So, I finally sat down and watched the 1st half of a MLS game.  It was probably because of David Beckham, and a New York vs LA game in front of 66,000 people is good in any sport.  And if you were the MLS, you had to be pleased with 3 goals in about 12 minutes, with 2 of them assisted by Beckham.

The game was fun, it was ok soccer, and I recognized some names.  The fans were enthusiastic and the stadium was packed.  But there was still something missing for me.  I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

Then the next morning I went down to the George and Dragon for breakfast and to watch Manchester City v Manchester United. That’s when I realized what was missing from the MLS game.  For all the excitement and story lines, at the end of the day, it’s just harder to watch any league in which the best players in the world aren’t taking part.  That’s not a knock on the MLS – it’s a credit to the EPL.  And as much as I am rooting for soccer in the U.S, I’m still unsure how to promote what is essentially a minor league.

But then I think about all these reality TV shows, where second rate singers, chefs, designers, MBA students and outdoorsmen compete for big money and a short-cut to the big time.  These are people who by definition are not successes yet – minor leaguers in their professions if you will.  And Americans eat it up.  The chase for the dream is what drives the viewership.  Americans are actually watching other people cook, yet we can’t get them to watch soccer.

So what I’m getting at, is in the case of a minor league sport, maybe we need to promote the dream aspect.   It would be great if they could figure out some way that one MLS guy gets a European contract every year, based on some sort of elimination.  Just a thought.