8.6.13
ASN Morning Read: Still Talking About Dempsey
No, that wasn't a dream over the weekend. The American star really will play for the Seattle Sounders. But how he got to these shores deserves a bit of unpacking. Plus, is Michael Bradley on the move?
BY
Jesse Yomtov
Posted
August 06, 2013
8:53 AM
Grant Wahl breaks down how the Clint Dempsey deal got done and as many speculated, it was um, a tad sketchy: "I think it was important that [Dempsey] ended up ... how do I say this politely? ... not in Los Angeles," said Sounders owner Joe Roth. "Because from a perception standpoint it would make MLS look essentially like a one-team league when it came to important international players." MLS is entitled to manipulate incoming contracts to put players in specific places, but you can make your own decisions on how ethical that process is.
The Washington Post's Steven Goff offers a smart take on the entire situation, calling the signing "the goal, assist, and save of the year wrapped into one," which is true, but also admonishing the league's lack of transparency: "Teenagers do not always communicate. They forget to tell us they won’t be home for dinner. We get angry and we get frustrated. But we still love them." Written like a father who cares.
Omar Gonzalez as Designated Player? Say it is so.
Michael Bradley update: No Short Corners reports that Everton inquired about the services of the midfielder but were roundly rebuffed. "I'm told the new coach loves him and plans to use him often. Apparently, Rudi Garcia feels that none of the other guys in the stable cover enough ground—which, as we all know, is one category where few can match Bradley," Greg Seltzer writes.
That thing MLS did where it put a head camera on All-Star Game ref Hilario Grajeda? Actually pretty cool:
