To help keep those fond memories alive there is plenty of cool championship gear and clothing on sale at the official shop of Major League Soccer. There is a wide selection of memorabilia to remind you of the great 2009 MLS season and all of it is officially licensed merchandise from the MLS.

This 2009 MLS Cup Champions men’s short sleeve tee-shirt has the team, MLS and MLS Cup logo printed nicely on the front. The red championship shirt is made from 100 percent cotton and comes in sizes small through extra large. It is currently on sale for $19.99 and ships within 1-2 business days.

This 2009 MLS Cup Champions Scarf has a different print on each side of it and bears the official 2009 MLS Cup Champions team logo. It is a great way to stay fashionably warm during the winter and is currently on sale for $29.99.

This Wincraft Real Salt Lake 2009 MLS Cup Champions Pennant can be hung anywhere from an office to a dorm room and is an ideal way to show off your Real Salt Lake pride. It has full color graphics, is 12 inches by 30 inches, and is currently available for only $7.99.

This Wincraft Real Salt Lake 2009 MLS Cup Champions Sign is 11 inches by 17 inches and features the official 2009 MLS Cup Champions graphic. It is the perfect decor for a garage or media room and is currently on sale for $4.99.

This Wincraft Real Salt Lake 2009 MLS Cup Champions High Definition Key Ring has the official 2009 MLS Champions graphic and can easily fit into a pocket or purse. Currently available for only $5.99, it is a great way to be reminded of Real Salt Lake’s amazing performance every time you need to use your keys.

Image Source: MLSgear.com

Before this year’s Major League Soccer season began Los Angeles Galaxy superstar Landon Donovan called out David Beckham for what he felt was a lack of commitment to the team. Fast forward to the 2009 MLS Cup and perhaps now it is Beckham who should be calling out Donovan.

After the Galaxy and Real Salt Lake finished regulation and overtime in a 1-1 deadlock the game was left to be decided by penalty kicks. The Galaxy went first and Beckham, who has undergone much scrutiny since leaving Europe to help promote the MLS for a deal that was reported to be in excess of $250 million, lived up to his contract and delivered a goal. By the time Donovan came up as the fourth kicker the two teams were locked at three goals apiece.

Then it all went downhill for the Galaxy. Donovan stepped up and launched a bullet in the center of the goal … about five feet over the crossbar. The Galaxy eventually lost 5-4 after seven rounds of kicks and although he wouldn’t say it, you have to wonder if Beckham feels a little happy about Donovan’s misstep.

It was the first MLS Cup for Real Salt Lake and is only the second time an expansion team has won it all; the other being the Chicago Fire in 1998.

There isn’t exactly a dearth of talent on the waiver wire but smart owners (especially in shallow, 10-team leagues) can pick up players right now that can produce this week and beyond and help get them into the playoffs (or at least make your team respectable if you are already out. No one likes a tanker!).

One word of caution before we proceed — I am not suggesting you start any of these players over bona fide studs like Aaron Rodgers, Chris Johnson or Reggie Wayne (all first in fantasy points at their position). What I am saying is that if you find yourself in a bind and need to pick up a player to replace someone who is injured or simply not producing, the following three guys are available and ready to contribute.

QB Vince Young, Tennessee Titans (Owned in8.1 percentof ESPN leagues): I know, I know. I just suggested that Young is a viable pickup in fantasy football but hear me out; it isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Very quietly Young has posted three consecutive games of at least 12 fantasy points and has a favorable match-up against the Houston Texans, a team which has allowed at least 12 fantasy points to quarterbacks in four out of the last five weeks.

RB Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks (Owned in 22.6 percent of ESPN leagues): I also like Jason Snelling of the Atlanta Falcons, but with Michael “The Burner” Turner still having a chance to suit up on Sunday I will take the little known Forsett instead. Forsett, the backup for the injured Julius Jones, is slated to start and should get the bulk of the work out of the backfield. I realize he is going up against the vaunted Minnesota Vikings defensive line, but Forsett is also a good pass catcher and has extra value if you are playing in a PPR league.

WR Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints (Owned in53.1 percentof ESPN leagues): A good buy low option if he is already owned in your league, Henderson has had at least 70 yards receiving in three of his last four games. The even better news is that he is going against the team that has given up the third most points to opposing wide receivers all season — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Other wide receivers I would buy low on are Kevin Walter (Texans are without Owen Daniels and playing against the worst pass defense in terms of fantasy points allowed) and Jeremy Maclin, who should see more opportunities now that Brian Westbrook is out.

Image Source: SB Nation

With the beginning of the season now underway it is the ideal time to get your favorite team gear. From team hats to jerseys and warm ups to car flags, there are many different ways to show your pride and support for your favorite team.

Here are three great deals courtesy of Eastbay, GameTime USA, and the College Basketball Store to help get you started with your shopping. They all feature amazing sale items and have cool clothes and accessories from a wide variety of colleges and universities.

This Team Edition Pedigree Hoodie from Eastbay.com is available in many different teams and comes with an embroidered logo on the front. The colored hoodies are 60% cotton/40% polyester and the grey hoodies are made of 70% cotton/30% polyester and come in sizes small through quadruple-extra large. It is currently on sale for $29.99 and is eligible for free shipping on orders of $75 or more.

This Zephyr Duke Blue Devils Charcoal Mystic Fitted Hat from the CollegeBasketballStore.com is currently on sale for $14.99. Sizes range from 6 3/4 to 8 and all orders are eligible for $4.99 three day shipping.

This Georgetown Hoyas 2008-09 Blue Screen Printed Replica Basketball Shorts by Nike Team Sports from GameTimeUSA.com is made from 100% polyester fabric and is officially licensed by the NCAA. It is currently on sale for $29.99 and is available in sizes small through double-extra large.

Shop for more NCAA Basketball gear at Smarter.com.

After a season of dominating American League hitters on a team that struggled to get him wins, Greinke got his well deserved award. He easily beat Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners, receiving 25 of 28 first place votes. While he ended the season with only 16 wins, tied for the lowest total wins for a CY Young winner, voters focused on his other numbers like his MLB leading ERA 2.16. Greinke’s team the Kansas City Royals had by far the worst team record for an AL CY Young winner, something that some experts thought might cast him the award. I mean, put him on a winning team like the Yankee’s and who knows how many wins he would have had this year, and I’m glad the voters didn’t dock him for that. All year Zack dominated and there were some stretches in the season when he just seemed unhittable.

Greinke though, who is extremely shy and was diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder in 2005, said that he has some mixed feelings about winning the award. The good part for him is that he had a great season and he is being recognized for it. The bad part is the attention he will now receive for winning the award. Like I said, he is a shy guy that prefers to remain anonymous so this new attention is going to be a big change going forward, but for now Zack will take the award and what comes with it.

Up by 6 and it’s forth and 2 on your own 28 yard line, no coach would think about going for it in that situation, right? Wrong, Bill Belichick, probable the only coach on earth that would go for it right there (and I mean real coaches not Madden players), had no hesitation going for it and his gamble backfired completely. Instead of making Payton Manning and the Colts drive 70 yards in under 2 minutes to try in win the game, Belichick’s move made it so much easier. Now they only had to go 30 yards and when Payton Manning is the QB that’s practically giving him the game. What was he thinking? After the game he defended the call by saying, “We tried to win the game on that play. I thought we could make the yard. We had a good play, we completed it. I don’t know how we couldn’t get a yard.” I mean that would be fine and all but not on your own 28 yard line. Why not just put the ball and allow your defense to make a stop? Going for it right there is pretty much telling your defense I don’t think you guys are good enough to stop Payton anyway so I just want to win it right here. This call not only cost the Pats the game but it also may cost them a chance at home field advantage in the playoffs. They are now three games behind the Colts for the top seed in the AFC. A win would have put them right there in the mix. We will see how much this decision will cost them in the end.

Photo Source: AP Photo

Thankfully, the NFL has an answer for just that question. To help satisfy people’s insatiable appetite for all things NFL-related, week 10 of the season was kicked off with a Thursday night game between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. As I was watching the game, two things came to mind.

1) Jay Cutler is a turnover machine.

2) Oh my goodness, it’s week 10. The fantasy football playoffs are just around the corner!

For many fantasy footballers, there are only a few weeks left before the playoffs begin. It is rapidly becoming do-or-die time and if you are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in you might feel that all is lost. To that I say, in the immortal words of Journey, don’t stop believing!

If you have players out due to injury, not playing as well as you hoped, or are the victim of some untimely bye weeks, there is still hope. It ain’t over ’till it’s over and it is still possible to salvage your season. It will take a lot of cunning to pull off the necessary trade(s) and a lot of guts to pickup and start a player that other people in your league may scoff at, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

The following three players — one quarterback, running back, and wide receiver — are either not owned in a decent amount of leagues or should be easy to acquire in a trade. Keep in mind that I am not recommending you start any of these guys over obvious studs. However, if you find yourself struggling at a particular position for whatever reason, the following three guys are worth taking a look at.

QB David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars: Garrard has scored at least 12 fantasy points in five of his eight games this year and has scored more total fantasy points than both Donovan McNabb and Matt Cassel. Many owners have been quick to pick up Alex Smith and Josh Freeman the last two weeks to fill their backup QB needs, but I would feel much safer with Garrard now that he has a legit wide receiver in Mike-Sims Walker.

RB Justin Vargas, Oakland Raiders: Thanks to franchise killer JaMarcus Russell the Raiders have been the black hole of fantasy points this season, but Vargas has very quietly put together a nice string of games. In Darren McFadden’s absence over the last three weeks Vargas has put up 9, 8 and 13 fantasy points. It is not stellar by any stretch of the imagination but it makes him a solid RB3/flex, especially in deeper leagues.

WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers: Wallace has put up double digit fantasy points the last two weeks and four of the last six. In fact, during that time span he has put up a total of 58 fantasy points, which is 23 more than Steelers starting wide receiver Santonio Holmes. While opponents continue to focus on Holmes and Hines Ward, you can bet that Wallace will continue to get open looks.

Want more fantasy football or basketball advice? Send your questions to my twitter account, @davidcarrillo.

Image Source: ESPN

Of course, to enjoy those fun snow activities you have to have the right clothing and equipment. If you live in an area where it snows frequently you probably have a closet full of snow gear, but for those who are not used to the cold weather finding high quality, inexpensive cold weather clothing can be a difficult task. It can also be quite the dent in your wallet if you do not know where to look for the best deals.

Luckily for both newcomers to cold weather fun and seasoned outdoor veterans, I have found some amazing discounts on winter items that will save you money and have you looking great. These unbelievable savings can be found at Sierra Trading Post and more great deals can be found here.

These waterproof Orage Morph Pants retail for $230 but are currently on sale for $74.96. This incredible deal is available in three different colors and comes in sizes extra small through double-extra large.

From its product description:

• Adjustable waistband allows custom fit
• Zip hand pockets
• Rear touch-fasten pocket
• Rear zip-close pocket
• Thigh vents with welded waterproof zippers
• Left thigh gear pocket
• Anatomic knee design provides mobility
• Elastic gripper gaiters snug around boot tops to keep snow out

You can’t go snowboarding without the right equipment and the right snowboarding boots are arguably the most important item to buy. These Burton Freestyle Snowboard Boots are regularly $169.95 but are currently on sale for $87.49.

From its product description:

• Nubuck shell
• Acrylic pile lining
• Knit cuffs
• Snap wrist fasteners
• Thinner, non-bulky midsole improves sensitivity on rails and jibs
• Inner lacing harness for superior heel hold and fit
• Cushioning EVA footbed
• Traction rubber sole
• Height — 10”
• Weight — 4 lb. 6 oz.

The human body loses most of its heat through its extremities, which is why it is so important to wear durable gloves while out in the cold weather. These Grandoe Jackeroo Nubuck Gloves are currently 54 percent off and on sale for $20.62.

From its product description:

• Nubuck shell
• Acrylic pile lining
• Knit cuffs
• Snap wrist fasteners

Find more deals for Sierra Trading Post at CouponMountain.com.

Although it actually took place on Monday night, the battle between the final two players of the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event field was aired on ESPN last night and it did not disappoint fans who have been waiting for months to see the November Nine be whittled down to one.

After nearly three hours of heads-up play, poker pro Joe Cada took down amateur Darvin Moon to win $8.55 million and the poker world’s most coveted bracelet. And for the second year in a row, a record was set for the youngest Main Event champion ever. Cada is 340 days younger than last year’s Main Event winner, Peter Eastgate, who overtook the 20 year old record from Phil “The Poker Brat” Hellmuth.

The Main Event was as popular as ever this year, drawing 6,494 players when the tournament began back in June. It also received a lot of hype because the final table featured arguably the greatest player in the world in Phil Ivey, who was knocked out in 7th place on a bad beat. And while Ivey received all the pre-final table hype, it is Cada who gets to bask in the spotlight of poker’s biggest spotlight.

So how does it feel to be 21 years old, a multi-millionaire, and the winner of poker’s most popular tournament?

“I’ve dreamed of winning this tournament, and to do it the first year out of the gate is unbelievable,” said Cada on the WSOP Web site. “This is just amazing.”

Image Source: Guardian.co.uk

Luckily for shoppers, the Internet has made the hassles of shopping largely avoidable. By shopping from the comfort of your home you can avoid the traffic, search for gifts with ease, and save money by finding the best possible price on the item you want.

With that in mind I have compiled some great sports related Christmas gifts to help you get a jump start on your holiday shopping. These special offers are courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods and more great deals can be found from them here.

This Razor® Powerwing™ Drifting Caster Scooter is great for people who like to have fun outdoors and get a little exercise in the process. It allows users to turn, drift and accelerate with minimal effort and comes with an effective hand brake. Normally $129.99, it is on sale for $99.99 after a special 10 percent off discount.

This Reebok Duffle Bag is a Dick’s Sporting Goods exclusive and an excellent way to stow all your gear for a trip to the gym or an overnight trip. It has a top loading main compartment, four external storage compartments, and a cable management port with MP3 pocket to store your portable music player. It is also eligible for the special 10 percent discount and is on sale for $16.97.

The Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS System is an ideal gift for anybody who spends a lot of time on the road. It has turn-by-turn directions, optional MSN® Direct services, and comes packed with millions of destinations and maps for the contiguous U.S., Canada, or regional sections of Europe. Another 10 percent off eligible item, the Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS System is on sale for the incredibly low price of $164.99.

Find more Dicks Sporting Goods coupons at CouponMountain.com.