I think that this is a good thing. Sure - he's not a young whippersnapper anymore, but it will help increase the profile of the league on this continent.
The MLS is doing a number of things right, including choosing markets wisely, pushing for smaller soccer-only stadiums, managing the finances wisely, and growing the sport slowly from the ground-up. That's where the MLS differs from other attempts to get soccer off of the ground in North America, and probably why it is still around and relatively healthy.
People like to knock it, but the MLS isn't trying to compete with the big Euro leagues, nor does it think that it will replace NFL, MLB, NBA, and (to a lesser extent) NHL as the "big 4" in the US. It has a niche, it is nurturing it, and the results have been pretty good.
|