Q&A with MLS commish Garber (pt. 3)

So the question is, when do you move from this plan into thinking that it's time perhaps to go and invest more in a wide variety of things? If there was a payoff and spending more money was a way to ensure that you would generate more profits, then I don't think anybody would argue with that plan. The issue here is that there has not been a relation with the exception of one or two moves between spending and even revenues, let alone profit. We're not at that point where there's a direct correlation between spending and profitability.

Those who believe that we're ready now to start thinking about increasing spending don't believe that it's something that will pay off in the short term. There's a view that perhaps it will pay off in the long term, and there's no guarantee that will happen whatsoever. My role is to ensure that we make good decisions. And this is important: At no point does any owner believe we should make any decisions about spending more money while we're in collective bargaining. It makes absolutely no sense to have anybody think we would be willing to do that.

SI.com: The Hunts and the Krafts have been with this league from the beginning. Do they have more influence than the newer owners, and is their conservative stance holding back this league from what it could be?

Garber: Absolutely not. There is still a one-team, one-vote approach here. When Robert Kraft speaks, people listen. When the Hunts speak, people listen. These are families that have been involved in the most successful sports in the history of sports [the NFL] and have proven to have great vision as to how to manage a professional sports league. Their influence hasn't waned whatsoever.

There are many new owners that are committed to the league and have seen some success, particularly recently, but we've all learned in the sports business that life's a long time. The Cosmos were pretty successful as well, and the NASL went out of business. I want everybody to know that some of the positive things that have gone on in the last 12 months aren't necessarily an indication of what our future will look like. It's an indication that we've had a good 12 months in a handful of markets.

We need to have that sustained for five years and 10 years and have that in all markets. Because we have a handful of teams that are really struggling. This can't be a league where three or four teams play against each other. We need 16 and 18 and potentially 20 teams that are all successful and viable in their markets, and we are simply not at that point now. In addition to that, it's taken hundreds of millions of dollars to even get to where we are now, and at some point, we need to ensure that this is a viable business that can turn a profit and have owners that aren't investing money because they think something might happen a decade or a generation from now. Then we'll be in a situation like other leagues have been in when someone raises their hand and says, "I can't do it anymore."

SI.com: What's the hardest part of your job?

Garber: The hardest part is constantly being in the mode of convincing people that soccer is worthy of their attention, whether that's the sports fan, broadcasters, media people, corporations or politicians. This is a great sport that has enormous potential and has this unbelievable quality of bringing people together as part of a global community. And how everybody in this country doesn't get that frustrates me, having been involved in sports for 30 years now. This is a very special, passionate, exciting sport, and I can't imagine why anybody would not believe in it. And the hardest part is continuing to fight and push and cajole and sell so many different constituents that we're worthy of their attention, their interest and their respect.

SI.com: Without being too self-conscious about it, I wanted to ask you what you thought of my book, The Beckham Experiment?

Garber: What drives the popularity of sports in America is this ongoing debate. It can be debate about the draft, about officiating, about player performance, about big and small markets, about parity. But it's that hot-stove talk, and soccer needs more of that. Your book took us off the sports pages and created a story in our league that grew our awareness and got people talking about us. It probably had an effect on the performance of the Galaxy, and it allowed the coach to come in and get into the locker room and get these guys working together. I think in many ways it was a bit of a coming-out for Donovan. I read it, recommended it to people and enjoyed it.

SI.com: In that case, thanks. Last question: A few days ago, you said you wouldn't be in this position in 10 or 15 years. How much longer do you see yourself in this job?

Garber: I certainly hope I can lead this sport for many more years. But boy, this is a tough job. I believe I have the toughest job in sports, because I've got the same issues every other commissioner has in promoting the sport, growing revenues, dealing with on- and off-the-field issues. But I'm doing it in soccer, which has its own challenges in this country. So it's fair to say I've gotten a little older than my 52 years. And that being said, I hope I can do it for a while longer.