http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1740529/mls-catches-mlb-espn-sports-poll?cc=5901 It seems that this poll is a bit more "legit" in terms of its make up than most that we see. I'd say it has a stench of significance to it.
We get this poll right around the same time as that Deadspin chop piece... There is no doubt that the sports popularity is growing, the haters can hate all they want. I'm pumped for the season to start. A couple great games to show the quality of the league off today, RSL-LA and SEA-SKC. Should be a fun day/night.
That deadspin piece is nothing but verbal diarrhea coming from some dudes scared pen. This is an in-depth study from one of the most respected social scientists out there in the world of sports. And the fact that the numbers are showing that for AMERICAN kids, the MLS is as equally popular as the MLB, is huge!! I mean the league has to be doing something right for american kids to say, "Yeh, I like the MLS just as much as the MLB." Extend that number up from 12-17 to 12-24 and the MLS and soccer actually beats MLB and baseball in popularity. So don't be to worried about what some hack has to say about the league when nearly all the sports studies and numbers are saying the exact opposite.