Comments on: MLS’ Players Deserve Better

By: Mike wilson

Mike wilson — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:36:44 +0000

From a personal point of view, how can some one possible defend multi-millionaires paying professional players $12,000 per year? My 17 years old son who is a senior in high school, makes about $500 more working at IN and Out Burgers. Shame on the MLS shame….shame…shame

Giving players the option(??????) of keeping THEIR!! %10 and holding option on players contract long after you have terminate the services are straight out Mafia moves. I guess MLS stands for MAFIA LAEGUE SUCKERS……!

By: Lars

Lars — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:48:22 +0000

If the league minimum was raised from 20k to 40k, and the Senior League Minimum from 35k to 50k, we’d not have to raise the cap, as a lot of players would become cap exempt league minimum players.

Major League Soccer could then afford to raise the quality of players they keep on the bench and the big teams could afford to pay other players more. Would MLS have lost so many higher talented players to European 2nd and 3rd Divisions if the quality of play was better than it is now?

By: Elliott

Elliott — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:36:01 +0000

I get what you’re saying, but for a league less than 20 years old, I would say MLS is doing fine. Comparisons to Europe will always make the league look small, but right now the Mexican league is firmly in our sights (talent wise) and arguably MLS is on stronger financial ground than Argentina.

Still, the point about wages is true – and I hate the “league option” years on contracts for young players

By: Mexican Football Federation- 1st Division

Mexican Football Federation- 1st Division — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:21:26 +0000

Now it’s time to focus on the Mexican League playoffs. The SL Gladiators shocked Toluca by taking a 1-nil lead in their series. Club America will have their work cut out for them in leg 2 of their series. The Cement Machine is looking good so far in their series. Many compelling stories Very entertaining football.

The playoffs continue this weekend on Telemundo and Telefutura. The Grand Finale will be on December 13th. Don’t miss any of it!!!

By: Juan-John

Juan-John — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:28:08 +0000

Anybody know what the SPANISH-language ratings were for MLS Cup?

By: kevin_amold

kevin_amold — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:16:59 +0000

I agree, but I’d extend that to fans in general.

By: andy in ohio

andy in ohio — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:13:52 +0000

As long as MLS continues to give fans in the US reasons to ignore it, like stiffing players out of a few hundred grand, they will always consider the league a joke, and rightfully so. There’s a big difference between defending the league and bending over for it. If I were a young player there’s no way I’d sign a two year deal which is basically a four year deal. And even if I did, what incentive do I have to perform if the league won’t let me maximize my revenue by doing well?

We are going to lose Movsisyan (SP?), Rolfe, Clarke, Holden, maybe Donovan, and other good pros over a few hundred grand, or because the league jerked them around and they feel disrespected. Meanwhile, Beckham’s off to Italy, Blanco to Mexico’s second division, Schelotto has been slapped in the face by the Crew, McBride might retire. I’m much more pessimistic than the “summer of soccer, a corner has been turned, go MLS!” crowd is about the future of the league. Garber and the owners deserves all the crap they get, because they’re tarnishing the brand over relative chump change to billionaires and it will take years to undo the damage in the eyes of young US players looking forward to a pro soccer career.

Don’t forget, a big reason single entity was allowed by the courts was the owners pledged we would be a SELLING league, but when it comes time to bite the bullet and sell them on, they’d rather pay the players peanuts and let them walk when their contracts are up. A $500,000 cut of the transfer fee of $5,000,000 is not unreasonable, and its cheaper to pay it out short term than it will be to rebuild the trust of young USA players long-term.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:01:09 +0000

While late game don’t help, it is not necessarily a killer. The World Series ratings were up big time this year.

The fact is, soccer just isn’t a big TV sport in America right now. ESPN got 1.0 ratings from the freaking Little League World Series this year. Yes, 1.0…for baseball games involving 11 and 12 year old kids. That’s about where soccer stands in American TV viewing.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:54:54 +0000

Writers should not takes sides? Have you ever read a newspaper before? Good lord, get your head out of the sand.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:09:01 +0000

That really is the type of player the MLS has to be able to keep, huh ?
Not the $1 million dollar contract, but doesn’t deserve to be paid less than a teacher sorry bad joke.