CONCACAF Champion's Cup

[Rover]

Although the central premise is true--MLS has to win games against teams from other leagues to gain respect--the actual points made are off-base.

1. MLS teams play these competitions at the beginning of the season against in-form teams from Mexico and Central America. That's a built in advantage for our competition.

2. Officiating is notoriously anti-American south of our border. That's not an excuse, but it explains why we rarely lose at home but often get trounced on the road. (Even so, that doesn't excuse the abysmal performance by DCU last Wednesday--no officials could have saved them from themselves against Pumas).

3. The article mentions our recent struggles, but neglects to point out that both the LA Galaxy and DCU have won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the past, back when MLS wasn't nearly as strong as it is now. In other words, we won when we were not as good league-wide, so the quality of the league is not always reflected in these results.

4. It makes me laugh to see writers talk about all the heritage that other leagues have. How many players are still on these tradition-rich teams from 1900? 1930? 1970? None. Trophy cases don't win championships--players do. Of all the arguments in the article, the point about keeping our talent at home is the truest.

So I don't agree with many of the points in the article, since I don't think the author establishes a strong cause-effect relationship.

But in the end there is one inescapable fact. Until MLS teams win Champions Cups on a regular basis, we will be seen as inferior. And deservedly so, since Club Competitions are how leagues are compared to each other. Those are the rules of the game.