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PLAYOFF PUSH EDITION

Two months ago today Giants Stadium was near capacity. Will it ever be again?

MLS is heading into its last week of the season. There is excitement and worry for most every team, but Beckham still gets the front page love from espn.com as he returned last night to the field just long enough to say goodbye for the year. A tie with RBNY all but sealed their playoff-less fate. Thankyou, come again. Even the savvy deadspin throws up a headline about it. What is it exactly in the brain of the general sports media that makes them take notice. Is it actually interest in soccer if superstars are playing? A belief that the general sporting audience actually cares about Beckham and so the media must acknowledge it? Or is it just thinly veiled ridicule? The fact that the headline is about Beckham’s return and not the Galaxy’s all-but-elimination pretty much gives the answer.

It’s raining on the East Coast, ending droughts, and filling reservoirs. Just in time, because my appetite is wet from the past week, but I’m still thirsting for meaningful MLS games…

What you wish was that everyone is thinking playoffs, and really, everybody that matters is. That being American soccer fans. Follow that last link for media who understand what the story is… “Goff Is Great” t-shirts on sale soon.

The playoff approach already has me thinking about next year. Maybe it’s because I don’t really have a MLS team to call my own or maybe its because I live less than 3 miles from MLS headquarters, but how the league, teams, and players react to another season’s worth of knowledge and experience always has my attention. The playoffs signify the beginning of that reflection AND start the discussion: There is nothing like playoff sports, but the thrill of meaningful games casts a shadow. Something has to be done to with the MLS schedule. As if the afterthought that is the Supporter’s Shield doesn’t tell you all you need to know, regular season games don’t mean enough. There are plenty of ways to bring some of that fresh air to the regular season, but will MLS try something new? I’m beginning to think the league is more worried about franchises and stadiums than the product on the field. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but a fan never likes a “rebuilding year,” and MLS seasons often feel like one.

Eddie Johnson to Newcastle? Now that the MLS season is winding down, expect the transfer rumors to go from bubble to boil. No matter what you take away from them, the fact that they exist in increasing numbers is positive for American soccer. What also might be good for American soccer: the fact that most people don’t care about. Player anonymity is probably the most attractive thing the US has to offer big world stars. But that is changing. At least for Henry. Ask Eddie Pope and Kobi Jones, both retiring after long and productive careers, and the answer may be different.

While we’re on the subject of players, Grant Wahl’s latest feature (not on Beckham) profiles Michael Bradley. Nothing really new here, and there is no narrative, but for those who don’t know the story, you can get to know a guy who is not coming home anytime soon. I wish SI would allow Grant to write for his soccer audience instead of the general SI audience. That’s who is reading this stuff anyway.

Pitch Invasion has accumulated some attendance numbers that show a slow but steady increase. Depending on your perspective, however, the league is just now getting back to its inaugural attendances. The number I especially like is that only 8.5 percent of the games this season were played in front of less than 10,000 people. It aint a sold out Giants Stadium, but if you can get 10,000 people to do anything at the same time given the competitive entertainment landscape, I think that is pretty good. Put them in smaller (cheaper) stadiums, and that environment could be great. Meaningful games wouldn’t hurt either.

LATE ADD:

WOW! Don Garber kicked off Portland radio show for “talking in circles.”