By Ridge Mahoney Is “greater freedom of movement” the same as “free agency?” I would say not, but judging by the spin spun by MLS and subsequent coverageof this critical facet of CBA negotiations, these terms are one and the same. MLS did an excellent job of equating the two, and perhaps for this reason […]
Soccer America Confidential
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Donovan can be game-changer in union talks
Can the magical presence of Landon Donovan loosen the impasse that MLS and the MLS Players Union can’t seem to extricate themselves from? He flew to Washington, D.C., Thursday to join about two dozen player representatives, and all manner of executives and lawyers from the opposing sides trying to reach deal by which a threatened […]
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An icon goes down: Beckham's American legacy in doubt
By Ridge Mahoney Like it or not, David Beckham is still the only soccer player who moves the sports media needle in the United States. Newsof his torn Achilles’ tendon and probable absence from the World Cup emerged from a fierce blizzard of stuff Sunday, during which NBA, NHL and exhibition baseball news were submerged […]
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Commissioner Garber on mediator, CBA talks, and Donovan
By Ridge Mahoney It’s not surprising that joy and relief emanated from the American soccer community upon hearing the news a week ago that federal mediatorGeorge H. Cohen would join the CBA negotiations between MLS and the players union. So it’s also not surprising that angst and worry and consternation has spewedforth in the past […]
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One date change means nothing
The on-going negotiations, or lack of same, on a new collective bargaining agreement by MLS and the players’ union have prompted the league to push back the date by which teams must be rosterand salary-cap compliant. Since neither roster size nor the salary cap has been set for the 2010 season, this move is not […]
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Labor battle: Call it a draw and move on
By Ridge Mahoney And the game of chicken continues, sort of. Up against a twice-extended deadline to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement with MLSor play another season under the same conditions or go on strike, the MLS Players Union has instead decided on d), none of the above. “We have advised our players to […]
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Clock ticking as labor strife continues
By Ridge Mahoney It’s time to analyze the analysis of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations as explained, or not, to members of the American press. This is not done to take potshots at any of the three sides in this issue: the league, the players union, and the media, since all have their axes to […]
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How will expansion Philly fare off-field?
By Ridge Mahoney While it’s true that expanding into Philadelphia in 2010 will mark the fourth straight season, and fifth occasion in the last six years, that MLShas added at least one new team, this move might be the most important. Philly will not be a melding of MLS and NFL, as is the case […]
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Landon Donovan loan timed perfectly
By Ridge Mahoney There’s been a bit of ballyhoo the past few days about Landon Donovan taking a big gamble by going to Everton on loan. Uh,I beg to differ. Had he gone over with his MLS contract expired, as many players have done, that would be a gamble. And had he not signed a […]
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No tears shed for closing of this Academy
By Ridge Mahoney The David Beckham Academy in Carson, Calif., has closed. Good riddance. Selling jerseys and tickets and perfumes and sunglasses in the USA as asleek global icon is one thing, traipsing around a field during perfunctory appearances to thrill children whose parents are shelling out hundreds of dollars for a few hours of […]