Comments on: Good News from US Soccer to Start the New Year http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:33:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4133 Brian Quarstad Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:29:39 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4133 Zlatan, If you've not seen by now, check out my latest post. Tim, I do think USSF is listening, probably more than you think but they also have a job to do within confines. I think Sunil may go down as one of the best presidents US Soccer has ever had. However, I agree that as long as he is involved with Kraft Soccer there will always be questions and I would hope that in the future, the President of USSF would be required to relinquish ties to any other US league they may be involved with for employment or monetary gain. It would just make it a lot cleaner and less likely that folks feel there is a conflict of interest. Zlatan, If you’ve not seen by now, check out my latest post.

Tim, I do think USSF is listening, probably more than you think but they also have a job to do within confines. I think Sunil may go down as one of the best presidents US Soccer has ever had. However, I agree that as long as he is involved with Kraft Soccer there will always be questions and I would hope that in the future, the President of USSF would be required to relinquish ties to any other US league they may be involved with for employment or monetary gain. It would just make it a lot cleaner and less likely that folks feel there is a conflict of interest.

]]> By: ERic http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4132 ERic Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:25:23 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4132 Thanks, Brian! Thanks, Brian!

]]> By: Zlatan http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4131 Zlatan Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:07:59 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4131 Anyone know if the TOA teams under fire from USL have also agreed in writing to binding arbitration? I doubt USL will drop the legal route/arbitration as contractual obligations are all they have to keep TOA/NPSL from putting a league together. Anyone know if the TOA teams under fire from USL have also agreed in writing to binding arbitration? I doubt USL will drop the legal route/arbitration as contractual obligations are all they have to keep TOA/NPSL from putting a league together.

]]> By: Tim http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4130 Tim Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:48:14 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4130 I still hate that Sunil can maintain his nice USSF job while multiple issues he refuses to solve circle around him. Too bad USSF take 0 input from the fans. I still hate that Sunil can maintain his nice USSF job while multiple issues he refuses to solve circle around him. Too bad USSF take 0 input from the fans.

]]> By: Eric http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4123 Eric Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:20:15 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4123 http://usfooty.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/mls-promotionrelegation/ My two cents about the best way to approach this problem... basically, allow the MLS in the short term to absorb the top 6 NASL/USL teams into a form of lower division, thus dissolving the need for the NASL and allowing the USL to continue to operate with the remaining USL-2 Teams as a true "second division." http://usfooty.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/mls-promotionrelegation/

My two cents about the best way to approach this problem… basically, allow the MLS in the short term to absorb the top 6 NASL/USL teams into a form of lower division, thus dissolving the need for the NASL and allowing the USL to continue to operate with the remaining USL-2 Teams as a true “second division.”

]]> By: Edward http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4122 Edward Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:49:40 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4122 I do think the timing of the USSF decision not to sanction either of the two leagues is strange. Why wait so long to make such a decision or "in" decision. That shows very little consideration for either of the two potential division II leagues or their players and fans. Why didn't they come out with this non decision a week or two earlier. Time is running out! I am not impressed with Major League Soccer. European soccer is far superior. Mexican soccer is better. USL was not far behind MLS in my opinion. No they were certainly inferior, but given their budgets, not by much. Montreal and Puerto Rico proved it two years ago in Concacaf Champions League. Puerto Rico was still there for the semis, when all the MLS teams were already gone and Montreal would have been as well had their game not fallen apart in the second half of the game.. with Cruz Azul was it? Puerto Rico beat Toronto this year in Concacaf and might have surpassed Columbus; the only MLS team remaining if not for the loss of the Puerto Rico Goalkeeper. Oh well, I used to enjoy the A-League games and then USL Division 1. I was there when Rochester beat Tampa Bay and Carlos Valderamma 4-3 in the US OPEN Cup. They then went on to beat Colorado Rapids 3-0. Only losing to DC United at DC in the final 3-0. A few years later they won the whole thing... beating 4 MLS teams on the way there including a 2-0 decison over the Col. Rapids in the final. There wasn't much enthusiasm in Montreal at that time. Then things caught on up there. Not to mention 55,000 people for their 2-0 victory over the Mexican team in concacaf. I hope there is some kind of Divison II soccer in the US this year. I'm not a sophisticated soccer afficianado, but... man it was fun when I 'used' to go to the games. I find it so much more exciting than American Footbal... with it's endless game interuptions... and fussy little rules for every touch of the ball. I do think the timing of the USSF decision not to sanction either of the two leagues is strange. Why wait so long to make such a decision or “in” decision. That shows very little consideration for either of the two potential division II leagues or their players and fans. Why didn’t they come out with this non decision a week or two earlier. Time is running out!
I am not impressed with Major League Soccer. European soccer is far superior. Mexican soccer is better. USL was not far behind MLS in my opinion. No they were certainly inferior, but given their budgets, not by much. Montreal and Puerto Rico proved it two years ago in Concacaf Champions League. Puerto Rico was still there for the semis, when all the MLS teams were already gone and Montreal would have been as well had their game not fallen apart in the second half of the game.. with Cruz Azul was it? Puerto Rico beat Toronto this year in Concacaf and might have surpassed Columbus; the only MLS team remaining if not for the loss of the Puerto Rico Goalkeeper.
Oh well, I used to enjoy the A-League games and then USL Division 1. I was there when Rochester beat Tampa Bay and Carlos Valderamma 4-3 in the US OPEN Cup. They then went on to beat Colorado Rapids 3-0. Only losing to DC United at DC in the final 3-0. A few years later they won the whole thing… beating 4 MLS teams on the way there including a 2-0 decison over the Col. Rapids in the final.
There wasn’t much enthusiasm in Montreal at that time. Then things caught on up there. Not to mention 55,000 people for their 2-0 victory over the Mexican team in concacaf.

I hope there is some kind of Divison II soccer in the US this year. I’m not a sophisticated soccer afficianado, but… man it was fun when I ‘used’ to go to the games. I find it so much more exciting than American Footbal… with it’s endless game interuptions… and fussy little rules for every touch of the ball.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4121 Brian Quarstad Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:03:32 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4121 Ha,ha...writing about that as you ask. Hopefully I'll have something up today or tomorrow. Lets just put it this way, the best case scenario is for the two sides to work out an agreement that allows them to drop the arbitration as well. As I'm sure attorneys will tell you, arbitration could take months and I've been told that this case could take up to 3 months or more if it was to play itself out. Ha,ha…writing about that as you ask. Hopefully I’ll have something up today or tomorrow. Lets just put it this way, the best case scenario is for the two sides to work out an agreement that allows them to drop the arbitration as well. As I’m sure attorneys will tell you, arbitration could take months and I’ve been told that this case could take up to 3 months or more if it was to play itself out.

]]> By: DaveL http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4120 DaveL Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:52:00 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4120 Thanks, Brian. Do you (or anyone) know when the binding arbitration is supposed to start/finish? Thanks, Brian. Do you (or anyone) know when the binding arbitration is supposed to start/finish?

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4119 Brian Quarstad Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:26:56 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4119 Well, there several issues with that. Kartik and I both have good relationships with folks throughout the USL. I feel I could call Chris Economidies or Tim Holt and they would take my call IF they were taking calls. But throughout this situation USL has often not spoken. I have had several interviews on this site or at least comments from Tim Holt himslef. I don't think you've found that on many other sites. But USL have been a bit more tight lipped when talking to the media but have also allowed some of their associates from around the country to talk but not on record. So we often get a diluted and indirect path to what USL is thinking/doing without hard facts. There have been more people on the NASL/TOA side who have been more open in speaking publicly. So it's easier to get a quote. USSF needs to be very cautious as they are more or less mediating the process so you can't expect them to say too much. To answer your question, yes, I have talked to folks from front offices on both sides USL and NASL. But of course as you can see from this article I've also been in contact with USSF. <a href="http://pasionnaranja.com/" rel="nofollow">Pasion Naranja’s</a> Kristian Vázquez has also been an invaluable source to Puerto Rico's stance on the issue. Kristian is a native Puerto Rican living in the DC area and communicates regularly with the front office of the Islanders. Well, there several issues with that. Kartik and I both have good relationships with folks throughout the USL. I feel I could call Chris Economidies or Tim Holt and they would take my call IF they were taking calls. But throughout this situation USL has often not spoken. I have had several interviews on this site or at least comments from Tim Holt himslef. I don’t think you’ve found that on many other sites. But USL have been a bit more tight lipped when talking to the media but have also allowed some of their associates from around the country to talk but not on record. So we often get a diluted and indirect path to what USL is thinking/doing without hard facts.

There have been more people on the NASL/TOA side who have been more open in speaking publicly. So it’s easier to get a quote.

USSF needs to be very cautious as they are more or less mediating the process so you can’t expect them to say too much.

To answer your question, yes, I have talked to folks from front offices on both sides USL and NASL. But of course as you can see from this article I’ve also been in contact with USSF. Pasion Naranja’s Kristian Vázquez has also been an invaluable source to Puerto Rico’s stance on the issue. Kristian is a native Puerto Rican living in the DC area and communicates regularly with the front office of the Islanders.

]]> By: ERic http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/31/good-news-from-us-soccer-to-start-the-new-year/#comment-4118 ERic Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:59:10 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=13073#comment-4118 Out of curiosity, Brian, when you say 'both sides', do you mean USSF and USL/NASL? Historically your connections have been with the NASL people, with no news coming from the USL side of things. It's been one of my frustrations in this whole fiasco -- that the best news sources (you and Kartik) have only had contacts on the NASL side of things. Out of curiosity, Brian, when you say ‘both sides’, do you mean USSF and USL/NASL? Historically your connections have been with the NASL people, with no news coming from the USL side of things. It’s been one of my frustrations in this whole fiasco — that the best news sources (you and Kartik) have only had contacts on the NASL side of things.

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