[frodoguevara]

While there can be various arguments about the results of the DP (designated player) excemption in our league. One topic that has rarely been hit upon on these boards is the issue of salary inequity. Take a minute to review this document before reading any further;

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/8_12...info_alpha.pdf

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the top 4 guys getting paid the highest salaries are getting way way aove the league's median pay around $17,000. This was known when the DP was introduced. One of the reasons for the DP excemption was to allow clubs to bring big name talent over to attract fans. The problem comes in when the majority of players start viewing these players with resentment, and seeing them as targets for their wounded egos. No wonder a few of our home grown players look else where to ply their trade, and get paid a living wage. When we lose all of the talent that even has a prayer of getting into even a second division club overseas what are we left with? Players who cannot make the cut when it comes to overseas clubs, and have to be satisfied with one of the poorest league salaries in the professional footballing world.

You can see that there has been some earnest effort to keep some players here. But the rate of pay they would recieve in Europe still pulls some of our better players away; Howard, Dempsey, Johnson, etc. The league must balance the desire to bring in big name stars and paying them the high figures they demand, and raising the rate of pay for the majority of it's other supporting players.

With MLS being uttered by the likes of Henry, and KaKa it's likely that we haven't seen the last of big name signings. What we have always been trying to dodge are the pitfalls that overtook the NASL. The primary reason the league folded was it's inability of the weaker markets to pay big name players like Pele, Best, and Beckenbauer and operate. Now the single model LLC model of MLS exists, and while the overall impact that these big name players are really having on the league financially may seem minimal to us as fans, the players feel it more acutely.

Eventually the bubble will burst on the DP excemption. And I don't believe it will be pretty. Is the clout and prestige these stars bring to our league worth the cost of a league killing strike? Don't say that it couldn't happen to our league because it could. Instaed of dying with a whimper as our predessor did we'll go out with a bang, but it's a bang I'd rather not hear.

[jason1551]

You are aware that there are annual minimum salary pay increases every season, right? And that there are pay raises based on time in the league? And that the entire salary structure for MLS will be changed after the next CBA deal in less than two years' time?

Because other than that, you have a point: the current salary structure in MLS is uneven and unfair. But it's part of progress, and the next few years will see an even more radical change to what there is now.

[John_Harkes_6]

Originally Posted by frodoguevara

One topic that has rarely been hit upon on these boards is the issue of salary inequity.

You're kidding right?

[Tmagic77]

Originally Posted by John_Harkes_6

You're kidding right?

Just wait for his next thread. He's deciding between "Freddy Adu isn't the age he says" and "Bob Bradley sucks!"

[DoctorD]

Remember when Danny Karbassyoon signed with Arsenal and was excited to be practicing with Henry? What do you think the salary inequality was between the two?

[Sandon Mibut]

Breaking News!!!

[NHFootyFan]

I'm shocked, shocked, shocked to discover there are pay inequities in MLS!

More to the point, given the commotion about the Superliga prize money, I think the typical MLS player has enough resentment related to the current CBA that resentment over big money dp signings is kinda less important.

Any dp-rule player can create resentment by being a huge prima-donna dick in the dressing room, but it doesn't take dp-level dollars to do that. DP-rule guys can also take a team to the next level. On the whole, I suspect salary resentment is a function of what kind of teammate the dp is.

[Zoidberg]

Less filling!

[Zoidberg]

Tastes great!

[Zoidberg]

You say tomato...