Thunder Players Voice Opinions on Sale of USL and TOA Confusion

In a recent live blog which was hosted by Jeff Di Veronica of the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester New York, Rhino’s owner Rob Clark, who has been vocal with his displeasure of the Team Owners Associations issues with the USL, was asked how he was keeping all this chaos out of the manager’s and  players’ minds. Clark callously answered, “I’m not worried how it’s affecting my players because it’s a league-wide issue, everyone is dealing with this. I’d say after last night, (Rochester had notched a win) our Rhinos players are dealing with it quite well! Ha ha.”

With talk of the TOA breakaway league and the USL being sold to new owners, Clark’s answer set me wondering what exactly is on the minds of the players as they are trying to play their way though the remainder of the season with much uncertainty for 2010.

Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is get the sport growing in this country and I can’t see splitting up leagues. I don’t think it helps anyone.
Jon Greenfield

Jon Greenfield, who also plays indoor in the winter and is one of the Thunder veterans, says not only is he concerned about the future, he’s also disappointed because he was excited about the growth USL-1 was going to have in 2010.

“I’m worried about it quite honestly,” said Greenfield, “I think all the players are. I played indoor and they did exactly the same thing by splitting leagues up and obviously it wasn’t beneficial to any of the players. Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is get the sport growing in this country and I can’t see splitting up leagues. I don’t think it helps anyone.”

“I think everyone was very excited to have another two teams added next year making it a 13-team league and playing in Tampa and New York,” added Greenfield. “The more teams, the more you travel, the more exposure. It’s just better for everybody.”

Melvin Tarley is one of the rare Thunder players who is both married and has several children to be concerned about. Yet Tarley remains optimistic.

“I’ve read a little about it but I don’t really know what’s going on,” said Tarley. “I worry about it a little bit but I always hope for the best. I hope that things will get better and they will sort it out, that we will have a team and a league and I’ll have a job next season.”

We love this game, that’s why we’re here playing it. To have it fall apart would be very sad for US soccer.
Nic Platter

Nic Platter has been with the Thunder for 5 seasons and says players are concerned with their contracts.

“Honestly I don’t know what’s going on except for what I’ve read on websites,” stated Platter who almost caught on with DC United of MLS this past spring. “Nothing has been discussed with us. I’m sure everyone is concerned, I know I am. There are plenty of people that are under contract for next season and they want to know if they will have a team to play with – whether that’s here or somewhere else. We all want to make sure the league is around. We love this game, that’s why we’re here playing it. To have it fall apart would be very sad for US soccer.”

Platter said he doesn’t know what the best case scenario would be but he also hopes the economy improves as well.

“I don’t really know if a breakaway league would be best or if they kept the league together, if that would be best,” said Platter. “I really don’t know what all their issues are but I just hope something gets sorted out, the economy turns around and some of that money finds its way pumping into our league.”

Veteran defender Kevin Friedland, who has been with the Thunder for 6 seasons, said the team hasn’t talked to the players about the situation. “We’ve been kept in the dark,” stated Friedland. “Maybe at the end of the year we will have some talks and they (Thunder management) will let us know what’s going on. From everything I’ve read we’re (Thunder owners) involved one way or another. I believe there will be a league, whether it’s USL-1 or a breakaway league.”

“For me as an older player I think some of the younger guys don’t necessarily understand what’s involved,” continued Friedland. “But the guys who have been around understand that this is our livelihood. We’re employed 5 months out of the year. As long as there is a league I believe we will have a team. I know as players, we need a place to play. I think there’s enough good players in the country that there will be a league for us to play in.”

When it comes to players worrying about next year’s contracts, Friedland had a different opinion than his roommate Nic Platter.

“To be honest, you can sit around all 6 months of winter, thinking you’re going to be with a team and they can cut you before the season,” said a factual Friedland. “We’re not really guaranteed anything until we’ve played our first game with the team. So every off-season, most players sit around on pins and needles waiting. Once that first game of the season is played, that’s when you know you’ll be OK.”

You are losing all your best markets to MLS. If you think about it, its pretty logical, you never want to be secondary.
Thunder team captain Jeremiah Bass

Jeremiah Bass, Thunder team captain and oldest player on the roster, also confirmed the Thunder front office had not spoken of the USL sale nor the issues owner Dean Johnson is having with the league.

“We’re really in the dark,” said Bass. “No one has talked to us but I don’t think it really changes anything. I think there will be a league next year. There are owners out there that want to be part of it. Whether that’s USL or something else there will be teams out there that want to play.”

Bass went on to say, “I don’t think any of these owners want to take a year off otherwise why would they be doing it? I think they’ll get it done but long term it’s another story. Is USL-1 as it’s constructed now viable long term? That I don’t know.”

“You are losing all your best markets to MLS,” explained Bass. “If you think about it, its pretty logical, you never want to be secondary.”

“I personally think it would have been better for MLS to purchase USL, not to have promotion and relegation, but to have a viable 2nd division that they run,” said Bass. “You would put all your reserve teams in it. You could have new markets or test markets. Obviously the money comes in too and if MLS thinks they can make money or not –well that’s a whole other story.  But from a soccer standpoint I personally think that would be the best thing because USL trying to compete with MLS – I just don’t see it.”

Tim Holt, President of USL stated last spring in an interview with Kenn Tomasch that he thinks USL cannot compete in the same markets as MLS. Holt believes a better business model is to take the secondary markets that MLS may not be interested in.

Bass said he didn’t know if going into secondary markets is the answer either. “As a 1st division I don’t think there’s a point to compete with MLS,” said Bass. “But as a 2nd division that doesn’t mean that you can’t compete with it in the quality of players, the quality of teams or the quality of stadiums.

“Its just a money thing,” stated Bass. “If you are willing to pump the money into it… Look at Seattle, they’ve pumped the money into it. They’ve done great marketing, and they’ve done a fantastic job.”

Bass, who currently splits his time between the Thunder and working in finance for Ameriprise Financial, says he has thought about the possibility of getting into soccer management. “I think because the money isn’t there right now people are ignoring it, but soccer has huge potential,” said Bass. “For instance, I don’t think there’s any reason that the Thunder can’t get 10,000 fans showing up for every game. But it’s not going to happen by wishing it would happen.”

Bass added, “It doesn’t always have to be about the money. There’s the internet and social media and we can do all of those things, but we need to start pushing it. It’s not something that pays off instantly. You have to sacrifice and do the small things consistently day in and day out.”