Okay, so I'm failing to live up to my promise this time around. Another extension the the CBA negotiation period means more time, and with little else going on today, I just can't help myself, despite what I've said before.
There was a "mini-storm" of discussion today, all set off by Steve Goff at Soccer Insider. Now, when one of the big media guys covering soccer (and there aren't many) decides to put forth his theory that things might be going so well, people tend to sit up and take notice.
Which is what Duane did. And there's really nothing wrong with Duane's own piggyback piece, even if it does sound super duper scary. No MLS for half a season? How can he possibly think that would be okay?
On the surface, I get what our Canadian friend is saying: With MLS holding only some of the general public's attention, and with that public being the most die hard of soccer crazies, it's conceivable that a work stoppage that will wipe out half of the season would have little net effect on the league's popularity or ability to operate, specifically because MLS matters little in most markets until the summer.
Conceivable, but wrong. The problem lies in Duane (sorry to be picking on ya there, buddy) taking the most avid fans for granted. MLS may not lose much in a larger sense, but any loss of play will only serve to piss off those that have given themselves over to the sport and their clubs. Those people actually matter most in the less successful markets, where poor marketing and small club profiles need the most help via word of mouth and fan-to-fan recruitment. Cancelling half a season can't be good for business.
If you're not worried about the effect a strike might have on those poorer markets, then sure, a player stand at this point seems like an great way for them to make their point and get what they've wanted all along.
I can't sign off on it though, and really do see the league's long term prospects being seriously damaged by a long work stoppage. For some, it looks like the ends would justify the means, as in a strike would be okay as long as it resulted in a freer MLS model; that seems a very risky proposition to me, and I really hope the players aren't considering it. The unknowns are too great, and while MLS appears to be on solid footing at the moment, there's no way to know how detrimental an effect a strike, or any prolonged work stoppage, could have.
Even if the league started up again after finally hammering out a deal with the players, the repercussion of the lost time and lost revenue might not be felt for one or more years; the owners aren't in the poor house, and might not be if forced to cancel matches, but that doesn't mean they'll stick it out with a losing proposition damaged by a work stoppage just because they're giant soccer fans (which some of them aren't).
Hey, FS, I think it's your turn.
