MLS NOTES: WEEK 3

• The painted over football lines at Rice-Eccles stadium in Salt Lake didn't look all that good on television, but I think it's the thought that counts. Good crowd for the RSL home opener.

• Not a great game in Salt Lake, but the one goal was pretty well taken. Diving headers always look cool. Always.

• Youri Djorkaeff looked pretty good for Metrostars. His first two or three touches were brilliant, though they didn't lead to anything. Listed as a forward, he spent more time early on playing more of a playmaking midfielder role, which is what any team needs, especially Metros.

• Bo Oshoniyi was wearing the brightest orange keeper's shirt I've ever seen. Maybe he was worried about being shot by deer hunters or something. If so, I'd have to say he was pretty safe. Had he somehow been sucked up in a vortex of wind and flung into the Atlantic, the rescue choppers would have had no problem finding him. I wonder what size batteries that jersey takes.

• Jack Jewsbury continues to do nothing but score important goals for Kansas City. Where did this guy come from, and how does he keep doing that?

• A rare but welcome Sergio Galvan Rey sighting! He equaled last year's goal output in one match Saturday. He needs to at least quintuple that number for the Metros to have any chance of getting anywhere this year.

• Still, a good point for the Metros, coming back from two goals down to get the tie against KC. I'm sure Bob Bradley would prefer three points at home, but he's got to be happy with the effort, and thrilled to see the King of Goals getting off to a fast start.

• The Freddy Adu - Frankie Hejduk handbag duel has got to go down as the least macho display of machismo in the history of sport. Neither of these guys is going to end up at Wrestlemania as a villain. Just play nice and keep your hands to yourselves boys; thuggery doesn't become you at all. Oh, and Freddy, go to your room. No PlayStation for a week, young man.

• Oh yeah, Crew 1-0 DCU. Yawn.

• Ronnie O'Brien's goal against Chivas is an early Goal of the Year candidate. 35 yards out, curling, upper 90 postage stamp. Check it out on MLSnet. Sublimity, thy name is Ronnie.

• I love the Chivas Slogan: Adios Soccer, El Futbol Esta Aqui.

• Memo to Thiago Martins: pick a name, pal, and go with it. Last week your jersey said 'Thiago', this week it said 'Thiba'. Let's get is straight, buddy boy.

• Second Memo to Mr. Martins (cc: Jaime Moreno): 99 is a stupid number for a soccer jersey. It's right up there with white cleats on the list of things I'd ban if I were commissioner for a day.

• The grass at the new Soldier Field looked terrific. So, a stadium with an NFL team can get some good grass in time for soccer season, even if it's really cold all winter? Huh, maybe some other teams should take a cue from the groundskeepers in Chicago. New England, I'm looking in your direction.

• Not strictly speaking an MLS note, but I am SOOOO going to see "The Game of Their Lives" this Friday, assuming it's showing in Oklahoma City, which is by no means a given, unfortunately. I think I'll even put on my Ebert hat and write a review. GO SEE IT!