Usually when I write something I expect to get feedback from, I am alerted by some e-mail that my SI.com column has been posted.
This time, I beat myself to the punch. My USL/CCL column is up.
Here's the link, but I have yet to get any response.
My favorite line from the story:
"Our teams didn't go into this -- just like they don't go into the [U.S.] Open Cup or the Canadian Cup -- as a half-assed exercise," Marcos said. "It's real. It's a way to vindicate themselves. It's a way to prove that they belong."
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9 comments:
Great article, Luis. Do you think that USL's strong showing would get them a representative in next year's CCL? Remember that the USL champions don't qualify for the CCL, since CCL has no official USL entry. Montreal actually qualified by winning the Canada pool, and Puerto Rico the wordy "Caribbean Football Unions Club Championships." Possibly CONCACAF could take away one of the four MLS entries to give to the USL champions? Either way, thanks for the great coverage!
Great article Luis. I think it's only fair that the format for the US entrants be changed so that the top two American USL sides play a round robin or play-off tournament against the two MLS squads that don't automatically qualify for the CCL. It could be our version of the Interliga.
I could be wrong but I think MLS only has 3 entires but ppl confuse the Open Cup entry as MLS's fourth. That Open Cup entry is the reason why DC United is in the 09/10 tournament.
LB, why not write an article about why MLS does not care about doing well in CCL? I understand it does not stand to gain as much in TV money as it does if Superliga take off but what are some other reasons?
USSF determines who goes to CCL not concacaf. Each federation determines who to send.
That would be badass if no MLS teams went into CCL. They would get beat by better USL teams that are actually TRYING TO WIN.
Only then, would there be a change in salary cap and roster structure (more DP's?)
True -- a USL team could win its way into CONCACAF though the Open Cup as well.
Which they've been unable to do more than once over the past 13 years, which puts a bit of a damper on the notion that the two leagues are somehow equal.
Thats why LB said that the gap is not a far as ppl think. But yes they are certianly not equally. Of course if MLS really wanted to prove that gap. They could start by actually winning games in international competitions not controlled by is marketing subsidiary.
Of course the MLS teams never have beaten a Mexican team in Mexico and only winning 1 home and home series buts a bit of a damper on the notion that the gap is closing b/w the two leagues. The MLS teams inability to beat Mexican or other countries' teams puts a damper on the idea that the league is worth your time. USL teams having pulled off what MLS have not shows that though they may not be equal USL certainly have some attractive qualities that MLS teams either don't possess or refuse to explore. Both have something the other does not offer.
USL will be a very important league for NA in the future.
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