25 Stories That Made MLS: Recent Episodes
The Brothers Rahman
Ahead of Major League Soccer's 25th season, brothers Tutul and Neetol Rahman tells 25 stories that made the league that it is today.
It's a set piece, it's a header, it's a goal, It's Chad Marshall. The Brothers talk about the unassuming defender that played exclusively in MLS and finished with the best career for a defender in MLS history, including the most Defender of the Year awards by a player ever.
Sources:
Extratime Bobby Warshaw on the Chad Marshall Theorem
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/11/07/wiebe-must-win-seattle-sans-chad-marshall-four-reasons-be-worried
Productivity, Longevity and Nudity by Sam Staejkal
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/27/stejskal-chad-marshall-dishes-his-productivity-longevity-and-nudity
Berhalter trades Marshall Financially motivated
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2013/12/13/columbus-crew-head-coach-gregg-berhalter-says-chad-marshall-trade-was-financially
Tom Bogert and the transition of Seattle & Marshall: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/08/inside-how-seattle-sounders-transitioned-through-chad-marshalls-retirement
The third entry to the brother's MLS Hall of Fame is Dwayne De Rosario. An MLS legend and Canadian legend that didn't make it to MLS until 23 and didn't become a starter until 26 but put together an all time career including a record six MLS Best XIs.
Also hear about the most interesting year of any MLS player, his 2011 MVP season.
Sources:
Highs and Lows of Dero by Kristan Henaege for the Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/23/dwayne-de-rosario-dc-united-vegan
Dero has the eye for the dynamic
https://www.therecord.com/sports/2015/05/12/dwayne-de-rosario-always-had-an-eye-for-the-dramatic.html
Dero Racism - for Midland Today: https://www.midlandtoday.ca/national-sports/bent-de-rosario-recall-racism-in-germany-early-in-their-pro-careers-2442147
The DC United talisman, Jaime Moreno, is the second person in our first class of MLS Hall of Fame. The first person into the 100/100 club, learn about how Moreno grew up in the same academy as Marco Etcheverry, became the first Bolivian in the EPL before landing in MLS. He would have almost two careers across two eras filled with stats and trophies.
Donate to Jaime Moreno's GoFundMe to help with his medical bills: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-our-all-time-legend-jaime-moreno
Watch Neetols favorite MLS moment here: https://youtu.be/pvyNRVAI7MM
United nearing a deal to trade Moreno by Steven Goff
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/12/05/united-is-nearing-a-deal-to-trade-moreno-to-metrostars/3802196d-9b68-4769-97ad-88461e998d8d/
Moreno finds peace by Rachel Alexander https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-11/11/075r-111199-idx.html
Charles Boehm interview for MLS https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/06/03/mls-legends-jaime-moreno-discusses-his-successes-and-regrets-d-c-s-greatest-player
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-middlesbroughs-moreno-comes-in-from-the-cold-1142440.html
The brothers kick of season 2 with our series of the first 25 players that should enter the MLS Hall of Fame (as soon as it's made). The first name leading the way in our MLS Hall of Fame? Who else but the greatest American player of all time, Landon Donovan.
Learn about his merit, honors and his story on getting to MLS and Neetol's favorite Landon goal in MLS.
Sources
Bio: http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Donovan_Landon/Donovan_bio.html
Video on SJ comeback:. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBLlNUNJ7iM
Video of all LD Goals: https://youtu.be/o-Hda6Kyx_s
Tutul and Neetol come out of their hibernation to announce season 2, which will have two seperate series:
25 Stories That Made Women's Soccer in the US
25 Stories Of Should Be MLS Hall of Famers.
That's right 50 episodes coming your way.
Also they chat about the MLS is Back Tournament.
How passionate fans of the Columbus Crew organized, protested and eventually saved the Crew and what it means to be a fan moving forward.
Sources:
Shout out to Keith Naas @Knass who helped proofread the outline
How Columbus #SavedTheCrew by Arlo Moore-Bloom
https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/11/08/columbus-crew-mls-save-the-crew
Precourt takes thoughtful approach in Remaking the Crew
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/07/27/Franchises/Anthony-Precourt.aspx
Columbus Crew Angling Toward Relocation in 2019 by Grant Wahl
https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/17/columbus-crew-austin-texas-anthony-precourt-stadium
Save The Crew: A Timeline of Columbus’ Efforts To Save The Soccer Team
https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20181228/save-crew-timeline-of-columbus-efforts-to-save-its-soccer-team
Crew Fans Gather At City Hall To Protest by Chelsea Wiley
https://www.columbusnavigator.com/crew-sc-fans-gather-at-city-hall-to-protest/
Austin Texas Gets A Major League Soccer Deal as Columbus Ohio Gets Stiffed by Jason Notte
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonnotte/2018/08/22/austin-texas-gets-a-major-league-soccer-deal-while-columbus-ohio-gets-stiffed/#4a0be03b780c
How a bond between a player and a coach resulted in an unbelievable but for an MLS Expansion team, the largest sale in MLS history and an opening of an unprecedented pipeline of Latin American talent.
Sources:
Lanús acordó la incorporación del volante Miguel Almirón
https://www.espn.com.ar/noticias/nota/_/id/2435943/lanus-acordo-la-incorporacion-del-volante-miguel-almiron
http://sportwitness.co.uk/exclusive-agent-confirms-arsenal-approach-player-delighted-sign/
Atlanta United signs Miguel Almirón, hopefully sparking a trend of ambitious MLS signings by Kim McCauley
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2016/12/5/13829982/miguel-almiron-atlanta-united-transfer-fee-salary
Atlanta, Tata and Me by Miguel Almiron
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/miguel-almiron-atlanta-united
Newcastle Must Up Offer For Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/09/newcastle-must-up-offer-for-atlanta-uniteds-miguel-almiron
How a Canadian phenom who's parents escaped a Liberian Civil War to settle in Edmonton eventually became MLS' greatest export and glimpse to the future it may hold.
Sources:
Sources:
The War in Liberia by Sarah Left
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/04/westafrica.qanda
Becoming Canadian - The Alphonso Davies Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqt5u1jtvGw
Why Bayern Munich, the two paths of Alphonso Davies
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2019/8/29/20836276/bayern-munich-youth-prospects-transfers-alphonso-davies-liam-morrison-celtic-hasan-salihamidzic
Next Generation 2017 - 60 Best Talents In Football
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2017/oct/04/next-generation-2017-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football
How two new clubs, Atlanta United and LAFC, in MLS embraced the 3.0 model and became the giants in the league from spending, relevance and marketing.
Sources:
Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank for the Entreprenuer
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197614
Home Depot Founder To Buy Falcons by the AP
https://www.wired.com/2001/12/home-depot-founder-to-buy-falcons/
Falcons Owner Puts In Bid For MLS Franchise
https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2008-10-14-4126789750_x.htm
Atlanta Might Be Considered By Potential MLS Owner by Doug Roberson
https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-may-considered-potential-mls-owner/7QkbejYIxLzKZUkht0palI/
Garber Reaffirms Miami, Atlanta Reaffirms As Expansion Favorites
https://sbisoccer.com/2013/12/indicates-expansion-favorites
Tycoons 10 Year Crusade to Get a Big Mac In Vietnam
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-consumers/tycoons-10-year-crusade-to-get-a-big-mac-in-vietnam-idUSBRE9730BD20130804
Expansion LA soccer team plans new stadium on Sports Arena site by Kevin Baxter
https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-la-soccer-stadium-20150518-story.html
How a report from a consultant group led to a new salary mechanism which propelled player spending in MLS to new heights.
Sources:
Inside the Confidential 2016 Study That Provided The Blueprint From MLS Modern Era by Paul Tenorio & Pablo Maurer
https://theathletic.co.uk/1362372/2019/11/08/inside-the-confidential-2016-study-that-provided-the-blueprint-for-mlss-modern-era/
https://www.mlssoccer.com/glossary/targeted-allocation-money
MLS HQ Denials of TAM Contracts Frustrating Front Offices by Paul Tenorio
https://theathletic.com/381254/2018/06/05/mls-hq-denials-of-some-tam-contracts-frustrating-front-offices/?redirected=1
MLS Rejected TAM Offers To Joevan Jones and Stefan Frei by Jeremiah Oshan for Sounders At Heart
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/6/5/17430732/joevin-jones-stefan-frei-denied-tam-contracts
How four American stars were developed in MLS, got sold to Europe, had success and then returned to have more success and money than could've been imagined.
SOURCES:
How Seattle’s Stunning Clint Dempsey Deal Got Done by Grant Wahl
https://www.si.com/soccer/2013/08/05/clint-dempsey-seattle-sounders-mls
Beasley Angered by MLS Decision by Rupert Lowe for Daily Echo
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5571343.beasley-angered-by-mls-decision/
Texas Tough: Dempsey’s Upbringing in Naco-Nowhere Led to US Dream by Melissa Segura
https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/06/09/dempsey
Transfer of Power For Revolution by Frank Del’Appa for Boston Globe
https://web.archive.org/web/20131207055126/http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/02/27/transfer_of_power_for_revolution/
The Michael Bradley Project by Simon Borg
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2014/03/15/michael-bradley-project-can-toronto-fc-star-become-best-american-player-all-time
Beasley Adds Finishing Gloss to Rangers Rout of Lyon by Steve Douglas
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/03/match.championsleague2
Dempsey’s Gamble To Knock Out Juventus Out Of Europa League
https://web.archive.org/web/20131225210906/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/mar/19/fulham-juventus-europa-league
Michael Bradley’s Transfer To MLS Complete by Jeremiah Oshan
https://www.sbnation.com/2014/1/8/5289774/michael-bradley-transfer-mls-roma-toronto-fc-details
In our most technical episode yet, the brothers talk about how each collective bargaining agreement evolved player movement and salary spends of MLS that has helped shape the league today.
Sources:
Old MLS CBA Expires But No Strike Imminent by Brian Lewis
https://nypost.com/2010/02/25/old-mls-cba-expires-but-no-strike-imminent/
Players Want Big Changes In MLS Structure by Simon Evans
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-mls-dispute/players-want-big-changes-in-mls-league-structure-union-idUSTRE5AP02Q20091126
Financial Data At Issue As CBA Negotiations Kick Off by Liz Mullen and Tripp Mickle
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/05/11/This-Weeks-News/Mlss-Financial-Data-At-Issue-As-CBA-Negotiations-Kick-Off.aspx
Details of 2010 MLS CBA by Brian Lewis
https://nypost.com/2010/03/23/details-of-mls-cba/
MLS Players Union Bob Foose reveal new best details of CBA by Brian Strauss
https://www.si.com/soccer/2015/03/06/mls-cba-deal-players-union-bob-foose-todd-dunivant
Breaking Down The New MLS CBA For 2020 by Chad C Smith
https://www.thebluetestament.com/2020/2/7/21127602/breaking-down-the-new-mls-and-mlspa-cba-for-2020-major-league-soccer-players-association-sporting-kc
How the MLS team in Kansas City went from being last in attendance and fan engagement to being a model MLS franchise that's always sold out - one of the best turnarounds in all of sports.
Sources:
Special thanks to Mike McGrew and Mike Kuhn
Lamar Hunt Sells MLS Wizards to Local Group
http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/soccer/id/2567849
Serious Investment and Savvy Marketing Revive Soccer In Kansas City by Sam Borden
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/sports/soccer/soccer-in-the-us-heartland-kansas-city-transformed.html
As expected City Council Gives Approval to Three Trail Project
https://web.archive.org/web/20080628164818/http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node%2F8940
WiZards Stadium project kicked over state lines by Kevin Collison for the KC Star
https://web.archive.org/web/20090912055722/http://www.kansascity.com/842/story/1433346.html
WiZards Kick off Zard Era
https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/wizards-kick-off-zard-card-era/n-1989400
TBT the Rochester Wizards
http://www.downthebyline.com/2015/07/tbt-rochester-wizards.html?m=1
Nine years ago, KC at Brink of losing the MLS team by Sam McDowell
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article334008/Nine-years-ago-KC-was-on-the-brink-of-losing-its-pro-soccer-team.html
Star Bonds and Location Make Sporting Park a Star by Patrick Riche for Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/prishe/2012/10/29/star-bonds-location-make-livestrong-sporting-park-a-star-among-u-s-soccer-stadiums/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Sporting KC and Soccer Development by Scott Fenwick
https://onthefiredotcom.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/sporting-kansas-city-and-soccer-development-an-interview-with-david-ficklin/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
How MLS' Homegrown Rule pushed MLS teams to nurture young talent in their academies and why it took so long to take hold and meet it's full potential.
Sources:
Local Goalie Careers Poised to Go Global by Paul Tenorio for Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502163.html
LA Galaxy Sign 17 Year Old Tristan Bowen
https://web.archive.org/web/20081204142629/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20081112&content_id=203406&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106
RSL Push The Envelope With A Residency Program by Randy Davis for MLS Soccer
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2010/12/13/rsl-push-envelope-residency-program
Evolution Of MLS Academies by Paul Tenorio for Four Four Two
www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/rating-mls-academies-homegrown-players-youth-development-progress
20 Years Of FC Dallas Homegrown Players by Buzz Carrick for Dallas News
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/fc-dallas/2017/10/27/20-years-fc-dallas-homegrown-players/
MLS USL Reach Deal For Restructured Reserve League by Matthew Doyle for MLS Soccer
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2013/01/23/mls-usl-pro-reach-deal-restructured-reserve-league
How the supporter culture and following of MLS teams led to the creation of one of the three main trophies & the eventual expansion into 3 new teams.
Sources:
A History of the Supporters Shield by Ryan Gates for Stumptown Footy
https://www.stumptownfooty.com/2011/2/15/1995978/a-history-of-the-supporters-shield
A Pacific Passion Play by Grant Wahl for SI
https://www.si.com/vault/2011/05/23/106070650/a-pacific-passion-play
https://web.archive.org/web/20071012230838/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soccer/2003941033_sounders11.html
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2019/8/15/20805034/sounders-new-ownership-changes-faq
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/whitecaps-invisible-owner-casts-large-shadow/article573189/
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/mls-expected-to-announce-vancouver-expansion-team-1.821469
https://www.timbers.com/post/2007/05/22/timbers-introduce-new-owner-merritt-paulson-0
How two corrupt CONCACAF officials made Concacaf Champions League which eventually propelled MLS to improve their quality of play.
Sources:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/138326-soccer-in-north-america-part-2-much-ado-about-superliga
http://real-football.blogspot.com/2006/10/mls-answers-to-20-questions-for-don.html
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/chuck-blazer-informant-key-player-fifa-arrest-scandal-article-1.2238143
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2017/12/26/two-found-guilty-of-soccer-corruption-will-jack-warner-face-us-justice-in-2018/#3cb53a1428d7
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/28/the-rise-and-fall-of-trinidad-jack-warner-the-former-schoolteacher-at-the-center-of-the-fifa-scandal/
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jun-27-sp-cuptv27-story.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20071223013023/http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=4025
Neetol grades every new MLS Jersey from a designer's point of view. Tutul chimes in with some marketing points.
How the largest signing in league history, David Beckham, happened in the first place and how it changed the direction of MLS forever.
The brothers talk about how and why the Designated Player happened, how Blanco was the better player in the early years and why it took a few years before everyone started to spend money on Designated Players.
Sources:
Looking back at fires last big signing by Guillermo Rivera for Chicago Now
http://www.chicagonow.com/fire-confidential/2017/05/looking-back-at-the-fires-last-big-signing-in-2007-cuauhtemoc-blanco/
Soccer Player Beckham Sparks $13m in Sales by Curtis Eichelberger for NY Sun
https://www.nysun.com/national/soccer-player-beckham-sparks-13m-in-sales/52872/
15 Years of the Don by Grant Wahl for SI
https://www.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/12/03/don-garber-mls-commissioner-major-league-soccer
Q&A with Grant Wahl by Jack Bell for NY Times
https://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/qa-with-grant-wahl-author-of-the-beckham-experiment/
Galaxy has Becks Appeal by Graham Jones for LA Times
www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-12-sp-beckham12-story.html
Beckham is MLS Expansion Story Du Jour by Paul Kennedy for Soccer America
https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/51723/beckham-is-mls-expansion-story-du-jour.html
http://www.dignityhealthsportspark.com/news/detail/david-beckham-launches-soccer-academy-at-the-home-depot-center-in-california
http://thesportsbizblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/fire-to-be-sold-to-bronfman-family.html
An early BONUSODE at the pods halfway point. The brothers discuss the state of the pod and give shoutouts (04:10), talk about Gressel and Chicharito (13:55), and close with comparing the players in this January camp vs the team that lost in Trinidad in 2017 (29:15).
How MLS expanded into Canada for the first time, stepping into MLS 2.0 for the first time. The brothers also talk about the long windy road that made the circumstances right for Toronto FC to join the league.
Sources:
“A nice little job to learn stuff by” By Duncan Fletcher for SB Nation: https://www.wakingthered.com/2013/9/9/4705472/tfc-a-nice-little-job-for-anselmi-to-learn-stuff-by-richard-peddie-tom-anselmi-mlse
Maple Leaf Owners Through The Ages by Jeremy Sandler for the National Post: https://archive.ph/20140320041448/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2010/12/01/maple-leafs-owners-through-the-ages/
Ali Passed Big Test In First Visit by Stephen Brunt for The Globe And Mail: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/ali-passed-big-test-on-first-visit/article757264/
Toronto Soccer Stadium Approves Soccer Stadium Deal for CBC Sports:
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/toronto-city-council-approves-soccer-stadium-deal-1.536727
How the business plan and strategy that saved the league also came with a bad side: the relocation of a storied franchise. Luckily it works out in the long run for the San Jose Earthquakes.
Sources:
What now for Columbus? Learning From the Earthquakes Relocation And Retrun by Scott French for Four Four Two
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/what-now-columbus-crew-history-san-jose-earthquakes-relocation-houston-return
Earthquakes Look At Houston by Graham Jones for LA Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-16-sp-mls16-story.html
Houston a Contender To Land MLS Team by Chris Duncan for Associated Press
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/16/AR2005111602099.html
A Closer Look At Tim Lieweke by Robert McLoed For the Globe and Mail
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/a-closer-look-at-tim-leiweke/article11590800/
Moving Toward a United State by Graham Jones for LA Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-nov-14-sp-leiweke14-story.html
How MLS's first true star to penetrate pop culture came in a 14 year old, Freddy Adu in 2004.
Sources:
A 12-YEAR OLD’s AMAZING FEAT by Jason La Canfora for Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/08/25/a-12-year-olds-amazing-feat/9923da6b-4f3d-4f9a-bd31-bb67449c437f/
READY FOR FREDDY? AT 14, FREDDY ADU IS ALREADY THE HIGHEST PAID AND MOST CELEBRATED PLAYER IN MLS by Grant Wahl for Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/vault/2004/03/29/366282/ready-for-freddy-at-14-freddy-adu-is-already-the-highest-paid-and-most-celebrated-player-in-mls-now-its-time-for-him-to-play-his-first-game
Freddy Adu assist against Argentina in 2003 u20 World Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMk33g4PthI
Seriously, What Happened To Freddy Adu by Noah Davis for Grantland: https://grantland.com/the-triangle/freddy-adu-us-national-team-mls-2015/
Much Adieu About Freddy by Timothy DeSchriver: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289978174_Much_Adieu_about_Freddy_Freddy_Adu_and_Attendance_in_Major_League_Soccer
How MLS went from 3 owners and 10 teams in 2003 to 6 owners and 12 teams in 2005. Includes the new owner for Colorado Rapids, and the entry of Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake.
Source:
From Owner to Quietest Sports Emperor by Jere Longman
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/sports/soccer/15owner.html
Mexico’s Chivas to Play MLS All-Stars by Grahame Jones
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-24-sp-chivas24-story.html
2 Decades of MLS
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/03/02/In-Depth/Timeline.aspx
How Real Salt Lake Went From Dave Checketts to Del Roy Hansen
https://www.rslsoapbox.com/2017/2/2/14395874/real-salt-lake-checketts-hansen-ownership-style
The brothers talk about what to look forward to in the new year including the new schedule, CBA negotiations and our wishes for the next MLS season.
How a co-venture between US Soccer and MLS brought a new pipeline of talent into the league.
Early MLS had some weird rules. No ties. Running shootouts. Clocks going up and not down. 4th subs for goalkeepers. What's weirder were some of the rules they were looking at, like bigger goals or kick-ins instead of throw ins. Listen to how Don Garber, the internet and Bob Bradley each had a hand in ending those rules.
Sources:
https://www.complex.com/sports/2015/05/oral-history-major-league-soccer-first-season An Oral History of Major League Soccer’s Frenzied First Season by Doug Sibor
https://taleoftwohalves.uk/featured/rise-fall-golden-goalThe Rise and Fall of The Golden Goal by Liam Togher
https://rbnn.us/2018/09/26/cheatin-bob-bradley-and-one-very-quirky-mls-rule/ Cheatin Bob Bradley and One very Quirky MLS Rule by Roy Emanuel
http://archive.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2004/03/25/overtime_eliminated_by_mls/Overtime Eliminated by MLS by Frank Dell’apa for Boston Globe.
How Tim Howard was scouted as a prospect, became an MLS star and eventually transferred to the best team in the world.
Sources:
https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2019/04/11/thankyoutim-howard-recalls-historic-transfer-mls-manchester-united
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxnHbC-hYOw
https://www.si.com/vault/2003/08/11/347775/a-keeper-of-promise-tim-howard-a-24-year-old-from-new-jersey-could-be-the-first-american-to-start-in-goal-for-world-powerhouse-manchester-united
How a former US national lacrosse and soccer player became the most accomplished coach in MLS and US Soccer history.
Sources:
Hidden Caps - Bruce Arena’s Appearance in Israel by Tom Dunmore
https://web.archive.org/web/20130117223126/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/centennial/01/hidden-caps-arena.aspx
Dissecting Bruce Arena’s Legacy
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/bruce-arena-legacy-oral-history-through-eyes-those-around-him-mls-usmnt-la-galaxy?page=0%2C2
“USMNT competing at World Cup with Cornellian Bruce Arena At Its Helm” by Alex Kwan
http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2006/05/us-men-play-bruce-arena-style-soccer-world-cup
The brothers take a break from the 25 Stories to thank those who are listening and to then debate the merits of Promotion / Relegation in the US.
2:00 - Thank you to the listeners
9:00 - Let's talk Pro / Rel
The brothers talk about the most important meeting in Major League Soccer history.
Sources:
Garber Opens Up on SUM’s role in US Soccer / MLS by Grant Wahl for SI
https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/01/25/sum-soccer-united-marketing-garber-gulati-carter
MLS goes to near extinction to remarkable success by Kevin Baxter for LA times - https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccer-baxter-20151206-story.html
Don Garber “Truly an Honor” by German Sferra for US Soccer https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2018/10/don-garber-truly-an-honor
An Insider Look on Why Billionaires Buy Into money losing Major League Soccer by Bill Shea for The Athletic https://theathletic.com/1323054/2019/10/30/an-inside-look-at-why-billionaires-buy-into-money-losing-major-league-soccer-hint-its-not-really-losing-money/
Tutul tells the story of how a 1998 World Cup failure and a report from a foreign coach led to the first soccer residency which would change the face from MLS in the early 2000s.
Sources:
The Q-Report - http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~clc5q/Project2010.pdf
Bradenton’s Residence Is Dead, What Does It All Mean - https://www.soccerwire.com/resources/bradenton-residency-is-dead-what-does-it-all-mean/
US Soccer Closes u17 Residency Program by David Wilson and Jason Dill - https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article139261328.html
Tutul tells the story of how the combination of an ambitious owner, declining attendance, financial losses, losing public votes and stadium repairs led to the first soccer specific stadium in the US.
Neetol recalls the pains of watching early MLS in half empty football stadiums and how this was the first domino into a much better viewing experience today.
Sources:
The Story of The Chiefs, One of Kansas City’s Pleasures by Monroe Dodd for KCUR 89.3: https://www.kcur.org/post/story-chiefs-one-kansas-citys-great-pleasures#stream/0
Columbus Crew SC: A Look Back At Team History for the Columbus Dispatch: https://www.timesreporter.com/news/20171016/columbus-crew-sc-look-back-at-teams-history
Columbus Needs A Place To Call Home: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1998-02-15-9802140258-story.html
The Origins of Columbus Crew Stadium Told In Photos by Columbus Monthly: https://www.columbusmonthly.com/sports/20180515/photos-origins-of-columbus-crew-stadium-told-in-photos
Neetol takes over host duties. Tutul tells the story of how a failed lawsuit established the backbone of the MLS business model - single entity. Neetol explains that MLS is basically like Applebees.
Sources:
An Oral History of Major League Soccer’s Frenzied First Season by Doug Sibor for Complex Magazine: https://www.complex.com/sports/2015/05/oral-history-major-league-soccer-first-season
How MLS Single Entity Status Works and Its Relationship with Antitrust Law by Terry Brenna in Law In Sport: https://www.lawinsport.com/content/articles/item/how-mls-single-entity-status-works-and-its-relationship-with-antitrust-law
In the first episode, Tutul tells the story of how the soccer tournament in the 1984 Olympics eventually led to the founding of Major League Soccer.
Sources:
How USA was chosen to host World Cup 94 by Michael Lewis for the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/04/usa-world-cup-94-inside-story How US won the World Cup by Steve Berkowitz for the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/07/10/how-the-us-won-the-world-cup/04eff69a-2e1b-470a-bda6-37573ef66cf9/
Swiss Rolled how Alan Rothenberg became USSoccer president by Tim Froh - Howler Magazine: https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/united-states/660/blog/post/3376403/how-alan-rothenberg-became-us-soccer-president-in-1990-changed-american-soccer-howler-magazine
An oral history of major league soccer frenzied first season by Doug Sibor for Complex Sports: https://www.complex.com/sports/2015/05/oral-history-major-league-soccer-first-season