ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: Conf. Championships set to go | Revs stadium endorsement

Forward To A Friend

Kick Off: Conf. Championships set to go | Revs stadium endorsement | Defoe, Lampard futures

Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about today:

1. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST

The LA Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders face off in Leg 1 of the Western Conference Championship on Sunday (5 pm ET, ESPN). Does either side have an edge? Another MLS Cup might be a fitting end to Landon Donovan's career, but his Galaxy teammates don't see that as any extra motivation. Meanwhile, Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid was nearly fired, but saved his job and produced one of the best teams in MLS.

2. EVERYONE LOVES OZZIE

It remains uncertain whether Osvaldo Alonso (hamstring) will play for Seattle on Sunday, but at least a few of the Galaxy players hope he's ready to go.

3. LD'S FINISH LINE

With the end in sight, Landon Donovan reveals the difficulty of knowing his playing career is coming to an end. The Galaxy star is very open and honest, something we've come to expect from him, especially when he discusses one of sports' biggest stigmas: mental health.

4. EASTERN PROMISES

Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Championship between the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution is also on Sunday (1:30pm ET, NBC). Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke feels it would be "phenomenal" if his side reached the MLS Cup final, but to do that he'll need his midfield pairing of Dax McCarty and Eric Alexander to neutralize the Revolution's many attacking threats. Similarly, the Revs are working on how to stop Thierry Henry.

5. THE JONES EFFECT

Since Jermaine Jones joined the Revolution in late August, they have gone 10-1-1, including the playoffs. Count the Red Bulls' Thierry Henry as impressed. And Revolution coach Jay Heaps had plenty of praise for his world-class midfielder.

6. "SOCCER STADIUM BELONGS IN BOSTON"

Staying in New England, an op-ed in the Boston Globe has come out in favor of a recently revealed proposal for a new REvolution stadium. "The Boston area is ready for a so-called 'soccer-specific stadium,'" writes columnist Lawrence Harmon.

7. AWARD FINALISTS

MLS revealed the finalists for the various season awards on Thursday. The immediate reaction understandably focused on the three finalists for Volkswagen MLS MVP. It's hard to argue with Robbie Keane, Obafemi Martins, or Lee Nguyen, but some observers, including Red Bulls coach Mike Petke, were shocked to see Budweiser Golden Boot-winner Bradley Wright Phillips excluded.

8. EXPANSION NEWS

Representatives from three potential MLS expansion cities met with league officials on Thursday in New York. "We were impressed with the presentations made by each group," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said.

9. TFC2

Toronto FC have become the latest MLS side to officially announce their plans to field a USL PRO team. No news on a team name or venue just yet, but Jason Bent has been named head coach of the development side, due to begin play in the third division next year. Check out all the MLS clubs who will field USL PRO sides in 2015.

10. ELUSIVE ENGLISHMEN

Will Jermain Defoe be back in a Toronto FC kit next season? Head coach Greg Vanney was non-committal on the subject: "We continue to build our team with him in mind until something else changes." Meanwhile, there is more will-he-won't-he talk about when NYCFC midfielder Frank Lampard will complete his loan with Manchester City.

11. YOUNG CAPS TRAINING OVERSEAS

The Vancouver Whitecaps revealed on Thursday that six of their young players, five of whom were part of the Canadian U20 side that enjoyed a nice result at the recent Marbella tournament, will train with clubs overseas for a week.

12. A POSITIVE YEAR FOR CANADA

Altogether, Canada played five friendlies in 2014, and while a win, a loss, and three draws might not seem overly impressive, most longtime observers see definite signs of progress being made under Benito Floro.

13. O'DEA ON POTENTIAL MLS RETURN

Former Toronto FC captain Darren O'Dea seems open to returning to MLS someday, but not until after the new CBA is resolved -- and he definitely won't join TFC archrivals Montreal Impact: "They would need to offer me double (the money) I got in Ukraine."

14. AND THE WINNER IS...

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was named US Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year, winning with a landslide 64% of the vote. The Revolution's Jermaine Jones finished second and Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman came third. US soccer has also announced its nominees for Young Male Athlete of the Year.

15. MLSERS ON INTERNATIONAL STAGE

Erick "Cubo" Torres did it again on , scoring in the Mexican U-21's 2-0 win over El Salvador as they storm through the Central American and Caribbean Games. Elsewhere, Columbus Crew SC's Justin Meram earned his third international cap for Iraq as they crashed out of the 2014 Gulf Cup following a 2-0 loss to the UAE.

MLSsoccer.com Musts

The Word: Landon Donovan's other legacy

ExtraTime Radio: Omar Gonzalez on fatherhood and Dempsey's wild elbows

SmorgasBorg: Why Bradley Wright-Philips was more valuable than Lee Nguyen