Stu will tell you, but he had quite a few shots and a couple of really good ones."
• And the best line of all comes from Stu: "So now we are just relaxing at the hotel in Guangzhou about to watch a movie with our good friend Arturo (thanks by the way Arty for helping us in the playoffs!)." He's referring to this Arturo, not this one, of course.
  

DeRosario is also blogging, as he ventures to Mali for humanitarian purposes:

And the newest Dynamo has had a longstanding blog that was popular with DC United fans, and ladies in general. That Bos is a funny guy. Now that I've had a chance to digest the Wells-Boswell trade, I have to say that I think the Dynamo may be the biggest beneficiaries of the deal in the short term, which may be all that matters in the MLS. We lose a solid keeper who probably wouldn't see much field time due to being behind Onstad, and we gain a solid defender who probably will see a lot of field time. He had a stellar year two years ago, and I think Coach Dom has shown that he can bring the best out of a player, if the player is willing to give an effort. And Bobby Boswell seems to be that type of player. He's definitely saying and doing the right things:

• He says, "To end up in Houston is just unbelievable, it's awesome. I've heard nothing but good things about the organization and the coaches, and I know a lot of the guys, from playing against them and playing with them on the national level. I just think overall it's a good fit for me and I think I'm a good fit for them as well."
• He has been spending his off-season dedicated to a bulked-up strength and conditioning regimen, including "grueling" workouts with a boxing trainer as he focuses on adding weight and strengthening his legs for what promises to be another long, arduous year.
• Perhaps best of all, he's an Austin boy (sorta). He was born there, but raised in Tampa. "It's just that Texas mentality -- even though I didn't grow up there, I still got a little bit of it, and I'm looking forward to heading down and living there," he said. "The weather, they talk about how hot it is there, and I just kind of smile, because I'm like, 'man, in Tampa it's the same way,' you know? That humidity is kind of what I grew up on," he said, adding, "'Don't mess with Texas,' I'm going to start adopting that one right away."
• He's ready to compete for the starting XI for the team with the best defense in the MLS: "It's competition -- it makes everyone better," he said. "We had a lot of success here at D.C. with that, and I realize going into that system, that's how it's going to be. But like I've always said, all you can really do is work every day to improve and become a better player and eventually, you hopefully get an opportunity, and it's what you do with that opportunity. So I think that I'll be given a fair opportunity going in there, and I like my chances."

Of course, evaluating the trade also depends on Onstad remaining healthy, or on Dom finding a solid 2nd to Onstad. And the deal might not have a positive effect beyond this season, because we've lost a good longterm prospect in Wells, and Boswell has already said he wants to try his hand (foot?) at a European league after this next season. Still, the MLS is so fluid personnel-wise, that it's really only practical to look at the coming season; we can wait to deal with the issues of future seasons once those issues are upon us.

Wrapping up the blog theme, you should check out the satiric Beckham video posted on Glenn Davis' blog.

Grassroots recruiting:
Houston Dynamo brought a recruiter from the USMNT to the Valley, and are looking at untapped talent for themselves as well.

It's wuv, twoo wuv:
Do you remember Paul Dalglish? He sometimes wore Orange the past couple of years. Remember? Scored a couple of important playoff goals? Yeah, him. Injuries and a high salary (compared to the salary cap) implies that Paul won't be in the Orange next year, but that hasn't stopped him from setting down some roots in our fair city. It looks like Daggers found true love in a Houstonian art teacher. Congratulations to the happy couple. Rich or poor, quick or slow, may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.