|
|
 |
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE | |
Reactions Most users think that MLS is off to a good startPosted: Monday October 22, 2001 2:46 PMUpdated: Tuesday November 06, 2001 1:35 PM
Major League Soccer is a scrappy survivor, backed by deep-pocketed investors and loyal fans, according to CNN Money's Chris Isidore. But as MLS concluded its sixth season Sunday, Isidore wrote that MLS would likely will remain a minor league. CNNSI.com users responded overwhelmingly that they disagree and that the league has come a long way in its first six years. A sample of the responses we received follows: MLS will probably have to settle for being, at best, the fifth major sport in this country. For whatever reason, while there are record numbers of participants in soccer (players, coaches, game officials), the game just does not translate in this country to a big league spectator sport on the level with MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL. I would love to see MLS rise to the level of popularity that the NASL had at one time, but for that to happen the league needs to have electrifying players who capture the attention of the average sports fan, and not just soccer fans. The NASL had Pele. Who does MLS have?
If you're comparing it to MLB, the NFL or NBA, then yes, it will be minor league for at least another generation. I do see it growing, though, and it will surpass other sports and move into fourth place in the next few years. At least today an outstanding college player can realistically make a living playing soccer in this country and/or overseas. (When I played in college in the 70's that wasn't an option.) And looking at the number of kids playing and enjoying soccer these days, it will continue to grow, if not as fast as I'd like.
MLS has a long road to hoe to become a real major league, but these things take time. The NFL was almost 50 years old by the time the first Super Bowl was played.
It is, but it's way farther along than the NFL or NBA after six years. I watch the Wizards play at Arrowhead, which seems a little depressing because the stadium is SOOOOO huge it seems empty, but in reality they have decent support in K.C. The caliber of play is improving rapidly and when I visited Europe over the summer I wore my K.C. Wizards jersey and everyone I met asked about MLS and football in America. Someday, MLS will be a lot bigger, but never like the NFL.
Who CARES what the name says? The young American players are getting better because of it, and the quality of soccer is improving as a result. Sure, the play isn't as good as the EPL, but who would expect it to be? And with NBA tickets running $50 a seat for nosebleeders, the MLS is the best deal going for tickets. I support it and will continue to. It's a hell of a lot better than the A-League.
Though at times MLS HQ seems to make decisions like it was a "minor league", I think the fact that the league averages around 15k in attendance is example enough that this is anything but a minor league. However, the key to becoming a "major league" in the minds of MLS die-hards and casual fans alike is control of all stadia. This means soccer-specific stadiums. In the next few years with hopefully several more stadiums being constructed in L.A., Chicago, New Jersey and possibly D.C. and Dallas, we will see if the future of the league is truly viable with these new stadiums in place.
MLS will be a major league in the future. The quality of play is improving every year and the number of youngsters playing soccer nowadays is staggering. This league will survive because it's a beautiful game and soon all of America will realize that truth.
How can MLS ever become a major league if they don't have a farm system to develop young talent like the South American, Euro and Japanese leagues have? The only reason I support the league is to see the development of the young players like Donovan, Quaranta, Beasley, Johnson and Convey.
I don't know what you should call it. I know people that like soccer who don't even follow MLS. The MLS Cup had to compete for TV ratings with NFL football, NASCAR Winston Cup Racing, and the MLB playoff's. Those three leagues have been around along time. There is no way the fans of those three leagues are going to watch a soccer game on ABC on a Sunday afternoon.
I disagree! I think that the coverage that sports media gives it is one of the reasons it's not in the spotlight more. A challenge for the media: Educate yourselves about the beautiful game and stop taking cheap shots at those involved in it. Let's see what that might do for the game! In the meantime, MLS will play and continue to grow in popularity in spite of you all!
Rome wasn't built in a day. The MLS will have to have to work ver hard to create a lasting foothold in the sports psyche in the USA.
Disagree. I call these growing pains. How can you compare a six-year-old league to leagues that have been around for more than a 100 years? Overall, MLS is on the right track. I applaud Don Garber.
People keep saying that this league will stay minor. I can't disagree more. It takes time. If you could bring a brand new league big time this quick, wow, there would be a lot more new leagues being formed. It takes time to bring a sport and a league to the forefront. Every year the league grows by small amounts. Sooner or later those small amounts will turn into a pile and that is when the league will be one of the major leagues in the country.
|
