Soccer

The Los Angeles Galaxy acquired midfielder Mike Magee from the New York Red Bulls for a second-round pick in today's MLS SuperDraft.

"Mike is a very good attacking player and can play in a number of positions," Galaxy general manager-coach Bruce Arena said Wednesday in a statement. "At 24 years old, Mike brings us some proven quality and experience. I believe he will be a great asset to our team."

The 2008 MLS season culminated on Nov. 23 at Home Depot Center and the 2009 season won't start until mid-March. But that doesn't mean several MLS players have not made an impact on the club level since Columbus won MLS Cup 2008.

Three of the league's brightest stars as well as a Chivas USA original have defended other teams' colors since the end of the 2008 season. All four have been short-term loans, but the jury is out on whether it will pave the way for respective exits from the league for at least three of the players.

Marta, a three-time FIFA player of the year, is joining the new women's league in the United States.

The 22-year-old Brazilian striker said Monday she will sign a three-year contract to play for the LA Sol of the Women's Professional Soccer league.

Carlos Ochoa, Marco Fabian, Hector Reynoso and Gonzalo Pineda converted postgame penalty kicks to give CD Guadalajara the InterLiga tournament championship with a 4-2 victory over Morelia after a 1-1 tie in regulation in the second game of Sunday night's doubleheader.

As the first full week of 2009 begins, several Inland-area soccer products are already on their respective paths this year in hopes of what the New Year will bring. For some, success abroad will be the key for this year while for others MLS successes would suffice. And the U.S. national team will also be part of most of this crop of players.

LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan will join Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga on loan during the MLS off-season.

Donovan's loan began Monday and he is scheduled to return March 8, two weeks before the Galaxy opens the season against D.C. United on March 22.

With the end of 2008 and the dawn of a new year, this is an appropriate time to look at some of the aspects of soccer that have brought joy to my life throughout not just this past year but in my entire life.

From a young boy growing up in Temecula to a father of two budding soccer players, the beautiful game has always played a role in my life.

It's that time of year again, time to hand out Christmas presents to family, friends, neighbors, daughters' teachers, co-workers ... co-workers' children.