Major League Soccer's Offseason Sucks! Promotion/Relegation!

Promotion/Relegation is indispensable to the sport of soccer. Why?

I'm going to leave that hanging, right there, for a moment.
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Hint: It's not the usual reasons discussed. And, yes, the owners of MLS will, probably, never institute Pro/Rel.

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This is the reason...

Here it comes...

Ready???

Were you ever an NBA fan? This is important. Think, think, think.

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What about American football keeps older, seasoned veterans from developing a routine of coasting through portions of games and seasons? Answer: The level of violence inherent in the game. You go all-out or risk getting killed.

Why are Major League Baseball players always trying to compete at their peak? Their salary is greatly influenced by their individual performance and giving 100% effort rarely sees them risk major injury.

Now, back to the NBA. Why is the NBA regular season virtually unwatchable for all but the most diehard of fans?

I was an NBA fan growing-up. I was a kid and then college student who loved the game, the greats and the competition. But...I matured, hard to believe, and realized like most sport's fans that NBA players coast for portions of both games and season's. It's a grueling game and a long season. As long as each player proves that he is at least worthy of top twelve status on their team, they will have a spot and a very comfortable living.

It's a closed league. I'm not saying that NBA players step-up to the tip-off consciously thinking "I'm going in the tank for the next twenty minutes of my career." I'm saying, the closed nature of the league, with guaranteed contracts, the elevated risk of injury during the lengthy season, and the fact that it is a contact sport leads to exactly what you see so often in the NBA.

That's why soccer NEEDS Promotion and Relegation. Human beings choose, subconsciously, to coast occasionally when the circumstances allow. It's human nature. Leagues around the world are better and more enjoyable to watch because Promotion and Relegation adds another layer of pressure/motivation to the competition, for everyone involved.

I love what Major League Soccer has done for the professional game in our country. But, I am not naive. It is far too easy for the owners and players of MLS to slowly, year-by-year, institutionalize the very same structural aspects that make the NBA unwatchable so often. They have already begun the journey down that path.

I was and still am a basketball fan. I'm just not an NBA fan anymore.

I don't want Major League Soccer to become the soccer version of the NBA. I think it's inevitable given the business model; but, I'm still hopeful the rich guys can grow a collective pair and give North America the real beautiful game.