http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5378712/french-striker-thierry-henry-signs-deal-new-york-red-bulls
7/14/2010 1:01:26 PM
This will fail.
7/14/2010 1:02:58 PM
yeah but even if "has been" players are coming to the MLS at the end of their careers, its still good for the MLS.
7/14/2010 1:04:43 PM
saw this earlierthreadworthy?
7/14/2010 1:06:44 PM
its soccerso no
7/14/2010 1:08:46 PM
this makes me happy. I still love watching him play, so I will watch MLS games when the Red Bulls are playing
7/14/2010 1:18:50 PM
Too bad Beckham is hurt and Donovan may leave for Europe. If Donovan stays then LA vs NY would be a pretty big final. It would be kind of cool to have NY vs LA turn into what Boston vs LA is to the NBA Finals.
7/14/2010 1:21:14 PM
Still confused that his name is pronounced "On ree"
7/14/2010 1:21:50 PM
7/14/2010 1:22:28 PM
how is that confusing?
7/14/2010 1:22:57 PM
ITS HEN REE
7/14/2010 1:31:13 PM
message_topic.aspx?topic=596528
7/14/2010 1:34:54 PM
Henry is such a likable guy that I might actually watch an MLS game just to see him play. Plus his first game is against the Spurs which hopefully will invoke some old EPL passion.
7/14/2010 2:59:07 PM
agreed
7/14/2010 3:00:18 PM
7/14/2010 3:03:16 PM
i think he means its impossible because the Celtic Laker rivalry has had 30 years to build itself up and it had 2 of the greatest bball players of all time involved during its inception.[Edited on July 14, 2010 at 3:12 PM. Reason : each MLS team would need to win 6 titles each just to be in the same ball park]
7/14/2010 3:11:51 PM
Also, because this is America and you're comparing basketball to soccerYou're basically saying that if Ambrosia and Kiwi lost 20 pounds and got a makeover, they could compete with Jessica Alba and Scarlett Jo.
7/14/2010 3:14:56 PM
what in the hell are you talking about?
7/14/2010 3:29:01 PM
My point was that this could be the seed for something like Lakers vs Celtics. LA vs NY is setting itself up to become the headliner when it comes to matchups. And yes I know it will take multiple generations of poster boys and more titles to make it a big deal.
7/15/2010 12:44:22 AM
I am troubled. I hate Henry for knocking my beloved Ireland out of the World Cup qualifying. Yet, if I was to give a shit about MLS, I'd have to root for the Red Bulls.Maybe I should just remain mostly indifferent.
7/15/2010 1:39:52 AM
^^ back pedal much???
7/15/2010 1:42:03 AM
^Cheer for Colorado...at least right now since they have a former NCSU player on their team. That along with the underwear girl on my friends list (lives in Denver) is a reason to cheer for Colorado over NY.
7/15/2010 1:44:38 AM
lock it up. no way this deserves its own thread
7/15/2010 1:56:31 AM
There does seem to be a lot of soccer threads. This could have went in the European soccer thread.
7/15/2010 1:57:30 AM
He's right at about the same age Pele was when he came to NY in the 70s, so I predict that this will get a little more attention for MLS, which is good, but ultimately it still just feels like a ticket gimmick, like when Babe Ruth played for the Boston Braves (not that Henry is like Ruth AT ALL...Pele maybe).
7/15/2010 11:41:21 AM
^^^ just as much as all the other random sports threads that get made. Which is to say a lot of threads get made that probably could have just been part of a discussion in another thread. [Edited on July 15, 2010 at 2:21 PM. Reason : ]
7/15/2010 2:20:33 PM
people who didn't know anything about soccer expected flashy highlights out of beckham, something he was never going to providehenry still has the skill to produce tremendous plays in one-on-one/-two/-three situations, especially against MLS defenses
7/15/2010 2:36:09 PM
This is probably the best signing ever for the league. It might actually get some fans that watch European soccer to watch MLS.
7/15/2010 2:49:58 PM
We import enough crap from other countries, do we really need to add old soccer players to the list?
7/15/2010 2:52:21 PM
^^ I'd be inclined to stop if I was flipping through and saw the Red Bulls playing.
7/15/2010 3:05:07 PM
rumblings of Rafa Marquez and possibly even Ronaldinho on the way real soon
7/18/2010 7:42:44 PM
when is he supposed to start playing? nevermind, found it
7/18/2010 8:54:43 PM
yep. old arsenal guy gets to play rival hot spurs in first game in the MLS... nice subplot there.]
7/18/2010 9:20:17 PM
Ronaldinho in the MLS would be sick. He's gotten out of shape from all that partying in Italy so he isn't as competitive as he used to be against European clubs. But in the MLS, he could dominate.
7/19/2010 9:06:21 AM
yes but he is too damn expensive
7/19/2010 10:04:08 AM
Henry took the PATH to the stadium for his debut, that's pretty cool
7/26/2010 10:39:18 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2010/07/26/2010-07-26_red_bulls_closing_in_on_mexican_defender_rafael_marquez_top_manchester_city_in_e.htmlI guess I've been in a cave... I didn't know Marquez was going to be coming to play for them as well. I may actually watch some MLS the rest of this summer...
7/26/2010 12:06:32 PM
who? what?
7/26/2010 12:12:24 PM
Henry had a decent goal in his debut, but not nearly as incredible and life-changing as ESPN made it soundi think it's great the MLS can at least get some players that will bring some recognition to the leaguethough i doubt this trend ever extends beyond LA and NY
7/26/2010 12:15:14 PM
I think ESPN and the media haven't been making a big enough deal about Henry coming to NY. He's a bigger deal on the field to the league than Beckham was by far[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 12:37 PM. Reason : my bad, you were talking about the goal, not the signing]
7/26/2010 12:30:53 PM
yeah but, hes not a part-time supermodel either, THAT will get you airtime on ESPNI completely agree with you, btw
7/26/2010 12:43:21 PM
7/26/2010 12:46:14 PM
Sportscenter covered NY's match vs. Manchester City(?), or maybe i just saw a highlight in the top 10but either way, a NY player had a nasty goal and i think they ended up winningnot sure if Henry played or just didn't score[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 12:48 PM. Reason : are these exhibitions as meaningless as say NFL preseason games? or is NY beating them a big deal]
7/26/2010 12:47:06 PM
city played hardly anyone of noteit means nothinghenry played a half, just like the other day ]
7/26/2010 1:00:34 PM
7/26/2010 1:02:22 PM
i'd say this is a pretty good sign for the MLS. Henry is by far the most talented player to sign for the MLS, and he still had about 3 years left in the tank at the top flight in Europe. And unlike Beckham, he can score goals, which is really the only thing the casual/new soccer fan is interested in seeing. He'll be in town on the 8th, I might have to check them out. By no means are the flood gates opening, but I gotta say that I have to give the MLS for its slow and steady plans for growth. an interesting read about MLS academies: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5219888/ce/us/future-us-soccer?cc=5901&ver=us[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 2:23 PM. Reason : ]
7/26/2010 2:22:32 PM
good readi had no idea these training academies even existed
7/26/2010 2:44:11 PM
7/26/2010 3:25:53 PM
http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/judgments/2010/07/25/major-league-soccer-net-worth?page=fulldecent read about MLS growth and profitability
7/26/2010 3:40:48 PM
^I'm 30 and remember watching the Germany 4 USA 3 thriller live on ABC at the 1993 US Cup. I read a while back that that was the first soccer game to be shown on tv in the USA without comercial interuption. As for MLS viewership growing with the 18-34 male crowd, we were asking our parents to drive us to the games to watch back when this all started. Now our generation is old enough to drive and makes enough money to buy tickets, or pay a tv provider that carries the games. The generations before us didn't have a lot of the options that we have today.
7/27/2010 12:00:02 AM