From the Cheap Seats...

[BroncsBomber]

I don't know if you guys read the articles on MLSnet.com or not but I always enjoy The Cheap Seats articles and the Starting XI.

There is an article on there about the MLS Derby's and we were mentioned, only faintly...

Basically, the European leagues are gradually becoming more like the U.S. leagues -- one team, one city. (Here, of course, there are two notable exceptions, New York and Los Angeles.)

Now, MLS is going the other way. It's just established its first intra-city derby -- or, I should probably say, Chivas USA owner Jorge Vergara has established the league's first intra-city derby. Either way, it's going to be great, and I'm going to do everything in my financially challenged power to get out there for the Chivas USA-Galaxy tilts. (Hello, JetBlue!) It's going to be better than the Metros-United "I-95 Derby," and hopefully less one-sided. It's going to be more personal than the so-called "California Derby," regardless of how morally superior the granola NorCal-ers believe themselves to be. And I'm relatively positive, like 210 percent, that it's going to outshine the "Rocky Mountain Rumble," or whatever the Colorado-Salt Lake match will be nicknamed.


Entire Article...
http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20050211&content_id=22208&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

[the cup]

Yeh, MLSnet does occasionally come out with some good articles.

A couple of things from the article.

First off, how 'bout that first line?!

"MLS is, finally, due to release the 2005 schedule on Monday."

Finally!

Second, he mentions a derby from Santiago Chile,

"The Universidads in Santiago, Chile."

Santiago is cool because they actually have three top flight teams, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Catolica and then also Colo-Colo. Probably the biggest rivalry is between Universidad de Chile and Colo-Colo.

And then finally, a question. The author lost me with this comment.

"Basically, the European leagues are gradually becoming more like the U.S. leagues -- one team, one city. (Here, of course, there are two notable exceptions, New York and Los Angeles.)"

Why is he mentioning New York?

[Arelius]

For that matter, why is he saying that Europe is getting to the point of having one team, one city. That’s bogus. The European derbys are famous for their intercity rivalries. The bigger the city, the bigger the rivalry. Every European city has a derby rivalry. (Think: Manchester, Barcelona, Milan, Madrid, Munich, Roma, etc., etc., etc.)

[Jose Luis Luviano]

Originally Posted by BroncsBomber

whatever the Colorado-Salt Lake match will be nicknamed.

The "Your Skiing Sucks" Cup.

[bordelais7]

Originally Posted by the cup

Why is he mentioning New York?

I could only assume that he's referring to other major American sports leagues (NFL, MLB). Of course, if that's the case, why didn't he mention Chicago (Cubs/Sox)? Who knows.

[Jim Umber]

Originally Posted by Arelius

For that matter, why is he saying that Europe is getting to the point of having one team, one city. That’s bogus. The European derbys are famous for their intercity rivalries. The bigger the city, the bigger the rivalry. Every European city has a derby rivalry. (Think: Manchester, Barcelona, Milan, Madrid, Munich, Roma, etc., etc., etc.)

I think his point was that, while those rivalries still exist, due to globalization they are not as big anymore. So many of their fans are not local anymore. They are all over the world and care more for the big name rivalries. Also, one of the pair usually overshadows the other, so that the competition factor is not there.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by Jim Umber

I think his point was that, while those rivalries still exist, due to globalization they are not as big anymore. So many of their fans are not local anymore. They are all over the world and care more for the big name rivalries. Also, one of the pair usually overshadows the other, so that the competition factor is not there.

Absolutely. With the exception of Milan-Inter, Roma-Lazio, and Rangers-Celtic, the other big name clubs completely overshadow their city rivals. I still find it hard to believe (since as a kid I lived in London) but even the North London Derby is dwarfed by Arsenal-ManU for just about everyone associated with the clubs. Call it the TV effect. Would you rather watch Arsenal play Spurs or ManU? Thought so.

[StarsOnSunday]

Let's not forget my favorite intracity rivalry, albeit Argentine, Boca and River!! Aguante River!!