I took on the Keller conundrum already, on my other blog.
As accomplished as Keller is, he happens to play a position where the U.S. actually has a nice pipeline of upcoming talent.
Don't ask me how FC Dallas got roped into paying so much money for Shaka Hislop, though.
But Keller doesn't want just a big contract. He wants a committment.
Frankly, I think his best bet is hanging on until 2009. I think the Pacific Northwest is getting an expansion team. Keller could be their anchor player.
8 comments:
I don't see what the MLS owes Kasey Keller. If it's not financially responsible to pay Keller an exuberant salary at a position the MLS is already deep at then don't do it.
If he wants to come to the MLS, take a pay cut, and accept what they offer. Otherwise stay in Europe.
He would be taking a paycut, and is willing to do that, it seems. But he wants a guaranteed contract and he doesn't want too much of a pay cut.
I can see his gripe on some level. He feels he's put in his time for the U.S. team faithfully. Which he has, but MLS and the national team are not one and the same.
I'm not sure if anything confuses me more than Portland not having an MLS team. If he can wait, Keller + MLS in Portland would be a perfect match.
Portland has had trouble getting an MLS teram in the past because the city has also been trying to get an MLB team. It's kind of been a tug of war in as to which the city should be pursue more fervently. Living there a few years ago I remember their minor league team the Portland Rockies got huge support and good attendnace numbers.
Some business magazine did a study on which sports franchises cost municipalities the most to support. Not surprisingly, a MLB team costs the most. MLS teams the least. But cities that want to consider themselves "big time" would often rather support the extra expense of the bigger sport.
Well, "bigger" in the American sense, obviously not the world sense, where soccer is much bigger.
Kasey Keller should go to Mexico. Okay, before you laugh consider this: Keller has a reputation as an excellent goalkeeper who has maintained his fitness and has a wealth of experience. He was never a Donovan-type USA player that "pissed off" many Mexicans and that works in this favor. His family would be forced to move to another foriegn country, but it would still be closer than Germany. Think about this, if Ochoa left for Europe, wouldn't it be interesting to see him playing for America. What about Toluca? Cruz Azul? Keller in the "SuperLiga" playing for a Mexcian team. The pay would be better than the MLS, wouldn't it? Yes, I had too much cafe con leche this morning.
Keller in Mexico would be awesome. I don't see it happening, but it would be great nonetheless.
As far as MLS, though, Colorado should nab Keller ASAP.
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