Seeing as how the last posting here was more than two months ago, you’ve probably noticed that Behind the Shield has gone the way of the dinosaur. While we thoroughly enjoyed providing you this venue to catch up on RSL news, notes, and all around entertaining items, with the evolution of the re-launched RealSaltLake.com last year and the massive growth of our Facebook fan page and Twitter feed over the last couple of seasons, BtS’s demise was simply a matter of time, part of the continuing multimedia shift that, in the end, was a result of our fans’ browsing patterns and tastes in how they wished to receive information on our favorite team. Plus, towards the end the spam filter was about as useful as a trap-door on a lifeboat, which just wasn’t any fun to deal with.

So, with that said, we thank you sincerely for your three years of visits, comments, and suggestions, and invite you to keep up to speed with all things Claret-and-Cobalt via the following methods:

RealSaltLake.com (which will soon have a page to host “The RSL Show” podcast in the “Supporters” section!)

Real Salt Lake’s Facebook fan page (47,927 fans and counting!)

Official Real Salt Lake Twitter feed

RSL’s Youtube home (which will house the “Javi and Kyle Show” archives … we knew you were going to ask!)

And if you have any suggestions on what we in RSL Communications land can do to better serve and inform you, the best fans in MLS, please send your comments to RSLcommunications@RealSaltLake.com.

Thanks again for your time and devotion … and GO RSL!

- The Management

Is it time for a lunch break yet?  Here are your RSL in-the-news articles for this afternoon.

More reaction on Sabo’s signing:

• Salt Lake Tribune blog: Owner says going dark was key to RSL reaching Saborio deal

RealSaltLake.com introduces you to RSL’s newest acquisition. Arturo Alvarez!

• All About Alvarez, Part 1
• All About Alvarez, Part 2

Remember RSL’s battle with Cruz Azul in the pouring rain?  So does MLSsoccer.com:

• MLSsoccer.com: The Throw-In: 9 underrated moments of 201

• Tribal Football: Real Salt Lake’s Lagerwey eyeing CONCACAF Champions League

Letter to fans from MLS Commissioner

• MLSsoccer.com: Letter to MLS fans from Commissioner Garber

More on the 2018/2022 World Cup bids being awarded:

• MLSsoccer.com: Media’s emotional reaction to WCup voting

Luis Gil was a stand-out at the Generation adidas game v. Real Madrid’s Reserves:

• ESPN: MLS youngsters beat Real Madrid … reserves

No RSL players will be in the MLS Re-entry draft, but here are the the ins-and-outs just as an FYI:

• US Soccer Players.com: The Re-Entry Deadline
• SoccerAmericaDaily.com: Re-Entry Draft marks new era for MLS vets

Keep an eye on the Development Academies playing in Phoenix this week:

• MLSsoccer.com: Development Academy showcase underway

An interesting little article on goalkeeper reactions:

• Youth Soccer Insider: They scored — now what?

The Salt Lake Tribune: RSL makes Saborio its first Designated Player

The Salt Lake Tribune’s RSL blog: Coach loves to see RSL’s Saborio ‘checking all the boxes’

The Salt Lake Tribune’s RSL blog: RSL believes signing Saborio sends ‘massive statement’

Deseret News: Real Salt Lake signs Alvaro Saborio to 4-year contract

Standard-Examiner: Real Salt Lake places ‘designated player’ tag on Saborio

MLSsoccer.com: Real Salt Lake ink Saborio to four-year deal

MLSsoccer.com’s Kick Off: Thursday, December 2

Goal.com: Real Salt Lake sign Alvaro Saborio as first-ever Designated Player

Soccer America: Saborio, Montero elevated to DP status

AP / USA Today: Saborio becomes RSL’s first Designated Player

The Sports Network: RSL inks Saborio as first DP

Examiner.com (SLC): CLub will find signing Saborio to long term deal was best

SB Nation: Fredy Montero, Alvaro Saborio signings illustrate MLS’ revolution

RSL Soapbox: RSL locks up Saborio, and the USA present their case for hosting World Cup 2022

Keepin’ it Real: Sabo gets DP status / Alvarez a Findley fill-in

USSoccerPlayers.com: Crowds and competitions

USA’s 2022 World Cup bid

MLSsoccer.com: FIFA awards 2022 World Cup to Qatar, denies USA

MLSsoccer.com: Qatar topped US bid in head-to-head vote

MLSsoccer.com: Garber shocked by FIFA decision, vows work ahead

MLSsoccer.com: Gulati says duel-host process may have hurt U.S.

MLSsoccer.com: Gulati forced to deal with “harsh disappointment”

MLSsoccer.com: Obama: FIFA made the wrong decision

MLSsoccer.com: SmorgasBorg: US lost out on Cup? Think again

Goal.com: Russia to host 2018 World Cup, Qatar get 2022 World Cup

Goal.com: Gulati: Politics the reason US didn’t get awarded 2022 World Cup

Goal.com: Bueno’s Views: What the lost 2022 bid means for the U.S.

Soccer America: Tiny Qatar upsets USA

Saborio will call Salt Lake home for at least the next two years!  Check out the article:

• Salt Lake Tribune: RSL makes Saborio its first designated player

Get to know RSL’s Generation adidas up-comer Luis Gil:

• MLSsoccer.com: Youngster Gil eager to find perfect role

• MLSsoccer.com: MLS Generation adidas team heads to Spain

Will Johnson makes the list of nominations for Canadian soccer awards

• MetroNews.ca: Canadian Soccer releases awards nominations

Soccer 365 weighs in on the expansion draft winners and losers: RSL comes a winner!

• Soccer 365: S365′s Expansion Draft Week Winners & Losers

Expansion draft aftershocks: Keeping tabs on the Timbers:

• Oregon Live: Timbers Insider: MLS roster tracker (Updated Nov. 30)

The editors of Goal.com discuss the World Cup bid

• Goal.com: Editors’ Rountable: What Would a USA 2022 World Cup Mean For The Country?

Take a look at RSL’s Casa Grande academy in Arizona:

• Arizona Republic: Casa Grande teams join Winter Showcase

The Salt Lake Tribune: RSL lose Horst in Expansion Draft, but get Alvarez in trade

The Salt Lake Tribune’s RSL blog: Alvarez ‘can’t wait to get started’ with RSL

Deseret News: Real Salt Lake loses David Horst, Robbie Findley in Expansion Draft

Associated Press (Deseret News): Vancouver, Portland get start in Expansion Draft

MLSsoccer.com: Portland trade Alvarez to RSL for draft pick

MLSsoccer.com: Alvarez: RSL fits my style of play

MLSsoccer.com’s “Kick Off:” Friday, Nov. 26

MLSsoccer.com: Seven MLS players waived by their clubs

Goal.com: Flurry of moves follows MLS Expansion Draft

KSL.com’s RSL blog: No big losses

KSL.com’s RSL blog: Good bye — Hello

AOL’s Fanhouse.com: MLS owners play it safe with expanded playoffs, increasingly irrelevant final

ESPN Los Angeles: My MLS bests …

Examiner.com (SLC): Club adds San Jose midfielder Arturo Alvarez in a brilliant move

Examiner.com (National): Expansion Portland and Vancouver each draft 10, then wheel and deal

Soccer America: Timbers roll dice on Findley and Bornstein

RSL Soapbox: Real Salt Lake loses two in the MLS Expansion Draft

Keepin’ it Real: Thoughts on Arturo Alvarez acquisition

Keepin’ it Real: RSL attacking player stats: Alvarez insight

“Pass the sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and the complex listing of MLS player acquisition mechanisms” … it must be Thanksgiving Eve! While the mess that is the week following MLS Cup has been chalked up as a loss for most sides thanks to the Expansion Draft, RSL somehow gained for a second season in a row … here’s the scorecard:

LOST

• Defender David Horst to Portland Timbers in Expansion Draft (which was a bit of a blow)

• Forward Robbie Findley to Timbers in Expansion Draft (a foregone conclusion in recent days … that he’d be lost, not necessarily picked up in the draft)
• Midfielder Alex Nimo, who was waived by the squad (but after he was loaned to, guess who, the Timbers the past two seasons)

GAINED

• Ex-San Jose M/F Arturo Alvarez from Portland  (which snagged him with its final Expansion Draft pick) in exchange for a 2nd rounder in the 2011 SuperDraft (22nd overall pick)

To break down the hectic day of roster moves, RSL GM Garth Lagerwey joined Spencer Checketts and Jason Shepherd on ESPN700′s “Bill & Spence” show this afternoon. And if you missed it, well, Happy Thanksgiving … just click play below to here the front office guru explain it all!

Goal.com: McCarthy’s Musings: 2010 Expansion Draft primer

SI.com: Increasing playoff field is all wrong

ESPN Soccernet (blog): The best deals of the MLS Expansion Draft

KSL.com: RSL blog: No more Findley

MLSsoccer.com: Ranking the SuperDraft classes of 2010

MLSsoccer.com: Findley does not rule out return to MLS

Canadian Press: With first pick, Portland holds the hammer in Expansion Draft over Vancouver

RSL Soapbox: To mock draft or not to mock draft – MLS Expansion Draft 2010

SB Nation: MLS Cup … Sure it was ugly, but does it really matter?

The Shin Guardian: Jay Bell’s expanding viewpoint

World Soccer Reader: The problem with the playoffs

Houston11Soccer.com: Robbie Findley and Freddy Adu training with FC Randers

MLS Expansion Draft

The Salt Lake Tribune: Findley won’t return to RSL next season

The Salt Lake Tribune (RSL blog): Big changes in store for RSL and Major League Soccer

Deseret News: Robbie Findley won’t return next year

ABC4.com: Robbie Findley leaving RSL

MLSsoccer.com: RSL announce Findley will try luck overseas

MLSsoccer.com poll: Who should be first pick in Expansion Draft?

Los Angeles Times: MLS teams leave big names unprotected ahead of Expansion Draft

Goal.com: MLS announces list of players available in Expansion Draft

Examiner.com (SLC): Aging club protects its young players from new teams after Findley exit

SB Nation: MLS Expansion Draft: Best XI of unprotected players

MLS Talk: Seven DP’s lift unprotected in Expansion Draft

RSL Soapbox: RSL release their 2010 Expansion Draft lists …

RSL Soapbox: The list of Major League Soccer’s unprotected …

Keepin’ it Real: Garth Lagerwey on the Expansion Draft

Keepin’ it Real: RSL’s protected list

Keepin’ it Real: Robbie Findley heading to Europe

RSL Nation: Protected List … goodbye Robbies

OregonLive.com: Portland Timbers prepare for Expansion Draft

Vancouver Sun: Whitecaps will fatten up roster Wednesday

The Globe and Mail (Toronto): Big names available in MLS Expansion Draft

The Shin Guardian: MLS movable parts rolling ticker

Houston11soccer.com: Five surprising inclusions on Expansion Draft list

Other MLS News

MLSsoccer.com: Five questions with RSL’s Luis Gil

Washington Post’s Soccer Insider blog: MLS identifies non-seniors for possible Generation adidas …

Soccer America: League ponders MLS Cup changes

Examiner.com (National): MLS Cup Playoffs need more quality, not more teams

NJ.com: MLS taking serious look at aligning schedule with FIFA calendar

Washington Examiner: Top 5 MLS storylines

USsoccerplayers.com: The Cup and the season

Deseret News: Real Salt Lake accomplished plenty in 2010

MLSsoccer.com: Playoffs to expand to 10 teams; more changes ahead

MLSsoccer.com’s “Kick Off” – Monday, Nov. 22

MLSsoccer.com: MLS could further reward Shield winners

KSL.com: RSL blog: Winds of change

Soccer America: MLS will expand playoffs, consider season change

Goal.com: Commissioner announces that MLS will move to 10-team playoffs

RSL Soapbox: Rapids win MLS Cup and “the Don” steals the show

RSL Soapbox: RSL makes it out of SB Nation’s mock MLS Expansion Draft in great shape

RSL Soapbox: Well what about “the don’s” State of the League address and MLS Cup statements

RSL Soapbox: One year anniversary post – oh what a year …

Keepin’ it Real: Expansion draft loss …

MLS Cup 2010 – Colorado 2, FC Dallas 1

MLSsoccer.com: Rapids ride own goal, survive wild finish to win MLS Cup (includes complete list of links to MLSsoccer.com’s post-game interviews)

MLSsoccer.com: Monday Postgame: Colorado finish season with flourish

NY Times: Lacking star power, Rapids find touch to win MLS Cup

Goal.com: Colorado claim MLS Cup on late freak goal

Goal.com: Minute-by-minute MLS Cup commentary

Goal.com: MLS Cup 2010 player ratings

Soccer America: Own goal gives Rapids first title

RSL & MLS in general …

The Salt Lake Tribune’s RSL blog: Lagerwey expects quick resolution on Saborio deal

Standard-Examiner: Real Salt Lake not dwelling on season’s abrupt ending

MLssoccer.com’s Kick Off: Thursday, Nov. 18

MLSsoccer.com: Generation adidas players to graduate at season’s end

Washington Post’s Thursday Kickaround

RSL Soapbox: Alex Nimo to graduate from Generation adidas …

Rio Tinto Stadium news …

The Salt Lake Tribune: Snocross will return to Rio Tinto Stadium

Nonpareil Online (Council Bluffs, IA): Iowa Western to face No. 13 Snow in first bowl game

USA 1, South Africa 0

Deseret News: Robbie Findley, Nat Borchers play in U.S. win

MLSsoccer.com: Agudelo scores as USA defeat South Africa

MLSsoccer.com: USA player ratings against South Africa

SB Nation: Agudelo, Diskerud lead United States past South Africa

Bleacher Report: Agudelo stars as USA beat South Africa

MLS Cup 2010 …

Goal.com: Time for MLS to overhaul the playoffs?

SI.com: MLS Cup preview: Dallas has edge over Colorado

Dallas Morning News: Ellinger a key reason for team’s success, head coach’s growth

Fanhouse: Schellas Hyndman: Mad scientist gives FC Dallas fighting chance

Sporting KC unveiled …

SB Nation: Sporting Kansas City: Well, it’s a name

US Soccer Players: Kansas City tries something different