MLS commissioner Don Garber has wired in with his annual assessment of all things pro soccer north of the Mexican border.
And while I put my share of criticism on the OLL (Our Little League) from time to time, I do give it full credit for surviving. And in increasingly sombre financial times, it's not surprising survival was at the forefront of Garber's reflections.
"We have to be smarter, more efficient,” Garber said in an interview with The New York Times. “But I go to bed at night knowing our owners are committed.”
The commissioner points to sponsorship as an obvious area of concern, but with two new franchises about to be awarded – at an apparent $40-million per pop – the league should be able to keep its modest ship afloat.
I say “apparent” about the expansion fees, because if I were an incoming owner in this market, I would certainly expect to have some haggling room. Then again, the fact there are seven ownership groups vying for two spots might be enough to allow Garber to hold his ground.
That will come in very handy a year from now, when the league's collective bargaining agreement comes up for amendment and scrutiny. That's when real tinkering is possible for the salary cap, and meaningful changes could be made to the big-ticket designated player rule.
As you likely know, MLS is not like the world's other division one pro soccer leagues. It has created a tight, efficient structure of intertwined ownership and hard spending caps. Owners love this, because it keeps costs manageable, but it also means Toronto FC and the league's other squads are not playing the same game the rest of the world is.
Citizenship matters, and salaries are screamingly low. The Los Angeles Galaxy can, in fact, spend whatever they want on David Beckham. But he's often on the field with teammates who don't even make a working wage, and share dorm rooms.
Personally, I adore part-time jobs. But an aging Beckham can't do enough by himself to keep the rest of his mates from plummeting through the league's floorboards. He helped Edson Buddle (elbowing Andy Welch and Marco Velez for worst regular starter is this man's TFC history) score 15 goals, but the Galaxy are still taking a deep and early nap in the MLS basement.
Again, though, it's about survival. As much as I yearn for a day when Toronto FC can try to claim its place in the real soccer world, I also know with certainty that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment would not have bought the franchise without the cozy, protective strands of Garber's web of financial caution.
So it's going to be another year of soccer socialism. Who do I kid? Another decade.
But at least if the league's special spending rules get it safely through to a day when the salary cap can double, then maybe all that expansion money will be able to improve the quality of soccer on the pitch.
I expect Columbus and New York to give us a stirring final. Whatever grumbles I have about the overall product, recent MLS Cup finals have been thrilling, rip-snorting soccer games.
May the best spreadsheet win!
Onward!
