I wanted to pick up on your comment about the quality of MLS. I agree that MLS has improved, but I'd still take watching a Premier League game over a MLS game anyday. But what that caller complained about is exactly why I believe soccer will eventually take off in the U.S., if not for another generation or so. Americans "hate" soccer so much for a number of reasons, but one primary reason you always hear is it's not exciting enough. I've always felt that if Americans were exposed to the week-in-week-out quality of some of the European Leagues than they'd get over the "soccer is boring" mentality (that's partially subjective b/c that's how i fell in love with the game). so IMHO where that caller is an "idiot" is in not helping the league get to that point. Even I wasn't thrilled with MLS' quality at the outset - although it was better than I expected - but I still bought season tix b/c I was going to do my part to help the league succeed.
So - to get to the point - to be considered in the ranks of football, baseball, etc. the quality of MLS has to improve and that means it can't just be a feeder league to Europe or U.S./Latin stars only (over the long-term), although for now that's the best thing it can do. I see the Nats driving the popularity of the sport over the long-term and thus, I think Donovan, Beasley, Clint, etc. should all go to Europe (quality leagues only) to ply their trade, even if it means not getting into starting lineups until 2004. That would help the national team at the expense of MLS ticket sales in the short-term. But if the Nats continuously succeed every four years, I think MLS will survive and prosper in the long-term. If we sacrifice player development for a year or two of ticket sales, then we risk the results we'll get in future WC. I know that will ruffle some feathers here - and I'm not discounting the fact that MLS is responsible for why we're doing so well right now b/c I think it's ver y central to our current success - but this is about the future and I welcome any discussion of the subject.
Casbahman@aol.com wrote:
I was think about the long term prospects of success for soccer in the US. I have never believed in the "converting the masses" approach. There is too much anti-soccer rhetoric out there; in other words soccer has been too stereotyped to be able to convert Joe Sportsfan.
I've always felt that if only we could get "soccer people" to commit to MLS, we'd be fine as a sport.
Well, I think our success at the world cup could go a long way toward convincing American soccer fans/players that MLS is a good league. I say *could* because I heard some idiot on the radio saying that he loves soccer but never goes to MLS games because of the quality. Well, you nut, half he damn US team is from MLS. I know MLS isn't at the speed or quality level of a World Cup game (actually, in the case of Germany vs. Paraguay I think MLS may have surpassed it!) but it has improved by leaps and bounds over the years. Hopfully MLS can find a way to capitalize on this.
Then, if non-soccer people begin to drift our way, great.
Darrin