America's favorite columnists turned television sports critics Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon have been a little focused on soccer recently on Pardon This Interruption courtesy of one Freddy Adu. But what if they took it a step further and dedicated an entire show to the A-League? Well, it might go a little something like this.

MW: I'm Mike Wilbon, welcome to PTI, today were talking A-League soccer
TK: And I'm Tony Kornheiser -- and yes, I lost a stupid, horrible bet. Who'd of thought Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and John Stamos would split up? Wilbon, I can't believe your making me go through with this.
MW: I can't believe I have to work with you every day.

TK: Honestly Wilbon, I don't know much about the A-League. If it had a reality show complete with giraffes and little people, maybe I'd watch it. But you know what Wilbon, if DC or MLS aren't interested in starting the 'Soccer Savior' 38-year-old Freddy Adu, then maybe somebody in the A-League is. It'd be great, they could rename it the Adu-League. That's all I got.
MW: Well Tony, if you had really been following Freddy, you'd know that he scored in the preseason against the defending league champion Charleston Battery.
TK: Seee, if he can score against the Battery, he's ready!
MW: But preseason doesn't really mean anything Tony - we gotta move on.

MW: Coming up this weekend, the expansion Puerto Rico Islanders play their first game. Tony, you could really use a trip to the island for some sun - you gonna go?
TK: Umm, no! Me and sun don't mix, I just turn a brighter shade of orange and it's not pretty. I'll admit though, that if I played soccer, I'd much rather be surfin in Puerto Rico than snowboarding up in the cold of Edmonton and Calgary where the other two expansion clubs are.
MW: You catchin some waves, I'd love to see that! But seriously, the Puerto Ricans are using this franchise to re-launch their national team so you have to respect what they are doing. And you gotta show some love to the Canadian clubs Tony. Those two cities have some history in the sport up there, and, for your information, it doesn't snow year-round.
TK: Great, just what I need, hate mail from Puerto Rico and Canada. As if I don't get enough from these crazy US fans who love the wonder-kid Adu.

TK: The first one from our producer over the loud speaker.

-- Who's more likely to finish as the scoring champ, Rochester's Doug Miller or Atlanta's Alex Pineda-Chacon?

TK: I gotta go with Pineda-Chacon. He was the MLS MVP and scoring champ just three years ago. Bet you didn't think I knew that did ya Wilbon? How bout some dap?
MW: I'm not givin you any dap for that, cuz… its gonna be Doug Miller. The guy came back from a year out of soccer and was second in scoring last year. And now he's got former top MLS draft pick Chris Carrieri up front with him.

-- Who's more likely to return to the final, Minnesota or Charleston?

MW: I gotta go with the champs. The Battery have never missed the playoffs in 11 years and have finally gotten over the hump, much like our boy Phil Mickelson did last week. How can you not pick 'em.
TK: I'll tell ya why Wilbon, they are missing seven guys that played in the final, that's why. Besides, our friend Buzz Lagos is one of the best coaches in the game. Ya wanna know how many finals he's been to Wilbon?… SIX!!
MW: There you go, always siding with your friends. I'll admit, Buzz is a great guy, but did you miss the fact that their playoff hero Johnny Torres is in Milwaukee now? I'd say they are the favorite out west now. Next topic.

-- Who will have the best year in goal, Greg Sutton or Theo Zagar?

TK: I gotta go with Sutton to finish on top again. Montreal was stellar on defense last year and I don't see that changing. Zagar on the other hand is playing for a new team in Rochester and just like in all sports, there's bound to be some communication issues.
MW: Hmm…well, I probably got to agree with you on this one although Rochester goalkeepers traditionally do very well. Montreal doesn't have defensive mastermind Bob Lilley on the sidelines anymore either, but I think it'll be tough for Zagar to match Sutton this year in his transition from Toronto, where he hasn't always had the best team in front of him. Plus Rochester traded two-time Defender of the Year Scott Schweitzer away to Syracuse. It'll probably be someone other than these two this year.

-- Who's more likely to end their slump first, the Raging Rhinos or Tiger?

MW: This is a no-brainer, you have to go with Tiger. He has four chances to win a major every year where Rochester only has one unless you count the Open Cup.
TK: No surprise your goin with your boy. But I'm putting my money on the Raging Rhinos, I love that name! Until your boy wakes up and dumps his fiancé, the nanny, he's gonna stay in that slump. Honestly, have you seen her Wilbon, how could you not be distracted?
TK: That's it! I win again!

TK: It's time for Role Play, or as we like to call it… heads on sticks.
TK: Mike, you are Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer. Your Sounders have the best record over the last two years at 39-11-6 and no team from the west coast has been to the final in forever, is this your year?
MW: Well, yeah, of course it is! Two years ago we were stunned by Vancouver and last year we lost out in the conference final to Minnesota because we couldn't find the back of the net. But, we added former MLS stud Welton up top to improve our scoring so I'd say we're the top team in the west right now.
TK: What about Wilbon's Western Conference favorite Milwaukee?
MW: Yeah, they'll be tough to get past - and probably Vancouver and Minnesota -  but we have to focus on the regular season first and deal with them when we get to the postseason. There's just way too much parity in the league to focus on the postseason before the season even kicks off.
MW: Tony, your Charleston Battery forward Paul Conway, you gonna be back to form after being hurt last year?
TK: NO! I'm as old as that Kornheiser geezer on tv. I may not be as old as that Benedetti guy in Portland who's been playin in the league since the turn of the century, but I can't believe they are still payin me to play.
MW: But you've been in the top ten in scoring three of the last four years, finishing first twice.
TK: It's all smoke and mirrors! Next!
MW: Who am I?
TK: Mike, you're Scott Schweitzer, are you upset you were traded away from Rochester?
MW: Let's see… I have three A-League rings, an Open Cup ring, two Defender of the Year awards and, oh yeah, they paid me pretty well. No, of course I'm not disappointed.
TK: But you're going to Syracuse, who had a losing record last year.
MW: Yeah, they needed a defender like me. Besides, Rochester hasn't been in the final the last two years - that's their longest drought, ever. This could be a good thing. Really!

MW: What's the first one say Tony?
TK: This person wants to know if this is the year the A-League returns to the Open Cup final.
MW: It's been a rough couple years for USL teams since the federation switched it to a stepladder format where the higher level teams come in later in the tournament.
TK: Didn't help either that the MLS teams started to take it more seriously after Rochester won it in 99 and a couple of them lost to PDL clubs in 2000.
MW: No, but the tourney really needs another surprising run like this year's FA Cup where first division side Millwall is in the final. That's the kind of story that gets the fans' attention.
TK: Between the Adu and Zacharia fans, I'm afraid to read my e-mail anymore, what's the next one Wilbon?
MW: You guys are completely ignoring the Virginia Beach Mariners, how bout showin them some love.
TK: I don't know about the Mariners Wilbon. They're trying to get rid of Roy Lassiter, another former MLS scoring champ - that's not good.
MW: Yeah, but they still have the two guys who were in the top five in the A-League in scoring last year with Dante Washington and Roland Aguilera.
TK: Is he related to Christina Aguilera? If she were the halftime entertainment, maybe I'd watch a little soccer.
MW: No, he's not related to Christina.

Stat Boy: Mike, Seattle was the last team to reach the final from the west, winning their second straight title in 1996, and Millwall will face Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Tony, you're right, Minnesota has been in the final six times… but they've only won once. And Conway, he is only 34, not exactly a fossil. Benedetti is 37 and played his first of 11 seasons in the league in 1987.

TK: Okay, time for the big finish… Wilbon, Charleston opens at Richmond Saturday, who you got?
MW: I'm going with the defending champs, you gonna listen to the webcast?
TK: When is it?
MW: 7:00
TK: Nope, that's past my bedtime.
MW: That's it, same time tomorrow everyone.