Rebuttal: Jimmy Conrad's diatribe at soccernet.com

Jimmy Conrad. Arguably one of the better defenders in Major League Soccer. It could be argued he bears a faint resemblance to Steve McQueen. Ultimately he plays for a obscure club in what may be considered by the rest of the world, an obscure league. Apparently he has the answer to address the growing pains of MLS. I will fashion a rebuttal in this forum. I would’ve posted this to ESPN Soccernet, but they will only give so many characters per post. Not nearly enough to address all of Mr. Conrad's provocative talking points.

“Jimmy Conrad wants MLS to usher in a single-table format.”
That sounds fine Jim, a single table makes good sense. Conference play is artificial, at best, and the rivalry trophies designed for the league would be laughed at by any other footballing nation, and by many fans and supporters that live in America.

Jimmy Conrad:

“What can I say? I enjoyed ducking word counts, deadlines, coming up with a topic worth reading about and the pressure of trying to top my previous efforts. I enjoyed saying I used to write for a company that bills itself as "The Worldwide Leader In Sports." I enjoyed doing no type of self-promotion whatsoever (except for my radio show, Web site and notable public appearances). And then I read a book that detailed the history of Linux. And upon finishing the book, I had an epiphany. And with that epiphany, I had a vision of what the future of Major League Soccer should look like.
To the uninitiated, Linux, in its simplest form, is a computer operating system. What sets it apart from its competitors, however, is that its evolution is based on a collaborative effort from developers using free and open-source software. The original developer of Linux was Linus Torvalds, and he built his idea by standing on the shoulders and the work of Richard Stallman and Andrew Tanenbaum, just as those after him will use his shoulders to reach farther and aim higher. And those willing to join the community are encouraged to use the model in place and build something better without repercussion.”

51NC3P0NG:
To begin by saying you were ducking your responsibilities is less than credible. To profess that the salvation of US Soccer and (the true and round) football in America lies within the model of open source code borders on the ridiculous. I can only imagine that you were pressed for a submission by ESPN.com and that a bottle of bourbon or perhaps extra strength cough syrup served as your primary inspiration. This, discovering as you did that you article was due at the eleventh hour.

JC:
“So with these Linux-influenced thoughts in my mind, I knew what had to be done. I had to create a platform for the masses, something to build off so you, my dear reader, can add or subtract or enhance or toss out whatever you see fit. It makes no difference to me how it develops, but a real conversation needs to start and start now.”

51NC3P0NG:
You underrate the intellect and awareness of the American fan and supporter. Don’t attempt to create a platform for the masses. Create a platform based on substantiated ideas, and reasonable speculation. It should make a great difference to you how the argument develops, unless there is something I don’t know and you’ve been offered a starting place at a English Premiership Club. The conversation that truly needs to start is the one between the MLS ownership and it’s Player’s Union. You both have to work out how our league can be more internationally competitive without running it into the ground. As most of the league isn’t making a profit yet, I imagine it will be a difficult task to do so. Until then, expect MLS clubs to keep getting wiped by Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champion’s League.

JC:
“As a league, we're a teenager (14 years of existence), and we need to act like it. We have been toeing the line since birth, following the rules of our American sports brethren with playoffs and drafts and Eastern and Western conferences, but the time is ripe for a change. We need to tell our parents that we hate them and "what do they know about anything." We need to run with our own identity and stop trying to conform to people who aren't smart enough to understand the greatness of what we have to offer anyway.”

51NC3P0NG:
In the spirit of said petulant teenager, you have gone off half-cocked with virtually nothing to substantiate your arguments. How does the concept of open source development apply to furthering the aims of MLS and US Soccer. Your explanation and suggestions of what will work leave much to be desired. Capitalism drives individuals and businesses in the United States. That means the entities you use in your examples are all bitter competitors. Had you illustrated how the open source model would benefit all those involved in meaningful ways, your argument would have held more credibility. The “operating system” of MLS and US Soccer is determined by influential and wealthy people that could easily buy or sell you. The owners of MLS franchises could just as easily sell out or fold those businesses if they thought they were going to be bleeding any more money than they already are in current circumstances. I once worked at a printing press where no one wanted to unionize. A union rep came but no one would sign up to organize. The reason is that if they had, that press would have terminated all its employees, and moved the operation to a site where cheaper labor could be had. There was once a McDonald’s restaurant where the employees wanted to form a union. McDonald’s promptly closed that store and fired all the employees. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=32115&seenIt=1 Check it out Jim, this is what you and yours are up against. Best of luck.

JC:
“NUMBER ONE: Expand Major League Soccer to 20 teams, and instead of splitting the 20 teams into two conferences of East and West, split them into MLS 1 and MLS 2. The top 10 teams of the year in, say 2012, would qualify to be in MLS 1, and the other 10 would play in MLS 2. I'll possibly allow exceptions, letting into MLS 1 a team that has had a wealth of history and championships in MLS (I'm looking at you, D.C. United, and your inexhaustible team president, Kevin Payne) if it has an off year in 2012, and bumping down to MLS 2 some punk team that had one good year at the right time but is perennially a lovable loser.
MLS 1 teams would play regular-season games only against each other, creating familiarity of the opponent for the fans and players, and intense rivalries overall. There would be no playoffs, and the team with the most victories after 30 games would be crowned champion. The top four teams in MLS 1 would qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, the next four teams would qualify for SuperLiga and the bottom two teams would get relegated to MLS 2. The majority of MLS games on TV would be from MLS 1, with maybe one, the best matchup perhaps, from MLS 2 getting on the airwaves.
The initial crop of MLS 2 teams would be bitter about starting in MLS 2, but bitterness creates other emotions, and emotions get cities, fans, players, coaches and owners engaged, and engagement gets people to pay attention, and attention makes money. The winner of MLS 2, after 30 games of regular-season play, would get automatic promotion to MLS 1, and the next two teams in the standings would compete in a one-game playoff for the second berth for promotion.”

51NC3P0NG:
20 teams is it? FIFA has stated that they think 18 teams is the ideal amount. Want to argue with Zurich? Ireland had definitive evidence of the Thierry Henry handball in their UEFA playoff against France. Confronted with this, FIFA refused to grant Ireland a replay. What do you think MLS’s chances are at fighting FIFA on any issue?
Promotion and relegation are sound ideas to make things exciting at the top and bottom of league tables. In this much you are correct. However, the cabal that created your league (MLS for those scoring at home) wanted guarantees of cost certainty, and the promise that the league would exist “as-is” while the business model was being improved. What do you think will be offered to the player’s union when the Collective Bargaining Agreement is up for renewal? I can guarantee that it won’t be much better than it is now, as the league is still bleeding money from many small cuts. You know how it is in this great country of ours though Jim, right? Revenue in, expenses out.
I agree that the league champion should be the MLS club with the most points at the end of the season. But I believe that this will be seen as a Eurocentric view, and will be therefore, generally dismissed.
Regarding international qualification: The MLS Cup winner, the MLS Supporter’s Shield winner, and the US Open Cup winner should be granted entry into the CONCACAF Champion’s League. In the event that an MLS team wins more than one of these trophies (bloody unlikely in my opinion, due to squad depth, wages, etc.) The runner-up would qualify to fill the other qualification spot. The top three MLS finishers in total points should be granted entry into the SuperLiga.

JC:
“Possible Positive Side Effects:
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup would take on added importance, as games between MLS 1 and MLS 2 teams would be hot tickets and hotly contested. It would generate a nice boost of exposure for a tournament that deserves it.
The promotion and relegation angle would add drama and relevance to every game except for those bottom teams in MLS 2.”

51NC3P0NG:
US Open Cup matches between MLS, amateur, and USL clubs are already important. The Lamar Hunt Cup is one of the oldest sporting trophies in North America. I believe only the Stanley Cup is older. In terms of exposure...no one in TV land seems to care. This isn’t a reflection that the product needs to be improved somehow - it is a matter of perspective. In many other countries big matches are shown on state television. ESPN has increased its commitment to football in general and now regularly telecasts (or webcasts through ESPN 360) matches from La Liga, and the English Premiership, a featured Thursday night MLS match plus coverage of the MLS Cup final, matches from the UEFA Champions League and prominently features the United States national team by telecasting their friendly matches and also World Cup qualifiers. ESPN also prominently featured matches from the Confederations Cup. Fox Soccer Channel has a more complete commitment to football as they regularly show matches from not only the US national team, but also matches from MLS, English Premiership (and the odd English Cup match), UEFA Champions League, Serie A, the Australian A-League, and the daily global football roundup that is the Fox Soccer Report. FSC also televised the US Open Cup final this year, and has been for the last few years or so, presenting the FIFA World Club Cup. Many cable TV outlets have Setanta Sport now. It’s a pay service, but features matches from England, including the English domestic cups, matches from the UEFA Champion’s League and France’s Ligue 1. Setanta also features comprehensive coverage of rugby, Gaelic football, hurling, and I think also cricket if I’m not mistaken. For the US Open Cup to get wall to wall coverage, one of two things needs to happen:
US Soccer needs to webcast all the matches, whether it’s paid for by sponsors, or as a pay service made available through ussoccer.com.
US Soccer needs to get into the cable television business, and start it’s own network.
The webcasting would be the most likely scenario, as I don’t think US Soccer is interested in starting it’s own TV network.
As far as promotion and relegation is concerned, it’s a fine idea, except for that MLS franchise owners are unlikely to ever consider it. As it stands all MLS clubs have guaranteed status in the USA’s top division of football. If you were the one in the suit making the tough business calls - would you be keen to throw that away.

Regarding the assimilation of all the USL and other lower division clubs into MLS in different divisions:
Forget it. They are all competitors with MLS. Co-operation comes a distant second to the almighty dollar in the USA. Maybe it’s not the best model, but that’s the one we’re working with. The open source model you propose would incur great financial losses at the outset with no guarantee of any financial return. That is a scenario that will give the properties of MLS all the appeal of an Ebola outbreak to investors. In addition MLS is currently involved in a carefully controlled expansion program. Season tickets must be pre-sold, stadiums must be either built or promised, and sound investment has to be in place before the league even considers a candidate. How many clubs from the other domestic leagues here have the financial health, and facilities to meet these standards? I’m guessing not many. I think Rochester has it’s own stadium, but to MLS Rochester is just a burgh somewhere in the hinterlands of upstate New York.
It is encouraging to me that a format (the US Open Cup) for teams from other domestic leagues to meet MLS clubs in meaningful matches for silverware exists.

JC:
“The Always Endearing Fallout From The Know-It-All Talking Heads:
"We are Americans, and as such, we should be ourselves: We embrace playoffs and conferences, and we don't copy the incredible success of the top soccer leagues from around the world."
"Soccer is boring. They should count every goal as six points, like the NFL does, to make it seem more high scoring than it really is."”

51NC3P0NG:
Seriously?! Really, James? I think you severely underestimate the amount and sophistication of your fans and supporters.
As far as the posters on ESPN.com (a very noisy, undereducated, and likely unwashed minority) who are convinced that soccer is a game for people not big or strong enough to play basketball or American football...you’re never going to win those guys over. Even if the USA won the World Cup, they would still piss and moan about how soccer, and the athletes who play it, are inferior.
Forget them. They are irrelevant.
Having said all of that, I agree with you that MLS should embrace the single league table, and crown the club earning the most points at the end of the season MLS Cup Champion. I also agree that the league system used in most of the rest of the world should be used - two matches against each team, one home, one away. The MLS Supporters Shield which now goes to the club with the best record at seasons end, should become either a pre-season tournament trophy, like Englands FA Community Shield, or awarded more literally to the MLS Club that draws the most fans each season. MLS Cup winner and US Open Cup winner qualify for CONCACAF Champion’s League?

JC:
“NUMBER TWO: Become a monopoly. MLS needs to buy the United Soccer League, the Major Indoor Soccer League and any other league with thoughts of being a competitor. Despite my instincts to the contrary, competition, in this regard, creates gray area and confusion, and if our main goal is to become one of the great leagues around the world while developing homegrown talent and a superior national team, everyone needs to be working together.
The USL can morph into the MLS Reserve League and host meaningful games for our younger players, because the knock on our younger players is that they don't have enough game experience in pressure situations to make good tactical decisions on a consistent basis. It's sad to say, because I'm a huge proponent of the college experience, but the current college game doesn't provide the proper environment from which to seamlessly transition to the professional level. The NCAA needs to make the season longer than four months and somehow expose these kids to what's it like to play with and against grown men who are playing to put food on the table and pay bills, because it's a completely different mindset.
The MISL can be converted into a "See Them Before They Are Stars In MLS" Indoor League. The league could and should be held during the MLS offseason from the end of November to the beginning of March, and the rosters for these teams could and should be littered with players who played less than 1,000 minutes during the regular season in MLS. Again, it's an opportunity to get players valuable touches on the ball under pressure with lots of eyes watching instead of having them sitting on the couch waiting for preseason training to roll around. The league could barnstorm around the country, hitting a variety of markets, or a rule could be introduced that each team in MLS has to have an indoor team. The best example I can give to prove why this would be beneficial to the league is that the majority of professional soccer players from America grew up in California, Texas or Florida. That's because, due to the climate, the kids in those states can play all year. The indoor league would provide MLS with this opportunity.”

51NC3P0NG:
What you propose would require the purchase of USL and other similar properties by MLS. The owners of all of those clubs aren’t going to accept shared revenue under your proposed open-source model. MLS had a reserve league and disbanded it. Obviously MLS owners and upper-level management felt it was either unnecessary or simply too expensive to continue. I don’t agree, but then I’m not paying MLS’s bills, so I have limited say in the matter. MLS has problems drawing fans playing the outdoor variety of football. You propose the creation of an indoor league? I think if the costs to actualize what you propose were set in front of you, you would quickly realize how unfeasible this is for MLS to attempt. When a business is in it’s early stages the entrepreneurial risk is greatest. Factories close and wages are dumped through layoffs rather then let the company die. When revenue trends become prosperous and stable, expansion is more likely and makes more sense. Although MLS has iron fisted control of things like this, it has kept the league, and it’s investors from getting crushed.

JC:
“Possible Positive Side Effects:
By keeping MLS Reserve League teams in the smaller markets the USL currently occupies, MLS can tap into the minor league baseball mentality as fans watch a player progress from unknown in a little town to superstar in a big city and follow him throughout the rest of his career.
The MLS Indoor League could keep MLS in the media spotlight all year and give it an increased boost in entertainment value, if only because there are more goals scored in indoor soccer and Americans love scoring.
Both platforms would provide MLS with the ability to solve a variety of issues ranging from referee, coaching and player development to new television deals, which lead to new fans.”

51NC3P0NG:
I see what you are getting at here. However, there are no guarantees that any of these actions will produce the result you describe. Investors need guarantees. Your wages are capped and your potential transfer fee is inflated because of this. An MLS indoor league might sell no tickets. An MLS indoor league might not attract television coverage. The reserve league and indoor league, even if the league had the money to get it going, would probably fail. MLS is, sensibly, concentrating on producing a better product of football played outside. I wish in MLS that more venues would use natural surface, which I think is more of a priority because of the increased risk of injury playing on artificial surface. Good businessmen weigh the risks before investing. The reserve league and indoor league models you propose would likely be considered ventures with a very scant likelihood of financial success. No financial success, no investment. That’s how it works. The model you propose demands great entrepreneurial risk, with no likely return in sight. Big money people avoid such risks like the plague.

JC:
“Questions From What I Have Proposed That Are Worth Exploring:
Do we have the infrastructure to pull this off?
What is the main goal of having MLS in place? Is it about land and money and tax write-offs, or is it about something more?”

51NC3P0NG:
The answers are respectively no, and what are you talking about? MLS is like any other sports entertainment venture. Players play, people pay to watch and hopefully enjoy themselves. Done correctly, owners make money, players make money, and fans are entertained. I don’t know if it’s about land and tax shelters, but it is definitely about money.

JC:
“The Always Endearing Fallout From The Know-It-All Talking Heads:
"Soccer in this country will never work, and I know this because when I played, I wasn't very good and the soccer players always got the girls."”

51NC3P0NG:
Seriously Jim, lay off the cough syrup. I’m worried about you.

JC:
“NUMBER THREE: Dispose of the MLS draft. Forever. Instead, encourage teams to develop their own prospects and give them the power to sign these prospects to professional contracts at whatever age they deem fit. If a player forgoes a contract offer from the team that brought him up to attend college, said team loses all rights to the player IF the player uses all four years of college eligibility. If the player goes to college for three years or less and wants to become a pro, the team that brought him up will have restricted rights to his services.
For example, let's say a player goes to UCLA, the best soccer school in the country, for a year and has a terrific freshman season. If he thinks he's ready for MLS, the MLS club that fostered his growth, let's say the Los Angeles Galaxy, will have the right to match any offer from any other club in MLS or abroad for his services. If the Galaxy refuses to match the offer, the player is free to choose whichever club gave him the best offer. If a player comes out of college after serving all four years, he is free to join whatever club he wants based on playing style, the coach in place, proximity to home, the money offered or whatever.”

51NC3P0NG:
I agree with disposing with the MLS Draft. It has served as a vehicle for two things, media exposure and parity. More the former than the latter I expect, as most MLS impact players come from professional or very good amateur environments. Ultimately MLS clubs must develop their own player academies with professional teams of different age groups for the purposes of player development.
Does MLS foster any NCAA player’s growth and development? Do UCLA and Los Angeles Galaxy have a relationship that I’m unaware of?
Is UCLA really the best soccer school in the country? Or are you just a little bit biased? Was it UCLA that was your school Jim? Come on, you can tell me, are you an alum of UCLA?
I remember in the Fall of 2007 going to Edwards Stadium on my birthday and watching Cal handily defeat UCLA, and play an attractive brand of football in the process (Sorry about that Jim, had to write it, the wife is an Old Blue). More recently it is UCLA enjoying the Pac-10 (Pac-6 in soccer?) success. Congratulations to the Bruins.
I think MLS should continue with the NCAA player combine, and the Generation Adidas programs. These are sound ideas and generally accomplish what they’re supposed to.
Ultimately, I think any team that has cap room in MLS should have a shot at signing whatever college prospects they want to. However, this would be perceived by MLS as jeopardizing parity, and would be summarily and perhaps, at this stage in the league’s development, correctly rejected.
The system you are proposing is perhaps more complicated than even the MLS player allocation and discovery player systems. I still don’t quite know how that works really...I’m sure there is a big rule book somewhere...isn’t there?....Gene?...Gene?..Sunil?...Bueller?...Bueller?...

JC:
“Possible Positive Side Effects:
This idea, coupled with MLS becoming a monopoly as described in NUMBER TWO above, gives teams and players a Point A to Point B blueprint for how to make it from youth player to professional player. And once the first 10-year-old makes it from the youth system of a team in Major League Soccer to become the star of the show at age 18, the real boom of development will begin because the competitive nature of sport, and of people (fans, owners, etc.) in general, will demand that other teams start developing their own talent as well.
Without relegation for MLS 2, some of the clubs at the bottom with nothing to play for could find comfort in becoming feeder teams for the big clubs in MLS 1 by selling their homegrown talent at a premium price.”

51NC3P0NG:
Aside from the monopoly thing, which arguably MLS already is - you can verify this when you have a look at your next paycheck Jim, what you propose is a good dream. I don’t see any MLS clubs burning up the phone lines to purchase the Charleston Battery’s next great prospect. No disrespect to the Battery, they are a fine club. The model you suggest just isn’t ready to happen yet. Believe me, I want MLS teams to develop their own high-profile prospects, but the current reality is that players signing early before college, and players who have served in U-17 residency at the IMG Academy are arguably more prepared to transition to a professional environment, assuming they aren’t already in one as is Will Packwood at - Birmingham City is it? Maybe he could put in a word for you with the Gaffer eh Jim?

JC:
“A Question From What I Have Proposed That Is Worth Exploring:
How do we get the youth soccer factions to join the effort to work for the common good, for the benefit of our league and national team, instead of what makes the most money?”

51NC3P0NG:
There is no common good Jim. There is business, revenue, and expenses. That is the face of America. I don’t particularly like it, but that’s the way it is. I wish I could say differently, but I think that this model is unlikely to change in the near future. Ayn Rand, corporate types, and GOP fans rejoice...while you still have a republic that common people can (barely) afford to live in.

JC:
“The Always Endearing Fallout From The Know-It-All Talking Heads:
"If the soccer community here in the States starts to get the hang of identifying talent and using the tools at its disposal to develop these kids, the rest of the sports in this country could be in trouble. Of course, I doubt they will ever figure it out."”

51NC3P0NG:
I don’t know anyone that says such things. Are you quoting someone? The words are compelling, but are they driven by any meaning?

JC:
“In closing, I hope you understand that these are merely suggestions to make the world a better place for our kids to live in. A place where Little Johnny, who has the ability to trap a ball under pressure, hold off two defenders and tuck the ball neatly into the corner of the goal, can be brought along in an efficient manner -- a manner in which the development of players, referees and coaches reigns to benefit our top league (MLS) and our governing body (U.S. Soccer) as a whole. Whether you believe I'm on to something or on something, I think we all can agree that a conversation about what happens next needs to begin because valuable time is ticking by before we (i.e., all of us in the soccer community) get locked into a stagnant model of existence. I'll acknowledge the first 14 years of MLS have led us here ,and here is a lot farther along than most people could have imagined, but the time has come to take the next step. It's time to evolve.
So now, by standing on the shoulders of my Linux-influenced ideas above, please chime in with your thoughts in the Conversation section below by answering one question and one question only:
Am I right or am I right?
I'll be back in two weeks, using your input to keep the conversation going.”

51NC3P0NG:
The comparison to a teenager (dependent) and his parents that provide his/her room and board is not the best choice to forward your argument. MLS struggles to pay its bills. Much as many parents thanklessly toil to raise their misguided and ungrateful yuppie spawn. Perhaps rather than attempting to predict the statements of your potential detractors, you might be better served in a journalistic sense by quoting the actual disparaging comments that have been made by real people. I think this would be more effective and compelling. Honestly, when you write this you just look silly as if you haven’t bothered to do any research.
Hopefully I’ve posited arguments that don’t resemble those of the so-called “Know-It-All Talking Heads.”
It is time for MLS to evolve, I agree. But in what ways? How will the long-term goals of MLS be accomplished. How much is it going to cost? Will it happen without a financial collapse the likes of which cost the old NASL so dearly that it ceased to exist.
Ultimately more people need to go to games, to buy MLS season tickets, or purchase the Direct Kick cable TV package, purchase MLS merchandise, etc. Revenue in, product out. That’s how it works.
If MLS players are looking for a wage increase, the best way to accomplish this would be for young American players to adopt the Marcus Tracy/Mike Grella model. A young America player should consider this. If possible sign with a club overseas. Don’t let your agent get you a trial with a club that will likely never play you, even if they put you on their payroll. Stay overseas for up to three years. Sign for no longer than this. Work hard in training every day. If possible, outwork everyone else in the squad. Be last to leave the training ground. Be smart with your money and bank and/or invest as much of it as you can. If you are twenty-one years-old when you go abroad, after the three years have passed you will still have some of the best years of your career ahead of you. If by the end of your three years in Europe or South America, your situation with club placement and playing time isn’t working out, return to MLS where some club will likely be grateful to have someone of your experience and professionalism join them in a first team role. If enough young players completely bypass MLS, it will force the league to increase it’s salary cap, if only for the purpose of not letting young talent continue to slip through.
Only allow yourself to join MLS first if there is no legitimate interest in you by a foreign club. You can always come back and play in MLS later. At least that’s how it stands today.
Don’t misunderstand. I like MLS very much, and I am gratified that the quality of play is so improved from it’s inception in 1996. The fact that there are now six stadiums built specifically for the round football is nothing short of excellent.
Ultimately, owners and league brass understand business. They have the right to cap your wage. Conversely you have the right to seek a better situation elsewhere. You should get your agent on the horn immediately Jim. I understand the Toffies are pretty banged up in the blue part of Merseyside, perhaps they could use some help at the back?