The Major League Soccer All-Stars will be playing English Premier League champions Manchester United tonight at Red Bull Arena. First off we like the format. Well done. After having to watch dunking practice at NBA all-star games, slapshot and fancy pass practice at the NHL all-star games, no contact drills in the NFL Pro Bowl and now baseball all-star games ending in ties, this format actually works.
Point of order, the game is a sellout. So Johnny informing you that Los Angeles and USA star Landon Donovan won't even be there can't hurt attendance. The Red Bulls will have quite a few players representing the NEW JERSEY side. Joel Lindpere, Juan Agudelo, Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and Tim Ream are in and the team is coached by the Red Bulls' Hans Backe.
And what would an all-star game preview if Johnny couldn't be a jackass? Hey Ryan Giggs, no super injunctions on THIS side of the pond, just freedom of the press. So, will Imogen Thomas be on the trip with you? I mean since the British press is unable to say you two had an affair because you got a "super-injunction" and all.
Also on the soccer front the Star-Ledger has a nice piece on MLS trying to become a top flight club league. MLS' goal is to, within 10 years, be on par with the English Premier League, La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany) and Serie A (Italy). Gooooood luck with that. While MLS has a salary cap to keep player transfers financially doable, the European leagues sure don't. So good luck in trying to keep top flight USA talent here. Much as we don't fault our pro sports players from switching teams that offer more money how on earth can we expect any up and coming American soccer stars from playing with better competition for a lot more money. Answer, we can't. Billy, you can play for 400K for Denver or go play against Christian Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, David Villa, Diego Forlan in La Liga for 3 times what Denver will pay.
Ain't a hard choice now is it? Until MLS ends the salary cap and brings over a star or five in their prime (no offense to the Red Bulls Thierry Henry and LA's David Beckham but their best years were over before they got here) MLS will be a nice league where the top Euro competition comes to play in July to warm up for their seasons.
MLS just be happy with who you are and what you do. Team development academies are a MUST.
And end the salary cap.
Tonight's opponent scoring a brilliant goal
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