10.27.14
ASN Morning Read: CONCACAF Champions
The women's national team does it again, playing their best game of the CONCACAF Championship and easily taking the trophy; Major League Soccer prepares for the postseason; mo' money, mo' problems.
BY
Noah Davis
Posted
October 27, 2014
9:18 AM
The United States women's national team defeated Costa Rica 6-0 to secure the 2014 CONCACAF Championship. Your takeaway: "It’s definitely not the level of play the U.S. is sure to see next summer in the knockout rounds of the World Cup, but after a tournament full of sub-par play, it was nice to see the U.S. women finally get the rust out."
Jill Ellis is leading the way: "Ellis fixates on strategy and shape, speaking of roles rather than positions, but she is no tactical ideologue. She believes in fitting her system to her players. She learned that from her father, a long-time international coach, who got her started in the field when she was just 16 and encouraged her to ditch a well-paying job as a technical writer for a shot as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland for just $6,000 two decades ago."
MLS playoffs? All right, okay.
Meanwhile in MLS, the money thing is going to be an issue: "While the best-paid players in M.L.S.—American stars like Clint Dempsey ($6.7 million) and Michael Bradley ($6.5 million) along with a smattering of imported stars—command salaries comparable to or better than what they would make in Europe’s best leagues, they remain American soccer’s 1 percent. According to figures released annually by the league’s players union, only 23 of the 572 players listed had a base salary greater than the minimum salary in the N.H.L., a league that M.L.S. has been trying to overtake in popularity. Nearly a third of the league’s total payroll of about $130 million goes to the seven best-paid players, and for each of them there are dozens of others making $50,000 or less."
Stu Holden: I work hard every single day but my body has gone through a lot of trauma and with each injury comes the need to be cautious and smart about rehab. I know I can beat this and trust me, I wouldn't keep trying if I it wasn't possible. I've always told myself that, if I wake up in the morning and that drive and determination is gone, it's time to walk away. Of course, I am constantly being asked about my future by fans, friends, teammates and coaches. My answer is: I need time. Time to heal, time to work hard, time to prepare, and time for a comeback of epic proportions. I will continue to tackle this challenge with great fortitude and I can't wait to prove to all of you, but mostly myself, that this is possible!
Jay DeMerit goes out on top.
Mike Lawrence/isiphotos.com
