The Red Bulls kick off their conference final tie with Atlanta today

The one New Jersey/New York team Johnny really pulled for starts the conference final tie (Americans and Canadians call them a 'home and home' series) with the Atlanta Braves, er Hawks, um, no, Falcons? It can't be the Thrashers, they're gone. Anyway, the Red Bulls play at Atlanta United at 5:30pm. It would be so Red Bulls to get this far again and lose but something tells Johnny they can win the Eastern Conference. If the Red Bulls play an in your face style against Atlanta and force them into giveaways and less possession, like they did previously this season, maybe the South Ward will still be chanting, “You can’t beat us,” in the return match at Red Bull Arena on Thursday.

NYCFC fans can go put on their Red Bull hats now.

Red Bulls vs DC Union for a chance to move on in the MLS playoffs

After a 1-0 first game victory in DC last weekend, the Red Bulls look to advance in the MLS Eastern Conference playoffs with a good result today. For those not hip to soccer that goal AT DC is big because in home and home, in soccer called "ties" that is the tie-breaker. Here's to a good result today at 3pm at Red Bull Stadium. Johnny can't wait to get tickets to the next round!

Is Andrea Pirlo coming to NYCFC after Saturday's Champions League Final?

Italian soccer legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo who plays his club soccer for Juventus may be headed to NYCFC after the Champions League final Saturday in Berlin vs FC Barcelona.

These are Twitter rumors coming out of Italy and picked up by US outlets but something certainly worth watching.

It's the MLS All-Star game out in Harrison tonight

The Major League Soccer All-Stars will be playing English Premier League champions Manchester United tonight at Red Bull Arena. First off we like the format. Well done. After having to watch dunking practice at NBA all-star games, slapshot and fancy pass practice at the NHL all-star games, no contact drills in the NFL Pro Bowl and now baseball all-star games ending in ties, this format actually works.

Point of order, the game is a sellout. So Johnny informing you that Los Angeles and USA star Landon Donovan won't even be there can't hurt attendance. The Red Bulls will have quite a few players representing the NEW JERSEY side. Joel Lindpere, Juan Agudelo, Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and Tim Ream are in and the team is coached by the Red Bulls' Hans Backe.

And what would an all-star game preview if Johnny couldn't be a jackass? Hey Ryan Giggs, no super injunctions on THIS side of the pond, just freedom of the press. So, will Imogen Thomas be on the trip with you? I mean since the British press is unable to say you two had an affair because you got a "super-injunction" and all.

Also on the soccer front the Star-Ledger has a nice piece on MLS trying to become a top flight club league. MLS' goal is to, within 10 years, be on par with the English Premier League, La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany) and Serie A (Italy). Gooooood luck with that. While MLS has a salary cap to keep player transfers financially doable, the European leagues sure don't. So good luck in trying to keep top flight USA talent here. Much as we don't fault our pro sports players from switching teams that offer more money how on earth can we expect any up and coming American soccer stars from playing with better competition for a lot more money. Answer, we can't. Billy, you can play for 400K for Denver or go play against Christian Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, David Villa, Diego Forlan in La Liga for 3 times what Denver will pay.

Ain't a hard choice now is it? Until MLS ends the salary cap and brings over a star or five in their prime (no offense to the Red Bulls Thierry Henry and LA's David Beckham but their best years were over before they got here) MLS will be a nice league where the top Euro competition comes to play in July to warm up for their seasons.

MLS just be happy with who you are and what you do. Team development academies are a MUST.

And end the salary cap.

Tonight's opponent scoring a brilliant goal