What DP signinig would create buzz for the casual & hard core fan

I wouldn't want to play for any team in the League that can afford me.

You are human and definitely have the right to be rude. Being rude is a choice though - and it disappoints me when people choose that option.

It is also disappointing that you think as an American you have more of a right to be rude. I thought the concept of The Ugly American is something as Americans we would want to extinguish.

I have thick skin - don't worry. When it becomes a name calling contest - how civil is that.

In terms of the quoting feature - I don't get hung up on it. Is it a Facebook feature? I don't have a Facebook account - maybe that is why I have trouble. Don't think I had trouble with the old Big Soccer format?

Maybe you should. It makes your posts nearly impossible to read.

It has nothing to do with Facebook. It's not why you have trouble.

You did.

I'm not here to make your socks roll up and down, and if I've disappointed you, I'm sorry.

As an American, I am afforded certain rights of free thought, speech and expression that citizens of (to pick a place at random) Syria aren't afforded

No one has called you a name. Don't put words in other people's mouths

Nope, it's as simple as putting "quote" in front of the thing you want to quote and "/quote" at the end, replacing the "s with [ and ], respectively.

You are afforded those rights - no doubt about it. But, they are not unfettered rights. You can't yell "Fire!" in a crowded public place when there isn't one. Just because you have free thought doesn't mean you have to express every single one.

I never said you called me a name. However, if you tell me to shut up and as an example I say (No, you shut up) - the words escalate and you get nowhere.

If the quote thing is your worst hang-up, it must be good to be you!

Glad you brought that up. There are two things here, 1. that I can't shout "Fire". 2. That I don't have to express every thought I have.

1. SCOTUS have created (or, rather, derived from Common Law) a certain number of exceptions to Free Speech. Obscentity, Defamation, incitement, fighting words, etc. One of them is not, and cannot be "to protect your feelings". Free speech only protects unpopular speech. There's absolutely no need to protect popular speech. If everyone agrees, than no one will try to limit that speech.

2. I don't have to express my thoughts, but when you come to a forum whose sole purpose is to allow people to express their thoughts, don't be upset when someone's thoughts are expressed.

So are you upset about my tone or my message? Because it seems you are changing your story.

This comment, or rather, the philosophical backing behind this comment, always irritates the piss out of me. "There are bigger problems, so it's ok that I [am doing whatever wrong that I could easily do right]". Sure, there are bigger problems. But should we focus all our energies on AIDS prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa because you can't be bothered to take 15 seconds to learn how to use the 'quote' functionality and make it easier for other people to understand what you mean?

God, it's like you're that guy at the bar that no one wants to be around because he's too busy complaining about how crowded it is to just shut up and enjoy himself.

I think it was the message. There are more diplomatic ways to say - " Hey, you don't need to say in my opinion, or it is not a fact." it is rude to tell someone to shut up. Now you have said it is your right to be rude, which it is. I think you would be happier if you weren't rude. maybe it is an East Coast thing - which I get.

In terms of the quote thing - for me it falls under the category - Don't sweat the small stuff.

Also - if you don't understand what I mean - ignore it.

Ok, let me ask you this again, because you seem confused. Was it my message, or the fact that I wasn't diplomatic enough for Your Worshipfulness' dainty sensibilities?

I think you would rather keep talking about me being rude than, say, the topic of this discussion because your ideas are laughable and no one takes you seriously.

Not fact, just my opinion

Because other people being able to exchange ideas and communicate is "the small stuff" on a site dedicated to the exchange of ideas and communication. Gotcha!

Not to mention, he's used "no one is responding to my points, it must mean I'm right!"

I try and post as I would talk to someone. I would never tell someone to shut up.

If you want to be rude that is your business.

No the small stuff is whether I work the quote function appropriately enough.

Never? Really? I'm sorry, if I was sitting across from you at a bar and you footnoted everything you said with "Not fact, just my opinion", I'd still tell you to shut up

Funny, you seem to be the one who gives a damn about it

The quote functionality allows people to understand what you, for instance, mean to say. It's not about me being a techno-snob; it's about me having to go so tremendously out of my way to understand what you mean.

I told you. The reason I did that is someone complained I was trying to pass off my opinion as fact. Obviously they missed the day of school when it was taught how to tell the difference.

In terms of having to go out of your way to understand what I am saying? You don't have to. Just ignore me.

But I want to! I want to hear your ideas and comment on them and discuss them and come to a better undersanding of (in this case) the issues facing teams looking to add Designated Players.

I just can't do that if you can't work the formatting correctly

What was that about being rude ? You've taken pot shots like this throughout the thread jackass. Passive aggressive is still aggressive guy.

In the early part of your discussion all you did was tell us how wrong we were, and only used your opinion as a basis for that.

To my knowledge I never told anyone to just shut up. Again, if you would like to point out where I did - will be more than happy to acknowledge that fact. Achowat - this is exactly why I used the phrases in my opinion and not to be confused as fact.

Again with more names. Wow.

I thought you were going to ignore me and not post any responses to me?

That's not what he's talking about. He's talking about you claiming that all East Coast people are rude and that anyone who doesn't agree with your tactic of claiming our DPs suck without any backing and then relying on your "opinion" is an idiot.

Here we go with sweeping generalizations again. I never said that ALL East Coast people are rude. I love how you make generalizations and don't have any proof. If you can offer some up feel free. Otherwise my assumption is that you pulled it out of thin air.

As far as the DP's if you can show me where I said that "The DP's in MLS suck". I will take back those words. Which I have proven. I said Beckham/Henry had no options. That was a mistake on my part. Probably limited would have been better. I said MLS wouldn't pay a transfer fee - someone corrected me - I changed my tune. Ok, MLS might pay a transfer fee.

I think the DP's in MLS are beyond their best days (Hailtotheking - my opinion not fact) (Achowattt - sorry, I had to do that or get accused of passing off my opinion as fact - maybe you need to speak to Hailtotheking). Which for MLS - maybe they are happy with, ok. Perfect.

My disappointment with this thread is the lack of names - which would create a buzz. Also, I understand the financial constraints MLS is under. But, sometimes you have to take a chance.

Otherwise, as I have said in the past MLS is a fine league.

So what did you mean by this comment?

"Limited" isn't something you're prepared to prove. The difference between "might pay" and "have, provably paid", as well.

But what you're pretending to not understand is that MLS cannot get a player who isn't past his prime. Not an Elite player. Lionel Messi in 2010, Chicarito before his move to ManU...those are pipe dreams. And you know it, but you keep bringing up this "best days are behind them" crap like they're a bunch of old cripples by the time they get here, which is shit and you know it

How about you name somebody? I mean, you've complained no fewer than half a dozen times about no names. Where is the attainable superstar who could come here and be a force for good.

There are maybe, maybe, 5 soccer players who your average Sports Center viewer is aware of: Beckham, Donovan, Ronaldo, Rooney, Messi...and then the well runs dry. Tell me, who have I left off? Who would be an ESPN Front-Page story if they signed with MLS? Or, alternatively, tell me under what situation Ronaldo, Rooney, or Messi come to MLS.

The problem is that there isn't another Beckham, and there may never be. So we need to stop looking for the "splash" and start building a League that plays exciting soccer and can challenge a Liga MX team or two for a chance to go to the CWC. We need to build our own stars, since we've bought all the ones we can

If I were driving this car, I'd stop and make the two of you get out and walk.

Beckham had PSG this year, QPR last year, and AC Milan at some point. Henry had West Ham ( I can't believe we are going over this again). So in his six years with the Galaxy Beckham has had interest from three clubs. Henry one. Who was interested in Beckham when he signed with the Galaxy originally, anyone?
Nesta says he had offers - yet we don't know the clubs/club. Frings supposedly had interest from Werder Bremen. Keane had interest from Sunderland and Aston Villa (where he wasn't going to go permanently ( did go to Aston Villa on loan which is different)). Supposedly Newcastle was interested even though they had two strikers who are better. Those by my definition (therefore read opinion Hailtotheking) are limited.


I mentioned some names Chicharito and Ozil and was told no way. Given Berbatov ( same as the others), Owen was mentioned (same as the others). I actually mentioned Joe Cole of Liverpool ( who at the time was available on a free) - about a year ago. I talked about Andy Carroll - but, Liverpool now want to sell. How about Demba Ba? Newcastle want Andy Carroll back. Loan deal for Demba Ba?

Rumored to be going to the Russian League - MLS would be better. He is only 27 years old.

You've tried to make this point before and failed. If Beckham wanted, he could play for any of 10,000 soccer teams, and you know it.

Unattainable.

"Past their prime"

Joe Cole or Carroll would work, but not as "huge splashes" to "create buzz". And I'm sorry, Demba Ba doesn't sell tickets.

They'd improve the league, sure, but at 5x the cost of similiar players from, to pick a place at random, Paraguay and give us exactly 0% of the Beckham-fringe benefits

Well then why doesn't he? Do you think Barcelona want him? Real Madrid? Manchester City?

Where are all of the offers then? Shouldn't they be driving up David's price then?

Why was PSG the only team that made him an offer? Shouldn't it have been the David Beckham tour going to London, Milan, Turin, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Manchester, Lisbon, Lyon, Marseille, Monaco, Moscow, Tokyo, Riyadh, Rio de Janero, Buenos Aires, picking up offers at each stop?

See, it took me like a minute to realize that you had actually posted something...you're stubborness in regard to the quote function is hindering other's ability to understand you.

As to your comments: I'm not going 10 rounds with you again. If you want a response to the "where's the offer sheet" read the first 15 pages of posts in this thread

I guess that MLS is stuck with players from Paraguay then.

I understand - you like MLS, great. It frustrates you and others when someone says the best players are players whose best days are behind them.

Someday MLS will be able to compete for the best players in the world.