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I'm talking hard ball football. I don't really watch other sports or much of anything. I've just been reading a lot more on football/soccer in America. Basically, the system is corrupt. That's the tl;dr version of what the problem is, but the issues are way too deep to just leave at that.
The MLS and USSF (US Soccer federation) claims that the reason they can't implement necessary institutions like relegation/promotion, lower divisions and grassroot engagement is due to a lack of funds. However, a shady organization known as SUM is a heavily profitable entity that is always behind the MLS and USSF. They're described as the "marketing arm" of the MLS. They sell media rights for MLS, foreign national teams in the America, major tournaments in America as-well as for the "non-profit" USSF.
The only odd thing is, that the CEO of the "marketing arm" is also the Commissioner/President of the MLS, Don Garber. He's also on the board of the USSF. While the President (Sunil Gulati) of the USSF is a shareholder in SUM. Don Garber is apart of 3 different organizations. He basically regulates and controls his own league. He's both on the board of the MLS and the regulatory body of football in America while also selling media rights for both organization.
That wouldn't be so bad if the club owners in the MLS weren't in-direct shareholders in SUM, as well.
What happens when you have the guy who has the exclusive decision on what teams can and cannot be able to play in the top-flight league, also on the board that regulates every level of the game, also on the board that sells the media rights for the leagues and organizations he works for? A financial incentive to hold down independent clubs and and lower-tiers and their clubs while promoting an increasingly expensive top-tier that strays more and more away from a dedication to talent production and growth and more towards profit generation.
As a matter of fact, just this year the SUM attempted to dissolve the New York Cosmos, the most historic club in American football. A representative from SUM declared its interest in buying the Cosmos for $5 Million and barring it from competing in the New York area for a decade. The intent was to eliminate it from competing against MLS clubs in the area. This was used by the NASL (2nd tier of American footie) in a lawsuit against the USSF that it coordinated with SUM and MLS to put the NASL and Cosmos out of business.
Combine this with the USSF's refusal to invest in the U.S. Open Cup (domestic cup) which is a competition that allows for clubs outside of the MLS to gain some media attention, and their refusal to regulate the MLS' selection and admission of teams into their league. It only points to one thing. The U.S. isn't a weak football market, but a purposely corrupted and held down system that has a financial incentive to allow select billionaires to create clubs for astronomical fees at $150 Mil per tear.
I hope this puts into perspective the amount of retardation and corruption that is holding down the beautiful game in America.
The MLS and USSF (US Soccer federation) claims that the reason they can't implement necessary institutions like relegation/promotion, lower divisions and grassroot engagement is due to a lack of funds. However, a shady organization known as SUM is a heavily profitable entity that is always behind the MLS and USSF. They're described as the "marketing arm" of the MLS. They sell media rights for MLS, foreign national teams in the America, major tournaments in America as-well as for the "non-profit" USSF.
The only odd thing is, that the CEO of the "marketing arm" is also the Commissioner/President of the MLS, Don Garber. He's also on the board of the USSF. While the President (Sunil Gulati) of the USSF is a shareholder in SUM. Don Garber is apart of 3 different organizations. He basically regulates and controls his own league. He's both on the board of the MLS and the regulatory body of football in America while also selling media rights for both organization.
That wouldn't be so bad if the club owners in the MLS weren't in-direct shareholders in SUM, as well.
What happens when you have the guy who has the exclusive decision on what teams can and cannot be able to play in the top-flight league, also on the board that regulates every level of the game, also on the board that sells the media rights for the leagues and organizations he works for? A financial incentive to hold down independent clubs and and lower-tiers and their clubs while promoting an increasingly expensive top-tier that strays more and more away from a dedication to talent production and growth and more towards profit generation.
As a matter of fact, just this year the SUM attempted to dissolve the New York Cosmos, the most historic club in American football. A representative from SUM declared its interest in buying the Cosmos for $5 Million and barring it from competing in the New York area for a decade. The intent was to eliminate it from competing against MLS clubs in the area. This was used by the NASL (2nd tier of American footie) in a lawsuit against the USSF that it coordinated with SUM and MLS to put the NASL and Cosmos out of business.
Combine this with the USSF's refusal to invest in the U.S. Open Cup (domestic cup) which is a competition that allows for clubs outside of the MLS to gain some media attention, and their refusal to regulate the MLS' selection and admission of teams into their league. It only points to one thing. The U.S. isn't a weak football market, but a purposely corrupted and held down system that has a financial incentive to allow select billionaires to create clubs for astronomical fees at $150 Mil per tear.
I hope this puts into perspective the amount of retardation and corruption that is holding down the beautiful game in America.
