By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 3, 2020) US Soccer Players - Soccer leagues are built to hold soccer competitions. Soccer clubs are meant to play in them. When there's no soccer due to a global pandemic that forces restrictions on large gatherings, it pushes leagues and clubs into an existential crisis. Off seasons are one thing. They're built into the calendar, serving as a chance to rest . . .
Major League Soccer’s anniversaries
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 1, 2020) US Soccer Players - Year 25 of Major League Soccer isn't exactly going to plan. The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic necessitated a shutdown of sports almost everywhere, forcing MLS to put a celebration of a quarter-century of top-flight professional soccer on hold. When the games return, the league can properly celebrate reaching the milestone . . .
What Sporting KC can teach the Revs about a rebrand
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 25, 2020) US Soccer Players - Branding a soccer club in the modern American soccer landscape is an unenviable task. Getting it right might mean a huge wave of interest and the kind of viral marketing success that can turn soccer from after-thought in a market to the "it" team everyone wants to support. Getting it wrong means missing out on a potential group of . . .
The four perfect MLS teams
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 25, 2020) US Soccer Players - Despite the aborted start to Major League Soccer's 25th season, there's data to go on when looking at how the landmark campaign might play out. Two games aren't much. Still, if it's possible to impress in just 180 minutes of soccer, there are a few candidates for the most promising teams of 2020. Predicting how a season might go . . .
Clint Dempsey and that goal
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 20, 2020) US Soccer Players - Wednesday marked an auspicious occasion in the history of American soccer. March 18 wasn't the date of a monumental US men's national team victory or the day that MLS started its first season. There's nothing about significant decisions for the sport taking place on that date. March 18 is an auspicious day in American soccer . . .
Stadium construction continues in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 18, 2020) US Soccer Players - The game is on hiatus, and most of the fans are stuck at home waiting for regular life to return. Meanwhile, preparations for the future of soccer continue in several MLS cities. Soccer-specific stadium construction pushed MLS from unwanted houseguests in arenas not built with the game in mind to the chief tenant in glittering, . . .
Another outstanding 3-3 draw in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 13, 2020) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer's 2020 season didn't give us much before the league made the tough, but crucial decision to suspend play amid the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but it did leave us on a high note. Sunday's back-and-forth affair between LAFC and the Philadelphia Union in Los Angeles put on display the kind of high intensity, . . .
It’s always MLS vs Liga MX in the Champions League
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 11, 2020) US Soccer Players - Five Major League Soccer clubs started their seasons early in 2020 thanks to the Concacaf Champions League. The price of chasing international glory for four American teams and one Canadian team is a more urgent preseason training period and a lot more stress as the schedule begins. Now, with the regular season underway, the . . .
David Beckham and Chicharito Hernandez in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 6, 2020) US Soccer Players - Twelve years on from David Beckham's arrival as Major League Soccer's first Designated Player back in 2007, it's easy to forget just how crazy his initial days in America really were. Beckham was then, as he is now, recognized around the world as a superstar not just for his abilities on the field, but for his image and marketing . . .
Soul and superstar in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 4, 2020) US Soccer Players - No team ever makes it through a season without some of its players missing significant time due to injury. Injuries are part of the deal across the length of a 34-game season plus playoffs. The best any team can hope is that the injury bug doesn't hit a crucial player. When stars do go down for an extended period of time, it can . . .
