REPORT: San Diego MLS Coverage Protest Update

Thanks to one of our readers we now have an update regarding the San Diego protest we reported on recently:

comment below posted @ original story linked at bottom of this page / by the author

Alfred Sikes (FCC Commissioner from 1989-92) called for "a commitment to the public trust" when he criticized television news coverage. By law, broadcast news must serve the public trust. Broadcast licensees do not enjoy the same First Amendment rights as other forms of mass media. In the case of television, this is because they use the airwaves free of charge. The signal of a local broadcast television station can reach everywhere within the region, so therefore, any TV set up can theoretically receive their signal.
Also, residents in the viewing area have the capability to view the station's news programming free of charge, with 100% saturation.

All of these factors and others compel a local broadcast news department to serve the public in good faith.
That means they must offer a variety of news programming that generally serves the entire population residing in their viewing area.
They must be receptive to viewer feedback, allow input of the community, and keep public files which include all aired news content.

The virtual absence of pro soccer news on XETV's news at 10 over an extended period of time, the reduction of pro soccer news by the station in a gradual way over the past 22 months to almost zero week-to-week, its status as news with the least soccer news in area, and its status as a station and news provider in a region with very high interest in the sport ARE ALL REASONS for the citizen actions.

It seems evident in a convincing way that the station - though repeatedly cautioned over time - has severely violated the public trust.
There will be a number of formal complaints filed, and as a last resort, petition for station's license revocation may also be considered.

Link

REPORT: Fan Violence Amongst Chivas USA Supporters Lead to Chivas USA Attendance Downturn

According to this report on Sideline Views.

If you watched the Chivas USA-New England match, you may have noticed the large number of empty seats at the match. While this is nothing new - empty seats commonly outnumber filled ones at Chivas home games - what was different from this particular match was the absence of a certain fan group.

Legion 1908 was not present at the match, and no the Mexican Chivas did not have a reserve-laden match within driving distance on Sunday.

Apparently, a member of Legion and a member of the new Chivas USA supporters group Union Ultras were involved in some sort of altercation. A Chivas staffer told us that one member of each group committed an "act of violence" at the last Chivas USA match at HDC, on April 26 against the Galaxy. Apparently, there was one altercation inside the stadium and a retaliatory one outside.

OUTGOING: DC United Coach in the Hotseat?

Rating: 3 (Possible)

Has the sack race begun?

If this is email true it confirms what many have suspect, DC United's Tom Soehn is firmly in the hot seat and on the butcher's block.

We just received the following email by a source wishing to be anonymous:

"I just thought I'd clue you into something which happened recently regarding DC United's coach Tom Soehn. 

Soehn has been told two things which may have a major effect on DC's season depending on the outcome.

In a meeting in which ownership was present Soehn was told to "Fix it by July or be prepared to resign." and "No other players are coming."

This means essentially that Soehn will have to make due with the cast of characters he has rather than hope for help from abroad. Any other player transactions will be either after the season is over or after Soehn is gone."

Wow. Good luck with that.

OUTGOING: Altidore's Transfer Fee Up To $10 Million

And considering the falling dollar and considering the amount of top clubs interested in him, that may even be a little too low for the Red Bull NY striker.

More details here on Mr. Stephen Goff's blog over at the Washington Post.

EDIT: Goff posted an update which states that MLS is looking at $10 Million for Altidore after turning down a transfer to Reading for $8 Million over the winter window.

STADIUMS: Houston Dynamo Supporters To Take Stadium Issue Into Their Own Hands?

This just came to us on the grapevine:

you guys are going to miss something special that is happening in Houston.

rumor is that there is a website about to go up in support of the downtown stadium project for the Dynamo.......it is run by the fans and is going to raise money and awareness of the litany of positives that go along with a stadium in the heart of downtown Houston.

with so many fare weather sports fans in the US it is refreshing to see the passion and loyalty of

MLS fans and soccer fans in general in the Houston area.......get ready to see an uprising within the soccer community in Houston.The fans want to be heard and this site will afford them that chance.

there is a significant amount of support for this movement that hopefully will become public shortly.

anonymous

Apparently a bumper sticker (pictured top) campaign and website launch is imminent.

If you are involved in the campaign or are in H-town and can give us some insight, about this shoot us an email.

INCOMING: 37 Year Old Striker to Toronto FC?

Rating: 2 (Not likely)
Time for some MLSR Canadian Content.

Here is one where MLSR has to in urban parlance say, "Hell to the no!"

Seriously folks, we couldn't make this up. If you thought the return of Brian McBride to MLS might be pushing it....

Paul Peschisolido will work out with Toronto FC on Monday.

"Two weeks short of his 37th birthday, Peschisolido is coming off the most painful and frustrating of his 16 seasons in English soccer. He tore up his Achilles tendon, and saw action just twice for a Luton Town team plunged into bankruptcy and doomed to relegation."

In other words, the perfect Toronto FC signing. Clearly John Carver think this is a league of has-beens.

OUTGOING: Michael Parkhurst to Ipswich Town?

Rating: 3 (Possible)

Could Parkhurst be leaving during the summer? Or perhaps after the season?
Courtesy of this report:

"At last week’s 1978 celebrations, former striker Paul Mariner revealed that he would talk to first team coach Bryan Klug regarding possible Town targets in his New England Revolution squad with USA international centre-half Michael Parkhurst likely to be amongst the players he has recommended."

REPORT: DC United/Bolivar Partnership to Become Official Tomorrow

American Soccer Reader is confirming a rumor first reported here 9 days ago, about Bolivian side, Bolivar linking up with DC United. Bolivar was one of the first clubs of DC United and Bolivian legend Marco Etcheverry. One wonders if such a partnership might bring United some better players during the summer transfer window?

REPORT: State of MLS Hair Styles Revealed

We came across this post on the Seattle Offiside which is somewhere between the territory of two of our favourite sites The Offside Rules and Kickette.com. In other words we loved it, so we pass it on to you for some afternoon humour.

We'd like to nominate the following players to the reserve side:

Gonzalo Peralta aka "Dude" (yes he made their list but he deserves to be a reserve)


Kei Kamara aka "Babylocks"


Michael Gavin aka "Breakfast Club"


Franco Caraccio aka "Emo2"

Nick Hatzke aka "FauxHawk"


Danny Dichio aka"Mr. Clean"


Bobby Boswell aka "Drago"
Pat Phelan aka "Shaggy"

Think This...

Not this...
Who would naturally bring us to....

Clyde Simms aka "Shaggy2"

Will Hesmer aka "Screech"
Medhi Ballochy aka "Sanjaya"


Honorable mention for....

Ben Olsen aka "Caveman" (get well soon)

REPORT: San Diego Group Plans to Sue TV Station Over Lack of MLS/Soccer Coverage

They are mad as hell, and they aren't going to take it anymore.

Over the years many soccer fans have complained about a lack of MLS coverage in their local media. This has been especially true in areas without an MLS club of their own. People often complain on internet message boards about their local media but one group in San Diego stopped talk and now is taking action. Could this be a side-effect of the Beckham-effect?

According to this report, individual TV viewers as well as a local coalition of grassroots pressure groups comprised of soccer aficionados and Hispanics are banding together to fight what they believe to be the discriminatory anti-soccer stance of local FOX affiliate, XETV. They seem to be questioning the basis of XETV's license to broadcast by questioning the FCC's granting them the right to broadcast in the public trust, when the station in question (XETV) seems to be at odds with the community standards:

"Viewers and other San Diego citizens are now openly questioning this station’s news policies, which simply do not gel with the local community’s interest, the public trust, or viewer interest. There are likely many legal violations, and they are ignoring viewer requests."


"Hispanic groups are organizing legal actions against the station claiming discrimination; it is quite possible the station is violating California State Law, as well as local and Federal regulations. I am not enough of an expert to know about Mexican law, but since their transmitter and ownership are in that country, they may be in violation there, too."

"The Televisa-owned station is losing its FOX affiliation in August; their cross-border contract expired, and the network affiliation is switching to Tribune-owned KSWB."

"There is no reason why the station - regardless of affiliation in past, present, or future times, is not covering this pro sport of great local interest among all segments of the population, and is not covering the local L.A. teams, and the world’s best-known athlete - who plays here."

Should such a lawsuit succeed, it would be a potentially potent tool supporters groups and other soccer fans could use it in their own communities to seek better coverage.

There are some legal precedents for such a challenge being successful in the form of historically African-American radio stations which served a community being bought out by new owners who subsequently changed their format to one in which a judge felt the community was under served by. These station were then forced by law to provide news coverage and community affairs programming serving the community in which they were based or risk losing their broadcast license when it came up for review and renewal.

There was also a case in Nashville, TN where a country station changed its format and was pressured into switching back by street protests.

We at MLSR applaud their actions and wish them the all the best success in their case of persuading XETV to provide better MLS and international soccer coverage.

REPORT: MLS Commish Takes On Wilbon About Streamer Comments on PTI

If you have not already, we urge you to check out MLS Commissioner Don Garber's blog which is published every Friday. In last weeks post, Garber took exception to comments made by ESPN's Michael Wilbon about streamers tossed by supporters sections on to the pitch during corners in Toronto and other MLS cities. Wilbon said that it made MLS look "Bush League" either ignorant of the fact that in many well respected leagues in South America streamer throwing is common or simply asking MLS to conform to way other American sports fans behave at games ignoring that soccer is different. Here is an excerpt:

"Like many of you, I watched the recent episode of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption when co-host Michael Wilbon vilified the practice of MLS fans throwing streamers at opposing players when they’re getting ready to take a corner kick. PTI showed video of Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna with dozens of streamers around him. Wilbon, who has been a supporter of MLS and the sport of soccer in the past, was literally outraged at this practice and referred to it as ‘minor league.’ Clearly, I disagree. This is a unique phenomenon that happens all over the soccer world. We're playing soccer, not baseball, football or basketball. Our fans are a part of the game experience (click to watch video). That's one of our points of difference and part of what will drive our future success. There are plenty of sports leagues in the U.S. and we are not trying to offer the same in-stadium experience. We need to embrace the passion and electricity that makes soccer the world's most popular sport. By the way, I was recently watching a River Plate – Boca Juniors game on Fox Soccer Channel and there were streamers flying everywhere."

There's more great stuff after the jump.

PHOTO: Playboy Playmate of the Year is a Toronto FC Fan

Name: Jayde Nicole
Age: 22
From: Port Perry, Ontario

Apparently someone saw her at a game last season.

Wonder what she would think of gridiron markings at BMO? Someone should ask her.
Anyway she has been added to our updated Celebrity MLS Fan Gallery as TFC's first bonafide celebrity fan.

STADIUMS: BMO Field To Be Expanded, Toronto FC to Share With Canadian Gridiron Team?

Time for some Canadian Content.

Toronto FC fans have taken pride in their bare-bones soccer specific stadium and European-like atmosphere and have been very vocal in telling long time fans of the league that Toronto, and Canada were different than the cities south of the border in that it respected the sport more.

However, one has to wonder just how true that is when there are serious discussions underway to bring the scourge of gridiron markings on a soccer pitch to Toronto. This was supposed to be a city much different from American cities.

If the following report is true then it looks like the North American sports reality may have hit the European dream squarely in the ankle in a late sliding tackle from behind.


This comes to us from a Canadian source:

Hey guys, I just though I'd let you know that there may be a major fan protest against a plan to bring CFL Football to BMO Field. The Toronto Argonauts want to move in.

So we did a little investigating and found the following when we contacted Toronto FC:

The Toronto Argos, a Canadian Football League team have proposed to expand BMO Field if they moved in, in a $40-50 Million Canadian Dollar plan which would add a partial roof and up to 10,000 seats. This seems similar to the plan we were told about last year. The seats behind each goal would be made mobile so as to accommodate the larger CFL field and then moved back for Toronto FC matches.

Here is audio of the CFL Commissioner talking about the possibility of playing games at BMO Field including playing a pre-season game there next year.



What remains unclear is whether there would be the scourge of football lines on the pitch during Toronto FC games as we have seen with MLS teams playing in NFL or college football stadia.

It is interesting that a team in the CFL, a much older more established league is asking to use what essentially is an MLS stadium to play their games in. Who would control scheduling in such a situation when the stadium does not belong to Toronto FC but the city of Toronto?

We were all led to believe Toronto was somehow different, more "European"and a "true football paradise" even ESPN bought the myth, but in reality Toronto is no different fromany other city in North America.

If you took out the word Toronto you could substitute any other city for the sentiments expressed on this forum.

What do you think? A step forward for Toronto FC and MLS or two steps back?

INCOMING: Brian McBride Mulls Future, Crew a Possibility

Could the US legend be returning home? According to this article on SkySports he is putting off the decision until after Fulham's last match.

While the former USA international shows no sign of ageing in his 35th year, there are doubts over whether he will elect to continue his career in England's top flight.

McBride's existing deal at Craven Cottage expires in the summer and while it is expected he will be offered a one-year extension, there is also mooted interest back in his homeland.

"My wife and I talk constantly about things, but right now we need to concentrate on winning at Portsmouth."

Meanwhile BBC's Mark Lawrenson raises the possibility that Brian McBride may be released.

" Fratton Park is a tough place to go for a result, and so I think Fulham will go down on Sunday.

You'll have to ask Mohamed Al Fayed about Fulham's future. If he decides to stick with Roy Hodgson and keep the team together, along with a transfer budget, then they'll have a chance of coming straight back up.

But if he decides to cut his losses and sell Brian McBride and Jimmy Bullard, then it's a completely different question.

The problem with Fulham is it has been coming for a while. The day they sacked Chris Coleman was the day the death-knell was sounded."

Nice video of McBride over the years.

COMPETITIONS: Chicago Fire To Play In Peoria

Four Time US Open Cup Champions, Chicago Fire have chosen to play their first 2008 US Open Cup game in Peoria, Illinois. At $25 a seat will MLS play in Peoria? We'll find out soon. Read more about it here.

INCOMING: Darren Huckerby to San Jose Earthquakes?

Competition for Huckerby's services may be getting stiffer. With the LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, and DC United already linked with Huckerby we now have this report out of San Jose.

Frank Yallop at the San Jose Earthquakes did an interview with an Ipswitch Town blog where he states he covets the former Canaries winger/striker.

"Yallop, who won the Player of the Year accolade from the Portman Road fans 20 years ago, said: “The league rules say that Toronto have first refusal on Darren but I am sure he will be aware of our interest via his agent.

“I must stress, however, that we will only be able to do something if Toronto decide, for whatever reason, not to pursue their interest in signing him or if Darren turns down the chance to go there.

“We are next in line and I can't deny I would love to have Darren here. He is a player I have admired for a number of years and I have always liked the way he plays the game.

“Darren is pacy, he goes straight at opponents and usually past them, plus he has a number of tricks and a decent scoring record. He's exciting, a potential match-winner and the fans over here would love his style of play.”

Besides San Jose who do you think could use the services of Huckerby?

TRIAL: Brazilians Marcinho and Wanderson On Trial With San Jose

Changes in San Jose? Maybe. Frank Yallop has two Brazilians on trial: Marcinho and Wanderson.

Marcinho aka Marcio Batista is the Monarcas Morelia forward who scored against Houston Dynamo in last year's Superliga:



Wanderson is a midfielder who scored three goals for Morelia’s ‘B’ team in 14 matches.

EXPANSION: Stade Saputo Completed in Montreal

While it would need to be expanded for MLS use it is not a bad temporary venue should the league want to do that. For more on Montreal expansion click here.

For more photos like the one above click here.

EXPANSION: Seattle Sounders FC Sign LeToux (OFFICIAL)

As was reported here some time ago, we have just been made aware that the deal for LeToux's services in MLS is official.

Thanks to our emailer:

"i tipped you off earlier that he signed with seattle sounders fc about a month and a half ago, now its official."

More here.