Domestic Soccer 2012

[bosrs1]

True, but if that group doesn't win the bidding they'll sell the name to whomever does. Too much equity not to use it.

Where you see valuable equity, I see baggage and overinflated valuation by people over 40.

[Gothamite]

You'd be wrong. I'm not over 40.

But also about their equity. Watching the youth soccer practices in the largest park in Brooklyn, I see as many Cosmos shirts as I do for any MLS club. And almost as many as some of the big foreign squads.

Don't underestimate how much they've been able to penetrate the youth and amateur market here, with the camps, the events and the amateur cup competition. Even taking everything pre-1982 out of it, the Cosmos have built some visibility in New York.

[bosrs1]

You'd be wrong. I'm not over 40.

But also about their equity. Watching the youth soccer practices in the largest park in Brooklyn, I see as many Cosmos shirts as I do for any MLS club. And almost as many as some of the big foreign squads.

Don't underestimate how much they've been able to penetrate the youth and amateur market here, with the camps, the events and the amateur cup competition. Even taking everything pre-1982 out of it, the Cosmos have built some visibility in New York.

You sure those jerseys weren't gifts from the team or those kids parents

[-kj]

You'd be wrong. I'm not over 40.

You're not? I could have sworn you'd talked about being much older than that, or at least being at sporting events in a time frame that would place you earlier than that.

[Gothamite]

Nah, but I'm damned close. Hence the .

As for the kids wearing shirts, I'm convinced the kids bought those themselves. Prolly cashed in their 401(k)s to do it.

Point remains, the Cosmos have already done more to foster a soccer culture in the city than the Red Bulls have done in all their years combined. It's easy to dismiss the Cosmos as pure nostalgia, but that would be a mistake.

[BrySmalls]

Happy MLS Cup Day! Today's match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo from the Home Depot Center will be played at 4:30 PM ET on ESPN.

Here are my reasons why I want to see either side win:

Galaxy:

• Last hurrah for Beckham (and maybe Donovan).
  
• First repeat winner since 2006 - 2007 Houston Dynamo (which is ironic).
  
• First MLS Championship for Robbie Keane.
  
• Championship further infuriates San Jose Earthquakes (oh, what could have been).
  

Dynamo:

• Possibly the last hurrah for Brian Ching
  
• Keep Galaxy from their fourth title (and sharing the most titles with D.C. United).
  
• Seeing Beckham (and maybe Donovan) go out as runner-ups instead of champions.
  
• A third championship puts Coach Dominic Kinnear on the same level as Bruce Arena (at least from an MLS standpoint).
  

I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons as for either club winning today. What are some of your reasons why the Galaxy or Dynamo should be crowned 2012 MLS Cup Champions?

[BrySmalls]

The Los Angeles Galaxy are your 2012 MLS Cup Champions besting the Houston Dynamo, 3-1.

[raysox]

There's some grumblings that the Cosmos might not play until the closing season(the NASL is doing that 2 playoff thing). I heard it was not having a ticket provider or a competitive team.

[bosrs1]

The Los Angeles Galaxy are your 2012 MLS Cup Champions besting the Houston Dynamo, 3-1.

First the Giants win the World Series, then the NHL locks out and now the Galaxy win the MLS Cup... this has turned out to be a really :censored:ty year.

[-kj]

There's some grumblings that the Cosmos might not play until the closing season(the NASL is doing that 2 playoff thing). I heard it was not having a ticket provider or a competitive team.

You mean no-playoff, split-season thing. And it's been confirmed that they will start play in the second half of the season. This is moronic on the part of NASL.

[raysox]

There's some grumblings that the Cosmos might not play until the closing season(the NASL is doing that 2 playoff thing). I heard it was not having a ticket provider or a competitive team.

You mean no-playoff, split-season thing. And it's been confirmed that they will start play in the second half of the season. This is moronic on the part of NASL.

Yeah I agree. The Ralph's Mob twitter asked if it would be fair if the Cosmos won the 2nd half and went to the Soccer Bowl over teams that played the whole year. From what I read, mixed reviews.

Also during halftime of the MLS game, the commish BASICALLY said that NYC would have the 20th team. Then he said the US has 3 time zones, so take that how you will.

[Gothamite]

I think that's a terrible idea. Not that I see it bestowing some sort of advantage on the Cosmos - sure, teams get gassed as the season wears on. But they also learn to play together, and this expansion team will need every minute they can get.

This isn't an expansion club like Seattle, that can come right in with an existing organization and instantly compete. All the infrastructure built by the prior owners was scrapped in favor of the new model. They aren't winning anything in the first year, even if they only play the second half.

[BrySmalls]

There's some grumblings that the Cosmos might not play until the closing season(the NASL is doing that 2 playoff thing). I heard it was not having a ticket provider or a competitive team.

You mean no-playoff, split-season thing. And it's been confirmed that they will start play in the second half of the season. This is moronic on the part of NASL.

Yeah I agree. The Ralph's Mob twitter asked if it would be fair if the Cosmos won the 2nd half and went to the Soccer Bowl over teams that played the whole year. From what I read, mixed reviews.

Also during halftime of the MLS game, the commish BASICALLY said that NYC would have the 20th team. Then he said the US has 3 time zones, so take that how you will.

Similar to Gothamite, I'm happy that NYC will finally get an MLS franchise.

Garber probably misspoke about the number of Time Zones in the continental US, since MLS clubs actually play in 4 Time Zones:

• Eastern: Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution
  
• Central: Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, Sporting Kansas City, Chicago Fire
  
• Mountain: Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids
  
• Pacific: CD Chivas USA, Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders
  

[FiddySicks]

Even though I'm not much into soccer, I have been to two professional soccer games. I went and saw the Earthquakes play the Sounders in Seattle last April, but the first game I ever went to was David Beckham's very first game in a Galaxy uniform, which was a friendly vs Chelsea at the Home Depot Center. I've never felt the excitement around me at any sporting event more than I did at that game. A lot of people really looked at that game as the birth of US soccer's upswing. I'm not sure that ended up really being the case, but either way it's sad to see the Beckham era end in the MLS. I really can't believe that was 6 years ago.

[Foxxtrot44]

Sooo...that was a real nice team RSL had there once... Not going to be too many familiar faces around the starting line-up next season. Not that I'm complaining...just get rid of Grabavoy and I think the team will have made some sound moves. Next step is to replace Espy with someone more consistent, Olave with someone who still has knees, and Johnson with an actual winger

[raysox]

I hear that new keeper they got from Tampa is pretty good

[bosrs1]

I think that's a terrible idea. Not that I see it bestowing some sort of advantage on the Cosmos - sure, teams get gassed as the season wears on. But they also learn to play together, and this expansion team will need every minute they can get.

This isn't an expansion club like Seattle, that can come right in with an existing organization and instantly compete. All the infrastructure built by the prior owners was scrapped in favor of the new model. They aren't winning anything in the first year, even if they only play the second half.

I wouldn't worry about it. After that Q&A they held last week I'd be surprised if these guys ever play a game. They seem to be depending on the fact they have the Cosmos name way too much. MLS seems to be going in another direction with owners with far more money which would leave the nascent Cosmos out in the cold anyway, which their owners don't want. Plus they also don't seem to have a clue about how NASL teams actually acquire their players (other NASL teams, USL teams, and MLS castoffs) who are all available when their contracts expire in the winter, not the summer. Not Euro players who will have no interest in playing in the all but invisible American D2.

No it seems they were hoping they'd replicate Seattle, Portland, Montreal but didn't count on the fact that MLS NYC2 is going to cost a hell of a lot more to own to own than those franchises did. And this delay seems to play right into that, because it makes no sense otherwise. Best thing they can hope for now is that the eventual new MLS owners will want the Cosmos name so they can sell that to them.

[Gothamite]

After that Q&A they held last week I'd be surprised if these guys ever play a game.

You were there? You should have introduced yourself.

[bosrs1]

After that Q&A they held last week I'd be surprised if these guys ever play a game.

You were there? You should have introduced yourself.

Nah, watched the videos of it.

[Island_Style]

Could Jax land a MLS team? The Mayor seems to think so.