Is the MLS All Star Game Needed?
As the sun set last night in San Jose, football fans at Avaya Stadium and around the globe got to watch a special game: the MLS All Star Game. But as I watched last night, I was curious as to why I was watching this game, and why it was actually happening.
The MLS is a league unlike any other in the world. A salary cap, a draft (very North American), and designated players are just some of the many things that set the MLS apart from any other league in the world. Last night the twenty-first MLS All Star Game happened last night. Being in North America, and not much else on television wise, I decided to put on the MLS All Star Game. The MLS isn’t a top league in the world. In fact, many people around the world have dubbed it a ‘retirement league’. And when you look at some of the facts, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
Some of the players who appeared in the MLS All Star Game are seasoned veterans. Players who have done it all, and won it all in their career. Players who have such a decorated career, that they could choose where to play almost. But these players come here for two reasons. The North American lifestyle, and the money. The football is average at best, so why come? Yes the MLS is an up and coming league, and it is improving. But there is so much wrong with it.
The MLS thinks it’s a good idea to play in the off season of all the major leagues and when other major tournaments occur. Euro’s, World Cup’, and events like this will always see the players go to represent their countries over their clubs. The salary cap prevents players from making major money, but does allow all of the teams to have an equal chance. But this All Star game is more of a joke than anything else.
What is the MLS trying to prove? That their ‘best’ players can compete with these major European clubs? Do they forget that they’re in pre-season form, and the MLS players are at full fitness? These clubs that come here to partake, they don’t care. But over here, it’s made into this big thing where they don’t even fill the entire stadium. There are consistently more fans of the opposing team than the MLS players. Understandable for sure, but clubs, and coaches don’t even want their players to play. If someone gets hurt in a pre-season friendly, they have time to regain fitness before the season starts. But this game has no meaning. It doesn’t help the clubs, or the players. If they get hurt, their club will pay the ultimate price. And why should they have to? If you want your league to succeed, you need to treat it like all of the major leagues in the world, and not put your players at risk in meaningless games.
If a Pirlo, Giovinco, Villa, Kaka (injury prone already), or even a player like Cyle Larin gets hurt, it would cripple a teams season. The player wouldnt get hurt representing the club, they would be hurt fighting for something that doesn’t matter. The league needs to realize that money is nice, but they have to think about if someone gets hurt and then that has an impact on the remainder of the regular season. Don Garber and the rest of the MLS need to take a serious look at some of the issues within the league. They don’t want to be seen as a retirement league, or as a joke (as most of the world sees them). Take the first step and fix this problem. Stop having an All Star Game. Care about your players, and don’t use them as a ploy for money. Put them into a team of the season like every other league in the world. Be normal. Because being different sometimes, just isn’t worth it.