This focus of this site it soccer in the United States. The most common topic of discussion is the Men’s National Team (WNT is ok too, but there is not the same level of world wide competitiveness to keep me interested). I try not to delve too deeply into the world of MLS since there are many other blogs out there which provide much more intelligent and comprehensive coverage (see blogroll to the left, which needs updating). However PCK will often feature a MLS post, since, well, it is soccer, and they do play it in the United States (for now, see below). What follows is a bunch of random MLS related rants that have been building up over the past few days.
- I haven’t seen this floated elsewhere, so I’ll throw it out there: When do we start reaching the point that we are diluting the talent pool with expansion? Let’s face it, there are not a lot of soccer playing athletes in our country. If you are athletic enough to chase a ball around for 90 minutes, you are probably already playing baseball, basketball or football (of the American sort). Or am I just crazy for thinking this?
- Harrison? Glassboro? Bridgeview? Why don’t the teams play in the cities they are named after? Hell, I would be happy if the played in the same state (yea I’m talking to you RBNY).
- When are we going to land a major international star? And I don’t mean David Beckham when he is 63 years old. Or even stop implicitly admitting that the MLS is inferior by stemming the flow of our guys overseas (Josh Grenier?). Why is it inevitable that Freddy Adu or Clint Dempsey will be heading to Europe? People swim 90 miles across shark infested waters and walk days through the desert to get here, I’m sure there are some good players who would be willing to take a pay cut to play here. I mean Klinsmann loves it so much he coaches the German National Team from California.
- What the hell is the point of the All-Star Game? Publicity? Maybe some new people will tune in to see Chelsea take on the MLS All Stars? Great idea! Will they tune back in after Chelsea annihilates the All Stars? There are some American sporting tradition I would like to see the MLS continue, for instance, stop trying to be European and just name the teams after a local animal or something. Other American traditions I could live without, for instance, this All Star game idea.
- Did we really need a team in Toronto? What happened to our ‘domestic league’. ‘Domestic’ slots for Inter Real Toronto Rovers FC Red 1834 Northmen will be going to Canadians. So now the MLS is helping the Canadians build up their domestic pool? Sure, that was de facto happening already, but now it’s official. Call me xenophobic, but why can’t the Canadians get their own league? It’s not the MLS‘ fault all the Canadian hockey teams want to move to the US. Hey Canada, our dollar is still better than your dollar! There, take that!
- Random thought I had the other day: these Soccer (and don’t forget those concerts) Specific Stadiums better have been designed to be easily upgradeable. Some day FIFA is going to come knocking because it likes the idea of making lots of money on another World Cup in the US. Which would be great. But I don’t want to have to go to Giants Stadium or RFK to watch a game.
- I think in MLS-speak “improper remarks” means bad but not racist. Logically, all racist language is ‘improper’, but not all ‘improper’ language is racist. The geniuses who came up with the Peter Nowak “improper remarks” statement clearly understood this but they failed to recognize that after being accused of being a racist, most people interpret “improper remarks” as tantamount to saying ‘yea, he’s a racist’. That the Nowak comment was not racist is backed up by recent revelations from two sources. And what is the deal with Real Salt Lake crying racism? Now they’ve got RBNY in their sights. Don’t they realize that you can’t be awarded points for being the victim of a racist comment? At best the other team could have points taken away. You actually have to win a game on the field to get points?
Don’t take this post the wrong way. I love the MLS and want to see it thrive. I’m not one of the MLS haters that worship at the Altar of Barclays. Once I get a real job and a stable financial situation I’m hoping to buy DC United season tickets. It just seems that the MLS makes some pretty boneheaded moves sometimes. My conclusion: An oligarchy of soccer bloggers to rule the MLS would be ideal.
Feel free to leave a comment telling me I’m an idiot, saying hello, or “Damn it don’t pick on little old Glassboro!”.
A great post, but I think there are a few easy answers to some of your questions…
You’re not crazy for wondering about talent dilution through expansion, but if, as an enterprise, you’re not growing, something is wrong. If America’s (and the world’s) monied gentry is lining up to buy into the dream (and Checketts, Vergara, Mateschitz, Maple Leaf S&E, etc. have in the last three years), it makes sense to grow. A larger national footprint will help generate TV rights fees (which seems to be the case with MLS). More money will eventually lead to an increase in the salary cap (i.e. better Int’l players) and a better player development program (better domestic players). I’ll admit that at times the quality of play doesn’t seem to rank high on MLS owners’ lists, but after the corner is turned financially I hope it’ll be addressed.
As for stadium locations, you have to believe that MLS would prefer to play within downtown areas of major cities, but the lack of availability, high cost, and lack of support for public investment pushes these projects outside the city limits. The NY Jets were blocked from building in Manhattan. Bruce Ratner is having a tough time building his arena in Brooklyn. It’s not just soccer.
As for Toronto, you have to give credit to MLS for seeing the opporunity of the ‘07 U-20 World Cup & approaching Maple Leaf S&E. While I agree that MLS’ first responsibility is to the US, a stronger Canadian squad will help CONCACAF as a whole.
As for not wanting to go to Giants Stadium for a World Cup match, I’ll say if the US is lucky enough to get another WC, with the added attention given to soccer in this country since 1994, you’d be pleased to get a ticket to any WC match in any stadium.
Great, thought provoking stuff.
Thanks for the comments. I will admit I wasn’t clear about the Giants/RFK stadium thing. The point I was trying to make but didn’t was that while of course I would go to games at other stadiums, I think it would be great thing to instead have SSS’s large enough to handle the crowd.
Again, being that it was a rant, I guess what I meant to say and what I said where not the same (and as my fiancee will tell you it’s not the first time). Expanding the MLS should be our goal, my concern was that it might be happening to fast, or is that not even something to be concerned about?
Toronto, business-wise makes sense, but it still bugs me, but that is just who I am.
Great stuff john. Attack mode all the way.
I think the only way to get soccer going in this country is to keep expanding. I think your assessment of athletes in the US is a little off. Youth soccer is wildly popular and the more soccer around them, the better. The names I could care less about, as long as there is a team playing on the field. Toronto, while it may not help US players specifically is still good for MLS.
Your right it would be nice to have an international player, but if they want to go to Qatar, screw them! We’ll pay the big bucks to our home grown players then. Hopefully thats how we can gain attention. Good post John.
Good stuff. You hit my major pet peeve of teams named after a city not playing in the city. If DC United were to move to VA I would still follow them but would never refer to them as DC United if they kept that name. I think your other points are more important in the grand scheme of things but damn I hate mis-named teams.
An oligarchy of soccer bloggers to rule the MLS would be ideal.
May I be Minister of Propaganda?
May I be Minister of Propaganda?
So it shall be
Don’t forget about FC Dallas playing in Frisco. But seriously now, who’s going to root for the FC Frisco? (Who outside of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area has even heard of Frisco?) Still, not even the Dallas Cowboys play in Dallas, so at least this problem isn’t unique to MLS. Oh sure, you can see Dallas from the Cowboys’ stadium, but it’s in Irving, not Dallas. And as for soccer bloggers ruling MLS, I could definitely go for that, and you can bet there would be changes!
[…] MLS = Major League Stupidity […]
I’m okay with Harrison, Bridgeview and Frisco - they might be outside the city limits but they still represent the metro regions (or the markets, if you want to be crude about it). Yeah, RBNY plays in another state, but North Jersey is essentially NYC’s 6th Borough, you know? MLS didn’t put the team there because Secaucus, after all.
And Harrison makes sense as a location for an NYC franchise - where else can you build an adequate stadium that’s within 15 minute train ride from Lower Manhattan?
Great post.
I couldn’t agree more in re: the ridiculous predilection for the faux-European names. Talk about zero authenticity.
http://www.fccamena.com/2006/04/11/not-as-ludicrous-as-real-salt-lake-but-not-ideal/
I agree with much of this, specifically Toronto. If Canada wants a professional soccer league, they can start a Canadian league - call it MLF for all I care (Maple Leaf Football).
Alas, it’s too late… I can still root against the team, though.