The MLS season starts in just over a week. The Timbers, for whom I am a season ticket holder, start their season Sunday the 3rd against the New York Red Bulls. I'm always excited when the Red Bulls come to town, because that means Thierry Henry comes to town, but this year the Timbers have their own ex-Arsenal player - Mikael Silvestre played his way onto the team with a couple really good performances in Tucson a couple weeks ago.

I was very skeptical, after watching him be crap with Arsenal, that he'd be any good any more, but it turns out he could become a really effective MLS defender - he's really good at passing the ball out of the back to a specific person (most MLS defenders just hoof and hope), and he's also good at slowing down opposing attacks by being stationary in the right place at the right time. So despite my fears, I'm actually OK with him playing for the Timbers for a couple years, and it sets up Arsenal v Arsenal on the 3rd.

I'm pretty excited for the start of the MLS season - the Timbers will be better this year. They might not be playoff better, but they're already moving the ball around a lot better than they did last year, and if they get their defense sorted out (they drew 3-3 with San Jose in their last preseason game, and two of the three goals were...soft, to be generous), they'll actually be a really solid team.

Are you an MLS fan - even a casual one? Excited for the new season? Excited for Spring Training to start? I am, and now that Felix is a Mariner For Life, I'm even more excited. Anything else making you happy this week?