Twellman, The CBA, Three-Eyed Fish and Two-Headed Goats

With MLS and the Players Union keeping very quiet concerning the looming expiration of the CBA, we are left to pick through random quotes and 140 character Twitter messages in an attempt to figure out just what is happening. MLS fans are understandably concerned about the potential of a work stoppage and a bit jumpy as well. At this point any piece of information has the potential to send everyone in to stress induced panic spiral…so of course Taylor Twellman comes through for us today on Twitter.

“Learn from NHL/NHLPA: Lockout would be devastating to MLS & players’ future earning power. Seek a compromise, be flexible.”

OK, so it’s not exactly new information but it’s confirmation of what many of us have been saying for awhile now. The players are not going to strike, instead they are going to force the league to lock them out when the CBA expires and risk an extended work stoppage. Good for the players, I’ve said repeatedly they should stand their ground and it looks like they are, they won’t be paid off in tungsten or the like until they get what they deserve. There is every indication that MLS is refusing to even consider what the players are asking for and it’s their right and responsibility to stand up to Garber and the owners.

That said, some more information would be nice. When (not if) the lockout happens, the battle for public support will be just as important as any of the battles behind closed doors. At this point neither side seems willing to say much of anything and that silence is starting to make people’s ears ring. Twellman’s second message today is the sort of thing we need to start hearing more of. In order for the players to keep fans on their side, they have to make their case to the people and help them understand why this need to happen.

Really it’s time for both sides to come out and talk to the fans. They need to remember that MLS, and soccer in general, have the greatest and most passionate sports fans in the known universe. These fans deserve to at least be reassured or told to tighten the figurative belt with a straight message rather than cryptic transmissions. More importantly they deserve to understand why things are happening rather than trying to speculate based on the assumptions of well meaning bloggers.

While I fully support the players, there is no question that both the union and the league are playing a serious game of Russian roulette here. Soccer’s foothold in this country is notoriously unstable and there will be some nasty potential fallout to deal with depending on how this plays out. We’re talking three-eyed fish and two-headed goat causing fallout people.

The truth of the matter is that MLS cannot survive a lost season. Even delaying the start of the season would be catastrophic, but if this thing “goes all NHL” there are going to be a lot of hurt feelings and the American soccer landscape will look like Godzilla just went strolling through. I’m not trying to scare you, but I am “The Black Cloud” and it’s sort of my job to think about this stuff.

So here we sit waiting, hoping and possibly praying to Jimmy Conrad. In these dark time you must be willing to do whatever it takes to get through and all the while remember to be a good intergalactic hitchhiker and don’t panic. I happen to believe that things will work themselves out and while there will be a lockout, First Kick will still occur in late March as planned. A little bit of optimism from a man know for his pessimism…call it a belated Christmas present from me to you. I have nothing to base this belief on but sometimes we have to just step out on a limb and hope for the best. That’s what you do when you’re left in the dark about something you care about.