NBC wont show any games except maybe All-Star and Cup. The only reason we are on ABC is because we can have a package deal with ESPN to show weekend regular season games. We wont be able to do that on NBC.
Actually, UCLAcrew, I am very aware of the French league's status. My point is that even lowly Istres has a lot of the features that anti-MLS posters desire: - single table - promotion/relegation possibility - playing season aligned with FIFA schedule - located in country that has developed Henry, Pires, etc. - no (American) football lines on field - no cheerleaders - properly designed SSS with partial roof - no American style nickname - no American mascot - advertising on jersey fronts - located in a country where chanting is expected at games yet these advantages did not lead to hordes of "passionate fans" and "attractive" style. The anti-MLS element needs to be honest with itself and recognize that all they want is for MLS to sign several highly paid, foreign players who have already been anointed "talented" by foreign newspapers on every team. No discovering new talent or "support the hometown team" for them.
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If NBC will broadcast arena football and the icecapades I think they may be interested in MLS, they have a package deal because they pay ESPN to show the games, and these networks are all owned by the same company. I was just saying perhaps NBC might actaully pay the league to show these games since their sports programming sucks so badly.
NO NO NO! Like others have said here I absoleutly HATE NBC's sports coverage and don't want them anywhere near soccer whatsoever! The network that would be the best for our league is CBS, period. No network takes the sports they cover as seriously as CBS does. Major games should be on CBS while still keeping our deal with Fox Sports World. Dump ABC/ESPN.
True that. But in that case I don't think that Friday or Saturday evening games would be out of the realm of possibility a few years down the road as MLS gets popular. CBS rarely shows Saturday evening college football games. I'm sorry, I just love CBS's sports coverage, lol.
Well golf and racing don't seem to be hurting for exposure, fans or money....Golf even seems exciting on Sportscenter! Imagine if they really gave an effort on MLS! WNBA is a different story because I'm sure Sportscenter is getting raked over the same coals ABC does by the NBA
NBC is the best! They should show MLS games and have Bob Costas do the announcing. That would give the league some credibility. Just kidding, obviously. But I'd like to see NBC air MLS games cause they need to get back to league sports (other than Arena Football) and cause it's my favorite network. They only show Notre Dame home games, so it's not like they have a crowded sports days during the MLS season. Hey, if they worked out a deal with the NHL I'm sure they could do the same with MLS. Even if MLS payed them to air games. Maybe in return they could actually advertise for MLS. I'd be happy if Fox would air the MLS Cup too. Allen Hopkins would be my choice as the announcer.
MLS will go to whoever offers the best mix of cheap airtime and high availability. That probably means ESPN 2 for another 5 years after 2006. ESPN 2 can realistically charge SUM more than they have in the past because SUM probably can't take its product anywhere else with a better result. A combination of Telemundo, FSW and Gol TV just won't do.
Ok, today I found out that there is a monetary prize for the US Open Cup. woops! I know that somebody did mention this earlier in the thread, but I haven't been to this board for a while due to internet problems. I would say that the most glaring problem with MLS now is the conflict of international and MLS schedules. Somebody mentioned this earlier, kudos. Also, whoever scheduled these games with Madrid (esp. the one with Galaxy) must not have really thought through the fact that Gold Cup competition conflicts with it. How is MLS going to prove any credibility without their premier players in games like this?
Sounded to me like the original poster had a good idea. Just because you haven't posted in a forum does not make you an idiot or less knowledgeable in the game. Rewarding teams, and players, for their successes in a professional league is how it works in most parts of the worlds. As of now a team gets 100k for winning the MLS Cup, and its pretty much always an MLS team. Does this money just go to the MLS single entity pot and get re-distribute?? If not, and a team actually gets the money then it would seem that they should be able to benefit from it by either a) Giving pay increases oir bonuses to the squad or b) having an extra 100k in CAP space fpor the following season.
Hey! The game has people from across the political spectrum. On the conservative side, you have AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi. The current prime minister of Italy is its richest businessman and heads the right-wing party Forza Italia. Forza Italia Site, English
This shows our bias as serious soccer fans. We want performance. We want gladiators with talent, speed, endurance, and killer instinct. That costs too much money for too few fans. What really matters, like in this decision, is the overall spectacle. The drive for the league to prove its athletic merit is usually second priority, or only respected to the extent that it helps profitability. Bring Real Madrid and you will fill 50,000 seats. The other team doesn't matter much. Bring Real Madrid with the promise of the galacticos and there isn't a stadium too large.
I think its the other way around. Inter is right wing and Milan is left wing. BTW Berlusconi was a life-long Inter "fan".
why be a dick? the guy was just asking some questions very respectfully. who cares if you have read it a hundred thousand times before. you can ignore it instead of being an **************.
I like the idea of $100 per point per game per player. So, if your team wins one of the many relatively meaningless games during the summer, each player gets a $300 bonus. If you tie, each player from each team gets a $100 bonus. Limit it to the 11-14 players that make the field and you'll get a lot of the underpaid kids fighting for spots on the field. It doesn't seem like much, but it adds up. A kid like Rolfe in Chicago that's making well under 20k would probably love a chance to earn a bonus.