Foxxern
Refugee
I think most people entirely miss the point of MLS. The idea when the league was created was not to compete with the older and more popular European leagues. The purpose was to increase the presence of soccer in the US by creating a league that would capitalize on the immense popularity of World Cup, played in the USA in 1994. They wanted to get Americans interested in soccer, and also give a lot of soccer-playing Americans not only a team to cheer for in their hometown, but also a chance to play professionally in their home country.
Most athletes who are multi-sport stars in high school had gone on to play something other than soccer in college, because there were fewer opportunities to play soccer in the US than there were for other sports here. Many of the best high school soccer players ended up playing football, baseball, or basketball in college in the hopes of advancing to the next level.
With Project40, players can play in the MLS immediately after high school. If they do not succeed, MLS will match any offers they would have received for college scholarships, so they can go back to school and receive a degree.
You can't compare a league like MLS, where the average salary is around $30,000, to English Premier League where many players make over $1 million. Of course there will be better players where there is a higher pay rate. The comparison is akin to apples and oranges, and holds no weight.
Indeed, soccer is more popular abroad mainly because of British, Spanish, and French imperialism, not because there is some aspect of it that is inherently better. In places where the US had more influence recently (Far East, Caribbean), baseball is more popular, as it was the biggest sport here during the early 20th century.
Anyways, I don't even see the point in arguing over which sport is better. If you like it, you like it, and if you don't well noone gives a flying fuck. Just enjoy sports for what they are and try not to make judgement on them if you don't know anything about them.
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Change is the only constant
Most athletes who are multi-sport stars in high school had gone on to play something other than soccer in college, because there were fewer opportunities to play soccer in the US than there were for other sports here. Many of the best high school soccer players ended up playing football, baseball, or basketball in college in the hopes of advancing to the next level.
With Project40, players can play in the MLS immediately after high school. If they do not succeed, MLS will match any offers they would have received for college scholarships, so they can go back to school and receive a degree.
You can't compare a league like MLS, where the average salary is around $30,000, to English Premier League where many players make over $1 million. Of course there will be better players where there is a higher pay rate. The comparison is akin to apples and oranges, and holds no weight.
Indeed, soccer is more popular abroad mainly because of British, Spanish, and French imperialism, not because there is some aspect of it that is inherently better. In places where the US had more influence recently (Far East, Caribbean), baseball is more popular, as it was the biggest sport here during the early 20th century.
Anyways, I don't even see the point in arguing over which sport is better. If you like it, you like it, and if you don't well noone gives a flying fuck. Just enjoy sports for what they are and try not to make judgement on them if you don't know anything about them.
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Change is the only constant