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| [picture via nycosmos.com] |
- by Ted Westervelt, writing from Denver
- via soccerreform.us
Look no further than this latest interview of Cosmos chief Eric Cantona for evidence of the phenomenon: The transcript contains thousands and thousands of letters. None of them were strung together to form “MLS”.
Red Bull supporters are psyched: As the existing NY (metro) team with a soccer specific stadium, they salute the gulf between MLS and the New York Cosmos with a bronx cheer. A tiny slice of MLS supporters snicker: What are they going to be without MLS, the Globetrotters of American soccer?
With MLS reportedly asking $75 million for the privilege of owning the Cosmos, perhaps it would be a smart financial move for the club to maintain their identity, and avoid the MLS hive. More importantly, it would make them structurally similar to every great soccer club on the face of the Earth. They will be more like Real Madrid than Real Salt Lake – or Sporting Lisbon than Sporting Kansas City.
Independent clubs are what separate us from the rest of the club soccer universe. The Cosmos could unite us. As the most recognized brand in US club soccer, they have the influence. If’ they’ve got $75 million on hand to plop down on an MLS franchise fee, they have the cash. In a brash and confident Eric Cantona, they have the leader.
Breaking Away
The Cosmic revolution will require a bit of bravery. Since they would be saving $75 million on the MLS scheme to sell off the top of the US soccer pyramid, perhaps it will not require tremendous financial hardship.
It might look something like this:
- Cosmos turn down overtures from MLS, and build an independent club. they announce the formation of an alternative D1, committed to the FIFA endorsed system of “traditional promotion and relegation system for clubs based purely on sporting criteria – which is the very essence of football.”
- Cosmos decide to join an alternate US soccer federation committed to a traditional club football model, and announce their participation in a national play-in tournament to determine divisional positions – open to virtually any team that can put together a starting 11.
- US NASL teams, tired of dodging US Soccer de-sanction bullets and barred from participating in the US Open Cup, persuaded follow the Cosmos lead. Perhaps even a courageous MLS team or two could be encouraged to buy out their corporate masters and participate.
- After play-in tournament concludes, alternative federation mandates facility and financial standards for final approval of each club into their respective division.
The number and sizes of the resulting divisions would be based on the quantity, and quality, of clubs joining the play in tournament. With enough interest and talent, perhaps we could move immediately towards a system of two independent US soccer pyramids, to insure a wide geographic distribution of clubs.
Butts in Seats
We Americans are fond of self deprecation. Perhaps it’s gone too far in a pro-sports context. What if a stake in the quality and league status of their club actually increased and intensified club support? What if we are more than butts in seats?
In 2011, the New York Cosmos can elevate US soccer supporters above butt-in-seat status. They have the power lead the way to a system in which hard earned ticket dollars can be freely spent to improve the fortunes of every club, instead of going to bolster the collective finances of any one league. They can forge a path to a system in which every club in every league is allowed to rise as far as their talents, supporters, sponsors, investors and owners can take them, not as far as one centrally planned chain of teams allows them to go.
After leading this revolution, perhaps Cantona himself will quote Sagan:
"Widespread intellectual and moral docility may be convenient for leaders in the short term, but it is suicidal for nations in the long term."
