MLS Sunrise

At 5:30 am on a Sunday in Japan I found
myself trying to latch on to an internet
feed that would let me watch the Colorado
Rapids-(Washington) D.C. United match from
Denver's new soccer-specific stadium. The
screen came up, the signal buffered and
the Beauty Channel came up instead, with
a special report on eye-liner. Honestly
the things I do to support this game.

This could be a great year for USA footie,
not just because of the arrival of Golden
Balls Beckham. It could be the year the
business models start to pay off and the
sport begins to make money for the corporate
gods who sponsor our little league. MLS
has two new stadiums, two more breaking
ground, new TV and sponsor deals, and even
a new anthem which we will hear ad nauseum.
The proof, is, as Steve and Nick said on
the World Soccer Weekly radio show, a must
hear here, is that they have to produce a
product that, when seen on the telly, makes
you want to go and be there and be part of
the show. Until then, all bets are off.

Of the six opening day matches, at least
3 pulled it off - DC at Colorado, New England
at Chicago, and LA at Houston. The
last match, in front of 16,000 including
George WALKER Bush (who made an appearance
alighting from a gold cart), was a riveting
running show which didn't produce a single
goal but was, yes, entertaining. Foul and
cold weather kept crowds low (between 13,000
and 18,000) but now the crap shoot has
begun and now only the big rollers need to show
up, that is Beckham and Blanco, and start throwing
sevens.
Stay tuned.