Wednesday's Daily: The Money League
With J Hutcherson
If indications hold we're about to see how much swagger additional Major League Soccer investor/operators actually carry. The last time there was a split among the people who actually have a stake in the League, two teams went missing.
The current argument might end up being more fundamental, along with giving the new money its first real chance to push a different agenda. Namely, Anschutz Entertainment Group wants a revamp of how designated players impact salary caps. Or, to paraphrase AEG head Tim Leiweke in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl, whether there is any impact at all.
What the Galaxy's position creates is broader, yet another redefining of operational rules under a single-entity system already stretched past its initial intent. Push enough, and the real question is why the limits shouldn't be closer to the cap models found in other sports along with free agency.
Under Major League Soccer's operational structure, that's literally not what any of the investor/operators signed on for. Instead, they joined a league of financial controls, shared losses, and no direct competition for players. AEG and the Galaxy were already familiar with how difficult it can be to build past a League that wasn't designed to reward spending real money.
Thus the problem for all involved.
Recent MLS money moves are towards real estate, with the handful of designated players almost treated as one-offs in a conciliatory gesture towards the other teams. Agree to the Beckham exception and you too can have the limited opportunity to spend past the individual player cap. Nobody expected similar impact, and for good reason.
MLS has created for itself the kind of situation where it's going to be hard to retrench. They need Beckham as a distinct figure in world soccer to legitimize progress along with justifying pushing expansion and the associated fees. They also still need a pro sports and entertainment promotion organization like AEG.
How much further extension of single-entity towards free spending can be absorbed by some of the other investor/operators is a very good question. It's one as much about willingness as ability.
On TV
CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer Channel: Joe Public - CD Olimpia at 8pm, Marathon - DC United at 10pm, and Montreal Atlante at 1am (8pm on TeleFutura). Also on TeleFutura: UNAM Pumas - Luis Angel Firpo at 10pm.
Carling Cup on Setanta: Newcastle - Spurs at 2pm. La Liga on GolTV: Barcelona - Real Betis at 2pm and Real Madrid - Sporting at 4pm. Serie A on Fox Soccer: Juventus - Catania at 2:30pm and Genoa - Roma at 4:30pm.
Copa Sudamericana on Fox Sports en Espanol: San Luis - Argentinos Juniors at 6:30pm, Chivas - Paranaense at 9pm, and America de Cali - Botafogo at 11pm. All Times Eastern
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Europe
West Ham to fight £30m Carlos Tevez bill all the way -- from The Times' Gary Jacob: “The club will consult lawyers before considering our next steps,” a statement from West Ham said.
Remarkable circumstances make Tevez repeat unlikely -- from The Independent's Mike Townley: Well, one of the reasons that a decision of this type is now possible is that football has effectively privatised its litigation.
Newcastle turmoil pushes Michael Owen closer to St James' Park exit -- from The Telegraph's Rob Stewart: "We are as much in the dark as the fans as to the next move, and it does not make it any easier as Kevin Keegan was very popular with the players and the fans."
Zanetti set for sweet 600 -- from Football Italia: “I have the same hunger for victory as I had when I first joined the Beneamata and I have a great desire to keep helping the club I love so deeply.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Americas
Galaxy want another rules rewrite -- from SI.com's Grant Wahl: Namely, he thinks DPs like Beckham should no longer count $400,000 against a team's cap number and instead count nothing at all.
United facing overseas challenge -- from The Washington Times' John Haydon: “I'm ready for this game,” Emilio said.
U.S. national teams struggle to draw fans to Toyota Park -- from The Daily Herald's Orrin Schwarz: "It's not like we're not doing stuff, and people can argue we're not doing enough, which is easy to say from afar," said U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe.
Study Cites Benefits of Soccer Stadium, but Some Doubts Raised -- from The Washington Post's Ovetta Wiggins: Olson noted that, although the study projected that the stadium could host up to 63 events annually, D.C. United has only 15 regular-season home games a year.
Pro soccer stadium would kick $6M into tax coffers -- from The Washington Business Journal's Ryan Sharrow: The study did not mention how the project would be financed or where the stadium would be located.
The Boss men live the dream -- from The Oregonian's Aaron Fentress: "Without question, he's my best friend," Terry Boss said.
Real Salt Lake's Manning a natural fit with team -- from The Deseret News' Michael Black: "I don't think any team can survive in a football stadium."
Earthquakes get Real Salt Lake right where they want them -- from The San Jose Mercury News' Elliott Almond: "Every game seems like it's bigger than the last,'' said Kreis.
TFC coach puts job on the line -- from The Toronto Sun's Dean McNulty: Carver's histrionics aside, TFC still has a real chance at post-season play because of the ineptness of the teams in front of it.
Toronto FC coach still seething with Houston on horizon -- from The Toronto Star's Morgan Campbell: “I’ve never been in a situation where there’s so much at stake, but so little was given.”
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
