25 Stories That Made MLS

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-goal  The 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/