MLS ready for learner’s permit, not driver’s license
Posted on December 21, 2010 3:44 am
…y’know, I’m starting to lean towards Chicharito ahead of Landon for CONCACAF Player of the Year. Does that make me a bad person? Or does the fact that I’m giving out fake awards make me a bad person?
Oh, wait, I know what makes me a bad person. See that blog post title? I could have used this story as a poetic extended metaphor about MLS has grown from childhood through the awkwardness of puberty, and is now standing at the cusp of adulthood. Kenn Tomasch already had a Facebook post along those lines, though.
Or, I could have made a hard-hitting denunciation of MLS playing TV negotiation hardball without much to back it up – much like a teenager overcompensates for insecurities.
In reality, I’m just ticked off because MLS is lying about its age. MLS debuted on April 6, 1996. We are talking about a league, not a logo. Official announcements mean nothing – unless you believe Cleveland is the only undefeated team in MLS history.
Yes, we all agree that life begins at conception. But when do you celebrate your birthday – the day you popped out of your mommy, or the day your dad’s rubber broke? Thank you.
So, if MLS tries to order a beer from you on December 17, 2015 – don’t trust that fake ID.
Wait…what was that about MLS TV rights?
Wow! Looks like someone else doesn’t give a crap about this year’s ratings!
…except, I’m not actually negotiating rights to broadcast games with the people who took it up Toontown this year because of those same ratings. I was taking the long view, which Fox Soccer Channel probably can’t.
But I just got a text from my frenemy Adam Smith, and he tells MLS to go for it. If that’s what the market will bear, then rock on, Don Garber. The people negotiating this stuff have a lot more information than I do. Don’t they?
I mean, if you’re asking for a 650% raise, you have to have something to back it up, right? Besides massive, massive balls?
Apparently, Fox hasn’t laughed them out of the room:
NewsCorp isn’t usually so diplomatic in rights negotiations, as Dish Network and Cablevision subscribers can attest. Either MLS is impervious to such bullying…or such bullying is totally unnecessary. Stay tuned, I guess.
Stay tuned also to see how seriously David Beckham and Landon Donovan take the Galaxy. If either one of them go on loan this January, it will say a lot. Injury and fatigue brought both of them to a helpless standstill against Dallas last month, and the last thing either player needs is another extended season. If either of them demand to go to the Premiership, AEG should make it permanent.
That said – predictably, I would blame Beckham more than Donovan. Edson Buddle is out of contract, so he’s got a right to try to get paid. Donovan owes the Galaxy very, very little. Beckham, on the other hand, still has some serious unfinished business.
But none of them should be allowed to show up late, in my opinion. There’s no World Cup distraction in 2011 (well, not for male players) – no MLS team should have part-time players anymore, least of all the Galaxy.
I can agree with most of that. Mostly.
Except the first part about Chiquita.
all i can think about is what the Euro leagues are, and I have images of that Dutch couple that is pulled over for speeding in Super Troopers… “Who wants a mustache ride?”
Chicharito for all awards real or otherwise.!!
Maybe Sporting KC’s new stadium will be called NewsCorp Stadium.
so you’re telling us MLS games are going to be broadcast in public access next year?
In some Asian countries, it’s the latter. Seriously, in Korea, on the day you’re born, your age is “1″. (Trivia learned from Korean roommate in grad school.)
How much does FSC pay for the EPL and UEFA Champions League each year?
It’d be nice to see Landon go back to the Prem. It’s nice to have someone to root for on another team besides Arsenal.
Plus, I’ve always liked Donovan except when he plays against my team. He’s just a little bitch when you’re rooting against him.
that couple was definitely German…accents were German, not Dutch, and the autobahn is in Germany, not the Netherlands.
But kudos for the Super Troopers reference.
So Dan, why should CONCACAF award a player who doesn’t even see the field for more than 15 minutes at a time? Because he doesn’t see the field for Man. U.? I don’t know who deserves POY, but maybe it should be for somebody who, you know, plays…
Unless Koreans have a 12 month gestation period, I think this is still just semantics. Someone find the culture that celebrates the 1st birthday on the third month.
Because he sees the field for Mexico, saw the field for Chivas in 2010, has made his share of starts and sub appearances for an up-and-comer and regardless of where, when and for whom he’s appeared, he’s consistently scored goals.
I would also be inclined to reward a young forward who is competing for time with Rooney and Berbatov and making an impact regardless.
…and agreed Dan… preferably no loans and NO LOANS AT ALL beyond the MLS pre-season.
Because in what little time he has played he has made great accomplishments……
Yes, you are correct. In Western culture we count a year at it’s completion- so Year 1 is after 12 months. In some Asian cultures they count a year at the beginning- so Year 1 is at birth, and after 12 months a child starts Year 2.
Really messes up transferring to US schools. I think that’s what happened to Freddy Adu
Are you kidding? either of those guys ahead of Dempsey? Plays every game he’s available and scores goals for a team that had a very good PL season last year and a very good run in Europe. Scored the best goal (by far?) of any C-Caf player, against Juve. And this year, is an indispensable player for Fulham.
Chinche is having a nice last 1/4 of the year. Dempsey’s year blows him outa the water.
And, based on Dono’s WC, I’d put him a little ahead of Chinche. But, I recognize that is debatable. Dempsey is not.
I agree Rallee Monkey! It has to be Dempsey.
And Dan, didn’t you and the TSRC guys just talk about the fact that MLS ratings were down across the board?–In light of these facts, this demand seems less like big Garber ball swinging, and more like delusions of grandeur.
Grammatical errors are strong in this one.
Fox Soccer’s David Nathanson said: “We don’t negotiate in the press, but we do leak the numbers so people can see what we’re up against with these yayhoos.“
Ah, go ****ing yourself.
Ding Ding Ding…we have a winner.
Garber phones in asking for 7 and a half times what they were paying before.
Fox not only doesn’t hang up on him, they counter with “uh, how about two and a half times what you were making before?”
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.
Honestly, had Landon been signed by Man U and done half of what Chicharito has done so far he’d be designated by some here as the greatest Concacaf player of all time LOL
A nice 1/4 of the year?? LOL
I guess you don’t get out much.
Next thing you know, people will be going apeshit over recognition awarded because of fan ratings…..oh wait.
Why don’t you debate the facts that Dempsey shouldn’t be POY instead of mindlessly ranting at the poster over one statement.
I guess this proves that the facts are overwhelming in Demps’ favor.
Hernandez’s numbers in relation to his goals per minutes played ratio speak for themselves (although Dempsey also had a tremendous year so he would be a deserved winner if that was the case.) and he’s five years younger than Dempsey.
NEXT!
Next? Seriously?
GPM: If we were debating the Concacaf “6th Man of the year” award, that would be very relevant.
5 years younger: if we were debating the Concacaf Best Young Player award, that would be relevant.
So, why don’t you compare Hernandez’s 2010, the whole year, w/ Dempsey’s. Explain to me why Demps doesn’t win, hands down.
I never argued for either Hernandez or Dempsey to win this fictional award, I was just laughing at those who have tunnel vision and are only aware of what the yanks abroad are doing.
If it helps you sleep at night, give Dempsey the award.
World Cup.
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