Monday 11 Nov 2019

Inside the confidential 2016 study that provided the blueprint for MLS’s modern era. The Athletic (paywall)

Worth it's own thread.

 

You mean like this?

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/in...d-the-blueprint-for-mls’s-modern-era.2107310/

 

Season 2020 match ball:


The game ball to be used in Season 25 is a throwback of sorts to this bad boy.

 

Damn!

 

That thread went up 3 days ago too.....

 

That was a cool ball but then the Don came in and switched it to something that looked like the old logo, 32 panel, Telstar-looking spotted ball - to underline that people watching MLS were watching soccer.

He's come a long way, the Don.

 

That first season ball looks like a volleyball.

 

Really? We're blaming the Don for that?

 

That’s not the ball used in 1996 by the way. It has Don Garber’s signature on it and the shoe doesn’t have the 3 stripes on it. The MLS website claimed it was from ‘96, but that’s not the case. New ball looks cool.

 

Oh, he never said it was used in season one. I looked back and I just made that assumption. Sorry about that. Thanks for clarifying.

Edit: I now see the MLS article states it is the ball from 1996.

 

That was always my personal favorite.

I'd love it if MLS permanently went with a traditional 32 panel black and white "clipart" ball.

My feeling is probably influenced by growing up and watching the other four major sports and noticing how none of them waiver or change the traditional, clean looks of the 'game ball' (or puck) they have used for multiple decades.

 

Well, there was that one half-season of NBA games...

 

When I downloaded the image the file was tagged as 1996-2000. So when Don was appointed Commish in 1999, this is why we have the first ever ball with his signature on it.

HAHA!
Yeah! That basketball!​

 

Imagine if this ball caught up with tech. Became legit for modern MLS use!

 

We used to call them caseys. They were as hard as a brick when wet. I remember kicking the ball from the penalty spot and it not reaching the goal. I was about 8 but still.

 

He is at fault for everything, you know that. I mean, it is his fault for the whole Kansas City Wiz name debacle.

 

Never heard that one! Cool. Thank you for knowing old school facts to the sport Paul!

I had heard this one, that the old ball would absorb water in the stitching and become a la a medicine ball. I do recall that for the 1930 World Cup Grand Final between hosts Uruguay and Argentina, they were at odds on who would get to use the ball that each side preferred. IIRC the Argies would add water inside their football to add some weight but the Charrua boys were not having any of that. So FIFA stepped in an played each half with each type of ball as desired. Uruguay won 4-2 each side that day scoring their goals within their selected halves with their football.

 

Coincidentally the colors bring in mind the Seattle Sounders.

 

Turns out it's a colloquial term used in the northwest of England, especially around Liverpool where I grew up.

Apparently the expression "he must have a bladder like a casey" is still in use in Merseyside.

 

InterMiami traded for Victor Ulloa from FCC today.

 

Don was very public about the ball thing as I recall - it's what he wanted.

Just like (I believe) Rothenberg himself wanted the denim jerseys and names on the back of shirts in '94.

 

I would like to meet the guy that thought those drunken, wavy lines was the way to go for the secondary shirt! HA!

 

Adidas preferred some much classier all-whites and all-blues they had ready to go. Those were our colors.

 

Well sorry, other sports should follow our lead. Tie dye pucks in the NHL should be next.