The MLS season will start as scheduled to the relief of all. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, player association head Bob Foose, MLS players and representatives and mediator George Cohen should be commended for being flexible to compromise and get this CBA done. We all knew that any form of league in-activity through a strike, lock-out or work stoppage would have been disastrous for the entire sport in this country and it is clear that those involved studied the past problems of the NHL and MLB.
The momentum gathered by MLS can now continue in a World Cup year.
On a different and a more sobering reminder, Commissioner Garber mentioned that only two teams in MLS last year turned a profit in Seattle and Toronto.
Everyone else operated at a deficit.

Landon Donovan pointed out that in the future the players will be less combative towards the league as both sides have learned that they need to listen to each other.
MLS players apparently impressed Garber with their ideas which should not come as a surprise, relations between the two sides seem to be improved.

A positive day for the sport!!!

Highlights and notes:
*MLS Commissioner Don Garber commends Union representative Bob Foose, players and fans for their patience and effort.
*Garber says it would not have gotten done without mediator George Cohen.
*Five year agreement is solid and ultimately about fans. Foose thanks fans for standing by the league and players.
* Changes needed to be made to make MLS more competitive
* Negotiations were always about player rights according to Foose. Rights were the central them all along. Owner investment always respected.
* Joint role of increasing rights and pay plus keeping an eye on the bottom line
* Players are unified to making the league one of the best in the world

*Guaranteed contracts for most players in league, more free movement, Union and MLS will work as partners in the future.
*Mediator George Cohen stresses that both sides were focused on moving the game forward.

Garber: ” We recognized that free agency was the elephant in the room. Players will have greater rights at the end of their agreements but will not be free agents within the league.
Players out of contract at a certain age will go into re-entry draft. ”

“Best collective bargaining agreements end with compromise”- Bob Foose Players Union

“Pressure of deadlines tends to bring results”. Bob Foose

“Length of time and commitment to issues made for better end result”. Bob Foose

” We have not been through a process quite like this. The players got in Wednesday night and in this building until 2pm Thursday. We were in different rooms. We went article by article. This committee(player association) understood all the details, it was not fun, it was tiring but productive. I look forward to not doing this for five more years.” Don Garber

“The leadership of the players has been extraordinary”. Bob Foose

Five MLS players that were involved in the MLS Cup final were in a room in Seattle the next morning at 8:30 am for nine hours to discuss the CBA.

Compensation has been improved significantly for the players……

Are you relieved?

Landon Donovan pulled off a respectful move when he gave David Beckham the captain’s arm band recently.
Now with Beckham out injured for six weeks Donovan will wear the arm-band again but consider the selfless nature of the move. Others would not have acted first, others would have fought to remain captain at the expense of others. Donovan thought ahead to the benefit of his team and Beckham.
Here is what Landon told me at the Home Depot Center today while taping an interview for HDNET:
“I’m not stupid,” said Donovan. “I understand how things work. Deep down I knew David probably wanted to be captain at some point. There is no need in hiding it or nottalking about the white elephant if it’s there. I talked to him about it and asked him what he thought about it. He said he didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes but he’d be honored to do it if felt that way. I thought it was appropriate . There is no issue or hard feelings. It is what it is . Of course I’m human I want to be the captain too. We both understand that were going to play and act the same way whether we are the captain or not.”
Great move.
Speaking of moving there still is the rumor that Frank Yallop will be fired and Jurgen Klinsmann will eventually head up the Galaxy. Rumor nothing substantiated yet it is odd to see assistant Tim Hanley relieved and Paul Bravo moved into a different role.
The Galaxy take on Real Salt Lake and a trio of new Argentines tomorrow night on HDNET. Prior to the game that airs at 9 (CST) there will be a half hour soccr special on HDNET.
Glenn