Ran across an interesting tid-bit. As all of you know the NHL has gone dormant.. because of this, the owner of the Columbus Bluejackets offered the use of the team plane to the Crew for the duration, a good deal since he has a small stake in the team as well. It also makes sense because it would pay the pilot salaries and maintenace expenses while essentially costing the Crew little or nothing over the cost of commercial tickets. But the MLS nixed the offer saying that it "wouldnt be fair' to the other teams. Maybe the Crew should also give a goal handicap to other teams who dont have their own stadia and first-class training grounds, as well. Maybe Colorado should build their new stadium in a 4000 foot hole so that they dont have an altitude/oxygen advantage over the visiting team. MLS has done a great job in building the League, so far but that level of interference is ridiculous! I suspect this decision has the fingerprints of "Big Phil" all over it.
I think that the MLS officials are a joke sometimes. I know they are always simply looking out for the better of the league, but this is a joke what the league is doing to the Crew. Teams should be run by their owners, not by the league. Teams should be able to make decisions based on what is best for them. Not what is best for the league. The whole transfer process in the MLS is still a little strange to me as far as the MLS being the bargaining team for any MLS player wanting to move out of the league. It does not make sense. Petty, why does the MLS do it this way? I am not an MLS expert although I do know that my beloved Chicago Fire stinks this season!!!
Well...the MLS contract ownership part is easy. It's so that MLS doesnt end up as another NASL.. which came to mean "NY Cosmos and the teams that play the NY Cosmos". The ONLY other team that anyone can name from the old league is "Tampa Bay Rowdies" And they were the only other team that had any attendance when NY wasnt in town and the only one that provided some competition as well. NOW when a team has trouble competing, it's their own fault. Sorry to have to tell you that. When Bradley left, maybe Nowak should have been begged to stay... but who knew. Besides, Bradley "aint all that" at NY, either. Go figure. You have a great guy in Peter Wilt, though... it'll get straightened out
Re: RE: MLS Micro-management I think Peter Wilt is a good GM and I do think it will be straightened out, but this is gonna be a tough year. The East seems like it is loaded to me. Wilt did say on Saturday night that he has a surprise signing today for the Fire. It will be interesting to see who it is. He said it was a striker. Losing Beasley and Ralph in the last year has hurt too.
