For those who haven't heard yet....

[equus]

The NFL was around for thirty years before it became a major sport. It wasn't until the 1950s and specifically the 1958 Colts/Giants NFL Championship game that was broadcast on TV for the first time that vaulted it into national prominence and made it what it is today.

The NBA was a struggling league in its first 10-15 years of existence, and even contracted, and was in the background nationally until the 80s when Bird and Magic and Jordan came calling.

The NHL was hardly televised in the US in the 70s nationally and didn't pick up steam until the 1980 Miracle on Ice moved hockey into the spotlight.

They put bass fishing tournaments on TV here more than they show MLS games, but ESPN sees something and they're committed. Two NFL owners own English Premier League clubs, and a possible third one is in the eye of an NFL owner so they also see the growth of the sport.

MLS doesn't have to be one of the big four sports. There are plenty of fans and more are tuning in each day. Who knows if MLS doesn't do what the NFL and NBA did after the same amount of time? The league's only been in existence for 10 years. And many had said it wouldn't have lasted that long.

I see the point you are trying to make but some of the points really don't apply. NFL in the 50's wasn't televised. Sports were completely different in that era and it's tough to make a comparison to today's game. There weren't 100 other sports that people had at their fingertips that they could watch on television. There was baseball and football. That was it. It's much, much tougher to get an audience these days in what you could call "the ADD era." Too many choices, too many channels.

When Bird, Jordan and Magic came into the NBA they were young, in their 20s, and in the start of their careers. Beckham is in the final phase of his career. When Jordan came back to play for the Wizards, it didn't really do much for the league.

Notice the NFL is investing in the English Premeir League, not the MLS. If they thought US Soccer was a good investment, maybe they'd be investing money in MLS.

I'm not really judging this on whether MLS becomes one of the "big four" because I don't ever see that happening. The question is whether they will get a return on their investment.

And to address the above post, it think what he came to the US for rhymes with "honey."

The Patriots' Bob Kraft owns the New England Revolution, and the KC Chiefs' Lamar Hunt family own(ed) multiple MLS clubs so there is investment there as well.

Your point about TV is spot on. It's a chicken and egg thing, really. If you put more MLS games on TV will it make more fans, or is it not on that much because sports fans don't watch? But look at poker for example. Who in their right mind thought in the beginning that televised poker would blow up into what it is today, and make stars out of its best players?

Your "ADD Era" comment is something I've mentioned on other fourms. Soccer is a sport made for ADD. It only lasts literally 90 minutes with a 15 min break in between, perfect for the TV format (if only they can figure out the sponsorship/commercial deal.) And a fan doesn't have to spend his entire day watching one game, or they can watch a bunch of games in a sitting if they choose.

We're in a niche society really. TV, music, internet, sports, they all have their interest groups and people will gravitate to the things they want.