Sound Off

Here are the highlights and analysis from last night's MLS season opening game. I don't normally watch MLS games but it seems that every year, people are trying to hype the league (rightly so) and entice fans. I've been reading most of the league previews over the past week or so and it seems like this is a big year for the MLS even with Beckham on a year-round timeshare. Some interesting things about Seattle in particular (I think):

- The expansion team, Seattle Sounders, without their designated player (ex-Gunner/
Swedish superstar/male model Freddie Ljundburg) beat last year's MLS Cup runner-up on opening day. Yes, it's only one game, it's still Week 1 and anything can happen in soccer, but a 3-0 victory is saying something. With a proven winner and last season's coach of the year, Sigi Schmid at the helm, this team could be going places.

- The Sounders are co-owned by Drew Carey. I remember seeing him in interviews and on ESPN a while ago, talking about how he was drawn to soccer and about the MLS' popularity. It doesn't surprise me that he grew interested enough to purchase a team. What is a bit surprising is that he has big plans for the club. Well, it's not surprising that he has "big plans" part but the actual plans are ambitious. He wants to run the team based on how some top flight European clubs are run, with Presidential elections and more fan input on how the club is managed. I think this is a good thing. It may be new and different for Americans, myself included, but the sooner the MLS embraces certain aspects of European football, the sooner the MLS will become a more respected league. That will lead to an increase in the level of play, and high profile players might come to the league while they still have plenty of gas left in the tank. Speaking of which...

- I admit, it is a little exciting that 21 year-old Fredy Montero is in the MLS. Sure, he is only in Seattle on loan but this marks one of, if not the first time that a young, foreign player has chosen to come to the MLS in his prime. (Just take a look, most of the foreign-born MLS stars are in their 30s and while they can dominate this league, they aren't in their primes anymore). Montero supposedly had interest from bigger clubs in La Liga but he ended up on The Sounders, which is a definitely a good thing. Last year, he co-led the Colombian league in goals and judging from last night's performance and his 9 goals in pre-season, I don't think he's letting up.

- The MLS seems to be taking a very smart approach to league expansion. Already, I would say The Sounders are a success. There is clearly a market for soccer in Seattle and after losing the Sonics, there is definitely a hole in Seattle sports that The Sounders can attempt to patch up. They have already sold more season tickets than most MLS teams average in total attendance. On top of that, the league is "starting" traditions for the club and for the league itself with the Heritage Cup (which celebrates the NASL) and future rivalries with Vancouver (co-owned by Steve Nash!) and possibly Portland.

Ah, so there's that. It's all mildly exciting, something worth noting. The MLS is growing and it's gotten to the point where I care to watch and read about it every so often. This could very well be due to my renewed and growing love for soccer but it's also a testament to how much the league has developed over the years. There is still no way I will support the MLS in the same manner as I follow the EPL, La Liga and more recently Serie A, but staying in tune peripherally is better than nothing.