Jimmy Conrad, on the idea of creating two separate 'leagues' within MLS (he calls the higher one 'MLS1' and the lower one 'MLS2') in order to create a promotion/relegation scenario: "I'll possibly allow exceptions, letting into MLS 1 a team that has had a wealth of history and championships in MLS (I'm looking at you, D.C. United, and your inexhaustible team president, Kevin Payne) if it has an off year in 2012, and bumping down to MLS 2 some punk team that had one good year at the right time but is perennially a lovable loser." I'm reminded of a scene from Mel Brooks' "History of the World, Part 1": Caesar: Did he say 'fat pig'? Steward: Yes he did, sire. Caesar: Do you think he meant me? Steward: I believe he did, sire. Ouch, Jimmy....very ouch.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Mr Conrad's story was a good laugh. Relegation in a country where you can bandwagon jump so easily to another sport will never work. Not to mention in his scenario there are exceptions?! LO effing L!
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 My issue wasn't with his idea of promotion & relegation in the U.S. - my issue is that he says RSL: - Is the league's 'lovable loser.' - Had 'one good year at the right time.' - Is a 'punk team.' - Deserves to be relegated despite being MLS champions. And Jimmy was such a cool guy at one point....
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Who also plays for Kansas City. How many champeenships do the Whiz have again? Anyway, pro/rel is plain ol' stupid if you're just going to let the "legacy" teams avoid relegation. Why bother at all, Jimmy Conrad? Moron. I hope we embarrass the Wizards next season.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 lol, conrad is an effing idiot. the idea of promotion and relegation would NEVER work in this country for a whole slew of reasons. the top two i can think of are americans would never understand or accept the idea, it would just paint another target on soccer for all the haters here in the country. the second reason is that the owners would never allow it, especially with the expansion fees they are paying out right now. the new expansion teams would be relegated in their first year and that would KILL attendance and revenue these guys would be wanting. conrad can go crawl back under whatever rock he came out from underneath. his backhanded comments about RSL were pathetic.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 His jealousy... is AWESOME. May the playa hatin' begin! RSL: Welcome to being relevant.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 This wasn't the first time Conrad took shots at RSL. At the beginning of the season, he wrote an ESPN article, and stated: I think he's still bitter about being one of the only teams to lose at home to RSL during the regular season. He's also probably still bitter about his participation in one of the worst half-time shows, and the fact that he lost to Montero while playing Guitar Hero on easy mode. Honestly, how do you miss any of the notes on easy? Conrad's always been a punk who finds himself funny. I've never liked the guy.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Be fair, he was probably really nervous seeing as that'll be the closest he'll ever get to a championship game!
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 oh but i'm sure Kansas City would be in "MLS 1" right? hahaha we've gotta think of some chants to let Jimmy know how big of a wanker he is when they come here next season, anyone think of anything off the top of their heads?
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Jimmy won an MLS Cup with San Jose in 2001. He's been there before, just not as the half time performance. And I was being fair, my downs syndrome nephew can play most of the songs perfectly on easy mode.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Maybe it was in retaliation for Clint's remark http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112101819.html "You are going to have true soccer fans, people who know the game," said Clint Mathis, Real's veteran midfielder who played overseas and starred in a World Cup. "It's not like going -- with no disrespect -- to a Kansas City game.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Easy. Hey Jimmy, YOU'RE A ********ING WANKER! Ceterum censeo Colorado esse delendam
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 I disagree that they would never accept it. A baseball fanatic buddy who disses soccer every chance he gets is a case in point. I described promotion relegation in other leagues to him and he sniffed at it initially. About a month later he and I were talking sports and he brought it up and said, "I think that would be tremendous, nothing could be more democratic than the idea that any team with enough tenacity, talent and drive couldn't make it to the top league and play for the World Series. And, the Baltimore and Pittsburgh teams would have to man-up and not tank the remainder of their seasons to avoid the humiliation." He was able to translate it to baseball (where I think it translates well with the wealth of teams in small towns across the country, the only problem being is the contractual relationships between major and minor league teams). I think it shows that it is not hard for folks to grasp the value of it, and how to sell it (essentially democratic and fair).
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Not to mention that instead of rewarding a team that sucks with the #1 draft pick, you punish them but making them play with teams more on their level. Besides, wouldn't it be nice to see the Detroit Lions relegated to a more suitable league like the Big Sky? Hell, maybe they could compete with Notre Dame as an independent, hopefully they could compete against the likes of Navy and UConn.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 conrad was so cool to talk to... who knew he was such a tool
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Conrad is hilarious and nothing he says should be taken seriously.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Don't be so sure. I love American football as much as I love soccer. It's exactly this attitude that turns a lot of people off to soccer. Keep acting like a field fairy and you will continue to be treated as such. The reality is that since the NFL is the most popular sports league in the US, RSL needs people who are fans of American football as those are more likely the type of people in this country who are sports fans and will pay to watch professional sports. Ceterum censeo Colorado esse delendam
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 +1 Converse true also: act mainstream, unintimidated & as though you belong...and respect will be liberally given.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Seriously. No need to pretend that the only way to be a pure soccer fan is to dislike all other sports (particularly American football). Come on, now. What would I do without soccer, basketball and college football? Wouldn't want to find out...
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 Agree. If we insult all other sports we isolate ourselves. It's like telling the rest of the U.S. they're not welcome at our stadium. It's like telling ESPN we don't belong on their channel because we don't want their audience. We have to play nice with the other sports.
Re: RSL Offseason 09-10 News Thread, Part 1 or: the most beautifuly painful trip to a championship ever