Look I follow the Cosmos and consider myself a supporter (I brought a Raul jersey and everything) but I thought that was a little humorous to find out that after 30 mil they decided to quit. I mean they gave everyone that spiel about how they're willing to spend and they'll show everyone how serious they are in challenging MLS in signing players (they made an offer to Jack Harrison before the super draft) but then they fold and leave everyone holding the bag after that very same season.
Looking through David Litterer's archive, it seems that a team called Roanoke River Dawgs played in the 1996 USISL Premier League. It seems that the Premier League was amateur and basically a forerunner of the PDL; Roanoke lasted from 1995-1996. There was also a team called the Roanoke Wrath that played from 1998-2000 in USL D3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_Wrath
I'm not sure what you're referring to... If you're referring to the groups highlighted in Point 29 of Rocco's filing, for now at least we have to believe what he says because we don't have any contrary proof. I'm sure if this goes to a hearing or trial, then we'll find out because the USSF lawyers will (or at least should) make him produce documentation proving his claim. The three groups mentioned in Point 19 we have some independent verification on, at least in Atlanta's case. We also know about New Orleans and Detroit from sources other than the league office. In fact, the league office has been silent on all of these groups, except for claiming the letter of intent from Mrs. Stumpf in New Orleans. This is not Bill Peterson's "we have 40 cities that we're talking to" stuff. This is, again, a legal filing. Potential penalties for perjury make people a little more truthful.
News about the Puerto Rico/NCFC game... http://www.nasl.com/news/2017/09/29...orth-carolina-amid-hurricane-recovery-efforts Nice to see clubs stepping up to give part of the ticket sales to Carmelo's fund.
Rocco is making LOI's seem more solid then what they are IMO. You or I could sign a LOI to bring a team to X market and the NASL has zip legal recourse if we decide to not follow through. What he needed were sign contracts and deposits to bolster his case and unfortunately he didn't and the USSF has seen this roller coaster before and decided not to get on this time. I can't say that I blame them.
Commisso's rant about the media, and how they should try to dig up dirt about the USSF-MLS-SUM relationship basically says it all. I.E. we have no proof. He was basically begging the media to do the work that they are/should be paying their legal team to do....
Wanting others to do the work and reap the rewards... should be the NASL credo. Hell its the Deltas marketing plan in its entirety.
For an adult it was embarrassing.....but boy does it play to kids, the ignorant and conspiracy theorists.
I missed this. Sure it could be done unless... The people involved think there is intrinsic value to being called NASL. This has been the downfall of the Cosmos of course. I'm sure it means little outside of the nostalgia driven (Commisso) and probably Euros who remember the old NASL/are sold the old NASL dream, but if one of your main drivers believes it than you are stuck. Wasn't the case in 2010. Rocco seems to believe. Problem. Also, Fath, and bond penalty payments for exit, clearly saved the league last year. When you dissolve the organization your main shareholder gets screwed....unless there are enough assets to make it acceptable/palatable with tax write offs. No TV deals, limited advertising, run of the mill players, no concrete infrastructure. Guess what? Can you start a new league and write in, restore a previous owners shares. I'm sure there are ways to do it, but you better have the approval, money, commitment, guarantees and will of all the other owners in your new entity. How would you fee if you were Fath? Even with "supposed" commitments from new groups there are real obstacles to overcome. As has been pointed out a LOI is a piece of toilet paper without the money to back it up. Pretty obvious that the money part is missing right now. Back in 2010 there was some optimism/momentum for a D2 league attracting decent investors in this new soccer world. How about now? Especially with USL as an option. Sure it can be done, but how many folks really want to do it, are really committed do doing it, are willing to put their money on the line to do it? Rocco's rant answers those questions better than anyone right now.
The whole reason why a few NASL teams haven't ran to USL is due to obligations and monetary restrictions that are imposed by NASL. Fold the league, and some of those teams might double-cross NASL and run to USL instead.
http://midfieldpress.com/2017/09/27...atically-if-it-survives-its-latest-challenge/ Wonder if this is why NISA hasn't applied for d3 yet
Isn't that anti-competition??? I thought all NASL Clubs were INDEPENDENT, and free to be run however they want to be run, and play whereever they want. I thought the whole reason to be an INDEPENDENT CLUB was so that you aren't beholden to a league?!?!?!?!?! This is all soooo very confusing! S/
I love Ferdinand's argument that the salary cap is evil & teams should spend dump trucks of cash if they are able to.
So wait, 8 confirmed clubs include the 2 West cost expansion teams right? So the current 8 - SF and Edm. + SD and Anaheim. Then the throw out Detroit, New Orleans and Atlanta as hopeful expansion sometime in 2018 (I doubt it). All that with out including teams that may just be waiting to jump ship to USL, teams like Indianapolis and Carolina. So if they do get a waiver again (or the court gives them 1 year life support) they could have 6 teams in 2018 if Indy and NC are allowed to leave, or 8 if they are forced/want to stay with the exit fees or 10 if SF and Edmonton stay, or 13 if the 3 expansion team do by some miracle get to play in 2018. I would also include Puerto Rico, they were not doing great, the devastation form the Hurricane could mean they trow in the towel. So worst case (if they survive) they could have as low as 5 teams or if the stars align, as high as 13 (I would not bet on this). Is New Orland on Central time or Eastern time? If NO does not work out by 2019, they would still need a waiver for the 3 time zone requirement even if all others work out.
NPSL none too happy either. https://www.soctakes.com/2017/10/01/npsl-sends-letter-complaint-us-soccer/
Barone from the NPSL works for the Cosmos, so this isn't anything more than a PR thing. Also as the article states this is kinda proof that the system isn't anti-competive, no?
And, yet....that's what they have done. It's not hard at all. It causes people to bitch about how unfair it is that you don't give them until the end of the semester to turn in their first homework assignment, but it's not hard to do, if you try.
This has been happening for years and NOW the NPSL has a problem now? Timing is too convenient for this to be a coincidence. If this happened I don't know, last year when they lost a chunk of teams to the PDL then I'd be more inclined to see this on face value but they sat on it for a year and now that papa Rocco is suing the USSF one of his cronies throws this out there. If this bothered the NPSL so damn much then you needed to have sent this letter LAST year not now!