It's Not Just Our Problem

It’s a common complaint among American soccer fans that ESPN, and local professional sports news outlets (print, online, and TV) offer spotty coverage of MLS and soccer in general. If you’re reading this, you know that the internet has afforded U.S. soccer fans a place find each other, to debate, to make a buck, and to build a community. Though our numbers are small in comparison to fandom of the “four major sports,” there is certainly consensus that the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL make up the pinnacle of American sports.

Or do they? You may be aware that the Stanley Cup playoffs are in their 2nd round, but outside of the markets where US-based teams are still alive (Northern New Jersey, Raleigh, Anaheim, Buffalo, and San Jose), there’s apparently little interest in the NHL. Hockey has always been known as a local sport and a tough sell on national television, and recent TV ratings illustrate that point. Television ratings from the weekend of April 29 and 30 finds NBC’s NHL broadcasts 7th and 10th on the week’s sports broadcasts, behind the NBA, PGA Golf, NASCAR, WWE, and Poker on NBC (!). Landing in between Saturday’s and Sunday’s NHL telecasts were on NBC “Sports Special” and LPGA Golf.

Orlando isn’t an NHL market, but the Orlando Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi (HT: Soccer Daily) on Wednesday asked why the NHL gets so much attention on ESPN in the form of nightly highlights and coverage. He surmises that national sports editors are from an era when hockey mattered to a larger portion of the public. Think about it. 30 years ago, much more of the US population were in hockey-playing towns (NY, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Philly, LA, St. Louis, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Oakland). 60 years ago boxing, horse racing, and baseball ruled the sports pages. Could it be that hockey is one day relegated to the 2nd tier leagues where MLS, the WNBA, and Arena Football reside? Can MLS step up to fill the void? D surmises that MLS has already surpassed the NHL. Time will tell.

MLS’ Big ‘To

Welcome Toronto FC into the league. I’m still not convinced that helping our Northern neighbor’s national team is in the best interest of the MLS, but Garber & Co. can’t be faulted for going where the money is (even at a discounted exchange rate). I’m glad the community steered the power that be away from naming the club “Inter Toronto.”

Wanderers in Town

Is this the week that New York gets three points at one sitting? The wandering Chicago Fire comes to the rainy swamp on Saturday night, and given the lack of buzz around the winless Red Bulls, I’d be surprised if NY draws a five-figure crowd. Anyhoo, here’s my breakdown:

The Chicago forwards vs. the Red Bulls’ defense:
Chris Rolfe and Chad Barrett vs. Marvell Wynne, Carlos Mendes, Jeff Parke, and Steve Jolley (and Tony Meola). Rolfe is turning into a bone-fide star, and he and Barrett have scored five of the Fire’s seven goals in ‘06. Take away DC’s tattoo of the Red Bulls on April 22nd, and New York has let in only three goals in four matches. The loss of injured Taylor Graham hurts in the middle, but a rested Tony the Tiger could make the difference here. Advantage: Push

The Red Bulls’ strikers vs. the Chicago back line:
Youri Djorkaeff and Jean-Phillipe Peguero vs. Logan Pause, CJ Brown, Jack Stewart, and Ivan Guerrero (and Zach Thornton). With both Mike Magee and Edson Buddle listed as questionable, JPP gets his second start for NY up top with Youri. Chicago’s a different team without injured defensive stalwart Jim Curtin, and with NY’s week off to get on the same page, this may be the week that the Red Bulls hit the net. Advantage: Push

The Midfielders:
Thiago, Chris Armas, Diego Gutierrez, and Justin Mapp vs. Seth Stammler, Danny O’Rourke, Chris Henderson, and Amado Guevara. If Armas represents the National Team of the past, Mapp represents the future. Seasoned vets Thiago and Gutierrez are rarely rattled. They won’t be scared of NY’s bunch, especially if El Lobo is in one of his moods on Saturday. Advantage: Chicago

The Coaches:
The Fire’s Sarachan has to wish he’d be in Cary with the national team rather than with the Fire in rainy East Rutherford. I think the jury’s still out on his effectiveness, but he has a talented squad with a good mix of veterans and youth. NY’s Johnston has to inject his team with pride if he wants his first victory of the year. He doesn’t have the talent through the lineup as does his opponent. Advantage: Chicago

Intangibles:
NY is rested, and presumably Chicago will be tiring of the road, but the match will be played in front of a small crowd at a rainy Giants Stadium. Advantage: Push

Prediction:
New York can win this game by keeping it scoreless until the last ten minutes, poking in a goal, and holding for dear life until the final whistle. I don’t think that’s going to happen. 2-1 to Chicago.

On TV:

With the EPL complete, there’s a little less on the tube this weekend, but check it out (all times EDT):

SATURDAY, May 13
9:30am: GER: Hamburg-Werder Bremen, FSC
2:00pm: FRA: Rennes-Lille, FSC
4:00pm: MLS: Dallas-Houston, ESPN2
4:00pm: ESP: Espanyol-Real Sociedad, GOL
4:30pm: FRA: Bordeaux-Marseille, FSC
6:00pm: URU: Danubio-Penarol, GOL
7:00pm: MLS: New England-Chivas USA, DK
7:30pm: MLS: New York-Chicago, MSG, DK
7:30pm: MLS: Columbus-Colorado, HDNet
7:30pm: MLS: DC United-Kansas City, DK
8:00pm: ELS: Aguila-Isidro Metapan, GOL
9:30pm: MEX: San Luis-Toluca, TELEF
10:00pm: MLS: Los Angeles-Salt Lake, DK
12mid: INT’L: Mexico-Congo DR, GOL

SUNDAY, May 14
9:00am: ITA: Cagliari-Inter Milan, FSC
9:00am: ITA: Reggina-Juventus/Milan-Roma, GOL
11:00am: ITA: Lazio-Parma, FSC
1:00pm: ECU: Dep. Quito-LDU de Quito, GOL
3:00pm: BRA: Figueirnse-Fluminense, GOL
5:00pm: URU: Wanderes-Nacional, GOL
7:00pm: BOL: Blooming-The Strongest, GOL
11:00pm: ARG: Boca Juniors, Olimpo, FSC