Today's News,Monday,Dec.21

[denime]

Mornin'


Holiday wishes, soccer style



SUNSHINE

[sidvan]

Mornin' all.

[Oldtimer]

Lockout would hurt sport

As the talks between players, league heat up, cooler heads must prevail

By GLENN DAVIS For the Chronicle

No one can deny that Major League Soccer has made great strides under the guidance of commissioner Don Garber, who has helped to solidify the sport at the professional level in the United States.
One must also factor in the degree of difficulty in helping the league sink roots in a country that includes three traditional sports.
So as MLS thrives in markets such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Toronto and Houston, one also has to remember that is not the case in others.
Which brings me to the biggest issue facing professional soccer in this country, one that could impact everything from MLS to the U.S. national team, Landon Donovan on through to the overall perception of the sport in the United States.
Deadline looms

The collective bargaining agreement between the MLS Players Union and the league will come to an end Jan. 31.
Both sides have been in negotiation for seven months and the two seem to be far away from reaching a deal.
Sample this from a blog written by Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller:
“I wish that we could report that we were close to signing an agreement, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
“As players we have been told about a probable lockout date of February 1st.”

“We are preparing for a work stoppage and guys are looking at other areas of employment,” Dynamo goalkeeper and union board member Pat Onstad said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...c/6778276.html

[JonO]

A lockout would more than hurt the sport. It could do serious damage to the league. I really hope it doesn't come to that.

[Kaz]

This could set the sport back 20 years. They better work something out... or I'm going down there and beating someone senseless.... .... you know a kid or something, I'm too scrawny to hurt a grown person.

[rocker]

just from personal experience, strikes/lockouts tend to kill my interest. Of course I'd be back to TFC since I'm a diehard... but I was a casual fan of baseball and hockey and their strikes/lockouts completely killed my interest. I can't even sit through a baseball or hockey game anymore. MLS could lose a lot of those kind of people.

[ManUtd4ever]

I'm sure common sense will prevail prior to the scheduled start of the season. I would think that both parties involved in negotiations are aware that in the current state of the economy, an extended lockout would be nothing short of suicide for the MLS...

[scooter]

if the players do that mls is done they will all be unemployed especially in the smaller markets
talk about killing a good thing

that said i do agree the players on the low side should be paid more money and i have said that before many times in other threads

but given the league is just beginning to rock in to and seattle and soon to be vancouver and philly they are nuts to be trying to force garbers hand

i actually agree with some of the concerns on player movement and choices and am sure mls could make some concessions in these areas

[Carts]

HOME OPENER DATE CHANGED...
Thursday April 15th - 8pm vs Philly...

http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/te....jsp&team=t280

Carts...

[Boris]

the CBA and the possibility of a lockout is something that i am keeping high on my list. In the new year myself and the rest of the exec will make a detailed announcement to the membership.

This is something we are working on...well one of about 100 items

[keem-o-sabi]

also posted something in the RPB Section. We're looking to start a RPB Indoor League at the Burlington Soccer Domes (off the Appleby Line Go Station and Appleby Line exit on the QEW) on Saturday evenings from 7-9pm. It would be 7 v 7, see the post in the RPB section.

and coed girls 1 and 2

[wzhxvy]

Pat Onstad is going to seek other employment..wow..what a threat...I mean that is some leverage lol

They better not be stupid enough to have a lockout or strike...

[Stryker]

"We would like a moderate rise in the salary cap"

I was hoping to see the cap go all the way to 4 million a year but it looks like we won't see anything over 3 million.

"the major points for the players are: guaranteed contracts, free agency, and the right to negotiate with other MLS teams"

I would think this would be something in our favour. Despite the climate I'm sure we're a very desirable destination within the league.


http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/soccer...XN0nXISEWMWzXN

[Roogsy]

A lot of these players are barely making anything significant. It may just be my own point of view but I think the owners have more to lose than the players. If there is a work stoppage, whenever it starts up again the players will at the very least be right back where they started, but the owners may see a league that has been taken back 5 or 10 years of progress.

I am with the players on this one.