Media rights dominate sports, and MLS is losing the TV war in the U.S. The last few weeks showed worrying times for Major League Soccer. First, the protracted labor disputes are still unresolved and there remains a lot of uncertainty regarding what may happen in the next few weeks. Second, ESPN announced its lead commentator […]

After Landon Donovan’s empathic goal at Goodison Park yesterday, he was carried by teammate Jack Rodwell into the corner nearer the crowd so he could receive the plaudits from the fans more directly. That the crowd started chanting USA-USA-USA was not surprising. English supporters have taken up the famous cheer to celebrate whenever an American […]

On Friday afternoon, Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Union announced that they will meet next week in Washington D.C. to resume labor negociations. And they've accepted an offer of mediation from George H. Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. What's this mean? Since I didn't read the words "binding arbitration" anywhere, […]

Is it posturing, or is it genuine optimism? Hard to say, but Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber likes his league's chances of starting the 2010 season without either a lockout or strike. He spoke at the SoccerEx convention in Manchester, England, on Tuesday, telling the Associated Press, "We will not lock them out, […]

The UEFA Champions League(UCL) knockout phase is underway. It's not an exaggeration to suggest that it attracts a global audience and captivates fans with competition that features many of the greatest players in the game. When I was just beginning my journey of becoming a soccer fan(2003), I was struck by the emphasis that was […]

The MLS season opener is 24 days away, and as of right now, it's going ahead as scheduled. Of course, the "as of right now" part of that sentence is key. The collective bargaining agreement expired last month and it's hard to envision a scenario in which two sides are farther apart than the league […]

The Major League Soccer season is scheduled to start on March 25 when the Seattle Sounders host the expansion Philadelphia Union. Of course, with the owners and players trying to hammer out an collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expired back in January, that date is hardly written in ink. It is encouraging […]

Landon Donovan is a marquee player. I wouldn't say he is world class, but he is certainly a good player in the top league in the world. World Class, to me, means someone who instantly affects the game he is in. A game changer, a Rooney or a Crynaldo. Landon Donovan is neither of those. […]

To call Landon Donovan’s loan to Everton a success is to call the Grand Canyon a decent-sized hole. Tthe loan has exceeded everyone’s expectations. Beyond fitting in well from the start, starting every game, scoring one and creating a good handful, winning over the Goodison crowd and being several commentators’ Man of the Match in […]

On Saturday morning, Landon Donovan will board a bus at Goodison Park, the stadium at the top of the photo amid all the working class houses, and travel about a mile to Anfield, the stadium at the bottom of the photo amid all the working class houses. Escorted by a phalanx of security, Donovan and […]

As Landon Donovan settles into the Everton, Michael Bradley becomes even more a fixture at the Bundesliga, and Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark leave the US and take big career risks to fight for a position on European teams, many American fans are bemoaning the fate of the MLS. What if all our stars go […]

On Thursday night in Philadelphia, MLS Commissioner Don Garber was interviewed on the Fox Football Fone-In show by Eric Wynalda and Nick Webster. There was one particular statement that Garber said that peaked my curiosity. It was in context of MLS and how the league has been in business for 15 years. "For 50 years, […]

MLS SuperDraft Special UPDATE A couple of good pundits will be live blogging the draft. Drew Epperly of WV Hooligan Buzz Carrick of 3rd Degree Wednesday Night Transaction DCU/Union Trade. DC United traded Fred, it's 1st round SuperDraft pick(#7), cash and swapped allocation places with the Philadelphia Union in order to acquire GK Troy Perkins. […]

Stuff I Follow from the Cheap Seats MLS Superdraft A good starting point for Superdraft information. Generation Adidas explained, reported by L.E. Eisenmenger. Before the expansion draft I was pegging Philadelphia to take defenseman Ike Opara with the first pick in the upcoming SuperDraft. But with their strong back line picks, Jordan Harvey and Shavar […]

An End of Year, Cleaning out some files post A bit of an older article by Fake Sigi illuminates some of the correct linkmachinizations that occur beyond the pitch that surround clubs and stadiums. Bill Archer's post, The End of the Beginning, is a good piece on the labors issues in MLS. Mike Woitalla of […]