Mapping MLS
Good morning class.
Today's topic: geography.
Being married to map geek (known professionally as a geographic information systems analyst) means acquiring an appreciation for the world of cartography.
MLS recently issued an interesting map showing the cosmopolitan origins of its players, which makes even more interesting reading when compared to last year's version.
The most striking difference: the number of Argentines in MLS (10 as of March 26) has now exceeded the number of Brazilians (9); last year there were only five Argentines compared to eight Brazilians in the league.
The importation of foreign talent means more competition for Americans to make MLS rosters. This year 229 Americans found places on MLS rosters, compared to 218 last year. And that's with an additional team in the league.
That's raised the quality of play, most observers agree, but it also has repercussions for the development of young American talent.
Still, attendance is up.
Finally, with the 39th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon approaching, here's a fun map that puts his lunar journey into perspective for soccer fans.
Class dismissed.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Wow! Dyachenko really gives MLS a lot of bang for their buck as far as earth coverage goes.
Useless, yet actually very interesting stuff, Nick. Thanks.
Great article with a lot of interesting info. Will there be a test on this? Thank you, Nick.
Cool Map! It doesn't seem to list all the players though. For example, the Galaxy's own Alvaro Pires is missing.
Nick replies: Yeah, he was signed too late for inclusion.