Blue Links: Zusi Cuts his Hair (photo), Ilie Interview, Belmar, Podcasts

We know why you are all here. Let’s get to the hair, or lack thereof.

Sporting KC

(Roger’s Instagram Story) The IG story is gone, but due to the sleuthing of our own Cody Bradley and my wife, we have Graham Zusi will less hair. At practice yesterday no one was interested in talking about it and we get it. It’s just hair. But it’s an iconic man bun. My wife thought it was so important she texted me a picture and interrupted my work in a panic.

(Sports Radio 810 WHB) Ilie Sanchez stops by the Sporting KC show with Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine.

(Talkin’ Touches) Ilie stayed busy as he dropped by to talk to Andy Edwards as well.

(USLsoccer.com) Kharlton Belmar was named USL Player of the Week. Two goals and two assists. Seems worthy. The real question is will he be worthy for a recall from loan to appear in MLS for Sporting Kansas City while Daniel Salloi is away on international duty.

(SKC Twitter) Sporting continue their fantastic Behind the Shield series this time going behind the scenes for the broadcast.

(SportingKC.com) In this week’s Beyond the Box Score there are some impressive stats. SKC have scored more goals in March than they ever have before (with two games to go). Additionally, Felipe Gutierrez is the first player to score three goals in his first three games, Zusi is the 7th player to hit 20,000 minutes and the two combined to score outside the box.

(MLSsoccer.com) Sporting KC — a high scoring, loose defending surprise.

(MLS YouTube) If you somehow missed Saturday’s game against the San Jose Earthquakes, MLS has released some extended highlights of the game (it’s no 20-minute condensed version from last season, but we’ll take it).

(SKC Twitter) I hate to end the Sporting section on a sad note, but Tim Melia gave a jersey to a family that lost two daughter’s in a car accident. As a parent I can’t even begin to imagine. It’s really sad, but also really touching.

Around the Soccer World

(MLS Power Rankings) Sporting KC have risen to 7th (a season high). Toronto FC are still second with the panel giving them a break due to CONCACAF Champions League. And Sporting’s only loss, New York City FC, still sitting in first. Next week’s opponent, the Colorado Rapids, are last. But somehow they find a way at home.

(MLSsoccer.com) Josef Martinez has four hat-tricks in just 23 (!) games. The record is five hat-tricks by two different players (Stern John and Diego Serna) with them taking 55 games and 124 games respectively. Can you even imagine if SKC had a goal scorer like that?

(LA Galaxy) The Los Angeles Galaxy are bragging about a single sellout for the Los Angeles FC game. One sellout. So LA (or should I say so Carson). Sporting KC passed 100 last year and are still going strong.

(StarsAndStripesFC.com) Our own Cody Bradley updates us on the Yanks Abroad.