Comments on: MLS Half-Assed Attempt at Change (Why we are going in the wrong Direction Part I)

By: USCMatt

USCMatt — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:17:53 +0000

Again spot on David! The responses are great, no one is ripping each other and that is a testament to you and your group. One comment to MLS, the commissioner and the owners, maybe your answer is Kobe.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:31:46 +0000

There is a players union, although its not very active online or easy to find information about. The league and the union have a CBA in place through 2009, IIRC

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE1DF143AF93BA25757C0A9659C8B63

By: David

David — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:44:13 +0000

Thanks Clint!! And yes, that is the one negative that could occur with unionizing the league, you would have the salary imbalances that have plagued the other sports. That however, is something that might be worth going for. As with the payday, players like Jonathan Bornstein and Hercules Gomez are the ones that are the quintessential points of underpaid players. Yes, I know Bornstein was a fourth round pick, but if he is not compensated then that is a sad representation. Gomez, is a player (though on the gals) has constantly proven that he is worth more then the “minimum wage” he is paid. He is not the only player, as there are countless others. I would have to agree with what you said about the attendance playing a major factor, as a large portion of team revenue comes from that.

What is always interesting is to look at articles from the past, for example like this Wash. Post article from a year ago talking about the potential strength of the MLS:

http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20060511-120809-9655r.htm

I will look into the profitability of the teams as it is something that would be fascinating to see. One thing I think everyone should check out is what D is doing at the DCenters and his fan driven initiative:

http://dcunitedblog.blogspot.com/
http://fanguide.soccerblogs.net/page/Main_Page/

As he mentioned in one of his other posts, it is up to the fans to really make a difference. The bloggers are going to have an impact upon the grassroots of MLS.

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:39:36 +0000

By the way, if there was a prize for “post of the week” this one would get my vote. Great topic and write-up, David!

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:38:13 +0000

Actually, does anyone know of documented #s regarding each/any team’s profitability? Even after all these years are there any teams that turn a profit? My worry with unionizing is that the MLB (and NHL) salary imbalances would re-occur but in a league that would not even come close to being able to support increases in pay.

I can see higher paydays if attendance and (more importantly) TV contract revenues shot up, but right now if I was anyone other than a budding star, I’d have to consider myself lucky to be making even 50k playing soccer in America.

By: David

David — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:40:41 +0000

See this is what I am talking about, the fact that we have a league and cannot pay for our players is something that should be troubling. What I don’t understand is why, after 10 years of existence, is there no Player’s Union to help fight for the player’s rights. Understandably, getting a union would most likely lead to a substantial increase in salary, however, it would give the player a voice. At the moment, the player is just a part of the MLS (quite like the problem baseball had years ago).

Even more troubling is the lack of media response or recognition of the potential for a player’s union. When searching google, all I could find were articles from 2000 and 2003, after that there is no mention of it. If the MLS is trying to legitimize itself, it has to remember that it cannot exist without the players. It would seem that this something that the Commissioner is forgetting, or ignoring.

Going to the MLS site there is two indications of the union existing once on April 17, 2003 and the other time on November 11, 2004 claiming that a collective bargaining agreement was created to last through 2009. However, one must question this as the CBA has not helped out.

With regards to the comments about players working other jobs, it would be interesting to see how many of the players really do have other jobs. How much time do the players have to work other jobs as they spend a large portion of their day training?

I know a lot of what I have brought is quite negative, but like Bob pointed out there are still positives which I will note in my next post.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:58:59 +0000

Yes, it will truly be a great day for American soccer when the young players in our national professional league will be able to throw away that paper hat and quit that 40-hour-a-week burger job. Or at least stop collecting welfare. I wonder why Europeans mock us so much about this sport?

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:54:22 +0000

Easy – get a side job selling peanuts during the game. These guys have feet, they can probably kick a bag of peanuts up 20 rows.

By: Tab

Tab — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:45:38 +0000

Yeah, I can’t believe what the minimum salary is… truly pathetic. If you make the league minimum salary (which at least a couple of people on each team do), you can’t possibly support yourself unless you have a real job… and how can you expect to play professional soccer when you have a 9-5 job!?!?

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:41:26 +0000

You’ll probably touch upon this in the next post but I think the reduction of playoff teams is a step in the right direction. A single table and no playoffs is where I’d like to see the league go so your description of “half assed” is apt.