Summary: In perhaps defiance of history and even convention where two term national team managers are concerned, Sunil Gulati and US Soccer made a rather surprising move by extending the contract of Jurgen Klinsmann for four more years before a ball is even kicked in Brazil this summer while adding on what could be an even more desired title when he was also surprisingly handed the role of technical director. Time will tell as whether this secondary role is more coveted than the job of US National Team coach for the former Bayern Munich and Germany coach, but what is clear is that US Soccer seemed confident enough - and maybe concerned too - that allowing Klinsmann to test the waters after 2014 was not a risk it wanted to endure. We examine several facets of this extension in part one, try to get under the timing of the deal and begin to question whether we will see Klinsmann leading this team come 2018, knowing that major work will need to be done in the aftermath of the World Cup, and if he should retreat back into the strategic part of the program that will have a bigger impact longer term on the direction of the US program. In part two, we measure the possibilities and probabilities of escaping Group G against Germany, Ghana and Portugal and try to explore a couple of factors that could lend themselves to the US cause. The match ups may suggest trouble for Klinsmann six months in advance of the actual competition, but there is a possibility that the US could advance should it march out to grab all three matches in the first match against Ghana. At the end of part two we also take a look at the ongoing issue with MLS TV ratings nationwide, examine the figures and weigh in on the league MVP Mike Magee and how transformative that deal really was to an LA Galaxy team who seemingly had a three-peat well within its grasp.
