There are going to be alot of p!ssed off parents here soon!

[Unregistered]

Truth Hurts

Hate to say it, but no way a Women's pro league works. Lots of evidence to support that. MLS barely works on its own anyway, no way its going there.

Attendance is great, but real power in pro sports is TV money and ratings. Without that, it doesn't happen. In US, World Cup and Olympic finals maybe. You really think a Women's world cup final would get any viewers if USA wasnt in it?

Fact is, young women have way better opportunities in soccer than young men due to title IX. Have fun, build character, get a degree. Society will be alot better off.

Way too many failed soccer players whose only job now is to be a club coach... did I say that?

[Unregistered]

Hate to say it, but no way a Women's pro league works. Lots of evidence to support that. MLS barely works on its own anyway, no way its going there.

Attendance is great, but real power in pro sports is TV money and ratings. Without that, it doesn't happen. In US, World Cup and Olympic finals maybe. You really think a Women's world cup final would get any viewers if USA wasnt in it?

Fact is, young women have way better opportunities in soccer than young men due to title IX. Have fun, build character, get a degree. Society will be alot better off.

Way too many failed soccer players whose only job now is to be a club coach... did I say that?

Jim R go to hell. People like you try to ensure that there will be no pro female team sports but times are changing.

[Unregistered]

Example

Until the "next level" (DA) is created and formed, nothing is going to change. Probably nothing ever will. ODP is what it is. Limited in season length and events traveled to.

What were you expecting ? Give examples and in depth thoughts.

I'll give you one. I was expecting that all the players would be invited to all the training sessions. Wondered why there were kids not at last training weekend. Learned that if not selected for the tournament that they were not invited to training. That wouldn't happen in a DA program where the focus is on training and development. Hard for those kids to "develop" when they don't participate in half the activities.

[Unregistered]

I agree the Timbers focus on ODP is to try to grow some HomeGrown players. FIFA requires that for a player to ever be transferred for a transfer fee they must not have paid to play for the transferring organization.

This will limit the Timbers, and force at least an arms length relationship between them and these clubs.

Realistically this is another marketing attempt that will get thrown on the market to see if it sticks, and after some time will probably be ditched. Nothing will change with either Eastside or Westside.

If they are a club that attracts you now, maybe go that way, but i WOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT FOLLOWING THEIR HYPE

This explains the club "affiliation" vs. the Timbers having their own youth teams.
Time will tell how "affiliation" is defined and just how involved the Timbers will be. Clearly at the youth/club level there is not money flowing to the Timbers.

Even without knowing the details one has to think that if your players future hopes include anything the Timbers are involved with then being part of a Timbers affiliated club can only help. It's never good being on the outside looking in.

[Unregistered]

There are no bad kids; only bad parents.
There are no bad kids; only bad parents.
There are no bad kids; only bad parents...

I disagree.

Although that is the case often. I have seen some rotten kids with decent parents.

[Unregistered]

The time is coming

Hate to say it, but no way a Women's pro league works. Lots of evidence to support that. MLS barely works on its own anyway, no way its going there.

Attendance is great, but real power in pro sports is TV money and ratings. Without that, it doesn't happen. In US, World Cup and Olympic finals maybe. You really think a Women's world cup final would get any viewers if USA wasnt in it?

Fact is, young women have way better opportunities in soccer than young men due to title IX. Have fun, build character, get a degree. Society will be alot better off.

Way too many failed soccer players whose only job now is to be a club coach... did I say that?

And just why is it that the money comes from tee vee? Advertising that's why! Do you know that for every three male viewers of the super bowl there will be 2 female viewers? So the ladies ARE watching sports but not necessarily being marketed to as well as they could.

The problem with getting a good contract for female sports is not so much the "product' but with who is selling the product (men) and with who is putting that product on Tee Vee (again men @ ESPN)

ESPN's female programing has dropped from just under 10% of their broadcast hours in 1999 to around 1.8% today. Why is that and how did that happen when WOMEN control 80% of consumer purchases in this country?

It happened because they have a "formula" that works and are too F'n lazy to expand beyond what they know works but they do so at their own peril. I sense a day when a female Billionaire will take a page from Rupert Murdoch's play book and subsidize a competing network of female sports. Yes they will have to lose $50 to $100 million in the early years (fyi Rupert lost in the neighborhood of $300 from 94-99 until he made a dime off FOX) but the pay off could be in multiples if they can ORGANIZE the purchasing power of their market.

You misogynists here will continue to say that WPS is not exciting enough for the men to watch but the truth is they don't need testosterone challenged eye balls to attract advertisers they just need someone to package the product the way they do any other entertainment product aimed at women.

I have to believe that there are a few smart people in the front offices of MLS teams who know these BASIC demographic facts and will begin to plan for the MLS to tap this market and capture the earnings just sitting out there waiting to be picked up.

Lastly, for the fool who said a joint TV package would not garner a higher fee than a standalone product you need to do some research on how ESPN sells its product to the cable companies, you might learn something and actually be able to know what you are talking about!

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;691702]

not only are we creating soccer stars, but the parents are becoming literary giants. probably the most creative and thoughtful typing most have done since high school.

And clearly ears/brains that cannot process sarcasm.

[Unregistered]

And just why is it that the money comes from tee vee? Advertising that's why! Do you know that for every three male viewers of the super bowl there will be 2 female viewers? So the ladies ARE watching sports but not necessarily being marketed to as well as they could.

The problem with getting a good contract for female sports is not so much the "product' but with who is selling the product (men) and with who is putting that product on Tee Vee (again men @ ESPN)

ESPN's female programing has dropped from just under 10% of their broadcast hours in 1999 to around 1.8% today. Why is that and how did that happen when WOMEN control 80% of consumer purchases in this country?

It happened because they have a "formula" that works and are too F'n lazy to expand beyond what they know works but they do so at their own peril. I sense a day when a female Billionaire will take a page from Rupert Murdoch's play book and subsidize a competing network of female sports. Yes they will have to lose $50 to $100 million in the early years (fyi Rupert lost in the neighborhood of $300 from 94-99 until he made a dime off FOX) but the pay off could be in multiples if they can ORGANIZE the purchasing power of their market.

You misogynists here will continue to say that WPS is not exciting enough for the men to watch but the truth is they don't need testosterone challenged eye balls to attract advertisers they just need someone to package the product the way they do any other entertainment product aimed at women.

I have to believe that there are a few smart people in the front offices of MLS teams who know these BASIC demographic facts and will begin to plan for the MLS to tap this market and capture the earnings just sitting out there waiting to be picked up.

Lastly, for the fool who said a joint TV package would not garner a higher fee than a standalone product you need to do some research on how ESPN sells its product to the cable companies, you might learn something and actually be able to know what you are talking about!

Totally agree! !

[Unregistered]

And just why is it that the money comes from tee vee? Advertising that's why! Do you know that for every three male viewers of the super bowl there will be 2 female viewers? So the ladies ARE watching sports but not necessarily being marketed to as well as they could.

The problem with getting a good contract for female sports is not so much the "product' but with who is selling the product (men) and with who is putting that product on Tee Vee (again men @ ESPN)

ESPN's female programing has dropped from just under 10% of their broadcast hours in 1999 to around 1.8% today. Why is that and how did that happen when WOMEN control 80% of consumer purchases in this country?

It happened because they have a "formula" that works and are too F'n lazy to expand beyond what they know works but they do so at their own peril. I sense a day when a female Billionaire will take a page from Rupert Murdoch's play book and subsidize a competing network of female sports. Yes they will have to lose $50 to $100 million in the early years (fyi Rupert lost in the neighborhood of $300 from 94-99 until he made a dime off FOX) but the pay off could be in multiples if they can ORGANIZE the purchasing power of their market.

You misogynists here will continue to say that WPS is not exciting enough for the men to watch but the truth is they don't need testosterone challenged eye balls to attract advertisers they just need someone to package the product the way they do any other entertainment product aimed at women.

I have to believe that there are a few smart people in the front offices of MLS teams who know these BASIC demographic facts and will begin to plan for the MLS to tap this market and capture the earnings just sitting out there waiting to be picked up.

Lastly, for the fool who said a joint TV package would not garner a higher fee than a standalone product you need to do some research on how ESPN sells its product to the cable companies, you might learn something and actually be able to know what you are talking about!

True, women are a big demographic, but the majority of women would rather watch men sports too. Maybe marketing can change that, but I'm not betting my $300 million on that horse.

[Unregistered]

Spoken like a man. Most folks would have scoffed at the idea of women CEO a as early as 20 years ago. Times do change.

[Unregistered]

True, women are a big demographic, but the majority of women would rather watch men sports too. Maybe marketing can change that, but I'm not betting my $300 million on that horse.

I agree. Most women enjoy watching men's sports. Usually just with their partner and children. It would really be smart to focus more advertisement on females during male sporting events.....they are the main buyers!!

[Unregistered]

This explains the club "affiliation" vs. the Timbers having their own youth teams.
Time will tell how "affiliation" is defined and just how involved the Timbers will be. Clearly at the youth/club level there is not money flowing to the Timbers.

Even without knowing the details one has to think that if your players future hopes include anything the Timbers are involved with then being part of a Timbers affiliated club can only help. It's never good being on the outside looking in.

I would expect little to no involvement at the "affiliate level". Sure maybe the teams will get to wear shiny timbers uniforms, but again FIFA is pretty clear about their expectations of it being a "hands-off" relationship. In this case I don't expect their will be much difference between those on the inside and those on the outside. When it comes right down to a selection process, that selection will be made based on ability by Timbers staff, not by the staff of the local "affiliate club"

Everyone can make what decisions they like, there have been enough different runs of hype over the years, often related to these same two clubs, that I would suggest a healthy amount of skepticism.

[Unregistered]

I would expect little to no involvement at the "affiliate level". Sure maybe the teams will get to wear shiny timbers uniforms, but again FIFA is pretty clear about their expectations of it being a "hands-off" relationship. In this case I don't expect their will be much difference between those on the inside and those on the outside. When it comes right down to a selection process, that selection will be made based on ability by Timbers staff, not by the staff of the local "affiliate club"

Everyone can make what decisions they like, there have been enough different runs of hype over the years, often related to these same two clubs, that I would suggest a healthy amount of skepticism.

From your previous post you mention FIFA and money ... now it's "hands-off" ... maybe you can post a link or quote directly? I'm thinking you have an agenda to discredit? My skepticism at the moment is more for your accuracy in interpreting FIFA rules etc.

[Unregistered]

I would expect little to no involvement at the "affiliate level". Sure maybe the teams will get to wear shiny timbers uniforms, but again FIFA is pretty clear about their expectations of it being a "hands-off" relationship. In this case I don't expect their will be much difference between those on the inside and those on the outside. When it comes right down to a selection process, that selection will be made based on ability by Timbers staff, not by the staff of the local "affiliate club"

Everyone can make what decisions they like, there have been enough different runs of hype over the years, often related to these same two clubs, that I would suggest a healthy amount of skepticism.

I agree. I think people on here tend to hear a rumor and just run with it. I'm sure the thread was started by a WSM parent or coach to stir the frenzy up before try outs. The only thing that might change is the uniform.

[Unregistered]

From your previous post you mention FIFA and money ... now it's "hands-off" ... maybe you can post a link or quote directly? I'm thinking you have an agenda to discredit? My skepticism at the moment is more for your accuracy in interpreting FIFA rules etc.

"FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players". I don't know that I have any more of an agenda to discredit than you might have to bestow praise on an idea that for all Thant can be seen outwardly is little more than rumor.

Think of soccer as a business, the Timbers do. Of course it is exciting to bring in local players, to build crowd enthusiasm. One of the main drivers behind Generation Adidas etc is to create the "homegrown" players. A part of MLS's focus is on creating a strong youth pool, both for play here in the US, but having greater impact to the economies of MLS, for transfer abroad. It is a fairly old rule that a club with whom a player has had to pay to play, cannot be eligible for transfer payments from future clubs. What I am not sure of is how this applies to MLS. Other countries you may find a player developing in a Liverpool system, and there first contract is offered to them by some other club. This secondary club is now eligible for transfer fees down the road. The complicator with MLS is the league owns all of the players.

All of this to say, the Timbers would be unlikely to involve themselves below a free academy level, because it could taint the waters.

Call me skeptical. I've seen similar movements built here about how certain clubs will be the end all/be all, or if you are not OPL you will be left behind...just suggesting folks remain skeptical as is their right. Perhaps you could post a quote or direct link to information about the relationship of which you seem to know so much but can say so little.