Well this is the year MLS will either start a new chapter in North American Professional soccer, or will begin its decent into obscurity. I know there is probably some middle ground the MLS could occupy in the fabric of American professional sports, but I honestly think MLS could be a very successful league.
Many things have to happen this year to ensure the long term success of the league. LOOSE the single entity system. MLS will never be taken seriously if teams can not pick and chose their own players, negotiate their own business deals, or operate as they see fit. There were lots of benefits to a single entity league in the beginning, but MLS has been here 11 years, so it is now time to see if teams can stand on their own feet.
Every team needs its own "soccer specific" stadium. You can not have 10,000 people in stadium designed for American Football that holds 70,000...Each club needs a permanent home with proper training facilities, supporters clubs, fan activities, etc....Crew stadium started it off, and it appears each new stadium has improved upon that formula. Lets get it done, and get KC out of Arrowhead (I know Kevin Hartman reads TGB, so I hope he chimes in!).
Stop bastardizing MLS for the US market. No more All-Star game, no more, no more draft, no more playoffs. I do not mind the idea of a grand final, or championship, just make it the two teams who played the best soccer throughout the entire season. Two teams with the most points at the end make the final. Simple as that. No more cheer teams, no more half time shows, no more explanations of how Soccer differs from American Football by the commentary teams. It belittles the intelligence of the hard core fans who are watching the game in the states, and at the same time, it demeans the game itself by comparing and contrasting soccer to sports it has almost nothing in common with, other than name (football).
MLS does not have to solve every problem this year, but they do have to acknowledge them, and improve upon the overall product. Not just the play on the field (which I think shows improvement over last year, but still has a way to go). With the signing of Beckam, Reyna, Wattreus, Schelotto(rumored to be heading to the Crew today) , they have taken a larger step towards improving the overall quality of play.
I think MLS has taken some baby steps into improving the league. More reserve games, the start of a academy system, more corporate sponsorship (especially shirt deals), are all positives, but we need to continue to improve, and emulate the traditional international game, and not a splintered MLS version.
I have to say even with the debacle of Buschy leaving the Crew, and the fact that I swore them off, I find myself more excited about this year than years past. Not just as a Crew fan, but as an American Soccer fan/MLS fan as well. If we have made it this far as a league, we need to make the last leap to become a legitimate league power. I am hoping this is the "make" year, and that all of the things put in place by the league will continue it's improvement.
Till next time,
Chewie