Comments

1. Portland-Columbus a fun match, I love the matchup and how those two teams have built their teams, but it lacks star power tho I’m still excited to watch it. Americans like star power, for better or worse. a couple of other points

   Garber is a mouthpiece…duh.
   Playoffs in American sports are normal whatever the world does…but then again the Euro CL is an awesome playoff!
   limiting travel to east and west because it’s too much for the players…LMAO! and besides the real travel issues are in the CONCACAF CL anyway…real issues there. MLS could do WAY MORE to help those teams compete
   Miami over Sacramento…ridiculous! but this goes back to Beckham’s original deal with the league I think, right?

   look, if you want to rip the league, go ahead! I do it too, but I also recognize what it’s accomplishing, here in America in a multi-sport playing field (which is just like in the rest of the world, right? lmao)…a lot of great stuff!! if your doom and gloom glasses only allow you to see that side of it, well, would you like some cheese with that whine?

   anyway, you want to know why posting here is down? too many arrogant folks posting who know nothing but are very loud, volume posters. very simple equation. used to have insightful participators but that has obviously changed

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   • There’s many theories of why people aren’t posting as much anymore and I think it’s directly attributed to the lack of quality form the journalists, absenteeism from Ives, and posters trying to be friends and SBI becoming an intolerable echo chamber.

     You want to hold hands and sing kumbaya more power to you, but if you think your exonerated from any arrogance or lack of insight, you might want to read up and pay attention to player quotes who CONFIRM they hate the travel.

     Your post simply highlights: If you aren’t singing praises of MLS, you must “hate it”. Just another sheep on SBI…THAT is the there’s no discussion. People can’t handle conflict or debates.

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     • BS as usual from you. you just try to intimidate

       sheep at SBI? reread my post. I call out MLS all the time…reasonably. I dare you. I see both the good and the bad, being being truly old school as I am, not just some hack behind a keyboard with a handle.

       You try to intimidate, the sheep cower, but the knowing see through you. the true old school

       reread my post. and if you’d like, let’s discuss what we coaches are doing this off season because of USSoccer’s shenanigans…you must know what I’m talking about right? so all knowing and from the inside you are

     • “Intimidate”?

       Wow. Thanks for confirming the exact sentiment of what I said. Grow some thicker skin or stay off the internet. I’m not here to be your friend.

2. I thought the mls semis were excellent in terms of intensity and late game drama.

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3. Paulo Dybala with an absolute golazo volley from 23 yard out.. Kid’s got Messi-like potential #forzajuve

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4. Cool. MLS Cup got a half a line!

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   • It’s because people couldn’t give “half” a crap.

     Look at the threads associated with the playoffs on SBI. They have been nothing more than dead and deserted. Don’t let the snake oil salesman, Don Garber, lead you to believe the league is on it’s way to being one of the best in the world – as he so repetitively says.

     The product is still far too manufactured, soulless and lacking any character. This is the opinion of someone who is not a eurosnob and wants to see MLS succeed.

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     • You finally have a match-up that doesn’t have one of the League Office’s propped up teams in it and you’re saying it lacks character? I think this is one of the best MLS Cup matches possible from this year.

       Very much looking forward to Sunday!!

     • You only need half a line because there are plenty of articles specifically geared to this match. No need to waste time on this site with what is already being hyped. And MLS comments are second only to USMNT comments on these posts; no doubt about it in my mind. All comments have dropped in number because of the site change and the holidays. I read that more people are loving these MLS playoffs than ever before. Almost nobody comments on the Daily Ticker or Daily Kickoff about world soccer.

       MLS is alive and well. Trying to make something yuuuge out of a half sentence on SBI is a fireable offense.

       – – – – – – – – – – – – –

       “The product [MLS] is still far too manufactured, soulless and lacking any character.” – Old School

       Why do you think this? I want to make an argument against you but I need some details on why and how you possibly think that. Do you think it’s because of the salary cap, or the playoffs, or not having a pro/rel setup, or having team names like “Timbers”, or. . . what? I think all of those things give us soul, and character, and make us feel more natural to US sport’s fans.

       I grew up loving the NHL, NBA, and NFL. They all had playoffs, and silly-named mascots, and drafts, and enforced some degree of parity. That’s the natural soul and character of US citizens and consequently US sports.

     • “Why do you think this?”

       Because it is in every sense of the word and that is be design, intention and obvious to anyone paying attention that lacks rose-tinted glasses. Hell, read Don Garber’s comments in trying to “create” rivalries. There’s nothing organic about the league and the excuse that it’s a young league only goes so far.

       –Is it a business venture that is showing signs of success? No doubt (depending on if there’s a CBA negotiation – then the league isn’t doing good, according to Don Garber).
       –Does it have passion? Outside a few cities – little to no passion at all.
       –Is it an appealing product to the fans? Not really. The TV ratings reflect that.
       –Is the league heading the right direction? I don’t believe so. Look at the the Miami vs Sacramento obsession.
       –Is MLS Cup a good thing for the league? No. The regular season remains fairly pointless and there’s not a lot of evidence people get excited for MLS Cup in numbers that would suggest retainable excitement.
       –Salary Cap: holding back the league. It’s ok for there to be “villains” by way of big clubs that are in more attractive markets and can attract better players. If the club can cover the cost – LET THEM. From a player talent perspective – outside some notable players that had storied careers and are within the last year or two of their career, the product remains hard to market, the talent remains hard to watch and the outlook appears hard to predict.

       If you’re asking me on ways to improve the league from an organic, logical and intriguing sense: MLS West and MLS East. Two conferences that only play each other within its region. This cuts down on travel soccer players appear to not be able to handle (unlike other American sports). This would also encourage natural/geographical rivalries over time. This would also be the most natural transition way down the line to a Pro/Rel set-up, but again Pro/Rel is the least of my concerns as a fan.

       I’m not sure why YOU brought up Pro/Rel because that is step 26 in comparison to the step 3 where they’re at. I’m not sure why YOU brought up nicknames. I’m not sure why YOU brought the “natural” soul of American sports. This is not our game. The arrogance and insecurity with trying to make it “our” game – in fact – robs it of any “natural” soul the sport already has. Please refrain from talking about “soul” when we have a commissioner obsessed with Miami over a primed city at every level in Sacramento.That entire inquiry and range of questions just sounds like an insecure American fan.

       *Parity has handcuffed this league.
       *The product is bland.

       That’s why I, and far too many others think this. TV ratings very much support this opinion.