This is one of the reasons why I have issues with MLS...

[Lonestarr022]

MLS ignores international fixture dates

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer again is likely to be missing stars for matches that conflict with the sport's international schedule.

The league released its 2008 schedule Thursday and will be playing during times set aside for national team games by FIFA, soccer's governing body.

The Los Angeles Galaxy, whose top stars are David Beckham and Landon Donovan, host the Chicago Fire on Aug. 21, the day after the United States is likely to play its opening semifinal-round qualifier, likely at Guatemala. England probably will have an exhibition.

Also on Aug. 20, D.C. United is at New England at Chivas USA is at Houston.

MLS has a full schedule of games on Sept. 6-7, when England is an Andorra and the United States likely will be at Cuba, and Oct. 11-12, when England hosts Kazakhstan and the United States probably will host Cuba.

FC Dallas and the expansion San Jose Earthquakes will get two chances to see Beckham and the Galaxy this season, while the other 11 teams will have to settle for one.

Both of the Galaxy's games against the Earthquakes, June 14 and Aug. 3, will be moved from San Jose's temporary home at 11,500-seat Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University, to the Oakland Athletics' McAfee Coliseum.

Dallas will host the Galaxy on May 18, and again on July 27.

Each team plays the other 13 clubs once home and away accounting for 26 games, while the remaining four will be played against intraconference opponents, two home and two away.

This year's schedule gives the Galaxy a break, considering the league tried to capitalize on Beckham's late arrival last season by scheduling Los Angeles to travel at least once to every city in the final three months after his August arrival.

But due to injuries, he was only able to play in five games, including three on the road where he played before near capacity to overflow crowds at the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United and Chicago.

Twenty of the Galaxy's 30 games will be broadcast by one of MLS' national television outlets, ABC-ESPN2, Fox Soccer Channel, TeleFutura and HDNet. The others will be broadcast regionally and through the league's subscription package.

The Galaxy's games will account for about 18 percent of the league's 113 nationally televised games. The Galaxy will begin on the road at the Colorado Rapids on March 29.

Los Angeles was dropped from the SuperLiga, which includes D.C., Chivas USA, MLS champion Houston, New England and four Mexican clubs.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=505979&cc=5901

 

[KingPaulV]

RE-TARDED.......you know, we americans pride ourselves in being unique in doing our "own thing" but clearly when it comes to football, I guess we are too proud to take the backseat and follow the more seasoned world culture of football that tells us how to make this business successful. As long as the MLS keeps acting like this (including the fact that for the sake of parity teams cannot sign whoever they can afford only whoever the league allows) we will continue to have a mediocre league, that is sub-par and does not attract a large fan base....i believe with the proper handling Football (soccer, whatever) can bypass hockey as the fourth largest sport as far as audience....and maybe one day in the future we could even pass basketball...but that is faaaaaaaar down the road

 

[MikeyM]

RE-TARDED.......you know, we americans pride ourselves in being unique in doing our "own thing" but clearly when it comes to football, I guess we are too proud to take the backseat and follow the more seasoned world culture of football that tells us how to make this business successful. As long as the MLS keeps acting like this (including the fact that for the sake of parity teams cannot sign whoever they can afford only whoever the league allows) we will continue to have a mediocre league, that is sub-par and does not attract a large fan base....i believe with the proper handling Football (soccer, whatever) can bypass hockey as the fourth largest sport as far as audience....and maybe one day in the future we could even pass basketball...but that is faaaaaaaar down the road

Forgive me for saying this as a foreigner. But it always seems to me that America is reluctant to embrace any sport that is of "foreign origins" Americans take to sports that are moulded to their tastes (As MLS tried to do in the first seasons with shootouts and extratime periods etc) For this reason, I don't think Football will ever truly be embraced by the American people - especially as it seems to have a "girly sport" stigma attached.

I happen to like MLS, so I'm not anti - American soccer: I'm simply stating how the world outside America views football in your country.

 

[farmboy]

no, there's an unfortunate truth to your words. i wouldn't say never, but it will take a while. There's a book I've read called "How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization." In the last chapter, the author (can't remember his name) discusses why there's been such a vicious backlash against the growth of soccer in the US (and there definitely was in the late '90s and early '00s. its faded a little, but still). His basic conclusion is that there are many conservatives in our country who believe in cultural isolation and see soccer as an outlet through which European and international cultures can be learned. Thus, soccer becomes a threat to the "great American lifestyle."
So, as a result, you get people like Jim Rome saying "I'd rather have my kid put on figure skates and a tutu than play soccer," and the MLS trying to constantly prove that "We aren't Europeans! Look, were American as apple pie!" I could say more about isolationists, but this is a soccer forum, not politics, so I'll let that sleeping dog lie.

As for the dates, honestly, I'd like to defend the MLS and I like the growth of the league, but there are some things they do that are just downright inane. No excuses for this stupidity.