It's been rather balmy and sunny in New Jersey this week, and even though I know it'll be 30 and raining when the Red Bulls play their home opener on April 5, I've got spring fever. How do you speed up the clock until opening day? With a First XI checklist of things that will take us from now until First Kick 2008:
11. Chicago boss. So, who's going to be in charge in Chicago? My personal hope is that longtime assistant Denis Hamlett gets the nod, but I've been hearing that Frank Klopas was quietly becoming a strong candidate. It doesn't get much more Chicago thank Frankie, and if you're a fan who loves a coach who wears his emotions on his sleeve, you'll love what he brings to the table. For me, the Fire are one of the teams with the most real tradition in MLS. There's been a love affair between town and team since Day One, so I'd love to see club president John Guppy keep that job "in the family." He can't go wrong with either Denis or Frankie.
10. The Combine. I won't be able to get down to the adidas MLS Player Combine this weekend, but I have many fond memories of watching these games through the years. You stand there with a 20-page roster sheet, with uniform numbers that are pulled straight out of the NFL. You learn halfway into a game that a bunch of the numbers have been changed, so while you think you've been watching a striker out of Cal State Fullerton playing in the back, you've actually been watching a back out of Connecticut. You can hang with the coaches and GMs, eavesdrop on their conversations, and (ultimately) learn very little. Yeah, I've found that in my years of covering the Combine, most of the higher ups love to throw out the smoke screens, thinking the reporters will then run with bad info to other teams. It's not an MLS-specific thing (happens at the baseball winter meetings all the time), but it takes a veteran scribe to know what info is good and what's bad.
9. The SuperDraft. This is one of those surreal events in U.S. soccer. You've got the coaches' convention going on, several thousand men and women in track shoes and indoor flats prowling the grounds, and you've got a lot of buzz surrounding the MLS draft. Who's going first? Who's the sleeper pick? Who's going to trade up? But for me, honestly, my most vivid memories are of the players who attend the draft, decked out in suit and tie, who sit there waiting for their names to be called. For those called early, it's a magical moment. But for those who have to hang around and wait, it can be excruciating. If we've learned anything from SuperDrafts past, however, it's that you can expect the No. 1 pick to last about a season with the team that selects him.
8. Spring friendlies. Admit it, if you're a fan of an MLS team, you sit by your computer waiting on the results of your club's spring friendlies. Be it a game against the U-17s in Bradenton, or some Norwegian team at the La Manga Cup, you want to believe you can learn a thing or two about your team from these spring games that typically feature non-roster invitees and unlimited substitutions. I'll just say this. Show me a guy who lit up the preseason with goals and I'll show you a guy who never mattered at all in MLS. But, hey, I'll be right there with you, following all the action as teams prep for '08.
7. CONCACAF Champions' Cup. This story makes me a bit sad, but there was a time when I was going to write an ESPN The Magazine feature on Benny Olsen. I traveled out to L.A. to watch Ben play what were going to be his final games for D.C. United before he left for full-time work with Nottingham Forest. This is back when Ben was a winger, and he'd had a very successful stint on loan to Forest ... and the fans there really took to him. Long story short, this was when Ben's ankle started acting up on him and he was about to endure a couple of tough seasons. What's this have to do with the CONCACAF Champions' Cup? Well, that's what D.C. was competing in at the time. And, I got to hang around L.A. to see the Galaxy win their first-ever trophy.
6. The second coming in San Jose. We'll all be watching closely the rebirth of the San Jose Earthquakes. I have a strong suspicion that Frank Yallop is going to make Los Angles fans wish he'd had more say in player acquisitions the past season and a half. The fans of the Bay Area will certainly provide a good atmosphere for the Quakes. And, did you know, Oakland A's GM Billy Beane is a huge soccer fan? Expect to see him as a regular at Quakes games, and maybe even take on a roll with the club (as the A's and Quakes share the same ownership group). Memo to Billy: Soccer is not a stats game.
5. Big signings. Last year, we got Beckham, Blanco and Angel. Already this year, we've got the Luis Figo rumors. What else is in the works for MLS? Hey, let's say this, the Designated Player rules, at the very least, make us sit up and pay attention when the rumors start circulating on-line (Even if most are generated by European agents).
4. Big trades. What was the biggest trade a year ago? Dare I say it was an under-the-radar move that sent Joseph Ngwenya from Columbus to Houston? How about Colorado sending Greg Vanney to D.C. in midseason? Or, was it possibly the late-season move that sent Yura Movsisyan from Kansas City to Salt Lake? Historically, SuperDraft day is a good day for dealing in MLS, so let's sit back and see who's in a dealing mood between now and Opening Day. You've got to believe there's going to be some major moves.
3. New York, New York. Speaking of major moves, there will be no more compelling stories in the league this season than those in the two largest markets. Let's start close to home with the Red Bulls, who have a new coach in Juan Carlos Osorio and a lot of roster decisions to make. Can Osorio shore up the Red Bulls defense, while finding the players who can provide enough service to keep Juan Pablo Angel happy and productive? Red Bulls diehards just want a winner, but the greater N.Y. area wants a winner that plays thrilling soccer. Is that too much to ask of Osorio in his first season? Probably. As always, it is a compelling storyline.
2. The LA story. Ah, but the New York angle pales in comparison to Los Angeles, where the Galaxy have (can you believe it?) missed the playoffs two consecutive seasons. Alexi Lalas, the GM in L.A., likes to talk about setting the bar high (as in championships), but when you haven't had a ticket to the dance in two seasons, perhaps it makes more sense to set more immediate and attainable goals. The Galaxy have more marquee names than any team in MLS. They've got a happy-go-lucky fanbase. No excuses allowed here. If they were to miss the playoffs a third season in a row (something that hasn't happened to too many teams in MLS history), you'd have to scratch your head. Good story to follow.
1. Dynamo at Revolution. And we will begin where we ended a year ago, with the two best teams over the past several seasons hooking up on Opening Day. I can't think of a better way to start the '08 campaign. Now if we could only speed up the calendar.
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
