By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Apr 16, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- I was recently interviewed by Tony McClean of the Black Athlete Sports Network for his show "Weekend Sports Rap". The focus of the interview was mainly about Blacks in the game of soccer domestically and internationally, but the discussion turned toward soccer's relatively low spot in America's sporting landscape.
What will it take for soccer in general, and Major League Soccer in particular, to get to that high level? My answer was the same as it's always been: Time.
I cited the examples of the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. How it took years for football to overcome the dominance of baseball and establish itself as an American institution. How I could remember the days when The NBA Finals were on tape delay. Both of those leagues had to go to through growths periods longer than MLS has even been around before they became the big time sports that they are now.
MLS is now into its 14th season. That's an achievement in and of itself. Many thought it wouldn't last more than five.
While time will continue to be what MLS needs to get to the heights we all want it to see, a little sustained good luck wouldn't hurt either. I know that seems to be coming from out of nowhere but let's face it, the league could use a little consistent fortune, some sustained love from the soccer gods.
What brought this on?
Reading about the latest drama out of the 202 regarding DC United's endless search for a new stadium. After having their seemingly can't miss plans at Poplar Point crumble into the Anacostia, United finally answered the overtures from neighboring Prince George's County, MD, only to have the county council vote unanimously to not explore any further stadium possibilities with the team.
On the heels of this setback, The Don hinted that moving the team out of the DMV area was a possibility.
Now, let's set aside the negative connotations of having to move the League most successful club out of an area where the fan support has always been top of the table. Not to mention a city that hasn't a seen a non-soccer championship since I was in college.
I applaud the The Don's ambitious plans to have 18 MLS teams. Who isn't looking forward to seeing if Portland and Vancouver can outdo Seattle. But pronouncements of that sort that would be quickly undermined if the League's original dynasty has to look for a new home.
This, of course wouldn't be the first time that a dynasty franchise would have to move. San Jose moved because of stadium issues. This was after winning two titles in three years and exiting as the reigning Supporters' Shield winners. That club has won two more championships in Houston, yet they're still without their own stadium.
The very public challenges to MLS’ growth aren’t new.
MLS can’t even get a decent celebration going without something bad happening. Remember the 2002 All-Star game designed to celebrate US players after the World Cup quarterfinal run in 2002? A massive thunderstorm stopped the game in the first half and turned the second half into a slosh fest not seen since the inaugural MLS Cup.
The most recent glaring example of things not quite working out as hoped would be the David Beckham fiasco. Most, if not all, MLS fans were excited at the prospect of one of the most high profile players in the world coming to play in our league.
He was supposed to raise the profile of the game here and demonstrate to the international football community that MLS was a place where good soccer can be watched, played, and enjoyed. So much for that.
While it can be argued that players like Blanco, Schelotto and Angel have all arrived in Beckham's wake. With due respect to all of those players, none of them have worldwide appeal of a David Beckham. He was the one who was supposed to spearhead this movement of international legitimacy for MLS. Instead, he got back into the England squad, decided that he rediscovered his love of club football in Italy, and will grace us with a limited engagement farewell tour later this summer.
Thanks.
Soccer journalists and officials more experienced and connected than I, both in this country and abroad, have written volumes on what they think is wrong with MLS and what can be done to make it better. For the most part these suggestions are well intentioned, but they are policy driven.
Right now, I just want nothing negative to happen. I don’t want to hear about any legal problems involving burgeoning superstars. I don’t want to hear about stadium issues for teams that deserve them. I don’t want to hear about any new sponsorship deals and then have to read yet another story about players having to take second jobs to pay their rent. After watching a well played MLS Final on ABC, it was kinds of disheartening to hear that ESPN wasn’t going to renew the weekly Thursday night MLS telecasts.
I’m not saying these things shouldn’t be reported on when they happen. That would be irresponsible journalism. I’m just tired of having something positive with this League always being chased by something disappointing.
MLS will grow strong, of this I am confident. But a few breaks along the way wouldn’t hurt either.
Andrew Dixon is a soccer writer based in Miami and a weekly columnist for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at: golnoir@golnoir.net
