Also relatively easy to locate an espn3 stream, even of you aren't technically entitled to one. And I'd imagine the league website will have some kind of extensive coverage, likely to include a decent and legit live video stream (comparable or exactly equal to what ESPN3 is sending out).
I remember reading that when ESPN approached Pete Rozelle to ask if they could broadcast the NFL draft, the commissioner's reply was "Why?". That still sums up my attitude about draft broadcasts to this day. They are a waste of TV time, especially since only those who ardently follow college soccer has any idea who these guys are. That and MLS has no equivalent of Mel Kiper (and his hair) to keep us entertained between selections.
Of course, NFL revenues increased from $900 million when Rozelle retired in 1989 to $9 billion in 2011. One entire order of magnitude in 22 years. That's "why" you do things like broadcast drafts. To grow your business.
It's always been kind of awkward to watch the draft when they don't have highlights for a third of the prospects and the rest are generally Zapruder-quality YouTube clips from 100 yards away.
Don't see why ESPN2 would broadcast this. Nobody cares. Not to mention it's awkward, boring and did i mention nobody cares?
I don't think im accusing MLS of any crimes. i'm just calling it like i see it. Yeah, you can try to get it on tv anyway in order to try to create some exposure for the league, but who is watching? It's more fun to just keep a window open on the side of your computer and wait for updates. I have been watching (or trying to watch) MLS drafts since 2000. I'm no expert, but I know a thing or two about them. Back then, you probably knew 75% of the people who were watching the feed.
To come to your defense . . . I feel this way about televising ALL drafts (yes even NFL). Once you get past the first handful of guys in any sport no one knows who the hell the player is - they rely on the commentator and the "show" to tell them. I will watch the parts where my team drafts . . . that is all (in any sport).
Yeah. If you know in advance that no one's going to watch, and you put it on anyway, it just gives the MLS cynics, skeptics and whiners another thing to throw at the league.
No...unlike other American sports that rely on the draft to bring new talent into the league, MLS clubs can bring in players for the better part of the full year.
the MLS draft is actually more watchable since it's there are only 5 minutes (or is it 3?) between picks. The entire thing goes pretty quickly, and regardless of what you think of Twellman/Lalas, they are better at contained analysis than the guys who do the NFL draft (and act like every pick is the most important thing ever). But there are only a handful of people who actually follow college soccer enough to know if any of these kids will be good. Several MLS teams don't even seem to care.
Thank god I have ESPN3 so I'm covered. Any word on the combine games being streamed live and/or available for archival viewing?
@MLS @sambapete Combine matches will not be streamed, however highlights of each match will be available on http://MLSSoccer.com.
Why would they air them for so many years and then bail? It really got people talking and probably draws more viewers to the Draft... Nobody wants to watch a draft where they haven't seen any of the players...
Very suspect. ESPN isn't exactly paying for the coverage. Would it hurt to put it on ESPN News or ESPN Classic? Mid afternoon on a weekday should at least covet an ESPN2 timeslot. For what its worth excluding trades top 3 should be 1. Farrel 2. Lopez 3. Zimmerman. Draft is worth tuning in for Lalas' opinion/coverage and little else but the exclusion of it makes the league look minor league.