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.

I promised to leave the CBA issue alone until there was some actual news to talk about; I didn't want to find myself on the merry-go-round of mashing various "angles" of the negotiations to death.


And though Duane's update at the 24th Minute today isn't official news (I trust Duane's chops and his sources by the way), it does give us some insight on where things stand roughly twenty four hours until the negotiating extension expires tomorrow. Guaranteed contracts? Apparently that's been settled, though in what way we have no idea. A salary cap bump? Check, though of all of the issues up for debate, that was the one everyone seemed to think would be agreed upon most easily.


One issue left then, and it's the toughest pill for the League to swallow: free agency. There would certainly be some salary inflation if the players were given free agency, and that's the eventuality that MLS is hoping to avoid.


If there is a middle ground, one in which players have to hit certain thresholds of service (a la the NFL) before they get true free agency, then we might actually get some good news tomorrow. If the League is resistant to even that, then it will take a full on retreat by the players on the issue for a deal to be done. The former I'm okay with, the latter not so much; but I am tired enough of the process and the uncertainty to care a lot less about it than I did even a month ago.


I've been hopeful, hell, even convinced, that a deal would get done before any of the season was threatened by a work stoppage. I still believe that, though I wonder if this last sticking point might cause another negotiating extension. It won't be fun to have to sit though another week without a deal, wondering and waiting while neither side talks.


I will promise you that my CBA talk moratorium will immediately go back into effect the moment a new extension is announced.


I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Friend of MFUSA The 24th Minute has been nominated for the best Canadian sports blog; after Duane's kind promotion of this site's candidacy for US Soccer's Best Blog of '09, it only seems right that I ask you (American, Canadian, or otherwise) to go vote for his site.


Far be it for me to suggest you vote for a site unworthy of it though, so be assured that The 24th Minute is, in fact, the best Canadian sports blog out there. Sure, I only visit the footy ones, but I'm confident in my assessment.


Although Some Canadian Guys is pretty damn good, too. Crap, this is tougher than I thought.


So, go vote for Duane, or Some Canadian Guys. You can't go wrong.


Damnit. I just remembered Ben Knight's Onward Soccer.