Bad choice. He's failed everywhere else he's been. His role in the UFL was to, "profitably manage future expansion plans, accomplish market dominance, and unleash innovation." The UFL couldn't keep owners to save their lives with guys like Jim Speros and Joe Theismann bailing out before getting involved while Joe Moglia went and bought himself a college team after one year of working with the criminal buffoons at the UFL. The UFL gained zero market share in most locations. The little dent they did make was undone by the myriad of stories about their blatant refusal to adhere to their financial obligations. The UFL was the least innovative football league to come along in quite a while. Peterson has been part of nothing but failure. I hope that either the trend changes or he's not actually the choice for the NASL.
If by "everywhere he's been," you mean only "The UFL," then, sure. Considering you don't actually mention anything else he's ever done in your screed above, I am left to believe you don't know anything else about the man or are simply ignoring it. Nobody could have saved the complete trainwreck that was the UFL. Prior to that, Peterson's record with AEG and other things is actually quite good. He's got good soccer experience and business experience. I think it's a good hire.
His record with NFL Europe, which lost massive money for 15 straight years and rarely produced a player of even NFL backup stature, was quite good? Your standards are slipping Kenn. Peterson has done nothing that suggests this move will work.
Maybe the difference is that I've actually met and worked with Bill Peterson and you haven't, Anonymous Internet Guy. NFL Europe was discontinued because the owners weren't interested in that as their international strategy any longer. Now they play actual games overseas, and it's hard to argue with that. That other "football guy" who ran the NFL's international arm, he sucked, too. Name escapes me at the moment. Graber or something. And if you MEANT "and NFL Europe," you should have written "and NFL Europe," which would still leave his other accomplishments with AEG unwritten. Because you're unaware of them. You can feel free to hold any opinion you like. You base yours on what you like, I'll base mine on what I like. Given I've actually met and worked with him, I'll let others decide if they like your interpretation of his body of work or mine, and my interpretation of his chances of success with the NASL or yours. Totally fine.
"Senior Vice President of AEG Sports and Managing Director of the Home Depot Center from 2000 to 2006" Exactly how did he fail in that position?
Yep. This is what I was afraid of. More ex NFL guys taking control of a sport they don't understand. I can't say I'm surprised. This has been the biggest problem with American soccer for many, many years. I wish him luck though and hope NASL continues to stay on the right path.
Yeah, not really. American soccer has pretty much been booming since that NFL guy that kenn is talking about took over. The history of "soccer guys" running US soccer is one of constant mismanagement - often because they were more concerned with ideological purity than with actually promoting the game.
I'd rather have a smart person with a background in something other than soccer than a soccer person who gets his gig just because he's a "soccer person." Fanboys are so freaking provincial. I'm also skeptical that Anonymous Internet Guy was really afraid of what might happen with the new NASL Commissioner.
Why do you say he's an "ex NFL guy" and not a "soccer guy". His work history from what I've seen has plenty of both. He appears to have a lot more "soccer" business experience than Don Garber did when he took the MLS gig.
Looks like a good hire to me. I think some of you guys are just negative people coupled with a strong sense of "know it all". Feel a little sorry for you.
Here is a interview with new commish: http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/...ll-peterson-new-nasl-commissioner/#more-37543
I like the hire. His resume seems like it is full of great experiences for someone who is responsible for running a Division 2 league. I wish him the best of luck in his new job and hope he continues the good work that David Downs started.
I confess that Peterson's name only rings a bell due his past with AEG. But his resume definitely suggests he is qualified for the position. Peterson's experiences, if used correctly, can potentially be a big asset to the NASL. Only time will tell but the foundation seems to be there. On paper I'm liking the hire. The NASL has a real opportunity to cement itself as a legit 2nd division and a developer of quality talent. I'm hopeful Peterson is the man to really surge the league forward. The soccer pyramid in this country needs the NASL to hit a homerun. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this is one.
I agree with most of your post, but I don't really agree with this. I don't think that D2/D3 really matter. At all. I follow the NHL, and I'm having trouble recalling whether it was the IHL or AHL that folded a few years back. Minor league sports can be important in the markets they serve, but not particularly relevant on a national scale. At this point, I don't think MLS will be the least bit affected by the fortunes of the rest of the "soccer pyramid".
You might be right. However, as MLS transitions and the % of domestic players decreases with foreign acquisitions there has to be an outlet, aside from Europe (and mexico), where US talent can grow and develop. Also the MLS Reserve League doesn't provide many games and/or regular quality competition so I could envision a better relationship between NASL and MLS clubs to loan players out. That was the angle I was going for. We may be a few years off from a strong NASL / MLS relationship but I think Peterson could bridge that gap as he has ties to both. That's the homerun I was speaking of, not necessarily the business, popularity side. Although, a relationship between the two leagues could increase business and popularity.
His experience working within MLS and and having a relationship with Don Garber are major positives. Hopefully we will finally see that MLS/NASL working relationship.
it concerns me that we have another NFL guy running one of our soccer leagues. These NFL guys don't understand that soccer is a global game. Would have preferred someone with some bona fide soccer DNA.
Your concerns are, obviously, paramount. That "NFL Guy" Lamar Hunt, he sucked at it, too. Bad precedent. Nooooooo, not at all. They don't. People like you can tell them, but they can't see for themselves that it's a global game. I mean, the evidence is hard to find. Candidates, then? List 'em. I'm stunned they didn't consult you for your definition of "bona fide soccer DNA."
In terms of developing players for MLS? You might very well be right. We simply don't see a whole lot of players making what might be termed a "traditional" progression a la minor league baseball. Most players, if they're deemed to be "MLS-worthy" (subjective, to be sure), bypass the lower levels entirely, it seems. It doesn't appear as though a lot of guys slip through the cracks, get a chance at lower levels, then come back up (or go to other countries for good clubs). Some, I'm sure. But no one seems to have rushed right out to snap up the MVPs of the last few seasons in the lower levels, and when they have, there haven't been a lot of them to make an impact. Now, in terms of helping develop markets and teams (or at least interest ownership in the prospect of making money running a pro team), I think D2 and D3 have shown that they matter, at least a bit. Maybe that's the way it is and is going to be, I don't know. And there may be something to the idea of developing administrative and coaching talent. Maybe this system just doesn't lend itself to player development in a way that some would like to see it. In any case, the leagues and their teams have to get (and stay) on solid financial footing before they can really be anything other than the hodgepodge of here-today-gone-tomorrow outfits that provide temporary shelter for players who want to put off the day when they inevitably have to slice meat or sell insurance.