Came across an interesting Talmudic euphemism today, cited in Likutei Moharan. 'What, are you bringing straw to Afarayim?' was the ancient equivalent of 'What kind of idiot would try and sell ice in the Arctic?'

MLS is going to roll out divisions and a new playoff system. Has the league ever had even 3 years in a row without some ginormous change?

Jonathan Tannenwald@jtannenwald.bsky.social · yesterday

Larry Berg, later: "Our new playoff system will be something that I'm hoping to explain to people and get them excited about it." We'll find out at some point, I'm sure...

I will be happy with Larry Berg if he accepts an invitation to come to my house for Shabbat dinner. Don Garber was invited multiple times. He never responded.

Congratulations to the Rapids. Everybody knows that transfer revenue is the best way to build long term success in MLS. Excited to see how they turn this into on-field success the way Chicago Fire, Atlanta United, & FC Dallas have

Atlanta’s terrible and Lath has been underwhelming - certainly not worth the price.

Tom Bogert@tombogert.bsky.social · 3d ago

🇨🇮 BREAKING: Union Berlin has signed forward Emmanuel Latte Lath on a one-year loan from Atlanta United, per sources. Deal opens a DP spot for Atlanta as club chase big targets. Latte Lath, 27, gets fresh start in Germany. 11 goals in 48 apps for Atlanta after joining in $22m deal.

"Everything is looking up for Lucas Herrington. His time with Colorado Rapids will have been short, but what a phenomenal seven months it turned out to be.” These thoughts and more as the Rapids are about to sell the Aussie center back for $17 mill to Hull City. burgundywave.com/2026/08/01/l...

Colorado Rapids getting a reported $17 million fee for Lucas Herrington. Good Question: will then turn around and spend that on a big DP that can deliver them to the playoffs and more? Better Question: OK NOW WILL THEY FINALLY FIX THE JUMBOTRON?!? #Rapids96

“Surely some unknown kid from the A League isn’t going to play much for this Colorado Rapids team” said the rabbi, whose skills of prognostication had clearly departed him from the good old days when he once suggested that the Rapids should acquire Jermaine Jones. And then they did.

Holding The High Line@rapids96podcast.bsky.social · 4d ago

Remember preseason when Rabbi had Lucas starting for R2 on his depth chart and Red thought he’d be the backup to Noah Cobb. And then Lucas told Matt Wells “I’d love to get some minutes.” Lol

It is wild that a few weeks after Infantino runs the most profitable sporting event in human history he’s gonna be out on his ass. Just stunning.

Jonathan Tannenwald@jtannenwald.bsky.social · 4d ago

Concacaf drops a hammer on Gianni Infantino: "This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour. A comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative." www.concacaf.com/news/concaca...

Matchup between teams at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference: Colorado Rapids vs Austin FC By @spencer-baldwin.bsky.social burgundywave.com/2026/07/31/b...

Youssef Maziz to Colorado Rapids on a two-year deal is official. Burgundy Wave analyzes how he fits in tactically with Paxten Aarson. Questions remain for the club in the summer transfer window. burgundywave.com/2026/07/31/r...

If UEFA decided to pull out of FIFA, that’d be it. Ditto for CONMEBOL. But does either federation have the desire to be at the center of a new global football organization? And if a new one was created, would it be any less greedy or corrupt than FIFA?

Just a quick 'uh oh' for #Rapids96 to be aware of: Rapids2, the MLS Next Pro team, are 2-5-13 (WTL), sitting dead last in the WC. They are winless in 10 road games, and have a GD of -21, third-worst in MLS. They have just 18 Goals For. Again, uh oh.

Its weird that there’s a massive hullabaloo about FIFA selling the World Cup to a private firm. I was priced out of the last World Cup under FIFA. I don’t imagine anything they’ll do going forward will make the World Cup more accessible. FIFA already sucks. There’s no indication that’ll change.

The MLS All-Stars beat the LMX All-Stars 4-3. MLS is unbeaten in All-Star Games when Lucas Herrington starts.

The USMNT underachieved in 2026. Was quality of players at fault? Or preparation and tactics? Whelp, we’ll find out in 2030 I guess bc Poch is getting another shot.

Tom Bogert@tombogert.bsky.social · last wk.

🇺🇸 Sources: Mauricio Pochettino is close to continuing as USMNT head coach. Andres Cantor 1st. Would be 4 year deal Talks with U.S. Soccer progress and in a good place. Not done yet w/ @paultenorio.bsky.social @henrybushnell.bsky.social @david-ornstein.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Considering I found him to be a fatuous blowhard whose opinion was almost always unimpressive and shortsighted seems like a perfect move. Also please NYT, do not feel the need to fill his spot with another center-right elitist pro-oligarch voice. Get someone smart and interesting instead.

Oliver Darcy@oliverdarcy.bsky.social · last wk.

Scoop: I’m told that Ross Douthat is exiting The NYT and is expected to take a role at “60 Minutes.” News expected to be announced soon.

Guys, FIFA's been a corrupt mega-corporate uber-capitalist cash cow exploitation machine for decades and nothing it does resembles football or the best interests of football. Ever. To express any shock at anything, ever, that they do, is a level of delusion that I find fundamentally embarrassing.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last wk.

Fifa accused of ‘selling the soul of football’ over $20bn plan to sell World Cup commercial rights

Now I'm in the limelight / 'Cause I rhyme tight.

DISAPPOINTED

Ben Phillips@benphillips76.bsky.social · last wk.

This politician in Canada used ChatGPT to write his speech and then just directly read out loud the AI prompt without realising it, announcing to legislators “Here's a more natural, flowing version of that section that reads like a legislative speech rather than a series of short points." Glorious!

#AskHTHL Rapids lead the league in yellow/red cards by a healthy margin. Of the 4 games where we've been issued a red, we lost all 4 by 1 goal. Has the aggressive style gone too far, such that it's costing us points?

One weird aspect of getting divorced - you listen to a lot of music your soon-to-be ex-wife hated. Because the music isn’t tinged by any related memories of her. Also because she’s not around to complain about it anymore.

HTHL social post makes Tactics Free Zone (tm)! Thanks for the bump, @mattdoyle.bsky.social !

Matthew Doyle@mattdoyle.bsky.social · last wk.

Coaching changes spark turnarounds for Philly, Portland & the Crew | Matchday 18 Lots of stuff to talk through, but one of the big ones is that Cavan Sullivan seems to have found a different gear on the ball... tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/coaching-cha...

Lol. This fanbase is adorable. Get kicked in the nuts every season and come back for more.

Also, Loïc Williams' start at LB means that I don't think you'll ever see Jackson Travis play a minute for the Rapids again. He's theoretically 4th on the depth chart. For a team that has needs at CB, CM, DMid, and GK. #Rapids96

Also Kosi Thompson's dissent and yellow at the whistle was stupid. Ridiculous. 0.12 xG for 95 minutes, and you get upset that the ref didn't give you a final opportunity to ... probably do nothing again? You had 45 possessions to do something and you didn't. Give me a break. #Rapids96

Soccer_Rabbi, Mark Asher Goodman@rabbimarkasherg.bsky.social · last wk.

At no point in last nights Rapids game were they ever in it. I mean like shades of the Joe Nasco red card game where the Pids were cooked in the first minute. Some bad passes to start, a bad backpass turns into a DOGSO red card, & that's all she wrote. Folks, this 2026 team ain't it. #Rapids96

At no point in last nights Rapids game were they ever in it. I mean like shades of the Joe Nasco red card game where the Pids were cooked in the first minute. Some bad passes to start, a bad backpass turns into a DOGSO red card, & that's all she wrote. Folks, this 2026 team ain't it. #Rapids96

Feels to me like a ‘buying high’ type move. The kind of moves that have gotten Manchester United into trouble for the past decade. Arsenal have always developed stars, or turned stars (Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp) into superstars. But hey. It ain’t my money.

David Ornstein@david-ornstein.bsky.social · 2w ago

🚨 EXCL: Arsenal exploring move to sign Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid. #AFC interest early stage + clubs not yet in talks but idea approved at all levels. Much rests on contract process as no breakthrough yet & #RMFC do not want free exit @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...

What are you talking about I chugged half a beer and downed a third of a raspberry entenmanns coffee cake

Septimus is Fucking Tired@septimusreviews.com · 2w ago

Nothing like that first cookie after fasting all day.

I watched the 7 goal Cincinnati-Vancouver game. Now I’m watching the #Rapids96 match. Wow quite the snoozer.