A Question for the MLS

It’s the Wednesday night before the Sweet 16.  Since I don’t watch the NBA anymore, and baseball is still in Spring Training, I look at my cable box and shrug.  No sports to watch, and no reason to even turn on Sports Center.  I have NCAA Analysis burnout – I’m just ready for the Thursday games.  It’s a shame that there isn’t another sport getting ready to kick off, one that could monopolize my adrenalin for the evening.

But wait, there is.

MLS Soccer is starting this week.  In fact it’s starting…..the same day as the Sweet 16.  

So the MLS wants to take its annual grand entrance, and drop it right in the middle of the biggest TV sports event outside of the Super Bowl.  Now I get why ESPN is driving this. ESPN is annoyed that CBS stole the entire tourney from them a few years back.  So they want to program something sports related against the basketball games on Thursday.  But it really makes no sense for the MLS.

The MLS doesn’t just play a back seat to the NCAA tourney – it’s in a different car on a much smaller road.  Sure people in Seattle are going to be jacked for the game tonight.  But, you are going to see a late arriving Seattle crowd, as they sit in bars across from Qwest Field waiting for the Husky game to be decided.  God forbid the game go into OT, we could have 20% of the seats empty until half.

So why, MLS?  Why battle the Sweet 16?  Why not just open on Wednesday night, and own Sports Center?  What could possibly be the benefit of having people at a sports bar watching a sport that isn’t yours, while your season is kicking off?   Can we get this fixed for next year?