Spring in the Air?

Stirrings of action, at least, in various U.S. pro leagues:

The Austin Aztex continue to make big moves. They announced this week that they'll bring in three Major League Soccer teams on consecutive Saturdays for preseason exhibition games: New England Revolution Feb. 28, Houston Dynamo March 7, and Columbus Crew March 14. Said Aztex owner Phil Rawlins in a press release: "We wanted to bring in the best the MLS has to offer. New England has been to the MLS Cup three of the last four seasons. Houston won it two years in a row ('06 and '07) and Columbus is the reigning champion. We believe Austin fans deserve an opportunity to see top-level professional soccer in the USL-First Division and the MLS."… Next: Build a team. The MLS SuperDraft is today, Thursday, Jan. 15 (live on ESPN2, 1pm); in the wake of that, and various combines and tryouts, the Aztex should start announcing some player signings pretty soon; right now they have three players on their roster, and they play a top MLS team in six weeks. Speaking of which, the Aztex hold their final public tryouts Feb. 7-8 at St. Edward's University; deadline to apply online: Jan. 19. www.austinaztex.com.

Below: the Dynamo, Marta, Women's Professional Soccer, and Stoke for breakfast.

For the Dynamo, that Austin visit will fall two weeks before the MLS season opener, but they will have already played a very difficult CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Mexican powerhouse Atlante, at home Feb. 24, in Cancun March 3. Atlante will be in midseason form in the Mexican Primera Division; they're one of four Mexican clubs in the final eight.

Marta Vieira da Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo were named FIFA World Players of the Year on Monday – Marta for the third straight time. That same day, the Los Angeles Sol announced that they had signed Marta to a three-year contract, and the new Women's Professional Soccer league had the one player they needed for instant international credibility – to compete with Europe's major women's leagues that have grown up since the days of the WUSA. The first WPS college draft takes place this Friday in St. Louis; Olympic gold-medalist Amy Rodriguez of USC is expected to be the No. 1 pick. The seven-team league kicks off its inaugural season March 29. More info at www.womensprosoccer.com.

Potters breakfast: Chelsea-Stoke is live on Fox Soccer Channel, 9am Saturday, Jan. 17.