Getting other people to watch MLS

There’s a common English phrase ‘putting lipstick on a pig’ that I think at times is a perfect description of MLS over-hype.  Everyone agrees that MLS is getting better, everyone thinks that American soccer has room to grow … the issue is WHEN will this occur? Will it be 2016? 2040? Never?

A good example is when a regular MLS fan has the opportunity to watch a game with someone who never watches MLS games.  Chances are the new American viewer already knows about English teams, it’s just they’ve never bothered to invest time into researching American teams.

To make this short, I’ll provide a short summary of my experiences watching LA and Seattle fight for the Supporter Shield.  In a way, you can consider this game as a fight to be the #1 team in MLS.

1. Dempsey and Donovan were the only two recognizable stars, but one is retiring and the other says he’s playing too much.  I tried to talk up Zardes but Zardes can’t dribble all that well yet and hasn’t done anything internationally, he didn’t make any highlights yesterday.  I also mentioned Yedlin was going to Tottenham but he’s pretty much a defender and it’s not like Tottenham is a super team.

2. Passes didn’t connect, players kept receiving yellow cards and the Swansea vs Leicester City game seemed like El Classico in comparison.  Seattle vs LA was a flashback to last years MLS Cup where KC and Real Salt Lake fouled each-other into oblivion and went to penalties.  I’m not saying that MLS doesn’t have technical ability, it has some but that takes a backseat to securing field position and pressuring the ball.

3.  There’s a huge difference in game speed between European play and American play.  This is an elephant in the room because you can’t throw money at a player and expect them to play faster.  If you sign two big-name foreign players and stick them with a slow team, the entire team is still slow.  And when I’m talking about game speed, I’m not talking about English soccer, I’m talking about European Champions League play at the top levels.  Almost every pass is connected and players truly have to go around like race horses for over an hour.  Klinsmann isn’t trying to get American players to be satisfied with English play, he wants a few of them in Champions League play.

So yeah, good luck with trying to convince your friend about the MLS Supporters Shield when passes fly off into the crowd and a player would rather kick shins than try and defend better.  In the meantime ……

I TYPED BEFORE AND WAS RIGHT – MLS IN CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WOULD TRIP ON THEIR SHOELACES.

1. NYRB sent out B teams everywhere and were afraid of injuring millionaire players.  I don’t blame them but the team’s depth was thin.  They were eliminated.

2.  Portland was part of a rule change that allowed them to play in the tournament.  Otherwise RSL would’ve played (and maybe succeeded).  The Timbers also were eliminated.

3.  Sporting KC is the defending MLS Cup Champion, they were eliminated as well.

The two MLS teams allowed into the next round are Montreal and DC.  One of them is IN LAST PLACE of the MLS right now, the other was IN LAST PLACE last year.  You can’t write this.  It will be a miracle if DC United pulls through and succeeds this tournament.  Good luck for the next round MLS!!!

Why is MLS changing logos so much?

The fast answer to the topic’s question is: MLS is changing logos because it’s trying to reinvent itself as a modern, important sports league and distance itself from a shaky meager past.

 

But just to ponder over it, here’s a list of recent logo switches and rebranding, starting from …. oh three years ago.

• The Wizards decide that they’d rather go for a more European look and feel.  They do this by dumping their name altogether and become Sporting KC.  Now at the very least, people with no experience with soccer whatsoever will know that it’s a sports team because it has SPORT in the name.  Also, you can’t blame the owners because they were investing a ton of money in a new stadium and decided it was time for a reset.  It might’ve felt odd to international fans hearing that David Beckham was playing at ‘Wizard Stadium’.
• Chivas USA will be obliterated at the end of the year.  Another reset.
• NY Redbulls are facing rampant rumors that the people watching Thierry Henry score goals and sulk don’t necessarily want to drink a Red Bull every day.  So after a number of years pouring money and Red Bull down the drain, the parent company wants to sell the team and thus …. in maybe 2016 the Red Bull logo will evaporate.
• San Jose Earthquakes – See above about the Wizards.  San Jose is also opening up a new stadium, but instead of changing their names they’re changing the logo.
• NYCFC has a brand new logo for their brand new team in the new Yankee stadium (even though New Yorkers think the stadium became old after five years).
• The owners of Columbus Crew rid themselves of the visage of three men in hard hats and decided to have a logo so European it’s almost Bayern Munich and BVB Dortmund combined in one image.  If any of you don’t know about those two German logos, just state at the brand new Columbus Crew logo hard enough until you see double … then you’re close.
• The Colorado Rapids changed their logo seven years ago, but I’m including them because they’ll likely change it in five years anyway.
• The MLS rebranded itself with something that reminds me of the NFL shield.

Let’s face it.  As much as America considers itself separate from Europe it looks like we’re still holding onto the obsession with family crests and shields.  I’ll leave you with an image of every team logo for the 2015 season courtesy of a random poster on the BigSoccer forum (a major news site for American soccer).  Enjoy this picture for two years until another new logo is announced.