The statement almost begs for a laugh track.
Don Garber bursts through the door and into the upscale Brooklyn loft where an English man, Spanish woman and German couple are being entertained by an old Italian man.
Puzzled, they look at the over eager Garber – his sawker jersey neatly pressed and tucked into his skinny fit American Eagle jeans.
What do you want, the old man says to Garber.
Garber pauses, looks around and thrusts his chest out.
“One day,” he says excitedly, “One day I’m going to make it! I’m going be sitting with you right here in this loft! Just you wait and see!”
With that Garber skips out, tripping through the door, before going downstairs to set up a lemonade stand on the corner.
(Canned laughter)
Or, Garber walks up to a microphone and says “MLS’ stated goal of being one of the best leagues in the world by 2022.”
(Real laughter)
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]It seems absurd. MLS, the plucky little, parity-driven, franchise focused, single entity soap opera that we all know and love standing toe to toe with the Bundesliga, La Liga, Premiership and Serie A.
The salary cap is $2.95-million!?
There is a team called Real Salt Lake that has nothing to do with the Spanish royal family!?
Toronto FC plays in the league!?
How can Garber keep a straight face when he says that when MLS isn’t even the best league in North America right now? Hell, it’s, at best, the third most popular league in the countries it operates in (I’d say third in Canada behind England and Italy; fourth in US behind Mexico, England and Italy).
There is no way that MLS can be one of the best league’s in the world in 9-years.
Or, is there?
When you step back and critically look at the situation the statement doesn’t look completely insane (just a little crazy). The truth is the lure of America and the untapped potential of the North American market will always be attractive to those in the game’s traditional markets.
It’s because of that pull that MLS is the only league outside of Europe that could possibly rise up and take a place in the conversation.
Language issues and past corruption problems make Asia an unlikely place for an emergent league. South America’s economy makes it unlikely that Brazil or Argentina will move up from there current standing.
In fact, when people look at MLS’ goal they often dismiss it as being impossible because they can’t imagine how the league would erode Europe’s strength. It won’t (until it is on equal standing). It very well might erode the big South American leagues.
A careful evaluation of MLS’ moves suggests that they are trying to position themselves to be the biggest league in the Americas. The money difference is less pronounced so there might be an opportunity there.
Still, the money is the biggest issue. How could they possibly compete with a $2.95-million salary cap. The answer is they can’t. However, it’s also, likely, that they won’t.
The current CBA is due to expire after the 2014 season. There is another thing about 2014.
It’s the last year that NYC FC won’t be in the league.
Manchester City’s big spending and a split of $100-million comes into the league for 2015.
It’s likely that the training wheels come off then too.
Then no one will be laughing.