In a system without promotion and relegation, why is it important for us to have divisional distinctions for leagues? Really, why do we care so much what a series of suit-and-tie guys deem to be Divisions 1, 2 and 3 in North America?

Peter Wilt admits he’s an unbridled optimist. And there’s no doubt many who will read the coming paragraphs with a “bah” and a “humbug.”

FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller found out last week that goalkeeper Matt VanOekel would be making the move to MLS, as the NASL's Golden Glove winner was going to sign with Real Salt Lake.

Eddies general manager Jay Ball confirmed Thursday that the team, still months away from training camp, has broken a new record for season tickets sold in a season. Edmonton plays in one of the NASL’s smallest facilities — Clarke Field holds 4,500, and crowds were usually under 3,000 for games last season — but the fact that season ticket holders are renewing, and the team is attracting new subscribers, shows just how distant Edmonton is from the mess in the United States.

The message from FC Edmonton co-owner Tom Fath is the same as it was at this time last week — that he fully expects that there will be an NASL in 2017, and that Eddies will be playing in that league.

Even though he had one year remaining on his contract, FC Edmonton chose not wait to lock down head coach Colin Miller.

FC Edmonton co-owner Tom Fath says that the club is a go for the 2017 season.

Dos Santos said that the team has already signed players, including a Canadian, but the details of those deals have not been announced. The team is waiting for the right time to make those announcements, so he's mum on the identities of the players signed.

In the summer of 2017, Jalali will be fighting a different kind of battle. He’ll be the subject of a preliminary inquiry, as the legal process begins on charges of cocaine trafficking that were brought against him this past August.

As some who follow the Facebook and Twitter accounts might know, I’ve been fighting through a bout of some pretty poor health over the last couple of weeks. I was discharged from the hospital today, but still need to stay off my feet for a good part of the next month or so. Because of that, updates to the site …