How great it was to be in Southern California this weekend to see the best of MLS represent the United States in its first match in the new World Cup cycle, and take care of Denmark? Kind of got the mind wandering, thinking about the upcoming couple of months and what lay ahead. Here's a First XI of dream scenarios for 2007:
11. Claudio comes home healthy. We all know it's time for Claudio Reyna to come home and there would be nothing better than to see the longtime U.S. captain put together an injury-free season or three for the Red Bulls. I've been watching Reyna play since his high school days at St. Benedict and he'll go down in my book as the all-time smoothest U.S. player. Tab Ramos, another St. Benedict alum, might have had more moves and a quicker first step for taking on defenders, but Reyna's style has always been calm. Adding him to the mix in East Rutherford makes the Red Bulls a better passing, better playing team immediately.
10. Freddy leads U-20s. Wouldn't it be ironic if Freddy Adu, thrown to the wolves at such a young age, finally comes of age in a youth tournament? His performance in the U-20s' 5-0 victory against Panama gives hope to U.S. fans that Freddy is ready to lead the Yanks this summer in Canada.
9. Beckham arrives early. So, we hear he's not going to play anymore for Real Madrid, so I say get him here for training camp, preseason, and have him ready to go for the start in Los Angeles. Oh, I know his anticipated summer arrival comes at a perfect time in terms of boosting MLS at a usually slow time of year, but I'd be happier to get him integrated now. I can't help but think Beckham is going to be shocked by the heat and travel that's going to greet him this summer.
8. Forward answers emerge. Taylor Twellman, Brian Ching, Nate Jaqua, Kenny Cooper, Chris Rolfe, Jeff Cunningham. Am I missing anyone? How about Jozy Altidore? Watching the U.S. play on Saturday you could not help but see that the national team's best forward options heading into this new cycle are all going to be playing in MLS this year (apologies to Josh Wolff). Let's lay down the challenge to these guys. Show your value to the U.S. with huge seasons and big goal totals.
7. A magazine cover. Here's hoping Beckham's arrival garners MLS a cover story in a mainstream U.S. sports magazine. I'm not going to name the magazine, but I think you know what I'm talking about. I don't know the exact numbers, but the magazine where I work was thrilled with the newsstand sales of our World Cup preview issue.
6. More cameras. It seems the broadcasts for soccer keep getting better and better, but the one element that needs to improve is the number of cameras that bring us the action. For example, did anyone see a definitive angle of Kenny Cooper's goal on Saturday? Was he onside? I know more cameras don't come without a cost, but if you add some more cameras and some games in high definition, you've got must-see TV.
5. Milwaukee's best. I haven't checked on the status of their expansion bid lately, but I'm rooting hard for Milwaukee because I want to see Peter Wilt back in charge of an MLS club. Wilt's infectious spirit and genuine love for the league and the game is sorely missed, and I'd become a charter member of the Milwaukee '08 fan club.
4. More stadiums. I've been taking the train into NYC a lot lately and cannot help but notice how nice and clean the parcel of land in Harrison has become. For what seemed like forever, this site was home to a bunch of crumbling warehouses. Now, it's clean. If it is not too much to ask, for a guy who's been nervous about this project from the get go, can I please see some construction now? By the way, I live at the Jersey Shore and it's going to be a piece of cake to take NJ Transit from my hometown to the new stadium. And, while we're on stadiums, I really, really want some positive news about a new stadium for the Revolution. If Red Bull Park is, indeed, a reality, then I rank the Revolution as tops on my in-need-of-new-digs list.
3. Rivalries grow. You got a few glimpses a year ago. Dallas and Houston. New York and D.C. New England and Chicago. Chivas USA and L.A. Here's hoping these good, healthy rivalries continue to grow. I wrote about it extensively in my Landon Donovan feature in ESPN The Magazine, but the atmosphere for the first Galaxy-Chivas USA game, won by the Galaxy on two late Cornell Glen goals, was so good I can't help but imagine it would make believers out of the biggest doubters.
2. Another big signing. Beckham just whetted my appetite. The bar is raised for any team that's out there with a designated player slot. Give me Ronaldo or Pavel Nedved in New York or Robbie Fowler in New England. Give me something more than Becks. Now that we've taken the dive, it's time to bring it full speed.
1. The best team wins. I'm not suggesting that Dynamo were not the best playoff team a year ago, but it's high time for MLS to have a Supporters' Shield team win it all. It hasn't happened, you know, since the Galaxy won the Shield and Cup in 2002.
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.
