With its future assured, what kind of league will MLS become?
MLS has seen a world of changes since these programs were handed out at the league's first match on April 6, 1996. Photo by Jay Hipps, centerlinesoccer.com. 2011 was a watershed year for Major League Soccer. Questions of the league’s continued viability are a thing of the past. The designated player rule has come into its own and finally proven to be a useful tool in assembling... Read More
What San Jose can learn from Portland
The Timbers Army twirl their scarves during Wednesday night's match between the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes. Photo: Jay Hipps, centerlinesoccer.com. (PORTLAND) — Just before the beginning of the 2011 MLS season, Portland’s Oregonian newspaper investigated a nickname their city had proudly sported since the 1970’s: Soccer City USA. Factoring in statistics... Read More
Enhancing Supporters’ Shield rewards could be the answer for MLS
(As mentioned on this week’s bonus edition of the Quakes Cast, this column proposes adding significant benefits to the Supporters’ Shield. It originally appeared on Center Line in November, 2010.) With Colorado’s victory over Dallas in MLS Cup, another season has reached its conclusion and, once again, it’s filled with mixed results for the league. On one... Read More
Wait, wait — he’s not a goalkeeper! But it may not matter as much as you think
Earthquakes Planet has been in an uproar over the team’s draw this weekend with the Galaxy. Not over the draw so much — while it’s always preferable to beat LA, a draw is substantially better than losing to LA — but the manner in which the result occurred. With the Galaxy down to 10 men and midfielder Mike Magee conscripted into emergency goalkeeping duty, the Quakes... Read More
On how Bob Bradley is like George Lucas, and why we could do better
Bob Bradley answers questions from the press in January prior to the U.S. national team's match against Chile. Photo: John Todd, isiphotos.com If I told you that Bob Bradley coaches soccer like George Lucas directs movies, it might not be readily apparent what I was talking about. I’ll explain. It’s not about having one big success and then coasting — that criticism doesn’t... Read More