What ever happened to great soccer in the US? In the 70's this team had Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, and Giorgio Chinaglia. Now soccer sucks in the US. Anyways, there's a movie out about them. Here's the trailer: I wanna see this movie. Maybe I can find out why they stopped bringing over great players to the US.
They stopped because after that group of players retired they couldn't replace them, then people stopped showing up and the league collapsed. MLS has tried to avoid that route and let the league grow naturally, they are now debating allowing teams to pay large salaries to bring over big named players. Also, the only way great players will come to the US is if they are payed way more than they are worth or they can't make it on a good team. And the Qatar league is willing to pay more than anybody so that makes it more difficult.
Weren't those guys past their prime when they played for the Cosmos? Sort of like Romario now in the MLS.
About once a week a rumor about Beckham/Ronoldo/Zidane/washed up player X coming to MLS is reported. It may happen but only after all of their European options are gone. And then we have to outbid the Qatar league to get them.
Yup, there are tooo many teams in Qatar, Emirites, and Saudi that will pay enough money to have these stars in their league and there is now way MLS is going to be able to compete with in a bidding war with them...
MLS itself can't compete, but the NY/NJ Redbulls can. The owner of NY/NJ is the guy who owns Red Bull soft drinks (hence the name change), he can offer as much as the Arab teams and allegedly has - plus, no offense, but it would take a large premium for me to play in Doha vs. playing in New York City, not just to make up for the lost endorsement opportunities but to placate Victoria when you tell her she probably shouldn't go out in public without a hijab. That said, even if they're successful this will fail just like it did w/NASL ultimately - the stars will retire and people will lose interest. Soccer's not going to be huge in the US ever and I'm ok with it.
I thought MLS transfers were stipulated by the league. Which I thought means that the league as a whole has to pay for the transfer fee. Anyone know the rules of MLS?
I don't know what they are but if they had a chance to get Ronaldo/Zidane/Beckham - they'd change or somehow get around those rules pretty damned quick, that's for sure. Anyway Zidane's contract is up, and Beckham/Ronaldo's expire soon too so I don't think a transfer fee would even be necessary.
Players sign their contracts with the league instead of a team, then the league assigns them and the team pays the league the player's salary. Right now there's a $300,000 max per player that can be avoided if a majority of owners agree to it. They've also discussed allowing one player to be signed that is completely exempt from any rules (The Beckham Rule). That also means that when an MLS player is sold to another team the league gets the money instead of the team. The whole process is going to have to change soon though. The salary cap I think is a good idea, but the way transfers and contracts are handled is getting to a point where it's holding the league back.
I respectfully disagree. Two things will make soccer big in the US, but it will be 15-20 years from now: 1. The children of the "Soccer Mom" generation grow up 2. The US team makes the final four in the World Cup
1. This already happened. Soccer has been the biggest youth sport in America for decades now - bigger than football/baseball/basketball by a longshot. AYSO people will recite the statistics with religious fervor, this dates back to the 80's and 90's. The problem is that they grew up and quit soccer and moved on to other sports. The children of soccer mom generation that have grown up and not quit soccer are what we have now - they're Landon Donavan (aged 24) et al ( was aged 10 in 1992 when the term was coined) and the result is the same. And if you think he was born too early, then why are the US junior national teams (U-23, U-20, U-19, U-17 etc) not tearing up the pitch? As far as I knwo they're at about the same level of the Seniors - towards the top of CONCACAF, but nothing special on the world stage. (which is why you don't see the US doing much in Olympic (u-23) soccer.) 2. If that ever happens (which it won't anytime soon given the state of the program - quite honestly making it to the quarters in 02 was the result of a favorable draw and getting Mexico in round of 16 rather than a true power team) - people will care for a few weeks while it does and then forget it for the next four years. The US dominates Track and Field - but nobody cares except in Olympic years.
What about the increased immigrant influx in the past few years? I think this would surely add more soccer fans in the US.
I don't think it's the children of the soccer moms that will become fans but the children of the soccer dads, the guys that are passionate about the sport. Other sports are ingrained in our culture over many generations, you can't really say that about soccer. There's been leagues before but none that have lasted very long. Landon Donovan didn't have a team to follow while growing up, but kids growing up now have that available. And if MLS succeeds and lasts threw a generation or two it will become a much more popular sport. But still not at the level of football/baseball/basketball. And you're right about immigrant fans, for the most part they remain fans of their native leagues and view MLS as second rate. It'll be a while before that changes.
I think this WC was the best received WC ever in the states. People everywhere were talking about it and still are (albeit Zidane's headbutt). I don't know if it is b/c ESPN has the rights to it so their radio shows and tv coverage has been positive or it is just an acceptance by most of them that this is the biggest and greatest sporting spectacle in the world. Either way, I only heard a few ignorant rants this time around compared to 4 yrs. ago when nearly all of them dogged the sport or talked about it sarcastically. I agree with SamFisher that soccer's not going to be huge in the US soon and being ok with it b/c we that love it know how great it is, and those who don't care for it are missing out big time. Who cares right? The only way it will get bigger here is if the MLS improves the quality of matches. I really enjoy watching the Dynamo live at Roberston but it is really difficult getting into a match on tv for some reason. I think it mostly has to do with the atmosphere and slow pace. They need to engrane into these players to play fast pace like the EPL. Enough of the possession matches, and more up and down fast action.
Just wanted to let you guys know i got about 5 tickets which allow 2 people each into the Angelika Film Center here in downtown free to view this movie next Thursday, July 27th @ 7:30 Let me know if anyone wants them. Peace.
I just saw this movie at the film festival here in Auckland. It's a lot of fun. The movie argues that the success of the Cosmos is responsible for the rise recreational and school soccer in the US. Lots of great 70's footage and a great soundtrack. Chinagala comes off like a completely unrepetent jerk. Worth seeing, definitely.
