Hanauer – We’re Cautiously Optimistic about CBA
Progress Being Made
There are two schools of thought on the state of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Some are beginning to panic already. We have been urged to produce screeds of articles on the matter by concerned parties. Others liken it to two armies stationed at a considerable distance from each other, moving slowly into battle, whilst their leaders agree war is bad for both sides, and reasonably (and amicably) continue to discuss a settlement.
At last night’s Sports Star of the Year Awards, Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer, seemed very much in the former camp.
“I think all of us are hopeful. There’s progress being made. It won’t be done until it’s done. I think everyone involved, players, management and ownership, are cautiously optimistic that we can get this thing wrapped up.”
There is much to lose. Despite a world recession, MLS produced its most exciting product for years, prompting Fox Soccer Report anchor Jeremy St Louis to call 2009 “the best season ever”. The economic indicators suggest that President Obama’s stimulus packages have saved the US economy from the worst case scenarios. MLS just witnessed the most successful expansion season in its history in Seattle, with the lessons learned being presumably hoovered up in Philadelphia, as the bar has now been raised for expansion franchises. More than the Union, two further clubs Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps, are entering key stages in their financial calendar to ensure their first year in MLS is as successful as that of the club geographically half way between them.
As if that didn’t make this a key year for soccer in North America, this is also World Cup year. The World Cup comes around every four years and is a unique marketing opportunity where casual fans ‘arrive’ at soccer without much effort or expenditure on MLS or clubs’ part. To make that pot even tastier, Sam’s Army have been drawn against England, a thoroughly marketable team whose league is watched widely in the USA. The other sides in the group, Algeria and Slovenia, are no mugs, but the draw was relatively kind to Bob Bradley’s side and TV viewing figures are expected to be high, and bars are expecting record business.
If you’re looking for positive omens, the spat between the newly formed NASL and the USL, was resolved sensibly amicably and quickly in the interests of the game. Soccer is not strong enough yet to throw away golden opportunities such as 2010 presents, and those opportunities are about as good as you are going to get in one single year. Will that be enough to procure the necessary compromises from both sides and secure a fair and amicable settlement?
We are cautiously optimistic.
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And now news from Ljungberg off of his blog states that his return depends on a New CBA. Again where are true facts about the negotiations between the to parties in regards to the CBA.
There is going to be little to no professional football (soccer) in this country this season. The lockout clock is about ready to start.
Editor
01/21/2010 at 1:52 pm
So what does “Progress has been made” mean then?
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What this means is that they sit across from each in a meeting room and fume at one another.
Progress has been made is BS, with no facts being presented and you will notice that not one player representative or the Union has any comment anywhere what-so-ever. Progress has been made is BS. Get ready for a strike and a lockout.
So what does “Progress has been made” mean then?
Cautiously optimistic really says that the parties are not agreeing at all. That fact that we are now getting closer to the end date and there is little to no news about this says it all.
Things are not looking good. Cautiously optimistic says no progress has been made.
Get ready for no season and a lock out.
These things are always 11th-hour agreements… if everyone keeps a cool head this will be resolved and we can all hold hands and sing songs together again…