Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo The Pacto de Caballeros only covers teams within Mexico. Once a guy's out of contract, he can leave, but if he ever tries to come back, whatever team he was first with must be compensated if he wants to go to another team. Think of it as the Mexican version of single entity. The reason players didn't leave Mexico is because they're paid artificially high salaries for their talent level. That's still the case, but there's both a greater international appreciation for their talents and a greater desire on the players' parts to test themselves abroad. Of course, the current state of life in Mexico can only serve as an impetus, as well, and it certainly has some South American imports questioning if all those pesos are worth it.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo I hate to be the thread title police, but I guess after a few years I have begun to be assimilated into the Big Soccer culture, and I am wondering if the thread title is misleading since there hasn't been any confirmation about this. Maybe I am being picky since I posted this story as a rumor in the rumor forum just shortly before this thread appeared. In any case, without the slightest hint of confirmation coming out of Kansas City shouldn't this get the same caveat as the original Henry reports with a thread title that notes we merely have a report from Mexico? Okay, well, that's the end of my gripe.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Too many divas around including FL.. I brought this up a few posts ago that KC's front office didn't give the two thumbs up for Omar as yet.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo I gotta say, though, some of the amazement that Bravo would go to Kansas City was a bit ridiculous.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo It depends on the person. I can think of a great number of places I'd rather live than either New York or Los Angeles.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo I'd debate that as well. Anyway, I would've thought that this sort of discussion would've been put to bed when some pissant cowtown like Seattle was getting international players to sign for the local XI.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Good stuff Autogolazo. I have always wondered why every time I saw a Mexican World Cup roster almost all the players were from domestic clubs. Does the MFL players union (if they indeed have one) gripe about their version on single entity?
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo they have one, but unfortunately it has absolutely no power, players aren't really united and they don't complain of the "pacto de caballeros" or "el draft" the "pacto de caballeros" prohibits players without contract to play in another mexican team without their team's permission (that means $$$). to put an example striker Antonio de Nigris (RIP) wasn't able to return to play to Mexico because of this "pacto". Antonio was playing for Monterrey when he went abroad to play (he leaved without contract, that means Monterrey didn't get any cent from his transfer) so when other mexican teams like Chivas were trying to get him back, they needed the permission from Monterrey (that means pay $$$ to Monterrey) and giving that money was something that the interested teams didn't wanted to do. that happens with all mexican players that are transfered to europe
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Exactly. I could make a list of 50 places in the US I would want to live and NY, LA, and Chicago would not crack that list. No desire to live there at all. Good places to visit but not my cup of tea for a home. Everyone has different preferences in what they want in their home city including professional athletes. If you're a diva like Beckham then LA is going to be a good fit. However, there are going to be a lot of players that like places like KC, Columbus, or Salt Lake. When Eddie Johnson was traded from Dallas they gave him the choice of NY or KC and we all know his choice. On top of that, players go to teams that make them the offer they want to take whether it be the financial terms or otherwise. Hell, we might be the only team making an offer for Bravo. That's why I find it funny when I read post that mention that they are surprised a certain player choose a certain team. If there are reports that multiple MLS teams made Bravo an offer then those comments are okay. But, there arent so he isnt choosing Kansas City over any other MLS team that we know of. We house a lot of large successful companies in KC like Sprint, Garmin, Cerner, AMC Theaters and Applebee's to name a few. These companies have executives making a ton of money and they make their home here. At one point just a few years ago (dont know how true this is anymore) Kansas City had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the country. So, a lot of successful people that could live about anywhere choose to live here. Take that for what you will. We house a lot of large, successful companies in KC like Sprint, Garmin, Cerner, AMC Theaters and Applebee's to name a few. These companies have executives that took the jobs that lead them to live in Kansas City. That's no different than an athlete choosing a team.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo How did I miss your point? Please explain it to me then. As I understand it: 1. Andy was saying not all players want to go to big glamorous cities, otherwise Turin and Manchester would have difficulty attracting players. 2. You seemed to reply that Andy's argument is flawed because both cities offer some of the big city atmosphere, and instead provided Green Bay as a better example to support Andy's point. 3. I responded that Green Bay actually is an example that rebuts Andy's argument because they have a lot of difficulty signing free agents. Where did I go wrong?
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Big Team. Really, really small city. That was all I wanted to point out to aid Andy's argument further.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo That's why I was pointing out that that example goes against the very argument he was trying to make, so it wouldn't have aided him.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Bravo is a really wise signing for Kansas City as well as they always struck me as a team missing a clinical finisher and scorer since Johnson left. I fell the rookie Teal Bunburry will develop into a quality forward within a couple seasons, but Wolff is really just a supporting player these days and not able to carry the fulltime load. Bravo gives Kansas City a much needed punch up top and strengthens a already decent midtable side. As far as Kansas CIty goes, as a former resident, I can tell you Kansas City is a fine american city that offers a lot of big city comforts in a more friendly midwestern setting. I would suspect to a lot of these latin american signings even smaller American cities like Kansas City, Columbus or Salt Lake are seen as impressive and exciting places. I am not surprised Kansas City can attract 2 DP's now (LOpez and Bravo). I think fans get too caught up in the notion that players only want to play in glamor cities like NYC or LA or Chicago, in reality they will have more leverage in signing players more concerned with what they can write as a zip code on their letters, but that is not always the cheif concern.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo All this talk about small city/big city stuff seems strange considering GBS in Columbus. Granted he is older and may want a quieter life style. However, attracting a Boca Legend to Columbus Ohio is impressive. That is why I dont understand why some are shocked a "small market" team like KC was able to land a DP like Bravo.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo I'm not. Just look at what's coming in the near future for this team. No surprise they can attract some names.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Well, the Saints got a few free agents in 2006 and the city had just been demolished by levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Not really. The relative size of the country is meaningless. If it was relative to the size of the country, then Reykjavik would be the "go to" destination in Europe. Basically Kansas City, Turin, and Manchester are the same size and offer the same culture, nightlife, amenities. If your not shocked that a player decides to go to Turin, you shouldn't be surprised that a player goes to Kansas City.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo Maybe Bravo just really likes bar-b-q. That is why I live in KC.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo The main thing that struck me as odd about this signing is that normally, you'd expect Mexican players to go to the Fire, one of the LA teams, Dallas, etc. I.e., a place with a high Mexican population. Does KC fit that bill? My dad has lived a few places, including an NJ suburb of New York. And he says there's nothing as provincial as a lifelong New Yorker.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo I think you might have quoted the wrong post because that doesn't reply to my statement.
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo I guess I am lazy, but is there anything official from the KC camp (or is the news going to come out at the Man U match)?
Re: Kansas City Wizards Sign Omar Bravo It has been confirmed by OnGoal that discussions are taking place but they are denying that the signing is official. However, OnGoal has been really careful about announcing things until it is 100% done so maybe they have come to terms but the paperwork is still being processed.