Comments on: Alexi Lalas is Probably not the Ambassador MLS Needs

By: james

james — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:50:09 +0000

lalas is like a kid at the playground defending his favorite team. His comments are counter productive and clearly imature. He seems to be spiteful. He is tired of hearing disrespect about the MLS. He really made himself look bad this time.

By: northzax

northzax — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:18:50 +0000

I think Lalas is being misinterpreted here. What he actually said is that MLS is more competitive. This is true. think about it, two months before the start of the EPL season, and anyone want to put money on the idea that a team besides ManU or Chelsea will win the league? anyone? what kind of odds do you think you would get for say, Arsenal? not that good, I think, let alone even Everton. when the teams who finished 3rd and 5th last year have no chance to win next year, you know you aren’t competitive.

And yes, you could fill a helicopter wtih 20 MLS players and probably get yourself someone on the lines of Reading, just missing out on Europe. Of course, it couldn’t be 20 random players.

Still, people are talking…

By: Nolan

Nolan — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:15:31 +0000

MLS needs to step before it leaps. Before comparing itself to the EPL (Granted I believe La Liga and Serie A are superior leagues) MLS needs to compete with the quality but not exactly world class Mexican League right next door. If MLS wants to prove anything to the world they need to try to get themselves invited to the Copa Libertadores. Comparisons to the best European leagues will just embarass MLS. I give MLS credit for improving significantly in recent years, but it’s still not a great league and like NASL, hype will only go so far, if Pele couldn’t bring football to America than David Beckham isn’t enough either. Prove you can compete with your neighbours in the Americas before you reach for the stars.

By: Christian Kirby Apostol

Christian Kirby Apostol — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:40:24 +0000

I will not comment about Lalas. But I want to comment about the football industry, I have no right to compare our own league here in Philippines with the Grand leagues of first world countries, sometimes I think we are just a parody of the leagues held in Europe and South America (I am not familiar with MLS). Football here is a dead industry. We trained youngsters to love and have passion for the sports but then the society do not provide money and security for matured players, that is why I call it dead industry. Historically speaking, the missionaries introduced the sports when they came and established schools and centers here but sadly we do not have much support regarding the football sport itself. That is why some talented players end their career sooner when they are getting more injuries than benefits from practicing the disciplines itself. I had it all: FAME AND SKILLS. But what does it do to my family? nothing! I had fans who admired me but even their admiration would just die out because the local media deprived us of the publicity that we really deserved.

By: Gianfranco

Gianfranco — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:45:08 +0000

Just these comments here alone have justified Lalas’s comments today. He was on World Soccer Daily on Sirius earlier and has more time with them tomorrow, he is causing a stir and thats what he wants. BRING ATTENTION TO MLS.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:01:15 +0000

I think Alexi is getting caught up in his own hype. He’s quoted in the Mirror saying ‘There will be interest over here that exceeds everything else. The U.S. will never have dealt with an athlete who has had this kind of international impact. Tiger Woods has that international appeal but, with due respect to Woods and Michael Jordan, David Beckham is at an entirely different level.’

Sorry Alexi but Tiger Woods is way above Beckham for his impact and appeal, and when August rolls around and the NFL and College Football seasons start, the MLB gets towards the playoffs, will the average American sports fan care about Beckham’s international profile?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/2007/06/19/bigger-than-jordan-89520-19317830/

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:59:10 +0000

Lalas has some decent points in there, but most of it is laughable BS. Yes, the MLS is more competitive than most top flight leagues. The whole league structure is built for it. Then he sadly confuses that with the quality of play. Most MLS teams are on about the level of an average English Championship side.

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:55:20 +0000

The fact is that MLS is not on par with the Premiership. I think 90% of football fans would concede that. But there are positive aspects to MLS, and it would be nice to see Lalas concentrating on these instead of trying to rip down the Prem, which is at least one of the best leagues in the world. For example, MLS still has the opportunity to be a middle-class fan game, with affordable tickets, whereas that ship sailed on the Prem years ago. There are plenty of MLS fans that don’t attend matches, but I would guess a lot fewer of them do it because of financial reasons than do Prem fans.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:47:16 +0000

The lack of respect for MLS in the British media is shocking right now — I’ve even heard the quality of football compared to the non-league Conference! MLS ain’t the best, but those opinions are ridiculous and a little bizarre. Clearly MLS has a lot of work to do regarding its international profile…

By: Trent

Trent — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:33:57 +0000

Yeah, A.L. definitely has some valid points. Everyone knows that MLS isn’t as strong as the Prem, but it is getting better. And the Prem is very top heavy.

And even though the Prem is my favorite league, I think Todd Pounds is right: mission accomplished for A.L.