25 Stories That Made MLS

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