World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

[Jimjamesak]

Well, I mean, the Premier League is a pretty big differentiator from what they had on Vs., no?

But how long will that last?

NBC wanted to stay with MLS but wanted exclusivity. It seems MLS didn't want that.

It's a great time to be a sports property, so much competition.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Fair point. You could also add college hockey (not that that's much of an addition, other than for our needs), but that's pretty much it. It's otherwise still the same mix of small-scale eastern college football, cycling, F1, piddly college basketball and nature shows.

NBC Sports is completely different from Versus as far as the outdoor hunting/fishing shows. Not much of that on NBC Sports now.

[Slap Shot]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Kinda surprised by the omission of Sacha Kljestan.

[Jimjamesak]

Good for FS1, bad for NBCSN. Probably good for ESPN, but I honestly don't give a **** what's good for ESPN.

I wonder what properties NBCSN needs to start looking at in the near future to help shore up what's starting to look too much like the old Vs. lineup.

Best news is for MLS. $90 million a year, guaranteed time slots, 8 years. That's a pretty great deal.

[Jimjamesak]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Oh, we know at least who the 3 Goalies for the World Cup are. So no mystery there.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Fair point. You could also add college hockey (not that that's much of an addition, other than for our needs), but that's pretty much it. It's otherwise still the same mix of small-scale eastern college football, cycling, F1, piddly college basketball and nature shows.

OK, but they have two pretty major pro leagues in addition to all that other stuff. NBC in a broader sense also has a foothold in the NFL, and the Olympics of course. It's not a terrible portfolio.

Oh, we know at least who the 3 Goalies for the World Cup are. So no mystery there.

Barring injury, didn't we pretty much already know that?

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

So I was reading SI's article about the first World Cup hattrick and had no idea about the caliber of the ASL or the "soccer wars." Makes it sound like FIFA and foreigners are to blame for the US not liking soccer until recently.

SI's article:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/lon...html?mobile=no

Wiki on ASL: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameri...ue_(1921-1933)

[Jimjamesak]

Barring injury, didn't we pretty much already know that?

There was some question as to taking Rimando or Sean Johnson from DC.

On a useless trivia note, Rimando and Kyle Beckerman are two of last Miami Fusion players left in MLS.

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

OK, but they have two pretty major pro leagues in addition to all that other stuff. NBC in a broader sense also has a foothold in the NFL, and the Olympics of course. It's not a terrible portfolio.

Let's not forget they've got NASCAR. The races may be on NBC but I'm sure they'll have content relating to it.

It was probably a good move considering that ESPN likes to bury other sports that don't sign with them. (See NHL and soon to be NASCAR.) I do think NBC did a great job, but I think they made the mistake of the exclusivity rider.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

There was some question as to taking Rimando or Sean Johnson from DC.

Was there? I thought it was generally accepted that Rimando was the #3 but I haven't been paying all that close attention so I might be mistaken.

[Jimjamesak]

So I was reading SI's article about the first World Cup hattrick and had no idea about the caliber of the ASL or the "soccer wars." Makes it sound like FIFA and foreigners are to blame for the US not liking soccer until recently.

SI's article:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/lon...html?mobile=no

Wiki on ASL: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameri...ue_(1921-1933)

What's sad is the people like the Cosmos and their zealots, the pro/rel zealots like TinfoilTed Westervelt, and even the NASL commissioner want something exactly like this nowadays. MLS is evil and ruining American soccer with their franchise system and salary cap and business model. And it's all a conspiracy because they control US Soccer.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

What's sad is the people like the Cosmos and their zealots, the pro/rel zealots like TinfoilTed Westervelt, and even the NASL commissioner want something exactly like this nowadays. MLS is evil and ruining American soccer with their franchise system and salary cap and business model. And it's all a conspiracy because they control US Soccer.

so they're evil because they operate similar to every other major sport in America?

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

so they're evil because they operate similar to every other major sport in America?

I can't tell if Jimjamesak is saying that, or mocking people who say that.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

I can't tell if Jimjamesak is saying that, or mocking people who say that.

to take a page out of other threads....Jimmyjam gonna Jimmyjam

[Jimjamesak]

so they're evil because they operate similar to every other major sport in America?

Oops, I forgot the .

Yeah it's what those crazies believe, not me. The MLS model is what has allowed the league to be where it is now: stable. That's more than any other league has achieved.