In this summer edition, Daily Bruin Sports editors discuss some of the top storylines of 2015.
Steven Gerrard recently signed an 18-month contract with the LA Galaxy for a reported $9 million – one of the largest in Major League Soccer history. What can be done to improve wages for MLS players and further soccer’s popularity in the U.S.?
Claire Fahy: While Steven Gerrard did take a pay cut to sign with the Galaxy, his salary is $1.5 million more than the entire sum wages of the San Jose Earthquakes team. The median MLS salary in 2014 was $92,000, which leaves many American players in the league playing for passion alone. While soccer’s prominence and popularity stateside is steadily improving, many of the greatest homegrown talent, such as goalie Tim Howard, still leave for more lucrative opportunities abroad. Soccer is rarely shown at peak times on non-cable channels, which leaves many young fans without access to the sport. More featured matchups on ABC or CBS could do wonders for the still-fledgling professional sport.
Matt Cummings: Rather than blowing millions of dollars on over-the-hill stars that they think might attract fan attention, perhaps teams could spread that money among more players to try to increase the overall quality of play. But it’s tough to find high-quality players because any player at this point knows European play is what’s best for their career. Maybe the U.S. should just accept that MLS will never attract the best players and instead focus attention on increasing stateside popularity of the Premier League and La Liga. Of course, Americans want stuff that belongs to them, and that’s why even if MLS can’t succeed, American soccer needs a superstar. One American player on the level of Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar could spark interest in the same way Yao Ming created a burgeoning basketball market in China.
Tanner Walters: The MLS has a huge disparity between its stars and its base-level players. If you look at any of the major professional leagues – take Major League Baseball, for example – there is still a divide, but the youngest players are earning half a million dollars. In pro soccer, many players are earning under $50,000 and are forced to live at home or hold other jobs on the side. However, let’s take a step back. While it’s interesting to discuss this as an MLS issue, things are actually even more drastic for the National Women’s Soccer League, which set its minimum salary at $6,842 this year. Are you kidding me? These leagues need to be proactive and actually support their upcoming talent rather than simply throwing millions at a few stars.
P Diddy’s much-publicized meltdown in the Acosta Athletic Training Complex last month exposed his unusual level of access to the team. Do celebrity parents help or hurt UCLA Athletics?
CF: With UCLA’s close proximity to the entertainment industry’s main hub, it’s no surprise that practice is often visited by celebrities like Denzel Washington and others. The Bruin lineup also features a few famous last names as well – Combs (as in Sean Combs, or P Diddy) and Broadus (as in Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., or Snoop Dogg). While all parents have the right to support their children, coverage of the P Diddy incident suggests that the rapper had much more access to the team than an average guardian. While these events put the team in the spotlight, they often distract from the true purpose of the squad, which is winning championships. UCLA needs to focus on its endgame and not get sidetracked by celebrity antics.
MC: No one complained about all the celebrities on the USC sidelines when the Trojans were lighting up college football year after year in the early 2000s. When they’re loading the coffers of the program and helping to attract recruits, celebrity parents help UCLA Athletics. Once they’re swinging kettlebells at assistant coaches, they hurt UCLA Athletics, but this incident was anything but routine. Justin Combs has played in seven games the past two years, mostly on special teams, so it’s not like his father’s fame is getting him on the field when he shouldn’t be. And if you’ve watched ESPN’s fantastically entertaining “Snoop and Son” series, you know the big Dogg will be far harder on his own son than on Bruin coaches. As long as Cordell Broadus knows not to “Drop it Like it’s Hot,” I doubt we’ll hear much more about celebrity parents in the UCLA program this year.
TW: I have become extraordinarily bored by this summer’s P Diddy drama. Now, I don’t know exactly what happened – the football program is pretty tight-lipped and my sources within the program are few and far between – but let’s break it down: Sal Alosi allegedly kicks Justin Combs out of practice. Enter: P Diddy. A kettlebell swing later and the police are on the scene. The arrest is made but no charges are filed in the following weeks because UCLA football has probably had enough of the drama, too. Along the way, TMZ Sports (they have a sports division?!) and every international gossip organization churn out daily reports to update the “situation” in real time. Really? This was an overly-involved dad who was trying to protect his son. Did he handle it well? No, but it’s time for everybody to move on. The football program should take practical steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again by scaling back the involvement of celebrity parents, but let’s turn the focus to Virginia, please.
With less than a month before fall games begin, which team should UCLA fans be most excited about for 2015-2016?
CF: Men’s water polo looks like it will make a splash even with having graduated so many of its title-winning lineup. The Bruins’ bronze at the World University Games definitely was a testament to the depth of this team, which will be a serious asset over the long Mountain Pacific Sports Federation season. I would also look out for men’s tennis, as that team only got stronger after last year’s strong postseason. If Martin Redlicki and Mackie McDonald can anchor UCLA’s doubles effort and the Bruins can find a strong No. 6 singles, this team could go all the way.
MC: After falling in penalty kicks in the national championship last year, the men’s soccer team will be without leading goal-scorer Leo Stolz this year. But In Top Drawer Soccer Freshman of the Year Abu Danladi, who notched five goals and six assists in 12 games, and Pac-12 second-teamer Seyi Adekoya, UCLA will boast two exciting sophomore forwards. While questions will be asked of the midfield, the Bruins also look to have a strong defense with Pac-12 first-teamer Michael Amick at center back and second-team All-Freshman Chase Gasper at left back. They’ll have to replace the graduated Earl Edwards Jr. in goal and Aaron Simmons on defense, but the Bruins are bringing in a top-five recruiting class that should keep them competing for a national title.
TW: Twenty minutes after the UCLA men’s water polo team sunk USC in the national title match last December, three Bruin players sat in front of reporters for their season-ending press conference. Two were sophomores and the third was a junior. For a team that graduated eight seniors, that youth bodes quite well for 2015. However, if we’re being literal with this question of the most “exciting” team, I’m going to back off my water polo pick. I expect the Bruins to cruise through the regular season for a second straight year and, like last year, fall into a rhythm of dominant play that is almost expected rather than exciting. The true thrills this fall will be at the Rose Bowl. I foresee freshman quarterback Josh Rosen and the football team electrifying the UCLA faithful for the next five and a half months.