The Weekend: MLS Doesn’t Need a “Linsanity” to Promote Their League

“Linsanity”,“Tebow Time”… Who Need’s It?: What has happened to the way sports is marketed and advertised? Within two weeks Jeremy Lin has become the biggest story in the NBA since LeBron’s infamous “decision”. Lin’s story is heartwarming no doubt, but the kid has only played six games; yet the media has created him into the story of the year. The NBA has struggled to grow their fan market and has seen a rapid decrease in their numbers, but is this how they are going to sell their product? A six game starter wavier pick up who graduated from Harvard is getting more press then the last three NBA champions combined. Is the NBA that desperate to gain attention from the press and trends on twitter to over-saturate the first positive story that comes around? And the NBA isn’t the only United States sports league who is selling their product off a single player/storyline. The 2011-2012 NFL won’t be remembered for the brilliant Super Bowl performance by the New York Giants, but from cotton candy pop culture reference that is Tim Tebow. Both Tebow and Lin have fantastic stories, but the media and attention of the fans should be on the one thing that matters in sports–champions. It’s come to the point that sports such as baseball are using “Linsanity” and “Tebow Factor” to describe their own players. Unlike it’s fellow American sports Major League Soccer will stick to what a league is supposed to be known for–the best players,the best teams the best competition. You can have your social media gimmicks and pun headlines and we’ll stick to the play on the field; not what’s trending on twitter or the latest skit on Saturday Night Live.

US Soccer’s Upcoming Schedule: The United States Men’s National Team has picked up some high profile international friendlies for the early summer. On May 26th the Yanks will host European side Scotland in an international friendly at Jacksonville’s Everbank Field. From there the US will travel to Maryland on May 30th to face-off against 2014 World Cup host Brazil in another friendly competition. Their final friendly before World Cup qualifying begins will be on June 8th versus Canada at Toronto FC’s BMO Field. The first WC qualifier will be against Antigua and Barbuda June 8th at Raymond James Stadium.

USMNT Schedule 

February 29th vs Italy 2:30pm ESPN2

May 26th vs Scotland

May 30th vs Brazil

June 3rd vs Canada

June 8th vs Antigua and Barbuda (WC Qualifier)

Harry’s Pickle: Tottenham Hotspur are sitting at third place in the English Premier League and playing in arguably the best form out of any team in the league. This is large in part to the mastery of manager Harry Redknapp, who has taken the Spurs for Premier League punchline to a threatening title contender. After Fabio Capello resigned as the England National Team manager, Redknapp immediately became the favorite to replace the Italian as the 2012 Euros arrive this summer. From tax evasion court to be rumored as the next in line for the Mecca of English football managers; needless to say it had been quite a week the 64-year-old Londoner. Harry has reaffirmed his loyalty to Tottenham but has admitted the England position is the dream job he’s always wanted. Redknapp is predicted to finish out the season with Tottenham and then take the England job for the summer. But with a comfort level sound at Tottenham, and pressures at the National Team level, the decision isn’t final just yet. In Harry’s position this has to be a much better decision to be in then the one he’d be facing in front of a judge.

New Updated FIFA World Rankings 

1-Spain

2-Germany

3-Netherlands

4-Uruguay

5-England

6-Portugal

7-Brazil

8-Italy

9-Croatia

10-Denmark

31-USA