Finally, some Family (Un)Friendly MLS Entertainment
By: Bob | September 5th, 2006
It was a holiday weekend in the US and what better way than to celebrate than by taking your offspring to Youth Soccer Night at Real Salt Lake? Give them a few hot dogs, let them blow those quail-like horns until they are blue in the face and after the match stick around so that Pablo Mastroeni can teach them all about obscene gestures.
The US international and Colorado Rapids player is feeling a bit of heat after he engaged in an animated on-the-field discussion with Dave Checketts, owner of Real Salt Lake. Checketts took exception when Mastroeni began taunting fans and stuffing a shirt down his crotch following his team’s 1-0 victory, which gave Colorado the Rocky Mountain Cup trophy. In a sign of the world being upside down, the two had to be separated by first rate nutjob Clint Mathis.
“This is not what this league is about, nor is it representative of what Real Salt Lake or MLS stands for as we provide family-friendly entertainment and spirited competition,” Checketts said in a statement after the match.
It is predictable, of course, that Checketts would proclaim his desire to protect America’s youth from something as untoward as an obscene gesture. Heaven forbid that children actually see or hear anything unpleasant before they reach the age of 18. You can bet the juvenile crime rates are going to go through the roof in Utah now.
But frankly this is the type of thing that MLS needs more of. In a league that has felt like a sanitized corporate creation for too long, it is good to finally see some controversy and it is good to see the development of rivalries that mean something to the players. That will ultimately benefit the fans, even if it means that parents might have to explain to their children why that grown man is waving one finger at them.
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Category: MLS
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Comments
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If I saw Pablo wearing that outfit I’d threaten to beat the living snot out of him too!
Posted from
United States
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Yes, MLS is a “sanitized corporate creation.” I think that’s the main reason it’s not successful. I saw DC United vs. Real Madrid a month back. Even though the game ended 1-1, Real Madrid put on a much more thrilling performance. The ran faster, passed more accurately, fouled more egregiously and dove more melodramatically. Not that I’m condoning diving or fouls, but this kind of play creates the “I don’t care if I die of hunger, thirst, or exploded kidneys, I’m not missing a minute of this game” excitement that is missing in US soccer. As the sold-out RM-DC game showed, if you add some excitement, the fans and money will follow.
Posted from
United States -
How about Real Salt Lake taking Ben Thatcher on loan for a year and giving him a clean slate.
Posted from
United States -
Christ. Where did you dig up the picture in your post. That’s horrifying.
As to your general points, yes, yes, mo’ anger, mo’ better. Unless Checketts’ spazzing is calculated to stoke the fire, he’s not looking out for his bottom line (see last paragraph).
Posted from
United States
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