Major League Soccer (MLS) has assumed control of the troubled Chivas USA franchise in Los Angeles, founded in 2005 by Guadalajara nutrition supplements magnate Jorge Vergara.

For several years, this newspaper has been charting the steady  rise to international stardom of three young Guadalajara-born sportsmen: boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Formula One racer Sergio “Checo” Perez and soccer ace Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.

A disastrous season for Guadalajara’s top two soccer teams, Chivas and Atlas, has been offset by the change in fortunes for the Universidad de Guadalajara’s Leones Negros (Black Lions), who won the Ascencio MX league crown last weekend and are within one playoff game – to be held next May – of returning to the Liga MX, the top tier of Mexican soccer.