Time for the MLS to shine

By Gabe Taylor

Let the never-ending chants begin. With potential lockouts looming over the NBA and NHL, an underdog will rise to the occasion and fill the void.

Whether it is the U.S.'s lack of success in the World Cup or potential fans' disinterest in the sport, soccer has remained in the shadows in America.

But fans crave sports. Fans thrive on sports. And the MLS is up-and-coming.

Although the NBA season only briefly overlaps that of the MLS, and the NFL kicks off in the fall, fans want to take on as many sports as possible for their viewing pleasure. Taking away two major sports for a season results in the perfect opportunity for the MLS to gain ground in the U.S.

During the 2010 World Cup, Americans rallied behind the strong efforts of their team's new and improved form. According to the Huffington Post, viewership in the U.S. skyrocketed to 24.3 million, a whopping 41 percent more than those who tuned in for the previous World Cup.

A large reason for this was success on the field. Nations, being patriotic and competitive in nature, jump on the bandwagon of almost any sport if even the faintest scent of victory hangs in the air.

It is evident that skill in the U.S. is lagging in comparison to the English Premiere League or the Spanish La Liga. But with more publicity, a dedicated fan-base, and appealing contracts, the MLS will be able to attract talented athletes, whether from abroad or homegrown. With the new attention, soccer will catch on as a trend. That is why next year could mark a pivotal moment in American soccer.

The MLS should pin-point how exactly Portland managed to reach capacity of 18,627 in their first two home games at the remodeled Jeld-Wen Field. This type of commitment, along with that of the Seattle Sounders fan-base, is precisely what the MLS should use as a case study to draw in die-hard fans.

Pouring in efforts to vamp the MLS's image should be  on top of the list. Even though the athletes are no Lionel Messi or Kaká, the sport itself is still chock-full of entertainment. Kids in the U.S. kick around a soccer ball at the age of four. Many even continue on through high school, and then spill into college.

What we need is a soccer culture. If we can't depend on our chief professional sporting leagues to come to agreements in regards to their million dollar paychecks, we have to turn and jump on a new bandwagon. The MLS provides just that.

Maybe its time we give those slide-tackling and goal-scoring athletes a shot.