Zip It: It’s a LA Galaxy World
December 28th, 2009 . 2:05 am . By: Jay BrownleeWinters are often dark and lonely places for fans of Major League Soccer. While England is celebrating a full slate of traditional Boxing Day fixtures, most MLS fans are wondering what possible surprises- good and bad- our beloved American clubs will have in store for us in the off-season. Major League Soccer, for its part, continues to send mixed signals to fans. Surely Galaxy fans have to be happy that Anshutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has secured the services of Landon Donovan for another four years. Although MLS policy makes publication of explicit numbers verboten, various sources have indicated the deal to be in the $9 million range. That ain’t chump change and is a significant indicator that MLS owners may be beginning to realize that keeping American stars in the league is good policy. However, even casual thinkers like me have to be wondering why LA is being allowed to keep Donovan’s designated player exemption that was generously grandfathered to the Galaxy so David Beckham could come play half-seasons near Hollywood. It made sense when Anshutz desired to pair Beckham with Donovan and his pre-existing $900,000 salary. But this is a brand new deal. Sure, AEG is important to the league. Let’s face it: money talks. But at what point does MLS and its league-owned concept just admit their desire to secure LA as “First Amongst Equals” is an over-riding concern for the league? Why not just re-design the playoffs so that LA is automatically granted a birth without regard to their record? If it’s good for the league, and makes money… I’m partially kidding, of course. As much as I desire that this league prosper, my deeper desire is that it is done with as much equity as possible. That is why I am a supporter of the salary cap system that is in place. The salary cap is not a perfect solution, but I don’t wish to address the pros and cons of the salary cap in this column. The greater issue is how the cap will be applied in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement with the MLS Players Union. The early indicators say things are not going well. Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller recently reported on his blog that things are to the point he expects a lockout. Perhaps Keller was being overly pessimistic. But I think Keller’s outlook serves to underline why some of us feel MLS appears schizophrenic at times. Here’s MLS realizing the value of a genuine star like Donovan and making other good moves like suspending matches during the World Cup. Then there’s MLS cutting roster sizes, balking at salary cap increases and refusing to give players the same rights as virtually every other FIFA-sanctioned league on the planet. It just does not make sense. \ Sure, many of the players in MLS would rather play on our own shores, close to friends and family and the comforts of home. But why give players another reason to look to foreign leagues? Besides, there is money to be made from the sale of emerging American players whose value is appreciating overseas. Check out Stuart Holden as reference. Just for the record, I have never answered my iPhone and had Don Garber begging my opinion for anything, and I’m guessing the Don will not be calling anytime soon. That is because I am just a fan. But I’m damned confused and I do not think I am alone. Major League Soccer owes its fans and players a fair and coherent plan for continued growth. As much as profit should always be the goal of private business, MLS owes its very development to a sport which is the worlds most important. As such, Major League Soccer’s goals must reflect and more closely conform to the rest of the world. Until then, MLS will most likely continue to confuse. 5 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Good article, Jay, and I agree with you. The LA deal confuses me, too, in light of other things Keller talked about in his blog.
Oh, and thanks for a nice mid-break read!
thanks for your blog/website – it’s appreciated and checked on a daily basis.
As for MLS bending rules again possibly, the same rules should apply to everybody.
But we simply don’t know any rules for 2010 yet, therefore it’s useless to argue/vent anger now. (feel free to do that tough, if the current rules stay in place)
Hopefully a new CBA is going to be made, with positives for all parties.
The DP exemption as we know it is over and under review for 2010 onwards.
Ben, MLS Fan from Switzerland
Hmm…Galaxy can sign a DP, Galaxy can have a grandfathered contract. When FC Dallas had Carlos Ruiz grandfathered no one complained…strange I’m sure.
@ Zero Cool
I’m not complaining about anyone’s originally grandfathered contract. As I specifically noted, grandfathering contracts the first time around made sense. But it seems odd that the grandfathering is going to continue on a NEW contract. Essentially, this grants LA two DP slots without having had to trade for them; I think this is unfair to the rest of the league.
Its also using a “DP” spot on an American player, in theory, which is exactly what MLS did not want FCD to do in regards to Kenny Cooper. This decision sealed it for KC that he was going to Europe and not coming back to FCD. He was probably leaning that direction anyway, but having a contract offer with DP status and $1.2 million may have made him think twice. LA had that opportuity with LD, FCD didnt with Kenny.