“¡Chivas Explosivas!” is definitely catchier than “We Are The Galaxy” — download all 13 songs here and pick your own fave:

http://www.adidas.com/us/campaigns/mls/content/default.asp

Via The Offside, “MLS Represent: Team Anthems, Oh Yeah” (thanks Bob)

Back in March, I wrote an article about choosing an MLS team to root for — “Chivas or Galaxy?”.

The first and last professional soccer team I rooted for actively and on a regular basis hasn’t played a game since 1981. That would be the Dallas Tornado of the also-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL). The Tornado had one NASL championship, in 1971.

I wasn’t able to make a decision at the time, though I began to lean toward Chivas USA.

Since then, the Galaxy have announced Herbalife as their jersey sponsor, which pretty much rules them out for my support. ;) I’ve only been to one MLS game, in fact my only professional soccer game — Real Salt Lake @ Chivas USA last year. Had a super time.

No matter what, there will be a certain artificiality to my being a particular team’s fan, at least to begin with. The same was true, though, of my adopting the Dodgers a few years ago and the LA Kings back in the 90s.

In a sense, I chose sports to love, then teams to express that with. My site The Trolley Dodger covers my baseball obsession and includes a page describing how I came to follow the Dodgers, “Back in the day…”

Soccer is a little more complicated for me. I do love the game and am determined to learn as much about it as possible. While I’ll be writing about this relationship in more detail another time, suffice to say I’ve been following the sport without a favorite team, whether MLS or elsewhere.

Between the Internet and TV outlets like Fox Soccer Channel and some of the Spanish stations, it’s relatively easy to follow any particular team in a few leagues — the English Premiership, La Primera División de México, MLS, etc.

My friend Alex is a big Liverpool fan, and I once had an English acquaintance who loved Chelsea. After doing some reading, I had thought to adopt the Wolverhampton Wanderers, mostly because I liked their name and Wolves mascot, but they’ve not been in the Premier League for a few years now. Of course, Manchester United would be all too easy to choose, much like there are far too many NY Yankee fans running around the globe. ;)

So I am still undecided and would welcome input in the comments (if anybody so desires). For the time being, however, I am going to keep on watching, learning, and writing about the Beautiful Game.

Sounds like I’m not the only one considering the coolness factor of Chivas USA versus the Galaxy’s approach.

Let the Galaxy, with its English superstar go and chase the dream of becoming a global brand. As for Chivas, it will be content — for now at least — with wooing and winning the local market. “We’re really focused on being L.A.’s team,” said Javier Leon, Chivas USA’s chief executive.[…]

There is a firm belief among Chivas USA officials that the Galaxy has dropped the ball when it comes to Southern California’s Latino fans and that miscalculation has opened the door for Chivas.

The Galaxy, whose alumni include such stellar players as Jorge Campos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Eduardo Hurtado, Carlos Hermosillo and Carlos Ruiz, no longer has a single recognized Latino player on its roster.

By contrast, the current Chivas USA roster shows players of American, Mexican, Honduran, Colombian, English, Puerto Rican and Salvadoran extraction. Demographically, Chivas USA is far more reflective of Los Angeles and will keep drumming home that fact.

“I wouldn’t say they’re losing Los Angeles because of Beckham,” Cue said of the Galaxy. “I think Beckham is a great asset. I think they’re losing Los Angeles because Chivas came here [in 2005] and is doing what people wanted done.

“Now there’s another team providing the passion that the fans like.”

The first and last professional soccer team I rooted for actively and on a regular basis hasn’t played a game since 1981. That would be the Dallas Tornado of the also-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL). The Tornado had one NASL championship, in 1971.

Much like basketball — despite the woeful expansion Dallas Mavericks at the time (founded in 1980) — soccer didn’t garner much attention or affection compared to the Texas Rangers and especially the Dallas Cowboys. Football was and is king in Texas.

Times have changed, and there are now much-loved basketball (the powerhouse Mavs!), soccer (FC Dallas), and even hockey (the Stars) teams running around the Metroplex.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and Southern California has been blessed with first one and now two professional soccer teams, not to mention a beautiful soccer stadium and complex. And with my recent catching up on the global game’s history and current state (not to mention attending a Chivas USA game last season), I’ve been pondering adopting one of them as a Favorite Soccer Team.

Alex is leaning toward adopting Chivas USA, especially since the Beckham announcement. I had been considering the Galaxy, partly because they’ve been around longer, and partly due to Landon Donovan, who’s a Redlands native. With Beckham and accompanying media frenzy, I’m beginning to have my doubts.

Doing some research on the parent Club Deportivo Guadlajara Chivas team, it reads as if they are kind of the Yankees of the Mexican Primera División. And you can say I’m not a big Yankees fan. ;) A better analogy might be Manchester United, I suppose.

However, I do dig the goats, and if the rumored move to Pomona comes true, that might make the decision for me.

So for now, I think I’ll just follow the news and maybe try to make a game or two. Ask again later. Besides, there are other important things to keep me occupied.

Greg Daurio at MLSnet.com covers a side story of Becks coming to the Galaxy — the impact it will have on one of their existing stars (and Redlands native) Landon Donovan: “Beckham signing impacts Donovan”,

Called by many the ‘Beckham Rule’ since its implementation by Major League Soccer, the league’s designated player rule became permanently linked with its namesake last week when the Los Angeles Galaxy signed David Beckham to a landmark deal.

In its simplest explanation, the rule allows any team to sign any player to any amount of money it so chooses and said player’s salary will only count as $400,000 against the league salary cap.

Landon’s salary will apparently be “grandfathered” in this year — as of next season, however, the Galaxy will have to trade either him or Beckham. Alternatively, the team could trade for another designated player slot, which could be an expensive proposition:

The standard has already been set fairly high for the value of a designated player spot. Chivas USA sent its slot to New York in exchange for Amado Guevara, a former league MVP. Based on that trade it’s unclear what the Galaxy would have to offer, but according to [team president Alexi] Lalas it’s too early in the game to put a clear cut value on a designated player slot.

In other Beckham news, he might be able to play in the MLS much sooner than expected, thanks to some acrimonious talk from Real Madrid.

The Real Madrid president suggested it was the club’s decision to get rid of the 31-year-old player even though it had previously offered him a two-year contract extension. Calderon also criticized Beckham’s conduct, saying on Monday his representatives had toyed with the club.

Sounds like a teenager — “She didn’t break up with me — I broke up with her!”

In any case, the team would have to buy out Beckham’s contract. Perhaps a more likely scenario now with all the childish whining going on, but as Alexi Lalas said,

We would love to have David Beckham at the earliest opportunity, but I’m not holding my breath.