I love ELP but I also love MLS. I don’t care if it is different with playoffs for the cup. That is how sports have been for years in the USA and it has been fine until now. The playoffs have helped with the interest and excitement for MLS. I say call the supporters shield the league championship winner and the MLS cup the the end of season knockout tourey. Keep supporting our league.

At the end of the day, we just need to conclude if we are mindless fanatics for ONE team, country or player OR do we truly love the Beautiful Game.

Thanks,

CR

I grew up playing soccer in the eighties with a friend from England and actually helped start our high school teams program. He was and still is an avid Chelsea supporter but he appreciates the MLS and will occasionally tune in. What both of us don’t understand is why people living in this country that enjoy football elsewhere feel the need to bash the local product just because the American league doesn’t have the money or drawing power of a Real Madrid.

I like most on this forum enjoy watching the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Argentine, Serie A, etc… However I will never stop supporting my local league or team regardless if I live in that teams city or not because it is a lot easier to get to a game inthe states than overseas and I love the opportunity to see such players as a Fredy montero, Freddi Ljundberg, David Beckham, Jaime Moreno, Landon Donovan, etc… play and other young ones develop such as a Clint Dempsey and more recently the great rookie class of 2009 in MLS like a Chris Pontius. And the only way that the product on the field will ever improve is for all soccer fans to support the league so that hopefully in the years to come the overall quality and style of the league will improve with more money but in the meantime I still have the opportunity to see in person a decent product or the highest level one in this country, be part of some great in stadium atmospheres and supporters clubs, talk on forums like this and see some great individual players play live that I never would have had the opportunity to see if not for the MLS. Hopefully Thierry Henry is soon to add his name to that list:)

I think anyone that turns their back on that is just missing out and it is their loss because at the end of the day we all love the game and you can watch your Man U’s and Chelseas’ play and still support and attach yourself to your local team and get a fun fan experience that you can be a part of.

The point I’m trying to make is that real viewership likely a fair bit higher in all cases than the actual Neilsen’s.

I am also fond of the great teams that should already have a WC Title under their wing – primarily the great Hungarian team of Puskas (who excelled in Real Madrid) and who can forget the great Clockwork Orange (Netherlands/Holland) under the wing of Cruyff, Niskins and many others as well as the teams than won the European Cup with Gullit, Rijkard and, one of my favorites ever, the Gazelle (because of his finesse) Marco Van Basten. I can’t leave out the great Brazilian teams, particularly the 1970 WC winners with Pele, Garrincha, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto and the final against Italy who were somewhat at a disadvantage having eliminated Germany in one of the most exciting semi-finals in WC history. That German team was also one of my favorite ever with Beckenbauer at his best and the great Gerd Muller. That semi-final between Italy and Germany counts as one of the greatest WC games in my book.

I won’t bore you any more but I do recommend that you appreciate the game, great players and great matches, regardless of nationalities.

CR.

PD. I don’t mean to leave out Portugal, Africa and South America that have produced some great players. Just not enough time..