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| by | 11/21/06 | 93 views |
Where were you on Sunday, November 12, at 3:30 p.m.? Since it was a Sunday in the fall, I bet you were watching football like the majority of America. Hopefully some of you were tuned into ABC for the Major League Soccer Championship game between the New England Revolution and Houston 1836 -- sorry, I mean Dynamo.
'Was I watching the game?' you ask. Unfortunately, I was at work and unable to indulge in the globe's most popular sport but I caught highlights on Sports Center later that evening.
It's ok because after looking at the ratings, it doesn't seem like many others caught the game either. According to sportsbusinessdaily.com, "ABC earned a 0.8 overnight Nielsen rating for the Dynamo-Revolution MLS Cup, down 20% from a 1.0 for last year’s final featuring Galaxy-Revolution."
Even though TV ratings were down, the 22,427 in attendance at Pizza Hut Park (Frisco, TX) set new records. Fans at the Hut, as I like to call it, witnessed the first ever MLS Championship to be determined by penalty kicks. The game was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and the overtime periods, resulting in the most dreaded aspect of soccer-- PKs. The Dynamo won 4-3, with striker Brian Ching taking away Cup MVP honors.
So, since it seems neither of us watched the match, why didn't we? I already mentioned I was hard at work, so what's your excuse? Does the MLS not appeal to you and your soccer cravings? Does it lack a world-class player like David Beckham, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, or Ronaldinho??
Well lucky for you and me, MLS Commissioner Don Garber recently announced a new change that the media has quickly deemed the "Beckham Rule." Garber's rule will allow teams to sign a maximum of two players outside of their salary cap, possibly landing big name stars, like Beckham.
David Beckham's name has been thrown around the most lately. Beckham, 31, has a contract with Spanish giant Real Madrid that expires in summer 2007. He has been playing the bench warmer position this season as Madrid try to cycle in their excessively long list of talent. Will his new "position" be enough incentive for him to come to America and make soccer, or football as they call it everywhere else, more popular? I personally doubt it. Beckham still has some years with those boots (aka cleats), I know because he put up a stellar World Cup performance, and I doubt he'll come to the United States to play against teams like Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls instead of La Liga teams like Barcelona, Villarreal and Sevilla.
Speaking of Toronto FC, that reminds me. Soccer in Canada?? Off the top of my head, I can name only one good male Canadian soccer player who plays overseas and not domestically-- Tomasz Radzinski of Fulham FC. The Canadians should stick to hockey and the MLS should not expand north of the border. Nothing against the Canucks, but I doubt creating Toronto FC will improve MLS ratings and popularity around the world. I guess they're doing it because they already went south and recruited Chivas of the Mexican League and changed their name to Chivas USA.
I am a huge soccer fan. I've been playing since I was five and I love watching the best leagues in the world, which doesn't include the MLS. I follow the English Premier League and Manchester United. Champions League action gives me an international soccer flavor and the World Cup and European Tournament add to that every few years. Land that world-class superstar in the league, then come talk to me. I want to see Ronaldo with a Red Bull logo on his chest scoring a hat-trick at the Home Depot Center.
Enough said. Now it's time for your questions. Do you think an MLS club will land a big-name player during the transfer window? If so, who and how will his arrival change the league?
Thanks for reading this rant and have a happy Thanksgiving filled with American football, and maybe some of the other kind on the side.
Just a reminder: Champions League continues Wednesday and No. 1 Manchester United is playing No. 2 Chelsea Sunday in English Premier League action.
     
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