So far, so good for the Women's Professional Soccer league. The quality of play is high and attendance figures have been encouraging roughly a month into the league's inaugural season. The outlook is certainly bright, provided those running things continue to do a good job of managing expectations.

Beyond the current economic climate and the basic question of whether men will pay to watch women play sports, my biggest concern was the absence of an American household name like Mia Hamm.

I've always maintained that the American psyche doesn't allow for much ogling of other countries' stars, and soccer will take off here only when the U.S. starts producing its own David Beckhams and Ronaldinhos. But fans have turned out to watch Marta & Co., to the tune of over 6,000 per game.

A major factor in this success undoubtedly is an intelligent business model, but the trump card has been the play on the field. Women's soccer has come a long way since the WUSA folded back in 2003, and unlike Major League Soccer, the WPS features the best in the world.

So maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise that nearly 15,000 packed the Home Depot Center for the first game between the Los Angeles Sol and the Washington Freedom. And the league's stated goal of providing fun family entertainment on par with, say, minor league baseball appears within reach.

Indeed, with MLS approaching its 15th year, if another league is able to sustain itself with some degree of success, even the harshest critics of the sport in this country would have to give soccer a bit of credit.

Crossing the border

In a recent podcast, we tackled the issue of American-born players turning out for other countries. It appears another one might be slipping away, as Dallas native Marco Vidal, currently with Mexican club Indios de Ciudad Juarez, claims he has been approached by the Mexican federation and is seriously considering the offer.

In fairness, Vidal is no Giuseppe Rossi. He probably isn't even Jose Francisco Torres. And his natural position, as a holding midfielder, is pretty well covered. But the U.S. passing on any left-footed player at this point will raise my antenna.

Vidal, who spent some time in the FC Dallas organization, is a late bloomer. At 23, he has played just 17 games in Mexico's top flight. Nevertheless, he seems to be coming into his own, enough so that Mexico may be giving him a look. That fact alone makes this situation worth keeping an eye on.

Identity crisis

One player embroiled in a citizenship debate a couple of years back who might be starting to regret his decision is Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain. He is enjoying a breakout season in La Liga, almost single-handedly keeping his club in the title race, but he has yet to earn a call from Argentina manager Diego Maradona.

Higuain, 21, was born in France, but he spent most of his life in Argentina and turned down Raymond Domenech's call so that he could represent the South American side. But rumor has it Maradona, ever the patriot, was unhappy with Higuain's decision to skip the 2007 U-20 World Cup due to fatigue, and has blacklisted him.

Higuain strengthened his case Wednesday, scoring two goals, including a spectacular winner, in a 3-2 victory over Getafe. But his wasn't even the most impressive performance of the day. That honor goes to Arsenal's best signing since Thierry Henry: Andrei Arshavin, who hammered four past a shocked Pepe Reina at Anfield.