It's Hard To Be A Pro Soccer Fan

[Franklinnoble]

I live in Placerville, CA. Not far from Sacramento. The closest MLS team is in San Jose - that's a good 3 hours from home. I could really get into being a fan if I could see games live, but that's just not an option here.

Anyone else feel like this?

[NAIWF]

Not really :) I watch the Metrostars on TV and enjoy the games, but since I don't really know many of the MLS players I don't think I'd get more enjoyment going to see the games live. If it was the EPL though (much better quality of play), I'd probably do my best to see at least a few games in person.

[terpkristin]

Nope, I live in the DC area so I have RFK for international matches that come, MLS's DC United, WUSA's Washington Freedom, and (YEAH BABY!) the Women's World Cup coming with a match at RFK on MY BIRTHDAY!

I miss soccer because I don't have cable.
~terpk

[KevinNU7]

The MLS is tough to watch, not enough skill players. The local pub gets all of the Premier games featuring Man U and then some of the big contests so I'll go over there occasionally.

[FrogMan]

Originally posted by terpkristin
Nope, I live in the DC area so I have RFK for international matches that come, MLS's DC United, WUSA's Washington Freedom, and (YEAH BABY!) the Women's World Cup coming with a match at RFK on MY BIRTHDAY!

I miss soccer because I don't have cable.
~terpk

You really are a soccer geek, nothing wrong with that, I just had to say it ;)

I only wished there was some pro soccer around here. The closest is some sort of semi-pro team in Montreal, about 2.5 hours away... :(

FM

[Airhog]

We used to have a decent semi-pro team here, but im not sure if they are still around.

[Nyarlahotep]

No respectable sports team would come to Indy, so I'll never have any sporting events to go to, let alone soccer.

[The Afoci]

Fargo is definately a hot bed for sporting greatness. I believe we are in the running for the World Championship of Ping Pong, 2016. That should be interesting.

[Nyarlahotep]

I thought it was the World Junior Ping Pong Championship?

[MylesKnight]

Here's a Question, Just how does MLS Soccer compare to say the Premier or Elite Leagues of stronger countries around the World?

Is the MLS or par with say Serie B of Italian Soccer (One Level below their elite Serie A League)?

Just how does MLS stack up?

[Franklinnoble]

I think MLS is to Premier or Elite Leagues as NCAA Division II Football is to the NFL...

[MylesKnight]

DAMN!!

[KevinNU7]

Originally posted by Franklinnoble
I think MLS is to Premier or Elite Leagues as NCAA Division II Football is to the NFL... That sounds about right

[terpkristin]

Originally posted by Franklinnoble
I think MLS is to Premier or Elite Leagues as NCAA Division II Football is to the NFL...

I guess there is something to be said for that, but recall, we *did* have our best showing in the World Cup 2002. I honestly believe that the US's youth development and general player development through MLS contributed to that incredible showing.

Also, while each leage and team will have their stars (Beckham, Ronaldo, etc), more MLS players are being considered and asked to play in the more elite leagues, including Landon Donovan, the guy who played for the Fire whose name I can't remember, on of the US MNT GK's...

Yes, the MLS has a *long* way to go to compete with the more elite leagues. But I think due to the relative infancy of soccer in the US and the complete infancy of a real professional league (ask me about previous professional leageus, I can remember 15 years ago going to Maryland Bays games...), we can't ignore the contribution of MLS to American soccer.

And if you want to see some great soccer, check out WUSA, I'd say 85% of the games I've watched have been quite well-played and due to the prominence of the WOMEN'S professional league here in the US, we *do* get a large proportion of the international stars on the women's side. :cool:

I'll step off my soapbox now...
~terpk

[condors]

i am not going to say the mls should be considered a top league but don't discount all the players, there are several players on every team that could do just fine in a more profile league, and dc united who were exactly considered to win much beat Newcastle's first team (shearer was hurt though) who qualified for the champions league so the seperation isn't as great as someone may think. I think if they played 10 times newcastle would win more than lose but to say they are like a div 2 school vs the nfl i think the bengals could beat most div 2 schools. If things go as they are the mls is going to get better and better its better now than it was 7 years ago.

[terpkristin]

Yes, condors' statements support my statements.

~terpk