Boys at the Bernabeu

This just in from the SoccerScribe. I must confess however, that I think he missed the point. I think it was a poor showing by MLS, not just from a soccer perspective, but also from a professional perspective. On average, I think we looked like rank amateurs.

However, our disagreement shouldn't surprise you. The SoccerScribe is the same writer who thought that "real" soccer in the US was played in the WUSA. And he fell so hard for Mia Garciaparra after the 1999 Women's World Cup, he took a leave from the Grey Lady to write a book on the women's team.

From the SoccerScribe -

Before we all grind our teeth to the nubs over the Real Madrid-MLS Select debacle, let us consider if anything was really lost.
It was painful to watch. The aftermath hurt. It was embarrassing (especially watching Raul make Jose Burciaga look like a U12.) But if you sit back for a moment, one should realize the long-term consequences of Wednesday’s 5-0 drubbing likely will be minimal at most.
Although the pain may feel similar to getting dumped by a girlfriend, in reality it’s more like getting stood up.
One affects your judgment going forward. The other just bends you outta shape for a couple of days.
The reason the Real Madrid loss is more like the latter than the former is one undeniable reality_ the media.
Considering most people’s opinions are shaped by the media, examine what the opinion of the fourth estate was BEFORE Wednesday. Barring a few notable exceptions, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, Fox Soccer Channel, the major media outlets sneer at MLS and soccer in general. And regarding MLS, this includes the non-U.S. media.
They don’t like it, they never did, and it will require long-term cataclysmic events to change that. As former MLS commissioner Doug Logan noted once, to change the attitudes in major media, today’s sports writers/editors are going to have to “retire or die.”
The media didn’t think MLS worthy of their time or attention before Wednesday, and they let it be known either by criticizing it, or by simply ignoring it. As one acquaintance said to me, he thought Madrid was AT LEAST 3-4 goals better than any MLS team. It was’t 3-4 goals better than the Chicago Fire, nor the Los Angeles Galaxy.
But it was the impression he had, most likely shaped by the media (how else do you get information about Real Madrid OR MLS?)
Did Wednesday’s game reinforce that opinion? Oh yeah. But when it’s that low to begin with, not much more damage could be done. Had MLS won the game, or drew, would it have affected the media’s opinion? Doubtful. It was a friendly, it was a select team, the sun was in Real Madrid’s eyes…
Something positive to take out of Wednesday’s game may be this: Real Madrid insisted on a select team rather than one of the 12 club sides. Supposedly they felt Djorkaeff and Donovan would be more recognizeable to their fans. Perhaps, but outside of those two names, are they really trying to tell us that their fans can distinguish between Jeff Cunningham and Taylor Twellman? And their not even the same race.
Maybe MLS has a better reputation with knowledgeable soccer types than is generally known.
A select side, having to take a transcontinental flight two days before a game, having one training session and then playing, is not likely to be able to rely on teamwork to overcome any fatigue or unfamiliarity. Was this Real Madrid’s reason for insisting on a select team?
This is not an MLS apologist’s rant, nor is it intended to give those at the construction site serving as MLS’ new HQ on 37th Street any cover. I still scratch my head as to why they would bend over and grab their ankles for Real Madrid after the way the Spaniards treated MLS TWICE last year.
Hopefully, MLS execs learned a little from this. I wonder.
But in terms of reputation, be mad over getting stood up, let it fade and let’s look forward to beating Mexico, getting to Germany and the MLS Cup.