Tuesday's Column: Fans Vote With their Feet When It Comes to the MLS Playoffs & More
I cast my vote against the current MLS playoff system.
And I'm not the only one to address this issue at the ballot box.
Pasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan was voted MLS Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation in Real Salt Lake's Western Conference semifinal against Chivas USA.
Chicago's Jon Busch was voted MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
Updated:
And how will David Beckham vote on staying with the Galaxy and MLS in 2009?.
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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.
We know we have a problem when even the English complain about the lack of goal scoring in soccer!!!
More and more, the Beckham signing is looking like a long-term fiasco. Granted, the Galaxy has made beaucoup bucks off jersey sales, alone but club management (Leiweke and Anschutz, now that Lalas is gone) has revealed itself to be totally incompetent.
Consider the following:
1. Beckham and his representatives are essentially running the Galaxy when it comes to Beckham's responsibilities -- and AEG and MLS are letting him do it!
2. Arena and the players will face even more pressure to win in 2009 than perhaps they have ever since Beckham arrived. We all know how Leiweke "motivates" the troops; through intimidation. We also know how the "troops" respond to that intimidation.
3. If the Galaxy doesn't at least reach the playoffs next year, then Beckham and Arena will be gone, I believe, and Leiweke will be fired. Yes, Leiweke has made a lot of money for AEG but Leiweke might be the single most responsible individual for turning the Galaxy into a laughing stock. Those failed negotiations w/Red Bull over the new stadium in New Jersey don't make him look good, either.
One more thing: If MLS doesn't raise the salary cap, there could well be either a strike or a lockout after 2009. Why do you think Beckham has an escape clause after that season? Because that's when the collective bargaining agreement ends! Do you think he wants to be in a league where he might not be able to play? Is the pope an atheist? Do bears buy tickets on the Concorde?