REBUFFED BY ZIDANE, MLS NEXT HOPES TO SIGN RONALDO: As part of a major profile on AEG’s Phil Anschutz in the NEW YORK TIMES, AEG (and L.A. Galaxy President) Chairman Tim Leiweke said of MLS’ strategy to acquire foreign players for next season, “There are only four players that move the needle: Ronaldo. Beckham. Zidane. Ronaldinho.”

First off, Leiweke forgot at least one player (who he has no chance to sign), Wayne Rooney of Manchester United.

Following Leiweke’s recent, futile attempt to acquire Zidane (and with Ronaldinho a financial impossibility - uh, he’s the best playa in the world, forget it), you can take Leiweke’s comment to say that he’s now attempting to lure Ronaldo.

Any sane soccer fan’s advice to the Galaxy Prez: Don’t bother. The only player who will make less of an impact on and off-the-field than Leiweke’s earlier sign, Mr. Personality (Beckham), is the formerly deadly accurate-goal scorer.

Zidane would’ve been a different story, at least on the field, but the now-bloated Brazilian (think Jamal Lewis) at his best was one-dimensional. And based on his performance the last two years, Jose Canseco has a better chance of being a needle-mover for MLS than Ronaldo.